#13: Glory, Glory by Linda Lael Miller

This book was a nice change of pace from The Shack.  Lucky Number 13 was a quick, easy read.  187 pages of a good, very plausible story.  Remembering that it came from the Romance section of my Nook Color bookshelf, it must be said that there are some very steamy moments in this book that made me look over my shoulder a time or two to see who else was in the room.  But, I loved the characters: Glory (cool name), Jesse, and sweet little Liza and I loved the message of the story.  If you need a good beach bag book, that will make you want to turn the page and will leave you smiling at the end, this is the one for you!  What a great read!

#12: The Shack by William Young

This book has been on my shelf for years, as my mother-in-law passed it on claiming that I had to read it but wanred me that parts were a bit controversial.  I am finally ready to read this book.  Off I go! 

#11: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

I have yet to read a Kristin Hannh book that I did not love and adore and this one was no different.  I read it in 2 days because I could not put it down.  I quickly fell in love with the dual story line and the three main characters: Anya, Meredith, and Nina (and their respective significant others).  The storyline is one that has been done before (daughters who don't get along with their mother) but it was done in such an a-typical way that I still can't get over the story.  If you like historical fiction, in particular WWII, you will love this book.  I adored Jeff-- he might be my favorite character in this book--because he 
likes things better in the middle.  Me too!  Curious to know what this means?  Read the book to find out!

#10: Debbie Macomber's Navy Baby

This is a book that I have read before, but remembered it to be a good, light, and easy read so I read it again because I couldn't quite remember what it was about.   No complaints the second time around.  The story is a bit far-fetched in some parts, but it reminds us all of how grief can truly change your life and can change how you view your life.  (This doesn't sound light and easy, does it?).  I read this book in an afternoon and was glad that I read it again. 

#9: Uncle Tom's Cabin

Well, I did it.  I finished this book and it didn't take me nearly as long as I would've thought.  I have to say that I really enjoyed it, some parts (the dialogue) more than others (the pages and pages of anti-slavery politics) and come characters (Eva and Mr. St. Clare) more than others (Mrs. St. Clare).  Repeatedly as I was reading I kept coming back to one thought: how much I wished I had read this book in college (not high school--those teachers would've skipped over too much of the book) under the direction of a professor who would've pointed out all of the nuances of the book that I am certain I missed.  Let's face it, I read this book for plot, but I know that there's so much more to it than just what happened in the story.  Well, if I am being honest, there's a lot going on in the story (multiple characters with the same name, place shifts, timing shifts, and so much political commentary it was hard to miss) and keeping up with the plot itself was a job all on its own.  I feel certain that Stowe used this book as a way to voice her beliefs about the issue of slavery, that's a no-brainer.  But, what I was surprised about was how often she voiced different view points on the slavery issue.  Some of them really made me think.  More than anything else I will take away from this book is the idea that no matter what happened to some slaves--no matter if they were beaten, separated from their families, verbally abused, physically neglected--their faith in God, Jesus, and a better life in the after-life never wavered.  I am not so sure I would've felt the same had I been in their shoes.   

As I have said before, don't let the subject of this book nor the length of the book deter you from reading Uncle Tom's Cabin.  You will like it and I dare to say that you might even come away from reading this book a little bit better in spirit and mind as when you began reading.  Good luck!