Another great entry in the In Death series. This one involves some super scary technology. I love watching Eve grow as a person and become more comfortable in her skin. Looking forward to the next #InDeathLongReadalong !
Another great entry in the In Death series. This one involves some super scary technology. I love watching Eve grow as a person and become more comfortable in her skin. Looking forward to the next #InDeathLongReadalong !
May‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is the tagged book. Read at your own pace throughout the month, and discussion questions will be posted on May 31st.
The graphic is a reminder of our yearlong list. If you would to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know!
This quiet, unassuming novel is beautifully written and tells the story of Zorrie. Zorrie sees tragedy, heartbreak, but also joy and love. Her community is one of acceptance and caring, and Hunt‘s writing makes their quirks come to life. The narrative may be short in length, but the pages pack a punch. #SundayBuddyRead
#52BookClub24 #LowercaseLettersOnTheSpine
Combined #BookReport and #WeeklyForecast :
I completed two books last week - Mr. Churchill‘s Secretary was a reread for my IRL book club, and I found I did not enjoy it as much the second time through as I did the first. 🤷🏻♀️
This week, I‘ll continue to make my way through #buddyread titles and knock off some titles from my to read list.
Thanks for the tag, @TheSpineView !
1. My boys…always bring me joy (and I love sharing photos of them!)
2. IRL book club this week - lots of fun
3. Chobani Zero Sugar - I‘m obsessed with this yogurt
4. Baseball season in full swing (no pun intended)
5. I received some good news related to medical tests. A procedure looms in the future, but things are fine so far. #5JoysFriday
This mystery classic had humor and some quirky characters. Published in #1942 , the setting is an academic library with librarian Gilda as the amateur sleuth. She‘s prickly, but with a flare that makes her entertaining. Johnson uses this book to softly poke fun at academia. A nice lighthearted mystery at a time where levity was needed. The audio took me awhile to get into, but I overall enjoyed this one. #192025
Thanks #NetGalley & the publisher
Thanks for the tag, @Deblovestoread !
1. Burn Out: How to Walk Away and Heal - even though I left my job in September, there‘s a lot, physically & mentally, I‘m still unpacking, diagnosing, & overcoming. It definitely takes time, & it‘s been a very slow process. Stress is no joke (maybe that‘s a chapter title).
2. I don‘t read many uplifting books, but the tagged book was such a quiet and beautiful read. So much love and growth. #Two4Tuesday
We‘re two weeks away from this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion! I know some of us have found this to be not to be an easy read, and that‘s okay! Even if you‘re not quite into the book or had to put it down, feel free to join the discussion on the 30th.
Any thoughts to share so far?
Thanks for a great discussion yesterday! Feel free to keep adding to the discussion.
Our next #NancyDrewBR is The Clue in the Diary. We‘ll discuss on May 15th.
If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list, just let me know!
Here we go, #LittenDetectives - time for another discussion of Nancy Drew and her friends!
I‘ve posted 5 questions as spoilers. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or searching for #NancyDrewBR . Join the discussion whenever!
Share any other thoughts below! I‘ll post about next month‘s book, The Clue in the Diary, tomorrow! Thanks for reading with me!!
5. Let's talk character development. Usually, there should be strong character development by the time the reader has reached book six. Though the side characters have changed - George and Bess vs Helen - we have seen Nancy through six adventures. How has the character of Nancy developed over the last six books? Has the Nancy character developed? Is character development impacted by the series' creation through a syndicate? #NancyDrewBR
4. A part of the storyline is the cipher that Nancy tries to decode, and quickly does...because Nancy Drew can do anything!
I found this blog entry from the Library of Congress that discusses ciphers and codes: https://blogs.loc.gov/families/2024/03/ciphers-and-secret-codes-no-security-clea...
I can just imagine readers wanting to decode ciphers too after reading this book!
Any thoughts on this part of the book? #NancyDrewBR
3. Nancy shows her skills yet again in the various encounters she faces. Let's talk about the adventures and the dangers she and her friends have to work through to solve the mystery. Snake bite, a cult, strange men after Nancy, a counterfeiting scheme (the scene in the restaurant where Nancy was accused of passing counterfeit money had me gasping in indignation!). Which adventurous episode was the most impactful to you? #NancyDrewBR
2. Let's talk about the storyline - Nancy and George and Bess heading to Red Gate Farm to help Joanne (1961 edition)/Millie (1931 edition) and her grandmother. What did you think of the storyline? We'll discuss the adventures themselves in another questions, but think in terms of the other adventures Nancy has faced so far. How does this book compare? #NancyDrewBR
1. Unlike previous books, The Secret of Red Gate Farm has minimal changes between the 1931 edition and the 1961 edition - that makes it easier for us to discuss! Which edition did you read? Note that if you read the 1989 edition, it follows the 1961 edition.
While I'm not always crazy over Wikipedia, here is a link to the site that views some details about the book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Red_Gate_Farm #NancyDrewBR
Combined #BookReport and #WeeklyForecast :
Last week I managed to complete a few titles and bailed on one book. Hamish Macbeth seems less like the Columbo of the Scottish Highlands with R.W. Green taking up the reins from M.C. Beaton. And Nancy‘s adventures at Red Gate Farm were more enjoyable to read than her time at Shadow Ranch.
This week, I need to finish my reread of Mr. Churchill‘s Secretary for IRL book club. We‘ll see what else happens!
Nancy Drew‘s latest adventure finds her and Bess and George staying at Red Gate Farm, where interest is high in purchasing the property from the owner, and a cult hangs out near a cave. Codes and snakes and suspicious dealings have Nancy trying to figure out what ties everything together.
So much better than the last one! #NancyDrewBR
Thanks for the tag, @Eggs !
1. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: suspicious, slow burn, cold
2. I‘m looking forward to diving into the next Cat in the Stacks mystery by Miranda James…I need some light reads!
3. Most recently, Mrs. Quinn‘s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford. I also recommend Anthony Horowitz and Louise Penny.
#WondrousWednesday
At 12% into the story, I‘m just not loving it, and quite honestly, I‘m not invested enough to continue. I purely checked this out for the hype, which I usually wait for a very long time before curiosity gets the best of me, but sadly it‘s just not for me. There are plenty of other books out there to try!
@dabbe - #HailtheBail !!
I‘m surprised I‘m the first one to review this - it came out in 2019! Set in #Australia, this is a dual timeline double mystery, with similar situations and some trigger warnings (see below). Abby finds an injured teen in the bushlands, which triggers some horrific memories for her. This is the stage for the slow reveal of the past and present, involving abduction, violence, and what it means to forgive. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
The latest in the Hamish Macbeth series is kind of a tie-in to events that happened in the previous book. Green‘s contribution to the series has made the narrative a bit more polished, which I think has made the characters and setting fresher and in some ways has revitalized the series.
I can tell I am that distracted that I forgot to take a photo of the book before returning it to the library! So, enjoy a photo of #SebastianKitty #CatsOfLitsy !
Combined #BookReport and #WeeklyForecast :
Last week was a dumpster fire of a week - I had medical appointments that did not deliver bad news per se but have caused some future explorations needed. My stress has spiked, understandably, and I did much more doom scrolling than reading. But, I did manage to complete two books, including #TheBros !
The next couple of weeks will be stressful, but I hope to escape into reading!
I can think of 2 right away:
1. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes - I loved the movie (hello ‘90s rom-com fun!), but had a hard time getting through the book. I‘ve tried others by her too, and she‘s just not my author. 🤷🏻♀️
2. The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Recbecca Wells - hated the book, loved the movie.
3. Bridget Jones‘s Diary by Helen Fielding - I liked the movie slightly more than the book.
#TLT #ThreeListThursday
I did it! While there were chapters that I did not understand the significance of, I overall liked this novel. I know, unpopular opinion! Dostoevsky examines good versus evil, religious ideology, love and hate, and family. There are the struggles to conform to a given mindset, to break away from familial ideals, to resist temptation. Dostoevsky longwindedly dissects religion - what is belief, what does it mean to follow the church, and, through ⬇️
Thanks for the tag, @Eggs !
I think the only new thing to report this week is completing book 50 for the year, which is I think the quickest I‘ve reached 50, well, ever. I‘m well on my way of reaching my Goodreads goal this year.
#WhatsNewWednesday
Thanks for the tag, @Sleepswithbooks !
📚I read both paperback and hardcover!
📚Both fiction and nonfiction!
📚Historical fiction!
📚Both recent releases and classics!
📚Neither coffee nor tea - hot chocolate is my hot drink of choice, when I crave a hot drink!
📚 I much prefer physical, though I read a lot of digital!
📚I prefer print, but also read a lot of audio!
#WondrousWednesday
My April #BookSpinBingo board and my March results - no bingo, but I‘ll get there one of these months!!
While I wished this one had a bit more thriller aspects, I did enjoy the view of a con from the con artist‘s perspective. #IgnoranceIsBliss when the female MC is on the case, hiding her true intentions from her marks. There were a couple of twists that I did suspect and others I did not. Overall, a quick, fun read. #BBRC #Adult
Today begins this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead !
Read at your own pace throughout the month. I‘ll post checkins periodically. Discussion on April 30th!
If you would like to be added to this month‘s tag list, let me know! And, if you would like to be removed from the list (for this month or the main tag list) let me know too!
#LittenDetectives : we‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion!
Questions will be posted on the 15th!
In the meantime, @lauraisntwilder shared info on a video game based on last month‘s book on Shadow Ranch: https://store.steampowered.com/app/572740/Nancy_Drew_The_Secret_of_Shadow_Ranch/
I‘m very excited to go back to Manderley this month! I read Rebecca years ago and enjoyed it so much. Thanks to #PemberLittens #HashtagBrigade for enabling the revisit!
March stats!
I read a number of really good books in March. Besides Evelina, which I adored, I loved Mrs. Quinn‘s Rise to Fame, The Collected Regrets of Clover, and North Woods. I ended the month with completing 16 books.
I‘m doing very well with my GR goal, and of course I had to add a graph from Storygraph because it‘s awesome.
Wishing everyone a good April reading month!
I made this a few days ago and then proceeded to forget to post! My list for April‘s #BookSpinBingo …many of the titles are recycled from past bingo boards. I‘ll get to them one of these months!
Combined #BookReport and #WeeklyForecast :
I‘m still thinking about North Woods! It was so good. As I listen to the birds outside, I cannot help but be reminded of the setting.
I‘m not as far along with the remaining March #buddyread titles as I had hoped, but I‘ll keep plugging away. The Golden Notebook is harder to get through than #TheBros …shocking to me!
I‘ve got a lot of buddy reads lined up for April - I hope I remembered all of them!
It‘s time for this month‘s discussion #LiteraryCrew ! I‘ve posted 7 questions as spoilers that can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or searching the hashtag. Answer whenever you would like!
I‘ve not quite finished this month‘s book, but I have to say I am greatly enjoying so far!
7. In what ways does Mary‘s story resonate today? ~adapted from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
6. Was justice served at the end of the book? Did the characters get what they deserved? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
5. As you were reading, who did you think buried the objects in the ground outside Mary‘s door? Were you surprised by the answer? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
4. Discuss Henry Simmons‘ actions throughout the novel from his first encounter with Mary, to the kiss in her parents‘ dining room. Do you approve of his behavior? What about Mary‘s? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
3. Mary often wonders if she herself has been possessed by the Devil or if, instead, it is God influencing her actions. How does this inner dialogue change your view of Mary‘s motives? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
2. The Puritans believed that they were always in the presence of God or the Devil—that they were never truly alone. How did the characters‘ behavior reflect, or not reflect this belief? How would you behave differently if you felt there was always someone watching? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
1. Bohjalian loosely bases Mary Deerfield on Katherine Nanny Naylor, who is the first woman in the American colonies to be granted a divorce for “cruelty.“
What knowledge do you have of the Puritans and historical witch accusations (it's not only Salem)?
A couple links: https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/chris-bohjalian/
https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/new-england-witchcraft-trials-it-wasnt-j...
#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Another superb entry in the In Death series! Eve confronts parts of her past and has to prove her bff‘s innocence. I laughed out loud in a couple of parts, and I‘m enjoying how much Eve and even Roarke have grown so far. Cannot wait to see what is in store for them next. #InDeathLongReadalong
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
3. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
#TLT #ThreeListThursday
Oomph…I can see why this book has a low rating on Litsy! I was so tempted to increase the listening speed just to get through the book at times. It has a good premise - friends quarantining together, and said friends have lots of issues. Not very likable characters, and that did not bother me. But, the last part of the book was like reading something completely different and just randomly added.
Using this for #BBRC #Adult #RainOnMyParade
Overall, I enjoyed this retelling of Emma. The ending to me seemed to be a very different tone from the rest of the book, which disappointed me a bit, but this is still a pick. I loved seeing Emma‘s passion for art shine throughout the novel and her convictions to stand on her own in certain situations - lots of growth. It was cute and light…great choice for #PemberLittens ! #JaneAdjacent
Thanks for the tag, @Read4life !
1. Simone St James, Nora Roberts, Anthony Horowitz, Louise Penny
2. That‘s hard! My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, but my favorite genre is probably mystery. Let‘s go with And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
3. Louise Penny, Donna Leon
#WondrousWednesday
This beautifully written novel entranced me from page one. Mason writes such a unique novel, focusing on a body of land and its inhabitants over centuries. Telling the story through various mediums - prose, diary, poem, letter, song - really made this so riveting and lyrical. The tie in with everyone too, the little nuggets thrown in over the years, just added perfectly to the story. I am so glad I read this! #52BookClub24 #AtLeastFourDifferentPOV
For this week‘s #hyggehour , I read North Woods. Purely a #blameitonlitsy book. I‘m loving it. So unique & original.
#Vladimir joined me this week in my reading nook & chair, with my Candied Apple Yankee Candle scenting the air. #CatsOfLitsy
It felt good to turn off life for a bit…my mental health has not been strong this past week. This was a good reset moment, & I plan to listen to a session on the Calm app later tonight.
I realized I forgot to post an earlier checkin…so sorry #LiteraryCrew ! We are a week away from our discussion of Hour of the Witch.
Any thoughts to share before the 31st? I‘m starting this soon so I‘ll be ready for the discussion! #buddyread