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!

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!!

The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi

 

I've had The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi in my wishlist for quite a long time now. It's the first graphic novel in a series and it is geared towards children. I read the ebook edition of this novel.

I enjoyed the storyline, artwork, and pacing for The Stonekeeper. Additionally, it falls into the fantasy and adventure categories and seems like it would capture and hold the attention for the intended audience.

I did enjoy reading The Stonekeeper. However, I will most likely not read the rest of the books in this series.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi found on Amazon's website:

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by strange creatures, robots, and talking animals.Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

I am giving The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

I began reading the ebook edition of Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf on May 4th, which coincidentally marked the 56th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre. 

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is a work of nonfiction, written in graphic form, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading, because it contains visual imagery along with written details about the Kent State Massacre. This gives readers the perfect overview regarding the events leading up to the Kent State Massacre, the event itself, and the eventual aftermath without giving overwhelming amounts of information to the reader to absorb and digest.

The artwork and writing are both well done for Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf. Kudos to Derf Backderf for all of his thorough research into the Kent State Massacre, which he details at the end of his book along with copious footnotes. 

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is riveting for history buffs wanting to learn more about the details of the Kent State Massacre and 

My favorite quote from Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is: "No shooter, official, or politician is held accountable for the Kent State shootings." I found this deplorable. Four unarmed students died and nine unarmed students were seriously injured by the National Guard during the Kent State Massacre. These deaths and injuries should have never happened based on what I read in this book. Derf Backderf's book describes the epic f*uk up on the part of the politicians, military, other government entities for their part in the Kent State Massacre.

Below is the publisher's summary for Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf:

"Derf Backderf takes us back to the age of the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon, Woodstock, and the Cold War and explores, in words and images, a scene of tragedy: the campus of Kent State University, where National Guard Troops attacked unarmed protestors and killed four students (Allison Beth Krause, age 19, Jeffrey Glenn Miller, age 20, Sandra Lee Scheuer, age 20, and William Knox Schroeder, age 19).

On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard gunned down unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University. In a deadly barrage of 67 shots, four students were killed and nine shot and wounded. It was the day America turned guns on its own children—a shocking event burned into our national memory.

The fatal shootings triggered immediate and massive outrage on campuses around the country. More than four million students participated in organized walkouts at hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools, the largest student strike in the history of the United States at that time. It was a day that shocked the nation and helped turn the tide of public opinion against America’s war in Vietnam.

A few days prior, 10-year-old Derf Backderf saw those same guardsmen patrolling his nearby hometown, sent in by the governor to crush a trucker strike.

Using the journalism skills he employed on My Friend Dahmer and Trashed, Backderf has conducted extensive interviews and research to explore the lives of these four young people and the events of those four days in May, when the country seemed on the brink of tearing apart.

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio is a moving and troubling story about the bitter price of dissent—as relevant today as it was in 1970."

I am giving Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison—and How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton

 

I randomly found the ebook edition for Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison—and How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton while searching Hoopla's comic book offerings. The title and topic caught my attention right away. I have never had a parent incarcerated in prison. So, the thought of how an incarcerated parent stays in touch with their children (or vice versa) while serving time in prison never crossed my mind.

I wanted to learn more about this topic, so I decided to read Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison—and How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton. I'm so glad that I did. I started and finished reading Dear Dad in one day as it is a quick read due to it being written in comic book form. Dear Dad is a work of nonfiction and is also a memoir. 

Jay Jay Patton writes about life without having a father around for a number of years during her childhood due to the fact that her father was serving time in prison. They stayed in touch via letters. Jay Jay's father learns computer coding while in prison. Once released from prison, Jay Jay and her family move back in together with her father as a family unit. It's then Jay Jay's father begins to work as a computer coder. Jay Jay herself is smart in both math and science like her father. Jay Jay eventually learns coding herself from her father and the two of them create an app to help connect children with their incarcerated parents. This way, families can stay in touch with the parent who is serving time in prison.

I like this book and how Jay Jay and her father stay connected while he was in prison through letter writing. I also liked how they bonded afterwards through computer coding when Jay Jay's father was released from prison. They used their computer coding skills to create an app to help others stay more easily connected with their children  when a parent (or parents) are in prison. However, Dear Dad isn't perfect. I felt like there were gaps in the timeframe or things that would have been relevant information to share about Jay Jay's life. Plus, the artwork was good, but not great.

Below is the publisher's summary for Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison—and How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton from the Goodreads website:

As far back as nine-year-old Jay Jay Patton can remember, her dad, Antoine, has been in prison. Growing up in Buffalo, New York with her mom and younger brother, she's only visited him twice. Instead the two have sent each other numerous letters. Jay Jay's letters can take weeks or months to reach her dad, and some never even get delivered. What's it going to be like having Dad home?

This powerful coming-of-age sequential-art memoir shows Jay Jay Patton's life of growing up with a dad in and out of prison. The experience led her and her dad to develop a powerful father-daughter bond and create Photo Patch, a life-changing application that connects children to incarcerated parents.

I am giving Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison—and How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Snotgirl: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O’Malley

 

I read the ebook edition of Snotgirl: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O’Malley. I don't remember where I first learned about this graphic novel, but it's been on my reading wishlist for a while. 

Snotgirl: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O’Malley is a fun, easy breezy read! The artwork is wonderful. I liked the storyline and main character. Lottie Person is a fashion blogger living in LA. She and friends are shallow and mean. This book seems to poke fun of the shallowness of fashion influencers/bloggers.

As a side story, Lottie has out of control allergies and she may or may not have killed someone accidentally while taking her allergy meds combined with alcohol.

Lottie's long-term boyfriend dumped her for her former intern, who is now stalking Lottie!! 

Additionally, Lottie's new bestie seems perfect at the start of the book. But, by the end of the book, the new bestie seems suspicious to say the least.

Below is the publisher's summary for Snotgirl: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O’Malley from Goodreads:

From bestselling BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY (Scott Pilgrim) and superstar newcomer LESLIE HUNG! Lottie Person is a glamorous fashion blogger living her best life—at least that’s what she wants you to think. The truth is, her friends are terrible people, her boyfriend traded her up for someone younger, her allergies are out of control, and she may or may not have killed somebody! SNOTGIRL VOL. 1 is the perfect introduction to one of 2016’s most buzzed-about titles! Collects SNOTGIRL #1-5.

I am giving Snotgirl: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O’Malley a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer by Julian Voloj

I am addicted to playing chess! I joined Duolingo last year and I have started learning better chess strategies through Duolingo. I also enjoy playing chess games with other people around the world via the Duolingo app.

Because of my (relatively new) found love of playing chess, I couldn't pass up reading Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer by Julian Voloj. 

Prior to reading Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer by Julian Voloj, I'd heard about Bobby Fischer. But honestly, I didn't know much about his life other than he was a US chess protege and chess grand master.

Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer is a rather quick read as it is a graphic novel/work of nonfiction. I liked the artwork for this book and I definitely learned a lot about Bobby Fischer. It was definitely sad to learn that he fell victim to mental illness and that he also fell for conspiracy theories. This is such a tragedy as Bobby Fischer was such a talented chess player.

I am giving Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer by Julian Voloj a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

 

Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler et al.

 

I remember the rock band, Redbone, from the 1970s... And, I remembered them as a one hit wonder for the song, 'Come and Get Your Love'. Little did I know that Redbone actually had many other hits too.

I've had Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler on my reading wishlist for a number of years and finally decided to read the ebook edition this month.

I really enjoyed this comic book/graphic nonfiction book!! Redbone was an all Native American band and they made it big time. I learned not only a lot about the origins of Redbone, but also a lot about Native American history and Native American activism during the 1960s and 1970s. Pat Vegas, a co-founder of Redbone, is a Native American and Native American activist as well.

Below is a book trailer for Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler:

I am giving Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown

 

I am an English language volunteer/tutor for someone living in Ukraine via ENGin. I just started as an English language volunteer/tutor in January of this year and am currently working with a single person online at this time.

I accidentally stumbled across 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown by performing an online search through our public library for comics/graphic novels. 

Because I am working with an individual living in Ukraine, who wants to learn to speak English better, I thought it would be a great idea to read this work of nonfiction written in the graphic novel format. So, I checked this ebook out from our public library via Hoopla.

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown is geared towards young adults. I found this book to be a quick overview about the conflict/war between Ukraine and Russia as it happened in Mariupol, Ukraine in 2022. 

I wanted to read a book where I could slowly ease myself into learning more about Ukraine. Especially with regards to learning about the history of Ukraine and the conflict/war between Ukraine and Russia. There's a lot of history between both countries and I'm sure there's a lot to learn. But I wanted an easy book to read and understand in order to learn more about Ukraine. 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary was a good place to start for me.

I enjoyed the artwork, writing, and overview of the war between Russia and Ukraine as it pertains to Mariupol, Ukraine. The events took place in 2022 and the events were horrific! According to what I read in this book, 90% of Mariupol was destroyed and is still occupied by Russia today.

Below is the publisher's summary for 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown from the Goodreads website:

A young adult graphic novel that captures the complexities of the war in Ukraine, focusing on the siege of Mariupol (Feb ’22 – May ’22) and the brave people who stayed to defend their city against Russian forces as well as the resulting effects on global politics.

A city ruined. In once quiet residential streets, two armies battle, driving people into cellars and basements with little food or water. No lights or heat. Dwindling medical supplies. Shells and bullets deliver cruel, random death to the young and old, men, women, and children.

This is Mariupol, a Ukrainian city and early target of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bordering Russian-occupied territory, the coastal city seemed doomed to a defeat that would come within days, if not hours. Could Mariupol, and Ukraine, survive? As Russian rockets threatened the city, Ukrainians resisted, and with a heroic combination of sacrifice and bravery, the besieged city endured . . . for months. But it all came at a steep cost.

With compassion and his keen journalist’s eye, Sibert Honor creator Don Brown illuminates the horrors of Mariupol and the depredations of its people not seen in the city since World War II. He also shows that outside of Mariupol, the city’s agonies were mirrored by similar events occurring in towns and cities across Ukraine.

83 Days in Mariupol reminds us that the bloody defiance shown at the Alamo, Dunkirk, Leningrad, and Thermopylae isn’t confined to the past but has a violent, modern presence. It is the story of senseless destruction, patriotism, and grit against long odds—a brutal battle whose consequences still reverberate across Ukraine and continue to reshape the global political landscape.

I am giving 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading to all!

The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi

 

I've enjoyed watching The Twilight Zone television series featuring Rod Serling off and on over the years. They are fabulous episodes that have appeal to audiences today!

I've always wanted to learn more about Rod Serling's life. So, when I discovered The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi, a nonfiction, graphic biography, I added it to my reading wishlist.

It just so happens that I was able to obtain the ebook edition of The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi last month via Hoopla by having a public library card.

Side note, I'm thoroughly enjoying Hoopla! I was able to checkout four library books using Hoopla last month. I listened to one audiobook and read three ebook via Hoopla. I love making use of my public library card! Now back to my book review.

I enjoyed the artwork for The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television as well as the flow of information about the life of Rod Serling. There is just the right amount of information about Rod Serlong's life without being overkill. The ending of The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television is very Twilightesque, which I appreciated! I think most readers will appreciate the ending and its nod to 'The Twilight Zone' television series!

Below is the publisher's summary for The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi:

A biographical tale that follows Hollywood revolutionary Rod Serling's rise to fame in the Golden Age of Television, and his descent into his own personal Twilight Zone.

We recognize him as our sharply dressed, cigarette-smoking tour guide of The Twilight Zone, but the entertainment business once regarded him as the “Angry Young Man” of Television. Before he became the revered master of science fiction, Rod Serling was just a writer who had to fight to make his voice heard. He vehemently challenged the networks and viewership alike to expand their minds and standards—rejecting notions of censorship, racism and war. But it wasn’t until he began to write about real world enemies in the guise of aliens and monsters that people lent their ears. In doing so, he pushed the television industry to the edge of glory, and himself to the edge of sanity. Rod operated in a dimension beyond that of contemporary society, making him both a revolutionary and an outsider.

I am giving The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren Shadmi

 

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren Shadmi is another book that's been on my reading wishlist for a while. I use to enjoy watching the classic horror films now and again decades ago.

Bela Lugosi's iconic performance as 'Dracula' is something else. I never knew much about Bela Lugosi's personal life. So, I decided to read the ebook edition of Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula, which combines Bela Lugosi's life in words with comics.

I found Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren Shadmi to be a quick read. I enjoyed both the artwork and the writing for this book. 

I feel that one of the perks of graphic nonfiction, if done well, is it combines both artwork and writing to share information. Sometimes you simply don't need (or want) to read a traditional book with very detailed information about a particular topic. In this case, I only wanted an overview of Bela Lugosi's life. I wasn't up for reading a full blown, in-depth biography about him as it would've been more than I wanted.

I wasn't aware of Lugosi's addiction to drugs and alcohol or his numerous marriages and infidelities until reading Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula. Nor was I aware that Lugosi was a political activist in Hungary during his early years, which eventually lead Lugosi to flee Hungary.

Below is the publisher's summary for Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren Shadmi from Amazon's website:

LUGOSI, the tragic life story of one of horror’s most iconic film stars, tells of a young Hungarian activist forced to flee his homeland after the failed Communist revolution in 1919. Reinventing himself in the U.S., first on stage and then in movies, he landed the unforgettable role of Count Dracula in what would become a series of classic feature films. From that point forward, Lugosi’s stardom would be assured...but with international fame came setbacks and addictions that gradually whittled his reputation from icon to has-been. LUGOSI details the actor’s fall from grace and an enduring legacy that continues to this day.

I am giving Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren Shadmi a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney

I've had a couple of books by Ellen Forney on my reading wishlist for quite a while. I Love Led Zeppelin was one of them. 

I read the ebook edition of I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney, which is a comic book that is (semi??) autobiographical in nature.

I Love Led Zeppelin is different than what I thought it would be. I thought it was a graphic novel with a plot that revolved around someone who loves the band, Led Zeppelin. 

Instead, I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney is a series of comics she has written alone or in collaboration with others. It's also (ssemi??) autobiographical, which isn't what I expected either.

Some of the various comics were good, some were so-so, and others were simply meh. This was my third read for 2026.

Below is more about I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney from the author's website:

Eisner-nominated I Love Led Zeppelin collects full-page comics published in magazines and weekly newspapers, including the L.A. Weekly, Seattle's The Stranger, and BUST Magazine. Stories include "How to Smoke Pot and Stay Out of Jail,” "How to Twirl Your Tassels In Opposite Directions,” "How to Sew an Amputated Finger Back On,” and "The Final Soundtrack," a death fantasy involving blood, glamour, and Led Zeppelin, and collaborations with Margaret Cho, Kristin Gore, Camille Paglia, and Dan Savage. Introduction by Sherman Alexie.

I am giving I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney

I received an ARC/pdf version for The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney for FREE from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney is a work of historical fiction and it also falls into the mystery genre as well. The release date for The Green Baize Door is on January 27, 2026. 

I am a fan of historical fiction novels and also mystery novels, which is why I was drawn to The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney as this novel falls into both genres equally. 

Eleanor Birney is a new to me author. What better way to explore a new to me author than by reading the ARC edition for FREE to see how I enjoy their writing?

I was hoping for more when it came to The Green Baize Door. I was drawn to this novel's cover, the storyline, the fact that it has a female leading character, and the genres it falls into. However, I found the first 30% of this novel to be kind of boring after the first chapter or two, which made me not want to continue reading it. I'm glad that I did finish reading The Green Baize Door as the storyline did pick up and become more engaging and continued to be more captivating as the story moved along.

I enjoyed the characters of both James Lett and Marie Chevalier. I didn't expect the murderer to be the person revealed at the end of the novel!! 

The writing was good overall for The Green Baize Door, but I won't go out of my way to read another novel by Eleanor Birney.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney, which I discovered on Amazon's website:

An atmospheric historical mystery where every character has their own agenda, and their own truth.

In the fashionable mansions on Chestnut Hill, a simple green baize door separates the masters’ world from the servants’. That door is thrown wide when an elderly housekeeper is found brutally murdered on the first day of the new century. Marie Chevalier, the housekeeper’s poor but ambitious granddaughter, and James Lett, the mansion owner’s kind but indolent son, suspect the killer is connected to one of their families—but which one?

From drawing rooms to alleyways, their separate investigations lead them through the sometimes lavish, sometimes brutal, landscape of turn-of-the-century New England. When long-buried secrets begin to unravel the fragile threads that hold both households together, Marie and James must find a way to bridge the gulf between them—if only to prove that the murderer belongs not to their own world, but to that strange and foreign land on the other side of the green baize door.Inspired by real-life events, The Green Baize Door is a richly layered historical mystery that explores themes of class identity, family loyalty, and the sometimes blurry line between virtue and vice.

I am giving The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney a rating of 3 stars out of 5 Stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Which Book Will Be Your First Read of 2026?

 

Last autumn, I received the free PDF version of The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney from BookSirens to read in exchange for an honest review. 

I need to have this novel read and reviewed towards the end of this month. So, this will be my first read for 2026.

She Had Glass Eyes by C.S. Schiavone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bang Up by Jeff Strand

 

Bang Up by Jeff Strand is the fourth (maybe fifth book?) I've read by the author. Jeff Strand has a twisted sense of humor and he writes the quirkiest characters and plot twists ever. I look forward to reading more books by Jeff Strand.

I read the ebook edition of Bang Up by Jeff Strand, which is an erotica novel filled with tons of humor and crazy antics by the characters. Bang Up is a lighthearted read and a fast read at that. It's a nice summertime/beach read if you want to read something different that doesn't take up a lot of mental bandwidth.

Below is the publisher's plot summary for Bang Up by Jeff Strand I discovered on Amazon's website:

"You want to pay me to sleep with your wife?"

Kirk is extremely surprised by Ralph's proposition. He's even more surprised by the next part: Kirk is supposed to perform BADLY, to make Ralph look good by comparison. And Julie isn't supposed to know that any of this was planned. It's the kind of offer any smart, sane person would turn down.

But this is not a book about smart, sane people. This is "bad decisions spiral out of control" all the way. From the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of PRESSURE, DWELLER, and AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER comes something lighter, goofier, and way, way smuttier.

I am giving Bang Up by Jeff Strand a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

 

I first became aware of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson back in the mid-1990s while I worked in the textbook department at a university bookstore when I was an undergraduate student. Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson and also her book, Sexing The Cherry, were popular books assigned for English courses on campus. Although I didn't know what each book was about at the time, I found their titles interesting. I'd actually meant to read both Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and Sexing The Cherry back in the 1990s, but I had forgotten about both books after graduating from college.

Then I came across Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson as an ebook deal on Amazon. I decided why not read it now? I began reading this short novel (it's less than 200 pages in length.) without reading the book blurb as to what it was about. I wanted to keep the element of surprise regarding the plot/storyline.

Let's just say that Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is not what I expected it to be!! This book is a coming of age book that falls into the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I've also read that Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is semi-autobiographical as well, which makes for interesting reading. There are also strong religious themes/elements throughout the novel. Literary fiction plays heavily in Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit as well. It should also be noted that Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson is the winner of the Whitbread Prize for best first fiction.

So, what did I think of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit? I definitely think it is uniquely written. The author has found a rich and nuanced way of communicating various topics in an untraditional way. I found this refreshing. I think the topics and themes explored were good. BUT overall, I didn't like this book very much. Parts of the book were really good and other parts were definitely a miss for me. I'm not sure I will go on to read anything else written by Jeanette Winterson in the future, since Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit wasn't appealing to me.

Below is the summary for Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit from Amazon's website:

When it first appeared, Jeanette Winterson’s extraordinary debut novel received unanimous international praise, including the prestigious Whitbread Prize for best first fiction. Winterson went on to fulfill that promise, producing some of the most dazzling fiction and nonfiction of the past decade, including her celebrated memoir Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?

Now required reading in contemporary literature, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a funny, poignant exploration of a young girl’s adolescence.

Jeanette is a bright and rebellious orphan who is adopted into an evangelical household in the dour, industrial North of England and finds herself embroidering grim religious mottoes and shaking her little tambourine for Jesus. But as this budding missionary comes of age, and comes to terms with her unorthodox sexuality, the peculiar balance of her God-fearing household dissolves. Jeanette’s insistence on listening to truths of her own heart and mind - and on reporting them with wit and passion - makes for an unforgettable chronicle of an eccentric, moving passage into adulthood.

I am giving Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen

 

I have been interested in various fortune card telling systems from tarot to Lenormand for a few years now. I recently acquired a deck of La Baraja Española/Spanish Playing Cards. I'm not sure where this deck came from exactly, but decided I wanted to learn more about using this particular deck for fortune telling purposes. 

Earlier this year, I found the ebook edition of Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen from Amazon and decided to download and read it. This 118 page ebook was concise and to the point. Despite being a quick read, Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen is filled with plenty of information on how to do a reading using a La Baraja Española deck. 

I really enjoyed reading Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen and look forward to putting what I've learned into practice.

Below is the summary for Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen from Goodreads website:

Learn how to read the traditional Spanish playing cards, la Baraja Española, to understand your past and present, and reveal your future. 

The Spanish playing cards have been used for divination and fortune telling for centuries and now you can easily access their wisdom. 

This book will teach you the meanings of all the cards and enable you to begin doing in-depth readings right away.
Learn about various spreads and card combinations. Meanings are provided for all 48 cards, plus the Joker.
The Spanish playing cards can be used to discover concrete answers to everyday questions revolving around your daily life, such as work, romance, money and health. They can also be laid out in complex spreads that reveal deeper insights into your most spiritual and philosophical questions.
Now English-speakers can gain access to the wonderful wisdom of these beautiful Spanish cards. 

Discover what la Baraja Española reveals about your life, love, work and health. Take the journey to understand your past, present and future.

I am giving Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Cari Mora by Thomas Harris

I have read four previous novels written by Thomas Harris, Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising. All four novels I enjoyed reading tremendously.

In early 2019, I was thrilled to learn that Thomas Harris had written a new novel titled, Cari Mora, to be published in May 2019. This would be the first novel published by Thomas Harris since 2006. Additionally, Cari Mora would not feature the infamous character, Hannibal Lecter. Needless to say, I was initially excited about the impending release of Cari Mora and looked forward to reading this novel when it debuted.

Upon the release of Cari Mora, the reviews were less than stellar for this novel. In fact, it seemed like most reviewers didn't care much for Cari Mora at all and that seems to be putting it mildly. Because of the lackluster reception for Cari Mora, I decided to take a hard pass on reading this novel and moved on to reading other books instead... That is until this year when my curiosity got the better of me. I purchased the eBook edition of Cari Mora from Amazon on sale.

After reading the first 20% of Cari Mora, I was left wondering if I should continue reading it or not. The writing wasn't engrossing in the least. In fact, I found Cari Mora very lackluster. Cari Mora contained too many characters to keep track of initially. I also felt like the writing style wasn't living up to what I expected from Thomas Harris, which left me seriously wondering if Mr. Harris had lost his writing mojo altogether.

I decided to push forward and read a few more chapters of Cari Mora to see if things picked up. I'm glad I finished reading Cari Mora. However, it wasn't a great read and definitely not one of the author's finest works of writing, in my opinion. 

Cari Mora, the main character, is a strong female character and has lived a difficult life. As a child, Cari was kidnapped and trained (brainwashed really) to work as a child soldier in Colombia before arriving in the US on a Temporary Protected Status. Since Cari's arrival in the US, she has lived in limbo trying to make the best of her precarious resident status. I would have loved to see more character development with Cari Mora. With the exception of the last two chapters and another chapter earlier in the novel showcasing Cari's life as a child soldier, she felt very two dimensional overall.

Additionally, the main bad guy, Hans-Peter Schneider, was freaky weird and more of a 'caricature' bad guy... Yes, Hans-Peter Schneider is pure evil, but just plain weird. Again, think two dimensional... Hans-Peter Schneider just seemed hollow to me. Whereas the character of Hannibal Lecter is so well developed by Thomas Harris. It just left me wondering what went wrong in creating the character of Hans-Peter Schneider?

I still think there were way too many characters for this novel to keep track of with all its action. Perhaps if there were less characters or a longer length novel to accommodate both character development for all the characters and the storyline as well, Cari Mora would have been a better read.

The most bizarre chapter, hands down, was chapter 25. Chapter 25 is told from the perspective of a saltwater alligator (or was it a freshwater crocodile??). This chapter felt so random... Like why was it even in the novel????

Below is the plot summary for Cari Mora by Thomas Harris from Amazon's website:

A resilient young woman must outwit a sadistic psychopath in this pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Silence of the Lambs, a "master still at the top of his strange and chilling form" (Wall Street Journal).

Twenty-five million dollars in cartel gold lies hidden beneath a mansion on the Miami Beach waterfront. Ruthless men have tracked it for years. Leading the pack is Hans-Peter Schneider. Driven by unspeakable appetites, he makes a living fleshing out the violent fantasies of other, richer men.

Cari Mora, caretaker of the house, has escaped from the violence in her native country. She stays in Miami on a wobbly Temporary Protected Status, subject to the iron whim of ICE. She works at many jobs to survive. Beautiful, marked by war, Cari catches the eye of Hans-Peter as he closes in on the treasure. But Cari Mora has surprising skills, and her will to survive has been tested before.

Monsters lurk in the crevices between male desire and female survival. No other writer in the last century has conjured those monsters with more terrifying brilliance than Thomas Harris. Cari Mora, his sixth novel, is the long-awaited return of an American master.

The following YouTube video is a video review for Cari Mora created by Ron Charles, book critic, The Washington Post that I found intriguing.

I am giving Cari Mora by Thomas Harris a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards by Julian Moore

 

I've been interested in learning cartomancy in its various forms from tarot, lenormand, and even with regular playing cards for several years now. With this in mind, I decided to read a cartomancy book back in December 2019 that was good in many ways, but it left me with more questions on how to be more proficient on giving readings with a regular deck of playing cards.

So, I purchased the eBook edition of Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards by Julian Moore from Amazon and read it via my Kindle app. Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards by Julian Moore is 114 pages in length for the ebook edition and is worth every penny. I love most everything about this cartomancy book!! 

Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards by Julian Moore quickly dives in to learning how to read playing cards. The author asks readers to purchased two playing card decks. One playing card deck will be become a working/learning deck where you put the meanings for each suit and the meanings for each of the cards, ace through king, on the face of each card and use it as a practice deck until you become proficient with each card's meaning. Once you become proficient using your working deck, you transition to using the normal, unmarked deck. I love this idea of making a working deck to use while learning to read playing cards and to also keep as a refresher deck if you haven't given a card reading in a while.

Additionally, I loved the quizzes at the end of most of the chapters to help solidify the knowledge given in each chapter. Also, practicing card readings on ones own seems to be one of the best ways to learn how to read playing cards. 

Each chapter in Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards builds on one another to add another layer to ones understanding of reading playing cards. There are also tips given by the author as well as action steps to take to help build ones knowledge base for giving playing card readings. 

I also enjoyed reading later chapters where the author gives the meanings for three card readings, which was awesome. The last few chapters were tips on how to give playing card readings and also how to do larger card readings beyond the three card spread. The information on how to give larger card readings was a bit unclear to me. I wish photos of these spreads and a bit more detail were given about them. Otherwise I think Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards was a fabulous read on how to give playing card readings for oneself and others. I highly recommend Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards by Julian Moore as a way to learn to read playing cards.

Now to practice, practice, practice learning and giving playing card readings!!

I am giving Cartomancy - Fortune Telling With Playing Cards by Julian Moore a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!