Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Penguin Random House Audio Publishing - Maker's Magic - Enter to Win A Prize Pack of Your Choice!

Yesterday, I was on Facebook checking out my Facebook memories and also my Facebook feed. 

During my time spent scrolling on my Facebook feed, I discovered that Penguin Random House Audio Publishing was offering a very cool giveaway called, Maker's Magic!

According to the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing website, Maker's Magic is:

Crafting and audiobooks go together like a needle and thread. Enter to win a crafting kit of your choice (knit, crochet, or embroider), complete with wireless headphones and a romantic audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio.

No purchase necessary to enter this giveaway. It is open to US residents, 18+ and runs through April 22, 2026.

And, yes, for inquiring minds, I did sign up for this giveaway! I'm a knitter (and crochet newbie too!!). I love to knit simple projects while listening to audiobooks. I am hoping to win the knitting giveaway. 

Good luck to you if you decide to enter one of this giveaway.

Click on link above to learn more about Maker's Magic and also to enter the giveaway.

The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King

 

I listened to The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King, which is well narrated by Mare Winningham. This book has been on my reading wishlist for a number of years and I am glad to have finally read it at last!!

I haven't read many books written by Stephen King. I think The Gingerbread Girl may be the 4th thing I've read by Stephen King and I'd say The Gingerbread Girl is my favorite work written by Stephen King to date. 

The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King has a good storyline and is very engaging! Stephen King writes very well and draws the reader in and doesn't let go. I couldn't wait to discover how the story ended. The suspense was killing me as to what would happen... 

Essentially, Em, the main character, is staying at her father's old conch shack in Vermillion Key, Florida as she decides on the next step in her life after the tragic loss of her baby and the fallout of her marriage with her husband after the loss of their baby. Em turns to running after the loss of their baby, which her husband doesn't understand. So, Em decides to separate from her husband and reflect on the next step to take while in Vermillion Key. 

Em learns about a man named, Pickering, from the guard while staying in Varmillion Key. The guard warns Em to stay away from Pickering as he is a man with very sketchy behavior. Unfortunately, Em has a run in with Pickering and this is where the suspense begins. 

It's touch and go as to whether Em will escape from Pickering or not! Stephen King plays a good game of cat and mouse with the reader.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King , which I discovered on Goodreads:

In the emotional aftermath of her baby's sudden death, Em starts running. Soon she runs from her husband, to the airport, down to the Florida Gulf, and out to the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key, where her father has offered the use of a conch shack he has kept there for years. Em keeps up her running - barefoot on the beach, sneakers on the road - and sees virtually no one.

This is doing her all kinds of good, until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences. Will Em be next?

I am giving The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King a rating of 4 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!!

Top Ten Tuesday - Books About/Set In Places on My Bucket List

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 works of fiction I would like to read that are set in places on my travel bucket list. The books are not listed in any order of importance.

1. Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd (England)
2. Manila Noir by Jessica Hagedorn, et al (Philippines)
3. The Source by James A. Michener (the Holy Land)
4. The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett (Russia)
5. The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton (Key West, Florida)
6. Santa Fe Mourning by Amanda Allen (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
7. When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton (Cuba)
8. Alaska by James A. Michener
9. The Last Letter from Sicily by Lindsay Marie Morris (Sicily, Italy)
10. Russka by Edward Rutherfurd (Russia)

Have you read any of the above novels? Which novel should I read first?

Book Humor!

 

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!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli

 

I've been a big fan of Jerry Spinelli's novels since 2010 when a former college professor of mine had given me a copy of Stargirl written by Jerry Spinelli. After reading Stargirl, I fell in love with Spinelli's writing and have continued reading his novels ever since 2010.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli, which is decently narrated by Matt Weisgerber. This is a short listen at 3 hours, 41 minutes.

Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli is his memoir/autobiography, but a different kind of memoir than I'm use to reading. It's told through a series of vignettes (some more interesting than others) about Spinelli's childhood growing up. 

This book falls into the children's genre. I am assuming Jerry Spinelli intentionally wrote his memoir/autobiography for children as the novels he writes are geared for this audience. This way, Knots in My Yo-Yo String is catered to the young fans of his works. I like that this book is written for children that are fans of Spinelli's novels.

I read Knots in My Yo-Yo String solely because I am a fan of Jerry Spinelli's works and wanted to know more about his life. Although, I enjoyed Knots in My Yo-Yo String and learning more about Spinelli's childhood. I also wanted to learn more about his adult life too.

I am giving Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli 3.5 stars out of 5 stars. I think it is a great read for children who are fans of his books. Not so much for adult readers though.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Trumps' Presidential Library Video Rendering

 

Look, I understand that President Trump was a real estate developer in his former life before becoming POTUS. It also seems plausible that he wants something unique when it comes to his own presidential library that will reflect his past as a real estate developer.

But, I am wondering if any one else sees the similarities between Trump Tower in NYC and the video rendering of the proposed Trump Presidential Library slated to dominate the Miami skyline?

NPR did a write up about the Trump Presidential Library video rendering in an article titled, What to know about Trump's future presidential library, which he says may be a hotel by Rachel Treisman, should you care to learn/read more. So, does this suggest the Trump Presidential Library will be more of a hotel vs. an actual library? Only time will tell, I guess.