Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56: Love Comes Softly

   

    Hi! Happy New Year's Day, everyone, and welcome to my Friday post (the first one I've published since 2021 started). This one is the last in this month's Week of Book Memes, and kicks off my slow journey toward this site's first blogiversary! Yay! (To view all of the Week of Book Memes events I've done in the past, click HERE.) 

    Earlier this week, I participated in my fourth #IMWAYR, blogged about my top ten favorite books of 2020, and spotlighted Jen Calonita's newest read. Feel free to look at those if you're interested. If you've already looked at any of them, or took the time to comment, thank you so much! Every time I see that people are enjoying my posts it makes me so happy.

    This time, my Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56 features a book rapidly becoming a classic. Especially if you read a lot of Christian fiction, you'll recognize this read as a pioneer in the literary world...ironic considering that it's set in American pioneer days! With a similar feel to the Little House books, it's no surprise that this well-written, emotional story has become a well-known Hallmark movie series.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Retake

  

    Hi, and welcome to yet another Can't-Wait-Wednesday blog post, part of my ongoing Week of Book Memes! (To view all of the other Week of Book Memes posts I've done in the past and this week, click HERE.)

    I'm very excited about today's featured book, as the author herself responded with all the information I needed, AND a special pre-order link with some fun goodies promised. A huge thanks to her for taking time to send that to me!

    Below, you can find the cover, synopsis, and my reasons for waiting on this. Click on the author's name to head to her website, and click on the book title to go to the special link.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Favorite Books of 2020

  

    Wow. Just wow. WE'VE MADE IT, EVERYONE!!!!! 🎊 Despite all the new difficulties and challenges 2020 has brought to all of us, we're pushing through, and we won't have to go through this year again! (Is it weird that now my writer brain is trying to chase after a plot bunny that involves someone from the future being thrown here through the space-time continuum?) 

    In all seriousness, 2020 has not been easy. However, if you're a book lover like me, I think we can agree that stories have lifted us up, encouraged us, and given us some steady ground in the midst of such a shaky existence. I know it has for me. All the same, coming up with my top ten favorite books I've read this year is definitely a challenge. Not only because I've read so many and explored so many new worlds, but because I want to make sure that what I choose has impacted me in some way. 

    Like I've done with most of my other book-listing TTT posts, I've listed the genre, age target, and a small blurb about why I chose this book, as well as a few content warnings for whoever wants to check it out. If you click on the title of the book, you'll also be taken to the Amazon link! Hope you enjoy reading through my choices.

    (To see all the TTT lists I've done in the past, click HERE.)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #4

   

    Hi! Welcome to my fourth It's Monday! What Are You Reading? post, part of my ongoing Week of Book Memes events. (To check out what I've been posting during past Week of Book Memes, click HERE.) 

 

    I took a week-long hiatus from my weekly book blogging but am so happy to be back. I have been very busy reading and writing-wise, juggling several story projects at once while trying to power through a few series at the same time. We were able to get to the library because of Christmas break, which has allowed me to read more printed books. Woohoo! I also got the promise of a free book of my choice (as well as a fun bookworm T-shirt) for Christmas, which I will definitely be using soon!

    

    Scroll below to get a feel for what I've been reading...

An Author Interview: Kaley Rhea

    Hey, and happy Friday! Can you believe it's only six days until Christmas right now? I certainly can't, and wanted to feature a special Christmas-themed read today...Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated! You can find my review of the book HERE. 

    This is the second interview I've posted this week. You can find my first one, featuring Phillip Ulrich (the co-creator of the Growly Books series) HERE. 

    Like my interview with Phillip Ulrich, this is another milestone for me and this blog. Not only have I reviewed the author's latest read before, but this is my tenth interview on here! To look at the other interviews I've done in the past, click HERE.

    I have slightly edited the interview to make it easier to read, without changing any of the author's answers. The interview is also spoiler-free.

An Author Interview: Phillip Ulrich

      Hey! This week I'm excited to post not one, but TWO author interviews. The first interview features Phillip Ulrich, one of the authors of the amazing Growly Books series!

    This is a personal milestone for me, because the first book in this series, Begin, was the first review I ever wrote and posted. If you're interested, you can read that HERE.

    I have slightly edited the interview to make it easier to read, without changing any of the author's answers. Like my interview with Livy Jarmusch, this review is also spoiler-free!

A Book Review: Abigail Adams (Witness to a Revolution)

       Hey! This week I'm thrilled to share with you another amazing book that you should definitely think about putting on your Christmas list. Abigail Adams herself has inspired me more and more as I've gotten to know about her life, and the author writes about her so well! This pick is definitely a keeper, and one to read if you want to feel inspired.

A Book Review: A Wilted Willow (Plus EXCLUSIVE interview with the author!)

    Hi, everyone! I am super excited for this week's post, because I'm participating in my first ever blog tour! A huge thanks for the author for letting me promote her amazing writing.

    Along with the author's blog launch post (you can find her blog HERE), she and her upcoming book will be featured on the blogs of Annabeth Hazel, E.G. Bella, Raina Nightingale, and Ribbon Ash. You can click on those links to visit each site, and view the schedule for the blog tour below.

    This book review and interview contain no spoilers. Check out both of them below!

Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56: The Wedding, and Book Blogger Hop

  

    Hi! Welcome to my triple-combo book blog meme post, the last in this week's Stepping Stones Book Reviews' Week of Book Memes. (To view all of the Week of Book Memes events I've done in the past, click HERE.) Earlier this week, I participated in my third #IMWAYR and a very special TTT list, taking a little break from Waiting on Wednesdays this time around. If you've already looked at any of these posts, thank you so much for reading and commenting! 

    This month, my Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56 is going to feature an awesome, well-written book by Olivia "Livy" Jarmusch! If you've hung around my blog for the past few months, you know that I've been raving about this author and her books nonstop, both reviewing the first book in her Tales of Tarsurella series, and posting a special interview with her, as well as mentioning another one of her reads in this week's #IMWAYR. (I can't help it...everything she makes is so good!) If you're looking for fun, clean reads that guide you toward the Lord, Livy Jarmusch may be the new author for you. This book is the third in her Tales of Tarsurella series.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Things I'm Thankful For

 

    I absolutely LOVED the TTT topic for this week, and thought it would be a perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving! Especially with how uncertain life seems right now, I think taking a second and remembering to be thankful for what we do have, instead of focusing on what we need or want, is something all of us should be aiming towards. I know that I have so many blessings already, and I'm wincing at the fact that I often take them for granted!

    Honestly, this TTT list may be my favorite. 😀 To see all the TTT lists I've done in the past, click HERE. 

    I could probably ramble on about this topic for several pages, but instead I just chose a few broad things to feature here, as well as a short paragraph about why I included that certain thing. Hope you enjoy the list!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #3

  

    Hi! Welcome to my third It's Monday! What Are You Reading? blog post, part of my monthly Week of Book Memes event. (To check out what I posted during my last Week of Book Memes, click HERE.) I'm so excited to be able to make this a regular, monthly post on my blog. It's definitely stretched me and grown me as I've gotten used to writing these posts about what's on my bookshelf!

 

    Last time I posted about this, I mentioned that I'd been stuck on a couple of books. It's true I haven't been reading as much as I've been writing. Last week, though, I went ahead and checked out some new books and flew through them! I'm feeling newly inspired by those, and I hope that taking a break from the books I have a harder time concentrating on will give me the tenacity to go back to them.

    Well, onto the bookshelf!

A Book Review: The Scarlet Letter

    Hey, everyone! This week I decided to do something a little different and review a classic I read for school. I'm definitely hoping to come back to it sometime soon...especially if I decide to participate in The Classics Club book challenge.

    This book review contains no spoilers!

Narnia Blog Tag

   

    Hey! I got tagged for S.J. Barnard's Narnia Blog Tag yesterday, and thought it was such a fun idea that I wanted to post about it IMMEDIATELY. I honestly didn't know blog tags were a thing before this, but now I want to participate in them as much as I do book memes!

    I'm definitely going to have a blast with this. 😁

    Here are the rules (as dictated by S. J. Barnard):

1. Thank the person who nominated you

2. Describe the rate of your Narnia fanatic (Nostalgic, Serious, Maniacal)

3. Answer the questions below

4. Tag 5+ bloggers

5. Have fun!

1. First off, a huge thank-you to Allie Andersen for tagging me! You can find her awesome blog HERE.

2. Here is S.J. Barnard's "Narnia Fanatic Rating System":

Nostalgic Fanatic—You read the book and/or watched the movies as a child and the word Narnia gives you a warm feeling

Serious Fanatic—You rediscovered the wonder of Narnia after you were older and have read the books and watched the movies

Maniacal Fanatic—You have lived Narnia from childhood, hid in closets on more accounts than is healthy, have read and watched all the movies including the BBC version

    Based on her definitions of "Narnia Fanatic", I'd say I'm a Serious Fanatic. I am not a huge Narnia fan, just because I didn't discover the series early enough to get really into it. (Back when most Nostalgics and Maniacs were diving into the wonder of C.S. Lewis's writing, I was more interested in fangirling over Warriors and Ever After High. 😋) Now, while I can't say I've fully read all of the series, I have read books one through six, and watched all the movies.

3. Below are my answers to all the questions. 

Who is your favorite Pevensie sibling?

Probably either Edmund or Lucy. Lucy is just so fun to spend time with, and Edmund's growth as a character is very relatable. I liked that Edmund was more "rebellious" and hard to deal with than the rest of his siblings seem to be.

What is the most underrated book in Narnia?

I'd say The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I know, I know, it's not THAT non-discussed, especially because of the movie based on it, but I still think that the actual book had some great scenes and themes in it that were cut out of the movie. Including the bundle of sass and interest that is Eustace's diary. I love snarky characters 😂

Who is your favorite Narnian king?

King Caspian, because he stuck to the original ideals of Narnia and I think was a good ruler overall.

Who is your favorite Narnian queen?

Honestly, I can't think of any except Lucy or Susan...so probably Lucy. (I still haven't really forgiven Susan.)

Which non-human Narnian do you like best?

Either Aslan, because he's Aslan, or Reepicheep, because of his loyalty. Reepicheep would be a good character to have on your side.

Which book deserves a movie?

The Horse and His Boy. Definitely. It was a fun adventure, I liked that this time it didn't have to be about the Pevensies (though their cameos were nice), and it would be a great way to get more people to enjoy Narnia, who haven't previously read any of the books or seen the movies.

What is one thing you did as a Narnia fanatic you do not regret?

Daydream about finding a magic world in my closet. Also, go to a girl's house last year and comment that her family's wardrobe looked exactly like the Narnia one.

4. To pass this prompt on, I decided to tag:

• Laurel from Laurel Jean 
• Elza from Elza Reads
• Lark from Lark Writes...on books and life
• Ashley from The Rustic Reading Gal
• E.G. Bella from Bella's Blog

5. Well, I think I had fun with this post and all the questions! Hmm, maybe I should think about getting back into Narnia...

    I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post, and hearing all my ramblings about this awesome series! What kind of Narnia fan would you describe yourself as? What would be your answers to the questions?

    When I first posted my interview with Livy Jarmusch earlier this week, I mentioned that there would be another author interview the coming week. Actually, what I meant to say is that it'll be posted AFTER next week, not during! Sorry about the confusion. Instead, I'll be reviewing a classic novel that is one of the most thought-provoking and powerful reads I've ever been able to get my hands on.

(The photos used were taken by Matthew Hamilton, Chris Bair, Siora Photography, Ulvi Safari, and Mika Matin of Unsplash.)

An Author Interview: Livy Jarmusch

     Hi, everyone! Today I'm pleased to post an interview featuring Olivia "Livy" Jarmusch, the bubbly and brilliant mastermind behind the Tales of Tarsurella series and the Regal Hearts books. Livy has personally inspired me with her writing, and I'm so excited to have another chance to feature her amazing books. If you're interested, I posted a book review of her debut, The Coronation, on this blog a few weeks ago. You can find that post HERE.

    I have slightly edited the interview to make it easier to read, without changing any of the author's answers. The interview is also spoiler-free!

    I hope you enjoy hearing Livy's thoughts on The Tales of Tarsurella, writing, and some of her personal favorites.

A Book Review: The Hardest Peace

      Hi, everyone! I hope you're having a good week so far. This week I'm reviewing one of the *few* books that has actually been recommended to me by someone else. I really enjoyed it and hope you will too! This is also my first time doing a full review of an autobiography, which I think is really exciting.

    This book review has no spoilers!

A Book Review: The Coronation

     Hey, everyone! This week I'm thrilled to blog about the first in a great-looking trilogy by a young author that has personally inspired me. Lindsey from Books for Christian Girls also reviewed this some time ago, and I used some of the things she mentioned in her review in mine, too. Thanks, Lindsey!

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

    (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56: Even If, and Book Blogger Hop

 

    Hey! I am so excited to share this post with all of you, and conclude my second Week of Book Memes blogging event. Earlier this week I've participated in an IMWAYR, a Top Ten Tuesday, and a Can't-Wait Wednesday, which you can check out by clicking on the links. Today I'm wrapping it up with another Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56/Book Blogger Hop question combo, similar to one I did a few weeks ago.

    This week's book is one I've wanted to post about for a while now. I read it all the way back during quarantine and it really stuck with me. I've been recommending it like crazy ever since, but part of me has always shied away from posting a full-out review of it. This book deals with some hard stuff! But even though the broken nature of some of the scenes and situations here, there is a lot of joy and hope to be found in the story. I've just decided to feature it here and to see what everyone thinks about it first.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Cabin Girl

 

    Hi, and welcome to another Can't-Wait-Wednesday blog post, part of my ongoing Week of Book Memes event! (To view all of the other Week of Book Memes posts I've done in the past and this week, click HERE.)

    Today I'm really excited about this post, as the soon-to-be-released book I'm featuring is written by another young author. The premise itself sounds amazing, and I can't wait to read it for myself! I'm also hoping to review the full story after it's released, so stay tuned for that post!

    Below, check out the cover, synopsis, and my reasons for being so excited about this. Click on the author's name to go to her website. She's been recently blogging on it as well as talking about her book, so go there and read some of her awesome posts!

Top Ten Tuesdays: Recommended Books

    I loved writing about this Top Ten Tuesday theme, because it made me stretch my brain and reminisce about a bunch of the reads I've stored as "experienced" in my mental attic. You'd think that since I blog about books for fun and regularly talk about great reads to people, that this topic would be a breeze for me to get through. But as I racked my brain for books to put on here, I realized I don't receive book recommendations as often as I give them away!

    This was a bittersweet reminder to me to be more willing to let other book-lovers have a say in what I read. After all, a book's best when it's shared, right? And, true, not every experience with a recommended book has me raving about it or even liking it, but in the end the benefits of letting other people take a peek at my bookshelf and choosing what to add next outweigh the other possibility of choosing to stop and fight for control over everything I do or don't try.

    Well, enough rambling. 😁 Onto the list!

    Like most of my other TTT lists, I include my reasons for including it, a non-exhaustive list of things to be aware of if you want to check out the book, and the Amazon link embedded in the title. (Click HERE if you want to see a full list of the Top Ten Tuesday lists I've done in the past.)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #2

 

    Hi! Welcome to my second It's Monday! What Are You Reading? blog post, part of my monthly Week of Book Memes event. (To see what I posted during my last Week of Book Memes, click HERE.) I really enjoyed getting to do this last month, and am excited to blog about it again.

 

    This has been a bit of a slow week for me in books, partly due to my ongoing fanfiction obsession and the fact that I haven't been to the library in a couple of weeks. Hopefully during the week I'll get back into the mood and habit of finishing the books I start.

A Book Review: First Cousins at the Farm (Plus EXCLUSIVE interview with the author!)

     Hello, everyone! This week I'm excited to blog about the first in a fairly new book series that encourages readers to not take life for granted, and to enjoy the outdoors and their loved ones. I'm also thrilled to post an interview with the author, conducted via email. As always, a huge thank you to Mary Conley for being willing to answer all my questions.

    This is my sixth author interview. To look at all the other ones I've done (including two featuring Tara Grayce and Jen Calonita), click HERE.

A Book Review: Misfits (Plus EXCLUSIVE interview with the author!)

    This week I'm reviewing the first in a fractured fairytale series that I hope you've heard about already. If you haven't, it is so worth the read, and I can't wait to share my thoughts with you.

    This post comes on Wednesday because it's the three-week anniversary of having my jaw surgery. I thought it would be fun to celebrate having made it this far healing-wise, and on how far this blog has come. When I first blogged about a book series I'd thought would be the perfect start to this site, I never imagined the way my small pet project would take off.

    This month it's going on six months, and already I've been blessed enough to host author interviews, participate in a week of book memes, and to interact with a number of amazing authors and fellow book bloggers. This has been an incredible journey, and I hope I get to enjoy six months more of it!

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book. The interview has no spoilers.

    (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

    Check out the awesome cover and review below.

Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56: The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed, and Book Blogger Hop

 

        Hi! Welcome to my Friday post, which wraps up my first Week of Book Memes. When I started the Week of Book Memes, my goal was to post more regularly so that I could start interacting with the book blogging community. And, to my surprise, I met that goal 100 percent. Earlier this week I got to participate in some of the most popular book memes on the Internet, including an IMWAYR, Top Ten Tuesday list, and a Can't-Wait Wednesday...some of them for the very first time! If you haven't looked at those, feel free to check them out. And if you have already, thank you. It makes me happy to see fellow book lovers and book bloggers reading and enjoying my posts.

    To wrap up this week, I am participating in my second Book Beginnings on Fridays. (You can find my first one, which I did last month, HERE.) I'm also adding another meme onto that and participating in Friday 56.

    The book I'm shoving into the spotlight is one that my mom read aloud to me a couple of years ago for school. It's a rollicking tale that features a strong, spirited heroine and a historical setting that's described enough to pull you into the story. Its sequel is even better. Originally the author planned to write a trilogy around this character and her adventures, but sadly the last book was never published. Since then the author has moved on to writing other things, but I believe I'm going to be one of those lingering fans who will always daydream about what the last book might have been like.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Operation Grendel

    Welcome to my first Can't-Wait Wednesday blog post! This is a part of my all-new Week of Book Memes event. Already this week I've been a part of the It's Monday! What Are You Reading? meme AND a Top Ten Tuesday. If you haven't seen those posts, feel free to click on the links. And if you have, thank you so much for reading and commenting. Being super new to the book blogging community (five months and counting), it makes me really happy to see other bloggers looking at and liking the posts and lists I put so much love into.

    Today I'm highlighting a spectacular story whose cover has been recently released. The author is actually my old Creative Writing teacher (of two years, through his One Year Adventure Novel and Byline programs) and he's made such an impact on my life and a ton of others'. I'd love it if more people would check out his work!

(Update: Click on the author's name to go to his official website.)

Top Ten Tuesdays: Favorite Book(ish) Quotes

 

    Welcome to my take on another great Top Ten Tuesday list theme! This post is a part of Stepping Stones Book Reviews' Week of Book Memes, the week-long event where I get to participate in a bunch of the Internet's most popular book blogger memes. (Find my first Monday meme HERE.)

    This month I decided to do something different with my Top Ten Tuesday list. Instead of putting together a list and doing a "mini-review" of all the books included, I've decided to only concentrate on each quote, whether it's from a book or about books, and note why I liked it. If you find a book on here that you'd like to know more about, let me know in the comments and I'll answer with a summary of any issues a day or so after the comment is posted. When I list a book's title, I'll also include an Amazon link, and a link to my review of the book if I've written one already.

    There are spoilers for one book that's listed here, but other than that this post is spoiler-free!

    To view all my Top Ten Tuesday lists, click HERE.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #1

    Hi, everyone! Welcome to my first ever try at a It's Monday! What Are You Reading? book blog event. If you're new to Stepping Stones Book Reviews, welcome. This is the first of The Week of Book Memes, a four-part series of posts I'm doing this week, all dedicated to participating in some of the most fun and popular book blog memes that the Internet has to offer. 

    I've had some rough stuff going on the past few weeks (including recovering from a huge surgery), so I got a little behind on my usually big reading list. As I've rested and gotten more strength up, I've begun to pick up more books and finish them too. I hope you'll enjoy taking a look at my bookshelf as of right now.

A Book Review: The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found

    This week and last week were kind of rough for me, but I decided to work on my weekly post anyway. I read this gem the day after it released and the story touched me so much I just had to share it.

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

    (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

A Book Review: Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky

    Hi! This week I'm going to be reviewing a great historical fiction pick. The writing was so incredible I'm already planning to read the next two in the series. This also wins the medal for the book with the longest title that I've ever read.

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

   (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

A Book Review: The Doll People

    Hello! This week I'm going to review another one of my favorite books, which I think is a perfect read anytime, anyplace! Although there have been many books and movies with similar concepts, this one stands out to me, and is definitely worth checking out.

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

    (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

A Book Review: Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems (Spoiler-Free Review)

    Hey, bookworms! Today will be my first time reviewing a collection of poetry. When I created this blog, I didn't include poetry as part of my "Review Policy" list, because other than books like "Love That Dog" (which I adored), I hadn't found any I wanted to recommend here. But this time the poetry I've chosen is a perfect fit.

    I'm also trying something new this week by mixing in writing prompts along with my discussion questions. I hope you enjoy them.

    This time, my review is spoiler free!

    (The discussion questions and writing prompts will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

A Book Review: My Father's Son (Plus EXCLUSIVE interview with the author!)

     Hi! This week I am thrilled to post yet another author interview, including a look at their recent debut. This story is full of heart, hope, and healing, and it's an honor for me to promote it here.

    This is my fourth author interview on this blog. In the past I've featured Jordyn Hadden, Avarose White, and Tara Grayce. Check out those posts by clicking on the links attached to the names.

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

   (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)

Book Beginnings on Fridays: Starring Me

    Hello! I'm so excited to share my first Book Beginning on Friday with you. This book is a sequel to a great YA read I reviewed last week, called First Date. (You can find my review of it HERE.) Though both books are about Christian life, the first one focuses on a girl who's already a Christian, while this one is about a girl just finding out more about Christians. Both, however, are fun, spunky books that take a look at different parts of show business, viewed through the eyes of ordinary characters.

    Click here to look at all of my Book Beginnings on Fridays.

    So, let's get to the first line!

Top Ten Tuesdays: Books That Should Be Adapted Into Netflix Shows/Movies

     Hi, and welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday list! I was very excited about this list's theme, as I am always finding books I think are good enough to be made into movies. Some of these are more recent reads, while some I've kept close to me through the years, hoping that someone else with the right connections will also see the "big-screen" potential in these books.

    Click below to see the list, including the genre, age target, why I chose the book for my list, and any issues I can remember for whoever wants to check it out. I've also included a link to the book's Amazon page.

    Since it was hard for me to choose just ten this time, I did some extra credit and put in three runner-up titles, just for the fun of it! I hope you enjoy these additional book recommendations.

    All of these Top Ten Tuesday lists are supposed to be spoiler-free, though minor spoilers may sneak in a few times. 

    To view all my Top Ten Tuesday lists, click here.

A Book Review: First Date

    Hi! Earlier last week I said that I would be reviewing the first installment of one of my favorite series. However, I ended up reading this book and thought it was so good I wanted to share it instead. This was my first time reading a book by this author, and after reading this one I can't wait to read more from her.

    There may be minor spoilers as I try to give an accurate picture of the book.

   (The discussion questions will have spoilers, since they are supposed to be used after reading the book.)