This afternoon, from 3pm to 4pm Pacific DST, I attended the Spotlight on Tony Weaver, Jr., which was host by the American Library Association during Banned Books Week.
The description for this event is as follows:
This program will shine a light on banned author, immensely popular educator, and Banned Books Week Honorary Chair Tony Weaver, Jr!
Tony Weaver, Jr., is the author of Weirdo (with illustrators Jes and Cin Wibowo), a middle-grade memoir about being Black and nerdy among classmates who won’t accept him. The graphic novel takes on heady topics like bullying, racism, and self-harm as 11-year-old Tony ultimately finds help and self-acceptance. Despite appearing on multiple “best of” lists and receiving multiple starred reviews from publications like Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, Weirdo was removed from a Minnesota school after an administrator objected to images and LGBTQIA+ representation in the graphic novel. Weaver has used his robust social media platform and in-person events to educate audiences about advocacy issues such as censorship and racism and to promote the importance of diverse reading materials and representation.
Youth honorary chairs Marshall Romero and Azeemah Sadiq will moderate the discussion.
I enjoyed attending this online event and learned a lot about Tony Weaver Jr. One of the things Mr. Weaver mentioned was that the best books create a new perspective and I agree!
Tony Weaver Jr. is also the founder of Nerds For Literacy, which has a mission statement as follows: "to provide students access to literacy and mental health tools to help them reach the next level of their academic and emotional journeys."
Tony Weaver Jr. will be a participating speaker at the Las Vegas Book Festival occurring on October 17th from 11am to 12pm. So if you live in Las Vegas or happen to be visiting Las Vegas during this time frame, then you may want to attend the Las Vegas Book Festival.
My first read for the month of October 2026 is Diary of a Femen by Michel Dufranne. This is a graphic novel about the international, radical, feminist activist group, Femen. Femen was founded in 2008 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Femen is known for organizing high-profile, topless protests and their mission is to fight patriarchy, dictatorship, religious institutions, homophobia, and sex tourism.
Honestly, I'd never heard of Femen until a few days ago. This year, I've become more interested in almost anything related to Ukraine after I became a volunteer English language tutor via ENGin. I am currently tutoring two Ukrainian women living in Ukraine. I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. So, when I stumbled across Diary of a Femen by Michel Dufranne, I decided to read the ebook edition.
Overall, I liked reading Diary of a Femen by Michel Dufranne. The artwork is decent. The perspective of this graphic novel is from the point of view of Apolline, a young woman dissatisfied with the social status of women in society and also her personal experience in the workforce. For this reason, Apolline decides to join Femen. We read about Apolline's experience joining and training to become a Femen activist, her first protest, her arrest and jail time, being fired from work, and alienation from family and friends.
By the end of Diary of a Femen, Apolline is married and has a young child with her husband. We see Apolline in the same situation she was fighting against as a Femen activist. So, did she really help to make a difference for the lives of women? It doesn't appear so.
Below is the summary for Diary of a Femen by Michel Dufranne, which I discovered on Amazon's website:
The FEMEN movement began in Ukraine in 2008. It has since spread throughout the world, as far as Spain, Sweden and Belgium. In France it really began to catch on when Inna Shevchenko arrived in Paris, where she sought asylum after she was deported from Ukraine. She took refuge in the "Lavoir Moderne Parisien" theatre, which has now become the training ground of FEMEN activists in France. This project is a fictional story based on real events and witness testimonies collected by the author, who has been in personal contact with FEMEN France for over 4 years. The aim is to study this social phenomenon and open up debate on the subject without taking sides or pronouncing judgment. The journal follows the story of a young French girl who, after a number of negative experiences connected to her social status as a woman in contemporary society, decides to join the movement. It's not easy, and there will be consequences in her personal and professional life. She soon begins to question herself. A fascinating album that helps us understand the inner workings of the controversial feminist organization.I am giving Diary of a Femen by Michel Dufranne a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
How do you celebrate Banned Books Week? Do you read banned or challenged books during Banned Books Week? What other ways have you supported the eradication of censorship?
I've read challenged or banned books during Banned Books Week and I have also read banned or challenged books throughout the year. I've also worn banned/challenged clothing attire in the past as well. I'm trying to remember if I've attended any virtual events pertaining to Banned Books Week??? It feels like I have, but I didn't find anything about it here on my blog.
I'd like to expand my support in eradicating censorship!
Below is an image for this week's Banned Books artwork.
I listened to the unabridged audio version of Atomic Habits by James Clear, which was nicely narrated by the author. Atomic Habits was my last read for the month of September.
I've been meaning to read Atomic Habits for quite awhile, but I had been putting it off for other reads instead.
Then, about six weeks ago, a Ukrainian woman living in Kyiv, Ukraine that I am an English buddy with, asked me to read Atomic Habits with her. We will be discussing this book via video chat this upcoming week.
I really enjoyed reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. This work of nonfiction about how to change ones habits was very engaging and straightforward. There are four laws to follow to enact changing ones habits. The laws themselves are broken down into easy to follow steps that seem very doable. I also like the fact that there are several pdf downloadable worksheets to help facilitate changing ones own habits.
Below is the publisher's summary for Atomic Habits by James Clear from the Goodreads website:
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.I am giving Atomic Habits by James Clear a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.
If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.
Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.
Learn how to:
- Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
- Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
- Design your environment to make success easier;
- Get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.
Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
Welcome to the Shadows: Announcing 'The Accursed' Spooky Season Read-Along!
Get ready to dive into one of the most wildly ambitious, darkly atmospheric historical fantasies of modern literature just in time for Spooky Season. From October 1 through October 31, 2026, Marianne @ Let's Read and I are teaming up to tackle Joyce Carol Oates’s epic Gothic masterpiece, The Accursed—and we would love for you to join us!
Set in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1905–1906, the novel weaves real historical figures—like Woodrow Wilson, Grover Cleveland, and Upton Sinclair—into a chilling, surreal Gothic mystery. When a supernatural "curse" overtakes the elite families of the town, society crumbles under the weight of mysterious abductions, demonic visions, and long-buried hypocrisies.
At over 600 pages, it is a dense, feverish read—which is precisely why reading and discussing it together over the 31 days of October will make it so much more fun.
October Reading Schedule
We will break the novel down across the four weeks of October (roughly 150–170 pages per week) so we can all finish together right on Halloween night:
| Timeline | Assigned Reading | Key Themes / Focus |
| Week 1 (Oct 1–Oct 8) | Author's note, Prologue, + Part 1 | The curse descends on the Slade wedding; Woodrow Wilson's strain |
| Week 2 (Oct 9–Oct 16) | Part 2 | Historical cameos; the eerie Bog Kingdom; social satire |
| Week 3 (Oct 17–Oct 24) | Part 3 | Hysteria spreads; moral decay of the Princeton elite |
| Week 4 (Oct 25–Oct 31) | Part 4 to End of Novel | Climax, resolution, and unpacking the narrator’s reliability |
How to Participate
Weekly Discussion Posts: Every Friday in October (Oct 9, 16, 23, and 31), a new post will go live right here on the blog with guided discussion prompts, character trackers, and space to share your thoughts.
Comment Section: Drop your theories, favorite quotes, and reactions in the comments of each weekly post as you read along with Marianne and me at your own pace.
Grab your copy, dust off your reading chair, and drop a comment below if you're joining us this October!
I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Nudge by Joseph Fink and nicely narrated by Cecil Baldwin & Kevin R. Free. Joseph Fink is a new to me author. Hoopla had recommended this novella to me based on the books I have read or listened to this year via the Hoopla app.
I chose to listen to this novella based on the high ratings and also its short length at 2 hours, 28 minutes. Plus, I couldn't resist this horror and psychological thriller themed read as Halloween approaches.
Like the publisher's summary mentions below, I found the The Nudge by Joseph Fink to be atmospheric. I liked the duel narration for this novella as well. I also found the storyline to be interesting and engaging. As a side note, while I was listening to The Nudge, I found certain scenes reminding me of particular pop culture things... Like the song, 'Hotel California' by the Eagles, the Winchester Mansion, 'Psycho' (both the movie and novel), and the novel, Cujo. None of these things (Cujo, Psycho, Winchester Mansion, the song 'Hotel California') were actually referenced specifically in The Nudge, but certain scenes that were written made me think of of these particular pop culture icons.
I liked the characters for The Nudge too. However, The Nudge, was not as engrossing as I'd hoped it would be based on the overall rating of this novella.
Below is the publisher's summary for The Nudge by Joseph Fink I found on Chirp's website:
A new horror novella from the creator of Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead.
On the open road, evil doesn’t chase you. It waits . . .
Late one night, a wounded man checks into a remote roadside hotel. He’s running from something he can’t explain or escape. And over the course of a night, he’ll tell the hotel’s proprietor how his life fell apart.
It started with his wife. Subtle changes. Smiles that didn’t belong to her. Then violence—sudden, intimate, almost casual. Therapy offered hope. Recovery seemed possible. Until it wasn’t. He believes a hidden influence has attached itself to him, one that never forces, never commands. It whispers. It suggests. Nudges people toward their worst impulses.
Now the man wanders the country as a fugitive, hoping to break free from the evil that’s wormed its way into him. But as our narrator’s story unfolds, he begins to question whether he’s fled far enough …
Tense, atmospheric, and chilling, The Nudge is a slow-burn tale of suspense that will linger like a whisper in the dark, long after the story is over.
I am giving The Nudge by Joseph Fink a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
I came across the audio version of Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard via Hoopla. I like eating Indian fry bread, although I haven't eaten it in years. I also wanted to learn more about Native American Culture. Because of this, I chose to listen to Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story is a children's book published in 2019 and it has numerous accolades including the Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal, Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of 2019, Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019, and NPR's 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers.
For being an illustrated children's book, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story is filled with plenty of information about fry bread and also about Native American history. I learned that the Navajo tribe was the first to make fry bread over 150 years ago. There are also several different recipes for fry bread, which I thought was interesting as I only thought there was one universal recipe. The author even included his own recipe for fry bread and how to make it.
Additionally, I learned that there are 573 federally recognized Native American tribes here in the USA and 67 state recognized Native American tribes. There was plenty of other information within Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story that I found informative too.
I am giving Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
Point Reyes Books is absolute magic!! In fact, it is a bibliophile’s dream bookstore. I could have walked away with a couple dozen books, but my bank account and husband weren't having it! If it isn't obvious already, I'm in L-O-V-E with Point Reyes Books.
Point Reyes Books has everything an independent bookstore should be—welcoming, thoughtfully curated, and deeply tied to the local community. Every shelf feels like it was put together with real care, making it impossible to walk out empty-handed. Whether you’re a local or just visiting Point Reyes Station, stopping here is an absolute must!
I walked away with a signed copy of The Extremities by Samantha Kimmy. Samatha Kimmy also happens to be the store manager for Point Reyes Books.
Point Reyes Books is located in the heart of downtown Point Reyes Station, California. Downtown Point Reyes Station is very walkable with many eateries and small businesses to explore during one's visit.
The following is a summary for The Extremities by Samantha Kimmy:
One day at work, a young newspaper reporter is suddenly struck with a mysterious pain in her hands that renders her unable to type. Kim initially believes the disorder—as she refers to it—will disappear quickly. But attempts at treatment fail and no medical professional seems able to diagnose her. Is it a problem of posture? Stress from work? Fear of nearby wildfires or a past trauma, perhaps connected to the tragic death of her maybe-a-hoarder mother many years ago? Though the disorder puts her job, her relationship, and her state of mind in jeopardy, Kim begins to feel a strange kinship to the pain, a desire to “obey” it—a sentiment affirmed by her naturalist boyfriend, who has plans of his own for an idyllic future. Will submitting to the pain enable Kim to transcend it, or will it further derail her from the life she intended to lead?
Doesn't The Extremities by Samantha Kimmy sound like an interesting read?
Last weekend, my husband and I visited Inverness, California for the weekend. While we were in Inverness, we discovered a Little Free Library down the street from our AirBnB. I left five books inside the Little Free Library. What a cute LFL in a cute residential neighborhood!
Welcome to the Shadows: Announcing 'The Accursed' Spooky Season Read-Along!
Get ready to dive into one of the most wildly ambitious, darkly atmospheric historical fantasies of modern literature just in time for Spooky Season. From October 1 through October 31, 2026, Marianne @ Let's Read and I are teaming up to tackle Joyce Carol Oates’s epic Gothic masterpiece, The Accursed—and we would love for you to join us!
Set in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1905–1906, the novel weaves real historical figures—like Woodrow Wilson, Grover Cleveland, and Upton Sinclair—into a chilling, surreal Gothic mystery. When a supernatural "curse" overtakes the elite families of the town, society crumbles under the weight of mysterious abductions, demonic visions, and long-buried hypocrisies.
At over 600 pages, it is a dense, feverish read—which is precisely why reading and discussing it together over the 31 days of October will make it so much more fun.
October Reading Schedule
We will break the novel down across the four weeks of October (roughly 150–170 pages per week) so we can all finish together right on Halloween night:
| Timeline | Assigned Reading | Key Themes / Focus |
| Week 1 (Oct 1–Oct 8) | Author's note, Prologue, + Part 1 | The curse descends on the Slade wedding; Woodrow Wilson's strain |
| Week 2 (Oct 9–Oct 16) | Part 2 | Historical cameos; the eerie Bog Kingdom; social satire |
| Week 3 (Oct 17–Oct 24) | Part 3 | Hysteria spreads; moral decay of the Princeton elite |
| Week 4 (Oct 25–Oct 31) | Part 4 to End of Novel | Climax, resolution, and unpacking the narrator’s reliability |
How to Participate
Weekly Discussion Posts: Every Friday in October (Oct 9, 16, 23, and 31), a new post will go live right here on the blog with guided discussion prompts, character trackers, and space to share your thoughts.
Comment Section: Drop your theories, favorite quotes, and reactions in the comments of each weekly post as you read along with Marianne and me at your own pace.
Grab your copy, dust off your reading chair, and drop a comment below if you're joining us this October!
Are the troubles of modern life getting to you?
The solution to your troubles is contained in the wisdom of the ancients.
Stoicism is a philosophy that was started in Ancient Greece, but this two-thousand-year-old worldview is enjoying a modern rebirth. All across the globe, people are coming to appreciate the timeless wisdom of Stoicism.
You don't have to suffer. You may not be able to control the path your life will take, but Stoicism teaches that you can control the way you see life. By shifting your way of thinking you can eliminate unnecessary suffering, reshape your thought patterns, and achieve that sense of calm you've always wanted.
In this book, you will find all of the information you need to understand Stoic thought and put it into action in your life.
Start by understanding what Stoicism is and isn't. Once you understand the basic concepts you'll learn the history of this storied Philosophy. From there you will build up your understanding while learning how to put each new concept into practice.
Gain insight into the emotions that can keep you from living the life that you want to lead. Find out how to master your heart by feeding positive emotions while starving the negative.
Learn a strategy for success that has helped some of history's greatest heroes to triumph in the face of tragedy. When you learn to see obstacles as opportunities you can rise to the top while others fall behind.
Find out how to prepare yourself for any challenge life may hand you. Don't wait for tragedy to strike before you learn how to handle it. Start building the skills that will allow you to weather any storm.
Take steps today to change your life. This isn't a self-help book for you to read and forget, it calls for real action that will create real results.
All throughout the book, you will find a treasure trove of Stoic wisdom in the form of quotes from history's greatest Stoic thinkers. Learn the lessons taught by history's greatest teachers, passed onto you in plain English.
You don't have to live a life ruled by stress and worry. No matter who you are, you can learn how to master your own mind and retake control of your life.
The power to change is inside of you, the ancient secrets of Stoicism will show you how to unlock your full potential.
I am giving giving Stoicism by Tony Bennis a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
Last month, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell, which was well narrated by Sara Morsey. Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell is the fourth cozy mystery novel in the 'Dune House Series'.
Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell is a short, light listen and was another perfect pick after listening to Therese Raquin by Emile Zola. I adore cozy mystery novels! Hidden Hideaways was a really good cozy mystery novel. Not perfect, but good enough as a palate cleanser after listening to a heavier classic novel earlier in the month.
The storyline for Hidden Hideaways is fun, captivating, and to the point. I liked the main characters quite a bit. Hidden Hideaways has to be my favorite novella in the series. It contains more action, more red herrings, and more characters as suspects to choose from than the previous novellas in the series.
Below is the publisher's summary for Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell from Chirp's website:
Suzie and Mary are enjoying running the newly reopened Dune House, a stunning bed and breakfast on the beach. Their friendship has never been stronger. Mary is in her element using the skills she gained taking care of her family to ensure their guests have an unforgettable experience and Suzie’s relationship with Paul is flourishing.
But when Paul threatens a guest and then the guest is found dead, Paul becomes the prime murder suspect. But there is one problem. He has disappeared without a trace. Suzie believes that Paul is innocent and is worried that he is in grave danger so she starts her own investigation to find him and uncover the truth.
It’s a race against the clock to find Paul before it’s too late! But is Paul really who Suzie thinks he is or has he deceived Suzie and been using her all along?
I am giving Hidden Hideaways by Cindy Bell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
