January Twitterature

Today I'm linking up with Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy to share "short, casual reviews" of the books I've read in the past 31 days.

Our January weather has been especially brutal.   We've experienced high temperatures in the teens with wind chills below zero.  My comfort zone has been inside on my couch with a book.  Of course, we've had some un-winterlike warm days, too, and my comfort stone is still inside with a book.

I love to talk books on my Facebook page , too, so stop by if you have a chance. 

{As always, post about books contain my affiliate links.}



Call the Nurse: True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isleby Mary MacLeod

This memoir is the story of a nurse who moved her family to a remote Scottish island in order to experience a different pace of life.  Visting her patients through snow, fog, and bitter cold temperatures, she delivers everything from routine daily diabetic injections to prenatal care.
#memoir  #scottishnurse  



The Return of Sherlock Holmesby Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes begins work again after being presumed dead in this, the third book of short stories about the famous detective.  I read the book to tide me over until the BBC mini-series returns (on Sunday night!).
#mystery  #classic  #shortstories 





Okay for Nowby Gary D. Schmidt

I picked this up on a whim and I am so glad I did.  The dialog is natural, the narrative is superb. I laughed, then cried, then laughed some more. And added bonus: Audobon paintings and Jane Eyre are woven into the story line!
#comingofage   #1960s   #nationalbookawardfinalist   #favorite





Stones for Breadby Christa Parrish

I read the book and then began an obsession with sourdough bread.  Parrish is one of my favorite fiction authors and this book brings more of her trademark storytelling which rolls out slowly while developing strong characters.
#fiction  #bread  #strongcharacterdevelopment





Make the Bread, Buy the Butter: What You Should and Shouldn't Cook From Scratchby Jennifer Reese


I want to make my own yogurt (healthy!) and marshmallow cream (not so healthy!). 
#nonfiction  #recipes  #fun




From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

I re-read this primarily because I remember reading it as a kid but couldn't remember anything about it.  It was okay this time around, though I was surprised by the small "revelation" at the end. 
#kidlit  #blastfromthepast





With the kids...

Missing Grace: A Kit Mysteryby Elizabeth McDavid Jones

Snuggling on the couch with my girls and their dolls was cozy. We learned about basset hounds, dog shows, and pedigree, too.
#americangirl   #mystery  #greatdepression





Meet Caroline: An American Girlby Kathleen Ernst

We choose a new American Girl series to read together each winter.  This year we picked Caroline. The girls are all starting to run together, though.  I'm still partial to Kirsten and Molly.
#moreamericangirl  #warof1812




Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogsby Donald Sobol

To balance out all the girly reading, we share a chapter of Encyclopedia Brown a few evenings a week.  It's a challenge to see which of us can solve the mystery.
#mystery  #shortstories  #dinnertimereading

Our library basket is always loaded.  In January it includes seasonal picks like Kay Thompson's Eloise and the Snowman, plus Callie Cat, Ice Skater and Cold Snap, both by Eileen Spinelli.

 #coldweatherstories   #itswinter  #betterthanbuildingasnowman