Back for more gore in book 2 with plucky Ben and his faithful dog Brown as they continue their post-apocalypse adventures. They find Natalie, who is very pregnant and partially turned. She struggles to stay on the human side of things. Shanahan attempts to offer a more scientific explanation of disease which I appreciated. Really like the characters and series. Quick read and fun book!

Ben Stone, a 601 pound man, hasn‘t left his apartment in nine years and desperately needs an amputation. Firemen are working to get him transported to the hospital for surgery when the zombie outbreak occurs and the world ends. Ben realizes that if he dies, his beloved dog, Brown, will not survive the apocalypse. With dark humor and lots of gore, Ben develops unique solutions and becomes an unlikely hero. A solid read for those who like zombies.

Billy Pilgrim is a hapless, helpless soldier in WWII. He witnesses horrendous acts of violence and the destruction of Dresden. He survives to return to home just to be abducted by aliens. The story is conveyed through glimpses of his life as he is bouncing around the timeline. Using dark humor and an underlying sadness, there is a poignant story to be pieced together. This is a short and interesting book and is well worth reading.

The Wayfarer is an old, patched up ship with a diverse, motley crew. Book 1 of this series is seen through the eyes of a newbie hire, Rosemary Harper. With her experiences we learn that family is not necessarily blood-related or even human. Low on science, high on world-building and relationships, this is a fun read.

Johnnie Rico is recruited into the infantry for the intergalactic Arachnid war, but first he must survive base camp. This novel is different from the movie as it focuses mostly on the philosophies of military life, the development of a soldier, as well as many other commentaries about life. He does a nice job in illustrating futuristic weapons and there are some engaging battles with alien bugs. I found it readable but not my favorite.

Circe, the minor daughter of Helios, in Greek mythology, is brought to life by Madaline Miller is this gripping novel. The character arc for Circe is quite satisfying and is reminiscent of the story of women as a whole. Downtrodden, bullied and banished, she overcomes her fears, learns about her authentic self and her powers, and walks on her own unique path. This may be my favorite book of the year. Narrator, Perdita Weeks, was perfect.

This is a lovely, sweet book about an elderly woman with a sad past and her unlikely relationship with a great pacific octopus. I thought that this book was going to be, primarily, about the octopus, but found that it was centered more on the flawed human characters and their relationships. This is an easy, likable beach read with a bit more depth.

I really loved this book. It has everything: history, art, fantasy, and, of course, a likable, gutsy protagonist who is cursed to wander the world always forgotten by all that meet her. How can you make your mark on the world if the world cannot remember you? How do you find love and connection? Beautifully answered in this very well written and satisfying read. Also, kudos to the narrator of the audiobook, Julia Whelan.

This Chick Lit book was a 4-star read with relatable characters and good prose. There were some funny moments but had a surprisingly sweet and honest outlook on such heavy subjects as grief, suicidal ideation, divorce, and death of a spouse. The relationships that were formed between Phoebe and the wedding people were quirky but positive and respectful. It was an uplifting experience and was very enjoyable.

This sci-fi has great world building, strong female characters and an interesting take on supernatural powers intertwined with natural disasters. There are three narratives that are purposefully opaque and are very, very slowly evolved. The story is never dull. And I loved the eventual reveals…they were delightful. Highly recommend.

I do love a good zombie book. This is YA level book with a self-absorbed teenaged girl (realistic) as the protagonist. Set a few generations after the rise of the zombie, her isolated community that had developed their own theology, rituals, and were taught that they were the only survivors. Our protagonist, selfish and indecisive throughout, senses that this might not be true and longs to see the mythical ocean. She grew on me.

Excellent story. Excellent writing. Loved the sciency stuff. Loved the relationships. The hype is on point. Loved the book. Listened to the audible book and narrator, Ray Porter, is wonderful as always. Loved him in the Bobiverse series. Smiled often, cried a little. Highly recommend.

Klara is an artificial friend purchased to provide companionship to a chronically sick but creative and intelligent teen. The story is told through Klara‘s unique experiences. This book poses many questions and challenges about what it means to be human and to love someone, and the many ways to love. It left me feeling contemplative and a little sad and I will be thinking about this book for a while. Excellent read.

The last spider protagonist I have read was, I think, Charlotte from Charlotte‘s Web. I found my self rooting for Fabian, Portia and Bianca and not so much for the humans. You could‘ve left them out entirely but, of course, we wouldn‘t have had the human vs. spider battle. Enjoyable book. Will be reading the next two books and the 4th book is scheduled to be released next year.

This book is a stunning and thorough history of cancer. There were some slower moments, particularly with the discussion of research trials, but the author‘s use of compelling scientific discoveries and personal cancer stories kept me engaged. I learned so much. Kudos to the author and narrator.

The second book of the Dark Tower series, The Drawing of the Three, is a well written story with an imaginative plot. I am glad I didn‘t stop at the first book! Roland puts together his “fellowship of the Dark Tower”, an unusual group of misfits from different times and places.

An honest, painful and sometimes funny memoir about a child star and her relationship with her narcissistic mom. Her mother‘s biggest desire was for her daughter to become a star and that required constant makeovers, caloric restrictions, and complete control over every aspect of Jeannette‘s life. After her mother‘s death from metastatic breast cancer, she slowly rebuilds her life and self-esteem. A beautiful story of resilience.

The basic premise is the same for both the book and the movie, Blade Runner. Deckard is a bounty hunter who kills androids that are hiding in society. The gritty, futuristic look of the movie is iconic but the book describes a world that is radioactive, wildlife that is almost extinct and people are living with a religion called mercerism that can direct their emotions. Quick read and excellent writing asking questions about empathy and reality.

James is Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of Jim, a runaway slave. This book is a wonderful, adventurous and sometimes humorous story. It is fast-paced and hard to put down. It illustrates the god-awful suffering of slavery, the abuses of an alcoholic parent and deep prejudices that still reside in this country. It is also a plucky story of courage and friendship. 5 stars

This is classic Tom Clancy with developed characters and a ton of technical detail. I loved this book when I read it in the 90‘s and I also loved the movie. This time around the book felt a little dated, but the political drama and suspense makes this large book a quick read.

I really expected to love this book as I am a fan of the space program, but I found it to be a snoozer. There were some interesting antidotes, but, overall it felt disjointed and there was too many wives to keep straight. Loved all the photos.

The follow-up book to the dark The Parable of the Sowers is centered on the rise of Christian Nationalism as the population is desperate to re-establish normalcy. Horrific things happen to the Earthseed group under this new theocracy. But like Earthseed‘s cache phrase “God is change”, there is hope for the future. Both books are worth reading if you can take the human suffering.

A thoughtful, often disturbing, and a mostly realistic view of a dystopian civilization as it slowly collapses. In 1993, when this book was written, it might have seemed like a possible scenario for the future. Now it seems too close for comfort. Our protagonist is a young girl with big ideas. She accepts the need to change and adapt. Excellent read but quite violent.

Le Guin‘s writing is very descriptive with interesting details about the world of Gethen, also known as Winter. It illustrates a rather hostile environment with humans who have fluid gender and sexuality. The reader is allowed to explore the world and its unique inhabitants. The exceptional detail and folk stories make this a fascinating read.

This historical fiction uses a different perspective in describing the horrors of war, a young, sheltered woman from California. Frances McGrath enlists in the army to serve in Vietnam War with heroic notions of serving with her older brother. She learns quickly of life and death, fear, friendship and love. The story continues as she returns home to face internal trauma and an unwelcoming family and country. Prepare for tears.

This factual account of the five months between Lincoln‘s election and the start of the civil war was well-written and absorbing. A non fiction narrative that produced insights on the values, thoughts and emotions of famous people as well as the lesser known characters. The increase of rhetoric and missed opportunities for unity made secession certain. An interesting read but I found it, sadly, very relatable to our current times.

Book 4 of the Bobiverse has Bob heading out to the Verse to find his friend and clone, Bender. His adventure includes finding another alien species and fending off a civil war amongst the other Bobs. Fun read with tongue in cheek humor and political intrigue, with some science and philosophy thrown in for good measure.

Roland, the Gunslinger, is chasing the Man in Black to discover the location of the Dark Tower. He travels through a dystopian world and meets people. There is some good prose, but this book feels like a puzzle that is missing a lot of important pieces. Meh. I generously gave this a So-So in the hopes that the other books of this series will redeem this experience.

This collection of nine short stories published in 1950 is extraordinary with its vision of a future with robots. Each story could stand alone but they collectively tell a larger story. The famous “Three Laws of Robotics” first appears here. Really interesting and well-thought out. Hard to believe that this was written well before artificial intelligence was developed. Bravo!

Book 3 of the Silo series, Dust, is a gripping page-turner, I was so vested in these characters that the tense situations they found themselves in had me throwing the book down, pacing in circles in agitation, picking it back up, over and over again. It was an engaging read with well developed characters and fast paced storytelling. Loved the ending…loved the series!

Surprisingly, book 2 was not a continuation of the story of Silos 17 and 18 but a prequel which was divided into 3 distinct story lines and bounced around different time lines. I found it darker and a little sadder than book 1, but still an engaging and well-written book. While many questions were answered about how the silos came into being, more questions come to mind. Book 3 is calling…

Gripping post-apocalyptic story of a generation of people living in the confines of a buried silo. Strict rules, lies, cruel punishments and even murder have kept the population in line. When Juliette is promoted from the depths of the silo to become the sheriff, her curiosity and determination to find the truth becomes an issue for those in control. Clever plot and good characters drive this very human story. Book #1 of 3.

An historical fiction inspired by the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, coal-mining and the Pack Horse Library Service. Cussy Mary is a kind and intelligent person who happens to have blue skin. For this, she suffers as a social outcast. She creates a life for herself by bringing books to the Appalachian people and is also known as the Book Woman. A story of resiliency and tenacity in the face of unrelenting discrimination.

Another good read by Stephen King. Really enjoyed the relationships between Charlie, his father, Mr Bowditch and, of course, sweet Radar. The story moves easily between this world and another more magical world. Like any good fairy tale, there is good and evil, heroes and villains. This book is an enjoyable, easy to read, page turner.

This book was based on a real person, Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in the late 18th century. There is a murder mystery and rape, but also relationships of family and small community. This is the best kind of historical fiction: complete immersion into a historical setting and a protagonist that refuses to look the other way and approaches her life with honesty and conviction. Strong women has always appealed to me. Highly recommend.

“All signs point to your murder.” Good, solid mystery with a likable protagonist. Good hook, slow middle and then a fast action-filled wrap-up at the end. Overall, very enjoyable!

Thank you @Sharpeipup for the recommendation. I will be reading some of your other suggestions!

The body floats downstream.

#firstlinefriday

An horrific murder is committed in a small town. The investigation twists and turns with each new and conflicting piece of evidence. How the investigators (a motley crew of police, lawyers, and townspeople) come to an unusual conclusion that the suspect an otherworldly outsider is Stephen King‘s specialty. Trigger warning for gore, body horror and violence to children.

Finally, holidays are over and quiet has descended on the house. Ready to read! Great start to this mystery with “Your future contains dry bones”. I am all in!

In fairy tales, when a witch tells you your fate, you listen.

Sweet romance. Would be a perfectly good “beach read”. Didn‘t sweep me away…

Set in Spain during the Inquisition, this is a story about a scullery maid with some small magical abilities. In a desperate effort to improve her life, she allows herself to be swept up in the politics of ambitious men and women who attempt to improve their social positions by exploiting her. She finds unexpected friends, a dark and tortured soul to fall in love with (who can‘t resist that?), and discovers the depths of her magic. Fun read.

“Is the mouth of a shark an opportunity?”
“For the shark it is.”

Here are a few facts about me!
I am married, have grown kids, and a very old Sheltie.
I work with kids with diabetes.
I 💕 to knit and crochet.
I am a gamer and I currently play Splatoon 3.
I have a lot of Christmas earrings.
In the 4th grade my teacher was reading The Book of Three to us in class. I asked her after class “where did you find these amazing stories? she said, the library of course. Never looked back!

I am super excited about the list of fabulous reads from @Sharpeipup . They all looked so good that I am starting at the top! Thanks to #auldlangspine2025 for organizing🩷🩷📖🩷🩷

1. How to Solve Your Own Murder
2. Unreasonable Hospitality
3. Grown Woman Talk
4. The Paris Novel
5. The Wedding People
6. Ghostland: American History of Haunted Places
7. Out on a Limb
8. To Have and to Heist
9. American Sirens

Cheers!

Sweet, coming of age story about escorting two giraffes across the country during the Great Depression. Based on a true event, this book provides a small glimpse of life at that time and is a nice read for animal lovers.