Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Why Reading Isn't 'Natural'

 

I accidentally discovered the above video on YouTube. As an avid reader, the title of the video is what captured my attention straight away. 

Apparently, neurotypical brains do not have the innate ability to read. From an evolutionary stand point, our brains haven't had enough time to develop a 'dedicated' reading brain according to what I learned from watching this video. 

To learn more, watch the above video. It's fairly short at nearly six minutes.

Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson

 

I love dogs and I also love watching dog shows when I find the time. With that in mind, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson, which is a nonfiction book about dogs and dog shows like the Westminster Dog Show here in the USA. Also worth noting, Jonathan Davis does a wonderful job narrating Dogland.

I learned a lot about dogs from reading Dogland. Everything from selective breeding to the fact that even dogs can get STIs like brucellosis (a bacterial infection)! If you love learning about dogs and their history in and out of the show ring, then you may enjoy reading this book as much as I did. I also liked that this book discusses whether dogs are happy or not. Plus, there's even a discussion on the difference between show dogs and pet dogs.

Below is the publisher's summary for Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson found on the Goodreads website:

From Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Elephant in the Room comes the first inside account of the Westminster Dog Show—America’s oldest and most beloved dog show—following one dog on his quest to become a champion.

Tommy Tomlinson was watching a dog show on television a few years ago when he had a sudden thought: Are those dogs happy? How about pet dogs—are they happy, too? Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog-show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the bond between dogs and humans that has endured for thousands of years. Dogland shares his surprising, entertaining, and unforgettable adventures.

Tomlinson spends three years on the road and goes behind the scenes at dozens of dog shows across the country, where he is licked, sniffed, or rubbed up against by dogs of nearly every size, shape, and breed. Like a real-life version of Best in Show, Dogland follows one champion show dog—a Samoyed named Striker—and his devoted entourage of breeders, handlers, and owners as he competes in the Westminster Dog Show, the oldest and most famous dog show in America. Tomlinson brings the dog-show circuit to life as he witnesses teams scrambling from town to town in search of championship points and colorful ribbons. Along the way, he also speaks to scientists who have discovered new insights into how dogs and people formed their bond—and how that bond has changed over the centuries.

Engaging, charming, and informative, Dogland is an irresistibly appealing read for pop culture followers and animal lovers alike.

I am giving Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Author, Sophie Kinsella Passed Away!

 

Although, I've never read any books written by author, Sophie Kinsella, it's still sad to learn she passed away from brain cancer! 

Have any of you read her 'Shopaholic' series?

New to Me Little Free Libraries in Mill Valley, California!!

 

My husband and I found two Little Free Libraries in Mill Valley, California over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Both LFLs were really cute!

During our stay in Mill Valley, we not only found two Little Free Libraries, but we also made our third visit to Muir Woods National Monument first thing in the morning on Black Friday before the crowds hit. 

There's nothing like being in nature without large crowds to soak in early morning nature vibes, hear the bird calls, smell coastal redwoods, and the sound of water flowing through a running stream to make life better! I call it forest bathing at its finest. 

The day we visited Muir Woods National Monument, it was foggy, overcast, and very brisk. The foggy weather gave us a new perspective/view of Muir Woods. I live in an urban environment, so I am grateful for visits places like Muir Woods National Monument.

Below are some photographs I took during our visit to Muir Woods National Monument.

My husband standing at the entrance to Muir Woods National Monument.

This photo (if I recall) was taken of the stream at the first bridge.

My husband standing at one of the large trees near the Bohemian Grove.

The beauty of nature! The walking paths were almost completely empty upon our arrival.

Large coastal redwoods are so gorgeous!

Are you a fan of spending time in nature? Which places do you visit in nature that fill you with joy? Lastly, have you ever visited Muir Woods National Monument? 

New to Me Little Free Library in El Sobrante, California!

My husband and I found this cute Little Free Library in El Sobrante, California on Thanksgiving day.

We were on our way to Mill Valley, California to stay at an Airbnb from Thanksgiving day through the rest of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

This Little Free Library is in an older neighborhood. It was our second LFL find on Thanksgiving day. This was my favorite LFL find during our four day mini vacation.

New to Me Little Free Library in Pinole, California!

My husband and I found this cute Little Free Library in Pinole, California on Thanksgiving day.

We were on our way to Mill Valley, California to stay at an Airbnb from Thanksgiving day through the rest of the holiday weekend.

This LFL is in a cute residential neighborhood and offers a bench for

readers to enjoy reading books they find.

Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas

 

I listened to the unabridged audiobook version of Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas, which was well narrated by Thom Rivera.

Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas was my first read for the month of December 2025. I really enjoyed listening to this novel of contemporary fiction, which is a modern retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 

Chicano Frankenstein is set in California. I loved how the author weaves current events of our times into this novel, yet still keeps many of the elements of Mary Shelley's original novel in mind... Like the fact that the leading character remains nameless throughout Chicano Frankenstein as does the leading character in Frankenstein. 

Also, the fictional POTUS in Chicano Frankenstein seems to be very much like our current POTUS in many ways.

Chicano Frankenstein combines horror, contemporary fiction, romance, and politics together. It questions social justice/social equality and what it means to be human.

Below is the publisher's summary for Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas from the Goodreads website:

A modern retelling of the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley classic that addresses issues of belonging and assimilation

An unnamed paralegal, brought back to life through a controversial process, maneuvers through a near-future world that both needs and resents him. As the United States president spouts anti-reanimation rhetoric and giant pharmaceutical companies rake in profits, the man falls in love with lawyer Faustina Godínez. His world expands as he meets her network of family and friends, setting him on a course to discover his first-life history, which the reanimation process erased. With elements of science fiction, horror, political satire and romance, Chicano Frankenstein confronts our nation’s bigotries and the question of what it truly means to be human.

I am giving Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

NEWSFLASH - People Who Read Are Harder to Control - Video

 

Yes, readers are discerning! Interesting topic for a video though. Click on the above link to watch.