Reading Rates Have Been Crashing!

 

I came across an interesting video on YouTube put out by the BBC Global. It features Katty Kay interviewing John Grisham for part of the video.

It is during this video I learned that between 2003 and 2023 reading rates declined by 40%! People aren't reading as much anymore. The above finding was published in a study in August 2025 by the University of Florida.

Katty Kay and John Grisham discuss the decline of reading. Additionally, they discuss Grisham's writing process. 

Take a look at the interview in the video above!

A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom

 

A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom is my third read during the month of December 2025. 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of A Killing Truth, which was not so well narrated by Kristi Alsip. The narrator mispronounced a word or two and I also heard her swallow and other sounds a few times throughout this novel. So, I won't be seeking out any other books which are narrated by Kristi Alsip.

As far as the novel goes, I enjoyed it. I like thriller novels with strong leading female characters in not so traditional careers. A Killing Truth is the first novel in the 'Leine Basso Crime Thrillers' featuring female assassin, Leine Bass. I like Leine's character. She's one tough cookie and also a single mother of a twelve year old daughter. 

I enjoyed the writing and plot development for A Killing Truth. As much as I enjoyed this first novel in a series, I'm not sure if I will continue with it or not. Time will only tell.

Below is the publisher's summary for A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom from the author's website:

They say the truth will set you free, but what if it kills you first?

Leine Basso eliminates terrorists for a living. After a routine assassination almost gets her killed, she chalks it up to a fluke. Her lover and fellow assassin, Carlos, has another idea altogether. He thinks their boss is setting them up for a fall.

When Carlos goes missing and a bombing thwarts another mission, Leine suspects the stakes are far higher than she could ever imagine, and wonders if the man in charge might have it in for her after all.

A Killing Truth is the chilling start to the award-winning Leine Basso thriller series of crime novels. If you like no-nonsense heroines, page-turning plots, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love D.V. Berkom’s tension-filled series.

I am giving A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Banned Together Documentary

 

I recently watched a documentary called Banned Together. It's  about a group of public school students that ban together to protest removing certain books parents deem inappropriate for students under the age of eighteen.

Banned Together is excellent and documents the struggles to keep books in schools. 

In addition to seeing students speak up about their right to read freely, we also hear parents, teachers, authors, and politicians speak up about the removal of books from public schools.

I highly recommend Banned Together. It's gives a lot of information about what's going with regards to book banning in schools.

Bearly Used Bookstore in Parry Sound, Ontario!

 

Oooo, Bearly Used Bookstore in Parry Sound, Ontario looks amazing!

After watching the above YouTube video, I would love to visit Bearly Used Bookstore. Independent bookstores are the best.

Victorian Slang - Some Humor for Your Consideration!

 

As a reader, I find words to be fascinating. I especially find old slang to be quite intriguing.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!!

 

Why Reading Isn't 'Natural'

 

I accidentally discovered the above video on YouTube. As an avid reader, the title of the video is what captured my attention straight away. 

Apparently, neurotypical brains do not have the innate ability to read. From an evolutionary stand point, our brains haven't had enough time to develop a 'dedicated' reading brain according to what I learned from watching this video. 

To learn more, watch the above video. It's fairly short at nearly six minutes.

Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson

 

I love dogs and I also love watching dog shows when I find the time. With that in mind, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson, which is a nonfiction book about dogs and dog shows like the Westminster Dog Show here in the USA. Also worth noting, Jonathan Davis does a wonderful job narrating Dogland.

I learned a lot about dogs from reading Dogland. Everything from selective breeding to the fact that even dogs can get STIs like brucellosis (a bacterial infection)! If you love learning about dogs and their history in and out of the show ring, then you may enjoy reading this book as much as I did. I also liked that this book discusses whether dogs are happy or not. Plus, there's even a discussion on the difference between show dogs and pet dogs.

Below is the publisher's summary for Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson found on the Goodreads website:

From Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Elephant in the Room comes the first inside account of the Westminster Dog Show—America’s oldest and most beloved dog show—following one dog on his quest to become a champion.

Tommy Tomlinson was watching a dog show on television a few years ago when he had a sudden thought: Are those dogs happy? How about pet dogs—are they happy, too? Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog-show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the bond between dogs and humans that has endured for thousands of years. Dogland shares his surprising, entertaining, and unforgettable adventures.

Tomlinson spends three years on the road and goes behind the scenes at dozens of dog shows across the country, where he is licked, sniffed, or rubbed up against by dogs of nearly every size, shape, and breed. Like a real-life version of Best in Show, Dogland follows one champion show dog—a Samoyed named Striker—and his devoted entourage of breeders, handlers, and owners as he competes in the Westminster Dog Show, the oldest and most famous dog show in America. Tomlinson brings the dog-show circuit to life as he witnesses teams scrambling from town to town in search of championship points and colorful ribbons. Along the way, he also speaks to scientists who have discovered new insights into how dogs and people formed their bond—and how that bond has changed over the centuries.

Engaging, charming, and informative, Dogland is an irresistibly appealing read for pop culture followers and animal lovers alike.

I am giving Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Author, Sophie Kinsella Passed Away!

 

Although, I've never read any books written by author, Sophie Kinsella, it's still sad to learn she passed away from brain cancer! 

Have any of you read her 'Shopaholic' series?