It does, doesn't it? I'm excited to read it.

Thanks for coming by, Lydia!

Thanks! I need all the luck I can get :)

I totally forgot about BORN A CRIME since it was stacked in a huge heap of books. Now that I've found it, I'm definitely going to read it so it doesn't get lost again.

Thanks for stopping by, Natalie!

Very timely! I'm even more excited to read WHAT YOU WISH FOR now.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

It's funny how I can think of twenty responses for some topics and zilch for others!

Thanks for stopping by, NickiMags!

Thanks! I don't think I'll make it, but I'm going to try.

Thanks for coming by, JadeSky!

Can you believe I've never watched Downton Abbey? I like period dramas, too! Are you guys enjoying it?

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Ethan!

Joy is the perfect theme right now! Even in crazy times like this we can choose to live our lives in a positive, grateful way. This makes me want to read the book even more.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!

I started THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD last night. I'm only a few chapters in, but it's hooked my interest for sure. I think it's going to be a good read. Sad but engrossing.

Thanks for stopping by, Diane!

I've heard only good things about BORN A CRIME. My only excuse for not reading it earlier is that the book got lost in my many book stacks. Now that I've reorganized, I have no excuse! Must read.

Thanks for coming by, Alison!

Right? When I was in college, there was a big "ride board" posted so that students from outside of Utah could carpool home to other states for the holidays. I always thought that would be a great set-up for a novel. Only I was thinking of a romance or an adventure. I never thought about a thriller, but it really is a chilling premise, isn't it?

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cath!

I used to cross-stitch all the time, ten years ago or so. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Now, I spend an hour or two every night stitching and watching t.v. with my family. My husband likes it better when I stitch than when I read since he can still talk to me without feeling like he's interrupting! LOL.

Thanks for stopping by, Brooke!

Wow, you do read hefty tomes! Maybe you should have a pages read goal instead of a books read one. I count all books with over 50 pages and I try to read a variety of lengths. Still, I've been into a few other projects this year so my reading has been slower than in years past. Not that it matters really, but it's fun to have a reading goal to aim for.

I've read very little about what happened in Leningrad. Which other books on the subject would you recommend? Preferably something under 500 pages :)

Thanks for coming by, Marianne!

I've mentioned this in my statistics last year, that if you assume that the average novel contains between 140 and 320 pages, i.e. 230, then I would have read 134 books in 2019.

I will have to think whether I can recommend a good novel about the siege. Or whether it appears in a novel that is not too long. I'll get back to you.

And you're welcome, always a pleasure reading your posts.

Thanks! The only other novel I can think of that I've read about the siege of Leningrad is THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD. It was a long time ago, but I remember enjoying the book. Maybe I should re-read it ...

I think, even if I don't enjoy a book because I know all the background already, someone else might love it or at least learn from it. So, it's good that you read about history, no matter how.

I'm looking forward to it! The premise is so simple, but so intriguing ...

Thanks for stopping by, Verushka!

Are you on NetGalley? E-ARCs of THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD are available there.

Thanks for coming by, Tina!

Oh, hearing him read it might make the book even better. Maybe I should try that. Glad you enjoyed!

Thanks for stopping by, Nicole!

I hope you love them! I'm reading THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD right now. It starts with a bang and is pretty darn intense, which isn't surprising but still ...

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

I know! I love Call the Midwife. My kids used to groan every time I turned it on - "not the baby birthing show again!" I could never convince them that it was a really, REALLY good show. Kids!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

The orphan train movement was truly incredible. I know we can't fully understand the kind of desperation people felt at that time period, but still, how could someone give away their children? And subject them to a program that placed them with guardians who might just as soon enslave and beat them than love them as their own? Horrifying.

The Children's Blizzard is also a horrifying event. Fascinating, but super sad. I definitely recommend the Laskin book about it that I mentioned above. Benjamin's novel is atmospheric and intense so far. I'm sure you'd find it engrossing - I sure am!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

200 is my goal every year since I haven't managed to reach it yet. I don't stress about it - like you said, the journey's more important than the destination!

I hadn't heard of Richards before I saw FIVE TOTAL STRANGERS advertised, but she has other books I want to check out. I'm always up for a good thriller, no matter what the season.

I'm glad you liked THESE HEALING HILLS. I do like Appalachian stories and I find midwivery fascinating. Christian books are hit and miss for me, but it sounds like this one is a hit. Yay!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, RS!

It's not my favorite Hannah book, but I liked it. I hope you do, too.

Thanks for stopping by, Debra!