For this prompt, I stepped outside my usual reading preferences and chose Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson. I’ll be honest—I’m still not quite sure how I felt about this one. It’s not my typical genre, but I found it very interesting, especially in the way it touched on aspects of government and law—areas I…
Book Challenge #5: A Book Based on a True Story
For this prompt, I chose Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson, and this one truly hit close to home for me. Thunder Dog tells the incredible true story of Michael Hingson, a man who is blind, and his guide dog, Roselle, as they navigate their escape from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. It’s…
Book Challenge #1: A Book Made into a Movie
For the first prompt in my reading challenge—a book made into a movie—I chose The Unbreakable Boy by Scott Michael LeRette. This book completely stole my heart. It tells the story of Austin, a boy with autism and brittle bone disease, whose joyful outlook on life leaves a lasting impact on everyone around him. Through…
Reading Challenge #4 A book chosen because of the cover.
Sometimes you really can judge a book by its cover! Every once in a while, I pick a book simply because the cover catches my eye. That’s exactly what happened with The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. The cover drew me in right away, and sometimes that’s reason enough to give a…
Reading Challenge # 9 A book with an author with the same first or last name as you.
One of the prompts in my reading challenge was to choose a book written by an author who shares the same first or last name as you. That one made me smile right away, because it led me straight to Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell. Since my name is Pat (Patricia), it felt like the…
Reading Challenge # 8 A book set in a country you want to visit.
One of the prompts in my recent reading challenge was to read a book set in a country you would like to visit. Instead of focusing only on the setting, I decided to choose a book by an author who actually comes from that country. That’s how I ended up reading What Alice Forgot by…
Reading Challenge # 11 A book with a number in the title.
I was especially excited to read 11/22/63 by Stephen King, because I’ve always been fascinated by JFK—his leadership, his humanity, and the legacy he left behind. Historical fiction set around that era always captures my attention. In this sweeping novel, Jake Epping travels back in time to stop the assassination of President Kennedy. What unfolds…
Reading Challenge #10: A genre you don’t normally read.
I don’t normally reach for books in this genre, but when my boss handed me a copy of Unoffendable by Brant Hansen, I decided to give it a try. I’m always looking for a good read—even the ones that stretch me outside my usual shelves. Unoffendable challenges the idea that we have a right to…
Reading Challenge #7 A book with a red cover
I recently read Good to Great by Jim Collins, and while it wasn’t necessarily my favorite read, it definitely gave me something to think about. The book focuses on what separates good companies from truly great ones—disciplined leadership, the right people in the right roles, and steady, focused improvement over time. Although it’s written about…
Reading Challenge #6 A book I have been meaning to read.
Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry is a haunting psychological drama about a devoted mother whose world shatters when her seemingly perfect teenage son confesses to committing horrific crimes. As Noah is sent to a juvenile rehabilitation center, his mother, Adrianne, is forced to confront an unbearable question: how far can unconditional love stretch when the…