Yep, I’m way behind. I had chosen another book for this month’s challenge and ended up hating the book, so it took me some time to find another book for this, as I was distracted by many other good books.

The July theme is Independence for Challenge #7. I read Foundation’s Edge by Isaac Asimov. I had been reading through the Foundation series this year, and I finished this book as I was still desperately trying to find a book for the July challenge and realized it fit the theme quite well.

*<spoiler alert>*

Through the Foundation series, we see two foundations. The Foundation was set up when an empire was crumbling in order to eventually establish the next empire. There is also the Second Foundation, a group of mentalists that guide the First Foundation along the Seldon plan in order to help establish the next empire in an orderly manner as quickly as possible. During the course of this book, the 4th book in the series, the main character is led to realize that the future will lead to the tyranny of either group as they will end up in conflict resulting in one or the other dominating the next empire, and neither option is appealing. He instead chooses a third option in which neither group will control the empire, but they will instead reach a point of equality for the good of all. It’s an interesting point: the independence of interdependence.

*</spoiler alert>*

Now, I still have much catching up to do. I have decided which books to read for the next two challenges, but I will need to wait for the interlibrary loan.

And, finally, the May review. The May theme was Mother for Challenge #5 in honor of Mother’s Day. I read A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby.

An interesting look at the lives of four people contemplating suicide. All come from completely different backgrounds but are held together through a common struggle. The tie-in to this month’s theme is that one of the four is a middle-aged mother with a disabled teenaged son. She has spent her life caring for her son and has forgotten how to live a life, but meeting the others gives her an opportunity to learn.

I am caught up and ready for the July challenge.

OK, I’m finally catching up on the April and May reviews. The April theme was Beauty for Challenge #4. I read The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments by George Johnson.

Johnson confesses he had a difficult time picking the ten experiments for this book, and I don’t know how he was able to choose since there are so many great examples. However, he discusses ten experiments that not only changed scientific thinking, but were also examples of brilliant insight and scientific work. Science at its best. In reading this brief book, I easily see the beauty in what all of these scientists accomplished.

The June theme is Knowledge for Challenge #6. I read Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. The irony of seeing this book on the list of ideas for June was that I had requested it as an interlibrary loan some time ago, and it had finally come in a few days before I saw the BAM Challenge theme for the month.

As for the book itself, the setting shifts back and forth in time, and, from cryptographers cracking enemy codes in World War II to building a data haven closer to present day, knowledge is quite often the turning point in the story. I love the way Stephenson weaves a story through presenting the perspectives of several characters that are unknowingly connected.

I confess I missed the last two challenges, but I do have books ready to read for the April and May challenge. I will catch up – hopefully before July!

OK, this time I’m not late with my review for the Book-a-Month Challenge.

The March theme was Crafts for Challenge #3 in honor of March being National Craft Month. Since I love quilts and quilting is one the crafts I want to learn someday, I read How to Make an American Quilt by Whitney Otto. This is the story of several women in a quilting group in a small town in California. A different woman’s story is told in each chapter, and for each story, the author provides an analogy to some aspect of quilt-making. As each woman’s story is told, the reader also gets occasional glimpses of the other women through another’s eyes. It’s an engaging look into the lives of several very different women who still manage to come together to create quilts.

I’m ready and waiting for the April challenge!

Again, I’m a little late with my review for the Book-a-Month Challenge. But, hey, I’m still hangin’ in there!

The February theme was Heart for Challenge #2. I read In the Heart of the Valley of Love by Cynthia Kadohata. The setting is Los Angeles about 50 years in the future. The government rations water and gas. Pollution and sickness are rampant. Loss of loved ones to death or police arrest is quite common. Yet, despite the gloom, we see how people find hope through the main character, Francie, a teenage girl on the brink of adulthood. She, her family, her friends, and her boyfriend still seek love and friendship in the midst of chaos and desolation. I am most impressed by Kadohata’s ability to juxtapose hope and despair in the same sentence.

Two down, and ten to go! Bring on the March challenge! I have my book ready.