Finished: Hope Rises

Starting this book was a pleasant surprise. I forgot a couple months ago when I finished Baldacci’s Nash Falls that it ended with a cliff hanger. I was a little mad then. But then I forgot and when I started this one it was “Hay, I know this character.” Ha!

Finished: Memory of an Elephant

Wow! What a great book. Of the 22 books I have read this year. This is for sure my favorite. (yes, of course I keep track). Four Winds by Kristen Hannah was pretty close. But this one edged it out.

Finished: The Demon of Unrest

Wow! What a great book. I was quite disappointed when it was done. I really wanted to go through the rest of the Civil War with this kind of detail and story telling.

Finished: The Book Thief

I have read many novels about WWII from the allies perspective. I have also read a few from the occupied perspective. I think this was the first one I have read from the German perspective.

Finished: The Fifth Assassin

This book was entertaining AND educational. Like other Brad Meltzer novels I was engaged the entire book. He is a great story teller.

Finished: The Sprout Book

This I assure you this was a page turner. Well, it was for me. I got into sprouts 18 months ago. We have done a wide variety and I have liked them all, but have not been able to move much beyond growing a batch or two a week.

Finished: A Court of Silver Flames

This was for sure my favorite of this series.

Finished: Old Ironsides

Jeri and I have been to Boston 6-7 times in the last 3 years. Every time I have visiting the USS Constitution on my list. It has never worked out.

Finished: Wings and Ruin

Yep, this is a good book series. I plowed through this one really fast. And I have gotten my wife hooked on the first book.

Finished: The Illearth War

Book #2 in the trilogy is done. While I remembered big chunks of the first book from when I was a kid, I remembered none of this one. I thought for sure that I had read the full series back then, but maybe I only read the first book.

Finished: The Illearth War

Book #2 in the trilogy is done. While I remembered big chunks of the first book from when I was a kid, I remembered none of this one. I thought for sure that I had read the full series back then, but maybe I only read the first book.

Finished: The Illearth War

Book #2 in the trilogy is done. While I remembered big chunks of the first book from when I was a kid, I remembered none of this one. I thought for sure that I had read the full series back then, but maybe I only read the first book.

Finished: A Court of Thorns and Roses

First book of 2026. So I am already behind. But I do have 2-3 others at the three quarter mark, so I should be able to catch up quickly.

As I wait for book #4 in the Empyrean series to come out, I looked for something else in the fantasy genre. I found a series that I read when I was young (this book was published in 1977) and bought them on eBay. It took a minute to dig in, but once I did, I really enjoyed it.

It was a busy September! I focused on my September Challenge, biking and raising money for 3 cancer charities I believe in and support. But of course I kept reading! This post is a review of the last 12 books I read. I recommend 9 of them. 75% isn’t bad!

Relentless by Tim Grover gives a look into the mindset of elite performers based on his experience training legends like Michael Jordan and Tom Cruise. Grover breaks down what it takes to move from good to great to unstoppable. “Cleaners,” he calls them, have a kind of mental toughness, discipline, and drive to win. This book gives straight-shooting advice on how to build that same edge yourself. Highly recommend.

A teammate was changing jobs and found this book while we were discussing advantages and pitfalls of her new job. I am so glad we both got to read it. I think this should be required reading before a manager even starts to look for a new staff member. And if someone is thinking of looking for a job, this is highly recommended.

I did not even realize that we had a national archives—a place that keeps track of all the old stuff. It was fascinating to read how much stuff gets pulled from obscure places and filed once someone gets elected. Even elementary school grades and yearbooks. Wow!

Another Brad Meltzer novel and it was good. This one showed a little behind the scenes of a presidential aide. Wow! That would be a tough job. It also got into a secret code that Thomas Jefferson created and some myths around the Freemasons.

On a trip to New York City, we were looking for a vegetarian restaurant. Eleven Madison Park came up in my search. $750 for lunch? No way! At the time, I had not read this book and knew nothing about this restaurant. But after reading this book, maybe someday I will splurge and try out the actual experience. I am now very interested is seeing what this kind of dedication to hospitality is really like!