New to me Little Free Library in Dublin, California!

 

This past Sunday evening, my husband and I discovered a new to us Little Free Library in Dublin, California. 

This LFL was made from a repurposed mini refrigerator. I like seeing different styles of LFLs. It makes finding new to me LFLs fun.

Top Ten Tuesday - Non-Bookish Freebie - My Favorite Tarot Decks!!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I have a collection of tarot decks. Some I love, some I don't, and others I feel indifferent about. Below is a list of my ten favorite tarot decks to date. 

It is also worth noting that I love the artwork found on tarot cards/decks. However, I've yet to learn how to read tarot cards. 

Maybe, just maybe, one of these days, I'll get around to learning how to read tarot cards. 

1. Morgan-Greer Tarot Deck by Bill F. Greer

What do I love about this tarot deck? It's based on the structure of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. This makes the Morgan-Greer Tarot Deck a great beginner tarot deck. 

This tarot deck has a fabulous 1970s vintage look to it. I love the dark, rich, bold and saturated colors used in this deck!! I also love the matte finish and no borders on these tarot cards. The backside of these tarot cards display white stars, which is a fun look.

What do I dislike about this tarot deck? The tarot cards come inside a tuck box. Additionally, this tarot deck has the usual little white booklet included inside, which doesn't feature anything extraordinary. Otherwise, I love this deck and feel like it's a wonderful starter deck for new tarot readers.

2. Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition by Diana McMahon-Collis

I love this Marseille tarot deck! This tarot deck is enclosed inside a sturdy, two piece box. I love the artwork, bold, rich colors, and the sturdy cardstock with matte finish. There is a small booklet that comes with this tarot deck, which contains a bit more information than you'd find in the typical 'little white booklet' included with other tarot decks.

3. Tarot del Toro: A Tarot Deck and Guidebook Inspired by the World of Guillermo del Toro by Tomas Hijo

This is another fun Marseille tarot deck!! I love the artwork and darker imagery. I love that this tarot deck comes inside a sturdy, two piece box with nice artwork on the exterior od said box. The tarot cards in this deck are standard sized tarot cards with a matte finish and nice border. A nice, but small paperback book comes with this deck that gives tarot spread suggestions.

4. Yarn Tarot: For Crocheters, Knitters, Spinners, and Weavers by Katie Ponder

I am a knitter, so the Yarn Tarot Deck is very fitting for me to have in my tarot collection. If you're a crocheter, knitter, weaver, or spinner and are into tarot, then this deck for you. 

The Yarn Tarot deck comes in a two piece, sturdy box and small, hardback book to help one read the tarot cards. The cards for the Yarn Tarot are standard sized with a matte finish and they also have a boarder on them.

5. Squid Cake Marseille Tarot by Jess Rollar

I absolutely adore the Squid Cake Marseille deck!! It's another Marseille deck filled with the color pink in each and every image. These tarot cards even have pink edges on them. 

This tarot deck is smaller than your usual tarot deck, which I like. I really like the artwork for this tarot deck. The tarot cards come with a two piece, sturdy box and an instructional booklet. I like the cardstock for this deck as well.

6. The Phantomwise Tarot by Erin Morgenstern

Calling all Erin Morgenstern fans!!! This black and white tarot deck is for you. Again this tarot deck comes in a study box with a nice instructional booklet, The tarot cards are standard sized with matte finish and texture to them. I love the artwork for this deck. You'll find rabbits and other animals incorporated in the imagery used in for this deck.

7. Tarot of the Divine: A Deck and Guidebook Inspired by Deities, Folklore, and Fairy Tales from Around the World: Tarot Cards by Yoshi Yoshitani

This is another lovely tarot deck!! This tarot deck comes with a nice, full color, paperback book for tarot readers to review. The deck and booklet are held inside a sturdy box. The tarot deck itself is standard sized with a matte finish and texture on the deck itself. The artwork is very colorful and fun. I like the unique theme for this tarot deck.

8. Legrande Circus & Sideshow Tarot by John Lee

I love this circus and sideshow themed tarot deck!! It's so much fun. This tarot deck comes in a very colorful, two piece, sturdy box. These tarot cards have a nice weight/thickness to them with a matte finish and white border. I like the artwork. The deck comes with an instructional booklet.

9. Tarot Disassembled by Jennifer Cooper Steidley (Indie Deck - Etsy Seller)

This tarot deck is so unique, fun, and extremely colorful!! It comes inside a sturdy box with a magnetic closure. This tarot deck is a standard tarot deck size, with matte finish. Each card feels super silky smooth to the touch. The edges of these cards are a red color. 

I'd say this tarot deck is more for an advanced tarot reader... And because this tarot deck is independently published, it is more expensive than your average tarot deck. But this tarot deck is well worth the price if you like specialty tarot decks and also like to support indie artists.

10. Madam Clara Sees All Fortune Teller Tarot Card Deck by MotelGiftShop (Beginner Indie Deck - Etsy Seller)

This is another specialty tarot deck made for the beginner tarot reader. Because it is independently published, it's more expensive than your typical tarot deck. 

I really like this tarot deck due to its artwork and basic phrases on the front of each card to help the newbie tarot reader learn to read tarot cards more quickly. 

This tarot deck is the standard tarot size with a black boarder. The tarot deck itself is enclosed with a sturdy box with magnetic closure and also comes with a small, paper booklet to help facilitate tarot readings. The box and deck also come with a padded cloth bag to store the tarot deck when not in use. This tarot deck has gold edges.

My only complaint about this particular tarot deck is that the cardstock is on the thinner side. For the price one pays for this deck, I think the cardstock should be thicker to hold up over the long haul for giving readings.

Any tarot readers out there? Do you have a favorite tarot deck you like working with when you do tarot readings? Do you have any sage advice on how to best learn to read tarot cards? Lastly, do you have any tarot book recommendations? Let me know in the comment section below!!

Dan's Reading List - Columbus Public Library Showcases Late Man's Massive Reading List!!

 This is such a heartwarming story of one man's reading journey from 1962-2023, Dan Pelzer read 3,599 books! Most of the books were ones he checked out from the public library.

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts

Currently, I am going through the perimenopause/menopause transition. Ugh, MENOPAUSE is not my favorite word! Some people don't like turning a certain age, but quite frankly, facing menopause is more scary than when I turned 50 years old. 

Needless to say, I've stuck my head in the sand when it comes to reading up on menopause, until now that is. I've very recently started doing research online, attending virtual webinars/seminars, and watching YouTube videos about menopause. After I continue doing a bit more research, I'll be setting up an appointment(s), on how to treat symptoms of perimenopause/menopause with a specialist.

I wish women would talk more about perimenopause/menopause with each other and share their experiences going through this life changing event. Honestly, it's like the previous generations were completely mum about the topic of menopause as if it was a dirty word/secret. Thank goodness, more women are opening up and talking about menopause and their own personal experiences with menopause.

Since I'm interested in learning more about perimenopause/menopause, I couldn't resist buying and listening to Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts. Naomi Watts also narrates her own book too.

Normally, I wouldn't make a nonfiction book written by a celebrity my first choice as a book to read about menopause. I'd rather read books or articles about menopause written by medical experts. That aside, I decided to listen to Naomi Watts's book about menopause as it was on sale for a fraction of the cost via one of Chirp's limited time deals. Another factor for reading Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause is that it was recently published on January 21, 2025, and it also has received good reviews and high ratings on both Amazon and Goodreads.

As far as Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause goes, I was impressed on several levels with this book. It's well written and well organized with very specific topics for each chapter. Each chapter ends with the key take away points discussed earlier in the chapter. I like the diverse range of topics about menopause discussed in this book. Naomi Watts also talks about her personal journey with menopause and how she has handled it. Ms. Watts appears to have done her research and cites medical experts and literature throughout her book. Even though Namoi Watts is a celebrity and not a medical expert, I think as a celebrity, she can attract an audience that might otherwise not read a book about menopause.

As much as I really enjoyed listening to Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause, it wasn't perfect. I wish more was discussed about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) vs. the little that was discussed about it under the umbrella topic of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). I'm personally not a big proponent of HRT as a method of choice for managing hormonal changes during perimenopause/menopause. I'm leaning more towards BHRT instead, which is why I wish there was more discussed specifically on this topic. I'm not a medical expert/doctor/researcher and still need to do more to learn more about HRT vs. BHRT.

Two factoids I learned while reading Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause, the word perimenopause didn't appear in our lexicon until the 1930s and the word menopause was coined in 1821 by French physician Charles-Pierre-Louis de Gardanne.

Above is an NPR interview featuring Naomi Watts discussing her book, Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause. The interview itself is about 9 minutes in length, that's if you're interested in hearing a snippet of what Ms. Watts's menopause book has to offer.

Below is the publisher's summary for Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts from Chirp's website:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A frank, funny and informative guide to menopause and aging by beloved actress Naomi Watts, one of the leading voices in menopause awareness—with a foreword by Mary Claire Haver, MD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The New Menopause

At thirty-six, Naomi Watts had just completed filming King Kong and was trying to start a family when she was told that she was on the brink of menopause. It is estimated that seventy-five million women in the United States are currently dealing with menopause symptoms (dry itchy skin, raging hormones, night sweats), and yet the very word “menopause” continues to be associated with stigma and confusion. With so little information, many women feel unprepared, ashamed, and deeply alone when the time comes.

This is the book Naomi Watts wishes she had when she first started experiencing symptoms. Like sitting down over coffee and having an intimate chat with your girlfriend, Dare I Say It blends funny and poignant stories from Naomi and her friends with advice from doctors, hormone experts, and nutritionists to take the secrecy and shame out of menopause and aging. Answering questions such as: What’s hormone therapy and should I be on it? Will I ever sleep again? Will I get myself back? What happened to my libido? Do I need eighteen serums for my aging skin? Whose body is this anyway? Who am I now? Naomi Watts shares the most up-to-date research on how to manage menopause symptoms and tackle the physical and emotional challenges we encounter as we age.

Irreverent, bold, and reassuring, Dare I Say It is the companion every woman needs to embrace the best version of herself as she moves into what can be the most powerful and satisfying period of her life.

I am giving Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

P. S. I always find it difficult rating and reviewing nonfiction books about diet, health, and exercise as I'm not a medical doctor or a medical researcher. I only base my book reviews and ratings on how well I feel the information is presented and whether I feel what has been written contains useful information for myself.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Alta Journal - California Book Club - Shortcomings Adrian Tomine

 

Yesterday evening was another fun, virtual author event hosted by Alta Journal!! I love Alta Journal's monthly California Book Club events. They always have great authors featured each month in conversation with host, John Freeman, and a different moderator also in conversation with the author featured each month!

This month's California Book Club featured author, Adrian Tomine, discussing his book, Shortcomings, a graphic novel. I loved hearing how Adrian Tomine created the artwork for his graphic novels and the history of writing and making artwork for his books.

I've never read anything by Adrian Tomine before. In fact, I've never even heard of Adrian Tomine until recently. I love discovering new to me authors.

Next month, Amy Tan will be discussing her book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, via Alta Journal's California Book Club. I'm excited to attend this upcoming virtual event.

Have you attended any in-person or virtual author events recently? Tell me about it in the comment section below.

Alta Live: Author Peter Orner Discusses His New Book, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter!

 

Yesterday afternoon, I listened to the Alta Live event featuring author, Peter Orner discussing his new novel, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter.

 Frankly, I'd never even heard of Peter Orner before. After listening to Peter Orner in conversation with author, Tod Goldberg, I didn't hesitate adding Orner's latest novel to my ever growing reading wishlist! It sounds amazing!! It took Orner 15 years to write The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter!

Watch the above YouTube interview with Peter Orner in conversation with Tod Goldberg. It's roughly 41 minutes in length and very engaging to watch if you're interested!

Below is a summary for The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter I discovered on Peter Orner's website:

The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter

The cold case of a young Hollywood starlet’s death sets a contemporary writer on an epic and comic quest to uncover the truth, and its connection to his own family—a new novel by “a major talent” (New York Times) and “one of the most distinctive voices of his generation” (Granta).

Jed Rosenthal hasn’t published a book in fourteen years, the mother of his child left him in a “trial separation” that has stretched on indefinitely, and he struggles to navigate the daily sorrows of their co-parenting arrangement. But the implosion of Jed’s family is simply a footnote in the larger history of the Rosenthal family’s decline.

Just days after the JFK assassination, Karyn “Cookie” Kupcinet was found dead in her Hollywood apartment. The press reported that the 22-year-old was strangled, yet unanswered questions linger to this day. Cookie’s parents—Chicago royalty, Irv and Essee Kupcinet—had been close friends with Jed’s grandparents, but in the aftermath of her death, their friendship abruptly and inexplicably ended. Decades later, Jed pores over family stories, newspaper archives, old photos, and crime scene notes, believing that if he can divine the truth of Cookie’s death—whether it was suicide, murder, or part of a larger conspiracy—it might shed light on a mystery closer to home.

Spanning seventy plus years, and weaving together family drama and a true-life unsolved case, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter is a singular, wryly comic, and deeply human exploration into friendship and the bonds that sustain us.

Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue

 

In 2023, I listened to and reviewed Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue, which is the first cozy mystery novel in the 'Witches Brew' Mysteries Series. I really enjoyed Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue, which has now prompted me to listen to Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue, which is the 2nd novel in the 'Witches Brew' Mysteries Series.

I absolutely loved listening to Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue!! It's another winner in the 'Witches Brew' Mysteries Series and it is well narrated by Kristin Price. I now look forward to listening to the 3rd novel in this cozy mystery series sometime in the future.

The storyline, plot, characters, and writing are excellent for this novel. The pacing was great for this novel too... Not a dull moment to be had. 

I also enjoyed the recipe section at the end. Maybe I'll make a sourdough starter myself?

Below is the publisher's summary for Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue from the Goodreads website:

Phoebe Winchester is back on the case in Raven Creek when a body is discovered at an estate sale in Gretchen Rue’s second book in the Witches’ Brew mystery series, perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Cleo Coyle.

Ever since she moved to Raven Creek, Washington, Phoebe Winchester knew she would have to grow accustomed to having a lot on her plate. She’s beginning to make the Victorian manor she inherited from her dear and adventurous Aunt Eudora feel more like home, successfully running the bookstore and tea shop, The Earl’s Study, and learning to harness her recently discovered magical powers. But when she discovers a dead body at an estate sale—even Phoebe wonders if this is simply too much.

Rumors of Phoebe’s involvement force her to take action; she needs to find the killer and clear her own name, once again. She enlists Rich Lofting, the handsome private detective and her childhood friend, in her investigation, all while she sorts out her unresolved feelings for him. Is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows of this small tight-knit town? And does Phoebe really want to find out?

With a dash of magic, a pinch of sleuthing skills, and a spoonful of friendly assistance, Phoebe needs to uncover the killer to keep Raven Creek safe once again. But if she doesn’t—will she find herself in even more hot water?

I am giving Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - Books with a High Page Count I Want to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I use to be an avid reader of books with large page counts. However, in the past decade or two, I've enjoyed reading shorter reads under 5 hundred pages in length. 

Below is a list of longer books I'd like to read some day.

1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

2. War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

3. Russka by Edward Rutherfurd

4. Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd

5. The Lucuna by Barbara Kingsolver

6. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

7. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo

8. The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

9. Sacajawea by Anna Waldo

10.Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Have you read any of the above novels?

Sadly, Best-selling Author and Mississippi Native, Greg Iles Passes Away!