Last December, Amanda and I signed up for the 2015 TBR Challenge. Though I had lofty aspirations, between an extremely demanding work year, and the amount of time I spent laboring over Romantic Outlaws, I just didn’t get it done.
I did, however, make a late run, finishing another 4 books from my list since the end of October, for a total of 7/12. Coming soon…our 2016 TBR lists, for a super casual challenge with Amanda and I, plus Eva the Paperback Princess. Feel free to join in with your own list!
Recent Completions
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (2008)
One-sentence summary: This book is a lovely, happy story for 90% of the book, and then it crushes your soul.
This pause in time, within time…When did I first experience the exquisite sense of surrender that is possible only with another person? The peace of mind one experiences on one’s own, one’s certainty of self in the serenity of solitude, are nothing in comparison to the release, and openness and fluency one shares with another, in close companionship.
Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson (2000)
One Three-sentence summary: Fascinating look at the formation of the weather service and the power of a 1900 hurricane. Not my favorite Erik Larson, though it would take a lot to replace my beloved Devil in the White City. I wanted more scandal and turmoil, which was a bit buried beneath all the bureaucracy – as it tends to be, I suppose.
The chief did not want his observers just sitting around between weather observations, a wise policy, given the sex scandals, grave robbing, and other incidents that would soon surface and further undermine the weather service’s reputation.
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott (1871)
One-sentence summary: Jo has grown up.
As there is no particular plan to this story, except to describe a few scenes in the life at Plumfield for the amusement of certain little persons, we will gently ramble along in this chapter and tell some of the pastimes of Mrs. Jo’s boys.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (1970)
One-sentence summary: I am glad I read this, but if you can only read one coming of age story, please let it be Coming of Age in Mississippi.
If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat.
Have you read any of these 4?
Gun In Act One 
That would be no to them all,
YOU READ THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG!!!!!! I’m so happy. And your description is so apt. It does completely destroy your soul in the end. Little Men kind of did the same thing for me.
I didn’t even realize that Erik Larson had a book I hadn’t heard of so now I’m excited about that.
And yay you!!!!! GREAT last push. 7/12 is VERY respectable.