July Reflections

In July, I read thirty-seven books!

Books Reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

64. Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie. 1937/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 352 pages. [Source: Library]
65. Old Mother West Wind. Thornton W. Burgess. 1910. 96 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, children's classic, animal fantasy]
66. The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk. Thornton W. Burgess. 1918. 96 pages. [Source: Online] [5 stars, animal fantasy, children's fantasy, children's classic, j fantasy]
67. The Moving Finger. Agatha Christie. 1942/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, adult mystery, classic, romance]
68. The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia #6) C.S. Lewis. 1955. 221 pages. [Source: Library [4 stars, audio book, children's fantasy, children's classic]

69. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance. Jennifer Armstrong. 1998. Random House. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, history, biography, adventure, South Pole, survival, AUDIOBOOK]

 70. The Giver. Lois Lowry. 1993. Houghton Mifflin. 180 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, Children's Fiction; Dystopia; MG Fiction; Newbery Medal]

71. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. Jonathan Auxier. 2011. Abrams. 397 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j fantasy, mg fantasy, coming of age, quest]

72. The Wild Robot. Peter Brown. 2016. 282 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, j fantasy, j fiction]

73. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rowling. 1997. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg fantasy, mg fiction, audio book]

74. The Wild Robot Escapes. Peter Brown. 2018. 279 pages. [Source: Library] [j fiction, 3 stars, speculative fiction]

75. Time Travelling with a Hamster. Ross Welford. 2015. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg speculative fiction, time travel, mg science fiction]

76. The Two Towers. (Lord of the Rings) J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, audio book, adult fantasy, adult classic]

77. Beezus and Ramona. Beverly Cleary. 1955. HarperCollins. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Star rating: 5/5] [audio book, j realistic fiction]

78. Snowglobe 2 (Snowglobe Duology #2) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2021/2025. 438 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA Fiction, YA Speculative Fiction, YA Mystery]

79. Moonleapers (Moonleapers #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2025. [September] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [MG fiction, MG speculative fiction, 4 stars]

80. Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. 1985. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

81. Right Back at You. Carolyn Mackler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg speculative fiction, Jewish, mg fiction, coming of age]

82. Skipshock. Caroline O'Donoghue. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, YA dystopia, YA speculative fiction, YA romance]

Books Reviewed at Young Readers

72. Mouse and Spoon: Owlets and Tarts. (Ready to Read Level 2) Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, early readers, children's books]

73. This Book is Dangerous! Ben Clanton. 2025. 44 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]
74. Board book: Let's Giggle. Caroline Jayne Church. 2013/2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, board book]
75. Lone Wolf On Vacation. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, early reader]
76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, series book, animal fantasy]
77. Cool Buds To the Rescue (I Can Read Comics Level 3). Barbara Lehman. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early graphic novel]
78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]
79. The Wild Robot on the Island. Peter Brown. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, audio book, picture book]

 80. Board book: Cute Cats: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, cats, pets]
81. Board book: Cute Dogs: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, dogs, pets]

Books Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible


53. I Still Believe. Jeremy Camp. 2013/2020. 160 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, memoir, biography]
54. The Anxious Generation Goes to Church: What the Research Says About What Younger Generations Need and Want From Your Church. Thom S. Rainer. 2025. [August] 192. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, nonfiction, christian nonfiction]
55. From Me To You, Love God. Claire Freedman. Illustrated by Emily Boughton. 2025. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]
56. This Promised Land. Cathy Gohlke. 2025. 358 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, christian fiction, general fiction, family]
57. Hand to Hold. JJ Heller. Illustrated by Alyssa Petersen. 2021. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

58. These Blue Mountains. Sarah Loudin Thomas. 2025. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, historical romance]

Bibles Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

6. New American Standard Bible 1995, New Inductive Study Bible. GOD. 1995. 2296 pages. [Source: Bought] [Bible, bible review, 5 stars]
7. ESV Bible with Creeds and Confessions. Crossway. 2020. 1424 pages. [Source: Review copy]


2025 Totals

2025 Totals
Books read in 2025	228
Pages read in 2025	52920
January 2025
Books read in January	30
Pages read in January	7020
February 2025
Books read in February	30
Pages read in February	4782
March 2025
Books read in March	34
Pages read in March	8595
April 2025
Books read in April	34
Pages read in April	8293
May 2025
Books read in May	31
Pages read in May	7698
June 2025
Books read in June	32
Pages read in June	6072
July 2025
Books read in July	37
Pages read in July	10460

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Century of Viewing, Month 7

This month I watched thirty-seven things (mostly movies, a few documentaries). I also technically finished my Century of Viewing challenge! I will keep watching movies, obviously!

July's 5 Star Movies

• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Benny and Joon
• Star Trek Generations
• The Giver
• I Love Muppets (Documentary, BBC)
• Ivanhoe
• Galaxy Quest
• 12:01
• Galaxy Quest: The Definitive History (Documentary/Podcast)
• I.Q.
• Short Circuit
• The General (Buster Keaton)
• Time After Time
• Edward Scissorhands
• Blast from the Past
• Clue

July's 4 1/2 and 4 star Movies

• Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country
• Death on the Nile
• Secret Life of Pets 2
• High Spirits
• Sound of Thunder
• Crack in the World

I thought it would be fun to do a spontaneous 'favorite movie from each decade.' This is not a formal list. It is NOT a formal list. I'm sure there will be lists. This is more quick-thinking than over-thinking.

• My favorite from the 1910s: The Cook (1918)
• My favorite from the 1920s: The General (1926)
• My favorite from the 1930s: Bachelor Mother (1939)
• My favorite from the 1940s: Remember the Day (1941)
• My favorite from the 1950s: Harvey (1950)
• My favorite from the 1960s: It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
• My favorite from the 1970s: Time After Time (1979)
• My favorite from the 1980s: Short Circuit (1986)
• My favorite from the 1990s: Benny & Joon (1993)
• My favorite from the 2000s: Kate & Leopold (2001)
• My favorite from the 2010s: Inception (2010)
• My favorite from the 2020s: One Life (2023)

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

82. Skipshock

  

82. Skipshock. Caroline O'Donoghue. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, YA dystopia, YA speculative fiction, YA romance]

First sentence: The most common response I get when I tell people what I do for a living is: I couldn't do a job like that. What they mean is they wouldn't do a job like this. Every so often a new gruesome story circulates about salesmen, and what traveling between time speeds does to one's physical health.

Premise/plot: For readers who get a thrill out of speculative fiction with uniquely crafted worlds, Skipshock is a novel I'd highly recommend. It is a premise-driven novel. Moon and Margo are the narrators. Moon is a salesmen, traveling between worlds, racing against time almost. Margo is an Irish girl on her way to boarding school. Both traveling by train--albeit in different worlds. But when Margo finds herself on Moon's train, things will never be the same. Moon knows that Margo's sudden appearance could change his life forever--and not in an instant romance way. To the right people, Margo could mean a quick sell, big money. He could buy his way out of his [doomed] lifestyle and settle down in a world. Margo doesn't trust Moon fully, but, she's in a strange new world surrounded by people who are--through her eyes at least--strange, odd, dangerous. She is far, far, far from home and if she ever wants to get back home she'll have to risk trusting somebody.

So the premise???? Different "worlds" connected via trains have their own times. For example, some worlds have a TWO HOUR day; some worlds have a SIX HOUR day, etc. Obviously the shorter the day, the shorter the lifespan. Time has everything to do with the haves and have nots.


My thoughts: What did I love about this one? I loved the world-building. I loved the characterization. I loved the relationships. I loved the plot. I enjoyed the twists and turns. Did I see one particular twist coming? YES. If I had read this as a young teen would I have seen it coming? Probably not. Knowing what was likely coming did not change my enjoyment of the novel.

Quotes:

• That's what being in love actually is, at the end of the day. It makes the strong parts of you weak, and the weak parts of you strong.
• No anxiety, no artificiality. Just the ease of being with the person you most want to be with, in the very moment you want to be with them.
• For the first time in her life, she had a person. She and Moon had been born in different places and brought up in different ways, but regardless, one thing was very clear to her. They had each spent most of their lives lonely. Her in a cold house; him in a cold world. They were houseplants that people forgot to check on. And now they had each other. There was a feeling of boundlessness, of growing, of feeling like you could do things. Somehow, she didn't need to wonder if he felt this way, too. She knew it.
• She understood love as a wobbling table, as a three-legged dog. You had to take the weight of a limb when it went missing. You had to hold the other person up. It was the only way you could both make it to the end.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #30

  

This week I read eight books.

78. Snowglobe 2 (Snowglobe Duology #2) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2021/2025. 438 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA Fiction, YA Speculative Fiction, YA Mystery]

Read this if...

• You enjoyed the first book in the duology.
• You enjoy YA dystopia set in the future.
• You enjoy mystery and suspense.

79. Moonleapers (Moonleapers #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2025. [September] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [MG fiction, MG speculative fiction, 4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy Margaret Peterson Haddix's middle grade speculative fiction
• You enjoy time travel 'adjacent' stories
• You can suspend your disbelief easily

80. Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. 1985. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

Read this if...

• You enjoy classic science fiction
• You enjoy space drama
• You don't mind a little ptsd in your fiction

81. Right Back at You. Carolyn Mackler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg speculative fiction, Jewish, mg fiction, coming of age]

Read this if....

• You enjoy magical realism or very light speculative fiction
• You enjoy "magic letters"
• You enjoy your problem novels with lighter side stories

79. The Wild Robot on the Island. Peter Brown. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, audio book, picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books
• You enjoy picture book adaptations of longer novels

 80. Board book: Cute Cats: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, cats, pets]

Read this if...

• You enjoy board books
• You like cats

81. Board book: Cute Dogs: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, dogs, pets]

Read this if

• You enjoy board books
• You like dogs

57. Hand to Hold. JJ Heller. 2021. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

Read this if....

• You enjoy children's bedtime books
• You enjoy picture books
• You enjoy picture books adapted from songs

Century of Viewing #30

1970s

• 1979 Time after Time. H.G. Wells versus Jack the Ripper in a time-traveling drama-packed love story. I enjoyed this one SO MUCH. Granted there were a few scenes that were definitely on the violent side. BUT I loved the time travel aspect of it. The story and characters were enjoyable!

1980s

• 1985 Clue. This one is like Galaxy Quest for mystery lovers. Obviously-obviously Galaxy Quest came much, much, much later. But this one is so quirky and fun and delightful. The banter of the dialogue is just delightful and wonderful. I enjoyed it so much!

1990s

• 1990 Edward Scissorhands. Quirky, yes. Enjoyable, yes. Christmas-y, perhaps. I am so glad I watched this one! The music was great. The story was odd and strange but delightful in a quirky, unique way. I had a few favorite scenes--like when he was giving haircuts first to pets and then to the ladies of the neighborhood. It was definitely INTENSE in places.

2000s

• 2002 Insomnia. Psychological Murder Mystery Thriller of sorts. I have such conflicted feelings. Robin Williams stole the show for sure. And once his character is introduced, it does become compelling. But this one was slow going. Very slow going. It is not my favorite or best overall. But I am glad I finished it.

2010s

• 2017 The Current War. Period drama. This one dramatizes the 'battle' or 'war' over electricity between Edison and Tesla. Definitely worth watching.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

81. Right Back At You

81. Right Back at You. Carolyn Mackler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg speculative fiction, Jewish, mg fiction, coming of age]

First sentence: Dear Albert Einstein,
I'm only writing this letter because Barb told me I had to. She said I could write it to anybody or nobody. I chose to write to you. She said I didn't have to send it. That's a good thing because you've been dead for almost seventy years.

Premise/plot: Right Back At You is set in 1987 and 2023. Mason lives in New York in 2023. He's troubled by many things: his mom's drinking, his dad starting a new job in a new city without them, the bullies at school, the lack of friends, shame. He begins writing letters and putting them in his closet never expecting a reply. Talia lives in Pennsylvania in 1987. She's troubled by many things as well: not being allowed to play baseball, being bullied because she's Jewish, no one being outraged at the antisemitism, loss of friends due to growing apart, etc. Both are a bit shocked and surprised to be communicating with the other. She comes to terms with it a LOT faster than Mason.

Right Back At You is undoubtedly and without apology a problem novel. The 'problems' tackled are antisemitism and bullying, but also alcoholism and neglect.

My thoughts: The premise was intriguing. I think the two story lines balanced each other out. Perhaps as individual stories without the speculative fiction aspect would have been too heavy-handed.

I liked this one. Not sure I absolutely loved it. But I did find it a quick, compelling read.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

80. Ender's Game

80. Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. 1985. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one. Or at least as close as we're going to get."

ETA: My most recent 'read' of the book is July 2025. I listened on audio. I wanted to reread this one after rewatching the film a few weeks ago. I did like it more than I did in 2020, but less than I have in the past. I think the older I get the more I see how much harm and damage they caused Ender and am more outraged on his behalf. I see less 'cool adventure' and more this is so incredibly wrong.

Premise/plot: Andrew Wiggin, aka "Ender," is six years old and potentially the earth's savior. Two wars have been fought and barely won against the aliens known to readers as Buggers. The third war will take much preparation--decades worth of the International Fleet training up children to be commanders and soldiers.

Ender is one such student or trainee. His older brother, Peter, and older sister, Valentine, didn't make it so far as Battle School in space. Ender's life is wearisome and burdensome. He doesn't make friends easily and his biggest fear is being just as violent and out of control as his brother, Peter. He is prone to self-reflection and self-loathing. But in terms of military genius, strategizing, leadership...he excels.

When the time comes to fight the war, will he be ready?

My thoughts: For a decade I would have considered this one of my favorite, favorite books. Now that it's been almost twenty years or so since I first read it--well, my thoughts and impressions have changed some. I love the last fourth of the novel. That hasn't changed. But the first fourth of the novel, well, it's DISTURBING, uncomfortable, awkward, a bit off. I did NOT remember the use of the n word. I did not remember the jokesy approach to different races (or ethnicities). I did not remember the chokehold scene where Peter is trying to kill his brother. I did not remember some of the crudeness.

One thing that bothers me is Peter. Peter is a psychopath in my opinion. He is cruel to his brother and sister. He is cruel to small animals. He is a bully. He is manipulative. He is egocentric and a narcissist. He dreams of world domination. He is just a sick, sick, sick individual. And I think what readers are outright told about him is just the tip of the iceberg. If Valentine is to be believed about the files and records she's been keeping of her brother. Chances are he might have done even more than she knew about. There was one line that disturbed me where she is telling Ender that you don't know what I had to do to keep Peter from hurting you. Of course, we don't know--she doesn't say. But Card later seems to redeem the character of Peter and seeks to make him sympathetic.

Card does do flawed humans well. I will give him that. Are any of the characters in this one not flawed?!?! I think the most likable characters may be Bean and Petra.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

79. Moonleapers

 79. Moonleapers (Moonleapers #1) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2025. [September] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [MG fiction, MG speculative fiction, 4 stars]

First sentence: "Maisie? Is that you?" Mom's voice floated down from her second-floor office as soon as Maisie pushed open the front door. 

Premise/plot: Margaret Peterson Haddix's newest book is MOONLEAPERS. Maisie, our heroine, feels 'behind' because she does not have a smart phone. The good news? She's about to receive a phone. The bad news? In return she'll be expected to babysit her brother and sister, Rufus and Dora. It is a hand-me-down phone from her GREAT-GREAT aunt. Great-Aunt Hazel is dying and the family is going to travel to visit her. Around the same time she's told of the upcoming trip, she begins receiving strange riddles on her new-to-her phone and is given a BLANK book. It seems that there will be mysteries to solve perhaps in the upcoming weeks. Mysteries that of course only deepen once they arrive at Great-Aunt Hazel's house. Two of those mysteries are a CAT and a DOG that seem more than just a cat and dog.

My thoughts: Margaret Peterson Haddix is known for her premise-driven middle grade books. I have loved, loved, loved, absolutely loved some of her series [and a few of her stand-alone novels.] I have rated many of Haddix's novels as 5 stars. I have LOVED. I have treasured. I have reread. It was impossible for me not to compare this one with previous books.

What I enjoyed: Moonleapers IS a premise-driven novel. I liked the premise. Moonleapers are people who almost transcend time and are able to communicate with the past, to influence the past and present, to reach out to other moonleapers, to make a difference. It isn't so much the idea of moonleaping that I liked but the idea of alternate realities and small changes making big differences.

I also enjoyed the magical cat and dog and how they were able to 'help' Maisie solve all the clues needed to save the day and change the world. Without the dog and cat....well....the book might have been less engaging.

What I didn't quite enjoy: I was not as impressed by the characterization as I was the development of the premise and the world-building. Not every book needs to be character-driven. This is very much a book about mysteries and puzzles.

I also thought the pacing was a on the slow side. This one had less suspense than most of the other Haddix novels I've read in the past. This one was lacking the INTENSE, engaging, compelling, suspenseful pace. There was not a strong need to keep turning pages, to read just one chapter more. It was interesting and entertaining, but it was not exactly thrilling.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

78. Snowglobe 2

78. Snowglobe 2 (Snowglobe Duology #2) Soyoung Park. Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. 2021/2025. 438 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA Fiction, YA Speculative Fiction, YA Mystery]

First sentence: At once, all the lights go out and the TV goes dead. On the dark screen, ghostly afterimages linger for another moment before they, too, dissipate, plunging us into darkness. 

Premise/plot: Snowglobe 2 is the sequel to Snowglobe. Jeon Chobahm, our main character, has exposed the corruption of which she is aware. But there are more secrets--more impactful and unjust--to uncover and possibly expose. This time she has a team of support. [She is still living with her fellow Haeri clones, even Serin (the cranky one). Then there's her brother, Ongi, her director-friend, Hyang, and Miryu, a former actress.] The novel starts perhaps a bit slowly, but she soon realizes that she's in great danger and that she may be one of the few people who can change the world dramatically even if it means taking a lot of risks. 

My thoughts: Snowglobe 2 has a completely different vibe. The story is definitely unique and different from the first story. I felt the first story definitely focused more on the television aspect--the actors and directors, the entertainment industry, etc. I think the second story definitely focuses more on the corruption of leaders and politicians. Both deal with socioeconomic injustices--the haves and have nots if you will. The cast of characters is LARGE and at times difficult to keep up with. However, I did reread the first novel a few weeks ago. It could have been trickier if I hadn't. I liked the first book a bit more perhaps. But this one was good.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #29

  

This week I read eight books.

75. Time Travelling with a Hamster. Ross Welford. 2015. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg speculative fiction, time travel, mg science fiction]

Read this if...

• You enjoy time travel
• You enjoy coming of age stories
• You enjoy family stories with a strong grandparent-grandchild bond

76. The Two Towers. (Lord of the Rings) J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, audio book, adult fantasy, adult classic]

Read this if...

• You enjoy fantasy novels
• You loved the movies
• You love quests

77. Beezus and Ramona. Beverly Cleary. 1955. HarperCollins. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Star rating: 5/5] [audio book, j realistic fiction]
Read this if...

• You love Beverly Cleary
• You enjoy children's classics
• You enjoy family drama
• You enjoy humor

 75. Lone Wolf On Vacation. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, early reader]

Read this if....

• You enjoy early chapter books
• You enjoy series books
• You enjoy humor
• You are an introvert

76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, series book, animal fantasy]

Read this if...

• You enjoy early chapter books
• You enjoy series books
• You enjoy humor
• You are an introvert
• You love books about reading

77. Cool Buds To the Rescue (I Can Read Comics Level 3). Barbara Lehman. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early graphic novel]

Read this if...

• You enjoy early graphic novels
• You enjoy simple stories

78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy humorous picture books
• You enjoy a good spin on traditional alphabet books

56. This Promised Land. Cathy Gohlke. 2025. 358 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, christian fiction, general fiction, family]

Read this if...

• You enjoy christian fiction
• You enjoy family stories, multi-generational family stories
• You enjoy books with older heroines

Century of Viewing #29
1960s

• 1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I watched the extended edition this time. I preferred the other, I think. This was a little too long for my liking though I appreciated hearing a phone conversation between Buster Keaton and Spencer Tracy. A race for loot is how to simply describe this one.

1980s

• 1988 High Spirits. I am SO conflicted. This one has some great scenes in it--very comical, over-the-top silly. It also has some adult scenes--yes it's PG-13, but I think it seemed more adult than that. So the plot....well, a man is about to lose his country estate and so he's trying to promote it as a HAUNTED hotel. He has his staff pretend to be ghosts...and then real ghosts show up.

2000s

• 2001 The Time Machine. There were scenes I definitely enjoyed. I am so glad I watched this one instead of just reading the negative reviews. I didn't love absolutely everything about it, mind you, but it was entertaining. This is a very loose adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel.

2010s

• 2011 Batman: Year One (animated) I have begun exploring animated Batman movies. This one is based on a comic book, I believe. It is 'year one' of Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon being in Gotham City and being troubled by injustice. This is before Batman is BATMAN. It follows a year--so there are dated segments. Though animated, it is not a 'kids' movie. I enjoyed this one.
• 2012, Dark Knight Returns, part one (animated) This is another animated Batman movie. This one is set DECADES later. Gordon and Batman, I believe, are in their 70s, I believe. Batman has retired...and Gordon is about to retire. But crime is out of control, and, Two-Face has returned as well. Can Batman come out of retirement long enough to defeat the Mutants. 
• 2013, Dark Knight Returns, part two (animated) This is another animated Batman movie....the second half of Dark Knight Returns. This one features elderly Batman still trying to Batman. It sees JOKER and SUPERMAN. Also violence and cotton candy. I don't love the violence necessarily, but it was interesting to see this these two movies. 
• 2019 Secret Life of Pets 2. Animated. I really enjoyed this one so much. I don't remember enjoying the first one as much as this second one oddly enough. But this one was SO great. Plenty of cats. It had depth and substance as well. Definitely recommend this one.
  

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

77. Beezus and Ramona

   

77. Beezus and Ramona. Beverly Cleary. 1955. HarperCollins. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Star rating: 5/5] [audio book, j realistic fiction]

First sentence: Beezus felt that the biggest trouble with four-year-old Ramona was that she was just plain exasperating. If Ramona drank lemonade through a straw, she blew into the straw as hard as she could to see what would happen.

Unlike other books in the Ramona series, this one is narrated by Beezus. Like all other books in the Ramona series, it has a just-right feel about it. Beverly Cleary's greatest talent may be in her capturing what it feels like to be a kid.

Beezus, as you probably know, is Ramona's big sister. Ramona does steal the show in almost every book in which she appears. There's something unforgettable about her. But though the focus is on Ramona, this is still very much Beezus' book. It captures how she feels about her family, about Ramona.

"Beezus and Her Little Sister." Ramona LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to have The Littlest Steam Shovel read to her. Her parents are unwilling to read it to her--they have come to have no tolerance for it. But Beezus, well, she'll read it to Ramona, not that she likes it, but, she'll give in now and then. She gets the idea to take Ramona to the library to get a brand new book--for two weeks. Ramona picks a new book, but, it is still about steam shovels. She likes it so much, that she does something NAUGHTY so she can keep it for always. What will Beezus do since it was checked out on her card? Just how sympathetic will the librarian be?

"Beezus and Her Imagination" Beezus is in an art class. Ramona isn't supposed to be in the class with her, she's supposed to be playing outside in the sandbox. But on this occasion, Beezus finds Ramona in class with her. Could she get inspired by her sister's imaginary pet?! Could she earn her teacher's attention?!

"Ramona and Ribsy" Beezus invites Henry Huggins (and his dog, Ribsy) to her house to play checkers. It doesn't go well. Both Ribsy and Ramona have fits of sorts. And Ribsy ends up locked in the bathroom?! Beezus wishes Ramona was more like other people's sisters.

"Ramona and the Apples" Beezus is supposed to be watching Ramona while their mother does the grocery shopping. But. Ramona proves too much to handle. She sneaks into the basement and has her way with all the apples...taking one bite and just one bite from each apple. Will Beezus get in trouble? Can anything good come from all those ruined apples?

"A Party at the Quimbys" Ramona decides to have a party and invite other kids over to the house--without permission of course. What will Beezus and their mother do? This one ends in a parade. Among the guests, Howie and Willa Jean.

"Beezus's Birthday" Will Beezus have a cake for her tenth birthday?! It might not be as easy as you might think. Not with Ramona around. But with a little help from Aunt Beatrice, all might be well after all. Hint: If you have a sister like Ramona, don't read the story of Hansel and Gretel to her when your cake is in the oven!

I love the Ramona series. I do. I love, love, love the Ramona books. I think I read them dozens of more times than the Little House books. (I've recently reread these too.) I'm not sure Beezus and Ramona is my favorite of the series, but, it's a great start to a great series.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

76. LOTR: Two Towers

   

 

76. The Two Towers. (Lord of the Rings) J.R.R. Tolkien. 1954/1965. Houghton Mifflin. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, audio book, adult fantasy, adult classic]

First sentence: Aragorn sped on up the hill. Every now and again he bent to the ground. Hobbits go light, and their footprints are not easy even for a Ranger to read, but not far from the top a spring crossed the path, and in the wet earth he saw what he was seeking.

I am still enjoying my reread of Lord of the Rings. The Two Towers consists of books three and four. On this reread, I am listening to the audio book. It is narrated by Andy Serkis. The biggest difference, for me, is that I've switched up how I feel about books three and four. ON audio, I much preferred book four to book three. In print, I think I love both books, but love the third one perhaps a bit more. No matter print or audio, I ADORE SAM.

 
The fellowship has been broken, and, as a result the narrative has been completely split. The fourth book follows the adventures of Sam and Frodo (and Gollum).  The third book follows the adventures of everyone else: Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, etc.

The book opens with some drama: Merry and Pippin have been taken! Boromir has fallen valiantly in battle trying to protect them. He confesses all to Aragorn moments before he dies. (But the movie does it even better. That death scene in the extended edition is SOMETHING.)

Aragorn knelt beside him. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came. ‘I tried to take the Ring from Frodo,’ he said. ‘I am sorry. I have paid.’ His glance strayed to his fallen enemies; twenty at least lay there. ‘They have gone: the Halflings: the Orcs have taken them. I think they are not dead. Orcs bound them.’ He paused and his eyes closed wearily. After a moment he spoke again. ‘Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.’ ‘No!’ said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. ‘You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!’ Boromir smiled. ‘Which way did they go? Was Frodo there?’ said Aragorn. But Boromir did not speak again.

The company also learns that Sam and Frodo have left, have "broken" the fellowship. The mission has changed without a doubt, but the remaining members still have purpose.

‘The rumour of the earth is dim and confused,’ he said. ‘Nothing walks upon it for many miles about us. Faint and far are the feet of our enemies. But loud are the hoofs of the horses. It comes to my mind that I heard them, even as I lay on the ground in sleep, and they troubled my dreams: horses galloping, passing in the West. But now they are drawing ever further from us, riding northward. I wonder what is happening in this land!’ ‘Let us go!’ said Legolas. 

They decide to pursue the orcs and attempt a rescue of the hobbits. In their quest to save Merry and Pippin, they meet an old friend in a surprising place!

In addition to meeting an old friend, readers also meet some new characters: Treebeard, Éomer, Théoden, and Éowyn. Merry and Pippin encounter the Ents! Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, (and Gandalf) go to Rohan. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this third book.

The fourth book concerns Frodo, Sam, Gollum. Readers meet Boromir's brother as well. It's good, very good. But I can't help thinking that it is largely redeemed by SAM.

Favorite quotes:

Gimli ground his teeth. ‘This is a bitter end to our hope and to all our toil!’ he said. ‘To hope, maybe, but not to toil,’ said Aragorn.  

‘Awake! Awake!’ he cried. ‘It is a red dawn. Strange things await us by the eaves of the forest. Good or evil, I do not know; but we are called. Awake!’

‘You may say this to Théoden son of Thengel: open war lies before him, with Sauron or against him. None may live now as they have lived, and few shall keep what they call their own.

The world is all grown strange. Elf and Dwarf in company walk in our daily fields; and folk speak with the Lady of the Wood and yet live; and the Sword comes back to war that was broken in the long ages ere the fathers of our fathers rode into the Mark! How shall a man judge what to do in such times?’ ‘As he ever has judged,’ said Aragorn. ‘Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man’s part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.’ ‘True indeed,’ said Éomer. ‘But I do not doubt you, nor the deed which my heart would do. Yet I am not free to do all as I would. It is against our law to let strangers wander at will in our land, until the king himself shall give them leave, and more strict is the command in these days of peril.

There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.

There are Ents and Ents, you know; or there are Ents and things that look like Ents but ain’t, as you might say. I’ll call you Merry and Pippin, if you please – nice names. For I am not going to tell you my name, not yet at any rate.’ A queer half-knowing, half-humorous look came with a green flicker into his eyes. ‘For one thing it would take a long while: my name is growing all the time, and I’ve lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story. Real names tell you the story of the things they belong to in my language, in the Old Entish as you might say. It is a lovely language, but it takes a very long time to say anything in it, because we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.

‘Of course, it is likely enough, my friends,’ he said slowly, ‘likely enough that we are going to our doom: the last march of the Ents. But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. 

‘My name!’ said the old man again. ‘Have you not guessed it already? You have heard it before, I think. Yes, you have heard it before. But come now, what of your tale?’ The three companions stood silent and made no answer. ‘There are some who would begin to doubt whether your errand is fit to tell,’ said the old man. ‘Happily I know something of it. You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits, I believe. Yes, hobbits. Don’t stare, as if you had never heard the strange name before. You have, and so have I. Well, they climbed up here the day before yesterday; and they met someone that they did not expect. Does that comfort you? And now you would like to know where they were taken? Well, well, maybe I can give you some news about that. But why are we standing? Your errand, you see, is no longer as urgent as you thought. Let us sit down and be more at ease.’  

They all gazed at him. His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand. Between wonder, joy, and fear they stood and found no words to say. At last Aragorn stirred. ‘Gandalf!’ he said. ‘Beyond all hope you return to us in our need! What veil was over my sight? Gandalf!’ Gimli said nothing, but sank to his knees, shading his eyes. 

Hope is not victory. War is upon us and all our friends, a war in which only the use of the Ring could give us surety of victory. It fills me with great sorrow and great fear: for much shall be destroyed and all may be lost. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the White, but Black is mightier still.’ 

Go where you must go, and hope! 

A king will have his way in his own hall, be it folly or wisdom.

Men need many words before deeds. 

 ‘Yet dawn is ever the hope of men,’ said Aragorn.

That must be my hope,’ said Legolas. ‘But I wish that he had come this way. I desired to tell Master Gimli that my tale is now thirty-nine.’ ‘If he wins back to the caves, he will pass your count again,’ laughed Aragorn. ‘Never did I see an axe so wielded.’ ‘I must go and seek some arrows,’ said Legolas. ‘Would that this night would end, and I could have better light for shooting.’ 

‘We will have peace,’ said Théoden at last thickly and with an effort. Several of the Riders cried out gladly. Théoden held up his hand. ‘Yes, we will have peace,’ he said, now in a clear voice, ‘we will have peace, when you and all your works have perished – and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us. You are a liar, Saruman, and a corrupter of men’s hearts. You hold out your hand to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and cold! Even if your war on me was just – as it was not, for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and mine for your own profit as you desired – even so, what will you say of your torches in Westfold and the children that lie dead there? And they hewed Háma’s body before the gates of the Hornburg, after he was dead. When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc. So much for the House of Eorl. A lesser son of great sires am I, but I do not need to lick your fingers. Turn elsewhither. But I fear your voice has lost its charm.’ 

Now, Pippin my lad, don’t forget Gildor’s saying – the one Sam used to quote: Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.’

‘Don’t hurt us! Don’t let them hurt us, precious! They won’t hurt us will they, nice little hobbitses? We didn’t mean no harm, but they jumps on us like cats on poor mices, they did, precious. And we’re so lonely, gollum. We’ll be nice to them, very nice, if they’ll be nice to us, won’t we, yes, yess.’

We only wish to catch a fish, so juicy-sweet! 

‘Yess, yess, nice water,’ said Gollum. ‘Drink it, drink it, while we can! But what is it they’ve got, precious? Is it crunchable? Is it tasty?’

‘I am commanded to go to the land of Mordor, and therefore I shall go,’ said Frodo. ‘If there is only one way, then I must take it. What comes after must come.’

Sam said nothing. The look on Frodo’s face was enough for him; he knew that words of his were useless. And after all he never had any real hope in the affair from the beginning; but being a cheerful hobbit he had not needed hope, as long as despair could be postponed. Now they were come to the bitter end. But he had stuck to his master all the way; that was what he had chiefly come for, and he would still stick to him. His master would not go to Mordor alone. Sam would go with him – and at any rate they would get rid of Gollum. 

All hobbits, of course, can cook, for they begin to learn the art before their letters (which many never reach); but Sam was a good cook, even by hobbit reckoning, and he had done a good deal of the camp-cooking on their travels, when there was a chance. He still hopefully carried some of his gear in his pack: a small tinder-box, two small shallow pans, the smaller fitting into the larger; inside them a wooden spoon, a short two-pronged fork and some skewers were stowed; and hidden at the bottom of the pack in a flat wooden box a dwindling treasure, some salt. But he needed a fire, and other things besides. He thought for a bit, while he took out his knife, cleaned and whetted it, and began to dress the rabbits. He was not going to leave Frodo alone asleep even for a few minutes. 

Sam drew a deep breath. ‘An Oliphaunt it was!’ he said. ‘So there are Oliphaunts, and I have seen one. What a life! But no one at home will ever believe me. Well, if that’s over, I’ll have a bit of sleep.’

‘I don’t like anything here at all,’ said Frodo, ‘step or stone, breath or bone. Earth, air and water all seem accursed. But so our path is laid.’ ‘Yes, that’s so,’ said Sam. ‘And we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it before we started. But I suppose it’s often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say. But that’s not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually – their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn’t. And if they had, we shouldn’t know, because they’d have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on – and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same – like old Mr. Bilbo. But those aren’t always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we’ve fallen into?’ ‘I wonder,’ said Frodo. ‘But I don’t know. And that’s the way of a real tale. Take any one that you’re fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of a tale it is, happy-ending or sad-ending, but the people in it don’t know. And you don’t want them to.’

Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We’re in one, of course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards. And people will say: “Let’s hear about Frodo and the Ring!” And they’ll say: “Yes, that’s one of my favourite stories. Frodo was very brave, wasn’t he, dad?” “Yes, my boy, the famousest of the hobbits, and that’s saying a lot.”’ ‘It’s saying a lot too much,’ said Frodo, and he laughed, a long clear laugh from his heart. Such a sound had not been heard in those places since Sauron came to Middle-earth. To Sam suddenly it seemed as if all the stones were listening and the tall rocks leaning over them. But Frodo did not heed them; he laughed again. ‘Why, Sam,’ he said, ‘to hear you somehow makes me as merry as if the story was already written. But you’ve left out one of the chief characters: Samwise the stouthearted. “I want to hear more about Sam, dad. Why didn’t they put in more of his talk, dad? That’s what I like, it makes me laugh. And Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam, would he, dad?”’ ‘Now, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam, ‘you shouldn’t make fun. I was serious.’ ‘So was I,’ said Frodo, ‘and so I am. We’re going on a bit too fast. You and I, Sam, are still stuck in the worst places of the story, and it is all too likely that some will say at this point: “Shut the book now, dad; we don’t want to read any more.”’

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

75. Time Traveling with a Hamster

75. Time Travelling with a Hamster. Ross Welford. 2015. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg speculative fiction, time trave, mg science fiction]

First sentence: My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty-nine, and again four years later when he was twelve. (He's going to die a third time as well, which seems a bit rough on him, but I can't help that.) The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did, but I would never even have been there if it hadn't been for his "time machine." 

Premise/plot: Al Chaudhury is given a unique opportunity on his twelfth birthday when he receives a letter from his dead father. Al receives detailed instructions on how to use his father's time machine. He'll have to break all the rules and then some, but, there's a chance he may just be able to travel back in time and prevent his father's death. His grandfather is subtly-not-so-subtly warning Al NOT to use the time machine and to let things be, to accept what is. Yet Al (and his hamster) seem destined to time travel. His destination? 1984 his father's childhood to prevent an accident. 

My thoughts: I found Time Travelling with a Hamster to be a compelling, intriguing read. I am always open to reading time travel books. I thought the premise was interesting AND it wasn't all premise-focused. I thought the characterization--particularly of Al and his grandfather--was strong.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #28

  

This week I read ten books!

  69. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance. Jennifer Armstrong. 1998. Random House. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, history, biography, adventure, South Pole, survival, AUDIOBOOK]

Read this if...

• You enjoy nonfiction
• You enjoy survival stories
• You are trying to stay cool in the summer

 70. The Giver. Lois Lowry. 1993. Houghton Mifflin. 180 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, Children's Fiction; Dystopia; MG Fiction; Newbery Medal]

Read this if...

• You enjoy dystopias
• You enjoy reading Newbery medal winners
• You enjoy reading BOOKS turned into movies

71. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. Jonathan Auxier. 2011. Abrams. 397 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j fantasy, mg fantasy, coming of age, quest]

Read this if...

• You enjoy middle grade fantasy
• You enjoy quest stories
• You enjoy series books

72. The Wild Robot. Peter Brown. 2016. 282 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, j fantasy, j fiction]

Read this if...

• You enjoy books turned into movies
• You enjoy children's speculative fiction
  

73. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rowling. 1997. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg fantasy, mg fiction, audio book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy middle grade fantasy novels
• You enjoy books turned into movies
• You enjoy series books

74. The Wild Robot Escapes. Peter Brown. 2018. 279 pages. [Source: Library] [j fiction, 3 stars, speculative fiction]

Read this if....

• You enjoy series books
• You enjoy children's speculative fiction
  

73. This Book is Dangerous! Ben Clanton. 2025. 44 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy 'interactive' meta books written to YOU the reader
• You enjoy Narwhal and Jelly

74. Board book: Let's Giggle. Caroline Jayne Church. 2013/2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, board book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy cutesy, precious sweet rhyming books
• You enjoy board books

54. The Anxious Generation Goes to Church: What the Research Says About What Younger Generations Need and Want From Your Church. Thom S. Rainer. 2025. [August] 192. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, nonfiction, christian nonfiction]

Read this if...

• You are into statistics, research, and sociology
• You are not looking for theology

55. From Me To You, Love God. Claire Freedman. Illustrated by Emily Boughton. 2025. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

Read this if...

• You are looking for christian children's books

Century of Viewing #28

1920s

• 1926 The General. Buster Keaton's best silent movie? Perhaps. Probably. It is a treat to watch it again-again, although definitely not on a once a week schedule. It just can't hold up to that many viewings without burnout. That being said, I do hope to watch it once a month so that I can have it be a five star movie every month of the year. The plot? Johnnie Gray loves two things--his girl and his train. When both are kidnapped by the enemy, he goes on a rescue mission.

1970s

• 1978 Death on the Nile. This is a great mystery movie starring many stars--or former stars. A lot of famous actors/actresses in this one. And it is an Agatha Christie adaptation. Definitely enjoyed it.

1980s

• Short Circuit. I found this one free on YouTube (on their official movie channel) and it was great fun. I have seen it many times, though perhaps not recently. Some of the characters are insufferable. But the main characters and story are great fun! NEED MORE INPUT. Definitely fun to watch right after Wild Robot.

1990s

• 1990 12:01 SHORT not to be confused with the 12:01 film from 1993. This one is a thirty minute 'film' that has a dark, nightmarish aspect to it. Think Twilight Zone except WAY darker. It is a time loop story. A man is cursed to relive ONE hour over and over again without hope for escape.
• 1994 I.Q. How have I never heard of this one?!?! It is set in the 1950s I believe. Meg Ryan plays Albert Einstein's niece, and she's engaged to someone....just not the 'right' someone. Her uncle and his friends scheme to find her a better match...a car mechanic who fell for her at first sight. This one is cute and adorable and fun. Walter Matthau plays Albert Einstein. Tim Robbins plays the love interest...a mechanic turned amateur scientist.

2010s

• 2011 Winnie the Pooh. Not the original Winnie the Pooh, mind you, but a reboot of Winnie the Pooh. The highlight of this one is Craig Ferguson as Owl. I liked it okay. Some scenes are pleasant enough. Not as good as the original.

2020s

• 2025 Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy. Should this movie exist? No. Not really. Why does it exist? Perhaps because of the book's existence. If the author wrote fewer Bridget Jones books would it have been better? Definitely. The movie does have a few decent/good scenes. I do like the song "Mad About the Boy" which I first heard in a Buster Keaton music video....my liking the song has nothing to do with Bridget Jones or her weird relationship with a young boy. Happy endings for Bridget Jones are pointless because no matter what ending you give her, another potential movie will ruin it again.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews