It's Just Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Comments for a Cause
  • Tea and Teapots
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Writing
  • Recipes
  • Products
February 14, 2020

What’s on Your Nightstand?

18 Comments/ 12/ 0

I guess I should really title this post “What Books Are You Reading” but I had the graphic from a few years back of the books on my nightstand so I decided to just go with that. My nightstand has a lot of books on it right now (it has shelves) and I thought it was time to share what I am reading right now. I have been on a reading jag and am happily well ahead of my reading goal for the year on Goodreads.

First up is one I just finished that was a book for an upcoming book club discussion. We seem to be on a WWII reading jag lately and this is one of several we have had in our queue.

Image from Amazon.com

I liked this book and felt like it did a great job of telling a very difficult story. Based on the true life story of  Pino Lella, I liked this book much more than I thought I would like it. Sometimes when a book is selected for me to read by someone else I have a difficult time liking it as much as if I had picked it out on my own. But this one ended up being more of a book that I lingered over and since it was over 500 pages it was definitely one that took an investment of time. When it is all said and done – I liked it and am looking forward to the discussion next week.

Next up is one that I am halfway through and hope to finish tonight or tomorrow. I can’t remember where I picked this one up but I really like it. It is witty and light and a nice contrast to the heaviness of reading historical fiction.

Any book written about books is the book for me. An aspiring writer trying to find her place in the world this coming of age story is one that took me by surprise because it was just a nice story. Sometimes I need to read a nice story without a lot of drama and twists and turns. This was just the book to fill that need.

The book that I am starting and hope to read on my trip to Ohio this week is one that Chris got me for Christmas. I have been saving it because it is one I want to savor.

Image from Amazon.com

My regular readers know that I adore Pat Conroy’s writing and I am so looking forward to reading this book by his widow, Cassandra King who is a great writer in her own right. This book will be one that I am sure I am going to enjoy.

My final book that I am reading is this one that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a really wonderful book with beautiful pictures and stories.

I have been a huge fan of Brandon Stanton and his blog, Instagram and his other books. This one has not only pictures but more stories that share more about the people in the pictures. Great book and wonderful project. Everyone has a story.

Tell me – what are you reading? Let me know and Comment for a Cause for WWF – Wildfire Recovery for Australia.

Share:
Tags:
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan books books on my shelves Humans of New York Stories by Brandon Stanton Tell Me a Story by Cassandra King Conroy The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess what are you reading
← Previous Life is All About the Adventures
Next → Journey Through Dementia – Life With My Mom

Related Articles

  • The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich

  • Window Walk at Transylvania County Library

  • Behind the Wall – Book Review

  • Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics – Book Review

  • Starting 2021 with Kindness

18 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. jena c. henry
    February 14, 2020 at 07:35 am

    You have real books! I hope you are enjoying the book about Pat Conroy- I’m sure you will. Odd cover though. And ever since you mentioned book covers you’re right- they’re all the backs of women.

    Reply
    1. Chiles Beth Ann
      February 14, 2020 at 07:58 am

      I loved the book about Pat and Cassandra. Finished it last night and it was wonderful!

      Reply
  2. jena c. henry
    February 14, 2020 at 07:37 am

    And yes to Hunans of New York!

    Reply
  3. Joanna Graham
    February 14, 2020 at 08:11 am

    Hi Beth, in my past years I wouldn’t have had anything to say here but this is where I’ve grown a lot. I may not be quite the reader like you but I’m way more of a reader than I used to be. With that being said I am reading ‘Open Book’ by Jessica Simpson. She talks about her life and her mistakes and her reasons for stopping or slowing down her singing career. I’m happily quite surprised. ☺️

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:38 am

      Thanks for sharing what you are reading. That book by Jessica Simpson sounds really interesting. I love to read biographies and autobiographies because they really give insight into some of the people that we admire.

      Reply
  4. Mama's Empty Nest
    February 14, 2020 at 08:56 am

    Hubby and I visit the library about every two weeks and much of the time we take our granddaughter with us. I usually come home with a stack of books – most of them not recently written. Added to that stack are some books I’m reading to prepare for a new Bible study I’m leading this spring. I just finished “Cottage by the Sea” by Debbie Macomber and really liked her characters in that one. Next up is the second book in a series written by my very good friend,Ron Shafer. The first novel was “The Rose and the Serpent”; the sequel is called “The Pittsburgh Hamlet.” Both books are available on Amazon. He’s already written four more sequels waiting for publication and working on his last one.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:37 am

      I love your library trips and taking your granddaughter is s such a great thing. I love that you have a good friend who has written some great books. Thanks for sharing those as well!

      Reply
  5. Shirley Matthews Dunn
    February 14, 2020 at 11:14 am

    More good suggestions to read. Thanks, Beth Ann. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Chris.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:35 am

      Thanks Shirley!

      Reply
  6. Darlene
    February 14, 2020 at 12:41 pm

    I just finished reading Good Mother’s Don’t by Laura Best and was blown away by it. I was lucky to get an ARC but it will be released in April I believe. I left a review on Goodreads. Now I’m reading The King of Jigsaw Puzzles, a middle grade book about twin brothers, one who has Down syndrome. It is also very good so far.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:33 am

      Ohhhh more great book suggestions! I love eit. Thanks for the suggestions!

      Reply
      1. Darlene
        February 21, 2020 at 09:07 am

        You will like both of these books. Happy reading.

        Reply
  7. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    February 14, 2020 at 04:10 pm

    The Humans of New York book so reminds me of Keith Goldstein’s work:
    https://keithgoldstein.me/

    Have a safe trip and a good visit with your sweeet mama.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:33 am

      I have been a fan of Humans of New York for years and think he really does a great job both with the photography and the stories. I will have to check out Keith’s work — thanks for the suggestion.

      Reply
  8. Judy H
    February 15, 2020 at 08:03 am

    I tend to go more with the fantasy side of things and ‘creative’ nonfiction. I am rereading the Black Jewels series as Anne Bishop is releasing a new book in the series after several years. I am doing the same with the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher. But one I know you would enjoy reading is Girls and Their Cats. An easy read about several women and how cats came into their lives.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:32 am

      Oh those all sound good as well. I am not a huge fantasy reader but I need to explore that genre as well. Thanks for some great idea and the Girls and Their Cats sounds great! I am looking it up now!

      Reply
  9. reneewilliams7
    February 16, 2020 at 07:31 pm

    I am reading Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. It is amazing thus far, beautifully rendered. I love it. I finally talked Mike into reading Chances Are by Richard Russo, and he is enjoying it, too. (I loved that book!) As you know, I love to see what people are reading!!!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      February 21, 2020 at 07:27 am

      That one is on my list. I have not read it yet but have read great things about it.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Subscribe To Rss Feed
  • 2,256 Followers
  • 2,272 Fans
  • Followers
  • 1 Followers
  • Subscribers
  • Subscribers
  • Follow It's Just Life

Comments For A Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – A Bit of Nostalgia

  • Comments for a Cause for the New Year

  • Comments for A Cause – Sharing Where Needs are Great

  • Comments for a Cause – Supporting First Responders

  • Comments for a Cause Goes Pink

  • Comments for a Cause: #IowaStrong

  • Comments for a Cause – Sharing With the Community

  • Comments for a Cause – Fill the Bus

  • Taking Care of Yourself and Others- Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Transylvania Tomorrow

  • Comments for a Cause – COVID – 19 Solidarity Response

  • Comments for a Cause – Helping North Carolina Babies

  • Comments for a Cause Goes International

  • 2020 Brings a New Cause – Project: Music Heals Us

  • Comments for a Cause – Providing a Haven for the Homeless

Check Out My Past Posts

February 2021
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28  
« Jan    

Text

Follow

Pinterest

Visit Beth Ann's profile on Pinterest.

Beth's bookshelf: read

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
5 of 5 stars
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
by Guy Kawasaki
As always Guy Kawasaki has a great book with great information about all things social media. I highlighted tons of places in this book and it is definitely one that I will come back to time and time again to help me in all of the socia...
Old Girls in Low Cotton
3 of 5 stars
Old Girls in Low Cotton
by Helen Childress
This short book was one that looked like it would be a fun read. I honestly did not enjoy it all that much---it was a lot of characters bickering and while some of the writing was witty and funny it was not that kind of book that made m...
The Good Girl
5 of 5 stars
The Good Girl
by Mary Kubica
I loved this book! It had my interest from the very first page and was my "airplane" book on a recent trip. Author Mary Kubica created believable and interesting characters that the reader learned to identify with and care about. Mi...
All the Light We Cannot See
4 of 5 stars
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
This is quite a book! I had it recommended to me by several people and while I thought it might be a little dark and depressing it made me have a better understanding of what life in this time period was like. The strength of the huma...
An Abundance of Katherines
5 of 5 stars
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
Another great book by John Green. I have become a huge fan of John Green since my reading of A Fault in our Stars and this book was another that did not disappoint me at all. It was a story of a child prodigy, a lot of anagrams, and a b...

goodreads.com

Professional Reader
Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2015 It's Just Life, All Rights Reserved.

  • Media Kit, Advertising and Disclosure