The Day the World Came to Town tells the remarkable story of passengers and crews who were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 when the US closed its airspace following the terrorist attacks. They were greeted with warmth, generosity, and friendship by the town’s citizens. This story of overwhelming human decency was perfect to read during the holiday season and a timely reminder that there’s a lot of good in the world. Continue reading
Author Archives: mmelland
2026 Thoughtful Reading Challenge
Every year, Book Thoughts from Bed hosts a book challenge designed so that participants get to enjoy books they may have otherwise not read. For example, last year’s reading challenge introduced me to great reads such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Chenneville. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, Narrated by Aaliya Warbus et al
The Berry Pickers is an insightful and poignant novel that explores the impact of a kidnapping on the victim and the brother who last saw her. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: All the Broken Places by John Boyne, Narrated by Kristin Atherton
All the Broken Places is a gripping historical fiction novel that tells the story of Gretel Fernsby, whose father oversaw one of the Nazi’s worst concentration camps during World War II. Gretel’s brother was Bruno, one of the main characters in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Continue reading
Audio Book Discussion: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, Narrated by Michael York
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is C. S. Lewis’s classic fantasy novel that spins the tale of four children who discover and explore the magical land of Narnia. It’s a story of the fight between good and evil, with good prevailing in an unexpected but very familiar way. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica, Narrated by Brittany Pressly
Local Woman Missing is a highly engrossing suspense novel that explores the disappearance of two seemingly unrelated people and the toll it takes on family and neighbors over a decade later. A cleverly engineered plot that provides several surprising twists makes this story a winner for me. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Narrated by Stephen Fry
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is Douglas Adams’ well-known and much lauded satirical science fiction novel. It follows the adventures of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect who stowaway on a spaceship just as Earth is being destroyed. Continue reading
Together, We Can KICK ALS!!
Hello, my book loving friends!
I raise funds every year for the ALS Association (ALSA), and this is my annual appeal for donations.
ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive neurological degenerative disease that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles because it destroys the motor neurons that connect the brain to those muscles. An ALS patient loses the ability to walk, use their hands, raise their arms, eat, speak, and even breathe on their own. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: Absolute Power by David Baldacci, Narrated by Scott Brick
Absolute Power is a gripping political thriller that pits the powerful elite against everyday people. An interesting, suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and just the right amount of action make this novel an engaging and entertaining read/listen. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Narrated by Noah Galvin
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult, coming of age story that explores the challenges of being a young teenager through the eyes of a guy named Charlie. While I’m not in the target audience for the novel, I did admire that it tackled some tough issues, including mental health, homosexuality, drug and alcohol use, and sexual abuse. Continue reading
Book Thoughts from Bed 