This is one of my all-time favorite picture books, a great deal of that because of the gorgeous illustrations. When I couldn't find my childhood copy, I couldn't find it at the library either or new online. Bought a used copy online because I HAD to own it again, especially if it's out of print. The bad lighting hardly does this illustration justice... Heck, if I ever get a tattoo it will be based off this artwork.

Trying to finish chapters for school so I can get back to Trevor Noah!

I'm supposed to be doing homework but I can't put this down...

Enjoying a very relaxing Labor Day weekend but there's always time to make homework more fun with a great view and a drink.

Back yard study spot :)

Drinking the new eclipse tea blend at my fave tea room and enjoying a good mystery ❤

I needed something light and easy this week, and was having trouble getting into the run-on, punctuationless "Blindness," so switched up books! I love the illustrations, and the 20s era setting is fun.

Went to get my oil changed/car inspection but left my book in the car...😭

Reading while waiting for Newsies to start! The Muny in STL is such a great resource... top quality productions, awesome outdoor theater, and 1,400 free seats for the general public. I definitely don't take it for granted. ❤

Excited to get into what seems like a really interesting new sci-fi story! Mango smoothie and sunshine :)

After weeks of 100+ degree weather, I'm loving this 65 degree morning of lovliness! Too bad I have to be at work in 15 minutes...

Supposed to be doing homework...

This textbook is about as interesting as my reading gets right now. But since we are literally reading it cover to cover, you better believe I'm counting it on Litsty and Goodreads! 😂 Accompanying slides not included...

"Learning to reas begins the first time an infant is held and read a story.... As they listen to stories of Babar, Toad, and Curious George and say 'goodnight moon' every evening, children gradually learn that the mysterious notations on the page make words, words maje stories, stories teach us all manner of things that make up the known universe."

Reading for pleasure has stopped completely since I started graduate school last month. Luckily this book for class is an interesting read! I made scones and tea to enjoy along with it.

My library now likes to tell me how much money I'm saving not buying books! I kind of like it!

My book club chose this title, which I'm pretty sure I read once before. But it's been over ten years so it's reading like new. I needed tea and scones for weekend revitalization before the new work week, so enjoying my favorite stl tea room! Also my Litsy app has been acting up lately, kicking me out in the middle of trying to make new posts and constantly telling me I have one notification that never disappears... dunno what's up with that.

Sometimes even during a busy vacation you one needs to find a few moments to enjoy a book and rest.

Waiting for my haircut appointment with a new book to read :)

Not really sure how I'm feeling about this book so far, but since I am reading it for a book group I suppose I will see...

Tea and sausage roll and book at my sidewalk table this morning:)

Drinking some mango tumeric herbal tea and finally getting more into this book ⛾❤

I'm only at chapter 3, which is pretty early to be making judgements, but I'm already struggling to get into the story and like the characters... but this book has pretty good reviews on Litsy and Goodreads so I am going to give it a try...?

Lemon blueberry cake, Darjeeling Spring tea blend, and a new book to read ❤

Enjoying a desperately needed post-work decompression moment. Tea, book, and my "Max Richter Playlist" on Pandora is exactly what I needed to lower my stress levels. So far this book is really enjoyable; while some stories are hard to get into, I haven't disliked any of them, a few really resonated with me or lingered pleasantly on my mind, and the title story even made me cry (what is wrong with me these days?). And the writing style is lovely

How is it that cats just know which person in the entire room is the most allergic, and chooses that person to make their pillow? I couldn't kick her off though, too sweet. I might die, but yeah, sweet. Also, enjoyed the first two stories in this book. Short stories aren't always my jam, takes me awhile to get into the format, but I have high hopes for this one so far!!!

This book made me tear up in public like 4 times just while finishing up the last 50 pages or so... damn you, Becky Chambers, unforgivable. This book was even MORE than I could have hoped for. I can't write a decent review but I want 20 more books in this amazing universe as soon as possible, please. So wonderful to connect with old characters, learn about characters I thought I knew, and somehow become deeply attached to new ones. I need more!

There is nowhere better than The London Tea Room to spend a dreary, gray, rainy Sunday morning.

When you're clearly the first on the waiting list for a new book at the library because the binding is completely untouched... I am afraid to crack the spine open on this but I WILL because I have been waiting for this since the moment I finished Angry Planet and I can't believe it is FINALLY HERE! ❤💙💚💛💜 Bed? What's that? So excited to enter this gorgeous universe again with its characters and amazing world/culture building!!!!

Pretty soon I'll be having a lot more school reading to do, so I'm doing as much pleasure reading as I can now! I am so excited, nervous, scared, elated to finally be going back to school after ten years. Enjoying a moment of rest before a busy day at work today, which I am trying to gear up for but it's not really working.
Also not related to this book since I'm not very far yet, but I wish Litsy had a rating between "pick" and "so-so."

Another nap-time where I am not doing the mounds of paperwork I should be, but sneaking on some reading. Ah well!

This is me reading away the stress of attempting to make a decision on graduate school... do I go to this deaf ed program or decline and spend the next year preparing to study/take the GRE and applying to a speech-language pathology programs? Could someone make the decision for me? No? Ok, I will just read instead... maybe it will all go away and resolve itself!

Been a bit of a slow start, but loving the concept of this book so far.

I really enjoyed this story, even knowing the ending because I broke my usual rule and saw the movie first. It seems so incredible that it's true, and the writing feels very personal. Even as Saroo addresses the question of memory and time and how this might be affecting his story, it doesn't affect the emotions clear in this incredible tale. I also like how it brings up questions of home, family, belonging and identity.

This came in for me at the library so I am DROPPING EVERYTHING ELSE and reading it. So excited the wait is finally over!!!!!!! Especially after that last cliffhanger. I had to find a synopses for the previous book, since it's been awhile, but I am excited to be with these characters, in their worlds, again.

At work with a student asleep in my arms, so I couldn't do any real "work." Finished this instead. So incredibly sad and poignant.

This book surprised me. I'm not always a mystery person, but a clone murder mystery in space? I was intrigued. Inside the story is so much more... conversations on class, personhood, ethics, religion, race, politics, memory, and morality to name just a few. I almost wish the book could have delved even deeper into some of these, though it did a pretty good job of balancing these with the overlaying story, if not perfectly. Memorable characters.

"Politics is almost never violent towards the people who are actually making the political decisions."

This book kept me company during my sick weekend, and boy is it a doozy. I found myself getting angry at myself for rooting for characters and situations that at the same time made my stomach turn, then trying to turn myself against them again. It's going to take sone digestion time, but I completely breezed through the book itself.

Spending a little me time at my favorite St. Louis tea room after a rough few weeks of dealing with family loss, work/school stress/etc. I come here nearly every weekend, even if it is only for a short time. It gets me away from the computer, TV, and stress of whatever stuff I need to do that might be looming over my head, and forces me to relax, focus on the story, and fill myself with warm tea ❤

Reading and tea is my self-care for today.

Hotel reading. Usually not a fan of short stories, but really enjoying these thought-provoking tales!

There is a mythical element to our childhood, it seems, that stays with us always. When we are young, we consume the world in great gulps, and it consumes us, and everything is mysterious and alive and fills us with desire and wonder, fear, and guilt. With the passing of the years, however, those memories become distant and malleable, and we shape them into the stories of who we are. We are brave, or we are cowardly. We are loving, or we are cruel

I am still processing how much I adored this book. Packed with a lifetime of information and stories, it's as easy to read as a novel, but with the stark contrast of some hard acknowledged truths of racism, injustice, and the horrors of WWII, with somr interesting insight into the immigrant experience in the beginning of the 20th century. I wish I could write a more cohesive review, but wow.

I am so incredibly tired, but I can't fall asleep unless I read just a little...

This was my second Rainbow Rowell book! I kind of wish I had read this *before* Carry On, but I certainly enjoyed it nonetheless!

I last read this book seven years ago, and here I am staying up until almost 2am finishing it again. I'm not sure if this is the second or third time, but it still feels as new as the first, I'd forgotten so much. This is one of those books that stays with you, haunts you, and I didn't find myself disappointed on the reread.

I was surprised how absolutely not ready I was to finish this book. I kept putting off the last 50 pages so I wouldn't have to say goodbye to Breq, Seivarden, Tisarwat, and the others. I think when I started the trilogy, I wasn't sure how I would like it; it was a slow burn affair. The characters got under my skin without me knowing. I'm sad there's nothing left for me to read about this universe, but it was a good ride while it lasted.

"There were few things Dr. Chef enjoyed more than a cup of tea.... A solitary cup of tea required more care, a blend carefully chosen to match his day. He found the ritual of it quite calming; heating the water, measuring the crisp leaves and curls of dried fruit into the tiny basket, gently brushing the excess away with his fingerpads, watching color rise through water like smoke as it brewed. Tea was a moody drink."

I was pleasantly surprised by this graphic novel, I really loved it. It was sweet, honest, emotional, and touched on social issues many wedding themed books seem to skip. Not to mention that 14 year old me would totally also have had an X-Files themed wedding, so clearly we are soul mates :)