The Reading Promise

 Book 38 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 16 - 20

The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared

by Alice Ozma

published 2011

4 stars

When talking about buying books that can be read and passed down through generations..."What greater gift to your descendants yet unborn than the love of books and reading?"

The book was very readable with a great message.

Reading with your kids?  Great.

Sharing something special?  Great.

Having a common goal?  Great.

If I started looking beyond the reading into other aspects of their dynamic (as told by the author)?  Maybe a little codependent.

If I started thinking about the mom and/or sister and projected my own feelings of being left out?  Possibilities of hurt feelings.

But overall, I'm really happy for the author and the memories she was able to create.

***********************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 38th book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

- Title starting with 'R' (I'm doing an A-Z title challenge)

Accidental Astronomy

 Book 37 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 12 - 19

Accidental Astronomy: How Random Discoveries 

Shape the Science of Space

by Chris Lintott

published 2024

2 stars

This is a low 2 star read for me; it's not a 1 because I'm not angry but I am pretty bored.  I read lots of words but can't say I retained a lot of information.  My mind wandered.

I saw this book while browsing at the library and expected actual random discoveries in space (like the example of discovering penicillin in medicine), like "happy accidents".  That was not the case (or if it was, I completely missed them).

*******************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 37th book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

- Title starting with 'A' (I'm doing an A-Z title challenge)

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces

 Book 36 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 15 - 17

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces

by Lynn Weingarten

published 2017

4 stars

This author knows how to make interesting titles.  I read her book Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls in 2018 and added this to my list at that time...there's no rhyme or reason to what ends up making it off my never-ending TBR.

For most of the book I felt uncomfortable in a 'low stakes' way, like with second hand embarrassment or concern about the consequences on their social lives.  The stakes got higher as the book went on and while I can't say I found the ending realistic or satisfying, it was interesting and I couldn't put it down.

I can picture that final scene of crossing paths in a movie shot before fading to black.

********************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 36th book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

- Title starting with 'B' (I'm doing an A-Z title challenge)

Carnegie Libraries Across America

 Book 35 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 12 - 16

Carnegie Libraries Across America: A Public Legacy

by Theodore Jones

published 1997

3 stars

"Free libraries maintained by the people are cradles of democracy, and their spread can never fail to extend and strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, [and] the royalty of man.  They are emphatically fruit of the true American ideal." 

~ Andrew Carnegie

I picked this book from a library display.  Spending time browsing at a library and coming home to read about libraries and look at pictures of old libraries?  Sold.

Even though it was published almost 30 years ago it's not outdated other than the stats about how many libraries are still in use.  The majority of the book was about the history of the Carnegie grants and the beginning of public libraries.  Iowa connection: the first Carnegie library was in Fairfield, IA.  At the time of the book's publication the library was being transitioned; I looked it up and the building is still standing and currently a Carnegie museum.

********************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 35th book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

- Title starting with 'C' (I'm doing an A-Z title challenge)

Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert

 Book 34 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 12 - 15

Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert

by Bob the Drag Queen

published 2025

5 stars

I love Bob TDQ's passion about any project they're involved in and hearing them talk about this book was no exception.

The concept of this book was very creative and although I have no shared life experience with any of the characters they were written in a relatable way passing knowledge in an accessible way.

I don't do audiobooks but I feel like this book would be good in that format as well, especially if the songs are performed.

***************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 34th book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

- A book I received for Christmas 2025 (my goal is to read all my Christmas 2025 books by the end of 2026)

- A book I own that is leaving my house for a new reader to find (my goal is to declutter and make progress on whittling down my shelves/boxes of books in my house)

An Offer From a Gentleman

 Book 33 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 8 -12

An Offer From a Gentleman

by Julia Quinn

published 2001

3 stars

As I continue the Bridgerton series, I think this may be one of the few times I'll enjoy the show/movie more than the book.  I haven't watched any episodes but am reading the books because the clips of the show I've seen interest me (and I'm pretty much spoiled on all the twists and relationships).

For this particular book, it was fine but if I didn't know what was going to happen I definitely would've been antsier and skimming to the end.  When people withhold information and add unnecessary complications I anxiously wait for things to be revealed/resolved.

*******************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 33rd book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

Balls

 Book 32 of my 2026 Reading Challenge

read from March 4 - 11

Balls: It Takes Some to Get Some

by Chris Edwards

published 2016

4 stars

First off, great title (not surprising for someone successful in advertising).  I received an used copy of Balls for Christmas and found an accidental bonus: this is a signed copy (like a legit signed copy made out to a specific person listing a specific location).

He acknowledges the uniqueness of his situation because of his access to resources, his surgery choices, and the time period he was transitioning.  Although it's sad that the access and support is unique, it's true and in some ways could be worse now than when the book was published in 2016.

He was blunt but not 'shock value graphic' in his descriptions of his transition and there was more time spent on the smaller things like urinal etiquette and not having the door held open for him.  It was interesting and I'm glad his outsides appear to match his insides.

*************************************

Ways This Book Met my 2026 Reading Goals:

- 32nd book read in 2026 (my goal is 100)

- A book I received for Christmas 2025 (my goal is to read all my Christmas 2025 books by the end of 2026)

- A book I own that is leaving my house for a new reader to find (my goal is to declutter and make progress on whittling down my shelves/boxes of books in my house)

- Title starting with 'B' (I'm doing an A-Z title challenge)