Finished this yesterday while I was out and trying not to lose my mind.
I liked the twist to history and WWI. I like that the MC is a man in a traditionally women‘s space and that he is forced to prove himself constantly. Which he does every time.
The writing is good, the characters are good, the story is good.
Worth the time.

He has eyes!
Just the bottom portion and filling in left

Just hanging out working on Calcifer

Sequel to ‘The Philosopher‘s Flight‘

So far not bad.

1. My glasses glow in the dark. I didn‘t know that when I bought them.
2. It‘s that time of year again. I‘m not much on sports but baseball I enjoy.
3. Litsy
4. Libby has been my constant the last couple weeks.
5. Warm blankets.
It‘s the little things this week 😊
#5joysfriday @DebinHawaii

Oh, Franny and Jet what tragedies you endured. It‘s not often that books make my eyeballs sweaty … this one though ugh 😩
Well written. Excellent story. Wonderful characters.
More than worth it, I did not want it to end.

The second book in the Practical Magic series. It takes place before Practical Magic. So far I‘m liking it a lot. The writing is again good. The story is engaging.
It‘s only my second Hoffman book and I think I‘m a fan.

A lot happened in 1776 in the colonies and a lot didn‘t happen. Several of the key events that we think of for the Revolutionary War happened in 1776, and yet there was a lot of just moving men and planning.
This was easy to listen to and interesting. The focus was on Washington and what he did. I wish there had been less focus on him.
Over all good worth the time.

Was scrolling through Libby and saw this one. It‘s Rosa Parks and Nikki Giovanni how could I not spend 15 minutes and listen to it?
Children‘s book written by Giovanni that tells story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
The audio is read by Giovanni as well.
Loved it

Started this Friday. Haven‘t listened to it since because I listen to audiobooks while I work and I took a couple mental health days.
I like McCullough he‘s good at telling the information in a palatable way.

A day late with this, oh well.
1. Rough. The world and hormones are doing a number on me. Took 2 mental health days from work.
2. Absolutely! I can shut off my brain.
3. 90s grunge and riot grrl music lately. The louder and angrier the better.
@Kerrbearlib #mentalhealthmonday

I loved this so much! Just a fun story. So much better than the movie.
The writing was good, I liked the characters, I liked the story.
I plan to read the other in the series.

1. That I wake up every morning, even though I‘d rather not sometimes.
2. That it‘s Friday and I only have to deal with Arlo and Izzy for 2 days.
3. My Izzy and my Arlo. They annoy the giblets out of me and I wouldn‘t have it any other way.
4. My group of co-worker friends. They make the sh*tshow worth it.
5. Coffee.
@DebinHawaii #5joysfriday

Apparently it is #loveyourpetday so my pets. Yesterday was pup‘s gotcha day, it‘s been 4 years. It‘s a little bit sweet, it‘s been 5 months since we had to say goodbye to our Woody boy.
4 years with the pup and still can‘t get along with Isabella lol granted she doesn‘t seem to want to get along with him either.

Loving an addict and being co-dependent are the main topics of Nina‘s story.
She has a sister who was an addict and has a long term relationship with a man who is an addict. She never admits that she herself is an alcoholic she does mention getting sober though and going to meeting. She focuses on her co-dependency.
Interesting look at the non-addict side. Worth the time.

Nina‘s story of loving an addict. Not sure if by the end of this book she realizes she‘s an addict as well, I hope she does.
A lot of references to AA and the beginning of that organization. Which makes sense when talking about addiction.
So far it‘s interesting, a lot of repetitive stuff though. Writing is good.

This was interesting Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman admitted to medical school in the states, her sister Emily followed a few years later. Emily had a harder time being taken seriously and being able to complete her degree. They focused on women‘s health not totally by choice. They opened what would become the first women‘s hospital in NYC.
They had their flaws.
I could used more, not sure what more just more.
Worth the read and time.

If you‘ve followed me for long you know I love a strong, badass woman and the (white) woman admitted to medical school would fall into that category. The fact that the male students agreed to admit her as a joke and then she was a damned good student and earned the respect of her fellow students and instructors, perfect.
I‘ll probably finish this tomorrow.

Didn‘t care for this one too much. It felt like information/storyline that was too much to add to either the first or third books so Herbert made it its own book. Or like an after thought to connect plot lines between books.
I‘m going to go on to book 3, so this one hasn‘t put me off the series 😊

Started this yesterday almost done with it. So far not as good as the previous book. I‘m hoping that it‘s just a bridge between the first and third books.
We shall see

I figured out most of the twisty bits per usual with Kubica and per usual it did not ruin the story at all.
Another good one that kept me hooked and wanting to know how it all played out.
I like her writing and story telling. Worth the effort 👍

1. Hopeful-ish. As long as elon doesn‘t keep my tax refund I‘ll be able to pay off a lot of debt which will relieve a lot of stress for me.
2. Sleeping? What‘s sleeping? It‘s has been the worst, I‘ve had better.
3. Don‘t eat sugar after 8, don‘t drink caffeine or coffee after 3. LOL both things I ignore on a regular basis. Reading helps to calm the brain to sleep.
@Kerrbearlib #mentalhealthmonday

1. That I have a job still. It‘s been rough.
2. My Arlo pup. He‘s been a pain in the a$$ lately but I love him.
3. My Izzy girl. She doesn‘t get enough love and attention and I hate that. Reason see 2.
4. My boy child. He‘s becoming an amazing young man, however he is still a 16 yr old boy that is a pain.
5. Litsy. Coming back here has helped ease my soul a little and taken me away from doom scrolling.
@DebinHawaii
#5joysfriday

Up next. I enjoy her books. I‘ll start it tomorrow and listen while I work.

This was a good end to the original 8 books. It had the same/similar formula/plot line as the others. I kind of liked the climactic finally gets the person they love moment. I really wish though that she would have stopped with the compromising position trope and/or the ruined woman trope and yes it feels like a trope. I know that it would have happened in that era, it just got predictable.
Over all it was good. Nice palette cleanser read.

Started the last of the original Bridgerton series yesterday. I do so love the sassy of the Bridgertons.
This is the youngest son‘s love story, Gregory. So far good. It‘s a nice palette cleanser read for me.

1. Burnt out and about to crash HARD. Everything is too much right now both personally and publicly.
2. Zone out. TV that feeds my interests, try to read, try to avoid the news, less social media, podcasts, and music.
3. 🤷🏼‍♀️ my brain has checked out for the night lol
#mentalheathmonday
@Kerrbearlib

Interesting history of the deadliest hurricane in history, it hit Galveston TX. It‘s incredible to see how far weather prediction has come and how much there was to learn and understand something as “simple” as the wind.
Larson has a great way of telling the history and making it feel like a story. Excellent research involved I‘m sure.

This was a good follow up. I like the story and the characters. I liked that the world didn‘t take much stretch of the imagination. The magical elements weren‘t beyond fantastical.
I liked the end. It wasn‘t contrived or forced, it worked. It felt realistic.

On a whim decided to read this. I knew nothing except sci-fi and futuristic.
It was interesting and good enough I put a hold in on the second book.
The story was good, the writing good, I liked most of the characters. We shall see where the series takes us.

This was good. I figured out the twists, didn‘t make it less interesting. I liked how it played out. The writing was good. I‘ve enjoyed all of the Kubica that I‘ve read so far.

Started this today. I enjoy most of the books I‘ve read by Kubica. I think I may have figured out some of the twist In this one. About halfway through it.
#breaktheblock #audiobooking

It‘s been rough mentally for me lately as it has been for many. Just trying to get through the days without breaking down. With all of that reading has been tough for me. I‘ve been slowly working my way through the tagged book. It‘s good and I enjoy it when I do get to it.
Mostly I‘ve been listening to a podcast ‘Southern Gothic‘. I listen for the majority of the day while I work.
Drink your water, take your meds, and hold the line.

1. The little things in life like a building block Aldi and lighted Flamingos.
2. The boy child. He‘s a pain in my a$$, but he brings me more joy than most anything else.
3. Pupparoni of course.
4. Modern medicine.
5. My parents.
@DebinHawaii #5joysfriday

I tend to keep most things emotional and rough close to the vest.
This last half of the year has been rough. In late June our dog Woody was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his leg. He had been limping and wasn‘t getting better. The vet told me with his age and arthritis he didn‘t recommend amputation or chemo.
We got 12 more weeks with him after diagnosis. Ultimately, we had to let him go. It‘s been a couple month and we miss him terribly.

1. Mr puparoni Arlo while a pain is also my constant companion.
2. Miss Izzy who wakes me at all hours of the night for love.
3. What I have come to call my sanity walks. Arlo and I go for about a mile walk at lunch, then on the wknd a much longer walk often by the river.
4. My parents always there for me.
5. Man Cub my pride.
Hasn‘t felt like a joyous week. Work is stressful, people are dumb, and life is life.
@DebinHawaii #5joysfriday

Started this one the other night, Friday I think.
This was one of my first BOTM back in 2017 and had yet to read it.
So far it‘s interesting looking forward to how Finkel lays out the story.

Finished this the other night.
It was good, very predictable. The story was engaging and the writing was good.
3.8⭐️ only because of the predictability. If you like YA suspense and strong female lead I would recommend for an easy enjoyable read.

Been reading the tagged book. Life is still life-ing.
I don‘t have a pic of the book cover right now so I give you my cheese monsters (I was eating a string cheese).
#dogsoflitsy #litsypups #bookdog

Civil War era isn‘t my jam. Larson takes on what led up to the first shots being fired at Fort Sumter which then kicked off the actual battles of the Civil War. There was what felt like a lot of unnecessary details and side bits being told.
It has a very different feel to it from any of Larson‘s other books. I got through it and it had interesting information.
3⭐️ if you are into Civil War era or Lincoln.
This wasn‘t for me.

1. Man Cub has a stuffed orange moose from IKEA. When I joined different site I stuck my glasses on it and put a book in its hands and made that my profile pic and the name was also born as well.
2. Lately I work while I listen. I have also been known to craft or clean while listening.
3. The Demon of Unrest - Erik Larson
#wondrouswednesday
@Eggs

Start this audio a few days ago. I have to take it in chunks. It feels different than some of Larson‘s earlier works. This one doesn‘t have that fictional feel to it, it feels like the nonfiction that it is. Civil War era isn‘t my jam normally, however Larson is a must read on my list.
So far so good and interesting.
I‘m hoping to finish it tomorrow or Wednesday, I‘ve got about 6.5 hrs left.

This started out good and with potential. Unfortunately, it failed for me. It became incredibly predictable and you could see the twisted coming like a freight train.
There were some ridiculous occurrences that just weren‘t plausible and that made the whole story crumble.
1 ⭐️ the author tried. I would not recommend this book at all.

Started this a week ago maybe, not sure lol my days blur together. I‘m not super far in but so far I like it a lot.

A poetic retelling of Cinderella. I love Cinderella (besides books, shoes are my jam), and I love a fairytale retelling.
I liked this one. It was an interesting way to retell and revamp the story. The power and strength that Lovelace gives to her Cinderella is good, I like when a retelling shows that she wasn‘t about the Prince.
4.5⭐️ poetry and fairytale retelling.

Another good Lovelace. Her struggle with her mother‘s death and the complicated relationship that the 2 had while Lovelace was growing up. Shows how tricky and complex grief is.
4⭐️ short poetry with depth and feeling.

Not my favorite Lovelace still good though. The story of her DV experience. The monster that he was and the monster it turned her into. The journey of finding her worth again and finding a partner, a true partner.
4⭐️ short poetry with depth and emotion.

A couple Dollar Tree book finds.
I‘m kind of excited about the tagged book I loved ‘The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek‘
Arlo makes a good background for books lol
#dogsoflitsy #litsypup #dollartree

Boy Bands, Frida Kahlo, and Other Lies I‘ve Believed

Borrowed from @AroundTheBookWorld

New books
My boys- Woody, Arlo, and Man Cub
Izzy girl
I suppose for a bonus I have the privilege of having complete one more trip around the sun and am now the answer the life, the universe, and everything.
@DebinHawaii
#5joysfriday