1st half of 2024 Books - Do They Fly?

 I have done better with my book consumption for 2024 and am on target to reach my goal of 40 books this year.  I recently finished " The Noticer: Sometimes, All a Person Needs is a Little Perspective" by Andy Andrews.  Though a fictional story, it really resonated with me with the different characters and their different situations.  A gentleman comes into their lives and offers a different perspective.  I have always enjoyed life lessons taught through storytelling or parables.  This book offered just that.  I envision getting a hard copy of this book to pass from person to person with each reader signing the cover before they pass it on to help someone else who could use a little perspective, but that may be seen as judgmental which would not be my intention. Since high school, I have always tried to show people a different view to look at a situation.  Not that the view I offered was better, just different.  As I have aged, I have realized that older people see my suggestion as judgment or criticism which is never my intent.  I highly suggest this quick read, on an audiobook it is only 4 hours.  There is a longer sequel that I have not ventured to at this point.  I want to let the original ruminate a bit more.  

 How do I choose my books? I love books with twists and turns and that are unpredictable this is why I have several books from Freida McFadden and Heather Gudenkauf. I always enjoy a good introspective biography, but they are often hard to come by.  I follow what my friends are reading on GoodReads, their social media page or my local libraries Wednesday Reading Chat on Facebook.  I also look into the books suggested to me.  Thanks for the suggestion of "THE MEASURE" Marie, I loved it!

 I have a potential list for the remainder of the year, but am always up for new suggestions.  Please leave them in the comments below.

Here is my list of my reading list for the first half of 2024.
I have opted to link each title to the description instead of writing my own description. Trust me it will be a more concise description than I could offer.  In the future, if you would like me to include the book cover - comment below.

MAYBE NEXT TIME by Cesca Major

THESE THINGS HIDDEN by Heather Gudenkauf

ALL MY KNOTTED-UP LIFE: A MEMOIR by Beth Moore

THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS: A MEMOIR OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOST PROMISE IN RURAL AMERICA by Monica Potts

SPARE by Prince Harry 

IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME by John Stamos

THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY: AMERICAN EVANGELICALS IN THE AGE OF EXTREMISM by Tim Alberta

BEFORE WE WERE INNOCENT by Ella Berman

FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston

BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH by Amanda Flower

EVERYONE IS WATCHING by Heather Gudenkauf

GOOD BAD GIRL by Alice Feeney

THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand

THE MEASURE by Nikki Erlick

THE TEACHER by Freida Mc Fadden

THE CATAWAYS by Elin Hilderbrand

THE INMATE by Freida Mc Fadden

THE WIFE UPSATIRS by Friend Mc Fadden

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry

ENTRANCES AND EXITS by Michael Richards

THE NOTICER: SOMETIMES, ALL A PERSON NEEDS IS A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE by Andy Andrew

Some information about my random rating system.  I rarely rate 2 dragonflies or less.   These authors have written a book, so that earns them 1 dragonfly.  I was able to get it at a library that is 2 dragonflies. If I am not enjoying a book by the 3rd or 4th chapter, I don't tend to finish it and therefore don't rate it, A 3 dragonfly rating indicates I finished the book, but it didn't change my life, it was ok but, I wouldn't read it again. A 4 dragonfly rating indicates I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to a friend.  If I give a book a 5 dragonfly rating it means that I had a hard time putting it down, that I enjoyed the style of writing and subject matter and that I want to read it again.  Sometimes my love of a book reflects where I am in my life at the time I read it.  Will it hold up if I read it at another point in time?