Finished this one tonight. I learned some about race, & it was an interesting mystery, although I had a guess about the killer early one. What is up with detectives/police and substance abuse? I guess this trope goes back a long way, even Holmes abuses cocaine. The main character is a flawed man, & there are times when he‘s frustrating, but he‘s a realistic character. I read this for book club, but I think I‘ll continue the series.

I‘m glad Thanksgiving weekend is coming up because all my holds are coming in at once! I‘ll be busy with work & have weekend plans. I‘m reading Bluebird, Bluebird for book club on Monday, then 2 books came off hold, & another should be ready this weekend. I‘ve been waiting at least 2 months for the tagged book, but it‘s only available on my phone ☹️ I guess I‘ll try it, I can get a physical copy, but it‘s at a library where parking is difficult.

I first heard about this book from my librarian, but I still was surprised about the tone of the book. It isn‘t going to be a favorite, but it was still good. A different combo of genres than I‘ve read before. A detective who needs some serious therapy, is drunk a lot, whines about her life, her sister, & not being magic. She‘s asked to solve a murder at her sister‘s magic school. What I didn‘t like-some repetition of her self-loathing thoughts.

1. I procrastinate about everything, so sometimes I have a few days of doing other things instead of finishing a book. Usually happens when I‘ve started a new book & haven‘t gotten into it yet. Maybe a few times a year.
2. I rarely dnf a book. I can think of 3. I feel I have a high tolerance for horrific situations in books, but there‘s a few I just couldn‘t get past. I‘ve skimmed the ones I didn‘t finish.
@TheSpineView #two4tuesday

Finally doing this one.
1. I haven‘t traveled out of the US, I‘ve never seen The Goonies, I had a major hiking accident
2. All the Bright Places, Hillbilly Elegy
3. Yes-I‘ve had more opportunities the last few years.
4. Too hot. @Alora #litsylearn

Week 6 final check-in for #BFCr4:
This seemed like a good quote, something many of us struggle with.
Exercise—I have not hit my goals in this six weeks, but I have made an effort. Adjustment in work routine & other obligations have been a factor. I also need to make it more of a priority. I exercised 2 times this week. I did join the gym, so hopefully, the incentive of wasting money will motivate me.
17/10 books @wanderinglynn Thank you Lynn!

I wanted to read the tagged book before reading about the controversy over the similarities with Book Woman. I couldn‘t help comparing the 2 because of the subject & after learning about the similar plot lines. I really enjoyed The Giver of Stars until toward the end when i became less interested in a major plot line. There were a few times when Moyes seemed to point out something that was already obvious to the reader. 👇

1. Tagged, no audiobook for right now
2. Both. I like to read on weekend mornings. I read most nights.
2. Rainbow Rowell
@rachelsbrittain #weekendreads
 @PageTurner789

Too many #bookhaul posts tonight. My dad got this book, but I‘ll read it, too. A highlight of the day for us was meeting a former University of Kentucky basketball coach. The Wildcats are a big deal in my area, & I remember first watching b-ball games with Dad when Hall was coach. He‘s elderly & not in good heath but was still there signing today.

Rest of my #bookhaul
Noah hypnotik-completes my collection of David Arnold‘s signed books.
Kerry Winfrey-we have a mutual ❤️of Rainbow Rowell
Tagged-Author writes mostly erotica, this one is more historical fiction.
Andrew Shaffer-husband of Reisz & author of Obama/Biden mysteries was there but didn‘t have any books that I don‘t already own. He‘s working on a horror story now. His idea for a 3rd Biden book has been derailed by the campaign.

I‘ve been wanting to read the tagged book for awhile, but of course, I hadn‘t gotten around to it yet. So, i was really excited that the author was coming to the fair this year. Cinderella Sweeping up—hard to explain, but I have personal connections to the author‘s cousins, she is part of a long-time political family in Ky, & I liked her first book. I Am Not Nobody has true stories of women in Appalachia at the New Opportunity School for Women.

I enjoyed the book fair today, even though I had limited time before going to a gender reveal party for my cousin (it‘s a girl). I spent more $ than at previous fairs, but they had a lot to choose from this yr. 🤷‍♀️
My parents, sister, I will all have a book for Christmas this year. I bought my mom the Christmas stories one, we got my sister The Pearl Brooch, & parents got me the tagged book. We got Dad one about a Ky WW1 veteran (he likes hx).

This book of poetry was hard to find a couple of years ago, but I had just learned about the author & wanted to read some of her books. Started to read this morning; poetry is not usually my interest, but I‘ll try. I made a list for the book fair today, & surprisingly, there‘s much more NF on it than other genres.

1. Can‘t remember if I collected toys, but I have a lot hot wheels. Cabbage patch kids, trolls, garbage pail kids were also big trends.
2. Yes
3. She-ra
4. Sixlets, Alexander the grapes, ice cream
5. Can‘t remember, but I‘ve always liked school pizza. 6. My street was behind the school, so I only had a fence separating our yard from the playground. I walked until 6th grade, when I had to start taking the bus. @nu-bibliophile #yourstory

1. November makes me think of the Kentucky book fair, & a main reason I heard about it & started going was to meet Wendell Berry. Tagged book is the first of his books I read, but it‘s not signed. I have a few others that are signed, plus I have met & read books by many other authors due to the book fair.
2. I have felt appreciated at work. I haven‘t always felt that at other jobs.
3. Yoga, reading
4. 1 living
5. 👍
@howjessreads #friyayintro

Had to look at past GR lists to find some of these answers. I went by page numbers listed in GR.
1. The Importance of Being Earnest 76 pages
2. The Fiery Cross 1443 pages
3. Anne of Green Gables
4. On kindle but the most recently published is The Art Of Theft
@ljuliel #bookquestion

I‘ve missed a lot on Litsy today because of work. I finished this book and really loved it. I was a big Little House fan when I was young, & my sister has the book series and loved the show. Listening to it was a great way to bring back memories since “Nellie” is reading it. She talks about serious issues, as well as stories from the prairie. I enjoyed the humor. TW-sexual abuse

I signed up for this swap! My family isn‘t connected to Iceland, but I have great memories of childhood & teens when my parents would usually let us open a gift on Christmas Eve, which would be a book. Or we got a book earlier in December when my church did a play & then Santa came to give out gifts. I still usually get at least one book for Christmas.
Go to @MaleficentBookDragon to sign up! #jolabokaflodswap

1. Yoga , reading, sometimes hot chocolate
2. To new followers & Littens @PageTurner789 @LoverOfLearning @Boooooks @Rachel_Anne789

@sprainedbrain @Meaw_catlady #moonreflections

Final time for #24b4monday #mrbook1inamillion #LitsyPartyofOne @MrBook @Rachel.Rencher @Lucas.Rencher @Andrew65 @jb72 @TheReadingMermaid @Alisnazzy @Lynnsoprano
20 hours 3 minutes—started & finished 1 book, finished 1 book, started another, listened to some audio

Coates‘ books aren‘t quick reads, & I‘m sure I will think more about this one. I would benefit from having someone to discuss it with. I know some people haven‘t liked the magical realism element, but I did.
“Slavery was the root of all struggle. For it was said that the factories enslaved the hands of children, and that child-bearing enslaved the bodies of women, and that rum enslaved the souls of men.”
At 19 hours for #24b4monday

Eating some Halloween candy for a snack now that I‘ve finished The Water Dancer. #LitsyPartyofOne #mrbook1inaMillion #24b4monday @MrBook @Lynnsoprano @Alisnazzy @Rachel.Rencher @Andrew65

Check-in for week 5 of #bfcr4: I had plans to exercise but the last 3 days, an unexpected later night at work & feeling tired derailed me. I did go inquire at the gym & got in a day there. Looked around at options in my area.
13/10 books
@wanderinglynn

So, I‘ve had this book on my table for a couple of mths. While my kindle was charging last night, I picked it up to read a little, not meaning to read more than a few pages. Hours later, I finished it. It was funny and creative. Liked the characters & the big family. Now at about 14.5 hours for #24b4monday don‘t think I‘ll hit 24 but maybe 20.
#mrbook1inamillion @MrBook @Andrew65 @jb72 @TheReadingMermaid @Rachel.Rencher

1. The Water Dancer, Confessions of a prairie bitch (audio)
2. “But you just call me Aunt Viola, because that is who I am to you.”
3. As usual, sugar-free koolaid and water.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

I did actually snack today while reading because I didn‘t want to stop long enough to cook lunch. Cheddar Chex mix & a few chocolate-covered banana chips & malted milk balls. The book took awhile to get into but then had a cliffhanger chapter that sucked me in. #24b4monday #LitsyPartyofOne #mrbook1inamillion @MrBook @Lynnsoprano @Alisnazzy @Rachel.Rencher

Books for #24b4monday #Mrbook1inaMillion and #LitsyPartyofOne
I haven‘t made much progress on The Water Dancer this week so working on finishing it before library loan expires. Ditto for giver of stars. The other one is an audio I‘m starting. I don‘t snack a lot while reading but will find something tomorrow.
@TheReadingMermaid @jb72 @Andrew65 @MrBook @Lynnsoprano @Alisnazzy @Rachel.Rencher @Lucas.Rencher

1. I have 2 games I use with my therapy kids a lot. The Nurturing Game &the Ungame. They get them talking.
2. Ireland, where my grandmother was from
3. I‘ve doubled my GR goal.
4. Unsure of this one-maybe Stieg Larsson‘s millennium trilogy
5. What is your Harry Potter house?
@howjessreads #friyayintro

Thanks for tagging me @BlameJennyJane
1. This is always such a hard question. Love so many other Littens‘ answers. Maybe Oscar Wilde. Margaret Atwood. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Roxane Gay. For some humor, I‘d go with Andrew Shaffer.
2. I realized that the first 4 I listed have lots of opinions about feminism, so I‘d ask about that.
3. I‘m guessing about 200.
@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Finished this tonight. This might be the most educational & deep thinking celebrity memoir ever. I knew Union was raped by a stranger but didn‘t know the story. I was very interested in her views about race& her concern about her step-children. It was touching to know about her struggle with fertility. I didn‘t think some of the sex stories were necessary-I feel like celebrities overshare about sex. Very good on audio.

I‘m not a Star Wars fan, but one of my close friends is a huge fan. I went with her to Cincinnati tonight to meet Anthony Daniels & get the new book signed. He didn‘t talk long because he has an early flight. It was the shortest book signing I‘ve been to, but he was really nice. I forgot to take a pic of him.

Sorry for this political statement-I try to stay away from it on litsy. I‘m getting ready to go vote for governor of KY but have a sense of doom. Prob because potus invaded my city yesterday. And people went to his rally, which might be the only time the arena where my beloved Wildcats play basketball was filled w/ red instead of blue. So, I might need a happier book tonight.

One of my fave days of the year is coming up on Nov 16th—my annual day to fangirl over authors, especially the revered Wendell Berry. Thought I‘d share for those of you within driving distance of central KY. Tons of authors this yr, & while Mitch McConnell “co-authored” a book, he won‘t be there to ruin my day. Authors that will be there include: Gwenda Bond, David Arnold, Tiffany Reisz, Andrew Shaffer, Casey Cep, Kerry Winfrey, Adrian Matejka.

Googled a pic of Fall in KY.
Week 4 check-in for #BFCr4: I went to yoga 1 day this week but due to a lot of rain/wind/cold & getting dark earlier, I didn‘t get any walks in. I don‘t enjoy walking outside once it‘s below about 60. My goal for today is to go sign up for a gym in my town. I haven‘t ever joined a gym, but this one is very affordable & I have friends who go to it. Tried to moderate the Fall treats. 12/10 books @wanderinglynn

After hearing about this fun book on Litsy, I decided a light read is what I needed after all the mysteries of October. Enjoyed the suffragist storyline, the romance, & Annabelle‘s friends. Too bad the next one doesn‘t come out until next year.
Also, it‘s weird to not be posting multiple times a day & tagging #scarathlon for every post. 😂

I have Educated on audio & have listened to about 2 hours. But when I was cooking last night, I really wanted to start the tagged. I‘ve been on hold for weeks & don‘t think I‘ll get this one & Educated done in the time limit. I decided I‘d rather read the physical copy of Educated so will go back to it later when library hold comes in. It‘s interesting to hear about Union‘s experiences growing up in a mostly white school.

1. Ice cream
2. Yes
3. 3 events—Kentucky Book Fair, Louisville Galaxycon, Thanksgiving
4. 5-6
5. Green
@howjessreads #friYAYintro

It‘s going to be a long wait for this one, but I‘m really excited! August 18, 2020

@Clwojick #scarathlon #teamslaughter

Sorry, I refuse to think about eating fish eyeballs or a frog. @Clwojick #scarathlon #teamslaughter

Read a little more than I expected for #scarathlon
1. 18 total-1 GN, 2 comic volumes, 1 comic, 9 physical, 5 audiobooks
2. The Art of Theft
3. Didn‘t watch any
4. The song trivia and word search
5. Gave out treats to some kids
@Clwojick Thanks for being our very competitive team captain! #teamslaughter @TheReadingMermaid

Also re-read Pumpkinheads tonight. I read it back in August, but I wanted to read it in season. I think this is my favorite moment. And my favorite pun is the sign that says “girls just wanna have fudge.” @Clwojick —book about Halloween #teamslaughter #scarathlon #screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

I liked this audiobook enough to finish it, but it‘s not the best Sherlock spin-off ever. I liked the concept & enjoyed the presence of Watson. The plot is good, but there are times where simple things are explained when they don‘t need to be. Most people reading this have probably read Sherlock books and mysteries before, so it doesn‘t need to be dumbed-down. There‘s a romance but not much chemistry. Overall, a good book. @Clwojick -mystery

Catching up after a busy work day & trick-or-treaters. Opened my #basicwitchswap package this morning but didn‘t have time to take pic or post. I‘m very excited about 2 new books, fun soap, the necklace, and the bat squeeze ball. The bat is adorable. I also use homemade soaps all the time, so I love the soap. Thank you, Nicole!! @PaperbackPirate @Meaw_catlady @sprainedbrain thanks for hosting! @Clwojick #scarathlon

It started off pouring rain today, then went to sleet and winter temps within a couple of hours. Add high winds, & the results are less trick-or-treaters at my house this year. #scarathlon @Clwojick #teamslaughter #chillingphotochallenge #halloween

My favorite treat during the Fall but especially for Halloween. Didn‘t have time to get the icing just right but can improve later today.
Pumpkin cookies recipe: 2 cups flour, 1tsp baking powder, 1tsp baking soda, 1tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt
Mix & set aside
1cup sugar, 1/2 tsp shortening, 1 can pumpkin -cream together
1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla—add in
Mix in dry mixture. Chill to roll or drop directly on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min 👇

“There was something irritatingly self-centered about the cat, Coraline decided. As if it were, in its opinion, the only thing in any world or place that could possibly be of any importance.”
Such a true statement about cats 😂 This book didn‘t scare me, even though the button eyes are creepy. Very good story. Another Gaiman checked off my tbr list. @Clwojick non-theme book for #teamslaughter #scarathlon #screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

day 30–I started this last night, & it hasn‘t been scary yet. I know it‘s a kids‘ book, so I‘m hoping the button eyes don‘t give me a #nightmare. #chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick