Book 45 of 2015- O for a Thousand Nights to Sleep" by Lorilee Craker

So, I thought this was a professional's book that will be helpful in sleep training. I was excited that it came right now because ever since Daylight Savings (curse Benjamin Franklin for thinking it up) Cora has stopped sleeping through the night. I am about to LOSE MY MIND. I love her, but my nerves are a little more frayed at 4 AM when she's ready to play.

Anyway, this was not a book done by a professional. She is a mom speaking to a mom, but I actually really enjoyed that. She tells of some of the different things that happen with each month from birth to a year. While they weren't totally accurate to Cora's timeline (I mean, crawling at 5 months???), it was pretty informative. For example, I "get" to look forward to an outburst of independence at about 9 months. Woohoo, right? And in the next month Cora will start to figure out that the person she already laughs at in the mirror is herself. I am excited for a lot of these tiny changes, and can't wait to see more!

Book 44 of 2015- "Anne of the Island" by L.M. Montgomery

I have to say this book was my favorite of the series so far. This is when Anne goes to college, to get her BA. She goes with a few school friends, including Gilbert Blythe. While going to school she makes some new friends and adopts a cat. Her best friend, Diana, gets married and another friend passes away from consumption (which I just found out was tuberculosis... Anne probably shouldn't have spent so much time with her.). And she has a serious boyfriend for 2 years, but when he proposes she realizes that she loves Gilbert (whose proposal she had rejected before). So, that is awkward for Roy. But finally she gets together with Gilbert!

I am excited to keep reading this series... Yes it is a big fat "I told you so" moment.

Book 43 of 2015- "Anne of Avonlea" by L.M. Montgomery

So now that I have read the first book in the series, I am determined to make it through the whole series. I already have the next 2 here with me.

This book did not have as many of Anne's mishaps in it, probably due to the fact that Anne was growing up. She taught school for the two years that this book took place, which made me nostalgic thinking about my year of teaching. She did, however, manage to fall through a roof of an old henhouse while trying to see into one of their neighbor's windows. She also helped Marilla take care of a set of twins, one of whom was always getting into trouble. She even helped reignite a long lost love, and at the end decided to go off to college. I KNOW that she and Gilbert get together at some point, and I think it will be soon. Overall, I have been really liking this series (big surprise, since it's so popular and classic).

When I read these books I think of how Cora's middle name was almost Anne. If I had known her hair would be RED I would have definitely insisted. But Cora Faye flows so much better than Cora Anne, and we will (most likely) have another girl with a chance to name her however we want.

Book 42 of 2015- "Yes, My Accent is Real" by Kunal Nayyar

So, this is an actor from "the Big Bang Theory". It's a pretty funny show, and he plays an astrophysicist in it. I saw he had a book coming out, so I reserved it at the library for the heck of it.

I guess that when he was in college, he didn't even know he wanted to act. He started in the business program, and then just started acting in plays for the heck of it. He also talks about the time he tried to kiss a Mormon girl (of course) and she freaked out because he is a Hindu. He also had a huge roommate from France, and worked as a janitor in college. And the thing that was most interesting to me was that he got his job on the Big Bang Theory on his first audition. He needed a job to get a different visa since his student visa was expiring. That's pretty much how it goes in Hollywood, right? 

I'm kind of excited to read more substantial things than actors' memoirs. As funny as they are (and I have more coming in the future), it's also fun to read things that excite the imagination.

Book 41 of 2015- "Why Not Me?" by Mindy Kaling

Yes, another Mindy Kaling book. This one just came out in September, so it is brand new. It's not even that she's that funny, I just enjoy reading her opinions on things. She isn't a "typical" Hollywood starlet, so she talks about trying to be comfortable in her own body while she spends time with the rich and famous. She also talked a lot about time on the Office set, and how much fun it was. AND she did answer the question of if she dated BJ Novak (Ryan from the Office). She didn't.

Overall, entertaining read but not one I would buy.

Book 40 of 2015- "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters" by Captain Sullenberger

I remember the Miracle on the Hudson. We watched it on the news, as the people were rescued from standing on the wings of the plane. It was AMAZING to think that the captain knew exactly what to do, and within like 6 minutes of the birds hitting was able to safely land the plane and get the men and women off the airplane and that they were all rescued and survived.

Captain Sully is a remarkable man. He came from a humble background in Texas and had a love of flying his whole life. He got his pilot's license at the age of 16 and has been flying ever since. He spent years and years studying other people's experiences, including extensive learning about plane crashes and what went wrong. It is because of this that he knew what to do when his engines went out, and what not to do.

I'm not going to lie, reading this made me nervous to fly across the country with Cora again. You have your life in the pilot's hands. He said that he has been flying for nearly half of aviation's history. It is really amazing, and I hope he continues to succeed.

Book 39 of 2015- "The Bishop's Wife" by Mette Ivie Harrison

 I read about this book on Alyse's book blog, so I decided to read it. It is a mystery novel about a bishop's wife in a ward in Draper, Utah and the crimes that are committed in the ward. She, of course, meddles into their lives and saves the day.

I didn't really like the way she was portrayed. She is a former atheist turned Mormon who questions much of the Church's practices, such as the patriarchal nature of the Church and the role of women today. She also discusses the Church's "neverending positivity" of the Saints with regards to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. I mean, of COURSE the main character had to be an active but edgy member of the Church. It's not like they could have been talking about a woman who is content with her role in the Church and doesn't feel like she is being controlled by her husband. I can't see my mom doing that.

So overall, not my favorite book. I liked the mystery aspect, but I can't stomach reading too much questioning about the church.