What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

I listened to the unabridged audio version of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, which is well narrated by Avi Roque. I'd had this horror/fantasy novella on my reading wishlist for a while. I'm glad I finally listened to What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher as it was really good. 

What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's, The Fall of the House of Usher. What Moves the Dead is also the first novella in the 'Sworn Soldier' series. If you enjoy reading books and novellas that fall into the horror and fantasy genres and are also into a retelling of a classic story, then this book may be for you. The storyline, plot, and characters are fun! This book is most definitely worth the hype.

Below is the publisher's summary for What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher found on the Goodreads website:

From the award-winning author of The Twisted Ones comes a gripping and atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher."

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

I'm giving What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. 

Until my next post, happy reading!

New to Us Little Free Library in San Juan Bautista, California

 On our way home from Soledad, California, my husband and I stopped off in San Juan Bautista, California with the goal of visiting the San Juan Bautista Mission. 

Unfortunately, the San Juan Bautista Mission was packed with people. So, we decided to take a pass and visit the San Juan Bautista Mission another time.

On our way out of town, we found a Little Free Library outside Vertigo Coffee Roasters. This Little Free Library is cute!

New to Me Little Free Life in Soledad, California

 

This past Friday through Sunday, my husband and I spent time at the Inn at the Pinnacles in Soledad, California. The Inn at the Pinnacles is a luxury bed and breakfast set on a vineyard and is located about a ten to fifteen minute drive from the west entrance to the Pinnacles National Park. It was our first visit time staying at the Inn at the Pinnacles. We truly enjoyed our relaxing stay at there and hope to make another visit in the future. 

The primary purpose of our visit was to attend a stargazing event hosted at the Inn at the Pinnacles. We were able to view the night sky both Friday and Saturday using a telescope. Wine and cheese happy hours were offered both nights and a delicious, homemade Mexican dinner on Saturday evening. And, of course, delicious breakfasts during our stay too. 

On our way to the Inn at the Pinnacles, we visited one of the 21 California Missions in Soledad. The Soledad Mission was a small, but quaint mission. We enjoyed our visit there.

On our way home, we dropped off a couple of books at a Little Free Library in Soledad.

How was your weekend?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, which was nicely narrated by Lauren Ezzo. I you enjoy suspenseful novellas, then you will enjoy Cardiff, by the Sea as all four novellas were very good and very different from each other. 

Cardiff, by the Sea is the second book I've read by Joyce Carol Oates this year. Interestingly enough, both books I've read by Joyce Carol Oates this year have been buddy reads. This time around, I read Cardiff, by the Sea with Marianne @ Let's Read. Marianne is a fan of Joyce Carol Oates's writing too! Marianne made a perfect reading buddy as we had lots to discuss. Checkout Marianne's blog by clicking on the link above.

I want to break down my review of Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates by reviewing each novella. Each novella contains a female protagonist who is threatened, manipulated, or traumatized by predatory, abusive, or toxically controlling male figures. 

Additionally, most of these novellas has an ambiguous ending to them. The final novella has a resolution of sorts, but not everything is entirely wrapped up so neatly at the end. Joyce Carol Oates is notorious for writing ambitious endings! But then again perhaps that's the appeal... Perhaps, JCO wants you, the reader, to draw your own conclusions.

1. Cardiff, by the Sea

This is the titular first novella in the collection and happens to be my personal favorite. JCO's writing here is superb. The basic premise follows an academic in Pennsylvania who discovers a terrifying trauma from her past after inheriting a house in Cardiff, Maine, from a relative she never knew existed.

The protagonist, Clare, was given up for adoption as a baby and never spent much time dwelling on her origins—until she inherits property from her biological paternal grandmother. Summoned by the estate lawyer, Clare travels to Maine and meets her eccentric great-aunts and paternal uncle. That’s where things begin to go awry. Strange, unsettling things start happening to Clare—or so she believes.

Clare learns that both of her biological parents died tragically, but no one—not even the estate lawyer—will explicitly tell her how. Instead, Clare is directed to the local library to uncover the truth herself, and the answers she finds are horrific. Obsessed with uncovering what really happened, Clare sets out to interview anyone who might know the real story behind her parents' dark past.

2. Miao Dao

"Miao Dao" refers to a traditional Chinese two-handed saber, but it doubles as a clever wordplay on JCO's part, as cats ("meow") play a central role in the narrative. In this story, an eleven-year-old girl named Mia is struggling through her parents' tense divorce while navigating the uncomfortable, predatory attention of older neighborhood boys and men. Overwhelmed by loneliness and anxiety, Mia adopts a fierce feral cat. The bond between them turns dark and protective as the cat becomes a silent guardian against the increasingly aggressive males in her life. It’s an unsettling look at how young girls are forced to navigate terrifying environments far too early.

3. Phantomwise: 1972

Set in the title year of 1972, this story centers on Alyce, a brilliant but deeply insecure and shy college sophomore who finds herself in a terrifying dilemma when she becomes pregnant. The setting of 1972 is crucial here: it takes place immediately before the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. At this time, abortion was still largely illegal across most of the United States, leaving young, isolated women with virtually no safe or legal options.

Terrified and lacking institutional support, Alyce becomes completely dependent on the men around her. Enter an older, charismatic poetry professor who steps in to "take her under his wing," though his motives are far from innocent. JCO brilliantly highlights the legal traps and social taboos of the pre-Roe era, showing how restrictive healthcare laws weaponized control over women's bodies and left them uniquely vulnerable to predatory, manipulative authority figures. The tension in this piece is suffocating as Alyce struggles to find agency in a world designed to strip it away.

4. The Surviving Child

This was probably my least favorite of the four novellas, but it was still a gripping, eerie read. The story functions as a subtle roman à clef inspired by the tragic lives of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. It follows Elisabeth, a woman who marries a charismatic, domineering widower whose famous poet ex-wife died by suicide, taking one of their children with her.

JCO leans heavily into the classic, dark "wicked stepmother" trope here—though with a psychological twist. Elisabeth steps into the household trying to care for the surviving child, but she is quickly consumed by the toxic family dynamic. Instead of being the villain, Elisabeth becomes a victim of the domestic haunting, finding herself tormented by the late wife's lingering voice, an inexplicably befouled well, and an unsettling, hypnotic attraction to the garage where the horrific tragedy took place. While it felt a bit slower than the rest, it paints a haunting picture of inherited grief and psychological decline.

Here's the publisher's summary for Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, which I discovered on Hoopla:

An academic in Pennsylvania discovers a terrifying trauma from her past after inheriting a house in Cardiff, Maine, from someone she has never heard of. A pubescent girl, overcome with loneliness, befriends a feral cat that becomes her protector from the increasingly aggressive males that surround her. A brilliant but shy college sophomore is distraught to discover that she's pregnant, and the professor who takes her under his wing may not have innocent intentions. And a woman who marries into a family shattered by tragedy finds herself haunted by her predecessor's voice, an inexplicably befouled well, and a compulsive attraction to a garage that took two lives.

In these psychologically daring, chillingly suspenseful pieces, the author of We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde writes about women facing threats past and present, once again cementing her reputation for "great intelligence and dead-on imaginative powers" (Los Angeles Times Book Review).

I am giving Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

P. S. I did have Google Gemini help me rewrite my summaries for each of the novellas to make them sound/flow better. The rest of this post is solely written by me without Google Gemini's assistance.

I Love Little Free Libraries!!

 

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

 

Last year, I read and reviewed Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas. Another blogger, CyberKitten, read my review of Chicano Frankenstein and recommended I read Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi. Since I enjoyed reading Chicano Frankenstein so much, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of  Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, which is well narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Kaleo Griffith.

Thank you, CyberKitten, I enjoyed listening to Frankenstein in Baghdad. It is a unique read with a setting in Iraq. It's filled with colorful characters and an engaging storyline. The narration is phenomenal as well. If you are interested in reading retellings of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, then Frankenstein in Baghdad may be right up your alley.

Below is the publisher's summary for Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, which I discovered on Chirp's website:

From the rubble-strewn streets of U.S.-occupied Baghdad, Hadi—a scavenger and an oddball fixture at a local café—collects human body parts and stitches them together to create a corpse. His goal, he claims, is for the government to recognize the parts as people and to give them proper burial. But when the corpse goes missing, a wave of eerie murders sweeps the city, and reports stream in of a horrendous-looking criminal who, though shot, cannot be killed. Hadi soon realizes he’s created a monster, one that needs human flesh to survive—first from the guilty, and then from anyone in its path. A prizewinning novel by “Baghdad’s new literary star” (The New York Times), Frankenstein in Baghdad captures with white-knuckle horror and black humor the surreal reality of contemporary Iraq.

I am giving  Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Happy National Book Lovers Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

I've noticed that I've been on an unconscious mission to read new to me authors this year... That is until now! I think the main reason I am reading more books by new to me authors this year may be due to borrowing more books from the public library via Hoopla. Additionally, I've been given books by other readers and also book recommendations. Many of these books are written by new to me authors.  I'm also discovering new to me authors from a book club I've been participating in at my public library.

Victor Lavalle is a new to me author. I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle, which is narrated by Kevin R. Free via Hoopla. I primarily chose this novella because it's short and also because it was "one of NPR's Best Books of 2016, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the British Fantasy Award, the This is Horror Award for Novella of the Year, and a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards."

I enjoyed the writing and storyline for The Ballad of Black Tom. But I wasn't overly impressed with it. Sure, I enjoyed listening to The Ballad of Black Tom as it is well narrated, but I didn't find this novella stellar enough to be worthy of its hype by NPR and the awards and award nominations.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle, which I discovered on Amazon's website:

One of NPR's Best Books of 2016, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the British Fantasy Award, the This is Horror Award for Novella of the Year, and a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards

People move to New York looking for magic and nothing will convince them it isn't there.

Charles Thomas Tester hustles to put food on the table, keep the roof over his father's head, from Harlem to Flushing Meadows to Red Hook. He knows what magic a suit can cast, the invisibility a guitar case can provide, and the curse written on his skin that attracts the eye of wealthy white folks and their cops. But when he delivers an occult tome to a reclusive sorceress in the heart of Queens, Tom opens a door to a deeper realm of magic, and earns the attention of things best left sleeping.

A storm that might swallow the world is building in Brooklyn. Will Black Tom live to see it break?

I am giving The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

 

I listened to the dramatized audio version of The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. This chidlren's novela has been on my reading wishlist for quite awhile. Wow, what a great way to listen to this!! I really enjoyed this audio edition as it was like listening to an old time radio production. The entire audio experience was amazing! Needless to say this novel would make a great read around Halloween time for children (and adults too!!).

I liked the storyline and character development. The writing is excellent... It's Ray Bradbury, would you expect any less than great writing?

Below is the publisher's summary for The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury via GoodsReads:

Make storytime a little spookier with fantasy master Ray Bradbury as he takes readers on a riveting trip though space and time to discover the true origins of Halloween.

Join the shadowy Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud as he takes eight trick-or-treaters on an unforgettable journey to find their missing friend, Pip. Travel through space and time, from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the gargoyles of Notre-Dame Cathedral, all the way to the cemeteries of Mexico on el Día de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Is Pip still alive? And if so, can his friends save him from a ghastly fate before it’s too late?

"If you want to know what Halloween is, or if you simply want an eerie adventure, take this mystery history trip. You couldn't ask for better than master fantasizer Ray Bradbury." --The Boston Globe

I am giving The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Reading Made Easier Techniques!

 
Tyler White breaks it down in the above 4 minute video. It's an interesting take on the topic and worth a watch.

"Library on the Fly" Takes Flight at the Santa Barbara Airport!

 I love seeing Little Free Libraries inside airports! "Library on the Fly" is the perfect name for them too.

I use to live near Santa Barbare for 16 years. I use to love to fly in and out of Santa Barbara as it is a small airport and a very cute airport too.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t 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 have collected so many books over the years. There are several books I had to have immediately, yet haven't read. Below is a small sampling of my unread books I just had to have asap.

1. Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

2. Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Blood Type Diet Solution by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo

3. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

4. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

5. S. by J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst

6. The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks by Amy Stewart

7. A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

8. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

9. Somewhere Inside by Lisa Ling

10. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Have you read any of the books I've listed? Which one should I consider reading first?

San Diego Public Library Created a Limited Edition Comic Con Library Card!!

 

This Comic Con Limited Edition Public Library Card looks awesome. Too bad I do not live in San Diego County.

Los Angeles Public Library - The World's Largest Pop - Up Book!!

Wow, this pop up book at the LA Public Library is amazing!!! The above YouTube is approximately nine minutes in length and discusses the process of making a large scale pop up book.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson

 

I read The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson back in 2022. I really enjoyed this novel and have wanted to read another novel by Peter Swanson ever since. 

Earlier this month, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson, which was nicely narrated by Karissa Vacker. 

The narration for Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson is the most positive thing I can say about this suspense/thriller novel! The first half of Every Vow You Break is sooooo painfully slow and things didn't pick up until the second half of this novel. 

Additionally, I can't say as I liked any of the characters either for Every Vow You Break. The storyline and plot weren't that engaging either. Most of the storyline and characters seemed so two dimensional at best. 

I was tempted to 'dnf' this book on several occasions, but since I really enjoyed the first novel I read by Peter Swanson, I pushed forward in hopes it would turn out to be a better read. I liked the premise of this novel, but sadly, Every Vow You Break wasn't a winner in my eyes.

Below is the publisher's summary for Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson found on Goodreads:

A bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up in this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders.

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships.

But right before the wedding, Abigail has a moment of uncertainty. The drunken one-night stand from her bachelorette weekend, the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name, didn’t really mean anything she keeps telling herself. She puts the incident out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life. Their honeymoon on a luxurious, secluded island in Maine will be the beginning of their blissful lives together.

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

I am giving Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

John Green on the Death of An Author!!

 

This is an interesting video! It's different than I thought it would be. John Green "considers the role of authorial intention and biography in novels, and whether the author can ever be exorcised from the novel, in the context of Roland Barthes' famous 1967 essay 'The Death of the Author.'"

Click on the above link to watch John Green!

The End of Reading?

 

Well, I am an avid reading and have read 41 books this year already. Apparently, I am not part of the above demographic mentioned in the above video.

According to writer, Rose Horowitch from The Atlantic, reading has declined by 40% in the past 20 years! Scary news for sure!

Click on the above video link to watch the CBS Morning clip featuring Rose Horowitch.

Resist by Tom Palmer

 

After reading and reviewing Over The Line by Tom Palmer earlier this month, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Resist by Tom Palmer. Resist by Tom Palmer is well narrated by Anna Gilthorpe.

I loved listening to Resist! It's a well written novel set in Nazi occupied Netherlands during World War II. The story is inspired by the real life events of Audrey Hepburn as a teenager. Audrey Hepburn lived in the Netherlands during WWII with her family. She took part in helping with the Dutch Resistance in an effort to thwart the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands. 

I truly enjoyed reading about Audrey Hepburn's life during this time and how it affected her life and the life of others. Resist is a middle schooler read. It's an excellent historical fiction novel. 

Below is a short video of Tom Palmer discussing his novel, Resist.

Below is the publisher's summary for Resist by Tom Palmer, which I found on Chirp's website:

Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on life under wartime occupation, in a beautifully told story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.

As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. There is very little to eat and the population lives under the constant threat of arrest and enslavement.

After the murder of her beloved uncle and the capture of her brother by the Germans, Edda is determined to do anything she can to help the resistance fight back against their oppressors. But what can a teenage girl do and how much risk is she willing to take?

Award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on the incredible work of the WWll Dutch resistance, in a story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.

I am giving Resist by Tom Palmer a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!

 

This quote is so me recently!! I do a lot of scrolling when I should be reading or other tasks. Does anyone else relate to this quote?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue by Dave Chisholm

Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue by Dave Chisholm is my 39th read of 2026. I read the ebook edition of this graphic novel and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish! Dave Chisholm is super talented. He is both the writer and illustrator for Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue. Dave Chisholm is also a new to me author.

The artwork and storyline for this graphic novel are amazing!! See the following book trailer I discovered on YouTube to see a glimpse of the artwork and storyline.

If you are a jazz music enthusiast or a lover of graphic novels with a great storyline and artwork, then Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue is the read for you! Jessie Choi is the leading character/protagonist for Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue. Jessie is a trumpet player. She's really good at playing the trumpet. But Jessie freezes up when she plays at live venues. Jessie doesn't feel like she's good enough and keeps comparing herself to another student at her music school. 

Jessie eventually becomes a music teacher as she doesn't think she's good enough to play the trumpet professionally. Jessie's mentor, Jimmy Hightower, keeps encouraging her to play the trumpet. 

Throughout Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue, we as readers keep seeing the term "the blue"... "The Blue: a mysterious meeting place for jazz history - a place where ghosts from this music's storied past spring to life for those courageous enough to enter." 

"The Blue" is a place where musicians go while they are playing music with passion that they become lost in the music while they are playing. It's like another dimension where time and space don't seem to exist and the jazz players of the past and present can collect and meet up again. It's a surreal concept!

Jimmy Hightower, Jessie's mentor, talked about "The Blue". He is an elderly man and he passes out while playing at a gig. Jimmy is rushed to hospital where he remains in a coma and his health deteriorates over time. Jessie is convinced that Jimmy is stuck in "The Blue" and feels she must rescue Jimmy or he will die.

Jessie starts playing the trumpet again with a group of musicians at a local venue, despite her reluctance to play her trumpet publicly again. Her only objective is to enter "The Blue" in order to save her mentor, Jimmy Hightower. Can Jessie enter "The Blue"? Can Jessie save Jimmy Hightower? Will Jessie overcome her fear to play the trumpet regularly with a band?

Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue by Dave Chisholm combines the above topics and more to create an amazing great read!

Below is the publisher's summary for Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue by Dave Chisholm, which I discovered on Amazon's website:

What begins as one woman's search for her own artistic courage unravels into a stunning look into what jazz music can teach us about our search for the truest versions of ourselves.

For decades, seasoned players on the scene have spoken in whispered tones about The Blue: a mysterious meeting place for jazz history - a place where ghosts from this music's storied past spring to life for those courageous enough to enter.

When Jessie Choi's mentor Jimmy Hightower collapses at a gig and loses consciousness, she finds herself reluctantly pulled back into the jazz scene she abandoned years earlier. In investigating the music and mystery behind Jimmy's comatose state, every thread leads to the same question: is Jimmy somehow trapped in this enigma known as The Blue? In her search to save her teacher, Jessie rubs shoulders with legends, uncovers the secret history of Blue Note Records, and faces her own deepest fears.

I am giving Blue Note Records - Enter the Blue by Dave Chisholm 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair

 

What an interesting video on the wide world of collecting antiquarian books and documents! 

The above YouTube video highlights "inside the secret world where the rarest books on Earth are bought and sold."

It would be interesting to attend this book fair in person simply to view what they have for sale and to gawk at the rare objects on display.

Over the Line by Tom Palmer

Earlier this month, I made a list of books that covered the topic of 'soccer' in some way as a way to tie it in with the 2026 FIFA World Cup games.

I am not a soccer fan, nor did I watch any of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup happening, I decided to search for books that discuss soccer in some way. My hope is to inspire readers who are also soccer fans to read more books on a topic they like.

One of the books I discovered was Over the Line by Tom Palmer. Tom Palmer is a new to me author. Initially what attracted me to Over the Line by Tom Palmer was the fact that it features a large chunk of its subject matter to soccer. I soon learned that this children's/middle school novel is a work of historical fiction set in Europe during World War I. The events are inspired by real life events, which makes for good reading.

So, within a few minutes after learning about Over the Line by Tom Palmer, I downloaded and began listening to the unabridged audio version. Essentially, I finished listening to this book 2 hour, 10 minutes in one sitting.

The writing is good and so is the storyline for Over the Line. I was impressed with how much I enjoyed Over the Line. Perhaps, I'll have to give another one of Tom Palmer's novels a try in the future.

Tom Palmer has a YouTube page. I watched the following short video of Mr. Palmer reading a section from his novel, Over The Line.

Below is the publisher's summary for Over the Line by Tom Palmer found on the Goodreads website:

Based on a true story of a sporting hero's experience in the trenches. Jack is to make his debut as a professional footballer, but it's 1914 and the world is at war. Talk of sportsmen's cowardice leads to the formation of a Footballers' Battalion and Jack has little choice but to join up. Jack and his team-mates will have to survive a waking nightmare if they are ever to play again.

I am giving Over the Line by Tom Palmer a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors

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.

There are so many books I want to read by new to me authors!! I randomly selected the following list of books written new to me authors.

1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

2. Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

3. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

4. I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

5. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

6. Permanent Record by Mary H. K. Choi

7. American Panda by Gloria Chao

8. Tornado Weather by Deborah E. Kennedy

9. Girl Mans Up by M. E. Girard

10. Flux by Jinwoo Chong

Have you read any of the above books?

When I Arrived at the Castle by E. M. Carroll

 

I read the ebook edition of When I Arrived at the Castle by E. M. Carroll. It's a 72 page comic book that falls into the horror genre and involves a vampire.

When I Arrived at the Castle by E. M. Carroll is a super quick read.
I didn't enjoy this book. The artwork was so-so and the storyline was boring. This is the 1st book I've read by E. M. Carroll and it may just be my last read.

Below is the publisher's summary for When I Arrived at the Castle by E. M. Carroll:

"A castle, a killer, and prey all bound and blurred by lust and blood."

Like many before her that have never come back, she's made it to the Countess' castle determined to snuff out the horror, but she could never be prepared for what hides within its turrets; what unfurls under its fluttering flags. Emily Carroll has fashioned a rich gothic horror charged with eroticism that doesn't just make your skin crawl, it crawls into it.

I am giving When I Arrived at the Castle by E. M. Carroll a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Checkout Which USA Airports Contain a Little Free Library!

Last week, I made a post about discovering a 'sharing library' at the Oakland Airport. I found it very cool to see a reading library within a coffeehouse near a Southwest Airlines gate. 

Since making this post, it got me thinking about whether other airports across the nation have Little Free Libraries within them. Sure enough, there are other airports that have Little Free Libraries!

Check out the following article titled, Books Fly Off Airport Little Free Library Shelves by Sarah Nelson to discover which airports contain Little Free Libraries.

Soccer Themed Reads - Celebrate 2026 FIFA World Cup!!

I'm not a soccer enthusiast. Nor have I been watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, I thought it would be fitting to make a post pertaining to books which feature soccer in some fashion. 

Checkout my list below of books featuring soccer.

1. For Whom The Ball Rolls by Ian Plenderleith

2. Over the Line by Tom Palmer

3. Papers in the Wind by Eduardo Sacheri

4. Paris 75 by Billy Morris

5. The Hope That Kills Us by Adrian Searle

6. The Blinder by Barry Hines

7. Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby

8. The Striker and the Clock by Georgia Cloepfil

9. Golazo by Andreas Campomar

10. How to Watch Soccer by Ruud Gullit

Are you watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

UPDATE: I decide to listen to unabridged audio version of Over the Line by Tom Palmer. I finished it in one sitting. Excellent read! Full review to come.

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff, which is nicely narrated by January LaVoy. The Vaster Wilds is the second novel I've read by Lauren Groff. I read Lauren Groff's novel, Matrix, back in 2021 and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read more of Lauren Groff's novels since then. This month I made it happen by finishing The Vaster Wilds.

I enjoyed aspects of The Vaster Wilds, like the fact that it is a very descriptive novel in almost every way as only Lauren Groff can do. This novel touches upon religion, the circle of life, nature itself, and more. I found the section on naming of things to be an interesting discussion. Also, the brutality and beauty of nature is described in much detail in this novel as well. But, overall, I wasn't in love with this novel as I'd hoped I'd be.

The Vaster Wilds is a work of historical fiction set in America during the time of early colonialism. The protagonist is a young servant girl, whom flees a colonial settlement suffering from the plague. It's the dead of winter and the climate is cold and harsh. She must go it alone and try to survive the vast wilderness on her own. As she journeys on her own, we learn more about her life and how she came to the American Colonies. Essentially, we learn of the world solely through the servant girl's eyes and it's the only perspective we have. I would have liked to see her interacting with others throughout this novel to give it more depth.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff:

A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her.

Lauren Groff’s new novel is at once a thrilling adventure story and a penetrating fable about trying to find a new way of living in a world succumbing to the churn of colonialism. The Vaster Wilds is a work of raw and prophetic power that tells the story of America in miniature, through one girl at a hinge point in history, to ask how—and if—we can adapt quickly enough to save ourselves.

I am giving The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Ten Books Pertaining to American History

Below is a list of books I've read and reviewed dealing with American history over different periods of time. 

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the USA as a country, I thought I'd share some of the book titles with links to my reviews for those interested in reading the same books.

1. Mayflower Lives by Martyn Whittock

2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine

3. Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

4. Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

5. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

6. March by John Lewis

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

8. Changing Laws: Politics of the Civil Rights Era by Judy Dodge Cummings

9. Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

10. Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman

Top Ten Tuesday - Book Titles That Include the Word "Water"

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 are ten books with the word, "water", in the title. I would like to read the following  books some day!

1. Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
2. The Color of Water by James McBride
3. Be Water, My Friend by Shannon Lee
4. The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch
5.Water: A Natural History by Alice Outwater
6. Wade in the Water by Nyani Nkrumah
7. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
8. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
9. The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry
10. Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith

Have you read any of these books? Which one would you recommend?

Underrated American Authors - These Writers Are Gems!

With it being the 250th anniversary of the United States of America this month on July 4th, it occurred to me to promote a few American authors that need more love! 

I came across this idea from a YouTuber. I decided to make my own list of underrated American authors that perhaps need more attention. Sure it's easy to list Octavia Butler, Joyce Carol Oates, Toni Morrison, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Pearl S. Buck, Kate Chopin, and so on. But who are some other, not so well known American writers who are gems?

I had a difficult time making this list because it's difficult to come up with American authors that I have read and consider underrated gems! It's a tall order for sure. I've added links to most of my reviews for each novel below. Check out the list below.

1. The Seas by Samantha Hunt

2. Jubilee by Margaret Walker

3. The True Story of Hansel & Gretel by Louise Murphy

4. These Women by Ivy Pochoda

5. The Familiar Dark & The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

6. Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

7. The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers

8. Woodworking by Emily St. James

9. His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers

10.  All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

Have you read any of the above authors? Which American authors would make your list of underrated ones?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Reading Quote of the Day!!!

 

A Sharing Library Inside the Oakland Airport!!

 

I was scrolling through my photos on my phone, when I came across the above photo I had taken last month while waiting to board our flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. 

I'd forgotten all about taking this photo! My goal was to share it here in a blog post last month after returning home from our trip.

I thought it was super neat that this particular coffee shop offered a sharing library with books to read for those waiting to board their flights. I hope to see more airports offer either a sharing library or a Little Free Library in them.

Have you seen any sharing libraries or Little Free Libraries inside airports?

Ann Parchett - A Love Letter to Reading - Ted Talk!

 I watched this video yesterday on YouTube and loved it! Ann Patchett discusses her love of reading. It's an important message and one worth hearing. This video is almost 15 minutes. Check it out.

Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship With Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn

 

I've had Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship With Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn on my reading wishlist for quite a while. It's the 35th book I've read this year. I'm happy to have finally read Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship With Patsy Cline.

I remember first learning about Loretta Lynn when I watched the movie, 'A Coal Miner's Daughter', starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones with my parents when the movie first came out in 1980. I'm not a huge country western music fan, but I did enjoy the songs from this movie. 

Later in life, I became quite a Patsy Cline fan. I love her songs/singing to this day. What a beautiful voice Patsy Cline had. She died way too young. When Loretta Lynn wrote a memoir about their friendship, I couldn't resist reading Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship With Patsy Cline.

Below is the publisher's summary for Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship With Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn I discovered on the Goodreads website:

Loretta Lynn and the late Patsy Cline are legends--country icons and sisters of the heart. For the first time ever Loretta tells their story: a celebration of their music and their relationship up until Patsy's tragic and untimely death.

Full of laughter and tears, this eye-opening, heartwarming memoir paints a picture of two stubborn, spirited country gals who'd be damned if they'd let men or convention tell them how to be. Set in the heady streets of the 1960s South, this nostalgia ride shows how Nashville blossomed into the city of music it is today. Tender and fierce, Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust is an up-close-and-personal portrait of a friendship that defined a generation and changed country music indelibly--and a meditation on love, loss and legacy.

I am giving Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship With Patsy Cline by Loretta Lynn a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!