Day 30 ~ Your favorite book of all time

Of course they saved the most difficult challenge for the last day. Do they really expect a reader, an honest-to-goodness reader, to come up with one favorite book? Have they seen my Favorite's shelf? There are 82 books on it right now and I haven't read my last book by a long shot.

Don't worry, though. Sock Poppet has figured out how to beat this challenge! I shall simply define "all time" as "all time within the last five seconds." Easy peasy!

The book is pure yumminess. The Hathaways is one of the best series ever and this is my favorite book of that series. Cam is an amazing hero ~ my second favorite hero of all time (within the last five seconds!) Cam loves and marries the Hathaway sister who has taken care of her family for far too long. He lifts the burden from Amelia's shoulders and takes on the protection of her whole family. Swoon worthy!

And if you thought the cover was hot, check out the stepback (inside picture). It's the real reason why I picked this book!

29 ~ A book everyone hated but you liked

I'm not sure I could find a book that everyone hated. I mean seriously, with all the utter trash that passes for books, I've never seen one that everyone hates. Even when an author seems to have typed a book blindfolded and with her feet, someone likes the book.

So I'll use a book that had complaints about the heroine, Maddy. I loved Maddy. I thought she was strong, smart and challenging for the hero, Christian Langland, Duke of Jerveaux. And she was the only one who could help Christian when he desperately needed it.

What were the negative reactions to Maddy about? I don't care. I loved Maddy and that's all that matters. Am I right?

Day 28 ~ Favorite title of a book (a book so short one might call it a short story)

The title is so beautifully descriptive. Is it because I love the story so much? Does it really matter?

Read it for yourself. It's only 4 pages (didn't I say it was short?), so I'll get myself a snack while you read.

http://staff.esuhsd.org/danielle/English%20Department%20LVillage/RT/Short%20Stories/All%20Summer%20in%20a%20Day.pdf

Or listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdHiIZKbc8s

Now that you've read the story, read this charmingly illustrated review by Jessi (on that other site).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/174820685

I could so relate to poor Jessi's dilemma and Ronan's disgust.

Stories: Love them or hate them, they entertain us nonetheless.

Day 27 ~ The most surprising plot twist or ending

I find myself in something of a conundrum. This is the book with the most surprising plot twist or ending that I've read in the last few months, but if I tell you about it I will spoil its ability to surprise you if you decide to read this book.

Yet a post that only says, "This is the book with the most surprising plot twist or ending that I've read in the last few months!" is likely to have you scrolling down to the next post. What to do? What to do?

My loathing for spoiling a book without permission leaves me no choice. All I can say is that this book kept me intrigued almost to the very end and then it knocked me for a loop ~ in a good way.

Day 26 ~ A book that changed your opinion about something

I've always been fascinated by how the brain works. As a teacher I can almost see the cogs and wheels turning as my students take in new information and it fascinates me trying to figure out how their brains work.

This book explores neuroplasticity which says that the brain is not a static organ, but is capable of changes in neural pathways and synapses. Scientists are developing ways of helping people rewire their brains after injuries, strokes and other traumas.

The author, Norman Doidge, is able to explain these medical advances in a way that kept me glued to the book. (Fortunately, it wasn't Super Glue and I was able to separate myself from the book before it was due at the library.)

One of the most fascinating stories involved a women with damaged inner ears who had lived for years with a debilitating sense of falling, even when lying prone on the ground. She was able to regain her sense of balance with a sensor placed on her tongue.

Each story expanded my knowledge about how much the brain is capable of doing and how limitless the scope is of a person's dreams about what they can achieve.