Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan

This book is about what happens to a family when their 18-year old daughter goes missing.

Tedious is the best word I can use to describe this book. I finished it, but it was not easy.

Shelter for the Spirit by Victoria Moran

This book is about how to transform your home into a sanctuary. It's about caring for the physical space as well as creating a safe emotional place for you and your family as well.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were some good tips about organizing, simplifying, and celebrating. But there was something too saccharine about it all as well which made it a bit weird to read.

Miss Manners on Painfully Proper Weddings by Judith Martin

This isn't the typical wedding planning book. Miss Manners focuses on the importance of relationships and hospitality instead of how to create the "perfect" day. She also suggests that the bride and groom should be practicing qualities like patience, respect, kindness, humility toward each other as well as their guests since these qualities will also come in handy in a marriage.

This book is very funny as well. Miss Manners is blunt and addresses issues in a no-nonsense kind of way. Boomer and I took turns reading different letters out loud because they were so funny, yet informative.