Have You Thanked An Inventor Today? (Patrice McLaurin)

 

Great book for Black History Month! Every inventory is a black person.  Also good timing for our science project where students have to invent a toy.

Goodreads says:

Have You Thanked an Inventor Today is an Amazon Best Seller and is recognized by Microsoft as a book that informs and inspires STEM . It takes its reader on a unique journey into the often overlooked contributions of African-American inventors, and highlights their lasting impact on our daily lives. This book follows the day of a little boy, demonstrating with each page, how African-American minds have greatly enriched our nation's landscape.
Have You Thanked an Inventor Today comes complete with brief biographies about each inventor, as well as fun activities that help encourage reading comprehension and retention. It's also aligned with Common Core and STEM standards. This book is an essential addition to any home or classroom library.
Have You Thanked an Inventor Today is perfect for readers of all ages who are looking to learn and be inspired.

Originals (Adam Grant)

 

Thinking out of the box, not worrying about being like everyone else or what is acceptable - this book has great ideas for thinking out of the box and being original. Great read. It's one to go back to again and again, especially when you feel like you're in a rut.

Goodreads says:

In Originals the author addresses the challenge of improving the world from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions. How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all?
 
Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt; how parents and teachers can nurture originality in children; and how leaders can build cultures that welcome dissent. Learn from an entrepreneur who pitches his start-ups by highlighting the reasons not to invest, a woman at Apple who challenged Steve Jobs from three levels below, an analyst who overturned the rule of secrecy at the CIA, a billionaire financial wizard who fires employees for failing to criticize him, and a TV executive who didn’t even work in comedy but saved Seinfeld from the cutting-room floor. The payoff is a set of groundbreaking insights about rejecting conformity and improving the status quo.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jekins Reid)

 

This was a great read. It's one of those books that makes me despise having to work or having evening engagements. Although, it was also so good that I didn't want to rush through it and have it end too soon. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a great writer. I'm definitely going to read more of her books. I recently bought Atmosphere and while I carried it around the store two people pointed to it and tell me how much they loved the author and then the cashier said the same thing. 

I found myself wanting to look up Evelyn Hugo, figuring she had to be a real person....and reviews called it historical fiction - but there is no Evelyn Hugo. Her character is based roughly around women like Elizabeth Taylor (she had many marriages), Ava Gardner (was secretive about her life) and who knows who else. The characters sure did seem real to me! 

My daughter has read it and kept saying she couldn't wait until I got to the surprise....there were so many twists and turns that I figured she should just tell me....but she wouldn't budge. I was glad. It was a unforeseen surprise!

I'm really looking forward to discussing this one with my book club. If anyone doesn't like it, I might have to karate chop them :) 

Goodreads says:

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

The Seventh Most Important Thing (Shelley Pearsall)

 

I really enjoyed this book. It also made for a great discussion for our Children's Lit book club. 

I think it would be a great book to read with Middle School kids. Some of the themes (death, alcoholism, redemption, being on probation) are pretty big. It's recommended for grade 4-9 but I don't think I'd read it to grades 4 or 5. I loved that it is actually historical fiction and there really was a man who created this representation of heaven that is currently displayed at The Smithsonian. Fascinating! There is a lot of symbolism in the book which is easy find lots of examples to wrap your head around the concept.  (the number 7, the power of art, perspective, trash versus treasure, healing after loss, etc.)

Goodreads says:

It was a bitterly cold day when Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge—he is ready to send Arthur to juvie for the foreseeable future. Amazingly, it’s the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service . . . working for him.

Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can’t believe it—is he really supposed to rummage through people’s trash? But it isn’t long before Arthur realizes there’s more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the “trash” he’s collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . .

Inspired by the work of American folk artist James Hampton.

Paul the Peacock (Tilly Matthews)

 

Great friendship story! People matter more than stuff.

Goodreads says:

Paul has everything. He has the biggest nest, the most loyal friend, and of course, the most beautiful feathers in the forest. But as you can guess, he’s not the humblest of birds… In fact… Paul is a selfish, rude, and arrogant peacock who isn’t very nice to his friend Norris the Loris and the other animals in the forest. He’s pampered by everyone around him, and never has to shake a feather. Then, one evening, "after another long, tiring day of being perfect", there is a huge storm. Paul loses everything (including his precious feathers). He has to go on an adventure through the forest to try and retrieve his most prized possession. He sets off to find his feathers and ultimately discovers something even more important… This hilarious story with comic deadpan moments and vivid, expressive illustrations conveys an important message about kindness, friendship, and humility. Follow Paul as he’s brought down to earth from his treetop penthouse and learns to appreciate the friends he’s lucky to have around him. This is a fantastically funny fable that gently shows young readers how to be less materialistic, and more modest and mindful of other people’s feelings.

The Madness of Crowds (Louise Penny)

  

I had to make a map of all the characters when I was reading this book.  There was a lot!! I learned, however, that if I had read some of the previous books it might have been less painful because some characters come up again and again. I'm almost tempted to go back and read some of her previous books - except that I need a little time to recover from this one. There was so much in this book - so many themes, so many characters....so many pages! LOL 

Apparently, the awful studies on people and animals that the story refers to really were something that happens in Canadian history.

While I was reading it, I would look up videos of Louise Penny now and then. I really like her. She is very down to earth and a really good speaker. It seems like her crowd is older folks. Maybe that's me now. I loved the fact that it's set in Canada and that she's a loved Canadian author.

I loved that this was set just after the pandemic. It made for some good discussions at book club - contagion, belief in false theories, the lemming effect. It takes 100 pages in before the murder that the book is centered around actually happens....and then at the end, there is 100 or so pages or circling around the suspect. 

Goodreads says: 

You’re a coward.

Time and again, as the New Year approaches, that charge is leveled against Armand Gamache.

It starts innocently enough.

While the residents of the Québec village of Three Pines take advantage of the deep snow to ski and toboggan, to drink hot chocolate in the bistro and share meals together, the Chief Inspector finds his holiday with his family interrupted by a simple request.

He’s asked to provide security for what promises to be a non-event. A visiting Professor of Statistics will be giving a lecture at the nearby university.

While he is perplexed as to why the head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec would be assigned this task, it sounds easy enough. That is until Gamache starts looking into Professor Abigail Robinson and discovers an agenda so repulsive he begs the university to cancel the lecture.

They refuse, citing academic freedom, and accuse Gamache of censorship and intellectual cowardice. Before long, Professor Robinson’s views start seeping into conversations. Spreading and infecting. So that truth and fact, reality and delusion are so confused it’s near impossible to tell them apart.

Discussions become debates, debates become arguments, which turn into fights. As sides are declared, a madness takes hold.

Abigail Robinson promises that, if they follow her, ça va bien aller. All will be well. But not, Gamache and his team know, for everyone.

When a murder is committed it falls to Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and their team to investigate the crime as well as this extraordinary popular delusion.

And the madness of crowds.

What We'll Build (Oliver Jeffers)

 

This is really beautiful...and so much symbolism in the doors and building. Love it. 

Goodreads says:

What shall we build, you and I?
We'll build a watch to keep our time.
I'll build your future
and you'll build mine.

A father daughter story.