Good evening to you my lovely reader. Happy December from the suddenly snow covered southeast Alaska! Went to bed with crystal clear skies last night and woke up to the heavy snow cloud delivering fluffy flakes and covering up everything with a chilly looking blanket. It continued to snow throughout the entire day and this is how Katie decided to handle it:
After the reading desert that was November I decided to tone the reading list down for December (shocking!) - give myself some grace with the holiday season and finals coming around the corner, plus wanting to actually read. I miss reading when life gets busy and I push it to the side! I am still actively working on not looking at the amount of reading I want to do and just feeling sad about not having enough time to fit it all in. One book at a time, my friends. One book at a time!
1- Report from Nuremberg: The International War Crimes Trial
by Harold Burson - only on Audible.
I’m going to add in something a little different - an audio book! I haven’t listened to an audio book in quite some time. I have a fully stocked Audible account and love, love listening to a good book, especially on a long run or during a really hands on project, but I just haven’t listened in a while. Earlier this week I took advantage of some cyber Monday deals and found this gem which I am excited to listen to. I am a big World War II nerd and this is something I will cover in detail in the coming months, but for now, a small snippet. I have included the summary for you to read (in picture form) because it has some great information about the cast, the reason they made this production, and where the original broadcasts came from.
The short and sweet version is that this is a 6 hour long listen, there are 47 chapters, and it is a recreation of the Nuremberg trials which were the trials that took place immediately after the end of Word War II to place the Nazi politicians and the surviving military individuals on trial for their crimes against humanity. At the time it was exceedingly important that not only the Nazis be recognized and held responsible for their horrific crimes, but that the world see and hear the trials taking place on an international level.
I am looking forward to this listen because they recreated the text from the hearings and it is as if we are listening to the original recordings; the mechanical typewriters, the vintage recording and audio noise, and the different actors lending their talents to help those of us who weren’t alive at the time understand the magnitude of this trial. I consider this both interesting and immensely important to listen to and will keep you updated on what I learn from this.
2- All Creatures Great and Small
by James Herriot
This is my very favorite, probably always will be, not-sure-how-it-could-get-kicked-out-of-its-number-one-slot - book. I love.this.book. I have read it several times, it has been at the top of my list for the better part of five years now, and I cannot recommend it enough to you. If you need a memoir that will make you laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh, and read sections aloud to family and friends, then this is your book. You need it. I buy copies of this book whenever I see it at estate sales and garage sales and thrift stores and give it to people who visit or who love animals or ask, “ I just don’t know what to read, any suggestions?” Yes, this one. Always.
This is the first book in a series of four and it follows the real life story of James Herriot as he starts his career as a veterinarian in 1939 in the town of Yorkshire, England. This initial book starts you from the beginning of his time as a veterinarian, quite literally starting with him riding the bus into the town and meeting his new boss, Siegfried after he graduates and looks for a job. Oh if I could only explain all of the stories to you right now and how FUNNY they are. The car not having brakes. The boss who can’t remember anything. The brother of the boss who shows up to stay with them who is really no help at all, but drives Siegfried batty. His encounters with the neighboring vet who gets him completely and totally sloshing drunk every time they meet. How James meets his wife. How he feels about getting to know the people and community that he eventually falls in love with.
This is the feel good story that comes from a truly gifted and talented writer. Mr. Herriot makes you feel as though you are there on the windswept knolls of Yorkshire with him. That you’re cold and wet delivering a calf at three in the morning. That you’re unbelievably sad to be putting an old woman’s dog to sleep because he has cancer. That you’re trying to figure out a solution to the farting boxer case. If there is one book that you get for yourself this year, please let it be this one. I just can’t wait to re-read this and share it with you all. There is a 499 page total!
3- Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
Oh hey, yes this is the same picture and yes, we are going to read through this one. Finally. I started this one in November and then never made my way back to it, and to be utterly honest with you, it was really good. Just in the first 30 pages or so! I am looking forward to diving in and being swept into a whole new world that Maas has created, especially since this series is considered Adult Fantasy and some of her other series are deemed YA.
So here’s to take two - and enjoying a story that has the potential to make me dive into another big series! This also has over 900 pages, but I think its going to be good.
Phew! We have made it to December! Amazing to think that I am been writing here monthly, if not weekly (looking at you November), for almost 4 months now. What an absolute delight. I am so proud of myself and so excited that I took an idea and brought it to reality and didn’t just chuck it all into the bin. Especially when it doesn’t look “perfect” or I feel like my writing is the equivalent of a badly designed ransom note. Nope. Not giving up anytime soon. Thank you for being here, I am glad and grateful for you. To the books!
xoxo,
Elea