2024 Family Reading List

 The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks This novel was started on September 12, 2024, and finished on October 19, 2024; it was 398 pages. My dad, Hanson, chose this. This was my first time reading this novel. I had trouble starting it, but I am an avid Sparks lover, so I gave it a chance. I absolutely loved the story of Ira and Ruth. I gave this book a personal rating of 5-stars. Summary (SPOILERS!!!) This is a story of two people from different sides of the track. Brought together by fate and destined for an amazing life together. Sophia meets Luke unexpectedly at a party, better yet a party after a rodeo. He breaks up a fight between her and her ex-boyfriend.             They hit it off and Luke introduces her to ranch life and his world. All the while we are also introduced to Ira and Ruth. An older couple whose lives were just as full of love as Luke and Sophia. Their paths cross unexpectedly and change their lives forever. ...

  The Gray Man by Mark Greaney This novel was started on July 29, 2024, and finished on August 28, 2024; it was 371 pages. This was chosen by my niece, Allionna. This novel was a reread for me. I read this in 2021 and am quite impressed with how much I don't really remember from the first read. I was intrigued from start to finish essentially. I gave this book a personal rating of 4-stars. Summary (SPOILERS!!)     This book follows the relentless journey of Courtland Gentry, known to his employers and adversaries as "The Gray Man." He has a reputation of being the deadliest hitman.     Money and power are things that drive many of his employers that hire him. But for him, those things are nothing to him. It is a story similar to if Robin Hood had a gun. These two things though, drive the goal of Lloyd, a person hired by the LaurantGroup to produce Gentry's head on a platter after his last job. A contract between the LaurantGroup and another company is in jeopard...

 The Final Journey by Gudrun Pausewang This novel was started on May 15, 2024, and finished on June 4, 2024; it was 154 pages. This was chosen by my Auntie Ern. This was a very short novel with only 26 chapters and 154 pages. Although it was short, it took me a long time to finish compared to other novels, mostly because of my own busy life. But, the content of the events was a lot to take in. Which is common for me when I read anything with heavy subjects. I gave this book a personal rating of 4-stars. Summary (SPOILERS!!)      This novel follows the journey of an 11-year-old girl named Alice. Alice is traveling by train to an unknown destination with only the clothes on her back and a small rucksack of what she can gather when the guards come for her and her grandparents in the dead of night. She has no idea what this journey holds for her, but all she can be glad for is leaving a basement that she hasn't left in almost 2 years. Her parents wrote to her saying that...

Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra This novel was started on March 25, 2024, and finished on April 25, 2024; it was 404 pages. This was chosen by my older brother, Marcus. This novel inspired a movie by the same name, and of course; I watched it after. It has also caused speculation on its authenticity in the content concerning the crimes and trials associated with the story. The author did claim that all accounts, although names and places were changed, were in fact true. Regardless, I gave this novel a 3-star rating and did enjoy it. Summary (SPOILERS!!) The place known as Hell's Kitchen is known to harbor criminals and get away with a lot because of its own corruption in law enforcement. A level of respect is placed on one of the area's deadliest bosses, King Benny. Also, the local parish is one of the most influential aspects of this community, among those in the church Father Bobby tried his best to help the youth because he knows how they grew up and what they may experience....

 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Started on January 25, 2024, and finished on February 05, 2024. This book was chosen by my friend, Will. Or as he is more commonly known in my world, as Sq-William.  Although this novel was only 180 pages, I can't believe it took me so long to finish, but there it is. In black and white. The easiest and hardest piece of literature I had to get through. My personal rating of this novel was 4 stars. Summary (spoilers)     This novel follows the mysterious life of Jay Gatsby. An entrepreneur of West Egg in New York City. His past and where his never-ending supply of wealth comes from are the mystery. Not that anyone really cares because as long as the lights of his house are on and the party keeps going, it doesn't matter.     His love for his "across the pond" neighbor, Daisy Buchanan, keeps those lights on. Nick Carraway is Daisy's cousin and is intrigued by Gatsby. He becomes his neighbor and unbeknownst to him, they...

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff 342 pages. Started on January 08, 2024 and finished on January 14, 2024. Chosen by none other than The Queen herself, my Grandma Emily. A solid seven days to finish a tale of two women during one of the world's most deadly wars. My personal rating of this novel is a solid 5 stars.  Summary (spoiler alert)     Two women just trying to survive in a time in history where it's dangerous to just be who you are. if can get you killed OR it can get you killed.     Noa was cast out by her parents when they learned she is pregnant; one, out of wedlock. Two, the child's father is a German soldier. She leaves home with nowhere to go. She finds sanctuary in a girl's home for women who's children will be sent to live and be raised by German families. A shed of hope gives Noa the strength to say goodbye to her child if she must. When the child is undoubtly born with features unwelcomed to society, he is takem from her and never seen again. She ...