When it comes to scaring the kids of little Pitch, Iowa, the tale of Joseph Wither—an alleged murderer who lived locally decades ago—is right up there with Bloody Mary and The Vanishing Hitchhiker.  So, when a junior high school teacher gives her class an assignment to research an urban legend, 12-year-old Violet Crow and two of her classmates decide to look more closely at the Wither story.  Obsessed with the creepy tale, the girls agree to a late-night meeting at an abandoned rail yard with someone claiming to be Joseph.  Hours later, one of them is found beaten near to death.  The other two are in shock, refusing to speak about the incident.  What really happened that night in the rail yard?  Was Cora attacked by a supernatural entity?  Or someone much more corporeal?  

Despite its simple premise, Before She was Found by Heather Gudenkauf is a taut, twisty thriller with an ending I didn't see coming.  Populated with interesting characters, the novel also poses some intriguing questions about the dangers of hysteria and groupthink as well as asking how far a parent will go to protect their child.  Atmospheric and engrossing, this one kept me reading late into the night, desperate to know what was going to happen next. 

(Readalikes:  Hm, nothing is coming to mind.  You?)

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

Featuring a timeless love story bolstered by flashbacks and the excavation of a priceless Roman artifact, The London Restoration is a richly atmospheric look at post-war London as two people changed by war rebuild amidst the city’s reconstruction.  

Monday, August 17th: Blooming with Books

Tuesday, August 18th: @my_read_feed

Wednesday, August 19th: Reading Reality

Wednesday, August 19th: @shawntaye1

Thursday, August 20th: Books Cooks Looks

Friday, August 21st: @randi_reads

Saturday, August 22nd: Nurse Bookie and @nurse_bookie

Monday, August 24th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Tuesday, August 25th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife

Wednesday, August 26th: @shobizreads

Thursday, August 27th: @lowkey.bookish

Friday, August 28th: The Lit Bitch and @thelit_bitch

Monday, August 31st: @babygotbooks13

Wednesday, September 2nd: @readsrandiread

Thursday, September 3rd: Leighellen Landskov and @mommaleighellensbooknook

Friday, September 4th: @books_with_bethany

Monday, September 7th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks

Wednesday, September 9th: @meetmeinthestacks

Wednesday, September 9th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Thursday, September 10th: Girl Who Reads

Friday, September 11th: @rendezvous_with_reading

I've been drawing a blank on a lot of the recent Top Ten Tuesday topics and today's is no different.  It's Top Ten Books For My Younger Self.  If the subject sounds familiar, it's because we did the same one back in April (which our host, Jana, just realized - ha ha).  If you're interested in my list of Top Ten Books I Loved Waaayyyy Back in the Day, you can check it out here.  

So, this week, I had a shocking revelation—it's September!  Even though 2020 seems like it's lasted for five years, it's actually almost over, which is crazy.  There are only 115 days left in the year (if Google did its math correctly), so I've been thinking about what I want to read before 2020 vanishes forever (thank goodness).  My goal of reading 200 books in 2020 isn't looking super doable at this point, but I'm still going to give it my best shot.  I'm set to finish The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman today (an excellent MG historical, by the by), which will be my 107th read of the year.  I'd love to get at least 62 more in so I can beat the number of books I read last year (168).  We'll see how it goes.

Since I'm a super book nerd (as opposed to just an ordinary one), I sat down the other day and typed up a list of 70 books I'd like to read before January 1, 2021.  Some of them are simply titles I've been meaning to read but haven't gotten to yet.  Others are books that fill prompts for reading challenges I haven't yet completed.  About ten of them are actually re-reads, which is funny because I rarely re-read.  Since ten is our golden number today, I decided to share them with you:  

1.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith—I loved this novel when I read it for a literature course in college, so I'm excited to revisit it.  It fits several prompts for the PopSugar Reading Challenge:  a Bildungsroman, a Book Over 500 Pages, or a Book Published in the 20th Century.

2.  The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin—This mystery is one I enjoyed as a kid.  Prompt(s):  Wisconsin Setting (Literary Escapes Reading Challenge) and Reread a Childhood Favorite or A Mystery or Under 200 Pages (Booklist Queen Reading Challenge)

3.  A Separate Peace by John Knowles—This classic was also part of the curriculum for a literature class either in high school or college.  Prompt(s):  New Hampshire Setting (Literary Escapes Reading Challenge)

4.  The Eagle Catcher by Margaret Coel—I read several books in Coel's mystery series set on an Indian reservation before I started blogging.  I never finished the series for some reason, so I'm going to start over with the first installment.  Prompt(s):  Wyoming Setting (Literary Escapes Reading Challenge) 

5.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee—There are very few books that I've read multiple times, but this is one of them.  Since it's my favorite novel of all time and one that is frequently banned, it's perfect for the Read a Banned Book During Banned Book Week prompt (PopSugar Reading Challenge).  It also fits the prompt for Reread a Favorite Book (Booklist Queen Reading Challenge) and Book Published in the 20th Century (PopSugar Reading Challenge).

6.  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens—I reread this holiday classic every year to get me feeling all Christmas-y.  Prompt(s):  Reread a Favorite Book (Booklist Queen Reading Challenge) 

7.  Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier—This may be a cheat since I can't remember if I've read this book or not.  Regardless, it should be a great Halloween read.  Prompt(s):  Book Published in the 20th Century (PopSugar Reading Challenge)

8.  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate—I'm not usually one for books about animals (especially if they talk), but this is a lovely children's book.  In preparation for reading its sequel, The One and Only Bob, which just came out, I'm going to reread this powerful novel.  Prompt(s):  Reread a Favorite Book (Booklist Queen Reading Challenge), Book Made into a Movie in 2020 (The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge and Booklist Queen Reading Challenge), Middle Grade Reading Challenge

9.  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley—I read this one as a teenager.  It will make a great reread for Halloween.  Prompt(s):  a Book Published in the 20th Century or a Book Written By Someone in Their 20's (PopSugar Reading Challenge)  

10.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling—Okay, this is cheating a little bit since technically, I'm not the one rereading it.  I am, however, listening while my husband reads it aloud to our 11-year-old daughter, neither of whom has read it before.  Even though I'm usually reading my own book at the same time, I'm enjoying hearing the story for the third time.  It never gets old!  

Do you re-read books?  Why or why not?  What do you think of my rereads?  Have you read or re-read any of them?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave a comment on this post and I will return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!