John Grisham - Eat, Tan, Read

My Year in Books

2020 was definitely not a normal year for any of us. It felt, at times, like we were living in one of the books we read, and not one we want to. But we made it through and are settling in to our new normal, whatever that may look like.
I, like so many, experienced an emotional tribulation that took a few months to overcome. In that time, I remembered that reading books was not a competition on how many I can get through in a month or a year but something that I love doing. I have a tendency to set goals and then obsess over them. I am working on breaking this unhealthy habit. I also don’t need to feel like I must write a blog post everyday. If I do, that’s awesome, if not, its not a big deal and people will not unfollow me because of it. There are so many other things that I enjoy doing as well and I don’t want to forget about those or spending time with the people that I love.

So, 2021 will be about having fun and doing what makes me happy every day.

2020 books completed:
36 Books
12,454 pages
My average rating – 3.9 🌟

5 🌟 Books:
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Gilchrist by Christian Galacar
What Doesn’t Kill You by Iris Johansen
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Chasing Evil by Kylie Brant
Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection by Barbara Venkataraman
1st to Die by James Patterson
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year. Happy Reading! 😉

Book Review – Skipping Christmas

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Commercial Fiction, Holiday

“She began glancing around the deli. Nora knew exactly what she was thinking. Who can I tell first? The Kranks are skipping Christmas! No party! No tree! Nothing but money in their pockets so they can blow it on a cruise.”

Nora and Luther Krank’s only daughter Blair has joined the Peace Corps and left for a year to Peru. Christmas without her just won’t be the same. Luther gets a brilliant idea to skip the circus of Christmas altogether, save money, and take a ten day cruise on Christmas Day instead. It’s a full boycott, no decorating, no cards, no parties.

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Skipping Christmas

As the big day nears, I was in the spirit to read a Christmas book.
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One of my favorite Christmas movies is Christmas with the Kranks so this year I wanted to read Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. I have had it on the To Be Read shelf for years and I can’t believe that it has taken me this long to read it. Well this is the year! As this year will be so different than any other due to Covid, it felt very fitting. I’m sure that there are so many people out there just wanting to skip the holiday altogether. I don’t blame you. Unfortunately, we can’t escape on a cruise (yikes, no way) or to an island paradise somewhere and forget. Hopefully you are still able to enjoy the season with family and love ones safely.
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If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, I suggest you do! It is sooo cute and funny, I just love them both!

I is for….

I is for …. IT! 🎈🤡

Stephen King is my #1 and always has been. Surprisingly, I have never read IT but it is on my TBR this year, coming up soon in fact. The size of the book was just so intimidating that I have put it off. Until now! I absolutely LOVE the new movies Chapter 1 and 2. Good and creepy scary just like I like them.

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Clearly I like Irish books as well. I am definitely a sucker for an Ireland setting, I have always been drawn to them. I recently did a DNA test and discovered that I am majority Irish heritage, so it makes sense why I have an affinity towards them.

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I recently watched a documentary about John Grisham’s The Innocent Man and I can’t wait to read the book now. This is his first nonfiction work.

“If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you.”

January Reading Recap

5 books

1,717 pages

Average rating 3.8

Murder at Harbor Village 🌟🌟🌟🌟

American Predator 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Bound Through the Ashes 🌟🌟🌟

A Painted House 🌟🌟🌟

1st to Die 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Off to a good start to the year! Had some really great picks and some that were just okay. I was most excited to read American Predator and I was not disappointed! 1st to Die has been on my TBR list for so long and I am so happy that I finally got around to reading it. This series has instantly become one of my favorites.

I am very thankful for Lyrical Underground, Viking Books, and Danelle Nelson for proving me with some of these good reads!

Check them out!

What was your favorite read from January?

Book 4 – Arkansas

Summer 1952, in the Arkansas Delta a 7 year old boy, Luke Chandler, faces a summer of secrets no young boy should be exposed to. Two groups of migrant workers arrive to pick the cotton fields for the Chandlers, two very dangerous men among them. A brutal murder, a fatherless baby is born, and other secrets Luke slowly unfolds that will change his and his family’s lives forever.