June Reflections

 In June I read thirty-two books!

Books Reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

55. Gus and Glory. Sarah Guillory. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, dogs, friendship]

56. Home of the Brave. Katherine Applegate. 2007. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, mg verse novel, 4 stars]

 57. The Tiger Rising. Kate DiCamillo. 2001. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, j fiction, coming of age, j realistic fiction]

58. The Fellowship of the Ring. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 423 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, fantasy, classic]

 59. The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum. Thornton W. Burgess. 1914. 139 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, classic, children's classic, animal fantasy]

60. Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins--The First Lady of Children's Music. Traci N. Todd. Illustrated by Eleanor Davis. 2025. 60 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, picture book biography, music appreciation]

61. Snowglobe. (Snowglobe Duology #1) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopian; New Adult]

62. The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mama #4) Anneka R. Walker. 2025. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult romance, proper romance, clean romance, historical fiction, historical romance]

 63. Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, picture b ook biography, art appreciation]

Books Reviewed at Young Readers

57. Piggle the Pig #1 The Perfect Pigsty. Dudolf. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, 5 stars]
58. The Monster At The End of This Book. Jon Stone. Illustrated by Michael J. Smollin. 1971. Golden Books. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

59. Rosemary Long Ears. Susie Ghahremani. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, dogs, 4 stars]

60. A Thousand Years. Christina Perri. Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture books, 3 stars]

61. Squid In Pants. Kaz Windness. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, ready to read, leveled reader, easy reader, 4 stars]

62. Here is A Book. Elisha Cooper. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, book about books]

63. How Elegant the Elephant. Mary Ann Hoberman. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. 2025. 88 pages. [Source: Library] [poetry, children's poetry, poetry collection, j poetry, 3 stars]

64. His Fairytale Life: A book About Hans Christian Andersen. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, picture book biography, j nonfiction]

65. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [picture book]

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio AND library] [4 stars]

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio]

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio and picture book]

69. Board book: This Is My World:  High Contrast Touch and Feel Book (Board Book). Hannah Eliot. Emily Spikings Illustrator. 2025. 14 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book]

70. We Are Sneetches. (Board book). 2025. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, Dr. Seuss legacy]

71. Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Betsy Bird. Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, fractured nursery tales, 5 stars]

Books Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

46. Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John. (Christ Centered Exposition) Daniel L. Akin. Edited by David Platt and Tony Merida. 2014. 187 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, commentary]

47. Some Like It Scot. Pepper Basham. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, christian romance, contemporary Christian]

48. Sharing Christ In Joy and Sorrow: A Theology of Philippians. Chris Bruno. 2025. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian theology]

49. Jesus Loves the Little Children. Tara Hackney. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, children's book]

50. Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God. Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock. 2025. 232 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian nonfiction, biography]

51. To Love A Beast. (Once Upon a Time in Texas #1) Karen Witemeyer. 2025. 229 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical romance, Christian romance]

52. Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) Gabrielle Meyer. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [speculative fiction, historical fiction, time travel, christian fiction, 5 stars]

Bibles Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

5. King James Version. (KJV) Clarion Reference Bible (Cambridge). God. 1970 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, Bible]

2025 Totals

2025 Totals
Books read in 2025	191
Pages read in 2025	42,460
January 2025
Books read in January	30
Pages read in January	7,020
February 2025
Books read in February	30
Pages read in February	4,782
March 2025
Books read in March	34
Pages read in March	8,595
April 2025
Books read in April	34
Pages read in April	8,293
May 2025
Books read in May	31
Pages read in May	7,698
June 2025
Books read in June	32
Pages read in June	6,072

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Century of Viewing, Month 6

This month I watched twenty-six things. I did start watching several TV shows--LOST, The Muppet Show, Stargate SG-1. And I finished up watching the Karen Read Retrial.

I only have ONE year left: 2011.

June's 5 Star Movies

• Spite Marriage (Buster Keaton, 1929)
• Kate and Leopold (2001)
• Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath (Buster Keaton, 1931)
• The General (Buster Keaton, 1926)
• Sidewalks of New York (Buster Keaton (1931)
• Batman (1966)
• I Still Believe (2020)
• The Peanuts Movie (2015)
• Darkest Hour (2017)

June's 4 and 4 1/2 Star Movies

• Our People: The Remarkable Story of William and Catherine Booth
• DefunctTV: Jim Henson Playlist
• Titan: The Oceangate Disaster
• Independence Day: Resurgence
• Won't You Be My Neighbor
• The Greatest Average American
• The Wild Robot
• Ender's Game
• Divergent
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #26

This week I read a LOT of books--fourteen books!

61. Snowglobe. (Snowglobe Duology #1) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopian; New Adult]

Read this if...

• You enjoy futuristic dystopian YA novels
• You enjoy the above without a love triangle or a love interest
• You enjoy international literature that has been translated into English

62. The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mama #4) Anneka R. Walker. 2025. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult romance, proper romance, clean romance, historical fiction, historical romance]

Read this if....

• You enjoy marriage of convenience romances
• You enjoy historical romances
• You enjoy clean romances

 63. Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, picture book biography, art appreciation]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books for older readers
• You enjoy picture book biographies
• You are looking for 'art appreciation' or 'history' books for young readers

65. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books about animals
• You want the origin story of Old MacDonald (who had a farm)

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio AND library] [4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy PETE THE CAT
• You enjoy school stories
• You enjoy positive outlooks on life
• You enjoy books with songs
  

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio]

Read this if...

• You enjoy PETE THE CAT
• You enjoy positive outlooks on life
• You enjoy books with songs
  

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio and picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy Pete the Cat
• You enjoy positive outlooks on life
• You enjoy books with songs

69. Board book: This Is My World:  High Contrast Touch and Feel Book (Board Book). Hannah Eliot. Emily Spikings Illustrator. 2025. 14 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy board books
• You are looking for high contrast board books to share with VERY YOUNG babies.

70. We Are Sneetches. (Board book). 2025. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, Dr. Seuss legacy]

Read this if....

• You like all things Sneetches even if it isn't the original.

71. Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Betsy Bird. Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, fractured nursery tales, 5 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy SILLY, humorous twists on nursery rhymes
• You enjoy narrators who get flustered
• You enjoy repetition

5. King James Version. (KJV) Clarion Reference Bible (Cambridge). God. 1970 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, Bible]

Read this if...

• You enjoy the King James Version
• You are looking for a single column, black letter KJV

50. Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God. Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock. 2025. 232 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian nonfiction, biography]

Read this if...

• You enjoy biographies of Christians
• You enjoy reading theology

51. To Love A Beast. (Once Upon a Time in Texas #1) Karen Witemeyer. 2025. 229 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical romance, Christian romance]

Read this if...

• You enjoy fairy tale adaptations (that take out the fantastical fairy tale elements)
• You enjoy historical romance
• You enjoy historical novels set in Texas

52. Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) Gabrielle Meyer. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [speculative fiction, historical fiction, time travel, christian fiction, 5 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy time slip speculative historical romance novels
• You enjoy mystery/suspense
• You have an interest in Jack the Ripper

Century of Viewing, Week 26

1960s

• 1966 Batman: The Movie. So bad it's good...and so good at being bad that I watched it twice. So hilariously bad it's just full of laughs. Batman battles four villains with the help of his sidekick, Robin.
  

1980s

• 1981 Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first Indiana Jones movie. He has adventures and misadventures....in the late 1930s. Plenty of spooks and close-calls.
  
• 1982 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I am not a fan of the first Star Trek movie. I like this one so much better. Not as good as some of the later ones, mind you. But it is the start of the story which takes place over three Star Trek films--II, III, and IV. The ending is powerful.
  
• 1984 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. There are many things I enjoy about this one. I love the ending, for example. I love how the three movies blend into one big story. And hooray for the return of Spock!
  

2010s

• 2013 Ender's Game is an adaptation of Orson Scott Card's book. It is good but not as good as the book. Science fiction, aliens, and a twist ending.
  
• 2014 Divergent. Dystopian movie based on a popular book series. I love the first movie the most...the other two were not as good. So futuristic dystopian with strong romantic elements....
  
• 2015 The Peanuts Movie. It's been a while since I revisited this animated movie. Still good fun. It follows Charlie Brown and friends over the course of a school year. Charlie Brown is in love with the red-haired girl and is determined to fly a kite....meanwhile Snoopy is busy writing a story of his own.
  
• 2017 Darkest Hour is a Winston Churchill World War II movie. I believe surrounding the Dunkirk period of the war. This one started slow but by the end it was great.
  

2020s

• 2020 I Still Believe is a Christian movie based on Jeremy Camp's life. It is a love story between Melissa, Jeremy, and God. A story of how God's will isn't always in line with "our will." While very young, they fell in love not knowing just how short their time together would be. Extremely very sad but also packed with spiritual insights.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

63. Dragonflies of Glass

 63. Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, picture b ook biography, art appreciation]

First sentence: As a girl, Clara loved to draw every flower and weed on her family's farm in Ohio: daffodils, poppies, and wild carrot. She drew dragonflies and butterflies and even cobwebs.

Premise/plot: Dragonflies of Glass is a picture book biography of Clara Driscoll. In the late 1880s, she moved (with her sister) to New York City and found work at the Tiffany Glass Company. She became highly skilled and was super creative. Her works were largely inspired by nature. While she started out in stained glass, she became perhaps better known for her lamp work.

My thoughts: This isn't a subject I had much interest in...before reading. But I am always open to reading picture book biographies and learning. I thought this was a great read. Readers learn not only about Clara Driscoll but the other Tiffany Girls with which she worked. The book is great at putting things into context. I do wish the book had more photographs.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

62. The Rules of Matrimony

62. The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mama #4) Anneka R. Walker. 2025. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult romance, proper romance, clean romance, historical fiction, historical romance]

First sentence: Ian met his father's glare with a fiery one of his own, showing the man less respect than he had probably ever received in his life, and set his hand down firmly on the black-walnut desk between them.

Premise/plot: Ian Reynolds has NO intentions of ever marrying, or, at the very least marrying for love. A life of politics, that's the life for him. However, when he finds himself 'accidentally' engaged to Amie Tyler, he come prepares with a list of rules, or, guidelines for their marriage. Amie never intended to make anything up, to lie. To get out of a socially awkward moment, she claims she's engaged....to a dead man. She is literally reading a name from a nearby tombstone! Yet, Lord Reynolds hears of this and has his own reasons for allowing the misconception to continue. A marriage of convenience may be just the thing to 'save' them both. But some rules are hard to keep....

My thoughts: I liked this one well enough. It was predictable. This could be a great thing for most readers. And I like predictable romances myself most of the time. It was enjoyable. I really strongly prefer clean romance. I won't allow myself to knowingly read the other. (My choice. I don't judge other people's choices.) I felt some of the obstacles were slightly silly. In that a simple conversation or two could clear up everything quickly. But that's somewhat typical. Overall, I liked it.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

61. Snowglobe

Snowglobe. (Snowglobe Duology #1) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopian; New Adult]

First sentence: In the living room, Grandma is sunk in her chair in front of her favorite TV show, a heavy quilt draped over her lap. I look down at the weather ticker scrolling away along the bottom of the screen.

I read the description of this one and that was enough of a hook to get me. I'm not sure I could do the book justice by trying to summarize it. You should know it is set in a futuristic dystopia. The world building was FANTASTIC. The characters were well-developed, fleshed out. The plot was both simple and complex. 

It stars a sixteen year old, Jeon Chobahm, who wants to be part of their world--Snowglobe. The residents of Snowglobe seemingly have it all. The residents are actors, directors, celebrities if you will. They are the only people on earth to live in a warm climate. The rest of the world is in perpetual winter or ice age. Her dream is to be a director, to be direct one of the shows of Snowglobe. 

Be careful what you wish for. She'll be presented with an opportunity. Does she have the right to say no? Maybe? maybe not? Regardless, she does NOT want to miss this opportunity. She runs straight for it. It is only afterwards when she begins to suspect that the Snowglobe she knows through the screen isn't the real Snowglobe.

I am so glad I borrowed this one from the library. It was such a fascinating/engaging read. Usually dystopian novels require a LOT of suspension of disbelief. You almost read with an eye-roll. It may be very entertaining, but equally obnoxious. Some are so heavy-handed and ridiculous hitting you over the head with a couple of hammers that there's no fun to be had. This one I completely became absorbed in. I didn't feel manipulated or preached at.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #25

This week I read eight books.

 57. The Tiger Rising. Kate DiCamillo. 2001. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, j fiction, coming of age, j realistic fiction]

Read this...

• If it's the last book on earth and you are bored
• If you don't mind horrible endings
• If you don't mind horrible human beings
• If you don't like hope of any sort in your book

58. The Fellowship of the Ring. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 423 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, fantasy, classic]

Read this...

• If you enjoy fantasy novels
• If you enjoy quests
• If you are a hobbit
• If you enjoy epic stories

 59. The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum. Thornton W. Burgess. 1914. 139 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, classic, children's classic, animal fantasy]

Read this....

• If you enjoy animal fantasy
• If you enjoy children's classics
• If you enjoy vintage books
• If you enjoy series books

60. Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins--The First Lady of Children's Music. Traci N. Todd. Illustrated by Eleanor Davis. 2025. 60 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, picture book biography, music appreciation]

Read this...

• If you enjoy picture book biographies
• If you enjoy children's folk music
• If you are looking for picture books that fall into the "music appreciation" category

62. Here is A Book. Elisha Cooper. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, book about books]

Read this 

• If you enjoy books about books
• If you enjoy books about artists

63. How Elegant the Elephant. Mary Ann Hoberman. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. 2025. 88 pages. [Source: Library] [poetry, children's poetry, poetry collection, j poetry, 3 stars]

Read this

• If you enjoy poems about animals
• If you enjoy children's poetry
• If you enjoy poetry collections

64. His Fairytale Life: A book About Hans Christian Andersen. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, picture book biography, j nonfiction]

Read this

• If you enjoy picture book biographies
• If you don't mind a picture book that is just ONE SENTENCE pieced together poorly with commas and occasional semicolons

49. Jesus Loves the Little Children. Tara Hackney. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, children's book]

Read this

• If you are a Christian looking for Christian board books
• If you are looking for  "fresh" updated lyrics to a classic song

Century of Viewing, Week 25

2010s

• 2016 Independence Day: Resurgence I watched Independence Day earlier this year. I didn't even know there was a sequel until I stumbled upon it on Tubi. This was a fun-enough disaster movie. I enjoyed seeing some of the original cast return to the sequel. It was entertaining enough that I'm glad I watched it. I am not such a big fan of the first movie that I think this one is particularly "lesser than."
  
• 2018 Won't You Be My Neighbor is a documentary on Fred Rogers, aka Mister Rogers of Mister Rogers' neighborhood. This documentary features many clips. It is an enjoyable documentary. Perhaps not my absolute favorite documentary. But I am glad I revisited it.
  

 2020s

• 2021 The Greatest Average American is a stand-up comedy special featuring Nate Bargatze. Stand-up comedy isn't my favorite or best genre. HOWEVER clean stand-up comedy that is actually funny, entertaining, enjoyable, relatable....is a delight. There are two other specials, I believe, on Netflix that I'll get to at some point perhaps.
  
• 2024 The Wild Robot. This children's movie WAS such an intense emotional journey. I've heard from a reliable source that the book is so much better. I hope to read the book soon. Perhaps after reading the book, I won't 'love' this one as much. But as a movie on its own, I definitely enjoyed it.
  
• 2025 Our Times. I WANT MY TIME BACK. I hated this movie so much. This one, I believe, is set in Mexico. I watched the dubbed into English version. The premise is simple: a husband-wife scientist team--in 1966--travel through time (in a device they built) to 2025. They meant to go ahead fifteen minutes into the future. The worm hole (I believe it was a worm hole?) takes them to 2025. They meet their great-niece and a former student who is now a dean of the university where they both worked. The two don't know how to fit in--at first. But after a few feminist lectures, she's all for it and decides that all men are evil scum. She even decides to end their marriage. Or comes close to it. He decides to go back to 1966. She stays. The end. Mostly. I hated this one so much. It was so preachy. It was so HIDEOUSLY awful. It started off relatively clean and then got DIRTY halfway through....which was a disappointment for me. If it had started off that way, I'd have saved myself the bother and just picked something else.
  

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

60. Make a Pretty Sound

 

60. Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins--The First Lady of Children's Music. Traci N. Todd. Illustrated by Eleanor Davis. 2025. 60 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, picture book biography, music appreciation]

First sentence: Amid the blare and bleat
of taxicabs,
the screech of high-up trains,
the tambourines that ring
as preachers preach
and choirs sing--
amid the pool hall-gritty
beat of the city
a little girl named
Ella whistles with
the birds.
Little girls
shouldn't
whistle,
her mother says.
But ella wants
to make
a prety
sound.

Premise/plot: Make a Pretty Sound is a picture book biography of Ella Jenkins. It is written as a narrative poem. The rhythm of it WORKS. (I love it when that happens.) When writing about musicians, it is almost essential that attention is given to the narrative style, to getting the rhythm just right. So this picture book is the story of her life and her work. She is best known for her children's music. (I, for one, remember her appearances on MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD.) 

My thoughts: I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend that if you are going to take the time to read a picture book biography of a musician, in this case, Ella Jenkins, you take the time to introduce children to the MUSIC as well. Take time to listen to some of Ella Jenkins' albums, or songs at least.

I enjoyed the narrative text. I enjoyed the illustrations. I appreciated listening to her music. (YT for the win!) 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

59. The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum

 59. The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum. Thornton W. Burgess. 1914. 139 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, classic, children's classic, animal fantasy]

First sentence:  THE Green Meadows were thrown into great excitement late one afternoon, just as the black shadows came creeping down from the Purple Hills. Reddy Fox brought the news, and when he told it he grinned as if he enjoyed it and was glad of it. "Old Billy Possum is dead. I know it because I saw Farmer Brown's boy carrying him home by the tail," said Reddy. "So you see he wasn't so smart as you thought he was," he added maliciously. No one really believed Reddy Fox, for every one knows that he seldom tells the truth, but when Jimmy Skunk came mournfully down the Crooked Little Path and said that it was true, they had to believe it. Then everybody began to talk about Unc' Billy and say nice things about him and tell how much they had enjoyed having him live in the Green Forest since he came up from "Ol' Virginny." That is, everybody but Reddy Fox said so. Reddy said that it served Unc' Billy right, because he was of no account, anyway. Then everybody began to hoot and hiss at Reddy until he was glad enough to slink away.

Premise/plot: What you see is what you get: the ADVENTURES of Uncle Billy Possum. Thornton W. Burgess published a series of children's books--fantasy books, animal fantasy books--in the early twentieth century. Unc' Billy Possum LOVES to steal eggs from Farmer Brown. Jimmy Skunk is a friend and cohort. They both love to steal eggs from Farmer Brown. Usually, Unc' Billy is clever enough NOT to get caught directly by Farmer Brown or his son(s). But not always--so this one has some adventures AND misadventures. 

The simple plot could be condensed to Uncle Billy Possums' family comes to live with him in the Green Meadows and his friends throw a surprise party to celebrate. Not all the animals are invited, pranks are planned, and plots are foiled. Uncle Billy finds himself in a series of scrapes when his wits become 'sleepy' and he doesn't think through his 'criminal' activities (egg stealing). While his family worries, Unc' Billy feels stressed. Will he ever find his way back to his family?! Will lessons be learned?!

My thoughts: This is the first Thornton Burgess that I remember reading--at least reading on my own! Mom assures me that she read aloud some of his animal stories when we were young. I definitely LOVED this one. I thought the characters were fun. The stories were charming; perhaps a few instances where people might feel them to be NOT politically correct--a few 'dated' terms that are not perfectly ideal. However, especially adult readers could still find these stories delightful, charming, and perhaps nostalgic.
I would always prefer to read classics in their original form--rooted in the time and place in which they were written--than to have 'edited' versions that are seeking to appease. 

Favorite quote:

Now it never does to let one's wits go to sleep. Some folks call it forgetting, but forgetting is nothing but sleepy wits. And sleepy wits get more people into trouble than anything else in the world. Unc' Billy Possum's wits were asleep when he left Farmer Brown's hen-house. If they hadn't been, he would have remembered this little saying:

The wits that live within my head
Must never, never go to sleep,
For if they should I might forget
And Trouble on me swiftly leap.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

58. The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings)

The Fellowship of the Ring. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 423 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, fantasy, classic]

First sentence from the prologue: This book is largely concerned with Hobbits, and from its pages a reader may discover much of their character and a little of their history.

First sentence from chapter one: When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

[ETA: I've reread The Lord of the Rings many times now. This was my FIRST TIME to listen to the audio book of Fellowship of the Rings. It's about 22 hours of awesomeness. Maybe a little longer. The audio book I listened to was narrated by Andy Serkis. He was a GREAT narrator. DISTINCT voices for all the characters. Each one was GREAT. It was just a joy to revisit the book in audio form. It made the poetry/songs especially enjoyable instead of just something you skim/skip.]

Premise/plot: The novel opens with a HUGE celebration. Bilbo will be turning 111 and Frodo will be turning 33.

Bilbo is preparing to leave the Shire forever, but, he'll be leaving most everything to Frodo--including his magical ring. Gandalf is relieved that the ring will pass onto Frodo, it makes him a bit nervous to see Bilbo so attached to it and calling it precious. As the years go by--and years DO go by--Gandalf becomes concerned, worried, anxious about the ring. He fears that it is the ONE RING, and that Frodo's possession of the ring is dangerous.

I believe Frodo is about fifty when he does eventually set out on his very own adventure. And he won't be alone. He'll be accompanied by Sam, Pippin, and Merry. As their journey progresses, more people join the fellowship, and more risks are faced.

My thoughts: I love, love, loved rereading The Fellowship of the Ring. I think this is my third time to finish the series. (Yes, I've read all three of the trilogy when I'm writing this review.) There is something comforting about rereading it. I think it gets better each time. I find more to love, more to share. I notice more as well.

  On birthday presents:

Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays. Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system. Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater every day in the year was somebody’s birthday, so that every hobbit in those parts had a fair chance of at least one present at least once a week. But they never got tired of them.

It was a tendency of hobbit-holes to get cluttered up: for which the custom of giving so many birthday-presents was largely responsible. Not, of course, that the birthday-presents were always new; there were one or two old mathoms of forgotten uses that had circulated all around the district; but Bilbo had usually given new presents, and kept those that he received. 

On the food at the birthday party:

There were three official meals: lunch, tea, and dinner (or supper). But lunch and tea were marked chiefly by the fact that at those times all the guests were sitting down and eating together. At other times there were merely lots of people eating and drinking – continuously from elevenses until six-thirty, when the fireworks started. 

Bilbo confesses something to Gandalf:

‘I am old, Gandalf. I don’t look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed!’ he snorted. ‘Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can’t be right. I need a change, or something.’ Gandalf looked curiously and closely at him. ‘No, it does not seem right,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘No, after all I believe your plan is probably the best.’ ‘Well, I’ve made up my mind, anyway. I want to see mountains again, Gandalf – mountains; and then find somewhere where I can rest. In peace and quiet, without a lot of relatives prying around, and a string of confounded visitors hanging on the bell. I might find somewhere where I can finish my book. I have thought of a nice ending for it: and he lived happily ever after to the end of his days.’ 

The ring:

As Frodo did so, he now saw fine lines, finer than the finest pen-strokes, running along the ring, outside and inside: lines of fire that seemed to form the letters of a flowing script. They shone piercingly bright, and yet remote, as if out of a great depth. ‘I cannot read the fiery letters,’ said Frodo in a quavering voice. ‘No,’ said Gandalf, ‘but I can. The letters are Elvish, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here. But this in the Common Tongue is what is said, close enough: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
It is only two lines of a verse long known in Elven-lore: Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.’

But as for breaking the Ring, force is useless. Even if you took it and struck it with a heavy sledge-hammer, it would make no dint in it. It cannot be unmade by your hands, or by mine. 

‘There is only one way: to find the Cracks of Doom in the depths of Orodruin, the Fire-mountain, and cast the Ring in there, if you really wish to destroy it, to put it beyond the grasp of the Enemy for ever.’ 

Frodo and Gandalf 'regret' the times in which they live:

‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. And already, Frodo, our time is beginning to look black. The Enemy is fast becoming very strong. His plans are far from ripe, I think, but they are ripening. We shall be hard put to it. We should be very hard put to it, even if it were not for this dreadful chance. 

I am not made for perilous quests. I wish I had never seen the Ring! Why did it come to me? Why was I chosen?’ ‘You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess: not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.’

‘Not safe for ever,’ said Gandalf. ‘There are many things in the deep waters; and seas and lands may change. And it is not our part here to take thought only for a season, or for a few lives of Men, or for a passing age of the world. We should seek a final end of this menace, even if we do not hope to make one.’ 

More words of wisdom from Gandalf:

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. 

Hobbits really are amazing creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.  

The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.’ 

It is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill. But such falls and betrayals, alas, have happened before. 

‘Despair, or folly?’ said Gandalf. ‘It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Well, let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy! For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning.’ 

Favorite Sam Bits:

‘Well, sir,’ said Sam dithering a little. ‘I heard a deal that I didn’t rightly understand, about an enemy, and rings, and Mr. Bilbo, sir, and dragons, and a fiery mountain, and – and Elves, sir. I listened because I couldn’t help myself, if you know what I mean. Lor bless me, sir, but I do love tales of that sort. And I believe them too, whatever Ted may say. Elves, sir! I would dearly love to see them. Couldn’t you take me to see Elves, sir, when you go?’

‘It is going to be very dangerous, Sam. It is already dangerous. Most likely neither of us will come back.’ ‘If you don’t come back, sir, then I shan’t, that’s certain,’ said Sam. ‘Don’t you leave him! they said to me. Leave him! I said. I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon; and if any of those Black Riders try to stop him, they’ll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with, I said. They laughed.’

‘Do you feel any need to leave the Shire now – now that your wish to see them has come true already?’ he asked. ‘Yes, sir. I don’t know how to say it, but after last night I feel different. I seem to see ahead, in a kind of way. I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I know I can’t turn back. It isn’t to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want – I don’t rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me.’

Sam looked at him unhappily. ‘It all depends on what you want,’ put in Merry. ‘You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. Anyway: there it is. We know most of what Gandalf has told you. We know a good deal about the Ring. We are horribly afraid – but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds.’ 

‘Where did you come by that, Sam?’ asked Pippin. ‘I’ve never heard those words before.’ Sam muttered something inaudible. ‘It’s out of his own head, of course,’ said Frodo. ‘I am learning a lot about Sam Gamgee on this journey. First he was a conspirator, now he’s a jester. He’ll end up by becoming a wizard – or a warrior!’ ‘I hope not,’ said Sam. ‘I don’t want to be neither!’ 

Sam sat on the ground and put his head in his hands. ‘I wish I had never come here, and I don’t want to see no more magic,’ he said and fell silent. After a moment he spoke again thickly, as if struggling with tears. ‘No, I’ll go home by the long road with Mr. Frodo, or not at all,’ he said. ‘But I hope I do get back some day. If what I’ve seen turns out true, somebody’s going to catch it hot!’ 

‘So all my plan is spoilt!’ said Frodo. ‘It is no good trying to escape you. But I’m glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad. Come along! It is plain that we were meant to go together. We will go, and may the others find a safe road! Strider will look after them. I don’t suppose we shall see them again.’ ‘Yet we may, Mr. Frodo. We may,’ said Sam.

Concerning Aragorn and other members of the Fellowship:

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king. 

‘I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.’

‘Did the verses apply to you then?’ asked Frodo. ‘I could not make out what they were about. But how did you know that they were in Gandalf’s letter, if you have never seen it?’ ‘I did not know,’ he answered. ‘But I am Aragorn, and those verses go with that name.’ He drew out his sword, and they saw that the blade was indeed broken a foot below the hilt. ‘Not much use is it, Sam?’ said Strider. ‘But the time is near when it shall be forged anew.’

There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it. But you do not stand alone. You will learn that your trouble is but part of the trouble of all the western world.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

57. The Tiger Rising

57. The Tiger Rising. Kate DiCamillo. 2001. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, j fiction, coming of age, j realistic fiction]

First sentence: That morning, after he discovered the tiger, Rob went and stood under the Kentucky Star Motel sign and waited for the school bus just like it was any other day. 

Premise/plot: Rob Horton isn't having an easy time of it. His mother has died. His dad is largely absent--at least emotionally. Rob knows he cannot cry or grieve or show his sadness in any way. He hates, hates, hates having had to move. He hates living in a motel. He hates going to school. He is literally being BULLIED--physically harmed--by classmates. He has no friends--friends his own age or supportive adults. The book opens with him 'finding' a caged tiger in the woods behind the motel. He shares his discovery with a classmate; Sistine who is battling her own emotions. She is ANGRY, ANGRY, ANGRY. And she also hates having had to move. She hates everything about her life. These two become somewhat friendly as the book unfolds though it's more shared concern over this literal caged-tiger. They seem more in the tolerating stage than an actual I genuinely want to be your friend stage. 

The big question is will they or won't they....release the literal caged tiger into the [Florida] woods. 

My thoughts: I did not care for this one. Bright side: it was short.

I have really loved so many of Kate DiCamillo's works. They can be complex. They can offer an emotional experience--an emotional journey. You can feel all the feels. You can touch upon all the many, many, many emotions of life. This one is the darkest and saddest perhaps because there is literally no hope present within the novel. I hated the ending so much. I guess the bright side to the ending is that it was over.

What would have made this one better? If ANY adult--anyone--had showed one ounce of interest in Rob and his life. OR the tiger was not a literal, physical tiger.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #24

This week I read five books.

56. Home of the Brave. Katherine Applegate. 2007. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, mg verse novel, 4 stars]

• Read this if...
• You enjoy verse novels
• You enjoy immigrant stories
• You enjoy happy endings

59. Rosemary Long Ears. Susie Ghahremani. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, dogs, 4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy dog stories
• You enjoy picture books

60. A Thousand Years. Christina Perri. Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture books, 3 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books
• You enjoy sentimental, sweet, precious books about parenthood
• You are curious how the love song was adapted to be a song about parental love instead of romantic love

61. Squid In Pants. Kaz Windness. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, ready to read, leveled reader, easy reader, 4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy early readers
• You enjoy animals in clothes, especially UNDERWEAR
• You enjoy stories written in rhyme

48. Sharing Christ In Joy and Sorrow: A Theology of Philippians. Chris Bruno. 2025. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian theology] 

Read this if...

• You enjoy scholarly works on books of the Bible
• You don't mind putting in a lot of effort and time to digest theology

Century of Viewing, Week 24

1920s

• 1926 The General. "Anonymous L" has requested NO MORE SUMMARIES. So this Buster Keaton film will remain a mystery. It might be set during the Civil War. It might be a love story. It might be equal parts drama and comedy and action.

1930s

• 1931 Sidewalks of New York. Buster Keaton may have had low opinions of this one. I found it delightful for the most part. He plays a rich landlord who is having trouble with some of his tenements--unruly youth. While investigating, he falls madly and deeply in love with a young woman--a woman raising her extremely unruly younger brother. He'll stop at nothing to save him and the other kids so he can win her heart. This one stars Cliff Edwards (with whom he starred in Doughboys) and Anita Page (with whom he starred in Free and Easy). It has some great comedic moments and a fun romance.

2010s

• 2019 DefunctTV: Jim Henson Playlist. Defunctland (YT channel) made SIX documentary episodes on Jim Henson and his life's work. Each episode focuses on a different stage or period in Jim's life. The episodes are fascinating and the clips are great fun--for the most part.

2020s

• 2025 Phineas & Ferb, Season 5. 10 new episodes just released....the first in many years. Some episodes were FABULOUS. Some were more in the 'mildly' entertaining. Still this cartoon series will always be one of my favorites. I loved the return of MEAP, for example.
• 2025 Titan: The Oceangate Disaster. Netflix documentary on the Titan Submersible. It isn't chronological, it flashes back and forth in time. Contains many, many interviews with those who worked at Oceangate at one point or another. 
• 2025 Karen Read Re-trial. Closing arguments were Friday and the case is in the hands of the jury now. I'm going to say that the trial is 'over.' Curious to see if the jury comes back with a verdict...and if so how quickly. 
  

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

56. Home of the Brave

56. Home of the Brave. Katherine Applegate. 2007. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, mg verse novel, 4 stars]

First sentence: When the flying boat
returns to earth at last,
I open my eyes
and gaze out the window.
What is all the white? I whisper.
Where is all the world?

Premise/plot: Kek is newly arrived in America after spending time in a refugee camp. He's been separated from his family. Some he knows are gone forever, but, he holds out home that his mother is alive somewhere and that someday the two will be reunited. He is staying with his aunt and older cousin. He's coming of age in a strange-to-him country unsure of his future and mourning his past. He takes comfort where he can. One of his great comforts is working on a farm part time and befriending the cow, Gol.

My thoughts: Home of the Brave is a verse novel, a coming of age novel, a refugee story. It was a quick read, a mostly compelling read. The narrative captures his awe, his confusion, his frustration, his aching heart. In some ways it's a heavy read. I'm not sure how realistic the ending is. 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #23

This week I read five books. 

55. Gus and Glory. Sarah Guillory. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, dogs, friendship]

Read this if...

• You enjoy coming of age stories with DOGS (who do not die)
• You enjoy middle grade fiction
• You enjoy books with strong friendship and found family themes

57. Piggle the Pig #1 The Perfect Pigsty. Dudolf. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, 5 stars]
Read this if...

• you enjoy animal fantasy
• you enjoy humorous stories
• you enjoy early readers

58. The Monster At The End of This Book. Jon Stone. Illustrated by Michael J. Smollin. 1971. Golden Books. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

Read this if...

• you enjoy classic golden books
• you enjoy Sesame Street--particularly GROVER
• you enjoy meta books (breaking the fourth wall)

46. Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John. (Christ Centered Exposition) Daniel L. Akin. Edited by David Platt and Tony Merida. 2014. 187 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, commentary]

Read this if...

• you enjoy bible commentaries
• you enjoy bible commentaries you can understand
• you want to learn more about John's letters

47. Some Like It Scot. Pepper Basham. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, christian romance, contemporary Christian]

Read this if...

• you don't mind the objectification of men just because they are Scottish and have a Scottish accent
• you enjoy the premise of a travel writer having so many followers because she's so accident-prone
• you are not an overthinker

Century of Viewing #23

1920s

• 1929 Spite Marriage. Buster Keaton's character marries an actress who is...a mess. She marries to get back at her actor-boyfriend who is fickle. Buster's character is in love, or "in love" perhaps. He idolizes her for sure which makes him an easy target of her advances. The movie has some great comedic scenes--notably when she's drunk and his character has to get her home and in bed. What I love most about the movie are the scenes set at sea--these two find themselves adrift on a yacht...and Buster is BUSTER. This one is Buster Keaton's last silent film feature.

1930s

• 1931 Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath. This one is uneven for sure. The last half is WONDERFUL and funny and just delightful. The first half is just building up but essentially more dull than entertaining. So there's a couple that wants to wed. She refuses to marry until her older sister marries. He arranges a match for the older sister--a match that literally falls into place when Buster's character is hit by a car, I believe? Anyway, he sets it up so that the older sister (Angie I believe???) thinks Buster's character (Reggie, I believe) is her ideal, perfect match--according to her description of wants. She wants a man she can never be sure of, a ladies man, etc. He's not. Not even a little bit. He'll need some training, some coaching to learn the moves needed to win her. The BELLBOY GETS SOME GREAT LINES.

1970s

• 1970 Airport. This is a [silly] melodramatic disaster movie. BLIZZARDS AND BOMBS. The characters are less than ideal but perhaps meant to be super-edgy and modern. There's drama unfolding in the air and on the ground...

2000s

• 2001 Kate and Leopold. TIME TRAVEL. Romance. Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman star in this delightful romantic comedy. I enjoyed this one so much. I loved all the many characters in it.

2020s

• 2020 Our People: The Remarkable Story of William and Catherine Booth. A documentary about the founding of the Salvation Army. It is a compelling watch. Highly recommended. Now, I'm not sure when it was made/produced. I am skeptical of the 2020 release. However there isn't a listing on IMDB so I'm going with when it was uploaded to YT.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

55. Gus and Glory

55. Gus and Glory. Sarah Guillory. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, dogs, friendship]

First sentence: The summer I was twelve, my mom got lost.  

Premise/plot: Gus and Glory is a coming of age middle grade novel. Glory, our heroine, is staying with her grandparents for the summer. Her dad is a truck driver, I believe, and her mother is "lost" and has essentially abandoned her. Glory soon befriends a bloodhound, Gus, who becomes a dear, dear friend. And Gus helps Glory make other friends in the community. Soon Glory finds herself feeling like this temporary home is HOME. But what will she do after the summer is over? Who will she live with? Will her mom ever come back? Will she get to keep Gus forever? Or will he go back to the neighbor?

My thoughts: DOG ON THE COVER, but it isn't truly sad. Glory is in a tough place for sure. But in so many ways this is a FOUND FAMILY book where a character finds just the right people to help make life better. 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews