Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted, written and narrated by Suleika JaouadIn her early twenties, a recent college graduate pursuing a career overseas, Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia. The first half of this memoir is about the years spent as a cancer patient - her illness and treatment, the romantic relationship started shortly before her diagnosis, her family's unwavering support, the people she met along the way, and the newspaper column she chronicled her experience through. The second half is about learning how to live again - figuring out who she is outside of cancer, making hard decisions, seeking the input of specific people who have made an impact on her, and taking a long road trip. Recommended by a friend, I enjoyed this book. A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home, written by Steve PembertonI always love stories about an underdog beating the odds, which is exactly what this book is. The author spent most of his childhood as a foster child living in horrific circumstances, wondering where he came from and who he belonged to. Those questions were eventually answered, but as is often the case, the information that satisfied curiosity was not without complications. His is a story of so many kinds of pain, but also of hope, growth, and a fierce determination to create a different life than the one he'd been handed. I learned about this book when I saw it at Powell's last summer and really enjoyed it.p. 27, Books for me were what the ocean is to the fearless explorer - deep and mysterious, boundless and soothing. I loved the smell of books, the feel of their weight in my hands, the rustle of the pages as I turned them, the magnificent illustrations on the covers that promised hidden treasures within.p. 203, Although part of me would always long for what had been lost, I needed to end this fruitless task of trying to reclaim my history as if it were an antique capable of restoration. The Correspondent, written by Virginia EvansI love stories about friendship of all sorts, family relationships, messy lives, grief, and personal growth. I love epistolary novels. I love books where the characters love books. And I love an ending that's perfect for the story. So, basically, I thought this book was wonderful. Spanning about ten years, it's comprised entirely of letters sent between the main character, a woman in her seventies, and several people from different parts of her life. It's about regret, anger, guilt, fear, and unforgiveness, but also about kindness, love, trust, healing, and redemption. I'd wanted to listen to the audio, as it has a full cast of narrators, but the print version had a much shorter wait list. I'm not a re-reader, but I'm going to put myself back on the hold list for the audio. Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery, written by Henry MarshBroken down into chapters named after various brain problems he's treated, this book weaves together the author's journey to becoming a neurosurgeon and the decades spent working in the field with stories of specific patients and their surgeries. I found the medical aspect fascinating and appreciated the transparency about his confidence, fear, success, and failure. The behind-the-scenes look at the business part of medical care in London, where he lives, Kiev, where he's traveled extensively, and even America, as students are sent overseas to work with him, was also interesting. I discovered this book from Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread, written by Michiko Kakutani, a book I didn't finish. p. 139, I left them in the little room, their knees squeezed together as the four of them sat on the small sofa and wondered, yet again, as I walked away down the dark hospital corridor, at the way we cling so tightly to life and how there would be so much less suffering if we did not. Life without hope is hopelessly difficult but at the end hop can so easily make fools of us all. p. 180, Doctors need to be held accountable, since power corrupts. There must be complaints procedures and litigation, commissions of enquiry, punishment and compensation. At the same time if you do not hide or deny any mistakes when things go wrong, and if your patients and their families know that you are distressed by whatever happened, you might, if you are lucky, receive the precious gift of forgiveness.A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck, written by Sophie Elmhirst and narrated by Marisa CalinAn English couple decided to live at sea in the early 1970s, a dream come to a fruition. But things took a drastic turn for the worse when their boat was hit by a whale and promptly sunk. This book is about the four months that they fought for their lives in the middle of the ocean, but it's also about the time leading up to their trip, their rescue, and the aftermath. It's about survival and marriage, mental health and fame, codependency and adventure. I enjoyed the story, which I learned about from Modern Mrs. Darcy's 12/22/25 post, 15 crowd-pleasing books I find myself recommending all the time. The Midnight Children, written by Dan Gemeinhart and narrated by Andre SantanaSeven kids who show up to a vacant house in the middle of the night. The lonely boy who sees their arrival. A creepy man who's hunting for the kids. Community members of various ages who come in and out of the story. This middle grade novel, which I found as a "skip the line" option on Libby, is about friendship, chosen family, secrets, loyalty, and learning to do the right thing, even when you're scared. 3:00:29, Sometimes, when a soul is very sad, it doesn't really want to not be sad; it just wants to not be sad alone. Short, written by Holly Goldberg Sloan and narrated by Tara SandsI've been intentional about listening to middle grade novels lately and looked for one from this author because I've enjoyed three of her others. This one is about a short girl who ends up cast as a munchkin for a summer production of The Wizard of Oz, a play she's not particularly interested in being part of. Of course, by the end of the book she's stretched her comfort zone, learned a lot, and grown in self-confidence, thanks to the friendship, leadership, and mentorship of various adults in her life - an adult with dwarfism who's in the play, an elderly neighbor with loads of creativity and artistic ability, and a director who sees what she needs before she does. Bonus points for the subtle nods to a Eugene setting. 6:15:38, "Young people need models, not critics." I smile. He adds, "A basketball coach said that. I forget his name." (The internet tells me the quote is from John Wooden.)6:33:04, I grew this summer. Not on the outside, but on the inside. And that's the only place where growing really matters. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life, written by C. S. Lewis and narrated by Ralph CoshamI needed an audiobook and this came up as a "skip the line" option on Libby. Given that I enjoyed watching The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis and reading Once Upon a Wardrobe, written by Patti Callahan last year, I thought I might like it. Although I did listen to the whole thing, I didn't particularly enjoy it. The parts that intrigued me were about his life, most of which I was familiar with because of last year's book and movie. The parts about philosophy and the shifts in his beliefs over the years - which, admittedly, are the whole point of the book - bored me. Of course, those are the exact parts that would make other readers enjoy the book. Each to their own.2:57:46, Where oppression does not completely and permanently break the spirit, has it not a natural tendency to produce retaliatory pride and contempt?5:44:44, From seeing this, one passes to the realization that our own age is also a period and certainly has, like all periods, its own characteristic illusions. They are likeliest to lurk in those widespread assumptions which are so ingrained in the age that no dares to attack or feels it necessary to defend them. This Book Made Me Think of You, written by Libby PageI love a book about books, so this novel piqued my interest when I saw it on Salem Public Library's 2/10/26 post. The main character had been widowed for six months when she received a gift from her dead husband. Knowing of both his impending death and her love of reading, he'd collaborated with a local bookstore owner to give her a full year of books from him, one per month. Each book includes a letter from him explaining why he chose it. I love that the novel includes a list of titles at the start of each chapter, along with the books mentioned in each chapter. This tender story is about grief and growth, the helpful and hurtful ways the grieving and those who love them handle the process, and the way books can change our lives. p. 92, Getting back into reading feels like stepping inside the house of a beloved friend she hasn't seen for a long time. It feels like coming home. p. 402, The real magic of books is when turning the final page doesn't mean an ending but a beginning - a beginning that only you can write. When a book sends you to a place you've never been or encourages you to do something new or simply to live with a little more empathy or curiosity because of the characters you have met. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 3, written by Beth Brower and narrated by Genevieve GauntThis series continues to provide me with lighthearted entertainment as the main character, a young woman with what I'd call pluck, lives in London's high society during the 1800s. With a mixture of expected deference and witty independence, she's figuring out how to balance the life she has to live and the one she wants to. I enjoy the cast of characters, even more so with their distinct voices in the audio version of the books.2:35:04, "It's messier than we ever imagined it to be as children," he said. "What?""Life." 3:04:30, "I learned a long time ago that my happiness has to be separate from the things beyond my control."3:45:48, How wonderful a thing to find one's friends.The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 4, written by Beth Brower and narrated by Genevieve GauntMore shenanigans and serious moments from 1880s London. This series feels a little different than most books I read, but I continue to find it entertaining. It's a good palate cleanser among more serious books. 3:02:39, Is it immoral to marry a man solely to gain a library? And if that man happens to be tremendously good looking, is it more or less of a sin?