So, I stopped posting reviews here after #70 last year. I did manage to read 100 books in 2017, but getting them reviewed, let alone posting the reviews in two places, proved to be too much for me. I knew that "something would have to give" when I became a mom in July, but it's still hard to actually make those choices and decide what to let go.

I am not letting go of this blog, but I will no longer cross-post all my Goodreads reviews here. You can still read them on my Goodreads page, of course.

Although I am writing less about books these days, I am still pursuing various book-ish projects. They include --

• The 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge - Just for fun; I am not going to be crushed if I don't manage to complete it.
• The Into the Forest Reading Challenge - Into the Forest is a Goodreads group I belong to for fairy tale/mythology enthusiasts. They do a 12-item challenge every year within the genre that is fun to keep me reading widely within one of my favorite book categories.
• 1001 Books to You Must Read Before You Grow Up - I am working my way through the recommended books in this tome with my son. Right now we are just focusing on the age 0-3 chapter. I am really surprised by how many of these books are NOT in my public library! My plan is to buy my son a big box of any of the books we weren't able to find in the library at the end of the chapter. In the meantime, I've also begun scouring used booksales to help fill in the gap.
• The cookbook project - In an attempt to actually USE more of my cookbooks, feed my family well, and save money on eating out, I've been marking recipes I want to try since I was pregnant. I rate every recipe I try, and eventually hope to pare down my cookbook collection by getting rid of the books with only a handful of intriguing recipes after I have tried them.

I am also working on a "book adjacent" project, which is listening to all 150 albums on NPR's women's music canon. The reason I consider this to be a book-adjacent project is because a) I am getting most of these albums from my local library and b) I am listening to a lot more music these days because my son is more content on drives with music than audiobooks. I am sad to have fewer audiobooks in this season of my life, but I am excited to start exploring music again, and to, you know, have a baby.

Title:  Adunni Dares To Dream

Author:  Taiwo I. Ajao

Publisher:  A Dr. Ajao Company

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Five

Review:

"Adunni Dares To Dream" by Taiwo I. Ajao

My Viewpoints...

What will happen when 'Adunni Dares To Dream?'  Will her dreams come true?  "Adunni Dares to Dream" is a beautiful written story of a young girl named Adunni who just wanted to go to school but for her that would be hard because of the money situation.  Adunni's mom needed  her to help work and to help keeping her little sister. However, things were looking up for Adunni after her mom had finally saved and borrowed enough money to send Adunni to 'Primary' school but how long would she be able to go due to the money situation leaving one to think were the schools just for the rich and lucky children?

This novel is so good especially for the children to see how ones dreams can come true especially if you can 'dare to dream it.'  For Adunni will have a hard time but it was quite something as one could see that God was definitely in the plan.  It seems like a 'way' would be made for Adunni  every time it was needed. Now this was not only a story about  Adunni but also for her friend Mike who desired to become a architect. Also did Mike have feelings for his longtime friend?  What would Mike's father do to try to help out with this situation?  I did like how Mike was brought into the story as being a true friendship  of Adunni's that will be their for her all the way from her childhood to adulthood.  In the end will Adunni and Mike get together?

After primary school for Adunni in which she finished at the top of her class and was able to continue on for free but when it came time for secondary school what will she do as there was just  enough money for the first term?

Well, as the story continues when Adunni was ready for secondary school there seems to always be a way that has been made ...through her  principle, family and friends. As one reads through "Adunni Dares to Dream" we read a very touching story for how God was there with Adunni all the way through her life.

Things were not always happy for Adunni because her sister died the last year of her schooling due to lack of money and proper treatment.  As the story moves on Adunni takes the exam for college and obtains the number one score in science and then became a 'prize candidate for three community colleges.'  Then another dream comes true for Adunni's where her principle personally  pays for her interviews and good results comes for her at Christ School for a year.

Mikes connects back up with Adunni and will he still have feelings for Adunni as  he sends and receives a letter from Adunni?   Mike will even create a  beautiful song for Adunni....

"What am I living for if not for you What am I working for if not for you, 

Adunni What am I looking for if not for you Yay Yay nobody else, nobody 

else but you."

After completing two years of community college and Adunni works as a teacher to pay her loan back to Reverend Sister Una.  As Adunni  continue on and take her exams for the admission of the University of Ibadan Medical School and guess again what will happen for her?  With help of her father and the professor...well ....

 "No longer did Adunni dare to dream alone; instead everyone around her began to hope and dream too."

Will Adunni become a 'Lady Doctor' she wanted to be as she knew the goal in her life was to help prevent the senseless death of children, like her own sweet sister?"

Adunni & Mike will continue their long distance relationship and more good things come to Adunni after she 'completes one short semester, she received a full scholarship, plus stipend to complete her medical school program.'  I will say from this more good things will come but I will just let you pick up "Adunni Dares to Dream" and see for yourself how well this author brings it all out to the reader.

This was quite a interesting read as we see "Adunni eventually decided she would become a

pediatrician: a doctor for children...'The Lady Doctor.'  She would soon be able to take care of newborn babies, help children in emergencies, and guide parents on how to keep  their children safe and healthy."

Soon Mike would goes to Adunni's parents and ask for her hand in marriage.  However, there was something else that Mike needed to talk to Adunni about.  I don't want to give it away but will say again you will have to pick up this good story and read about it for yourself.

In the end I will say this was a wonderfully well written story that anyone.... child or even a adult will enjoy to read.

I loved this quote:

"Although she was a part of a very hardworking family, Adunni just could not have the finer things in life, like school, books and literacy.  In her culture, girls were just expected to look pretty, get married and have children,  But Adunni Wished for something more for she dared to dream."

I love the ending where the reader will get some beautiful photos that will tell the rest of this  beautifully told story along with a glossary with some questions...."Does Adunni give in to her society's expectations?  Does she chose the status quo?  What are Aduni's dreams and where do her dreams take her and she dreamt on?"  All of these questions and so much more will be answered from this novel "Adunni Dares to Dream."

IN THE END....'ADUNNI DARES TO DREAM' .... The Story of Dr. Ethel A. Adeloye... Wow,  where Her Dream Took Her!   Would I recommend this novel?  YES, it was beautiful written true story.