I didn't finish any books this week.

Century of Viewing #38

1920s

• 1924 Girl Shy. A stuttering shy man with no experience at all even slightly with women writes a book about how to win all the ladies. The publisher sees it as a joke--at first rejecting it and then deciding to publish it AS a joke. Meanwhile, he falls in love with random person on the train because DOGGO. Also she falls in love with him because he shares Cracker Jacks? She's rich. He's poor. She ends up almost marrying someone else. He stops the wedding. I didn't love this one. I think the "stuttering gag" is a complete and total failure in a silent movie. And this one is WAY too long. So much could have been cut down because the moments between good bits or laughs makes the enjoyment of the whole go down. That's why I think Buster Keaton's shorter SHERLOCK JR, released the same year--one day later to be exact if Wikipedia is correct is a million times better. And it's half the length but A MILLION times more enjoyable. This one has a good enough premise perhaps--but it takes FOREVER to get anywhere. And when you are finally moving ahead with the plot the stuttering gag just slows it down all over again because you have to be reminded that yes this man in a SILENT MOVIE is stuttering.

1980s

• 1984 Ghostbusters. I enjoyed the song very much. I am glad I have seen it. It was enjoyable enough--I do love Bill Murray most of the time. I am glad I did not see it as a kid in 1984. Definitely would have SCARED me as a kid.
• 1989. Ghostbusters II. Technically a Christmas movie perhaps??? Doesn't matter, I don't think I'll voluntarily watch it again no matter the time of year. I would describe this one as I want my time back. Or if you don't love it after the first twenty minutes it's okay to abandon.

1990s

• 1997 Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. SUPER SUPER fun soundtrack. Enjoyable enough story. Romy and Michele are best, best, best, best friends--have been forever. Their high school reunion (10 years) is fast approaching...Romy wants to pretend to be super super successful....and Michele, she goes along with it not really caring one way or another. CAN their friendship overcome the stress of seeing their classmates particularly those that bullied them????

2000s

• 2005. Romy and Michele: In the Beginning. Is this the worst movie I've seen all year? Maybe. Probably. I'd have to look at my spreadsheet. But one star for sure. I am not sure about the casting. I almost wished that the roles were swapped with the actresses. I spent most of the video trying to figure out WHERE I recognized the one playing Michele. It is Virgin River. Of course she's been in plenty of movies and shows. So this prequel "movie" has so little plot that I'm not sure why it exists. But it shows the two friends moving to LA.

2020s

• 2026 Power Ballad. I wanted to love, love, love this one. I liked aspects of it for sure. BUT I don't know that I'd watch it again-again. (Though I might listen to the soundtrack at some point). Honestly, I enjoyed Paul Rudd as a wedding singer. The entire movie could have been him doing gigs as a wedding singer and covering songs with the occasional original....and him hanging out with his family and bandmates. But this wasn't that movie--not really. He plays a wedding where a famous ex-boy-band singer is a guest. The two sing together at the wedding and have an awesome time. They hang out after the wedding too. He plays some of his original songs for the famous guy. The famous guy enjoys and even gifts him a guitar. Though WHY he has a whole studio in a country he doesn't live and he's just a guest at a wedding--why does he have a collection of guitars and other musical-y stuff??? Is the guitar even his to give? A while later, wedding singer guy hears HIS original song on the radio being performed by famous singer guy. He's livid that he's not going to be credited with cowriting it at least. And no one seems to believe him that it is *his* song. So much drama and angst that goes on WAY too long. The movie is all about him coming to peace perhaps with just being a wedding singer and having the most awesome family life.
• 2026 Center Seat II. This is a five part documentary on Star Trek focusing on Star Trek Next Generation movies and the rebooted trilogy of movies. It mentions the series a little bit but not much. This is mostly-mostly about the movies except for when specific episodes connect to the movies. I have seen some of the first 'Center Seat' series but not all the episodes. Definitely interesting interviews and behind the scenes stuff.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

This week I reviewed two books.

68. Scaredy Squirrel. Melanie Watt. 2008. Kids Can Press. 42 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, picture book, emotions and feelings, animal fantasy]
69. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the BIG Hungry Bear. Don and Audrey Wood. 1984. 32 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, picture books, animal fantasy]

Century of Viewing #37

1920s

• 1926 Dancing Mothers. Do I pity anyone in this movie? NO, not really. I don't pity the cheating husband. I don't pity the cheating wife. I don't pity the man who is in love with the mother after amusing himself with the daughter. I don't pity the daughter who is confused as to why her mother fell in love with the guy she was chasing. Mainly I'm confused as to why the audience is supposed to sympathize with the mother. At least if the intertitles are to be believed. The mother takes the advice of her friend--someone who lost her son in World WAR I--that she shouldn't spend her nights at home while her daughter is out at nightclubs smoking and dancing AND her father is out with other women at nightclubs, probably smoking and dancing, and ETC. So she goes out to nightclubs and starts smoking and dancing. She meets the "scandalous" heart-breaker of a man that her daughter has fallen for and is chasing after relentlessly and shamelessly. So "for the sake of her daughter" she diverts his attention all to herself. Using a fake name--her stage name from before she married--and they carry on an affair. When all comes to light she BLAMES her husband and her daughter BECAUSE THEY ARE SELFISH AND THINK ONLY OF THEMSELVES. I mean granted, her husband isn't worth much. And her daughter lacks common sense and probably morals. BUT who raised the daughter??? NO pity to be found for this cheating woman who RUNS AWAY to Europe after being discovered BECAUSE HER FAMILY IS TOO SELFISH TO FORGIVE.
• 1928 Our Dancing Daughters. No relation--as far as I know--to Dancing Mothers which I watched earlier tonight. Three women--Diana, Beatrice (Bea) and Ann--are flapper friends who like to dance and party and be all the modern--drinking, smoking, etc. Bea has fallen madly in love and is regretting her earlier [lusty lusty] decisions. Ann puts on a show--depending on the audience. When she thinks a guy has all the $$$ and might marry her she is sweet, demure, all the innocent. Otherwise, anything goes. Diana is extremely extroverted and the life of a party. She'll dance on table tops, dance with all the guys in the room, just live it up. But she's "a good girl." Both Ann and Diana fall for the same guy. He thinks Diana must be immoral since she is the life of the party...so he chooses "demure" and "sweet" Ann who is plotting and manipulative just like her mother. Plenty of regrets Ben has after they are married. But will he get the opportunity to choose differently????
• 1929 The Trespasser. Gloria Swanson's first talking picture is all DRAMA. A couple weds quickly but the marriage dissolves just as quickly when his rich parents interfere. She keeps their child a secret, but, later when scandal erupts, well, she'll make the ultimate sacrifice....will she ever have a happy ending?

1930s

• 1938 You Can't Take It With You. Extremely very quirky from beginning to end. It is a romantic comedy that excels in side characters and charm. I definitely liked it enough to want to watch it again at some point.
• 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Another Frank Capra film. (I just watched You Can't Take It With You this past weekend). I liked it okay. Definitely unevenly paced in my opinion. OR else I was really extremely sleepy when I started it last night. One man fights for what is right....against all odds.

1960s

• 1962 Zotz! A professor comes into possession of an ancient coin that has magical properties when you say the word Zotz. But there are evil powers that be that want to get their hands on the coin....It is completely silly, quirky, ridiculous, but fun if you're in the right mood. I was in the right mood.

1990s

• 1992 School Ties. Set in the 1950s, I believe, this is a drama set at a prep school in Massachusetts. Lots of familiar faces in this one. Lots of football and French....and guys being not so nice to one another. I enjoyed it well enough.

2020s

• 2026. Leanne Season 2. I enjoyed this one. It isn't so much that there's actual plot, but, the characters and relationships of the family are well done and the episodes are funny.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

This August I read twenty-three books!

Books Reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

50. The Knife of Never Letting Go. (Chaos Walking #1) Patrick Ness. 2008. 512 pages. [Source: Library]
51. Rash. Pete Hautman. 2006. 256 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, YA dystopia, YA fiction, YA futuristic; YA Sports]
52. Prey. Michael Crichton. 2002. 507 pages. [Source: Library] [audio book, 5 stars, adult science fiction, adult thriller]
53. The Best Bear in All the World. Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeanne Willis, Kate Saunders. 2016. 115 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, audio book, Winnie the Pooh sequel]
54. The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins. Melanie Dickerson. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, clean romance, historical romance, Jane Eyre wannabe]
55. The Future of Us. Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. 2011. 356 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, YA fiction, YA science fiction, coming of age]
56. Paperboy. Vince Vawter. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, MG fiction, coming of age, MG historical, based on true story]
57. This is Christmas: Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits. 2023. 224 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, Christmas, music appreciation]
58. Every Time a Bell Rings: The Legacy of It's a Wonderful Life, America's Most Beloved Holiday Film. Emily St. James and Lauren Theisen. 2026. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, adult nonfiction, essays]
59. The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster. Illustrated by Jules Feiffer. 1961/2011. Random House. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, children's fantasy, children's classic]
60. A Mismatch Made in London. Melanie Dickerson. 2026. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, historical romance, clean romance]
61. Old Man's War. John Scalzi. 2005. 318 pages. [Source: Library] [adult science fiction, 5 stars, military science fiction]
62. In the Red. Christopher Swiedler. 2020. [March] 288 pages. [Source: Library]
63. Thank You, Sun. Douglas Florian. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [children's poetry, 4 stars]

Books Reviewed at Young Readers

61. Pizza and Taco #11: Pizza and Taco: Scariest Sleepover Ever. Stephen Shaskan. 2026. 72 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, graphic novel, early chapter book]
62. One Mad Cat and the Missing Book. Vicky Fang. 2026. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early reader, early chapter book, animal fantasy]
63. Orris and Timble Star Stories. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. 2026. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early chapter book, animal fantasy]
64. WhoHQ: The Beatles. Ellen Labrecque. Illustrated by Fanny Liem. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j nonfiction, j biography, music appreciation]
65. Shy. Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton. 2026. 52 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, animals, music appreciation]
66. We Are All Ears. Jonathan Fenske. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [beginning reader, 3 stars]
67. Hairy and Scary! Jan Thomas. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

Books Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

20. Connect: How to Grow Your Church in 28 Days Guaranteed. Don Corder. 2019. 233 pages. [Source: Borrowed] [3 stars, christian nonfiction]

Bibles Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

6. New American Standard Bible 1995, New Inductive Study Bible. GOD. 1995. 2296 pages. [Source: Bought] [Bible, bible review, 5 stars]

Totals for 2026

Totals for 2026
Books Read in 2026	157
Pages Read in 2026	38347
January Totals
Books Read in January	21
Pages Read in January	5119
February Totals
Books read in February	24
Pages Read in February	4225
March Totals
Books read in March	18
Pages read in March	4099
April Totals
Books read in April	16
Pages read in April	6386
May Totals
Books Read in May	11
Pages read in May	4067
June Totals
Books read in June	26
Pages read in June	4767
July Totals
Books read in July	18
Pages read in July	3239
August Totals
Books read in August	23
Pages read in August	6965

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

This week I reviewed two books.

63. Thank You, Sun. Douglas Florian. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [children's poetry, 4 stars]

20. Connect: How to Grow Your Church in 28 Days Guaranteed. Don Corder. 2019. 233 pages. [Source: Borrowed] [3 stars, christian nonfiction]

Century of Viewing #36

1930s

• 1932 Movie Crazy. You have to be in the right kind of mood to watch really old movies. I was not in the mood apparently. HOWEVER, the premise does sound interesting...perhaps not original but interesting. Harold Hall (not to be confused with Professor Harold Hill, Harold Hill) wants to be in movies. The problem? He isn't an actor and he's terrible at it. He's good at making people laugh unintentionally. For whatever reason, when he arrives a movie star actress falls for him????? Definitely insta-something which I just can't fathom. He ends up winning the girl and I think getting to be in movies too but all because he's accidentally funny and goofs up all the time always. The plot is vaguely similar to Buster Keaton's Free and Easy. Though in that one, Buster's character did NOT want to be an actor...he only wanted the girl....a nobody from a small town with no talent whatsoever except incredibly bad taste in men. I don't see the appeal for Harold Lloyd. HOWEVER, maybe I just haven't found the right movie yet. I saw one or two last year that were very MEH.
• 1934 Evergreen. Musical. For better or worse. A daughter who resembles her mother (they are played by the same actress) 'returns' to London and enters show business posing as her beautiful, never-aging mother. She even pretends to have a grown son--but her and the fake son fall in love. So secrets can't stay secret long....but you can sing your way out of trouble if you're beautiful??? I'm not sure. I was expecting more of a resolution than a song and dance number, but that was probably asking too much.
• 1935 Call of the Wild. He's looking for gold...and finds love. She's looking for her missing husband...and finds a second chance at love. Her husband...well...I think he's just looking to survive. But he's thrilled to be reunited with his wife...he's clueless that this movie has been about his wife finding love with Clark Gable. He lets the girl and his dog go....

1950s

• 1951 When Worlds Collide. A sci-fi disaster movie from the early 1950s. This time it is NOT a meteor but a planet....or two....heading our way. An ark will be built--a rocket ship to save a selected few. I enjoyed this one.

1980s

• 1985 Back to the Future. Enjoyable. Fun. Nostalgic. Definitely enjoyed my trip back.

2020s

• 2023 Starved for Perfection. Every time I watch a Karen Carpenter documentary I hope for a different end. I tend to overthink and ask a lot of what ifs when I read or watch biographies. The one that stuck with me this time was what if fame wasn't a factor. Would she have found love and happiness and avoided the heaviness of life??? What if she'd been allowed to stay behind the drums and not forced out in the spotlight and into more scrutiny. What if she'd been 1000000% supported by her family? What if her brother hadn't been the only beloved child. BUT her music was and is wonderful. And that voice is unforgettable. And I'm guessing that HER tragic ending helped others avoid such an end. It brought awareness and knowledge. Lives may have been saved because people realized how dangerous this was/is.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Becky's Book Reviews turns TWENTY today! Can you believe it?! In some ways, 2006 feels like yesterday, and, in other ways it feels like it's ages ago. Well, maybe not yesterday. But definitely not twenty years.

Your guess is as good as mine in terms of HOW many books I've reviewed over the past twenty years. I know I read a LOT more books at the beginning. My reading and reviewing has slowed down a lot since 2006!!! My love for rereading has only increased.

Knowing that I was going to be celebrating twenty years, I wanted to reread some OLDER books that I loved, loved, loved when I first started blogging. I wish I could have read twenty books that met this goal. I did not. I was able to reread seven books!

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Rash by Pete Hautman
The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
In the Red by Christopher Swiedler

First book reviewed on the blog: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Last book reviewed on the blog: Thank You, Sun by Douglas Florian

Blogging has changed in twenty years. I started out the blog with a readership of me, myself, and I. And I think we're almost down to that again. I do consider it as more a conversation with either my past self or future self. I often check my blog to see if I've read the book...and if I have...if I liked it, loved it, or hated it. But there were a handful of years that blogging was a true community. Blogging may not be a thing much these days. BUT reading will always remain.





© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews