The Distance Between Lost and Found

 Book 58 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read on June 24

The Distance Between Lost and Found

by Kathryn Holmes

Summary (via the book jacket)

Hallelujah Calhoun knew she'd never forget the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher's son, but she couldn't have predicted what would follow. Rumors swirled around school, and with her best friends now against her, Hallie had no one to turn to.

Now, six months later, Hallie finds herself on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains with the same people who have ostracized her at school - and Luke, unsurprisingly, is leading the pack. Hallie meets an outgoing newcomer, Rachel, but after months of bullying, she can't bring herself to trust anyone.

On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie's former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Days go by in the unforgiving wilderness, and the three have no choice but to band together despite the obstacles and hurt clouding their way. If Hallie finally speaks up about the night that changed everything, will it close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she gone too far to come back?

My Opinion

3 stars

I read this in a day because even though it's a children's book so I knew it would turn out ok, I wanted to know what would happen.  It was a sneaky religious book but I did appreciate the honesty and frustration of the characters as they processed what was happening (especially how they were rescued).  I probably would've rated it higher if they'd been found a day or so earlier and there had been more time spent on the "after" - all that buildup for her to find her courage and then we didn't see her tell anyone what happened or get the sense things would be different for her in a social sense.

It read very young and I wouldn't have guessed these were high schoolers based on the secret and how long it took for everything to come out.  I'm not doubting the shame she felt but I'm frustrated that the adults around her, especially her parents, let things go on for months and months as she withdrew.

All's well that ends well.  This was fine while I was reading it but it's not one I'll pass on to my teens; I'll donate it and know it will find the right audience.  Would it be too snarky to say God will guide it to the right reader's hands?  (that has nothing to do with the book or author, just my own personal feelings)

Unbroken

 Book 57 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from June 19 - 22

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens

Summary (via Goodreads)

This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen readers a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future.

My Opinion

4 stars

I really enjoyed the stories in this book.  Typically I bounce between 2-3 books at a time but I kept picking this one up instead of rotating through my other current reads.  There were many different voices and settings; this is a book that is a really good read, not just "good for visibility" stories.

The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because 2 of the stories were complete duds for me (no, I'm not calling out which ones).  That will happen when reading a book with many different authors but I struggled with those 2 so much it knocked the book down a star.  I still highly recommend it though.

The Hillside

 Book 56 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read on June 20

The Hillside

by Jane Smiley

My Opinion

4 stars

This short story is part of the Warmer collection available through Prime Reading.  The story evoked a lot of emotion for such a small amount of pages.  I wasn't sure how I wanted it to end because any outcome would have positives and negatives but in the end I'm glad High Note was safe.

At the Bottom of New Lake

 Book 55 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read on June 19

At the Bottom of New Lake

by Sonya Larson

My Opinion

3 stars

This short story is part of the Warmer collection available through Prime Reading.  I really liked it as I was reading but then it felt like it ended abruptly.  There was all this buildup and then the breakthrough with the teacher and final conversation between the girls felt rushed, as though the author realized she was close to a page limit or something and had to wrap it up.

Goodbye, again

 Book 54 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from June 10 - 18

Goodbye, again

by Jonny Sun

Summary (via Goodreads)

Jonny Sun is back with a collection of essays and other writings in his unique, funny, and heartfelt style. The pieces range from long meditations on topics like loneliness and being an outsider, to short humor pieces, conversations, and memorable one-liners.
Jonny's honest writings about his struggles with feeling productive, as well as his difficulties with anxiety and depression will connect deeply with his fans as well as anyone attempting to create in our chaotic world. 
It also features a recipe for scrambled eggs that might make you cry.

My Opinion

5 stars

Although all book ratings are personal and subjective, giving this 5 stars feels even more so than usual.  I think each reader would get something different out of this book; I may have even gotten more or less by reading at a different time.  But in this time while reading it, it really resonated with me.

This was a lovely, thoughtful read.  There was a wide range of topics but the underlying theme felt calm and comfortable even when he was writing about situations where he was neither of those things.

I will definitely read this author again.

The Empathy Exams

 Book 53 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from June 3 - 15

The Empathy Exams

by Leslie Jamison

Summary (via the book jacket)

Beginning with her experience as a medical actor, paid to act out symptoms for medical students to diagnose, Leslie Jamison's The Empathy Exams asks essential questions about our basic understanding of others: How should we care about one another? How can we feel another person's pain? Jamison draws from her own experiences to engage in an exploration of empathy that extends far beyond her own life. These essays range widely - from street violence to reality television, poverty tourism to literary sentimentality, illness to incarceration - in their search for a kind of sight shaped by humility and grace.

My Opinion

2 stars

I didn't connect with this book.  I could try to come up with other words or more of an explanation  but I can't really sum it up other than that.  Most of the time feeling "meh" about a book would lead me to a neutral 3 star rating but I really had an interest in the source material so I would be the audience for this book and it didn't grab me.

There was an interesting point about dismissing someone as "just" looking for attention, as if wanting attention isn't enough of a reason to feel and/or display emotions.

Falls the Shadows

 Book 52 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read on June 8

Falls the Shadow

by Skip Horack

My Opinion

2 stars

This story is part of the Warmer collection available through Prime Reading.  I didn't understand it at all.  1 star ratings are reserved for books I actively dislike and that wasn't the case here so it's a 2, but the lowest 2 possible.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Book 51 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from May 28 - June 8

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman 

Summary (via the book jacket)

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life, where weekends mostly consist of frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling IT guy from her office, whose big heart will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

My Opinion

4 stars

I can't say too much because having Eleanor reveal herself over time throughout the book is part of the surprise and enjoyment of reading it.  I will say that I was worried it would be too "cringey" or she would be humiliated but luckily that wasn't the case.  It's told from her POV and she's not trying to fit in; she thinks she's ok and it's everyone around her that lacks social grace.  

You may think you can predict what's going to happen based on the description but this isn't a rom-com makeover situation.  Eleanor was funny and it was nice to see her put herself out there.  If I think about her as a real person, I hope she finds happiness and success.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

 Book 50 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from May 21 - June 3

The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book

by Jerry Seinfeld

My Opinion

4 stars

This is the kind of book that doesn't need much of a review.  If you've watched the show this book is a fun little glimpse back at some of the highlights/best jokes.  If you haven't seen the show this book may still be enjoyable but watching the show would be a better way to experience the conversations.

I like that the book was broken up by topic and not by guest.  It made the reading pass by more quickly and also helped point out similarities and differences in how comedians approach their work.