Books, What's On Your Bookshelf?

BREAKOUT BOOK CLUBS…October Reads!

Retirement Reflections

This past month, I’ve managed to sneak in six quality books. I’ve passionately wanted to discuss each and every one of them. Just ask the poor lady in the washroom stall between WidowBadass and me, where I urgently gushed out my thoughts on “Go Set a Watchman,” Nerd alert!! I doubt that poor lady ever visited that particular washroom again!

When it comes to my usual “What’s On Your Bookshelf,” I tend to save discussing the last book I read for the next month’s post. This practice spares you, the reader, from overly long reads. It also gives me a reading cushion and a headstart on next month’s WOYBS. However, this month is an exception. I’m giving you the entire reading shebang! All the books I read were deserving of their high star rating, each with its own unique charm. Moreover, they led me down a series of rabbit holes from which I have (hopefully) just emerged.
Feel free to choose your preferred level of detailed reading and scrolling for this post. If you’ve read any of the following books or would like to discuss them, I’m all ears…or rather eyes! Each book listed below is highly discussion-worthy. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Innocence and Injustice

I have long known the story of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Still, my recent reading of it rendered me speechless. I felt as though I was simultaneously embraced, empowered, and punched in the stomach.

Harper Lee’s talent, insight, and courage completely captivated me. I didn’t merely fall, I eagerly leapt into numerous rabbit holes about Lee’s background and the real-life historical aspects intricately woven into her narrative.

The gut-wrenching impact of this novel stems from its timeless tragedy, i.e. the harsh reality that racism, prejudice, social inequity, and injustice continue to persist rampantly in our society today.

Lee’s wisdom in narrating this story through the lens of a child is a poignant reminder that injustice can only prevail when we allow it. Tirelessly, Lee’s words urge us to persist in our efforts to create a more compassionate society, to refrain from hastily judging others, and to summon the courage to confront and challenge prejudice.

If you haven’t read or reread ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ lately, I strongly recommend it. It’s a powerful book to discuss with others, which is exactly what I plan to do. You’ve been warned!

5+ Stars

Provocative Read With Misleading Hype

I was not expecting to become so absorbed in reading “Go Set a Watchman.” Yet, become absorbed, I did — deeply!
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the character of Atticus Finch is presented as a moral compass and a symbol of integrity. He has been beloved by readers and movie-goers for decades. In “Go Set a Watchman,” set in the 1950s during the early days of the civil rights movement, Atticus Finch is a much more complex figure.

He is involved with a citizens’ council that opposes racial integration, which shocks his daughter (main character, Scout) and most readers, who have grown up idolizing Atticus for his strong sense of justice.
This revelation forces Scout (and, again, the reader) to confront the complexity of Atticus’s character. It challenges previous perceptions of the world and people known and loved. This is a central theme of the novel, exploring the disillusionment and struggle many faced during this era — and sadly continue to face today. The portrayal of Atticus Finch in “Go Set a Watchman” raises questions about the nature of heroism and the imperfections that can exist even within revered individuals.
Were there flaws in this novel? Absolutely! The plot can meander, and the narrative frequently jumps between past and present, disrupting the flow of the storyline. However, many of the conversations are heartwrenchingly brilliant.
Both “Mockingbird” and “Watchman” plea for our increased empathy. However, both do so in very different ways with very different stakes. Reading the latter was so emotionally charged for me I seriously needed to lie down.
If you are a fan of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and would like to know more about the author’s original thoughts and purposes in creating this story, I highly recommend reading “Go Set A Watchman.” However, it is essential to do so with an open mind and to remember that “Watchman” is the parent to ‘Mockingbird,’ not the sequel.

Due to its complexities, I did not give this book a star rating.

Putting an end to my rabbit hole tumbles

“Mockingbird Songs, My Friendship with Harper Lee” by Wayne Flynt is a compelling compilation of letters exchanged between Nelle Harper Lee, her sisters, and Flynt. With much hype, controversy, and contradictory information surrounding Harper Lee, this book offers a unique opportunity to read Lee’s own words on many of these hotly debated topics.

It dispels much of the misinformation that has often clouded our understanding of this reclusive author and her two extensively discussed literary works.
This collection includes a copy of “Atticus’s Vision of Ourselves,” a tribute Wayne Flynt delivered to Harper Lee in 2006 upon her receiving the Birmingham Pledge Foundation Award for her contributions to racial justice. Harper Lee requested that Flynt share this at her funeral, which he did five years later. This tribute delves into the profound lessons people worldwide have drawn from the pages of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ focusing on racial justice, class, differences, and community themes.
Flynt swiftly captures the essence of Harper Lee’s message in ‘Mockingbird’: the imperative to confront the darkness within ourselves. He underscores that Bob Ewell, the character, is no more accountable for Tom Robinson’s death than the ‘good folks’ of Maycomb who remained silent in the face of injustice. This tribute has valuable insights into our present day and is, as such, a must-read. It is conveniently available online at no cost.
I now have a much better understanding of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ ‘Go Set a Watchman’ and the author, Harper Lee, due to the letters in this book, as well as the anecdotes and eulogy. Many of my nagging questions surrounding Lee and her works have now been laid to rest (and I can hopefully stop my numerous rabbit hole tumbles regarding them)!
4.5 stars

If David Copperfield was Alive Today

There’s been significant buzz surrounding Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead” since its release in October 2022. In a nutshell, this is an unapologetic portrayal of life—a sprawling tapestry that’s devastatingly heartbreaking yet maintains an undeniable glimmer of hope.

This epic masterpiece showcases Kingsolver’s storytelling prowess, her sharp talent for vivid description and emotional depth, as well as her expertise for exploring timeless societal truths, i.e. sadly, little has changed since the Victorian era in terms of marginalizing and ignoring the disadvantaged.
A definite must-read. 5+ stars from me!

Why Did I Walk Into This Room?

I

Firmly grounded in science, “Remember” is an easy and compelling read. I quickly devoured it in two sittings. It provides insights into how memory operates, the reasons behind forgetting, and practical ways to enhance memory. It bridges the gap between scientific research on memory and its real-world applications, empowering readers to better understand and improve their memories.

With an engaging conversational style, the author grounds in research many brain health strategies that most of us know but far too often neglect. These strategies include the importance of a healthy diet (e.g. a blend of the Mediterranean and DASH diets), regular exercise, mental stimulation, social interaction, proper hydration, stress management, maintaining a positive outlook, and, most crucially, prioritizing both the quality and quantity of sleep.

This book offered precisely what I needed to read at this time. Moreover, it provides an excellent foundation for meaningful discussions. I immediately tried “the penny test” on my husband. Like most others, he failed miserably!

5 Stars.

The Universe Has Been Sending Me A Message

“This Is How We Grow: Stories and Poems for Perspective Taking,” edited by Yvette Prior, is a compelling anthology of memoirs, poetry, and essays that illustrate the transformative potential of seeking to understand others. This anthology challenges readers to reconsider assumptions, emphasizing the disparity between perception and reality. It advocates for withholding judgments, urging us to explore deeper truths beyond initial impressions.

Featuring both established and emerging voices, this book weaves together a rich tapestry of experiences, showcasing differing perspectives. The stories are deeply personal and moving, making it impossible to select a favourite. That being said, please do not skim over the introduction. It is crucial in setting the tone for a distinctive and meaningful reading experience.

Congratulations to Yvette Prior and the contributing authors who generously shared their authentic stories with us. Their collective effort produced an anthology that entertains and educates while inviting readers to reflect on their own growth and understanding of the human experience.

5 Stars. Highly recommended.

So what’s been on your bookshelf, kindle, library holds or ‘to be read’ pile lately? Please share in the comments, on FB, by ‘contact me’ or through the Link Up below. I’d love to hear from you!

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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

106 thoughts on “BREAKOUT BOOK CLUBS…October Reads!”

  1. We read To Kill A Mockingbird at school, and while the deep south of the US was a foreign country, it still made an impact. As I said to Deb, I feel I need to re-read it again. Go Set a Watchman is, as you say, flawed, but it is also really as I understand it, not properly finished?

    The Barbara Kingsolver – I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it or not, but think you have persuaded me!

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    1. Hi, Barbara –
      I definitely recommend rereading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Sadly, its message on the human struggle for equality does not only pertain to the Southern United States in the 1930’s but has been univeral throughout time. If you do reread it, I’d love to know your thoughts on it and what struck you the most.
      Harper Lee wrote ‘Go Set A Watchman’ first and then used it as an unpublished draft to create ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ – a process that took her two full years.
      I also recommend the Kingsolver book. I truly could not put it down when reading. The story continues to run through my mind. ❤

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  2. Nice lineup, Donna. I read To Kill a Mockingbird years ago, then re-read it before delving into Go Set a Watchman. It was hard to readjust my impression of Atticus, but I agree with you that humans have many layers, rarely all good or all bad.

    I read Demon Copperhead soon after it was released (Kingsolver is my all-time favorite contemporary author) and, even though it’s a tough read about a hard subject, it did not disappoint. She greatly deserved her Pulitzer Prize. I was fortunate to have the chance to see her in person at an author interview just last week. She is a force.

    This Is How We Grow is waiting for me on my Kindle and I’m looking forward to reading it. Remember needs to be on my Kindle… that sounds like an important book.

    Thanks for sharing what’s on your bookshelf!

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    1. Hi, Janis – I am jealous that you got to attend an author interview with Barbara Kingsolver last week. I would have loved to have been there. I think that you will greatly enjoy ‘This is How We Grow.” Somehow, the theme of ‘walking a mile in another person’s shoes’ (also one of the themes of TKAM and GSAW) keeps putting itself in front of me. I think the Universe may be sending me a message. :O
      Oh, and definitely read ‘Remember.’ It is an easy read containing important information — especially for those in our age group!

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  3. Wow! What a collection Donna and I can’t wait until our Book Club meeting to discuss both Harper Lee books. You took me down a Rabbit Hole and thanks for the link to the free book Mockingbird Songs by Wayne Flint. I am also keen to read the Lisa Genova offering as I read Still Alice quite some time ago and found it a powerful story. Thanks as always for your insight, teaching and guidance to understanding the books we read. You are so inspirational and a great co-host of #WOYBS? as well. xx

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    1. Hi, Sue – Thank you for your very kind comment. I also can’t wait to discuss the Harper Lee books. There are so many gems there that I truly will not know where to start. Sadly, the link that I shared is only for the eulogy that Wayne Flint shared at Harper Lee’s funeral. Still, it is very worth the read. And definitely read ‘Remember’ if you get a chance. I think that you will especially enjoy it (and discover that your brain health habits are excellent)! ❤

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  4. That was quite an intellectual reading month Donna – I felt like I was back in my high school English Lit class! Good on you for taking the time to read books that many of us relegated to the “I read it in high school” list and have never picked up again. I’m very impressed with all the literary works you girls have covered in your online book club over the last couple of years. x

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    1. Thank you for reminding me about this, Leanne. We have covered so many great classics (all of the three Bronte sisters, all of Austen, some Dickens, Woolfe, Wharton, Carroll, Blixen, Lee — and soon Louisa May Alcott). I hadn’t stopped to add these up before. Reading the classics makes me want to read (or reread) even more of them. So many books — never ever enough time. 😀

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  5. As I remember it, the woman emerged from the middle stall with a tiny smile on her face. I think she enjoyed our passionate discussion over and around her 😉. And then there she was again, sitting in our astronomy class 🤣.
    Excellent books! I’m glad you “forced” me to read Go Set A Watchman and also the Flint book.

    Deb

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    1. OMG, I didn’t realize that the ‘women in the middle stall’ was also in our astronomy class. There’s the silver lining to me having to miss our final astronomy class tomorrow.
      I’m delighted that you read GSAW and let me ramble on about it. I can’t wait to discuss the Flynt book with you — although I may choose a different setting this time. 😀

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    1. Hi, Jill – I agree that ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is a perfect book to reread yearly. Harper Lee has been repeatedly quoted as saying that she considered this book to be a simple love story. To most of its readers it has been so much more than that!

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  7. I am not even sure I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. If I did, I have forgotten 💯 of it! My friend started on a memory book and was sharing bits outloud. I hope she remembers to mail it to me😏! At this age, we definitely need to do what we can to keep the wheels turning.

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    1. Hi, Bernie – TKAM had been a popular book for MS and HS English classes in United States, Canada and numerous other countries. Sadly, it has been frequently banned or challenged in numerous (mostly US) communities, citing language and racial depictions. Of course, when a book is banned it simply makes me want to read it more.
      Oh, and about memory and keeping our wheels turning, Lisa Genova recommends that we get more sleep (both quanity and quality) as our number one ‘memory protection strategy.’

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      1. Yes, experts always recommend better sleep, but it’s not always that easy, is it? Menopausal insomnia is NOT fun.
        Yes, I’ve read about more and more books being banned in places. It feels sometimes the world is going backward. Have you read The Librarian of Burned Books?

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      2. Hi, Bernie – I haven’t read ‘The Library of Banned Books.’ I am off to check it out now.
        I used to be a great sleeper but now get up multiple times in the night for a washroom break. A friend of mine says that when she cannot sleep she never stresses but simply relaxes and thinks happy thoughts. She swears that she always feels rested afterwards. So that is my new go-to! 😀

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  8. I loved To Kill a Mockingbird when I read it in high school, taught it to high schoolers, and read it later in life. I’ve lived in the American South, and my father was a Southerner (whose views on race were, sadly, closer to Bob Euell’s than Atticus Finch’s). The book reads authentically and still has much to say about race relations in the South and in the US more generally.

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    1. Hi, Janet – Thank you so much for commenting and for sharing these valuable insights. With all of your experiences and background, I am glad to hear you say that this book reads authentically. I agree that TKAM still has much to say about the human struggle for equality (which sadly remains worldwide).

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  9. Well you certainly did the deep dive with Harper Lee, Donna! I remember reading TKAM both in middle school then high school. I should read it again from my 60+ age perspective. I like that next book Remember! I will take a look at that! My friend, Marsha, is one of the authors of This is How We Grow, and I’ve been reading. She also gave me a signed paperback copy. Always great ro see fellow bloggers’ books and anthologies. Great choices!

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    1. Thanks, Terri – I am definitely a ‘rabbit hole reader,’ especially when a book really speaks to me. The key theme of ‘This is How We Grow’ meshed perfectly with a key theme of TKAM (i.e. walking a mile in someone else’s shoes). Yvette gifted me a copy for which I was very grateful. Marsha’s entry in that book is also outstanding.

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  13. Hi Donna, Of course I love To Kill a Mockingbird, so have been wanting to read Go Set a Watchman, but haven’t as yet. Thanks for the reminder. Demon Copperhead sounds very intriguing, so it’s going on my list. Thanks for these great recommendations, as usual.

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  14. I enjoyed your reviews. You may just have sent me back to “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I am coming to the end of Richard Church’s absorbing autobiography “On the Bridge”, and should review it today.

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  15. Hello Donna
    After a year of what I’ve classed as ‘hit and miss reading’ there’s a couple of things I’m planning for next year – a classic a month plus one non fiction a month. If that’s all I achieve I’ll be happy.
    To kill a mocking bird is on the cards for January and you have just provided me with the non fiction title- Remember!
    I’ve read several Lisa Genova (Still Alice, Inside the O’Briens, Every note played) and marvelled at the research she put in for them so will be interested in Remember.
    Take care
    Cathy – visiting from #WOYBS

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  16. Hi Donna, I am usually so busy reading cookbooks that I neglect literature. But, this summer I did listen to Demon Copperhead. I have been a fan of Barbara Kingsolver ever since I read The Bean Trees, but this book left me cold. I thought she did a good job concluding that nothing has changed since the time of Charles Dickins, but the redundancy in the storyline drove me crazy. I will, however, pick up Remember. I can use all the help I can get in that department.

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    1. Hi, Bernadette – Awesome to hear from you. I hope that you are doing well. I was originally a bit hesitant about reading ‘Demon Copperhead.’ But once I began, I truly could not put it down. It is incredibly unsettling how things have not really changed since Dickens’ time (nor Harper Lee’s).
      Definitely pick up “Remember”. It is an excellent read!

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    1. Hi, Kate – TKAM was frequently studed in schools, but not always at a set grade. So some students got it twice in their curriculum, while others not at all. It has also been banned on and off by some States. As I mentioned in a previous comment – that would only make me want to read it even more! 😀

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  18. Donna, that’s a lot of heavy reading for one month. Thanks for recommending ‘Remember.’ The author offers some good advice, and the conversational tone makes it easy to read and ‘remember’ complex information. I went a little crazy with the highlighter tool on this one. All good stuff.

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne – Your comment made me smile. I used to highlight extensively but now frequently read from libraries (who apparently frown on such practices with their books). 😀 I’m glad that you found ‘Remember’ helpful. I did too.
      I hope all is well there and that you and Malcolm are getting quality downtime for yourselves.

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  19. I’ve never read TKAM. It’s time. I’m currently reading A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews, the story of a young Mennonite woman who struggles with the realities of the religious community she lives in & what lies beyond its borders. The sardonic first-account is both humorous & sobering. “But I guess if you can die without ever understanding what happened then you can also live without a complete understanding of how. And in a way that’s kind of relaxing.” On deck: When The Body Says No by Gabor Mate.

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    1. Hi, Mona – my phone just lit up to show that I had a reply from you for this post. I dropped everything to rush to read it (that’s how much I enjoy and value your comments). “A Complicated Kindness” sounds like an excellent read. I was sure that I had read another book by Toews but for the love of me I cannot remember which one. (I hope this is not because I recently turned 65). :0 “When the Body Says No” also sounds fascinating. I will keep an eye out for it.

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  20. Go Set a Watchman was highly controversial when it was released, as it should have been. Harper Lee did not publish it before she started suffering from dementia, and that decision should have been respected. Any notes or drafts of this book were made well before To Kill a Mockingbird. It is not a sequel. The publishers and lawyers for her estate profited, but publishing a work that she had no intention of letting out into the world was a great act of betrayal.

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    1. Hi, Dorothy – The endless controversies surrounding both Harper Lee and GSAW had me tumbling down rabbit holes for weeks. I had originally read that Lee had been tricked by her lawyer into publishing GSAW. Then I read a book of her letters written back and forth between herself, her sisters their close friend, and Alabama historian/author, Wayne Flynt. Unlike other books and biographies on Lee, Flynt had Lee’s permission to publish about her after her death (he also, at her request, performed her eulogy at her funeral). Reading this book of letters helped clear up much of the controversy for me. It was Flynt’s belief that Lee did approve the publication of GSAW and was clear minded when doing so. Her response to him on this publication apparently was “I’m going to be a rich woman.” His reply back “You’ve been a rich women for a very long time.” (She apparently lived very frugally so that piece was not always evident.) Anyway, fascinating stuff.

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  22. Since I write my blog posts in advance I often have one or two or maybe even three books from one month that are pushed off to the next… I try not to worry so much about WHEN I read it just as long as I jot it down somewhere so I don’t forget. I reread To Kill a Mockingbird just a couple of years ago but had never heard of the other two Harper Lee books. They sound intriguing.

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    1. Hi, Joanne – Your method of recording and posting about books read makes good sense to me. Harper Lee’s first book ‘Go Set a Watchman’ was originally rejected by publishers so she spent two years transforming it into ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ GSAW was then published 30 years later. The other Harper Lee book mentioned here was compiled by her close friend, Wayne Flynt and contains letters that they wrote to one another. I found all of the above to be fascinating, enlightening reads

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      1. Thanks for the info. Seemed like a sequel, and I had forgotten it actually came before To Kill a Mockingbird. At any rate, I can understand why publishers at the time didn’t want to touch it.

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      2. Hi, Laurie – The controversy surrounding Harper Lee and her works is very thick and makes it hard to know what to believe, regardless of who said it. It didn’t help that Lee rarely spoke in public — and if she was forced to do so — it was only ever a few words. In both GSAW and then its final version, TKAM, Harper Lee wrote what she knew. i.e. Her father was a lawyer, she and her brother (she also had two sisters) had a friend who stayed in their area only for the summer (Truman Capote in real life, Dill in the book and movie). She idealized her father but as an adult saw that reality did not match up to the hero had held in her mind. The dialogues where she deals with this emotional pain in GSAW were very raw (and unpolished) but tragegically real to me. I am so glad that I read both books, and then dug into her life a little further. Rabbit Hole tumbles are frequent for me. 😀

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  23. Hi Donna, thank you for this lovely review of This is how we Grow. I am pleased you appreciated the stories included in this anthology. The other books are all interesting. I’ve read To kill a mockingbird and I really enjoyed it. I haven’t read Go set a watchman yet. I found your review most intriguing. I’ve seen other reviews of the Barbara Kingsolver book and that one also sounds very interesting.

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    1. Hi, Robbie – Your short story in This is How We Grow was so powerful. My heart ached all the way through. My soul stood in awe of your resilence. That is such a powerful collection of literary work. I am delighted to recommend it to others.
      October was an excellent reading month for me. November has a very hard act to follow. 😀

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  24. I’m so pleased you enjoyed Demon Copperhead too. It was soooo good. I was sorry that I read Go Set A Watchman as it sort of spoiled To Kill a Mockingbird for me. I don’t think it should have been published. You read some great books and your reviews were excellent, as always. Is hubby healing OK?

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    1. Hi, Darlene – Thank you for asking about Richard. Although his progress is slower than he would like it to be, his arm has been getting stronger and stronger each day. His physiotherapy has been going well and he has his next appointment with his surgeon this coming Monday. So all good things.
      I was hesitant to read Demon Copperhead but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.
      I was also VERY hesitant to read Go Set A Watchman but then was very glad that I did. The messiness of life, and things not always being what they first appeared to be made sense to me. I also stood in awe of how Harper Lee took two years and turned GSAW into TKAM. ❤

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      1. I like the way you looked at Go Set A Watchman, and there were some good things about it. I guess it did reflect the way people thought at the time, but it just goes so against my beliefs. The blatant racism was jarring. I’m glad she reworked it to create a masterpiece. I couldn’t put Demon Copperhaed down either! It sticks with you too.

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  25. Demon Copperhead is too deep for me. I know my limits at this point. I’ve been thinking about getting a copy of Remember [said without being punny, btw]. That sounds like a topic I’d enjoy. Thanks for the reviews.

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    1. Thanks, Lydia – Wayne Flynt also wrote the book “Afternoons with Harper Lee.” The book with their compilaiton of letters was available first so I went with that one. Reading her actual letters helped dispell much controversy for me, so I was glad that I went with that one — although I am sure the second would have been interesting as well. So many books, never enough time!

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  27. Years ago, for book group, we read Go Set a Watchman, and I found the racism deeply disturbing. Not hard to understand why it wasn’t immediately published after To Kill a Mockingbird. I expect Lee’s portrayal Finch and his friends was an accurate depiction of that class of white people—or at least many of them—at the time.

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    1. Hi, Laurie – My understanding is that Go Set a Watchman had been rejected by publishers who had found the flashbacks in the novel the most compelling so encouraged Harper Lee to rewrite the book from young Scout’s point of view. Lee is quoted as saying as a young writer she did what she was told to do — and took two years to do so. Lee later said that after TKAM was published she never thought of also publishing GSAW and later believed that manuscript had become lost. But with so multiple stories and pov surrounding Harper Lee it really is often difficult to get a clear picture.
      My Classics Book Club will be discussing TKAM this coming Monday. I greatly look forward to that discussion. ❤

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      1. Thanks for the info! I think if the book had been published right after it was written, it would have caused quite a stink in the South. Again, I found the book deeply disturbing. If you have time, I would love to hear what folks in your Book Club

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      2. Will do. Our book club is officially discussing TKAM. But three of us have also recently read GSAW so I believe that will be discussed too. Deb, of WidowBadass fame, had avoided reading GSAW due to what she had heard about it. She recently read it at my request and figured it was definitely based on the author’s real life experiences because the passages, although not smoothly crafted, rang painfully true.

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      3. Hi, Laurie – Here’s the book club summary with direct quotes from individuals of the group – everyone chiming in.
        • Happy we choose this book (Mockingbird)
        • Recommend reading both books (Mockingbird and Watchman)
        • Mockingbird stuck a visceral blow at times.
        • Watchman is coming of age story and a good adjunct to Mockingbird.
        • Watchman makes you realize that life is messy and complicated – people are not perfect.
        • Struggles of people trying to make change.
        • Watchman gave Atticus and others textures and layers they didn’t have in Mockingbird.
        •As relevant today as when Harper Lee wrote them.

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  30. Hi Donna – thanks for sharing your reviews of these books. I agree with your comments about Go Set a Watchman. It is exactly as you say, representing the author’s preliminary ideas about how TKAM would be. I can’t remember all the details, but I remember that Atticus Finch’s character was significantly changed in TKAM. Also – I loved Demon Copperhead – I haven’t read David Copperfield – perhaps one day!

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    1. Hi, Barb – The changes in Atticus Finch from a symbol of integrity in TKAM to a much more complex (and far less ideal) figure in GSAW caused much angst for the adult Scout — as well as to many, many readers.
      I have David Coppefield on my list to read ‘one day’ as well! Hopefully, in the not too distant future! 😀

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      1. It’s interesting to think about, isn’t it? I loved TKAM and have read it 3 times. I’m thinking I should read it again. I’ve also been very interested in Harper Lee’s life and how she was good friends with Truman Capote and helped him research In Cold Blood. An interesting friendship.

        David Copperfield is SUCH a long book!

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      2. Hi, Barb – I agree that Harper Lee’s life and personality are fascinating. I highly recommend the Wayne Flynt books. He was close friends with Lee as opposed to other biographers who had no access to her (Shields and the neighbour who wrote ‘Mockingbird Next Door’)

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  34. It’s been a major project. A lot of lessons about things that don’t change and how little history lessons I got in school. I am a descendent of some of the Irish who left but I don’t know the circumstances.

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  36. Pinned ‘Remember’ so I will remember to share it with my book club. It seems my sister, my brother, PC and I have all been talking about and lamenting the things we no longer remember. After begging PC for several years to work a jigsaw puzzle with me, he has jumped into puzzling with both feet. We are hoping to feed our brains in doing so.

    I read a book I would consider more literature than contemporary fiction and I think you and the gals might enjoy it. The title is The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard. The beautiful language truly created movies of little book related images in my mind. It is a wonderful, well told story.

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    1. Hi, Leslie – Thank you so much for the book recommendation. I will take a look at it.
      That’s cool that you and PC are doing jigsaw puzzles. According to much recent research, doing jigsaw puzzles can help improve visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory, and problem-solving skills as well as combat cognitive decline. I could use all of that that I can get! 😀

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  37. What a great post with so many good reviews Donna, a great month of reading for you including all the rabbit holes. Until bookclub I hadn’t read To Kill a Mockingbird and am so glad I now have done so. It was such a piece from the times that unfortunately still reverberates today in many ways.

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  38. Hi Donna, I found your post through Robbie. Thanks for your beautiful and insightful review of This is How We Grow. Yvette was wonderful to work with and I’m honored to be a part of the collection with the other talented authors, and some good friends in this community. Your reviews for the other books are also excellent, so it looks like I have more books to read. To Kill a Mockingbird is the only one I’ve read.
    Thanks again, Lauren 🌷

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  39. Pingback: October Wrap-Up – Hitting the Reset Button – Picture Retirement

  40. Oh my gosh, Donna. I love all those authors and I haven’t read any of the books. I need to bookmark this page to get my reading list going for next month! Fabulous! Thanks for sharing your wonderful reviews.

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      1. I didn’t realize you didn’t know Yvette. She was one of the first people I met when I started blogging. She’s written a story for Story Chat, which will be coming out soon, and we both have interviewed each other. I was thrilled when she asked me to write a chapter. It’s the first time I’ve been involved in an anthology. Thanks for your lovely comment, my friend. 🙂

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      2. Hi, Marsha – I didn’t articulate that very well. What I had meant to say was that even if I did not know the editor and some of the authors (which I do), I still would have given this book a 5-star review. I still didn’t say this well but hope it makes it a bit clearer! I highly recommend this book to others.

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  41. A great ambious list for one month. I have to say that I struggled with Demon Cooperhead. I may have to try it again.

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    1. Hi, Antoinette – Thank you for dropping by. You are the second person that I know to mention this to me about the book Demon Copperhead. I was hesitant to read it but once I opened the first page, I was completely hooked all of the way through. I did recently see the 2019 David Copperfield movie. That, sadly, was not my favourite!

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  42. I didn’t read To Kill a Mockingbird until I was an adult, and I had the same reaction as you. It was gut-wrenching. I’m probably due a re-read of it since it’s been a few years. Glad to hear you give Demon Copperhead such a high rating. I haven’t attempted it yet, but I keep seeing it pop up.

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    1. Hi, Lisa – TKAM was definitely gut-wrenching. It also led my down numerous rabbit holes which I only recently have managed to climb out of! 😀 I read Demon Copperhead for my small 3-person book club. I am not sure that I would have read it otherwise, but I absolutely LOVED it. And yes, it was another HUGE gut punch! I do highly recommend it.

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    1. Thanks so much for dropping by. I highly recommend ‘Remember.’
      As with so much of Harper Lee’s life and literature, there is much speculation as to whether Harper Lee did or didn’t fully understand the implications of signing off on the publication of ‘Go Set a Watchman.’ When I dug into this a bit deeper, my belief is that she did knowingly and willingly give her permission. I found it an incredibly interesting companion read to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’

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      1. The first Kingsolver book I read and admired was The Poisonwood Bible, 25 years ago. But I had never heard of The Demon Copperhead. Even at my advanced age, I am still keen to explore timeless societal truths. We are indeed still marginalising the disadvantaged 😦

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      2. Thank you for dropping by. From your comment, I believe that Demon Copperhead would be an excellent book for you to read. I agree that exploring timesless societal truths is important at every age.

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