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!!