Three New to Me Little Free Library Finds!

Earlier this month, my husband I found three new to us Little Free Libraries on April 2, 2021!

Two of the Little Free Libraries were in Danville, California and one was in San Ramon. California. I left behind nine books total at the Little Free Libraries we discovered, but didn't take any home with me. I have so many books to read, it isn't even funny!!

In Danville, California, we actually saw three wild peacocks roaming

the neighborhood where we discovered the second Little Free Library. I actually captured video footage of one of the

peacocks strutting around with plumes on display. It was quite a sight to behold!! Unfortunately, I can't seem to upload the video of the peacock.

1072 Ocho Rios Drive, Danville, California 94526

1056 Westridge Avenue, Danville CA 94526

2128 Estrella Court, San Ramon CA 94583

 Have you visited any new to you Little Free Libraries recently?

The Spirit is Willing (Ophelia Wylde Paranormal Mystery #2) by Max McCoy

 

I love a good cozy mystery novel! And The Spirit is Willing (Ophelia Wylde Paranormal Mystery #2) by Max McCoy sounded like a good fit for me as it is not only a cozy mystery novel, but also mixes the paranormal element to it and is set during the 1800s for a historical fiction vibe too.

I liked the main character of Ophelia Wylde as she is no nonsense and is psychic. She is a widow, use to be con artist and does dress in men's clothing, which is unusual for the times. I also like a few of the other minor characters as well.

The writing is decent overall for The Spirit is Willing (Ophelia Wylde Paranormal Mystery #2) by Max McCoy. Initially, I thought this cozy mystery novel started off kind of rocky as the first few chapters left me wondering where it was headed. The focus seemed to be on a variety of different characters and events that seemed to be unrelated to each other, however things changed several chapters in and the novel became more cohesive.

Below is a summary for The Spirit is Willing (Ophelia Wylde Paranormal Mystery #2) by Max McCoy from Amazon:

In the Old West, murder is a way of life. But psychic detective Ophelia Wylde is dealing out her own brand of justice by talking to the victims . . . after they’re dead.

Ghost In The Machine

It’s one of the strangest trials in Colorado history. A “spirit photographer” is accused of fraud, and Ophelia Wylde agrees to examine the man’s ghostly portraits and testify in court. In a sealed room, she is presented with five photographs. Four are obvious fakes. But one photo—featuring a powerful politician, Jackson Miles, with a sorrowful ghost in chains behind his shoulder—is the real McCoy. When Ophelia makes contact, the spirit is in such agony that she’s unable to learn anything but his name: Angus Wright. Intrigued, Ophelia sets out to learn more about the wronged Mr. Wright and discovers he was murdered nearly twenty years ago during the Gold Rush. The politician is somehow involved, and Ophelia has to watch her step. Because the living are much more dangerous than the dead . . .

I am giving The Spirit is Willing (Ophelia Wylde Paranormal Mystery #2) by Max McCoy a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Ranger, and Other Stories by Zane Grey

 

The western genre is one I am normally not drawn to or one I find very captivating. However, in an effort to expand my reading horizons, I decided to read something from the western genre this year. Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour are the two biggest names I know of in the western genre arena. I decided to go with a short story collection written by Zane Grey dealing with the themes of love and adventure.

I ended up enjoying the audio version of The Ranger, and Other Stories by Zane Grey and narrated by Robert G. Slade. There are a total of four short stories in this collection, which include the following stories: "The Ranger", "Canyon Walls", "Avalanche", and "From Missouri". Both "Avalanche" and "From Missouri" were my two favorite short stories.

Listening time for The Ranger, and Other Stories by Zane Grey is 6 hours, 50 minutes and is well narrated by Robert G. Slade.

Below is a summary for The Ranger, and Other Stories by Zane Grey from Audible:

Four tales of love and adventure in the Old West introduce a cast of characters that includes a brave Texas ranger who risks his life against avenging outlaws to rescue the woman he secretly loves; a beautiful seductress who comes between two brothers; a desperate fugitive who seeks sanctuary with a peace-loving people; and a daring young schoolteacher who journeys West to meet the man who has captured her heart.

I am giving The Ranger, and Other Stories by Zane Grey a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Ethel at 100 by Ishmael Reed

 

Here is another awesome poem titled, Ethel at 100, which is written and read by Ishmael Reed.

La Conchita by T. C. Boyle

 

Yes, to finally reading something written by T. C. Boyle!! He's been on my radar for more than a decade now

I listened to the unabridged audio version of La Conchita by T. C. Boyle from Audible, which was narrated by the author. Listening time for La Conchita by T. C. Boyle is 29 minutes.

La Conchita by T. C. Boyle is a short story set along the central coast of California between the cities of Ventura and Carpinteria in the hamlet of La Conchita, California.

For sixteen years, my husband and I lived in Carpinteria, California. The community of La Conchita is nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean just a few minutes south of Carpinteria as you drive along the 101 Freeway southward towards Ventura.

Because I am familiar with La Conchita and the mudslide that hit this small community, I couldn't resist hearing T. C. Boyle read his short story, La Conchita. It's a fun, suspenseful and engaging short story and I am glad I listened to it.

Below is the plot summary for La Conchita by T. C. Boyle from Audible:

Gordon is a delivery driver with a predilection toward road rage, and he's on the most important delivery of his life. In Santa Barbara there's a mother of three on life support waiting for Gordon, waiting for the liver he's transporting from Los Angeles. But there's a mudslide, and cars are being swept away, people being buried in the sludge. And Gordon, who's as far from a hero as they come, has to find a way to get the liver to Santa Barbara.

I am giving La Conchita by T. C. Boyle a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars!

Until my next post, happy reading!

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

I had Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey on my reading wishlist for quite a while. I finally read the ebook edition of this novella last month during Women's History Month.

I really enjoyed reading Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. It's described as a 'pulp western' novella by the author and is set in the USA in the near future after society has collapsed into a military state. 

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey deals with queer identity and how fascism/fascist governments can control the flow of information within a society, etc. This novella focuses mainly on queer identity and what that means for the main character, Esther Augustus. Esther is a young woman who runs away to escape being forced into an arranged marriage by her father to an older man she does not love. 

To make matters worse, Esther has witnessed the hanging of her secret lover, Beatriz. Beatriz was hung for deviance and for possession of unapproved materials prior to the start of Upright Women Wanted. Before Beatriz had been hung, she had been betrothed to the older man that Esther found herself betrothed to after Beatriz's public hanging. 

Esther becomes a stowaway on a wagon belonging to the female librarians that deliver approved reading material by the state throughout the region. These female librarians are considered to be morally upright women. Esther feels shameful about her queer identity based on the approved reading material she has read over the years about queer identity. She is hoping to become a morally upright woman like the librarians. Little does Esther know what's really in store for her. Let's just say, Esther has a change in perspective by the end of Upright Women Wanted!!

Below is a 54 minute video I discovered on YouTube where the author, Sarah Gailey, reads the 1st chapter of Upright Women Wanted. Sarah also discusses how she came to write Upright Women Wanted. I thoroughly enjoy hearing authors discuss their books/writing, so I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I did.

 

Below is the plot summary for Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey from Amazon:

In Upright Women Wanted, award-winning author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity.

“That girl’s got more wrong notions than a barn owl’s got mean looks.”

Esther is a stowaway. She’s hidden herself away in the Librarian’s book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her―a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda.

The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.

I am giving Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

If by Rudyard Kipling read by Sir Michael Caine

 

Happy National Poetry Month! I found this video of Sir Michael Caine reading his favorite poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling and thought I'd share it to kick of National Poetry Month.

Chaucer's Books Virtual Author Event ~ Monty's Marvelous Adventures by Dori Edwards and Illustrator, Ryan Carr

 

I lived in the Santa Barbara area for 16 years with my husband. We were members of the Santa Barbara Zoo off and on for years when we lived there... And what a spectacular, small zoo it is!! We always enjoyed seeing the animals and exhibits along with attending various zoo events. The Santa Barbara Zoo has ocean views and overlooks the Andree Clark Bird Refuge... It's a lovely place to visit.

Since moving to San Francisco's East Bay Area nearly 7 years ago, I have followed the Santa Barbara Zoo through their Facebook page and have enjoyed keeping up with what has been going on there. 

During the pandemic, the Santa Barbara Zoo has been uploading short videos of Monty, the penguin, exploring the zoo on foot with his caretakers and the adventures he has had. These videos have been absolutely fabulous to watch and have become a huge hit with viewers.

So, eventually, a children's book about Monty's adventures at the Santa Barbara was created by author, Dory Edwards and illustrator, Ryan Carr.

On Sunday, March 28th, Dory Edwards and Ryan Carr each spoke about their collaboration on Monty's Marvelous Adventures and the current projects they are each working on now. Dory Edwards even read her book, Monty's Marvelous Adventures, aloud during the event... And it's a really cute children's book with a great message about celebrating our difference, but also how we're really all alike!

Best yet, was a very special appearance made by Monty live during this event with his caretakers from the Santa Barbara Zoo. The zoo staff spoke about Monty. What a fun event!

Below is a short video I discovered on YouTube promoting Monty and the book written about his adventures at the Santa Barbara Zoo!

An Evening with Louise Erdrich ~ Virtual Author Event

 

I had fun attending another live virtual author event this month featuring author, Louise Erdrich. This virtual event was presented by the South Dakota Humanities Council as a way to explore Native American electoral access. 

Below is a blurb about the event:

Join National Book Award-winning Anishinaabe author Louise Erdrich for a conversation about Native American civic engagement on the page and in the world. She will discuss her own experiences with activism, whether through writing about or mobilizing in support of causes close to her heart. She will also describe how those experiences have influenced her fiction, especially her most recent book, The Night Watchman.

This program was funded by the “Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

I enjoyed hearing Louise Erdrich speak, especially about her latest novel, The Night Watchman, her writing, and the q & a between audience members and the author. There wasn't enough discussion about the topic of voting for my liking, but a good event overall.

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs

 

I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs after hearing the author, along with Dr. Shirley N. Weber (California Secretary of State) speak at a virtual author event earlier this month on International Women's Day. 

I was intrigued by what Anna Malaika Tubbs shared with viewers during the virtual author event and also by the title of her newly published book. Motherhood is an important topic and women do shape the lives of future generations to come. Additionally, I enjoyed the idea of learning more about how three specific mothers shaped the lives of three important American Civil Rights leaders of the 20th century. So, with this in mind, I decided to read Anna Malaika Tubbs' book, The Three Mothers, this month during Women's History Month.

I was not disappointed!! The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the lives of Berdis Baldwin, Louise Little, and Alberta King. I also enjoyed learning more about the lives of their sons and the relationship each woman had with her son, along with more information about black history and black motherhood within the USA. 

Listening time for The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs is 6 hours, 51 minutes and is narrated by the author.

Below is the summary for The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs from Audible:

Much has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, about Alberta King's son Martin Luther, and Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them.

In her groundbreaking and essential debut The Three Mothers, scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America's most pivotal heroes.

Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little were all born at the beginning of the 20th century and forced to contend with the prejudices of Jim Crow as Black women. These three extraordinary women passed their knowledge to their children with the hope of helping them to survive in a society that would deny their humanity from the very beginning - from Louise teaching her children about their activist roots, to Berdis encouraging James to express himself through writing, to Alberta basing all of her lessons in faith and social justice. These women used their strength and motherhood to push their children toward greatness, all with a conviction that every human being deserves dignity and respect despite the rampant discrimination they faced.

These three mothers taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of America’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. The fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers.

These women, their similarities and differences, as individuals and as mothers, represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of Black motherhood long overdue.

I am giving The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!