Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Little Free Library in Stinson Beach, California!!

 

Last weekend was my husband's 55th birthday! So, we spent Friday, September 15th through Sunday, September 17th in Bolinas, California relaxing to celebrate his birthday this year. 

Bolinas, California is a very small, coastal town roughly 90 minutes north of San Francisco, Califonia. We stayed in a very rustic AirBnB during our visit that was situated in a very lush perennial garden in a rural part of town. Loads of quail, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bullfrogs could be heard during our short weekend getaway.

On our way into Bolinas, we stopped off in Stinson Beach, California to drop off three audiobooks at a rustic Little Free Library with a reading bench next to the Little Free Library. I loved this Little Free Library and am always happy to find ones on vacation or during day trips.

Little Free Library in Bolinas, California!

Little Free Library in Bolinas, California!

Last weekend was my husband's 55th birthday! So, we spent Friday, September 15th through Sunday, September 17th in Bolinas, California relaxing to celebrate his birthday this year.

Bolinas, California is a very small, coastal town roughly 90 minutes north of San Francisco, Califonia. We stayed in a very rustic AirBnB during our visit that was situated in a very lush perennial garden in a rural part of town. Loads of quail, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bullfrogs could be seen and heard during our short weekend getaway.

This little free library was just sitting by itself on the side of the road on the way to Agate Beach... Agate Beach is known locally for its tide pools during low tide and is a local tourist attraction. I left four books at this particular little free library.

Visiting Bolinas, California was a mixed bag of tricks! It was out first visit there, but am not sure we'll return in the future. I liked the small town vibe and that it wasn't very touristy. There isn't much going on there at all. There were two areas to take beach walks, hiking trails if you're into that, and a very small downtown with a handful of eateries. Cellphone reception is very spotty unless you are in the downtown area. Parking in downtown is difficult to find at times. 

The two restaurants we ate at were superb! BoVida had the best organic acai bowls I've ever had in my life as well as sandwiches (my hubby loved their paninis), soup of the day, salads (the strawberry & gorgonzola salad is divine!!) and smoothies. The Coast Cafe was delicious too with lots of menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... The fish tacos and the fish and chips were our favorites from the Coast Cafe. 

Bolinas Lagoon... We loved seeing the egrets and other shore birds.

Bolinas Beach

Overlook on the way out of town!

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

 

Yes to FINALLY reading City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson and narrated by Pascale Armand!!! This young adult novel has been in my 'to be read' pile for a number of years now before getting around to reading it by the end of August this year.

I love the narration for the City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson. A good narrator always makes for a pleasurable listening experience. I liked the storyline for this young adult, mystery/thriller novel as well. 

City of Saints & Thieves is set in Africa, primarily in Kenya and also in the Congo as well. The exotic setting/locale made for interesting reading as one sees a different way of life being portrayed in this novel. 

I liked the main character, Tina, aka Tiny Girl, for City of Saints & Thieves quite a bit. Tina is a strong, resourceful, female character in her teens. Tina is living on the streets as a thief for the Goondas in Sangui City, Kenya to support herself. Tina (and her younger sister's) mother has been murdered. Tina strongly suspects that her mother's murderer is Roland Greyhill, the man her mother worked for as a maid. Her mother was also having an affair with Roland Greyhill. Tina had overheard Mr. Greyhill telling her mother that he was going to kill her. Tina is set on revenge to kill Roland Greyhill for killing her mother with the help of the her Goondas' cohorts. But, of course, things don't work out as expected, which is half the fun of the novel!

The action and pacing for City of Saints & Thieves is pretty steady throughout. I found myself wanting to keep listening to this novel to find out what was going to happen next to the characters as well as to whether Roland Greyhill was the murderer of Tina's mother or not. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel, which kept things captivating.

Below is the plot summary for City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson from Goodreads:

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.

I am giving City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb

 

J. D. Robb's 'In Death' mystery series seems to be very popular with readers. I started listening to (or reading) a few of the novels in the 'In Death' mystery series a few years ago and I have been meaning to read more of them ever since. 

I finished listening to Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb and narrated by Susan Ericksen on September 15, 2023. This is the second novel I've listened to in the 'In Death' mystery series this year. Although, I liked Holiday in Death by J. D. Robb overall, I felt it was a middle of the road read and that this series is becoming formulaic in terms of its characters and storyline. This is too bad as I have other novels in the series waiting to be read or listened to in the future. Susan Ericksen is a decent narrator... good, but not great. The characters need to pop a bit more and not be so much the same old, same old... And as I've already mentioned, the plot/storyline seem to be more formulaic with each read.

Below is the plot summary for Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb found on Goodreads:

No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York's most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lt. Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours. Eve soon enters an elite world of people searching for their one true love - and one killer searching for his next victim.

I am giving Holiday In Death by J. D. Robb a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb

 

Over the years, I've read a few books in the 'In Death' series by J. D. Robb and have enjoyed the ones I've read so far. I haven't been reading them in order of publication, just read whichever ones came my way. I recently listened to Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb and narrated by Susan Ericksen, which I started in July and finished in August.

Although, I liked Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb overall, I felt it was a middle of the road read and that this series is becoming formulaic in terms of its characters and storyline. This is too bad as I have other novels in the series waiting to be read or listened to in the future. Susan Ericksen is a decent narrator... good, but not great. The characters need to pop more and not be so much the same old, same old... And as I've already mentioned the plot/storyline seems to be more formulaic with each read. 

Let's see what happens/how I feel after I read or listen to other books in the series I already have on hand before I decide to quit this series entirely or keep going with it.

Below is the plot summary for Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb from Chirp's website:

In an uptown strip joint, a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon’s a baseball bat. The motive’s a mystery. It’s a case of serious overkill that pushes Eve Dallas straight into overdrive. Her investigation uncovers a private club that’s more than a hot spot. Purgatory’s a last chance for atonement where everyone is judged. Where your most intimate fate depends on your most intimate sins. And where one cop’s hidden secrets are about to plunge innocent souls into vice-ridden damnation…

I am giving Judgement In Death by J. D. Robb 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig

 

Aleatha Romig is a new to me author this year. I took a chance on listening to her novel, Quintessentially: The One, based on the plot summary earlier this summer. I was in the mood for a fun, light, romance read this summer and Quintessentially: The One fit the bill perfectly.

I enjoyed the storyline, characters, and writing for Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig very much. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed listening to this contemporary romance novel. 

Below is the plot summary for Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig from Chirp's website:

A trip back to the small Indiana town of Riverbend to finalize my grandmother’s last will and testament throws my world off its axis. I wasn’t prepared to learn the stipulations of her will or that she’d left her beloved mercantile Quintessential Treasures to my college summertime love, Kandace Sheers.

Imagine my greater surprise when I learn about the secret that’s been roaming Riverbend for the last five years. Here are a couple of hints:

She’s five years old.

She has her mother’s silky auburn hair and my golden eyes.

The answer is simple.

I take responsibility for the girl and go back to Chicago where my life awaits.

It turns out, Grandma had other plans because life’s never that simple.

I am giving Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Fiction Books Set in Museums!

 Wow, it's always fun to find interesting videos on YouTube that highlight themed book topics. In this instance, I discovered a short video reviewing fiction books that are set in museums! Now I have a list of books to add to my reading wishlist. 

Check out the above video if you too are interested in watching book reviews about books set in museums.

Words Can Be DANGEROUS!! Banned Books. Plus, a Banned Book Museum!

 

Did you know there is a Banned Books Museum in Tallinn, Estonia? Well, I didn't know this factoid until watching a fabulous video created and posted on RobWords's YouTube Channel two nights ago! The Banned Book Museum also hosts a monthly banned books club where they read and discuss a banned book virtually via Zoom, which sounds pretty cool if you ask me.

I've become a fan of RobWords YouTube Channel and am a recent subscriber to the channel. The RobWords YouTube Channel is dedicated to language facts and etymology fun.

Anyway, I enjoy reading banned books. I also enjoy learning why certain books have been banned. And, of course, learning about a banned book museum in the above video also make for an educational experience as well. If these topics are of interest to you too, then please check out the above YouTube video... The video is just under 18 minutes in length.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

New Little Free Library in San Ramon, California!!

Late yesterday afternoon, my husband and I found a new Little Free Library located within the city we live. I absolutely love Little Free Libraries and this includes discovering new to me ones! I exchanged two books for two used paperback books.

Have you discovered any Little Free Libraries lately?

18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb

 

I truly enjoy reading nonfiction books on a wide array of topics. I especially enjoy topics on forensic science and true crime in general. So, I took a chance on listening to the unabridged audio version of 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb and narrated by Nan McNamara. 

What a delightful book! 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb not only covers modern forensics, it also encompasses the interesting life of Frances Glessner Lee and her major contribution to modern day forensics. Frankly, I'd never even heard of Frances Glessner Lee before discovering Bruce Goldfarb's book!

I really enjoyed listening to 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb. It's packed with a lot of information from start to finish and well narrated by Nan McNamara. If you're fascinated by science, history, biography, and nonfiction in general, then this book may be right up your alley.

Below is the publisher's summary for 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb from Chirp's website:

The story of a woman whose ambition and accomplishments far exceeded the expectations of her time, 18 Tiny Deaths follows the transformation of a young, wealthy socialite into the mother of modern forensics… Frances Glessner Lee, born a socialite to a wealthy and influential Chicago family in the 1870s, was never meant to have a career, let alone one steeped in death and depravity. Yet she developed a fascination with the investigation of violent crimes, and made it her life’s work. Best known for creating the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of dollhouses that appear charming until you notice the macabre little details: an overturned chair, or a blood-spattered comforter. And then, of course, there are the bodies splayed out on the floor, draped over chairs clothed in garments that Lee lovingly knit with sewing pins. 18 Tiny Deaths, by official biographer Bruce Goldfarb, delves into Lee’s journey from grandmother without a college degree to leading the scientific investigation of unexpected death out of the dark confines of centuries-old techniques and into the light of the modern day. Lee developed a system that used the Nutshells dioramas to train law enforcement officers to investigate violent crimes, and her methods are still used today. 18 Tiny Deaths transports the reader back in time and tells the story of how one woman, who should never have even been allowed into the classrooms she ended up teaching in, changed the face of science forever.

I am giving 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling

 

I've found paranormal romance/fantasy to be very hit or miss to be honest. I purchase a lot of my audiobooks these days through Chirp.com as they do not require a subscription like Audible does and Chirp offers several daily deals each day. So, when I noticed the The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling deeply discounted through Chirp's website, I thought why not try this trilogy? After all, I do like paranormal romance/fantasy occasionally, discovering new to me authors, and also the storyline sounded interesting enough... Plus, the average rating for this trilogy is currently 4.3 stars out of 5 stars with 450+ reviewers. So, The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling sounded like a series not to be passed up.

Well, quite frankly, I was disappointed with The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling. The best part of the The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling is that it was well narrated by Piper Goodeve... Let me state that again, the best part of the The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling is that it was well narrated by Piper Goodeve. This trilogy had so much potential!! But I felt it flopped BIG TIME. I can't understand all of the good reviews for this trilogy.

I liked the narration as stated for The Moon Marked Trilogy, along with the premise of this trilogy, and lastly, that it is a paranormal romance. 

However, there was too much senseless drama/action throughout the The Moon Marked Trilogy for the sake of drama/action... It felt like the senseless drama/action was the author's weak attempt to propel the story/plot along. I think there were better ways to develop the storyline than through the endless treadmill of action sequences and drama. I was so bored by the storyline and characters by the end of this trilogy, that I was simply glad it over with.

Additionally, Mai Fairchild's younger sister is a whiny, brat who pitches a fit in most of the scenes we see her in, which grew very old after a while.

As far as paranormal romances go, there was little of it in The Moon Marked Trilogy... There was always the promise that Mai was going to hook up with the alpha werewolf, but there was always something that interfered with their romance until the end of the last novel. Even then, there was little romance to satisfy the reader.

Below is the plot summary for The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling from Chirp's website:

I’m Mai Fairchild — fox shifter, sister’s keeper, and bane of the local werewolf pack. In a world where different is dangerous, my sister and I must pretend to be human at all costs. Too bad I just lost the job that lets me live under the radar while putting food on my sister’s plate.

Enter an enticing werewolf who offers enough cash to upgrade our diets from ramen noodles to salami if I join him on a magical hunt. But can I afford to accept the opportunity when the risk of working closely with every fox shifter’s sworn enemy is so great?

I am generously giving The Moon Marked Trilogy by Aimee Easterling a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my post, happy reading!!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

 

I've been a fan of Agatha Christie's novels and short stories most of my life. I started reading her novels during my teenage years. Yet despite being an avid fan of Christie's writing, I haven't read her entire collection of published works... Mainly, because her entire collection of work is so vast and also because the Hercule Poirot is my favorite character created by Dame Agatha Christie. So, I've largely stuck to reading works that featured Hercule Poirit as a character.

I don't recall reading Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie in my youth. So, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of this novel in July, which was well narrated by Hugh Fraser. Listening time is 6 hours, 41 seconds.

I was able to listen to Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie for FREE on YouTube. It's truly amazing to discover all of the free audiobooks one is able to listen to for FREE via YouTube at one's leisure! Click on the link above to listen to this novel for free for yourself.

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie is a Hercule Poirot novel. It is different from other Hercule Poirot novels in that Hercule Poirot is working in conjunction with three other people to solve the murder. 

I was hooked into the storyline for Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie from the start of the novel. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the writing for most of the novel. In fact, I initially thought I would be giving Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie a 5 star rating... That is until I listened to the last 20% of the novel, when things went south fast! Too many plot twists at the end of the novel and a few other things just didn't sit right with me. I was forced to lower my rating.

Below is the plot summary for Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie from the Goodreads website:

A flamboyant party host is murdered in full view of a roomful of bridge players… Mr Shaitana was famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he was a man of whom everybody was a little afraid. So, when he boasted to Poirot that he considered murder an art form, the detective had some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana’s private collection. Indeed, what began as an absorbing evening of bridge was to turn into a more dangerous game altogether…

I am giving Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

 

A few of Grady Hendrix's novels have been on my radar for awhile now based on reviews I've read. However, it wasn't until July of 2023, that I actually chose to listen to my first Grady Hendrix novel. I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix based on the storyline, reviews and narrators, Bronson Pinchot and Tai Sammons.

I wasn't disappointed! Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix is a very fun, fast paced, and entertaining read. It offers a different take on horror and what it means to be inside a haunted house! I liked the 'Ikea like' themed setting in this novel too. The characters are well developed and relatable. The plot for the most part was excellent, except for a few uneven spots. Overall a great read. 

If you like audiobooks, then I recommend Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix in audio form.

Below is the plot summary for Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix from the Goodreads website:

Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.

To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.

A traditional haunted house story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, Horrorstör is designed to retain its luster and natural appearance for a lifetime of use. Pleasingly proportioned with generous French flaps and a softcover binding, Horrorstör delivers the psychological terror you need in the elegant package you deserve.

I am giving Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!!

Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer

 

Earlier this year, I had my first experience with reading, well actually listening to, one of Belinda Bauer's novels titled, Exit. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this novel quite a bit and found it well narrated too. 

Because I enjoyed Exit so much, I decided to try another one of Ms. Bauer's novels. This time, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Rubbernecker. Again, I wasn't disappointed with Belinda Bauer's writing! Her novels are unique in terms of perspective, their storyline, and characters. 

In Rubbernecker, the main character, Patrick Fort, has Asperger's Syndrome. We learn a lot about how Patrick views and deals with the world around him through the specific filter/perspective of Asperger's Syndrome, which makes for interesting reading. I actually liked reading a novel where a main character has Asperger's Syndrome. Patrick has his quirks, but he is able to function in the world around him in his own unique way... All the while, attending classes and eventually solving a murder!

Listening time for Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer is 8 hours, 8 minutes. This novel is well narrated by Andrew Wincott.

Below is the plot summary for Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer from the Goodreads website:

The dead can't speak to us, Professor Madoc had said. But that was a lie. The body Patrick Fort is examining in anatomy class is trying to tell him all kinds of things. But no one hears what he does, and no one understands when he tries to tell them.

Life is already strange enough for Patrick - being a medical student with Asperger's Syndrome doesn't come without its challenges. And that's before he is faced with solving a possible murder, especially when no one believes a crime has even taken place. Now he must stay out of danger long enough to unravel the mystery. But as Patrick learns one truth from a dead man, he discovers there have been many other lies closer to home.

I am giving Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer a rating of 3 stars out of 5 star.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Mostly Missing In Action The Past Two Months

 

Apologies for my absence since early July. Yes, I realize several bookish quotes of the day have popped up and a couple of Top Ten Tuesday posts as well. These were posts I had originally created and scheduled to post on select dates and times prior to July 4, 2023. I have had a flare up with my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) since early to mid July as well as dealing with a couple of ongoing health related issues regarding my left eye other visual issues for both eyes, which has affected my overall vision off and on since last November.

The condensed version of my eye health/vision is that a freckle/nevus and fluid build up at the back of the retina were discovered in my left eye near the optic nerve during an emergency visit with my optometrist late last November. It was these two things that had caused intense flashing light in my left eye's peripheral vision for roughly 10 minutes. This was how I ended up at my optometrist's office for an emergency visit in the first place.

I was sent to three different ophthalmologists to try and identify what the nevus/freckle was and why I was (and still am) having fluid build up in my left eye. Two of the ophthalmologists were ocular oncologists - one at UCSF Medical Center and the other at Stanford Medical Center. And yes, it was initially suspected that the nevus/freckle could potentially be eye cancer.

The good news at this point is that I recently learned that I DO NOT have eye cancer, but instead have an atypical nevus in my left eye. I still have to have my left eye routinely monitored every few months to make sure things remain stable within my left eye.

Anyway, I had a few weird visual issues on July 10th that landed me back at the doctor's office for an eye status update. The nevus/freckle looks to remain stable as of July 10th, so my most recent symptoms look to be related to having dry eyes and am on a dry eye protocol treatment plan for this condition and its symptoms at this time.

So this has been why you haven't seen me online recently. I was dealing with a few uncomfortable eye symptoms and also I couldn't type due to a crps flare up. 

In the meantime, I've been listening to audiobooks. Now that I am feeling better overall (thank goodness!!), I'm hoping to begin being more active with my blog again, catching up on my book reviews, and interacting with other book bloggers as well.

Take care and I hope you are all doing well!

Top Ten Tuesday - Water

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 books with the word 'water' in the title that I'd like to read.

1. Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

2. The Color of Water by James McBride

3. Be Water, My Friend by Shannon Lee

4. The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch

5. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

6. Wade in the Water by Nyani Nkrumah

7. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

8. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

9. The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry

10. Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith

Have you read any of the above books? If so, share with me what you thought of the book(s) you read in the comment section below.

Reading Quote of the Day!!

 

Reading Quote of the Day!!

 

Reading Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Top Ten Tuesday - Books With One-Word Titles

 

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 books with one word titles I've read, enjoyed, and reviewed here on my blog over the years. Click on the links provided below to read the review I've written for each book. Happy reading!!

1. Exit by Belinda Bauer

2. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

3. Room by Emma Donoghue

4. Kindred by Octavia Butler

5. Brass by Xhenet Aliu

6. Matrix by Lauren Groff

7. Euphoria by Lily King

8. Deenie by Judy Blume

9. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

10. George (aka Melissa) by Alex Gino

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think about the book(s)? Leave me a comment below. Happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - Top Ten Favorite Books I've Read During the First Half of 2023

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 my top ten favorite reads for the first half of 2023! More than half of the books are nonfiction reads.

1. Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen Jose Antonio Vargas
2. Vaccinated: From Cowpox to mRNA, the Remarkable Story of Vaccines by Paul Offit
3. The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin
4. Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright
5. These Women by Ivy Pochoda
6. Bad Feminist: Essays by Roxane Gay
7. Angel Fire by Lisa Unger
8. Exit by Belinda Bauer
9. When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have Invaded America and the Fears They Have Unleashed by Howard Markel
10. News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Have you read any of these novels? If so, let me know in the comment section below which book(s) you've read and what your thoughts were about each book.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

New to Me Little Free Library in Pleasanton, California

 

This morning my husband and I visited Pleasanton, California.

During our time in Pleasanton, we were able to make a quick

visit to a Little Free Library!!

I was able to exchange a book and now have another 

used paperback novel to read.

Have you had an opportunity to visit a 

Little Free Library lately?

New to Me Little Free Libraries in Concord, California!!

 

840 Bethany Lane, Concord, California 94518

934 Faned Way, Concord, CA 94518

It's beginning to FINALLY feel a lot like summer around

our neck of the woods. Prior to June 29, 2023, we'd been having a very mild month weather wise for the month of June... That is until June 29, 2023.

Now we are in the midst of a 48 heatwave that ends at 11pm

tonight. So for the most part, my husband and I have been

indoor cats since late Friday morning in an effort to stay cool.

Friday morning, my husband and I found two new to us

Little Free Libraries in Concord, California.

Both Little Free Libraries in Concord were filled with many 

good books to choose from... So, I had a difficult time

choosing which books to take home with me.

It's always fun to find cute Little Free Libraries.

Have you found any Little Free Libraries lately?

Half Yearly Reading Update!!

It's difficult to believe that half the year is already over with at this point in time! It seems like time flies by so swiftly these days... And the older I grow, the faster the time seems to slip by.

I've had a good year of reading so far. I've read a total of 38 reads so far in 2023.

My top three favorite books for 2023 so far are as follows:

Dear America is a memoir that surpassed my expectation!

It's an excellent read and the focus is on the author's life as an

undocumented citizen here in America. I highly recommend this book to learn more about immigration here in the United States.

Again, another nonfiction book has made it to my top three best reads for 2023. Vaccinated by Paul A Offit M.D. is part biography of Maurice Hilleman and part history of vaccines and the communicable diseases they were created to help save lives. The science behind vaccines and the various researchers who created these vaccines makes for fascinating reading. The ups and downs of trying to create vaccines to saves lives was also fascinating to read about in Vaccinated as things didn't always go smoothly.

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin was my first read of 2023 and an unexpected choice/read for me as I am not a member of any particular religion, nor do I attend any religious services, or have a deep knowledge or understanding of any one particular religion. With that said, I found that this book was fascinating in how the bible has shaped western society.

I find it interesting that my top three reads for the first half of 2023 are ALL nonfiction! Memoir, science, and religion all make for thought provoking reads.

My top three least favorite reads for 2023 are as follows:

Funny Bunnies by Ann Omasta - I've read a couple of other things written by Ann Omasta in prior years with mixed feelings. I think that Funny Bunnies may be my last read by her. Funny Bunnies is narrated well enough, but the storyline was not that exciting, nor engaging enough to captivate me. In fact, the storyline was rather boring and too simplistic. The dialogue and interactions between characters was dull as well.

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. Cari Mora was not in the same league as the author's previous novels.

The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin - There are a lot of twists and turns in The Fortune Hunter. But I found this novel not to my liking. Many of the characters and plot twists seemed shallow or contrived. I think I'll pass on reading anything more written by Daisy Goodwin.

Other Bookish Endeavors in 2023:

I've attended one virtual book event this year in June, 

Alta Journal - California Book Club - Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

I enjoyed visiting independent bookstore, D. G. Wills Books in La Jolla, California, ever so briefly in May 2023. I look forward to returning there some day for a longer visit.

I have visited nineteen new to me Little Free Libraries in 2023.

I have made blog posts for each of the new to me

Little Free Libraries I've visited this year.

So what have been some of your reading highlights for the first half of 2023?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bonnie Garmus Interview on Her "Subversive" Novel "Lessons in Chemistry" From CBS Sunday Morning

 

I have Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus on my ever growing reading wishlist. After watching the above video from CBS Sunday Morning, I now want to read this novel even more! 

Has anyone else read and reviewed Lessons In Chemistry yet? Is this novel as subversive as billed? Does this novel actually live up to its hype? Do let me know in the comments section below!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Angel Fire by Lisa Unger

 

I can't remember when I first heard about author, Lisa Unger, but she's been on my radar for a while. I finally listened to one of Lisa Unger's novels this month! 

I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of Angel Fire by Lisa Unger and narrated by Emily Beresford. This is the first novel in the Lydia Strong series and it falls into the thriller/mystery/suspense genres. Listening time for Angel Fire is 7 hours, 53 minutes.

I was impressed with Angel Fire, especially considering it is an early work written by the author and sometimes early novels aren't always the best. I didn't find Angel Fire flawless by any means, but I did find it engaging/entertaining enough to keep me engrossed throughout much of the novel. I look forward to reading the rest of the Lydia Strong series at some point in time.

Below is the plot summary for Angel Fire by Lisa Unger from Chirp's website:

The childhood murder of Lydia Strong’s mother has turned her into a woman obsessed with bringing brutal killers to justice. The reclusive, bestselling true-crime writer and investigative consultant has made a life out of chasing monsters. And her powerful intuitions rarely fail her. When three adults - loners, drifters - go missing, no one seems to notice except for Lydia. Enlisting the help of her friend, former FBI agent Jeffrey Mark, Lydia starts an investigation of her own. But when someone raises the stakes and goes after Lydia - just as fifteen years ago when she put the FBI on the trail of her mother’s killer - the real hunt begins.

I am giving Angel Fire by Lisa Unger a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Alta Journal - California Book Club - Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

Last Thursday evening from 5pm-6pm Pacific Daylight Time, I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Charles Yu discuss his novel, Interior Chinatown. I listened to the unabridged audio version of Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu during the Fall of 2021. I really enjoyed this novel. I was thrilled to learn that Charles Yu would be discussing his novel via Alta's California Book Club as I always enjoy hearing about an author's writing process and other tidbits they discuss with viewers/readers of their novels.

During Alta's California Book Club, John Freeman was the interviewer and he started things off with Charles Yu. Then author, Bonnie Tsui, took over and spoke with Charles Yu. See the following transcript to read what transpired during this month's California Book Club discussion.

This happens to be my first virtual book event for the 2023 calendar year. I find this kind of surprising that this is the first virtual bookish event of 2023 that I've attended as the three previous years, I ONLY attended virtual events, PERIOD, end of story. Additionally, I attended several virtual events evenly spaced throughout each year in 2020-2022.

On the other hand, with things returning to normal since the pandemic began, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised I haven't attended many virtual events this year... Well, except for the very fact that I still don't feel comfortable attending in person events at this time. I still prefer (hands down) attending virtual events. I feel like I'm the only person left on the planet that feels this way as everyone else has moved on and returned to living normally as if the pandemic never existed in the first place. 

So where do you fall on the spectrum? Have you fully returned to living life as you did before the pandemic? Or are you in some sort of hybrid situation where you have returned to some sort of modified lifestyle?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas is a memoir that's been on my reading wishlist for a few years now. I was lucky enough to find the paperback edition of this memoir at a Little Free Library in Danville, California earlier this year. 

I began reading Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas late last month for Asian American Pacific Islander Month as Jose Antonio Vargas was born in the Philippines, but came to America in 1993 at the age of 12 to live with his maternal grandparents in Mountain View, California.

I finished reading Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas last week. I was blown away by the writing, but then again, I probably shouldn't have been as Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist.

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen is divided into three separate sections titled: Lying, Passing, Hiding. Each section contains several short, engaging, and easy to digest chapters. Dear America is a memoir at its heart... More specifically, it's about the author first discovering at the age of 16 that his green card is counterfeit!! Jose Antonio Vargas learns this bit of information when goes to the DMV to obtain a driver's permit only to learn from a DMV employee that his green card was fake. Needless to say, Jose Antonio Vargas didn't receive a driver's permit that day and he left the DMV feeling confused. After confronting his grandfather about his experience at the DMV, Jose Antonio Vargas learns that he is, in fact, in the US illegally!! From this point onward, we, the readers, learn about the author's life as an undocumented citizen, about immigration to the US, and so much more. I learned so much by reading Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas. Too much information to write about in a single blog post. I have many areas pertaining to immigration and history, which I first learned about in Dear America, that I'd like to explore further.

However, I can state that this memoir challenges readers to reexamine their views on immigration and what it means to be an undocumented/illegal citizen here in the US. Things aren't always so straight forward regarding undocumented citizens. Many of us have misguided perceptions regarding illegal/undocumented citizens and these misguided perceptions are frequently fueled by an uninformed media perpetuating misinformation. The author is a journalist and has been for much of his life, so he is able to give us the inside perspective on the media's view on immigration as well as what it's like to be an illegal/undocumented citizens.

Below is an interview of Jose Antonio Vargas from CBS News. In the interview, he discusses his memoir, Dear America, with viewers. It's an informative interview!

I am giving Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas a solid rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars. This memoir is definitely one of my best reads so far in 2023.

Until my next post, happy reading!!