Year 6, week 5: Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

This week's book:
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
by Balli Kaur Jaswal

I bought this book a while ago because I heard great things about it. Reese Witherspoon even has this novel on her reading list. I started the novel sometime last year and then kept getting sidetracked with a lot of other books. Well, this month I have been trying to clear some of my TBR pile of books, and for the most part all the books I've read this month have been on my bookshelf for months (or over a year). 

This book is about a young Indian woman who is at a crossroads of life. She starts to teach a class for widowed women so they can learn to read and write. While the class starts out being somewhat awkward, her students start writing erotic stories they have either imagined or experienced. The class teaches everyone in the class, teacher included, to open up and become more understanding women. 

The novel is very pro-women and encouraging. There is a little mystery plot as well with the story, but I don't want to give too much away. 

I would recommend this book if you want a fun read. 

Year 6, week 4: The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness

This week's book:
The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness
by Father Gregory Boyle

This is the third book I have read of Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest who has done many amazing things. Boyle started Homeboy and Home Girl Industries, which helps former inmates get back on their feet. Many of the former inmates are gang members or have battled addiction. Along with having Homeboy and Home Girl Industries, he also does public speaking engagements, and normally brings some of his former clients. 

The first two of his books that I read were for my church's book group, but this book I read for my own peace of mind. The stories of the former inmates that are shared in the books are sometimes so heartbreaking, it can be hard to read. It's amazing how forgiveness and a second chance can change someone's life forever. It's nice to know there are good people in the world. The reason I keep going back to read his books are because they aren't overly preachy or all holier-than-thou; his books are about trying your best and be the best a person can strive to be. 

I would recommend this book.

Year 6, week 3: A Wounded Name

This week's book:
A Wounded Name
By Dot Hutchison

Have you ever wanted to read a retelling of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays through the point of view of a whiny teenage girl? If so, well then check this book out. 

When I originally checked out this audiobook from the library I had no idea that this book was a retelling of Hamlet. The description of this book says that no other girl at this school was like her, and that she could see ghosts. I did notice that the main character was named Ophelia, but I didn't think anything of it. The book is by Dot Hutchison, who wrote a book I really enjoyed earlier this year, The Butterfly Garden. 

I never been a huge fan of the play Hamlet; Hamlet seems super wishy washy and I just want to yell "snap out of it." Ophelia in this novel and in the original play is this mentally unstable girl who is verbally and physically abused by the guy she loves. 

I would avoid this book by the plague. 

Year 6, week 2: Love on the Brain

This week's book:
Love on the Brain
By Ali Hazelwood 

This author's debut novel (The Love Hypothesis) has been one of my favorite books I have read all of 2022. The moment I heard the author was coming out with a novel I couldn't wait to buy it. I was so excited I read it super quick, which doesn't seem to happen much anymore, I sat down and read a physical copy. 

I will be honest, I was a bit disappointed. As a book is was good, but I just downright LOVED her first book. This novel kept making me annoyed, the heroine was brilliant but so dense when it came to her love interest. The guy she is partnered up with for a project is her nemesis from Grad School. He had been mostly quiet and always made excuses to avoid her. Now maybe it's because I happened to be married to a guy that took forever to finally talk to me. My husband and I had to meet a few times before I finally realized he was never going to make a move or ask me out, so I took matters into my own hands. So half of this novel I just wanted to shake the main character to get it together because the guy was just awkward. 

I would definitely recommend this book, because I still enjoyed it even if it wasn't what I expected!

Year 6, week 1: 20th Century Ghosts

This week's book:
20th Century Ghosts
By Joe Hill

I have read a few of Hill's books, and I either LOVE them or hate them, there is no in-between. If you haven't heard of Joe Hill, he is the son of Stephen and Tabitha King….yes, two amazing authors. This book is a collection of "short-ish" stories. I decided to review each story individually because they are all so different. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it if you want a mix of creepy and bittersweet stories along the way. 

Best new horror- The first story in this collection wasn't my favorite. It was fine, just didn't thrill me. An editor that gets pulled into a good horror story. 

20th Century Ghosts- I loved this story! Maybe it's that I love movies and old theaters, or that I love ghosts, but this story is great. A ghost that goes to the movies…yes please.

Pop Art- This story was a little too odd for me. Two boys and one is an inflatable boy with real parents. 

You Will Hear The Locust Sing- this story was even wilder then the last, but this one I enjoyed. A boy wakes up as a huge insect. It's so weird and I just liked it. 

Abraham's Boys- The aftermath of Dracula from the point of view of Van Helsing's son. It's definitely worth a read. I enjoyed this on as well. 

Better Than Home- This story might be my favorite of all the stories from this book. Unlike many of the stories in this book, this is not scary or weird. This is the story of a boy who I'm assuming is on the autism spectrum, and his relationship with his father. The father is a baseball manager and this story is just beautiful. It reminded me of how Hill's father Stephen King can write creepy stories and beautiful ones as well. I don't know if it's because I have two nephews that are on the spectrum or the fact that I love baseball, but I just loved this story. 

The Black Phone- This is the story that my copy of the book is actually named for. The collection is 20th Century Ghosts, but the copy I read was called The Black Phone. This story is just plain creepy and I think could be a whole book, not just a short story. The story is about a boy that is kidnapped and the kidnapper's past victims contact him through a broken phone. I haven't seen the film adaptation to this, but it looks good. This one is definitely a scary story, especially if you are a parent to young kids.

In The Rundown- I can't tell much about this story, I literally read it but I can't remember a darn thing about it. 

The Cape- This is a bittersweet story about a boy being able to fly with his magic cape. I think it's how all of us feel when we have that one special piece of clothing that makes you feel like magic when you're wearing it.

Last Breath- This story is inventive. A doctor somehow has a collection of people's last breath/last words. Some of the people are famous, some not so much. Just a creepy, interesting story. 

The Widow's Breakfast- A sort of slice-of-life story of second chances. This story is another bittersweet story that is just beautifully written.

Bobby Conroy Comes Back From The Dead- This story is interesting while being silly at the same time. When you get to be an extra in one of the most classic horror movies while hanging out with past loves. 

My Father's Mask- This story is by far the trippiest story. I was so confused that I actually had to read the ending twice. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I was just super confused.

Voluntary Committal- This story was another creepy one, but also had some heart. A young man has a little brother who is autistic, and when some weird scary stuff goes down, the little brother "saves" his brother is his own way. I'm doing a super poor job of explaining this story, but it's just weird. 

Again I would totally recommend this book. If one story doesn't tickle your fancy skip it and move on to the next one.