Dilbert Cartoonist, Scott Adams, Makes Pleas to Donald Trump to Save Help Save His Life

I'm late in making this post as I'd read an article about this situation regarding Scott Adams last week. 

I am always on the look out for news pertaining to books, libraries, authors, reading, bookstores, the publishing industry, book festivals and events, etc. This post about Scott Adams falls into the topics I like to blog about it.

I recently read that Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert cartoon series, has metastatic prostate cancer and has had difficulty in receiving treatment for metastatic prostate cancer.

I read an article found on Patch's website titled, 'Help Save My Life' — Dilbert Cartoonist Begs Trump To Fix Kaiser Treatment Battle by Angela Woodall.

In the article, Angela Woodall wrote the following:

Adams first posted a public plea on X, saying on Sunday that he planned to ask Trump for his help getting a specific treatment for metastasized prostate cancer from Kaiser Permanente.

"On Monday, I will ask President Trump, via X, to help save my life. He offered to help me if I needed it," Adams wrote Sunday.

"I need it," he added.

Adams wanted Trump to use his influence to persuade Kaiser to schedule treatment of Pluvicto, a radioactive drug approved for men with advanced prostate cancer who had received hormone therapy and chemotherapy, according to reports.

Kaiser had approved the treatment for Adams, but a scheduling snafu was delaying it, he said.

"I am declining fast. I will ask President Trump if he can get Kaiser of Northern California to respond and schedule it for Monday. That will give me a fighting chance to stick around on this planet a little bit longer," Adams wrote.

"Scott. How do I reach you," wrote Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "The president wants to help,"

“On it,” Trump wrote in response shortly after.

On Tuesday, Adams posted that he would receive the cancer treatment he is seeking the next day.

Wow! First off, I'm sorry to learn that Scott Adams is suffering from metastatic prostate cancer and having difficulty with Kaiser in booking an appointment for the treatment he needs.

Secondly, it must be nice to know people in high places that can help resolve a scheduling snafu with your healthcare provider. The rest of us have to fix/solve the problem without such interventions from someone like the POTUS. Btw, we should all be so fortunate to receive the healthcare we so need without hiccups from the healthcare system or such interventions from people in high places.

I also read in Angela Woodall's article that some readers were angry, accusing Scott Adams of using his influence to obtain his healthcare needs. See the following quote from Woodall's article:

One user reposted a 2023 comment attributed to Adams, "Don't ask a president to make healthcare or moral decisions for you. No one would respect that process."

Interesting quoted comment from Scott Adams, if true! On one hand Scott Adams stated that one shouldn't ask the president to make healthcare or moral decisions for you as no one will respect the process. Yet, Scott Adams does exactly what he says one shouldn't do. 

I also learned from the above article that Scott Adams has made some controversial statements about race.

Adams experienced repercussions from his controversial comments about race when distributor Andrews McMeel Universal announced Feb. 26 it would no longer work with the cartoonist.

In an episode of his YouTube show, Adams described people who are Black as members of “a hate group” from which white people should “get away.

Scott Adams has also been a Trump supporter.

I learned a lot of new to me stuff about Scott Adams from reading Angela Woodall's article.

Goodnight Moon Suite @ Boston Sheraton Hotel!!

This is such a cool, book inspired suite for families with young children!! The Boston Sheraton Hotel has turned one of their suites into the green room from the Children’s classic, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. 

Unfortunately, room stays may only be booked through February 2026! So it doesn't sound like this suite will be a permanent suite.

Watch the above YouTube video for more details.

The Banned Books Tarot Deck by Galison

 

Earlier this month, I stumbled across The Banned Books Tarot Deck by Galison on Amazon. 

I love reading banned books. I also have a growing interest in tarot decks and learning to read tarot cards.

After a short deliberation, I decided to purchase The Banned Books Tarot Deck for myself based on my personal interests. Additionally, The Banned Books Tarot Deck was 50% off on Amazon with an additional coupon for more money off, which only made buying this deck that much sweeter.

So, what do I think of The Banned Books Tarot Deck by Galison? I am impressed with the fact that this deck comes in a hard box with magnetic closure vs the typical tuck box. This way the deck is more protected over the long haul by being stored inside a sturdy box. 

This deck also comes with a nice booklet that is way more informative than the standard 'Little White Book' (aka pamphlet) that normally comes with a tarot deck in a tuck box.

The Banned Books Tarot Deck is the standard tarot card size. It has a glossy finish and the card stock is decent. The cardstock isn't thick or thin, but has a middle of the road thickness. I love the designs on both the front and the back of each card in this tarot deck. 

My only complaint I have regarding The Banned Books Tarot Deck is that quite a few banned books are duplicated throughout the deck itself. I'm sure there are more than 78 banned books that exist. So, why not have a different banned book for each individual tarot card?

Below is a video I found on YouTube of a silent flip through for The Banned Books Tarot Deck. Check out the video if you're interesting to see what the entire deck looks like.

I am giving The Banned Books Tarot Deck by Galison a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

She Had Glass Eyes by C.S. Schiavone

I received a FREE copy of the ebook edition of She Had Glass Eyes  by C.S. Schiavone from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

She Had Glass Eyes by C.S. Schiavone was a recently released novella as of October 20, 2025 and is 73 pages in length. This novella fits into the gothic, historical, fantasy, and horror genres. 

I liked the premise of this novella and the story's summary, which is why I chose to read and review it. I also enjoyed the unreliable leading female character, Deliverance (Dilly) Edvance, in She Had Glass Eyes as well. 

She Had Glass Eyes is set in England in the mid-1800s. It has a bit of a Frankenstein feel to it. Essentially, you have an inventor named Dr. Joseph Faber, who has created a mechanical marvel named, Euphonia, that simulates human speech. While on public display, most of the general public recoils from Euphonia, but not Dilly. Dilly's fascinated by Euphonia... Actually, Dilly's obsessed with Euphonia and dreams about her nightly. Dilly likes the idea of creating an army of mechanical beings. Dilly looks forward to working with Dr. Faber in the future with regards to Euphonia and that is wrought with strife. I won't go into a deep dive into Dilly and Dr. Faber's working relationship towards the end of She Had Glass Eyes, other than to say it does not bode well for all.

As far as the writing goes and the overall plot development in She Had Glass Eyes, I was less than impressed. I felt like She Had Glass Eyes could have been so much better!! I'm kind of surprised with all the glowing online reviews for She Had Glass Eyes.

Below is the publisher's summary for She Had Glass Eyes by C.S. Schiavone from Amazon's website:

When Dr. Joseph Faber unveils his eerie invention in 1846 London—a mechanical marvel that simulates human speech—the public recoils. But one witness listens too closely.

Deliverance Edvane, a solitary undertaker with a mind sharpened by disdain, sees in the invention not horror, but possibility. What begins as fascination soon spirals into obsession, as she plots to take the machine for herself. Darkness stirs in the spaces between invention and insanity in this chilling tale of machines, madness, and the dangerous echo of a voice not quite human.

I am giving She Had Glass Eyes  by C.S. Schiavone a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Happy Veteran's Day!!

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who served our country!! 

Back March of 2020, I listened to the audio version of The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. The essays within this book are about the Vietnam War and are really well written. 

Since I've not read many books about war, I decided to repost my review of The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, which you may read below. 

So, if you're looking for a book to read on Veteran's Day, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien would be my pick as it is a really good read. 

If you have any other book recommendations for Veteran's Day, please share them in the comment section below. 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien and narrated by actor, Bryan Cranston. Listening time for The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien is 7 hours, 47 minutes.

The Things They Carried is a work of fiction written in essays that reads more like a memoir to me. The essays are about serving in the Vietnam war and how it effects the lives of those who served in the military.

The following essays are the ones I enjoyed reading the most:

1. The Things They Carried
2. On The Rainy River
3. Stockings
4. The Man I Killed
5. Ambush
6. Good Form

Tim O'Brien's writing is really well done. I never thought I would enjoy reading a book about the Vietnam war as much as a I did. I usually tend to stay away from books about the harrowing effects of war.

Young men of my parents generation were drafted into the Vietnam war. My parents married in 1968 right out of high school and I was born 11 months later. Marriage and a baby were my father's way out from having to serve during Vietnam. Others were not so lucky. One of my father's close high school friends was drafted into the Vietnam war and as expected, he came back changed from the experience. I can't imagine having to fight in a war, especially one that seemed as unpopular as the Vietnam war was. 

It's also very sad to think that at 18 years of age the US Government drafted young men to fight and possibly die in combat, but these same young men were not old enough to vote until the age of 21. How was it possible that these young men were thought responsible (dispensable?) enough to fight for our country in combat, yet not allowed to vote for government officials and laws that effected the society they lived in? It wasn't until March 23, 1971, that the 26th Amendment was passed lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. 

I thought Bryan Cranston did an excellent job of narrating The Things They Carried. I also enjoyed the added bonus track at the end of The Things They Carried where Tim O'Brien reads his essay 'The Vietnam in Me', which is not part of the written version of The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. 'The Vietnam in Me' recounts "the author's trip back to Vietnam in 1994, revisiting his experience there as a soldier 25 years before."

Below is the plot summary for The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien from Amazon:

This modern classic and New York Times best seller was a finalist for both the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award and has become a staple of American classrooms. Hailed by The New York Times as "a marvel of storytelling", The Things They Carried's portrayal of the boots-on-the-ground experience of soldiers in the Vietnam War is a landmark in war writing. Now, three-time Emmy Award winner Bryan Cranston, star of the hit TV series Breaking Bad, delivers an electrifying performance that walks the book's hallucinatory line between reality and fiction and highlights the emotional power of the spoken word.

The soldiers in this collection of stories carried M-16 rifles, M-60 machine guns, and M-79 grenade launchers. They carried plastic explosives, hand grenades, flak jackets, and landmines. But they also carried letters from home, illustrated Bibles, and pictures of their loved ones. Some of them carried extra food or comic books or drugs. Every man carried what he needed to survive, and those who did carried their shattering stories away from the jungle and back to a nation that would never understand.

This audiobook also includes an exclusive recording "The Vietnam in Me," a recount of the author's trip back to Vietnam in 1994, revisiting his experience there as a soldier 25 years before, read by Tim O'Brien himself.

Below is an author interview with Tim O'Brien talking about his book, The Things They Carried which I found to be good.

I am giving The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Wonder by R. J. Palacio, which was well narrated by a wonderful cast of voice actors. Wonder was my first read during the month of November 2025.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio is a children's novel that had been on my reading wishlist for a number of years before I finally made the time to listen to it this year.

The writing is superb for Wonder! I loved the characters, the storyline, and the plot development for Wonder. Auggie Pullman the main character. He is a young boy with a birth deformity that leaves his face looking very abnormal. Auggie receives a lot, and I mean a lot, of stares because of they way he looks. Due to all of his surgeries, Auggie is home schooled until his parents decide to send him to school where he enters the fifth grade. We read about Auggie's experience with going to school for the first time, making friends, and dealing with what comes when one has a physical deformity.

One of the things I love about children's novels are the important messages/life lessons imparted in them. In Wonder, kindness, compassion, empathy, and self-acceptance are the key life lessons. Wonder also explores looking beyond/past outward appearances. In this case, it's all about looking beyond Auggie's facial deformity and seeing the person within for who he truly is.

Below is publisher's summary for Wonder by R. J. Palacio I discovered on the Goodreads website:

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school?until now. He's about to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep, and if you?ve ever been the new kid, then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? R. J. Palacio has crafted an uplifting novel full of wonderfully realistic family interactions, lively school scenes, and writing that shines with spare emotional power. Wonder is a book with such a big, wide heart? it shows how we are all fragile, imperfect, and perfectly beautiful creatures.

I am giving Wonder by R. J. Palacio 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Unique Bookstore Inside A Wisconsin Airport!!

 

Wow, Renaissance Books at the Milwaukee Airport sounds like a fabulous place to purchase books!! This is not your typical airport bookstore as 95% of the books are used. 

I think I would love visiting this bookstore.

Letters by Lanternlight - Cozy Mysteries Via Letters - Subscription

 

Letters by Lanternlight sounds intriguing! I may end up adding this to my holiday wishlist this year.

As many of my followers may already know, I adore cozy mystery novels... When I learned about Letters by Lanternlight roughly two weeks ago, I was intrigued by the concept of a cozy mystery story told through a series of letters you receive in the mail!!

I love reading letters sent to me via the postal service. Written letters sent via the postal service is a dying art form and something I miss dearly. So, the idea of receiving a series of letters in the mail containing an unfolding cozy mystery story sounds like my cup of tea.

The following information comes from the Letters by Lanterlight website:

✨ Why Readers Love Letters by Lanternlight

📚 Fresh & immersive – A mystery you can hold in your hands, one letter at a time.
🎁 A gift that stands out – Thoughtful, unique, and never “just more stuff.”
🔎 Simple & inviting – Large, easy-to-read font and straightforward storytelling—no codes or puzzles required.
🕵️ Screen-free escape – Cozy stories delivered straight to your mailbox.
🐾 Connection & delight – Fun to share with loved ones (or enjoy with tea and a cat).
⏳ Savor the suspense – Stories unfold slowly, with built-in anticipation.

Does Letters by Lanternlight sound like something you'd enjoy? 

The Farmers' Almanac - The End of an Era!!

 

Sadly, it's an end of an era!! The Farmers' Almanac 2026 edition will be the final edition that will be published. 

The Farmers' Almanac was first published in 1818. 

I've never read a Farmers' Almanac before, but I like it for its nostalgia factor. 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!