New to Me Little Free Library in San Ramon, California

 

This morning my husband and I found a new to us Little Free Library in San Ramon, California!! These LFLs keep popping all the time, which is fabulous. I left two books and took two books.

Have you found any Little Free Libraries lately?

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson, which is well narrated by the author. 

I picked Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson because I'd read and enjoyed two previous novels by the author and also because this novel sounded like a really great read based on the blurb on the back of the novel. However, after I first began listening to Mother May I, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. In fact, I almost ditched Mother May I for another read from my 'to be read' pile. But I pressed onward and I am glad that I did.

Although, I enjoyed Mother May I, it isn't my favorite novel written by Joshilyn Jackson to date. Overall, I think the writing, storytelling, plot, and characters are well done. I like suspense/thrillers and this novel has that down to a science. The first couple of chapters made it difficult for me to get into this novel. Also, the last chapter glossed over how things turned out in a way that was too tidy for my liking after the busy pace that kept the reader on edge for most of the novel... In other words, the ending was soft, too soft.

I have three other novels to read by Joshilyn Jackson in my 'to be read' pile that I look forward to reading in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I like them better than Mother May I. 

Below is the publisher's summary for Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson from Goodread's website:

A novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves -- a tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

Revenge doesn't wait for permission.

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected that fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of.

Until the day she awakens and sees someone peering into her bedroom window--an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.

Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daughters' private school . . . just minutes before Bree's infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly--Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.

The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother. Why would another mother do this? What does she want? And why has she targeted Bree? Of course Bree will pay anything, do anything. It's her child.

To get her baby back, Bree must complete one small--but critical--task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price.

Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family--but what if the cost tears their world apart?

I am giving Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

CBS Sunday Morning - Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden speaks out on her firing by Trump

 

Dr. Carla Hayden is such a smart and articulate woman. I'm sorry to learn that she'd been dismissed as the Librarian of Congress.

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

 

I love reading historical fiction novels. I've been aware of Marie Benedict as an author for quite sometime now. In fact, I have a few of her novels in either my 'to be read' pile or on my ever growing reading wishlist. However, I hadn't read any of Marie Benedict's novels until June 2025.

I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict, which is nicely narrated by Mozhan Marnò.

I think one of the many reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction novels is because I enjoy seeing how an author will portray the interactions between historical figures. In this case, we have Albert Einstein and his first wife, Mileva Marić, featured front and center in The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. Mileva Maric is clearly the main character with Albert Einstein as the secondary character.

I found the writing for The Other Einstein to be riveting and very engaging for the most part. The storyline and character development were also well done. 

I enjoyed learning more about the life of Mileva Maric as I never knew she existed until reading this novel. Mileva was a brilliant mathematician and physicist. She met Albert Einstein while both were attending college and the pair fell in love during their college days. Albert Einstein was sweet, romantic and tender towards Mileva Maric. However, over time, Einstein becomes more egotistical, especially as he becomes more famous. Mileva becomes pregnant out of wedlock with Albert's child, byt Albert refuses to marry her at the time. Once married, the pair continue to work intellectually on Einstein's work. It seems like Mileva had contributed significantly towards Einstein's work, but she isn't given credit for her help. Albert is even unfaithful to Mileva during their marriage and eventually treats her badly the more famous he becomes. Mileva eventually divorces Einstein and is given custody of their children.

In the author notes at the end. Ms. Benedict goes into the research she performed in order to write this novel. Ms. Benedict also sites where she found some of the information she discovered while researching for this novel.

The only major disappointment for me was that the last section of the novel. Section three was a bit drawn out for my liking. I felt like it could have been shorter. Additionally, I felt like Einstein was made to look like a major creep when it came to his personal life with Mileva Maric. If he was a major creep, how far do you go to drive the point home in a work of fiction?

Below is the publisher's summary for The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict from the Goodreads website:

A vivid and mesmerizing novel about the extraordinary woman who married and worked with one of the greatest scientists in history, written by New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict!

In the tradition of The Paris Wife and Mrs. Poe, The Other Einstein offers us a window into a brilliant, fascinating woman whose light was lost in Einstein's enormous shadow. It is the story of Einstein's wife, a brilliant physicist in her own right, whose contribution to the special theory of relativity is hotly debated and may have been inspired by her own profound and very personal insight.

Mitza Maric has always been a little different from other girls. Most twenty-year-olds are wives by now, not studying physics at an elite Zurich university with only male students trying to outdo her clever calculations. But Mitza is smart enough to know that, for her, math is an easier path than marriage. And then fellow student Albert Einstein takes an interest in her, and the world turns sideways. Theirs becomes a partnership of the mind and of the heart, but there might not be room for more than one genius in a marriage.

I am giving The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Caribbean-American Heritage Month - Caribbean Themed Books I'd Like to Read!

Until earlier this month, I had no idea that June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month! 

Below is a list of books I'd like to read that are tied to the Caribbean in some way. Some of the books are fiction and some are nonfiction.

1. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
2. Monster in the Middle Tiphanie Yanique
3. Pleasantview by Celeste Mohammed
4. Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas
5. A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S Naipaul
6. The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat
7. Running Sideways by Pauline Davis
8. Miss Pat: My Reggae Music Journey by Patricia Chin
9. Of Women and Salt by Gabrielle Garcia
10. The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

Have you read any of the above books? Do you have any Caribbean books you would recommend for future reading? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!

LGBTQIA+ Books I Want to Read!

June is known as Pride Month. Back in June of 2022, I posted my top ten LGBTQIA themed books to read for Pride Month. All of the books listed in my post were ones I'd already read. Click on the above link to see which LGBTQIA books I've already read.

For this post, I wanted to focus on ten LGBTQIA themed books I would like to read in the future.

1. We Are Only Ghosts by Jeffrey L. Richards

2. The Evolution of Love by Lucy Jane Bledsoe

3. Flux by Jinwoo Chong

4. Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez

5. Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn

6. Creep: Accusations and Confessions by Myriam Gurba

7. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

8. Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings

9. The Secrets of My Life by Caitlyn Jenner

10. Pageboy by Elliot Page

Have you read any of the above books? Do you have any LGBTQIA+ book recommendations? Share in the comment section below.

Warren Buffet's Four Investment Book Recommendations

I stumbled across an article published on CNBC titled, Warren Buffett recommended these 4 books to learn about investing by Taylor Locke. In the article, Taylor Locke wrote the following:

A few years ago at a dinner, Trey Lockerbie, founder and CEO of kombucha company Better Booch, met billionaire Warren Buffett. He took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about investing, Lockerbie said on “The Good Life” podcast with Sean Murray on Dec. 14.

Lockerbie, who was at the time an avid options trader (a more risky method of investing in which a trader can bet on which way the market will swing), asked Buffett whether books by Benjamin Graham, who was Buffett’s mentor, were somewhat outdated. Graham wrote “Security Analysis” in 1934 and “Intelligent Investor” in 1949.

Buffett — widely regarded as the best investor alive — has used the same strategy of value investing taught by Graham for decades. So Buffett suggested that Lockerbie reread Graham’s books and focus on the chapters about the psychology of investing, Lockerbie said.

In addition, Lockerbie told “The Good Life,” Buffett recommended he read two books by the late economics commentator George Goodman, who wrote under the pen name “Adam Smith.”

Click on the above link to read the full story and view Buffett's investing book recommendations. 

Calling All Jane Austen Lovers!! Visit the “Undressing Jane Austen’s World” Exhibit at DC’s DAR Museum.

Late last month, I came across an article titled, Jane Austen Exhibit Celebrates Beloved Author’s Literary Fashion by Madeline Weinfield. In the article, Madeline Weinfield wrote the following:

It is a universally acknowledged truth that to love Jane Austen is to love the clothing depicted in her novels. It is also a truth universally less acknowledged that her novel’s subsequent screen adaptations have taken some liberties with the wardrobes of Austen’s characters.

A new exhibit at DC’s DAR Museum shines a light on the clothing and fashions of the beloved writer’s world and characters. It also dispels some commonly held misconceptions about the sartorial customs of her age.

Wow! If I lived closer to Washington D. C., I'd love to see the "Undressing Jane Austen's World" exhibit in person. What an interesting exhibit to offer on the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.

Click on the above link to read the entire article by Madeline Weinfeild and also visit the link for the DAR Museum website.

Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston

 

My husband and I have watched the Money Guy Show with hosts, Brian Preston and Bo Hanson, on YouTube for quite  a while now. We enjoy watching their show and the content they provide in terms of finances, building wealth, and retirement planning.

My husband and I took the plunge and decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston, which is well narrated by the author. 

I enjoyed the content for  Millionaire Mission very much. I also like the layout for Millionaire Mission and how its organized in a succinct manner. The nine step system to building wealth, which Brian Preston outlines in his book, is easy to follow and understand. Brian Preston gives loads of examples in his book on how to build your wealth over the long haul. No quick get rich schemes here. Time and compounding interest are just a couple of important topics/concepts discussed in Millionaire Mission. I actually found it fun to learn more about personal finances as the information provided isn't dry or boring.

Listening time for Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston is 7 hours, 3 minutes.

Below is the publisher's summary for  Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston from the Goodreads website:

There’s a better way to do money. Taking control of your financial freedom is simpler than you think. In fact, your money should work harder than you do.

Brian Preston, host of The Money Guy Show and cofounder of Abound Wealth Management, lays out a nine-step system for building wealth with the money you already have.

Remember “PEMDAS” from grade school? It’s an acronym that helps break down complex math problems into simple steps. When it comes to managing your money, following a similar process—the Financial Order of Operations— will demystify your dollars and show you the way to build transformative wealth with the tools you already have available:

1. Keep Your Financial Life Out of The Ditch (Cover Your Highest Deductible)
2. Love That Free Money (Max-Out Your Employer Match)
3. The Joneses Are Broke and Miserable (Pay Off High Interest Debt)
4. Rainy Day Done Right (Build Emergency Reserves)
5. Tax-Free Armageddon (Max-Out Tax-Free Growth with Roth and/or HSA Contributions)
6. Max-Out Retirement Options
7. Building That More Beautiful Tomorrow (Leverage Hyper Accumulation)
8. Funding Abundance Goals (Prepay Future Expenses)
9. Debt-Freedom (Prepay Low-Interest Debt)

Millionaire Mission helps you account for your blind spots, overcome the fear of making wrong decisions, and take the guesswork out of what to do with your next dollar.

You can own your time and own your life. Stop worrying so much about money and start focusing on what really matters to you. Millionaire Mission will do more than help you optimize your army of dollar bills—it will motivate you to be the best version of your financial self. What do you have to lose? Let’s discover what small decisions you can make today to move you closer to your more beautiful tomorrow.

I am giving Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

My husband and I loved this nonfiction book so much, we sent the hardback edition of Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston to our niece as a gift. She's a recent college graduate and we thought this book would make the perfect gift for someone starting out in their career. We want to see our niece building her financial security over the years to come!

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Books Dealing With Politics, Fascism, History, And/Or Democracy In Some Fashion

I recently finished reading and reviewing The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck. According to the publisher's description, John Steinbeck labelled his work as a "celebration of the durability of democracy." 

Steinbeck's quote started me thinking about other books I've read about democracy, fascism, or how things in society could  go or have gone awry.

The first five books listed are ones I have already read. The remaining six books listed are ones I would like to read.

1. Animal Farm by George Orwell

2. It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis

3. The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck

4. Shameless by Brian Tyler Cohen

5. Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright

6. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

7. How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

8. Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future by Jason Stanley

9. How Propaganda Works by Jason Stanley

10.The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism by Steven Kornacki

11. What You Should Know About Politics. . . But Don't by Jessamyn Conrad

Have you read any of the above listed books? If so, did you like them? Share your thoughts!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins and it is excellently narrated by Barbara Rosenblat.

Listening time for Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins is 4 hours.

I first became acquainted with the 1971 movie version of 'Harold & Maude', starring Ruth Gordon as Maude, in the mid-1980s during a high school drama class. I never knew there was a novelization of the movie until very recently.

I haven't seen the movie version of 'Harold & Maude' in decades, but I remember liking this quirky, cult classic back in the day!! So, I knew I had to read the book when I discovered it earlier this month in audio format. 

I enjoyed the storyline, plot, characters, and writing very much for Harold & Maude. Harold, a 19 year old young man, is obsessed with death. His many attempts to shock his self-absorbed mother with his fake suicide attempts are something else! Harold loves to attend funerals and he even drives a hearse. Harold meets life-loving, free-spirit Maude at a funeral. Maude is a 79 years old woman and she and Harold form a deep bond. Maude imparts many important life lessons to Harold throughout the novel, which is the beauty of this novel.

Below is the publishers summary for Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins, which I discovered on Chirp's website:

Nineteen-year-old Harold Chasen is obsessed with death. He fakes suicides to shock his self-obsessed mother, drives a hearse, and attends funerals of complete strangers.

Seventy-nine-year-old Maude Chardin, on the other hand, adores life. She liberates trees from city sidewalks and transplants them to the forest, paints smiles on the faces of church statues, and “borrows” cars to remind their owners that life is fleeting—here today, gone tomorrow!

A chance meeting between the two turns into a madcap, whirlwind romance, and Harold learns that life is worth living, and how to play the banjo.

Harold and Maude started as Colin Higgins’s master’s thesis at UCLA film school before being made into the 1971 film directed by Hal Ashby. The quirky, dark comedy gained a loyal cult following, and in 1997 it was selected for inclusion on the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Fans who have seen the movie dozens of times will find this a valuable companion, as it gives fresh elements to watch for and answers many of the film’s unresolved questions.

I am giving Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Brattle Bookstore in Boston, MA is a Bookstore I Want to Visit!!

I don't think I'd ever heard of Brattle Book Shop in Boston until Memorial Day weekend this year. 

I would love to visit this book shop, which is billed as one of America's oldest antiquarian book shops according to Brattle Book Shop's website. Brattle Book Shop was established in 1825.

According to Brattle Book Shop's website:

Welcome to one of America's oldest and largest used book shops. The Brattle features two floors of general used books, a third floor of rare and antiquarian books and an outside sale lot.

The above, short video shows the outside sale lot at Brattle Book Shop. I wish the video showed what the inside space of Brattle Book Shop looks like as well.

Have any of my readers visited the Brattle Book Shop before? I'd be curious to hear about your experience there.

Throwback Thursday - Reminiscing on Some of My 2019 Blog Posts!!

 

It's been fun reminiscing with regards to the blog posts I've made over the years!! I try to pick some of the most unique posts I've posted to my blog from 2019. Click on the links below to read what I've written.

1. Are Textbooks Obsolete? Food For Thought!

Textbooks being obsolete is something I'd never pondered before. I shared a short video in the above post I published back in 2019 that discusses the topic if you're interested in hearing more.

2. California State Library in Sacramento, California

My husband and I visited the California State Library during National Library Week in 2019. What a fun library to visit!

3. Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building in Downtown Sacramento, California!

The Stanley Mosk & Courts Building is fabulous place to visit!! It's located across the street from the California State Capitol . My husband and I took the self guided tour of this building during National Library Week. I wrote a detailed post of our visit, which includes several photos.

4. 2019 Bay Area Book Festival - Saturday, May 4 - Day 1

I am so grateful and thankful to have attended the 5th annually Bay Area Book Festival (BABF) in Berkeley, California with my husband! I had attended the Bay Area Book Festival annually since its inception in 2015. The above link takes you to a detailed post with photos of what I saw during day one of BABF.

5. 2019 Bay Area Book Festival - Sunday, May 5 - Day 2

I am so grateful and thankful to have attended the 5th annually Bay Area Book Festival (BABF) in Berkeley, California with my husband! I attended the Bay Area Book Festival annually since its inception in 2015. The above link takes you to a detailed post with photos of what I saw during day two of BABF.

6. Joy Harjo Just Became The First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate

FINALLY, a Native American U. S. Poet Laureate was selected! I've read some of Joy Harjo's poetry and enjoyed them.

7. Thousands Of Books Given Away At A Contra Costa County Library!!!

I still dream about this event!! I had so much fun attending this large scale giveaway at the Pleasant Hill, California public library back in 2019. 

I hope they offer this event again in the future. It was amazing to have such a vast selection of books to search through and take home for FREE!

8. Positive Options for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Self-Help and Treatment by Elena Juris

This is a book review on a health related topic that is near and dear to me. I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and have been dealing with the various physical pain that comes with this condition since 2009. 

My physical symptoms have varied/fluctuated over the years. This book offers treatment options and so on for those with CRPS/RSD. If you or someone you knows has CRPS/RSD, this book may offer some solution/relief ideas. Click on the above link for my review of Elena Juris's book and my CRPS/RSD journey.

9. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Rebecca Skloot's work of nonfiction just so happened to be one of many favorite reads of 2019! Check out my review of it, if your so inclined.

10. The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

Lawrence Anthony's work of nonfiction just so happened to be one of many favorite reads of 2019! Check out my review of it, if your so inclined.

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Red Pony by John Steinbeck and well narrated by Frank Muller.

Listening time for The Red Pony by John Steinbeck is 2 hours, 55 minutes, which made for quick reading!!

I have mixed feelings about The Red Pony by John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck definitely had a way with describing characters, scenes, and situations that were simple, yet vivid. I love that John Steinbeck didn't have to use a lot of fancy language to convey his ideas. I think this is why I originally fell in love with Steinbeck's novel, East of Eden, back in 2008.

However, I was expecting something different with The Red Pony. I thought this novella was going to solely be about Jody Tiflin's (a young boy and main character) relationship with his red pony throughout the entire novella. Instead, The Red Pony is a set of four vignettes about Jody Tiflin, his parents, and their ranch hand, Billy. The red pony is only part of the first vignette. The rest of the novella shares other stories and themes. I think I would have enjoyed the storyline for The Red Pony more if the entire novella was entirely about Jody and his red pony, as a coming of age story, instead of how it was written and presented in its current form. Also, there is some animal cruelty in this novella, so if this is a trigger for you, then skip on reading The Red Pony.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Red Pony by John Steinbeck from Chirp's website:

John Steinbeck’s masterpiece celebrates the spirit and courage of adolescence. Steinbeck draws on his memories of childhood in these stories about a boy who embodies both the rebellious spirit and the contradictory desire for acceptance of early adolescence. Unlike most coming-of-age stories, the cycle does not end with a hero “matured” by circumstances. Reversing common interpretations, The Red Pony is imbued with a sense of loss. Jody’s encounters with birth and death express a common theme in Steinbeck’s fiction: They are parts of the ongoing process of life, resolving nothing.

I am giving The Red Pony by John Steinbeck a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Two New to Me Little Free Libraries in Lafayette, California!!

Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, my husband and I found two new to us Little Free Libraries in Lafayette, California.

These LFLs were quick and easy finds for us. One of them was in a really nice neighborhood that included a trailhead we walked on for a short distance as it was fairly flat and easy to walk on.

Have you visited any Little Free Libraries lately?

The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck

 

I absolutely adore East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I read it back in 2008 and have been meaning to reread it again, but I have yet to do so...In the mean time, I decided to read other novels written by John Steinbeck I've never before read. I picked up the unabridged audio version of The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck and narrated by George Guidall.

Listening time for The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck is 3 hours, 43 minutes, making it a very quick read!

The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck is an interesting read. This book take place in an unnamed town that has been invaded by war and occupied by outsiders. It showcases the horrors for both the soldiers occupying this town and the residents forced to work in a coal mine and also starved if they don't work in the coal mine. 

Philosophical ideas are also presented through the dialogue between some of the characters in this novel.

According to the publisher's description, Steinbeck labelled this work as a "celebration of the durability of democracy."

Below is the publisher's summary for The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck from Chirp's website:

Occupied by enemy troops, a small, peaceable town comes face-to-face with evil imposed from the outside–and betrayal born within the close-knit community. Originally published at the zenith of Nazi Germanyâ’s power, this masterful fable uncovers profound, often unsettling truths about war–and about human nature. Steinbeck’s self-described “celebration of the durability of democracy” had an extraordinary impact as Allied propaganda in Nazi-occupied Europe. Despite Axis efforts to suppress it (in Fascist Italy, mere possession of the book was punishable by death), The Moon Is Down was secretly translated into French, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, and Russian; hundreds of thousands of copies circulated throughout Europe, making it by far the most popular piece of propaganda under the occupation. Few literary works of our time have demonstrated so triumphantly the power of ideas in the face of cold steel and brute force.

I am giving The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw

I listened the unabridged audio version of The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw and narrated by Jordan Gibbs. This is the first book in the 'Motel at the End of the World' series.

The Coffee Killer by A. R. Shaw is a short listen at 3 hours, 26 minutes.

The Coffee Killer is a dystopian novel and it also falls into the mystery/suspense genre as well. Essentially, you have a group of people living at a motel in the middle of nowhere during the end times. A murder takes place at the motel and the motel owner along with the motel's housekeeper try to find out whodunit. A mysterious duo shows up at the motel looking for someone, which adds another layer to the storyline/plot details.

I found this novella to be bland, boring, and not at all captivating enough for my taste. I only finished it because it is short. I will not be reading the rest of the 'Motel at the End of the World' series.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw from Chirp's website:

☕ A small-town motel. A post-apocalyptic world. A murder mystery fueled by the rarest commodity: coffee.

Darrell Riley didn’t ask to inherit a run-down motel at the end of the world. With society crumbling, every transaction is bartered, and coffee is the ultimate currency. When a mysterious guest checks in during a storm and turns up dead, Darrell and his quirky housekeeper, Nance, must solve the crime before the killer strikes again.

As rumors swirl and suspicions rise, each guest becomes a suspect in this cozy post-apocalyptic mystery. Can Darrell keep the peace while surviving a world where coffee is worth more than gold?

Perfect for fans of The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Coffee Killer blends humor, suspense, and dystopian charm in an unforgettable whodunit.

I am giving The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Ivory Chpaters - Subscription Box!!

 

Pretty presentation!

I recently learned about a new to me book subscription box called, Ivory Chapters, which is based in Florida.

You can buy a single book box or sign up for the monthly book subscription box. You are also able to select a genre from the following choices (mystery, romance, spicy romance, fantasy, horror, memoir/nonfiction) for your book subscription OR you may select the 'surprise me' option.

Below is an image from Ivory Chapters, which shows the items included in each book subscription box.

The goodies in each box subscription box!

This looks like an interesting book subscription box! Click on the above link to read more about the Ivory Chapters subscription box.

Author Spotlight - Anne Tyler Interview on CBS Sunday Morning!!

 

This a lovely of Anne Tyler on CBS Sunday morning!! I enjoyed this interview where Anne Tyler discusses her writing and her most recent book, Three Days In June.

If you're an Anne Tyler fan, then checkout this video interview.

Goodreads Giveaways!! I Won Another Book!!

 

I've been a member of Goodreads since 2014. During my tenure,  I have entered many of the free book giveaways and won many free books over the years. 

My most recent win from the Goodreads Giveaways program is The Flip Side by Jason Walz, which is a new, paperback, graphic novel. It looks like a fun read I hope to read later on this year.

I love winning free books, don't you as well?

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry, which is well narrated by Fiona Hardingham.

Once Upon a Wardrobe is my first experience with anything written by Patti Callahan Henry. I was drawn to Once Upon a Wardrobe for two main reasons. The first reason is that Once Upon a Wardrobe is a work of historical fiction and I am a fan of historical fiction. The second reason is its tie in to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.

I enjoyed this novel overall. It has a nice plot/storytelling and good characters. However, I wasn't overly captivated by it as I'd hoped I'd be.

Below is the publisher's summary for Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry from the Goodreads website:

Megs Devonshire sets out to fulfill her younger brother George’s last wish by uncovering the truth behind his favorite story. The answer provides hope and healing and a magical journey for anyone whose life has ever been changed by a book.

1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it’s just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a “Where did Narnia come from?”

Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C. S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers.

Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he slowly tells her the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real life.

Lewis’s answers will reveal to Megs and her family many truths that science and math cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother—the story behind Narnia—turns out to be his gift to her, hope.

I am giving Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry a rating  of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Two New to Me Little Free Libraries in Pittsburg, California!!

 

Bread Box Little Free Library

Two Little Free Libraries outside a church.

My husband and I visited Pittsburg, California briefly on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. During our time in Pittsburg, California, we found three Little Free Libraries. The Little Free Libraries we found were either quite picked over or disorganized and not well maintained. I didn't exchange any books.

Have you found any Little Free Libraries lately?

Railroad Book Depot in Pittsburg, California!!

 

Back wall of Railroad Book Depot Bookstore.

My husband and I briefly visited Pittsburg, California on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. During our short time in Pittsburg, California, we visited an independent bookstore called Railroad Book Depot. It was our first time visiting both Pittsburg, California and Railroad Book Depot.

We almost missed Railroad Book Depot... In fact, we did miss it the first go around because there was no signage above the storefront stating the name of the business! So, we drove right by it and had to circle around the block before eventually spotting it.

We arrived a little before 10am in the morning and entered Railroad Book Depot when they opened at 10am. It's a nice sized bookstore with a mixture of both new and used books. They also sell greeting cards and even costume jewelry. Plus, they have local author events.

We took a quick spin around Railroad Book Depot's storefront and were in and out in 15 minutes. I purchased one new paperback book during our visit titled, The Last Letter From Sicily by Lindsay Marie Morris. I learned from the Railroad Book Depot 's website that Lindsay Marie Morris will be at the Railroad Book Depot on Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 12pm - 1pm signing copies of her novel. 

Unfortunately, I won't be around for this in person author event. However, The Last Letter From Sicily does sound like a good novel. It's inspired by true events.

It's also worth noting that teachers and library cardholders receive a 10% discount off of their purchases at Railroad Book Depot! That's kind of cool!

Railroad Book Depot is the first bookstore I've actually been inside of since the pandemic lockdowns in 2020!! Now that I think about it, I hadn't actually walked inside of a brick and mortar bookstore since 2019. 

I've mainly purchased books online or exchanged books at Little Free Libraries since 2020. It was nice to visit a brick and mortar bookstore again.

What's in the bag?

A historical fiction novel!!

Have you visited any new to you independent bookstores this year? Tell me about your bookstore visits in the comment section below.

Throwback Thursday - Reminiscing on Some of My 2018 Blog Posts!!

 It's been fun reminiscing with regards to the blog posts I've made over the years!! I try to pick some of the most unique posts I've shared to my blog from 2018. Click on the links below to read what I've written.

1. 112 Fabulous Russian Writers!!

During my college years, I was a Russian language major and took quite a few Russian literature courses as electives. I eventually graduated with a BA in Russian. I have a special place in my heart for Russian literature and Russian writers. I wasn't surprised to find that Alexander Pushkin took the top spot at #1... He's the cream of crop as far as writers go and it would be difficult to top him as a literary master!

2. Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr.

I read Why We Can't Wait for Black History Month in 2018. 2018 also marked the 50th anniversary od Martin Luther King Jr's assassination. Why We Can't Wait is written in King's own words and is an important work written one of the central figurines of the Civil Rights Movement. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Why We Can't Wait and highly recommend it!

3. The 10 Most Well-Read Cities In The United States

Before viewing the list of the most well-read cities in the USA, I tried guesiing which cities made the list.

4. 2018 Bay Area Book Festival in downtown Berkeley, California!

I have attended the Bay Area Book Festival 5 times and have had an amazing experience each time attending this 2 day event!! Checkout which authors I saw in 2018 by clicking on the link above!

5. My Favorite Author Meeting Experience To Date!

I've been blessed to meet several authors in person at either author signing events at independent bookstores or at book festivals. However, briefly meeting Thomas Steinbeck (eldest son of John Steinbeck) twice in person happens to be one of my most memorable and favorite author meeting experiences ever!

6. American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco, California

Until 2018, I never knew that San Francisco, California had a bookbinders museum!! It wasn't until I discovered that the American Bookbinders Museum was hosting a literary event, that I first learned about this place. The American Bookbinders Museum is a small museum and fun to visit. Check out the link above for photographs from my visit with my hubby.

7. SF In SF - Science Fiction in San Francisco. - The Perfect Fit!

I'm not a huge science fiction fan, but I am a fan of attending literary and author signing events at local venues within theSan Francisco Bay Area where I reside. 

The SF In SF event is a spectacular event to attend, where science fiction authors gather to give readings of their work and sign books. SF In SF is an ongoing monthly event.

8. Quirky Berkeley by Tom Dalzell

Occasionally, I enjoy reading about local history. 'Quirky Berkeley' is a short, nonfiction book about the very quirky artwork found in the yards of those who reside in Berkeley, California... And let me tell you that the 'quirky artwork' isn't your run of the mill quirky stuff you might expect to find in your average neighborhood yard. No Way! This is full frontal UNIQUE and very QUIRKY artwork that one would come to expect from only those living in Berkeley, California.

I live about 45 minutes away from Berkeley, California. In 2018, my husband and I decided to seek out some of the quirky artwork mentioned in the book. Oh, what fun we had finding four of the works of art mentioned in 'Quirky Berkeley'. Click on the link above to see my post and view the photos of the artwork we saw.

9. 13 Libraries For Book Lovers To Follow On Instagram!!

Do you have an Instagram account? Are you a library and a book lover? Then you may want to follow the 13 libraries for book lovers via Instagram!

10. 12 Literary Nonprofits to Support This Holiday!!

It's a great idea to support literary nonprofits year round. Not just on the holidays!

A Man Burns 100 Public Library Books on Social Media!!

I will never understand people’s need to burn books 📚 in an effort to prevent other people from reading certain books 📚! 

If a person doesn’t want to read a certain book, then fine, don’t read it. But don’t then decide what other people should read on their behalf by burning books!

Additionally, the books that had been burned were public library books! These books are paid for with taxpayer money!! So, I personally found it rude/disturbing/insulting that the man mentioned in the above video burned public library books when it's taxpayers, like us who, pay for these books.

The above video is short and worth watching. The library discussed how it was handling the situation.

P. S. Not sure why the video isn't showing up in my post??? Maybe I can find another version of the video on YouTube?

Top Ten Tuesday - Books That Feature Travel

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.

Below is a list of books I've read, which deal with travel in some form or another. If I reviewed the book here on my blog, you'll see a link, which will take you to my review.

1. Eat Love Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert

I actually loved the movie version better than the book! But Elizabeth Gilbert traveled to Italy, India, and Indonesia, so it's fun to read about her experiences there.

2. Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas

I read this book back in 2012 for a book club meet-up. It's nonfiction... A memoir, to be exact. If you're a foodie and you like all things sweets related, then you'll love reading this memoir. Also, if you like both New York City & Paris, you'll enjoy reading this book too. Plus, the author, Amy Thomas, kinda reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw from the hit television series Sex in the City.

3. Kindred by Octavia Butler

If time travel, science fiction and historical fiction is your thing, then this is your read!! I really enjoyed Kindred.

4. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

I actually enjoyed this holiday themed novel and the story takes place on a cross country train trip from Washington, D. C. to Los Angeles.

5. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

I love this classic novel and have read it 2-3 times. Under water sea travel via submarine that reads like a scientific journal/travelogue, makes this novel a fun read.

6. The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Again, if you love time travel + historical fiction, then the 'Outlander' series is your go to series!

7. Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar

This novel combines space travel and absurdist fiction for a unique read.

8. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

This novel has a main character travel from Sweden to Iowa to live life in a small town.

9. Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock

This nonfiction book about the lives of the pilgrims and their journey to America.

10. When Germs Travel by Howard Markel

This nonfiction food covers six different epidemics and how they travel/spread.

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells Has Been Turned Into a TV Series on Apple TV+

Have any of you read any of the books in 'The Murderbot Diaries' series by Martha Wells? I read the first book, All Systems Read, in 'The Murderbot Series' last July. I have not read the rest of the series at this time.

'The Murderbot Diaries' series falls into the science fiction genre and is told through the view point of a cyborg who has renamed himself, Murderbot. Murderbot is snarky. I love his sense of humor. Murderbot also loves soap operas and has essentially gone rogue... meaning that he has been able to break free from the standard programming protocol to perform exclusively as only a security unit and now functions independently.

Apple TV+ has turned 'The Murderbot Diaries' into a new television series called, 'Murderbot', which I learned about from my husband two days ago. My husband didn't know this new television series is based on a series of books. Nor, did he know that I had already read the first book in the series.

My husband and I watched the first, two episodes of 'Murderbot' and loved them! Both episodes were roughly 30 minutes each and we look forward to watching the rest of the series. New episodes come out on Wednesdays.

If you love sci-fi and/or have read and enjoyed 'The Murderbot Diaries', then maybe the 'Murderbot' series on Apple TV+ will be for you.

I may decide to continue reading the rest of the novels in 'The Murderbot Diaries' after watching the 'Murderbot' television series.

Alta Journal - California Book Club - Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins

 

So, once again, I found myself attending Alta Journal's California Book Club, which is a monthly online book club event. May's book club selection was Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins.

The funny thing is I've had Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins on my reading wishlist since roughly 2018. I haven't read this novel yet. So, I found it ideal to watch this live author event where Claire Vaye Watkins was in conversation with moderator, John Freeman, and author, Karen Russell.

I still want to read Fame Gold Citrus now even more now after watching this online event. Fame Gold Citrus falls into the cli-fi genre and dystopian genre as well.

I also learned that the author's father was part of the Manson Family.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Throwback Thursday - Reminiscing on Some of My 2017 Blog Posts!!

 

It's been fun reminiscing with regards to the blog posts I've made over the years!! I try to pick some of the most unique posts I've shared to my blog from 2017. Click on the links below to read what I've written.

1. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

I was blown away by just how much I enjoyed reading this book. The writing is exquisite. The author, Elisabeth Tova Bailey, came down with a mysterious virus, which leaves her weak and virtually bedridden for many years. During this time she begins studying mollusks after watching a live snail on a plant she'd been given as a gift. 

2. 8 Hacks For Spending Less While Reading More

I was familiar with 7 of the 8 hacks for spending less while reading more!! But am always on the look out for how to spend less on reading whenever possible.

3. Tender Wings of Desire by Colonel Sanders

I couldn't believe that Kentucky Friend Chicken actually came out with a romance novella featuring Colonel Harland Sanders as a character... I figured this novella would be super cheesy! Seriously, have you seen the book cover?? The book cover is super cheesy looking... However, Tender Wings of Desire by Colonel Sanders was FREE and a short read, so figured what did I have to lose? I could always stop reading this novella if it wasn't very good. Surprisingly though, Tender Wings of Desire by Colonel Sanders was actually decent.

4. Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany

I love the layout and how the information is presented in Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany! A page or two is devoted to the villain, then a short excerpt from where the villain is found in literature is presented, which is then followed by a recipe that would be perfect for the the said villain. Plus, the amazing vintage artwork/graphics by Jean-Francois Martin are sprinkled throughout this book as well. I loved the author's sense of humor too in Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany.

5. Alana Dakos --- Knitter, Knit Designer, Author, Business Owner, Knitting Instructor, & More!

I am a knitter. So, in 2017, I was thrilled to learn that Alana Dakos would be at a local independent yarn store. I was thrilled to meet her in person and have her sign two copies of knitting books she had written!

6. English novelist Kazuo Ishiguro wins the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature!

Every October, I am on pins and needles waiting to learn who will win the Nobel Prize for Literature... And it's so difficult to know who's going to actually win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Sometimes the Nobel Prize for Literature goes to an author I've heard of before and other times I've never heard of the author before ever... So the news as to the winner's identity of the Nobel Prize in Literature always makes for interesting reading to say the least.

7. Joyce Maynard ~ Author Speaking Event!!

It's so cool that our local, public library has hosted several author events. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend one of these events and meet Joyce Maynard in person. Fun event for sure!!

8. Lisa See ~ Author Signing Event!!

It was so much fun hearing Lisa See speak about her novel, The Tea Girl on Hummingbird Lane, and obtain a signed copy before leaving!!

9. Several Ways Readers Can Support The Women's Movement On 'A Day Without A Woman'

I loved the idea behind 'A Day Without A Woman'!! Click on the above link to read more!!

10. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

I received an advance reader's edition of this novel and loved it!! Amy Engel has become a new favorite writer.