Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Point Reyes Books in Point Reyes Station, California

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? 

New to Me Little Free Library in Inverness, California!!

 

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!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland, California

 

Upcoming book events.

Blind date with a book section.

Outdoor cafe!!

I'm happy to report that I recently visited a new to me bookstore last week while visiting the Santa Barbara area!! Godmothers is located in the quaint, coastal town of Summerland, California and opened its doors in 2024.

Godmothers is located inside a three story building that use to be an antique store. I fell in love with Godmothers for many reasons. I love the layout for this bookstore. It's easy to find as it is right off the 101 Freeway. They have an outdoor cafe, which I didn't try because my husband and I had just enjoyed breakfast before our visit. 

There are several events hosted by Godmothers. You will find mostly new books for sale, but you will also find a few vintage books for sale as well. I loved the 'blind date' with a book section. The book section for teens and children.

I wish my husband and I still lived in the area so that we could visit Godmothers on a regular basis!

FOL Used Bookstore in Carpinteria, California

 

I'm feeling rather nostalgic right now! My husband and I lived in the small coastal town of Carpinteria, California for almost 16 years. Carpinteria located approximately halfway between Ventura, California and Santa Barbara, California.

We loved living Carpinteria. I truly miss living there. For such a small town, it packed a punch in terms of things to do. Carpinteria has plenty of eateries, a weekly farmers market, an annual avocado festival, a seal rookery, several parks, a campground, a salt marsh, a history museum, a community center, a rose farm, nurseries galore, and the world's safest beaches (no riptides supposedly).

I use to shop at the local FOL Used Bookstore all the time when we lived in Carpinteria. It is a stand alone bookstore right next to the public library. The FOL Used Bookstore was always well stocked with books for sale costing no more than $2 per book. Some books were a lot less. 

During our trip to Santa Barbara last week, we drove down to Carpinteria to see what changes have occurred since we left the area 12 years ago. We also revisited the FOL Used Bookstore while we were in town. I purchased up four books for six dollars. I'm glad to see the FOL Used Bookstore is still around and thriving. So much has changed in Carpinteria since we moved away in 2014.

I first made a post about the FOL Used Bookstore in Carpinteria back in January 2012 when I first began blogging! Click here to see my original post!

New to Me Little Free Library in Santa Barbara, California

 

I loved finding this Little Free Library in Santa Barbara with my husband on our way to the Santa Barbara Mission. It is a very cute LFL and offered quite a few book choices.

We visited the Santa Barbara Mission afterward, which wasn't our first visit. The Santa Barbara Mission is beautiful and is known as the 'Queen of the California Missions'.

There is a book tie in to the Santa Barbara Mission! Did you know this? The Island of the Blue Dolphin by Scott O'Dell is the novel I'm specifically talking about. 

Below is information I discovered while searching Google:

The Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island—the real-life inspiration for Karana in Island of the Blue Dolphins—was brought to the Old Mission Santa Barbara in 1853 after living in isolation for 18 years. She passed away from dysentery just seven weeks after her rescue and “was buried in an unmarked grave on the Nidever family plot at the Santa Barbara Mission cemetery.” “There is a plaque at the east end of the mission cemetery that commemorates her. It was dedicated in 1928, by the Daughters of the American Revolution.”

Below is a photo I took with my camera phone of the plaque which commemorates the lone woman from San Nicolas Island.

I've also included three other photos taken inside the Santa Barbara Mission Church.

I hope you enjoyed my post! Have you visited any Little Free Libraries lately?

Two New to Me Little Free Libraries in Goleta, California

 

My husband and I visited the Santa Barbara area last week as my husband attended a two day conference for work. 

During our stay, my husband was able to take some time off for us to do some sightseeing. Of course, this meant finding some Little Free Libraries between activities.

Above are two of the Little Free Libraries we discovered in Goleta, California near our hotel.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Top Ten Tuesday - Books With Nationalities In The Title

 

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 I've read and reviewed here on my blog. Click on the links provided below to read my review for each book.

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8 Lee

3. My Japanese Husband Thinks I'm Crazy by Grace Buchele Mineta

4. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

5 An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

6. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

7. The Story of English in 100 Words by David Crystal

8. Secrets of the Spanish Playing Cards: Fortune Telling Using La Baraja Española by Kara Janssen

9. The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told: A True Tale of Three Gamblers, The Kentucky Derby, and the Mexican Cartel by Mark Paul

10. An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

New to Us Little Free Library in San Juan Bautista, California

 On our way home from Soledad, California, my husband and I stopped off in San Juan Bautista, California with the goal of visiting the San Juan Bautista Mission. 

Unfortunately, the San Juan Bautista Mission was packed with people. So, we decided to take a pass and visit the San Juan Bautista Mission another time.

On our way out of town, we found a Little Free Library outside Vertigo Coffee Roasters. This Little Free Library is cute!

New to Me Little Free Life in Soledad, California

 

This past Friday through Sunday, my husband and I spent time at the Inn at the Pinnacles in Soledad, California. The Inn at the Pinnacles is a luxury bed and breakfast set on a vineyard and is located about a ten to fifteen minute drive from the west entrance to the Pinnacles National Park. It was our first visit time staying at the Inn at the Pinnacles. We truly enjoyed our relaxing stay at there and hope to make another visit in the future. 

The primary purpose of our visit was to attend a stargazing event hosted at the Inn at the Pinnacles. We were able to view the night sky both Friday and Saturday using a telescope. Wine and cheese happy hours were offered both nights and a delicious, homemade Mexican dinner on Saturday evening. And, of course, delicious breakfasts during our stay too. 

On our way to the Inn at the Pinnacles, we visited one of the 21 California Missions in Soledad. The Soledad Mission was a small, but quaint mission. We enjoyed our visit there.

On our way home, we dropped off a couple of books at a Little Free Library in Soledad.

How was your weekend?