This was a good book. I liked the main character and I liked that my guinea pig and my dog have the same names as two of the mice in this book.

I like fairytale because I like dad is mean to uncle stripe and I also like when Bluey and bingo say our fairytales true and I also like when uncle rad jinx dad and they say made you look you dirty crook

Fun characters to follow, though somewhat stereotyped. Interesting storyline.

I also wanted to love this book. It was an ambitious project, to weave an allegory based on the entire Bible, climate crisis, and End Times. I ended up feeling a little terrified (is that possible?), not so much by the apocalyptic events, but by the dynamic between the "wise" adolescents and the drugged/drunk/sex-crazed parents. The smug adolescents seemed just as unanchored morally, as they also dallied in drugs, sex, and drinking, although they were the "remnant" responsible for carrying on society post-storm. The book ended up with Eve (!) the main character, telling her brother he was right, Jesus is science and the Holy Ghost is the "things people make" or "art." The allegory and this conclusion felt altogether forced. I couldn't identity the Jesus character in this or understand how you can make an allegory of Christianity without the centrality of the cross or something cross-like? I'm not sure where I would have been located in this novel (which was a National Book Award Finalist). Maybe just swept out to sea with the other miscellaneous adult bodies. I accept that my generation added to the climate crisis and don't want to minimize this overarching idea. I also accept that the Bible gives believers responsibility for care of God''s world with His help. Maybe this is what allegory is meant to do, irritate us to action. After all, Jonathan Swift didn't really want people to eat babies.

I liked the characters.

Bethlehem Library Book Club ( a library program) met on 7/10/23 in the community room. The discussion was led by volunteer Rebecca Hathaway for this July meeting. Each person brought a book or books that they would recommend to others. I discussed Yellowface, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (by Kim Michele Richardson), and Little Monsters (by Adrienne Brodeur). Individual participation was excellent and lively discussions ensued from the many books presented.

The Honey Bus is a heartwarming memoir that is a testament the unconditional love of a grandparent. Meredith’s grandfather is a bee keeper and his lessons about bees taught lots of value insights into life.

I cried so much through this book that the words were blurry, and I had to wipe away tears every couple of seconds. Bravo!

The best of the Hunger Games series I think.