Broken Things by Alice Walker

Today marks the last day of National Poetry Month. I've decided to share a YouTube video of Alice Walker reading her poem, Broken Things.

The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson

In 2017, I listened to and reviewed The Butterfly Effect by Jon Ronson, which is a podcast that basically discussed what happened when the tech industry gave the world free porn.

Because I enjoyed listening to The Butterfly Effect by Jon Ronson, I decided to listen to another one of Jon Ronson's podcasts titled, The Last Days of August. The Last Days of August focuses on the death of porn star August Ames, who committed suicide in 2017. It was speculated she committed suicide due to cyber bullying. The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson discusses/investigates August Ames's death.

Listening time for The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson is 3 hours, 43 minutes.

I was able able to download The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson to my Kindle for FREE from Audible. Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson. 

I enjoyed listening to The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson. It was well presented. I hadn't known who August Ames was or the details of her life and death.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson from on Amazon:

In December 2017 the famous porn star August Ames committed suicide in a park in the Conejo Valley. It happened a day after she'd been the victim of a pile-on, via Twitter, by fellow porn professionals - punishment for her tweeting something deemed homophobic.

A month later, August's husband, Kevin, connected with Jon Ronson to tell the story of how Twitter bullying killed his wife. What neither Kevin nor Ronson realized was that Ronson would soon hear rumors and secrets hinting at a very different story - something mysterious and unexpected and terrible.

In The Last Days of August, Ronson unravels the never-before-told story of what caused this beloved 23-year-old actress' untimely death.

I am giving The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross

As an Audible member, I was able to download The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross to my Kindle for FREE earlier this year. The listening time for The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross is 6 hours, 45 minutes.

Below is my honest, unbiased review for The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross.

I had high hopes for The Darkwater Bride! I loved the dramatization of this audiobook and the great job the voice actors did for this audiobook... But honestly, that's where my love for The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross ends. The storyline and characters for The Darkwater Bride was less than stellar. If it wasn't for the the voice actors bringing The Darkwater Bride to life, I would have given up on this audiobook long before it was over.

The following is a plot summary for The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross from Audible:

Late Victorian London. When James Miller, the most respectable of Scottish businessmen, is pulled, dead, from the Thames, his daughter is drawn into an investigation which reveals a whole world of secrets and corruption. Alongside local detective Culley, Catriona’s search for her father’s killer leads all the way to the tragic truth behind the ghostly legend of The Darkwater Bride and the power of her deadly kiss.

An epic drama starring Adrian Scarborough, Claire Corbett, Freya Mayor and Jamie Glover, The Darkwater Bride combines the genres of the Victorian mystery thriller with the equally classic Victorian mode of the ghostly tale.

I am giving The Darkwater Bride by Marty Ross a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!!

How will you be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day this year??

The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina

I enjoy reading historical fiction and also reading just about anything that pertains to Russia. So, when I discovered the 'Russian Treasures Series' by Elvira Baryakina, I decided to read the prequel to this series titled, The Shaman and the Angel. The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina contains two short stories in one ebook and is approximately 34 pages in length.

I was able to download The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon. Below is my honest, unbiased opinion of The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina.

I liked reading both The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina, although I enjoyed The Shaman slightly more than The Angel. Both short stories gave me a taste of the author's writing style. Even though I enjoyed reading both short stories, I'm not sure I am interested enough at this time to continue reading the rest of the 'Russian Treasures Series' as I currently have so many other books to read.

The following is a plot summary for The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina from Amazon:

The Shaman and the Angel is two heartwarming, inspiring short stories of young people who try to break the rules and uncover their true calling.

THE SHAMAN

Klim Rogov, the sole heir to the fortune of a noble family, has disappeared without a trace on April 21, 1907. His father has announced a reward for any information about his son; Russia’s finest detectives have tried to track Klim down but to no avail.

Only Klim’s fifteen-year-old cousin, Lubochka, has any idea what has happened, but she is keeping silent. There is little point trying to explain to adults the nature of the mysterious force that has commanded Klim to leave home, come what may.

THE ANGEL

If the people who knew Nina Kupina had been more thoughtful and observant, they would have figured out that this remarkable girl caused cardinal changes in the lives of everyone she met.

They called her an angel because she resembled the clear-eyed, curly-haired girls depicted on the Christmas cards. But if she was an angel, then it was an angel of turmoil who never once bothered her head with other people’s expectations.

Her reckless courage and the ambition to reach for the moon ran deep in her family. Nina’s father, Basil Kupin, was cut from the same cloth. Not surprisingly, the future that life had to offer them was full of magnificent promise but tragic consequences.

The Shaman and the Angel is a prequel to Russian Treasures, a compelling series of historical novels written by Elvira Baryakina, a master of emotionally resonant historical thrillers. For more than a decade, her sensual, highly original prose has inspired thousands of aspiring writers, making her one of the most sought-after literary gurus in the Russian-speaking world.

Now her best books are presented to the English-speaking audience who appreciates uplifting and insightful historical fiction.

I am giving The Shaman and the Angel by Elvira Baryakina a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates

I am always amazed how prolific Joyce Carol Oates is as a writer! It seems like every time you turn around she is out with a newly published book. 

Prior to reading The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art, I'd only read one book written by Joyce Carol Oates. It was a collection of short stories in a book titled, The Female of the Species: Tales of Mystery and Suspense... I wasn't impressed with this collection of darkly written stories. I didn't quite understand the appeal of Joyce Carol Oates as a writer after reading this particular collection of her writing. 

However, I've always felt like I should give Joyce Carol Oates another chance and read something else written by her. So, I decided to read The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates.

I enjoyed reading The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates, although it was different than I expected it to be. It's a collection of essays written by Joyce Oates, which I wasn't expecting. I thought The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art, would solely focus on Joyce Carol Oates's writing alone and perhaps contain snippets of autobiographical tidbits about her life.

The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art does focus on aspects of Joyce Carol Oates's writing, but this book also focuses on the writing of other authors as it pertains to the topics Oates discusses in each of the essays. This book is a much deeper read than I anticipated it to be as well. It's short and powerful.

My favorite essays in The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art were the following four essays: The Writer's Studio, "JCO" & I, To A Young Writer, and Running and Writing.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates from Amazon:

Joyce Carol Oates is widely regarded as one of America's greatest contemporary literary figures. Having written in a number of genres -- prose, poetry, personal and critical essays, as well as plays -- she is an artist ideally suited to answer essential questions about what makes a story striking, a novel come alive, a writer an artist as well as a craftsman.

In The Faith of a Writer, Oates discusses the subjects most important to the narrative craft, touching on topics such as inspiration, memory, self-criticism, and "the unique power of the unconscious." On a more personal note, she speaks of childhood inspirations, offers advice to young writers, and discusses the wildly varying states of mind of a writer at work. Oates also pays homage to those she calls her "significant predecessors" and discusses the importance of reading in the life of a writer.

Oates claims, "Inspiration and energy and even genius are rarely enough to make 'art': for prose fiction is also a craft, and craft must be learned, whether by accident or design." In fourteen succinct chapters, The Faith of a Writer provides valuable lessons on how language, ideas, and experience are assembled to create art.

I am giving The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - The First Ten Books I Reviewed On My Blog

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.

It was fun going down memory lane and rediscovering the first ten books I reviewed here on my book blog. I had a very different review writing style my first year of blogging than I do now, which goes to show how we all evolve as bloggers.

Below is my list of ten books I reviewed when I first started blogging on January 1, 2012. Click on the links below to read my review of each book.

1. Death In The Cards by Sharon Short (cozy mystery)
2. Grayson by Lynne Cox (nonfiction)
3. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (fiction)
4. Murder Of A Bookstore Babe by Denise Swanson (cozy mystery)
5. So Faux, So Good by Tamar Myers (cozy mystery)
6. Murder On The Rocks by Karen MacInerney (cozy mystery)
7. Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas (nonfiction)
8. May Day by Jess Lourey (cozy mystery)
9. The Dead Beat by Marilyn Johnson (nonfiction)
10. Monet Talks by Tamar Myers (cozy mystery)

Have you read any of the books on my list?

Little Free Library in San Francisco, California

Happy Easter Everyone!!
I hope everyone is having a great day.
My husband and I celebrated Easter in
San Francisco, California this morning.

After brunch, we visited a very charming Little Free Library
set within an urban garden type of setting.
I think this is the first Little Free Library I've 
discovered in San Francisco.

Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein

I've been wanting to read a novel by Chris Grabenstein for a while now. I finally ended up listening to the unabridged audio production of Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein and narrated by by a large cast of talented voice actors! 

As an Audible member, I was able to download Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein to my Kindle Fire for FREE!! Below is my honest, unbiased review of Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein.

Overall I really liked Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein!! This is a fun, fast paced children's novel (for ages 8-10) and is delightfully narrated by a cast of talented voice actors! The storyline and characters are a lot of fun. One of my favorite features is how the author highlights vocabulary words for children in the novel by having a few of the characters use words and then defining them in conversations  with their peers.

I would give Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein a perfect rating, however I felt like there were a couple of stereotypes in the book that didn't sit well with me. I also noticed a couple of minor plot issues/blunders. Otherwise, Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein was a great read.

The plot summary for Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein from Audible is as follows:

In this middle grade Audible Original that's full of both humor and heart, a madcap gang of bold kid crusaders set off on an unforgettable adventure to thwart wrongdoers in their neighborhood.

What do you get when you add up one middle school bully, two bank robbers, 57 puppy-mill dogs, 4,000 missing dollars, and five daring troublemakers led by the incomparable Riley Mack? One crazy caper! In this merry, mischievous romp, master storyteller Chris Grabenstein, the award-winning author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library, teams with a full-cast of audio talent to introduce Riley Mack, a one-of-a-kind 12-year-old hometown hero.

This audio adventure features Neil Hellegers as The Narrator, Bryan Kennedy as Riley Mack, Edoardo Ballerini as Ben Markowitz, Lauren Fortgang as Briana Bloomfield, Josh Hurley as Mongo Montgomery, and Khaliah Adams as Jamal Wilson, Suzanne Toren as Grandma, Nick Sullivan as Sheriff Brown, Eric Yves Garcia as Gavin, Colonel Mack and the FBI Agent, Kevin Pariseau as Chuck "Call Me Chip" Weitzel, Eliza Foss as Rada Rollison, Jennifer Van Dyck as Mrs. Montgomery, Ann Osmand as Moonbeam and Dawn Barclay, Allyson Johnson as Diane, Brian Sutherland as Otto, Kevin T. Collins as Fred and Nick, Chris Ciulla as Mr. Karpinski and Roger Rollison, Allison Hiroto as Jenny, Charlie Thurston as Andrew, L.J. Ganser as Special Agent Chavez, and Besty Hogg as Emma.

And if you listen closely, you'll catch a very special appearance from author Chris Grabenstein as the Casino Card Dealer and his wife, J.J. Meyers, who lends her voice to Madeira Mack.

I am giving Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

7 Non-Fiction Books About Filipinx America by Pinoy Writers

I've been happily married to a Filipino-American now for 17 years... But we've been romantically involved for 24 years continuous years. 

Because of this, I've become more interested in learning about Filipino-American culture, history, and heritage over the years.

I recently came across an article on Electric Lit's website titled, 
7 Non-Fiction Books About Filipinx America by Pinoy Writers by Elaine Castillo. In the article, Elaine Castillo wrote the following:

So below are a few of my favorite contemporary Filipinx American critics and historians from whom I, too, have gained a valuable education about the wonders and terrors of American statecraft and its rippling effects around the world, particularly the country my parents immigrated to California from—in the hopes that by expanding the list of people from whom we learn our history, we can also expand the list of people from whom we experience our art.

All 7 books sound like amazing ones to read. I will be adding them to my ever growing reading wishlist! 

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

This afternoon, I finished listening to the unabridged audio version of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and narrated by Euan Morton from Audible. Listening time for Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is 13 hours, 38 minutes.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is the third novel I've listened to by the author. Rainbow Rowell has been a very hyped author over the past few years. Curious about her novels, I jumped on the bandwagon and have listened to Landline, Fangirl, and now Carry On. 

I can now say with a fair amount of confidence that I'm not a HUGE fan of Rainbow Rowell's writing. Sure, I've found the three novels I've read by her to be likable, but I'm sure I won't remember much from any of her novels over time. At this point in time, I will pass on reading any other novels written by Rainbow Rowell.

As far Carry On goes, I found it to be likable. The characters and the storyline for Carry On were kinda slow and flat for for me at the start of this novel and didn't pick up until about halfway into it. Then things quickly picked up and I actually looked forward to discovering how Carry On came to a close. The epilogue for Carry On was my favorite part of the novel. 

I thought Carry On was well narrated by Euan Morton though. I look forward to discovering other novels he narrates.

The following is a plot summary for Carry On by Rainbow Rowell from Audible:

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this if he were here - it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

I am giving Carry On by Rainbow Rowell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

I love ballet!! I enjoy seeing ballet performed, even if I don't see it performed as often as I would like to. 

I'd always wanted to attend an American Ballet Theatre (ABT) performance, which became a dream come true for me in 2012 when my husband and l saw them perform at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, Califorinia. It was during this performance that I saw Misty Copeland perform as a soloist. In 2015, Misty Copeland become the first African American Principal Ballerina in ABT's history.

When Misty Copeland's memoir, Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina, was published in March 2014, I knew I definitely had to read her memoir. This year, I finally read Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland.

I had known some of the major bullet points of Misty Copeland's life, but her memoir filled in the gaps regarding the details of her life that I didn't know previously. Ms. Copeland demonstrates perseverance over adversity, dedication, poise, and grace through both good and bad times throughout her life. 

In her memoir, Ms. Copeland outlines her home life growing up, school life, her ballet career from age 13 onward (including injuries, dealing with racism within the professional world of ballet, finding mentors, and eventually finding her groove/confidence within the professional world of ballet), and her personal life and professional adventures outside of ABT.

Below is a YouTube video of Misty Copeland talking about her memoir.

I really enjoyed reading Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland and am giving it a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Censorship Quote of the Day!!!

Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building in downtown Sacramento, California!

The Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building is part of the California State Library system. It's located in downtown Sacramento, California directly across the street from the Sacramento State Capitol Building.

My husband and I took the self guided tour of the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building during National Library Week... And I must say that the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building is a must see building for its rich history!! If you enjoy libraries, books, art, architecture, history, and learning more about the California court system, then this is the place to visit when you come to Sacramento.

Exterior of the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building

'Romantic Wealth' Statue

'Floral Wealth' Statue

The above statues sit outside the entrance of the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building.

The sculptor for each statue was 

Edward Field Sanford Jr. (1886-1951).

The statues were carved from marble.

Entrance Vestibules for the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building

I loved viewing the entrance vestibules for the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building. It's beautiful, very grand and regal.

The memorial vestibule was dedicated to Californians who served in World War I.

San Francisco artist, Frank Van Sloun (1879-1938), painted "twelve oil-on-canvas murals depicting a chronological history of warfare from the Stone Age through World War I." These paintings can be viewed in this room.

Grand Stairway

We enjoyed taking the Grand Stairway as we visited all five floors of the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building.

Gillis Hall - Third Floor Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building

Gillis Hall is named in honor of State Librarian, James L. Gillis. James L. Gillis served as State Librarian from 1899 to 1917. Gillis Hall serves as a reading room and is considered the general information point for the library itself.

The mural painted on the wall of Gillis Hall is titled "A Pageant of Traditions". The mural was painted by California artist Maynard Dixon (1876-1946) and measures 69 x 14. 

Maynard Dixon also painted other murals in the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building which may be viewed in the second floor corridor.

Close up view of the central figures of Maynard Dixon's mural in Gillis Hall.

The female figure represents beauty and the male figure represents power according to the brochure we received. 

I also noticed that at the feet of the female figure one sees food, which I surmised may represent fertility or bounty. California is known for its agricultural economy, so this seems like an appropriate interpretation on my part. The male figure is surrounded by technology, which may indicate what man may achieve through hard work and diligence... This makes me think of Silicon Valley and other areas of commerce/technology within the State of California. 

I also noticed that the female figure is higher in elevation than that of the male figure, which makes me wonder if her gifts to humanity might be considered more meaningful/powerful/important than that of her male counterpart's gifts. 

I am only speculating what the artist was trying to convey in the above painting. It would be interesting to know whether I've interpreted correctly what Maynard Dixon was trying to impart.

Circulation Room - Third Floor of the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building

Center Ceiling Panel in the Circulation Room - Third Floor of the Stanley Mosk Library & Courts Building

The Circulation room is also located on the third floor and is located directly across from Gillis Hall. We saw signage that a new exhibit was going into the Circulation Room. It would have been very interesting to have viewed the latest exhibit during our visit.

The Circulation Room is another gorgeous room to view at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building.

Love the elevator doors with their clathri motif!

We didn't ride the elevators at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building, but I hear they have beautifully paneled interiors.

Back in the early days, I heard that the elevators were operated by vertical transportation engineers who provided directions and other information to visitors.

Unfortunately, we missed seeing the The Court Room on the main floor as the doors were shut (maybe court was in session??). 

We also missed seeing the State Library Meeting Room on the fifth floor as a large group was holding a meeting during the lunch hour. So, we were disappointed in missing this beautiful room as well!!

If you visit Sacramento, California, then I encourage you to visit the California State Library buildings... Especially if you are a library lover!

P. S. As a quick side note ~

My husband and I also visited the Sacramento State Capitol and took the free docent guided tour (kudos to Isabelle, our docent, she gave an excellent guided tour) + walked the grounds. If you haven't visited the Sacramento State Capitol before, then you're in for a real treat! We visited the Sacramento State Capitol on the weekend and we were surprised to have only eight people on our docent led tour. I thought there would be a larger group of people on our tour.

Since the Sacramento State Capitol

isn't really book related, I won't be doing a full blog post of it 

here on my book blog.

California State Library in Sacramento, California

My hubby at the entrance to the California State Library in downtown Sacramento.

Quote inside the entrance of the California State Library.

In honor of National Library Week, my husband and I spent a short amount of time (roughly 60 to 90 minutes) at the California State Library in downtown Sacramento across the street from the California State Capitol Building on our last day in Sacramento.

The following is a quick summary about the California State Library from their website:

Established in 1850, the California State Library is the oldest continuously operated public library in the American West and is the central reference and research library for state government and the Legislature. The library collection includes more than 4 million titles, 6,000 maps, and 250,000 photographs. It has an extensive collection of documents from and about the state’s rich history and is one of the major genealogical reference libraries on the West Coast. It also holds significant collections from Mexico, the United Kingdom and Europe, with manuscripts dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The State Library is both a State and Federal Depository Library, providing free and open access to government information, and is a U.S. Patent and Trademark Resource Center. It is home to the Bernard E. Witkin State Law Library and the Braille and Talking Book Library. It also directs state and federal funds to support local public libraries and statewide library programs and services.

During our brief visit to the California State Library, we spent the bulk of our time at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building across the street from the above location partaking in the self-guided tour. I'll be making a separate post for our self-guided tour of the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Happy National Library Week - April 7th through April 13th

I'm a little late getting this post up. Nonetheless, Happy National Library Week! 

I recently came across an article on CNN's website titled, 
9 facts about librarians you probably didn't know by Sam Romano. The 9 facts about librarians were intriguing to learn. I liked #3 the best, which states that librarians help spies: "Want to work for the Central Intelligence Agency? A library degree (and the ability to pass an intensive background check) might be your ticket in. At the CIA, you can earn up to six figures working in their library."

Too bad I didn't know this bit of information when I was 18 years old and entering college! I always wanted to work for the CIA as a spy. But with my love of reading books and doing research, I think being a librarian at the CIA and helping spies sounds like more fun if you ask me. Plus, the pay doesn't sound too bad either!

Little Free Library finds in Sacramento, California!!

Last weekend, my husband and I visited Sacramento, California to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. 

During our visit, we found two Little Free Libraries in the Curtis Park Neighborhood of Sacramento... The Curtis Park neighborhood is so beautiful! 

2811 Castro Way, Sacramento, California 95818

2191 4th Avenue, Sacramento, California 95818

Have you visited any Little Free Libraries lately?

Beers Books in downtown Sacramento, California!

Last weekend, my husband and I spent four days in Sacramento, California (Friday through Monday) to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. We had a blast checking out several tourist sights in the downtown area of Sacramento. 

Of course, in my opinion, no trip would be complete without visiting an independent bookstore. We visited Beers Books in downtown Sacramento, which sells both new and used books. They are open daily from 10am to 8pm. Beers Books started selling new and used books around 1936.

So how did Beers Books get its unusual name? 

Many people often ask how old our shop is and wonder how we got our unusual name. In some form or another, Beers has been selling new and used books in Sacramento since about 1936. Through four different owners and several locations, it has evolved into its present incarnation at 915 “S” Street. The history of Beers Books began around 1936-37 when our namesake, Mrs. Nellie Beer, worked as a clerk for L.H. Mytinger Books at 1125 8th Street in Sacramento. Her name appears as one of the charter members of the Sacramento Book Collectors Club in 1939. At some point this store on 8th Street changed its name to "Beers Book Store," for we have a circular advertising books-for-sale under this name at this location.

To read more about Beers Books history, check out their about page.

I was impressed with how large the interior of Beers Books was during our visit! They have a good selection of books for sale and places to sit and read during one's visit. The staff members were warm and welcoming.

I've had the goal of not buying books during the year of 2019 as I currently have way too many books to read! However, I could not resist buying three used paperback books for the grand total of $1.63! 

One of the books I purchased was Diane Ackerman's nonfiction book, A Natural History of the Senses. I loved reading Diane Ackerman's book The Zookeeper's Wife and have always wanted to read another one of her books since then.

More bookish related posts from our trip to Sacramento to come. Until then, happy reading!!

Rupi Kaur Reads From Poetry Collection, Milk and Honey.

Rupi Kaur is a new to me poet and author. Below is more information about her from Wikipedia:

Rupi Kaur (born October 4, 1992) (Punjabi: ਰੂਪੀ ਕੌਰ) is an Indian born Canadian poet, writer, illustrator, and performer. Her debut book, a collection of poetry and prose titled Milk and Honey, was published in 2014.[1] Her second book, The Sun and Her Flowers, was published in 2017. Both of these books contain images, drawn by Kaur and others to help the reader associate a picture with each poem.

Interesting poetry and prose, but I am not sure I love her writing. 

Maya Angelou's Reads Her Poetry

'On the Pulse of Morning'

'Phenomenal Woman'

'Still I Rise'

I am a huge fan of Maya Angelou's poetry and her life's work. The above videos are of Maya Angelou reciting three of my favorite poems she has written: 'On the Pulse of Morning' read on January 20, 1993 at President Clinton's Inauguration (I remember hearing her read this live on television in 1993), 'Phenomenal Woman', and 'Still I Rise'.

I had the honor of hearing Dr. Angelou speak live in my life twice. The first time was while I was a college student at the University of Iowa and the second time was roughly a decade later in Santa Barbara, California with my husband at the Arlington Theatre. Both times hearing Dr. Angelou speak were amazing experiences for me. Dr. Angelou was a very gifted and captivating speaker. She'd dance, sing, recite poetry, and tell the most amazing stories about her life. 

Dr. Angelou is truly treasure and her life is a gift to us all. I can't believe it has almost been five years since her passing. 

I Love You by Paul Éluard

I can't remember when I first came across this specific poem, but it was definitely a couple of decades ago. The following quote about Paul Éluard is from Wikipedia:

Paul Éluard (French: [elɥar]), born Eugène Émile Paul Grindel ([ɡʁɛ̃dɛl]; 14 December 1895 – 18 November 1952), was a French poet and one of the founders of the surrealist movement.

Paul Éluard was at one time married to Gala Dali before she left him and eventually married Salvador Dali.

Reading Quote of the Day!!

Why Shakespeare Loved Iambic Pentameter Explained In a Ted-Ed Talk!

With April being National Poetry Month, I thought it would be fun to share this video as to why Shakespeare loved iambic pentameter so much. Enjoy!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I've been wanting to read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell since 2014 at least. I happily acquired the unabridged audio version of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and narrated by Rebbeca Lowman and Maxwell Caulfield last fall from Audible and finally listened to it this year.

I first learned about Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell because it was so hyped by so many blog reviewers out there on the blogosphere. I liked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell well enough, but I am not sure it lived up to the hype for me. There was too much going on plot wise for me in this novel... I felt like the author tried too hard to juggle too many topics in Fangirl and some of the topics needed more attention/details.

Also, I get the concept of what it means to be a 'fangirl', but I felt like the 'fangirl' part was a bit overkill and sometimes a distraction to the rest of the novel and what was going... I was tired of all the 'Simon Snow' series related excerpts at the end of each chapter and all of the times Cath read her Simon Snow fan fiction to Levi during the novel. I felt like this was a major distraction to the other topics that needed more attention. 

On the one hand, I loved Cath and Levi's romantic relationship, but Levi was too perfect!! Plus, I wanted a more definitive answer to which direction their relationship was going by the end of the novel as well... Along with some resolutions to other topics mentioned in the novel.

The following is a the plot summary for Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell from Amazon:

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life - and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow Series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? Open her heart to someone? Or will she just go on living inside somebody else's fiction?

Listening time for Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is 12 hours, 49 minutes.

I am giving Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Dylan Thomas - 'Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night'

Happy National Poetry month! 

Listen to Dylan Thomas's Villanelle poem

'Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night'.

Top Ten Tuesday - Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book

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 a few reasons I pick up a book to read!

1. I've read a book by the author before and loved their writing.
2. The book has been recommended to me by another avid reader that has the same taste I do in terms of genre, writing style, etc.
3. I like the book cover and/or book title.
4. The blurb about the book on its back cover makes me want to read it.
5. It's a book club pick.
6. I want to explore a new genre. 
7. I'm interested in learning a new hobby or skill.
8. The book is required reading for a class.
9. I found the book at a Little Free Library.
10. I keep hearing a lot of positive buzz about a particular author.

Happy National Poetry Month!!

Have fun reading poetry this month!! Perhaps you'll even have 

fun writing some poetry this month too.

I wrote a Piku Poem in 2011 and dedicated it to my husband.

So read my Piku Poem below!

Quickly sleep

comes,

I dream of you

Now

Kissing me softly,

Lovingly on the side of my neck,

I blush,

awaken with desire

for a kiss from you,

Now, forever

***

So, what is Piku? Well, it's a poem like a haiku.. instead of the 5-7-5 format of haiku, Piku uses pi as its base. The number of syllables in each line of the poem corresponds to the numbers in pi. In other words, as pi is 3.141592653..., the first line of the Piku contains three syllables, the second line contains one syllable, the third line contains four syllables, and so on.

***

So, will you take the piku poem challenge?

If so, share your poem with me in the comments

section below.