I often find myself drifting through the literary landscape without much awareness of the buzz surrounding upcoming releases, which means I occasionally miss out on noteworthy titles. This brings me to Queen Esther by John Irving, an intriguing sort of prequel/sequel to his 1985 The Cider House Rules. That novel was adapted into a film in 1999, a project that Irving scripted himself and for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies— rare is the case where the film surpasses the book, but in this instance, I think it genuinely does. Admittedly, I have a copy of the book tucked away somewhere on my shelf, gathering dust.

I wasn’t even aware of Queen Esther’s existence until it appeared as a Christmas gift, which took me by surprise. How had it flown under my radar? My usual sources—other book bloggers—seemed to have little to say about it. After a quick look at Goodreads, I found the reviews were decidedly mixed, with many verging on negative. This contradiction piqued my curiosity. What could elicit such a range of responses? I intended to read just a few pages that Christmas afternoon, but the story quickly drew me in, compelling me to devour much more than I had planned.

However, as I turned the pages in the ensuing days, my initial intrigue began to fade. After a staggering forty-year absence, Irving returns to the world of St. Cloud’s orphanage, where Dr. Wilbur Larch first encountered Esther, a Jewish girl whose life has been irreparably scarred by anti-Semitism.

The Sunday Post, Issue #288

The Sunday Post is a weekly event hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer.

The Editorial

It’s been a minute since my last Sunday Post... No excuses here; I simply took a break from blogging to clear my mind and recalibrate. I embarked on a two-week expedition through my beloved book collection, a journey that culminated in a car trunk brimming with volumes I no longer needed, all destined for the local Salvation Army. Amongst them was an impressive stack of James Patterson titles—some I'd never contemplate reading again—mixed with a hodgepodge of other authors. Why the purge, you ask? Well, my shelves are overflowing, and let's face it, I don't have the luxury of infinite space. I would have given up more, but alas, I ran out of boxes—not exactly the ideal situation for a bibliophile!

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

Is there a book or series so precious to you that you wouldn’t want it adapted for screen, fearing it might be ruined? If it did happen, would you still find yourself watching it?

My Answer:

These days, there's a 90% chance that Hollywood will mishandle any book-to-film adaptation. However, as long as the adaptation brings attention to the book, I don't mind if the movie is good or bad; in fact, I probably won't watch it anyway since I don't see many new films. That said, I never want Hollywood to remake Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. To me, the original film is perfect, even though it omits a few scenes from the book. There are too many producers involved, and they often lack the necessary understanding of the material. Regardless of who the director is, the remake is likely to fall short compared to the 1962 original.

〜B.J. Burgess

Flipping through old yearbooks can feel like opening a time capsule. The glossy pages capture moments frozen in time: hairstyles, fashion choices, candid photos, and the carefully penned notes from friends. Beyond the nostalgia, yearbooks hold layers of stories that reveal more than who wore what or who sat next to whom in class. They offer insight into personal growth, societal trends, and shared experiences that might otherwise be forgotten.

Hidden Narratives Among Faces

At first glance, a yearbook is simply a collection of faces and names. But as you study each page, subtle narratives begin to emerge. You might notice patterns: friends who stuck together, students involved in multiple clubs, or classmates who pursued unique paths. Looking back, it is fascinating to see how these early connections influenced later life. A shy student in the corner of a class photo might have grown into a confident leader, while the class clown could have become a creative professional. Yearbooks provide a snapshot of potential, dreams, and aspirations, even if they were unspoken at the time.

A Reflection of Society

Yearbooks also serve as historical documents. The photos, layouts, and typography reveal the cultural and societal norms of a particular era. Fashion trends, hairstyles, and popular activities tell a story about what was valued or celebrated. A high school yearbook from the 1980s looks very different from one from the 2000s, not just in style but also in the messages emphasized in quotes, captions, and superlatives. Examining these details helps us understand the environment in which students were growing up.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

My Answer:

In 2025, I didn't read many new books, but a few stood out to me. Notable titles included The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline, Lone Wulff by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, The Christmas Stranger by Richard Paul Evans, and Battle Mountain by C.J. Box. I also enjoyed the new edition of Robert Bloch's classic, Psycho, and After Midnight, a collection of previously published stories by Daphne du Maurier.

〜B.J. Burgess

Let's get one thing straight—I wasn't exactly a fan of WICKED (2024). If it hadn't been for a digital screener of the sequel, WICKED: FOR GOOD, landing in my inbox, I’d probably have passed on this whole two-part adaptation of the Broadway musical. For clarity, this musical draws loosely from Gregory Maguire’s book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which I haven't read, nor have I ever seen the stage production. So, perhaps I’m not the target audience for this cinematic endeavor—maybe my opinion is just like those overpriced popcorn boxes: it doesn’t really matter, but I’m going to share it anyway.

After debuting at the top of the global box office with a whopping $223 million—making it the biggest opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation—WICKED: FOR GOOD has unfortunately underperformed overall, raking in $200 million less than its predecessor. It's now available to buy (or more appropriately, lease) or rent on digital platforms starting December 30, courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. With a commendable “A” Cinemascore and an audience score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s heralded as “a sensational conclusion” by Mashable. But I find it hard to see how.

In WICKED: FOR GOOD, Elphaba and Glinda find themselves on opposing shores, adrift in the turbulent waters of their choices. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), once a misunderstood sorceress, is now branded as the Wicked Witch of the West, living in the shadows of her exile. Her mission to expose the duplicitous nature of The Wizard drives her deeper into the margins of Oz.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

Which genre are you eager to jump into more this year, and what draws you to it?

My Answer:

I have an itch that no modern novel can scratch—I'm reading some classics in 2026. Some titles I’m considering are The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Hungry Hill by Daphne du Maurier, Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver, and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, just to name a few.

〜B.J. Burgess

Hello, my fellow Friday 56ers! 

This week, I've chosen Clint: The Man and the Movies by Shawn Levy (the author, not the film director). I'm a big fan of Clint Eastwood, and I received this book as a Christmas gift. It was published in July 2025, and must have flown under my radar; otherwise, I would have tried to get my hands on an ARC. Nonetheless, I now have a copy, and it will likely be my next read.

Now, here’s a glimpse at page 56:

I've been keeping my mouth shut on a hot-button issue that’s been gnawing at me: the death of paperbacks! More specifically, the impending extinction of mass-market paperbacks. It’s all thanks to an utterly bewildering decision by Readerlink, the behemoth that decided it would be best for the entire publishing world to stop distributing those beloved, pocket-sized paperbacks by the end of 2025. Naturally, the BookTok crowd erupted with glee, claiming they can’t stand mass-market paperbacks because they’re too inconvenient for their “sensitive” hands and that they’re a blight on the aesthetic landscape of literature. I can’t help but cringe at the thought that these so-called book lovers may not even be articulating their true feelings. They seem to be riding whatever wave is trending, which might explain their penchant for recommending literary disasters to the masses. Watching the dumbing down of today’s youth is a grim spectacle indeed, and it’s happening right before our very eyes.

To be fair, I get why Readerlink is making this move; sales have plummeted to the point that distributing mass-market paperbacks is simply not worth the headache. So now we’re left with trade and premium paperbacks, while the market teeters on the brink of unveiling a new paperback size—if that ever happens. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll witness a glorious resurgence of mass-market paperbacks—until then, readers in the U.S. who cherished them for their unique cover art, convenient size, and budget-friendly prices are forced to fork over more cash for larger formats that gobble up space and drain our wallets. What really grinds my gears is the sad reality of my local landscape: no bookstores in sight, just Walmart, where the book sections have shrunk considerably since the pandemic. And with the removal of mass-market titles, our choices dwindle even further; the shelves will be crowded not with classics or favorite genres, but with titles that are trending on BookTok, gathering dust for weeks or even months until an employee gets around to restocking.

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

This Week's Prompt:

How many books did you read in 2025?

My Answer:

As of December 24th, I have read 117 books this year on my Goodreads account, exceeding my goal of 75 books for 2025. With just a few days left in the year, I might have time to read one or two more books.

〜B.J. Burgess

Hello, my fellow Friday 56ers! 

This week, I’ve picked up Queen Esther by John Irving—a delightful Christmas gift that’s already had me turning pages like a caffeinated squirrel. I breezed through eight chapters just yesterday afternoon.

This novel serves as a sort of prequel to Irving's The Cider House Rules. I’ve already barreled through the chapters where the St. Cloud orphanage pops up, along with the characters Dr. Wilbur Larch and Nurse Angela.

The story follows Esther Nacht, a nearly four-year-old Jewish girl left on the doorstep of St. Cloud's by two unknown women. Fast forward ten years, and Esther leaves St. Cloud's to work as an au pair for the Winslow family in New Hampshire. I’m gearing up for Chapter Nine, which takes place fifteen years later, where Esther is still living with the Winslows.

As the holiday season approached, I had grand ambitions to read and review the collection of Christmas Westerns penned under the Johnstone name. I even had copies of each one waiting for me. But alas, life had other plans. After enduring a nearly month-long illness, my reading hopes were dashed, and my energy levels were on par with a hibernating bear. Still, I managed to saddle up for one ride—A Colorado Christmas.

The story unfolds at the Sugarloaf Ranch, where Smoke and Sally Jensen are eagerly preparing to welcome their friend Preacher home for the holidays, blissfully unaware that he’s followed by a storm brewing with trouble. Picture it: an old trapper named Eagle-Eye, driven by a thirst for vengeance, gets rescued by the Jensen brothers, Ace and Chance, from a band of ruthless outlaws. Then there’s Luke Jensen, a relentless bounty hunter hot on their trail. Add to that mix, Jim Bleeker—a freshly liberated criminal mastermind scheming to settle his score with the sheriff of Big Rock, Colorado. Now that’s a recipe for chaos!

With a snowstorm howling outside, a community on the brink of disaster, and a showdown simmering just beneath the surface, these stubborn pioneers find themselves united by fate and fury, ready to forge a semblance of peace on Earth. But they plan to fight for it—with guns, grit, and a whole lot of glory. Because this Christmas, the greatest gift of all may just be… survival.

Most people don’t quit reading because they stopped liking books. They quit because their reading life has no shape. One week is full of motivation, the next week is chaos, and the pile of half-started titles grows until it feels easier to scroll than to read. A personal reading map solves this in a simple way: it gives your reading a direction, while still leaving room for mood and surprise.

When that direction is missing, the smallest decision can stall you. Even choosing your next book to read can feel weirdly heavy, especially after finishing something strong or abandoning a slow book halfway through. A reading map reduces that pressure because you already know what kinds of books belong in your current season, and you always have a few options that match your time and energy.

Start with Your Season, Not Your Ambition

The most common mistake is planning your reading life like a fantasy version of yourself. In that fantasy, evenings are quiet, weekends are long, focus is endless, and every book improves your brain. Real life rarely looks like that.

Instead, plan around your current season. Think about these three questions:

• How much uninterrupted time do I usually have each day?

• What is my typical mental state when I start reading?

• What kind of reading experience am I hoping for right now: something calming, thought-provoking, inspiring, or just for fun?

Your answers determine what will stick. A demanding history book can be perfect in a calm season and painful in a hectic one. A fast novel can feel like oxygen during stress. A short essay collection can keep you reading when your attention breaks easily.

A reading map is simply a way to match books to your life, so finishing becomes normal again.