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Susan’s 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Susan’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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Susan Barnett Braun
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in The United States
https://www.goodreads.com/sjbraun
I grew up in a small Midwestern town and began writing books while still in elementary school ("The Mystery in Maine" was my best, I think!). After growing up, teaching school, and raising three daughters, I used the extra time I had to write "real" books. Each of them was inspired by some part of myself: "I Love to Tell the Story" about my childhood growing up attending our local church; "Not So Happily Ever After" about my favorite historical figure, "mad" King Ludwig II; "Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge: A Biography for Children" about a key current member of my beloved British royal family; "The Phantom of the Organ," inspired by my church organist job; and "The Tiny Crown," bringing together my love of school, medieval history, an I grew up in a small Midwestern town and began writing books while still in elementary school ("The Mystery in Maine" was my best, I think!). After growing up, teaching school, and raising three daughters, I used the extra time I had to write "real" books. Each of them was inspired by some part of myself: "I Love to Tell the Story" about my childhood growing up attending our local church; "Not So Happily Ever After" about my favorite historical figure, "mad" King Ludwig II; "Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge: A Biography for Children" about a key current member of my beloved British royal family; "The Phantom of the Organ," inspired by my church organist job; and "The Tiny Crown," bringing together my love of school, medieval history, and London. It's a joy to share my books with readers! ...more
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Number the Stars: Review
Knowing I was going to Copenhagen, my mom recently mentioned “Number the Stars” being set there. I didn’t know that. Number the Stars is a book I’ve been aware of for years. It was published in 1989, the year I began teaching, and is probably aimed at elementary readers, so it’s no wonder I knew […]
Published on July 02, 2025 04:10
Susan’s Recent Updates
**Susan**wants to read  Plainsong (Plainsong, #1) by Kent Haruf |
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| 2 hours, 25 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofPlainsong by Kent Haruf. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Plainsong by Kent Haruf | |
**Susan**rated a book it was amazing  Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) |
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| Knowing I was going to Copenhagen, my mom recently mentioned "Number the Stars" being set there. I didn't know that. Number the Stars is a book I've been aware of for years. It was published in 1989, the year I began teaching, and is probably aimed a Knowing I was going to Copenhagen, my mom recently mentioned "Number the Stars" being set there. I didn't know that. Number the Stars is a book I've been aware of for years. It was published in 1989, the year I began teaching, and is probably aimed at elementary readers, so it's no wonder I knew about it. It won the Newbury Award for best children's book in 1990. I decide to read it again since I'd just been to Copenhagen.But as I read, it didn't seem familiar. I'm not sure I had ever read it before. The story is told by Annemarie, a 10-year-old living with her family in Copenhagen during WWII. They are friends with a Jewish family, and they do what they can to help that family get out of Denmark to Sweden. It's a well-written book, and a good intro to that era for kids--although it's obviously a sad, heavy topic.Having just been in Denmark made the book's setting more interesting for me. “'We are such a tiny country,' (Annemarie's father) said. 'And they are such an enormous enemy. Our king was wise. He knew how few soldiers Denmark had. He knew that many, many Danish people would die if we fought.' 'In Norway they fought,' Annemarie pointed out. Papa nodded. 'They fought very fiercely in Norway. They had those huge mountains for the Norwegian soldiers to hide in. Even so, Norway was crushed.'" This was something I'd heard on the trip, that Denmark gave in to the Germans due to its small size and lack of much meaningful national defense.It was interesting to read about places I'd seen in Copenhagen, such as Tivoli Gardens, which the German occupiers apparently burned part of.Other interesting bits of history were that the Danish had blown up their own naval fleet to avoid letting the Germans take it. The author writes in a note after the book that Denmark smuggled almost its entire Jewish population of 7000 across the sea (admittedly, not a long distance) to Sweden.This will make sense if you've read the book: the author writes about a strategy the Danes used to confuse the Nazi's search dogs. Swedish scientists came up with a powder that would attract dogs, but cocaine in the powder would confuse their sense of smell, so that they could not lead their masters to those being searched out. "Almost every boat captain used such a permeated handkerchief, and many lives were saved by the device."The title is a reference to Psalm 147:4: 'He tells the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names;' and of course in the book this is referring to the Rosen family. Annemarie wonders, "Outside, she knew, the sky was speckled with stars. How could anyone number them one by one, as the psalm said? There were too many. The sky was too big." ...more | |
| Jul 01, 2025 05:29PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofNumber the Stars by Lois Lowry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Number the Stars by Lois Lowry | |
**Susan**started reading  Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior |
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| Jun 30, 2025 06:01PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofBooked by Karen Swallow Prior. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Booked by Karen Swallow Prior | |
**Susan**rated a book really liked it  Storm Boy by Colin Thiele |
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| I saw the film of this on a recent flight and seeing that it was based on a book, I got the book from the library. It was written in 1963 so it doesn't have the bells and whistles of kids' books today, but has pencil drawings, etc. It's my least-favo I saw the film of this on a recent flight and seeing that it was based on a book, I got the book from the library. It was written in 1963 so it doesn't have the bells and whistles of kids' books today, but has pencil drawings, etc. It's my least-favorite type of children's book: presented like a picture book, but with lots of text on each page. I never know what to do with that; it's too wordy for a bedtime story, too "little kid" for a chapter book. If I were the publisher, I'd put this out as an early chapter book rather than as a picture book format.Anyway, I enjoyed the story. It's well-written, has a big touching/sad moment, and good characters. Recommended. ...more | |
| Jun 28, 2025 07:34AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofStorm Boy by Colin Thiele. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Storm Boy by Colin Thiele | |
| **Susan**rated a book really liked it Storm Boy by Colin Thiele |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars |
| I saw the film of this on a recent flight and seeing that it was based on a book, I got the book from the library. It was written in 1963 so it doesn't have the bells and whistles of kids' books today, but has pencil drawings, etc. It's my least-favo I saw the film of this on a recent flight and seeing that it was based on a book, I got the book from the library. It was written in 1963 so it doesn't have the bells and whistles of kids' books today, but has pencil drawings, etc. It's my least-favorite type of children's book: presented like a picture book, but with lots of text on each page. I never know what to do with that; it's too wordy for a bedtime story, too "little kid" for a chapter book. If I were the publisher, I'd put this out as an early chapter book rather than as a picture book format.Anyway, I enjoyed the story. It's well-written, has a big touching/sad moment, and good characters. Recommended. ...more | |
| Jun 28, 2025 07:32AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofStorm Boy by Colin Thiele. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Storm Boy by Colin Thiele | |
**Susan**started reading  Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons by Arabella Mary Stuart Willson |
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| Jun 27, 2025 07:04PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofLives of the Three Mrs. Judsons by Arabella Mary Stuart Willson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons by Arabella Mary Stuart Willson | |
**Susan**rated a book liked it  The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb (Goodreads Author) |
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| One of the ports we stopped at on our Norwegian fjords cruise was a village called Alesund. One daughter was feeling bad and returned to the ship. Another wanted to do a hike (I wasn’t up for it that day). So, I walked to the visitors’ bureau and the One of the ports we stopped at on our Norwegian fjords cruise was a village called Alesund. One daughter was feeling bad and returned to the ship. Another wanted to do a hike (I wasn’t up for it that day). So, I walked to the visitors’ bureau and the nice lady there sketched out a map of things I could do. One stop was the Alesund Museum. I went through dutifully, learning about the village’s founding, its 1904 fire and restoration, industries, etc.But what really caught my interest was in the basement. There were a few rooms devoted to Joachim Rønneberg, a local guy who was born in 1920 and, in WWII, decided he wanted to work to fight the Nazis as part of the Norwegian Resistance. I was really fascinated by all the displays about him, and in looking for a book about his activities, I found "The Winter Fortress."This book covers efforts by Norwegian resistance fighters to sabotage German efforts toward making a nuclear bomb. In particular, Operation Gunnerside is covered. In this operation, a group of men planned to enter Norway’s Vemork “heavy water” plant and blow it up. “Heavy water” is something that can be manufactured and used in nuclear bombs. After meticulously planning this mission, the men then planned to ski hundreds of miles to Sweden, a neutral country where they would be safe. “Resolved not to be captured alive, each of them carried a cyanide pill encased in rubber, stashed in a lapel or waistband … In a war such as this one, most expected to die, sooner or later.”It was amazing reading the lengths these guys, mostly in their 20s, went to in the effort to carry out their missions. Often, they had little information on what exactly they were doing, or why. But they were loyal to their cause and amazingly brave. I couldn’t help but contrast them to many today and wonder if the same strength of mind, body, and character would be there. “A man who’s a man goes on till he can do not more, then he goes twice as far,” wrote one in his diary.Rønneberg, just as he’d come across at the museum I visited, was impressive: “intelligent, tireless, strategic, thorough in his preparations, and professional in every way. What distinguished him most was his innate ability to lead … he did not need to dominate, raise his voice, or entreat. He simply gave his best effort and inspired others to do the same.” He just died in 2019, at age 99.The mission was carried out successfully ultimately, but the date was changed numerous times due to weather, and the men had to hide out and basically live for months in remote cabins and places the Nazis were unlikely to find them. I liked the custom-made sleeping bags each team member had, made of down to keep them warm in the freezing Norwegian winter nights. They understood that the Germans would show them no mercy if caught; and several gruesome scenes are described where just that happened. War is not for the faint of heart.I also enjoyed reading about college professor Tronstad, who was in charge of the mission. He sounded like such a nice guy and it was heart-rending to read about how his wife and young children missed him, for years, while he was working for the resistance. “We get nothing without sacrifice in this world … and perhaps least of all freedom and independence,” he wrote his wife one Christmas.Another man on the mission received a letter from his wife. “Too much time had passed without contact, she said. The absence was too great, and their wedding had been a rushed affair in the first place. She was seeing another man in Stockholm–and she wanted a divorce.” Sad, but perhaps not an uncommon situation during those years?“You have to fight for your freedom. and for peace. You have to fight for it every day, to keep it,” Rønneberg wrote.I’m glad I read the book because it helped me learn more about him and these WWII missions I knew little to nothing about. Overall though, the book wasn’t a great fit for me. It was very technical with lots of science about “heavy water,” and lots of sabotage details. Also, there are so many Norwegian guys tracked and the names got very confusing for me. I kept thinking it was much more a “guy’s book,” and indeed, when I mentioned it to my husband, he had watched several Discovery-type programs on it. If you’re interested in the topic, you may enjoy “The Winter Fortress.” Otherwise, a wikipedia article may suffice 🙂 ...more | |
| Jun 25, 2025 04:20AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofThe Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb | |
| **Susan**is currently reading Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons by Arabella Mary Stuart Willson |
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| Jun 20, 2025 01:44PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofLives of the Three Mrs. Judsons by Arabella Mary Stuart Willson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons by Arabella Mary Stuart Willson | |
Susan made a comment onScott Nickels’s reviewofA Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore  "Thanks for this. I was offered this book at NetGalley and just reading the prologue, I immediately sensed I was going to be constantly annoyed. I'm so Thanks for this. I was offered this book at NetGalley and just reading the prologue, I immediately sensed I was going to be constantly annoyed. I'm sorry because based on the story itself, I think I'd enjoy it. ...more" |
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| Jun 20, 2025 12:48PM · see review | |
| **Susan**likedScott Nickels's reviewofA Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore: "I have just completed the first section of “A Biography of a Mountain” and, sadly, this will be one of just a handful of books that I shan’t be reading to its conclusion. I have a passion for learning about our American history. And I do not object t"Read more of this review » |
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| Jun 20, 2025 12:47PM · see review |
“Science and studying have not been able to answer your questions, or mine. Faith---well, it's been my experience that many of life's deeper mysteries must be taken on faith. Our finite minds can't understand everything.”
― Susan Barnett Braun, The Tiny Crown
“It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe.
To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I'd been happy, and that I was happy still. For all to be accomplished, for me to feel less lonely, all that remained to hope was that on the day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of spectators and that they should greet me with howls of execration.”
― Albert Camus, The Stranger
“I've never really had much of an imagination. But still I would try to picture the exact moment when the beating of my heart would no longer be going on inside my head.”
― Albert Camus, The Stranger
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
― Albert Camus
“We as Bible-believing evangelical Christians are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly gentleman's discussion. It is a life and death conflict between the spiritual hosts of wickedness and those who claim the name of Christ.”
― David Fiorazo
ACPL Online Book Club — 222 members — last activity Feb 24, 2020 11:28PM
Book club of The Allen County Public Library, Indiana where we discuss quality fiction and nonfiction in all genres. All are welcome to join the onlin Book club of The Allen County Public Library, Indiana where we discuss quality fiction and nonfiction in all genres. All are welcome to join the online discussions and to attend any of the onsite book club meetings sponsored by the Library. ...more
Goodreads Librarians Group — 285391 members — last activity 1 minute ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Librarians Group is the official group for requesting additions or updates to the catalog, including: * Adding new books or editions * Editing book information (including covers) * Combining and merging book editions * Edits to page counts, quotes or awards * Correcting author profiles for authors not in the Goodreads Author Program If you're a Goodreads member with a new request, click Join Group. Once you're added to the group, you can post your question following this link. Simple requests (e.g. page count updates) typically take around 48 hours depending on the volume of requests, while more complex requests could take up to a couple of weeks (e.g. adding a new book). Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide. Keep in mind that Librarians don't: * Grant or give insights into Librarian applications / Librarian status * Move ISBNs or ASINs between editions * Help with non-catalog Support questions (e.g. How do I reset my password?) For help with these queries or to submit general questions, comments or feature requests, try Goodreads Help or use the Contact Us form. If you're a Librarian and want to process requests, please refer to our Librarian Manual to ensure edits are performed in line with Goodreads policies. ...more
Christian Book Reviews — 3481 members — last activity 3 hours, 58 min ago
This group is created to help Christian authors get more book reviews. Also, if you’re an avid reader who enjoys getting free books in exchange for ho This group is created to help Christian authors get more book reviews. Also, if you’re an avid reader who enjoys getting free books in exchange for honest reviews, then this group might be for you. An author has the right to decide whether or not to give away his/her book. A reader also retains the right to review or not to review a book. In the case of a low star rating, out of courtesy, the reviewer ought to ask permission from the author before bashing the work. Always remember, behind every novel there is a lot of a person’s soul. Try not to be cruel. Above all, be Christ-like in all that you say and do. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 (KJV) ...more
Conservative Readers United — 163 members — last activity Feb 16, 2025 10:07AM
This group is for people who tend to lean right in their political beliefs. We will share books we read and compare them to our conservative beliefs. This group is for people who tend to lean right in their political beliefs. We will share books we read and compare them to our conservative beliefs. Books can be from any genre; fiction or non-fiction. Books don't have to be conservative in nature or even written by conservative authors (which are becoming harder and harder to find). We also will look at how liberal ideas / themes are slipped in to our books more and more. This group is private to help keep out trolls and keep a civil tone, but is open to anyone who is not afraid of open and free speech. ...more
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