Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Alta Journal - California Book Club - Janet Fitch

 

Last night, I watched the California Book Club monthly online event hosted by Alta Journal. This month, the featured book and author was White Oleander by Janet Fitch.

I remember reading White Oleander more than two decades and really enjoyed it at the time. I really enjoyed hearing Janet Fitch talk about White Oleander, her writing process and so on.

Above is the YouTube video from last night's event featuring Janet Fitch, should you care to view it.

I'm NOW Addicted to Hoopla!!

I signed up for Hoopla through my public library at the end of December 2025. Each month, I am able to borrow four items per month via Hoopla for FREE. This includes music, movies, audiobooks, ebooks, or some combination of these items as a digital download. 

So far, I've checked out only ebooks or audiobooks through Hoopla. I have checked out the maximum amount of books each month.

I have created a wishlist of 36 books that I will able to borrow through Hoopla this year. That's 9 months worth of books I can borrow before the end of 2026!

Is there anyone else out there hooked on Hoopla too?  I can't figure why I didn't sign up for Hoopla sooner.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books With Green Covers!!

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I have plenty of books with green book covers in my personal collection. Below are ten books with green covers I still very much want to read.

1. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

2. The Sisters of the Glass Ferry by Kim Michele Richardson

3. The Imposters by Tom Rachman

4. The Floating Girls by Lo Patrick

5. The House Girl by Tara Conklin

6. Furious Hours by Casey Cep

7. The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

8. Weyward by Emilia Hart

9. When the Tamarind Tree Blooms by Elaine Russell

10. Creepers by David Morrell

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I hope you're reading great books!

Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler et al.

 

I remember the rock band, Redbone, from the 1970s... And, I remembered them as a one hit wonder for the song, 'Come and Get Your Love'. Little did I know that Redbone actually had many other hits too.

I've had Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler on my reading wishlist for a number of years and finally decided to read the ebook edition this month.

I really enjoyed this comic book/graphic nonfiction book!! Redbone was an all Native American band and they made it big time. I learned not only a lot about the origins of Redbone, but also a lot about Native American history and Native American activism during the 1960s and 1970s. Pat Vegas, a co-founder of Redbone, is a Native American and Native American activist as well.

Below is a book trailer for Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler:

I am giving Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler a rating of 4stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

What Matters About Reading? Book Tag Time!

I watch Criminolly, a book related YouTube channel, about reading and books. Olly, from  Criminolly, did the "What Matters About Reading?" book tag, which I enjoyed watching. 

I decided to do the "What Matters About Reading?" book tag here on my blog too. 

1. What do you want to get out of reading? What stays with you after?

I read for a wide variety of reasons. I read for entertainment, escapism, relaxation, learning new things, empathy, and diversity.

What stays with me is the enjoyment of reading a book and feeling relaxed and satisfied after I've read a book. I also find joy in learning new things, which is probably why I love reading nonfiction books so much.

2. What is reading with intention?

Reading with intention is reading books that fulfill your interests and needs. Plus, being present and savoring the written word with relish.

3. What interests you about somebody else’s relationship to a book? 

I like knowing what makes someone excited about reading books in general, what genres they like reading, and hearing what makes a book they've read great. 

Sometimes, I am even swayed to read a book by another avid reader based on the book's summary and what this reader thought about the book.

4. How do you talk about books with others? What do you usually want them to know about a book? 

Usually, I share my thoughts about books I've read here on my blog. I also share my thoughts about books on Bookcrossing with other readers in the forums section. This year, I am also participating in a monthly online book club offered though the public library, where we discuss a book club pick we've read during the month. Additionally, I discuss books with other avid readers in person when I can.

5. Do you review books (publicly or privately)? 

I review books publicly! Hence my blog! Occasionally, I will leave reviews on Goodreads or Amazon.

6. Do you use a rating system? Why? Why not?

Yes, I use a rating system when reviewing books. I give my reviews a numerical rating between one and five. 1 = terrible, 2 = okay, 3 = like, 4 = really like, 5 = love. If the book I read falls between two ratings, then I'll give it a rating of 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5.

I like to rate books after reading them to gauge how I liked reading them at that moment in time. 

7. Do you ask yourself if you’ve liked a book? And how much does liking a book matter? 

Yes, I ask myself if I've liked a book I've read and this is important to me. I don't want to read poorly written books or things I'm not enjoying... Or if, I'm reading something to learn a topic/subject, then I should learn something from reading the book.... Otherwise, what's the point (in this case) if I learn nothing from the book. So, enjoying a book matters a lot.

8. What do you seek out from others who read publicly? Reviews, summaries, analysis, a curriculum? 

I like hearing other people's thoughts regarding what they think about the books they've read, whether they write reviews for blogs, etc., participate in book clubs, or just like discussing books in person with other people.

9. Who do you go to for those things?

The short answer is a variety of places...Sometimes I find books from blogger reviews or Bookcrossers, book club picks, the articles I read, the topics I'm interested in learning more about, genres I like reading, or books from authors who I have read books from in the past.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Not Reading Could Undermine Democracy!!

 

I watched this YouTube video earlier this week from BBC Politics and BBC News. I found the topic interesting on why reading is important to democracy. Not only does reading books (both fiction and nonfiction) help with empathy, but many other things like critical thinking. 

Watch the above video to learn more from the panel of speakers.

Selling Used Books For Profit?!

 

This short video almost makes me want to start selling used books at various locations as a side hustle!

The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson, which is well narrated by Rachel Capell.

Jill Johnson is a new to me author. I'm always on the look out for new to me authors. I was drawn to the plot summary for The Woman in the Garden as this novel contains "a Professor of Botanical Toxicology with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company" and also a mystery is involved.

First off, I found the protagonist, Eustacia Rose, annoying!! She's very smart, but very odd, quirky and eccentric... These can be good things, but I found her to be simply annoying for the most part throughout much of this novel... However, by the end of the novel, Eustacia Rose had grown on me.

Overall, I liked this mystery novel featuring a woman sleuth. There was a lot of twists and turns throughout The Woman in the Garden. By the end of the novel, I was glad it was over with though. The Woman in the Garden is the first novel in Eustacia Rose mystery series. I think I'll be passing on reading the rest of the series.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson, which I found on Goodreads:

Every garden has its secrets…

Eustacia Rose is a Professor of Botanical Toxicology with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company. Her life is quiet, her schedule is unchanging, and her closest friends are the specimens she tends to. But she does have one other watching her neighbors through her telescope, taking extensive notes on their lives for research.

When Eustacia hears a scream one evening, the temptation to investigate proves irresistible. Through her telescope, she catches a glimpse of her extraordinarily beautiful new neighbor, Simone, and soon becomes obsessed with her and her life. But who are these four men that orbit Simone? And why does Eustacia get the feeling she needs to protect her from them?

One day, Eustacia comes home to find her precious garden destroyed and learns that someone close to Simone has been murdered with a rare poisonous plant. As she is drawn deep into the crime, Eustacia's closed-off life begins to crumble, forcing her to break free from the walls of her secret garden and take matters into her own hands. Soon, she's forced to realize that the world is filled with people who are just as toxic as her plants....

I am giving The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Tope Ten Tuesday - Book Titles With Ordinal Numbers

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 ordinal numbers in their title. These books sound like good reads to add to my reading wishlist.

1. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

2. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

3. The Third Life of Grange Copeland by Alice Walker

4. First Boy by Gary D Schmidt

5. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult 

6. Second Nature by Alice Hoffman

7. The Fifth Agreement by Miguel Ruiz

8. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

9. Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli

10. First Crossing by Donald R. Gallo

Have you read any of the above books? 

Book Recommendations For International Women's Day!

 I discovered an article on Bookbub's website titled, Celebrate International Women's Day with These Books. I have not read any of the books mentioned in the article. Most of them sound really good. I will be adding On Morrison by Namwali Serpell, The Sea Captain's Wife by Tilar J. Mazzeo, It Girl by Allison Pataki and The Woman and Her Stars by Penny Haw to my ever growing reading wishlist.

Happy International Women's Day!!

 

I hope all of the women of the world have an amazing day celebrating the amazing women they are!

Today, I wanted to highlight ten women writers I've discovered in recent years! I enjoyed reading and reviewing the following ten books by ten different women writers. I chose these women writers at random.

1. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

2. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

3. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

4. The Seas by Samantha Hunt

5. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

6. City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

7. Quintessentially: The One by Aleatha Romig

8. Brass by Xhenet Aliu

9. Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue

10. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy

Have you read any of these books I've listed in my post today? Or enjoyed reading other books written by these women writers?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown

 

I am an English language volunteer/tutor for someone living in Ukraine via ENGin. I just started as an English language volunteer/tutor in January of this year and am currently working with a single person online at this time.

I accidentally stumbled across 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown by performing an online search through our public library for comics/graphic novels. 

Because I am working with an individual living in Ukraine, who wants to learn to speak English better, I thought it would be a great idea to read this work of nonfiction written in the graphic novel format. So, I checked this ebook out from our public library via Hoopla.

83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown is geared towards young adults. I found this book to be a quick overview about the conflict/war between Ukraine and Russia as it happened in Mariupol, Ukraine in 2022. 

I wanted to read a book where I could slowly ease myself into learning more about Ukraine. Especially with regards to learning about the history of Ukraine and the conflict/war between Ukraine and Russia. There's a lot of history between both countries and I'm sure there's a lot to learn. But I wanted an easy book to read and understand in order to learn more about Ukraine. 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary was a good place to start for me.

I enjoyed the artwork, writing, and overview of the war between Russia and Ukraine as it pertains to Mariupol, Ukraine. The events took place in 2022 and the events were horrific! According to what I read in this book, 90% of Mariupol was destroyed and is still occupied by Russia today.

Below is the publisher's summary for 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown from the Goodreads website:

A young adult graphic novel that captures the complexities of the war in Ukraine, focusing on the siege of Mariupol (Feb ’22 – May ’22) and the brave people who stayed to defend their city against Russian forces as well as the resulting effects on global politics.

A city ruined. In once quiet residential streets, two armies battle, driving people into cellars and basements with little food or water. No lights or heat. Dwindling medical supplies. Shells and bullets deliver cruel, random death to the young and old, men, women, and children.

This is Mariupol, a Ukrainian city and early target of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bordering Russian-occupied territory, the coastal city seemed doomed to a defeat that would come within days, if not hours. Could Mariupol, and Ukraine, survive? As Russian rockets threatened the city, Ukrainians resisted, and with a heroic combination of sacrifice and bravery, the besieged city endured . . . for months. But it all came at a steep cost.

With compassion and his keen journalist’s eye, Sibert Honor creator Don Brown illuminates the horrors of Mariupol and the depredations of its people not seen in the city since World War II. He also shows that outside of Mariupol, the city’s agonies were mirrored by similar events occurring in towns and cities across Ukraine.

83 Days in Mariupol reminds us that the bloody defiance shown at the Alamo, Dunkirk, Leningrad, and Thermopylae isn’t confined to the past but has a violent, modern presence. It is the story of senseless destruction, patriotism, and grit against long odds—a brutal battle whose consequences still reverberate across Ukraine and continue to reshape the global political landscape.

I am giving 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary: A Graphic Novel by Don Brown a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading to all!

American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era by Nico Lang

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era by Nico Lang and narrated by the author via Hoopla.

American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era by Nico Lang is a work of nonfiction and is the March 2026 Online Rainbow Book Club selection.

I liked this work of nonfiction, but didn't love it. The best part of American Teenager for me was that the author focused on the lives of "eight trans and nonbinary teenagers across the country, following their daily triumphs, struggles, and all that encompasses growing up trans in America today." Each teenager came from different backgrounds and each teenager lived in different states. I feel it is important to learn about the lives of other people in order to become more empathic and also to learn about the lives of others to avoid making assumptions about what we think their lives are like.

A couple of the topics that were discussed in American Teenager included gender affirming care and puberty suppressing hormones. I understand the need/importance for individuals to have a body that matches their gender identity and how this mismatch can lead to depression, suicide, etc.... BUT, personally, I am concerned about the long term, negative effects of using puberty suppressing hormones. Especially on prepubescent children. Is it really healthy to suppress puberty through drug therapy? 

I did a quick search on Google and learned that studies on puberty suppressing hormones show that "some studies suggest potential risks to neurodevelopment, such as changes in memory, stress response, and reduced IQ, evidence is not conclusive." (Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender) and "reduced bone mineral density, hot flashes, fatigue, mood fluctuations, headaches, and potential long-term impacts on fertility and growth velocity." (PubMed Central) In other words, more studies need to be done to show the risks and benefits for puberty suppressing hormones. 

Below is the publisher's summary for American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era by Nico Lang from Chirp's website:

From an award-winning journalist comes a vivid and moving portrait of eight trans and nonbinary teenagers across the country, following their daily triumphs, struggles, and all that encompasses growing up trans in America today.

Media coverage tends to sensationalize the fight over how trans kids should be allowed to live, but what is incredibly rare are the voices of the people at the heart of this debate: transgender and gender nonconforming kids themselves. 

For their groundbreaking new book, journalist Nico Lang spent a year traveling the country to document the lives of transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid teens and their families. From the tip of Florida’s conservative panhandle to vibrant queer communities in California, and from Texas churches to mosques in Illinois, American Teenager gives readers a window into the lives of Wyatt, Rhydian, Mykah, Clint, Ruby, Augie, Jack, and Kylie, eight teens who, despite what some lawmakers might want us to believe, are truly just kids looking for a brighter future.

Drawing on hundreds of hours of on-the-ground interviews with them and the people in their communities, American Teenager paints a vivid portrait of what it’s actually like to grow up trans today.

I am giving American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era by Nico Lang a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Quitters, Inc. by Stephen King

Quitters, Inc. by Stephen King had been on my radar for quite a while. I wanted to read this horror, short story ever since first learning about it. 

This month, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Quitters, Inc. via Hoopla. in one sitting as Quitters, Inc. is only 43 minutes in length. 

Quitters, Inc. is narrated by actor, Eric Roberts. I was expecting to be blown away by Eric Roberts's narration of Quitters, Inc., but I wasn't. His performance was very average.

I enjoyed Quitters, Inc. by Stephen King overall. For a short story, Quitters, Inc. is pretty well developed. Loved the ending!

Below is the publisher's summary for Quitters, Inc. by Stephen King, which I discovered on Goodreads:

Dick Morrison's life has become a nightmare of addictions, filling his days with overeating, overworking, and smoking way too much. When an old friend tells him about a surefire way to quit, he's more than willing to give it a shot. But what Dick doesn't know is that Quitters, Inc. demands a high price from anyone who strays from their rigid rules-like a few volts of electricity for the nearest and dearest... or maybe a missing thumb?. Forced to choose between his desperate need for cigarettes and the dire consequences of giving in to his addiction, Dick must decide just how important another drag really is.

I am giving Quitters, Inc. by Stephen King a rating if 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!
 

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens

 

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens is my third read by this author. Thank you Dorothy @ The Nature of Things for introducing me to Allen Eskens works! I've enjoyed his novels very much.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens, which was nicely narrated by Ilvana Muratovic.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this thriller! It was super engaging. I finished The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens in four days. The novel is well written. The storyline follows two time lines, present day Minnesota and Bosnia in 1995. Each chapter alternates between each time line until the storyline converges. Then the remaining ten chapters takes place in Minnesota for the grand finale.

I liked the main character Hana Babic/Nura Divjak a lot. She seems like an unassuming, quiet librarian working in Minnesota. Hana/Nura is 47 years old and originally from Bosnia. At the start of this novel, a police officer comes to visit Hana/Nura at work. Hana/Nura learns her best friend (also from Bosnia) has been killed in a suspicious manner. It's at this point onward where we begin to learn more about Hana/Nura and that not all about her is as it seems. 

Hana/Nura lived a very difficult existence in Bosnia during the war. We learn that Hana/Nura witnessed her entire family being killed right in front of her. We continue to learn about what happens to Hana/Nura in Bosnia throughout the novel and how she came to the USA. We also read about Hana/Nura doing her own sleuthing into her friend's death.

All in all, The Quiet Librarian is a great read, especially if you like thrillers. I highly recommend it. The ending for The Quiet Librarian is great. I loved it!!

Below is the publisher's summary for The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens through the Goodreads website:

After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this sweeping novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from award-winning writer Allen Eskens.

Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.

Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.

Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.

I am giving The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!