#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. Watched a great outdoor performance of King Lear 🎭
2. Saw a black bear from the deck of our airbnb house 🐻
3. Another theater night - Austen's Pride 🎶
4. Fun night with my new bookclub! We celebrated Sept birthdays and played bookish games 📚
5. Coming home in the evenings and hearing the crickets and toads and other sounds of nature 🍃

Listened to this last month and it was just a delight from start to finish! Kelly Bishop is such a humble and unpretentious person. Even when she knows she is talented, she doesn't brag about it. From her upbringing as a ballerina and through her acting career, she shows a deep love for the art of her profession above everything else. I laughed, I cried, I want to go rewatch Gilmore Girls
#MonthlyNonfiction2025 @julieclair

I read this duology with my bookclub - we all enjoyed them but some were upset at the way things were left unfinished at the end of book one. Which, fair, this is very much a story that was split into two parts. But I liked the way that split left the tone of each book separate. Clockwork Boys is very much a travel quest story where you get to know the characters as they get to know each other on the way to their mission. Wonder Engine ⬇️

This was such an engaging and unique cozy sci-fi mystery. When Dorothy Gentleman wakes up in a body that is not her own and finds report of a death on the ship, she must investigate if the two events are related. I loved the world building here - memories being stored in a library so you can continue life after your body gives out. The characters introduced were so interesting, I can't wait for more adventures
#SeriesLove2025

So, full review time. I liked that Mansfield Park was an art emporium and Fanny a burgeoning artist. The death of Sir Thomas was sad but a great motivator for all of the selfish habits of the family to come to light. I suspected the murderer from the beginning but the whole motive wasn't overly obvious either. I enjoyed the slight change in Mary Crawford, to be more sympathetic & trying to gain real friendship with Fanny. The ending was satisfying

Today's theatre experience: Austen's Pride 💖🎶📖
This was such a lovely musical with the best parts of Pride and Prejudice, framed by the narrative of Austen's writing and editing of the story. Funny and sweet and highly enjoyable

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern
I'd want to live in this sci-fi world where diverse alien species coexist and humans have the opportunity to explore the far reaches of space 🚀

#ReadingBracket2025 August Fiction update
These Jane Austen retellings have been a highlight this year

#ReadingBracket2025 August Nonfiction update
Kelly Bishop is so delightful. No contest this round

Happy National Read a Book Day! 📖
I'm celebrating with my kindle and a nice view ⛰️

#ReadingBracket2025 August Romance update
What a Match was fun and cute, however Happy Hour is moving to the next round

This was such a unique fantasy story! I'm glad I finally read it and the audio design was amazing. I loved the concept of cities coming to life and enjoyed witnessing the avatars of New York come into their power and figuring out how to wield the magical constructs of their boroughs to fight the baddie. Wonderful mix of world building plot and diverse character driven story.
#SeriesLove2025

I'm a day late but... #5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. The book festival I attended last weekend was so much fun, but my favorite part was getting to meet Joanna Lowell. She signed my books & we chatted a bit about archaeology in her newest. She's so nice!
2. I ordered a past illumicrate box that was on sale & I love the special edition book I got obviously. But it also came with extra items & I got this adorable P&P book protector and I'm in love!!

#MonthlyNonfiction2025 August reads @julieclair

Just started this one. Benny understood the assignment 😸

#currentlyreading #catsoflitsy

I'm late posting my answers but enjoyed listening to this one again! #JaneAustenThenAndNow @Crinoline_Laphroaig

1. This was my second time reading. It's probably still my least favorite Austen but I did enjoy it much more this time around. I still believe Fanny deserved better than Edmund.

(cont'd)⬇️

Finished with the #littensloveromance crew. I started late but quickly caught up, the story was cute & I devoured it like candy. Definitely had some hang ups about the main characters but overall it was a fun summery read. Myrna, the old Hollywood movie star neighbor, was for sure the highlight. She knows how to knock some sense into those young people!
Also, I totally did not understand the title reference until the author's note at the end 😅

I blasted through this romance. Great autumn vibes. Brother's best friend and forced proximity, where he's secretly been pining after her for years. The ending was a little rushed but overall it was a fun, sexy read.
Apparently it's the second in a series so I'll definitely go back and read the others #serieslove2025

Had a fun experience at the first literary festival in Belmont. Mazey Eddings and Ali Hazelwood were the headliners. There were fun trivia events and a ton of local authors as well. The romance panel in the evening was so great! Hopefully this will be an annual event 😊

This month has been so weird. I've been off and on sick and just generally in a funk. I've still been reading, but it's been all over the place and I feel like I have fifty books in progress at a time lol. Eventually I'll post reviews for all the books I have finished!🤞🏼 Hopefully September settles down a bit. I've got my #bookspinbingo list ready to go! @TheAromaofBooks

This book is dedicated to me, and I am giddy to see what she does with it 🤭

#JaneAustenThenAndNow

Started listening to this one today. Neil has such a soothing voice 😌

Any other NC littens planning on attending the first Belmont LitFest on Aug 30th?
I'm so pleasantly surprised to see a relatively small town with a newer indie bookstore put on what is looking to be a pretty big event with some big name authors. Mazey Eddings is the headliner, promoting her newest book Well Actually
Details here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMgKl7Jyaf4/?img_index=18&igsh=dGp2aXdqcXRjd2pj

July #ReadingBracket2025 Nonfiction update
Honestly neither of the books I read this month wowed me especially but this one was quirky and funny

July #ReadingBracket2025 romance update
This was a tough month to choose, as I read a few books by favorite authors that were all wonderful. I decided to go with You Had Me at Happy Hour because I loved the romance but also appreciated the way the two MCs disabilities were handled with compassion and care

July #ReadingBracket2025 Fiction update
The #CampLitsy25 selections for July hit it out of the park. Both Woodworking and Death of the Author were five star reads for me. Woodworking made just a little more of an impression on me, so it's my July pick, but DotA will most likely grab the bonus spot for the quarter

Completed the first four bags of this Lego masterpiece while starting this lovely audiobook memoir!
#audiocrafting #litsycrafters

Phenomenal show! Such a great adaptation of the thought-provoking novel

#stageadaptation #booktostage

July #MonthlyNonfiction2025 reads @julieclair
It was interesting that both of these books discussed the covid pandemic and its affects on the main subject. Serendipitous timing

Managed three bingos on my July #bookspinbingo card. It was a slower reading month since I went on vacation but I finished some great books!
@TheAromaofBooks

My August #bookspinbingo list is ready! @TheAromaofBooks

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! It was my first day back to work after vacation which bleh, but I had a great time away - including visits to new bookstores! Here's my #bookhaul from the trip! I tried not to go overboard but found some great deals ☺️
I also received a bookshop gift card as a birthday gift so my shelves better be ready for another big stack! 😂📚

Vacation week has been busy in a great way, but I haven't had as much time for reading. However this evening we went to a sunset music series on the beach and I was able to get a few chapters read. It was a lovely, relaxing time ☺️

Happy #5JoysFriday ☺️ @DebinHawaii
1. The birds nest under our porch hatched four little fledglings and we got to watch them grow and fly off
2. Kitty cuddles, always
3. Great discussions with #camplitsy, I enjoyed the last book and am really into the current read as well
4. We drove up to Pennsylvania yesterday, visiting my home town for a week
5. Lewis, always 💖

How did I miss that the trailer is out for this adaptation?! I'm so excited, it looks great!
https://youtu.be/QXwxIk0am8c?si=0wbl8EH25uMFYQfx

#MonthlyNonfiction2025 June reads @julieclair
Just finished one nonfiction this past month. I'm still working through Monster's Bones, it was a bit slow to start but it's picking up now. Hope to finish it this week.

Just realized I never posted my #bookspin picks for July
Excited for both! @TheAromaofBooks

Spent the weekend in Asheville and visited more bookstores! Malaprops of course, and checked out Downtown Books for the first time. They had this cute bookshelf painting on one of their doors 😻
Here's my #bookhaul 😍 The top one is my hubby's and the bottom three for me. I couldn't resist the dragon edges! 🐉

Stopped at a new-to-me used bookstore today. It was super cute and had a good selection. I loved their sandwich board sign - so true 😂

#ReadingBracket2025 Nonfiction update - first half of the year!
June's pick was Dear America, which was so moving and timely. Moving forward to the next round is Born a Crime, which was just the perfect mix of informative, funny, and passionate.

#ReadingBracket2025 Romance update - first half of the year!
I had some great reads this last quarter, including the really fun and unique time loop romance Time and Time Again. But A Shore Thing is moving onto the next round. I can't get over its charm.

#ReadingBracket2025 Fiction update - first half of the year!
June's pick was The City We Became, which I really loved, but ultimately The Measure just hit me the right way and it has stuck with me. So it is moving on to the next round

My June #BookspinBingo board. I managed one bingo, but I was so close to finishing Sorry Bro, which would have gotten me 3 more! Alas, I ran out of time. Still a good reading month!
@TheAromaofBooks

#WeirdWordWednesday @CBee
This was one that I came across and had to look up just for the pronunciation 🤔 A bit of a tongue twister!

July #Roll100 picks! A good smattering of genres 😄
@PuddleJumper

Finalized my July #bookspinbingo list in the nick of time!
@TheAromaofBooks

Violet - Spirit 💜 #PrideRec2025 @PuddleJumper
Spirit (n) - the quality of courage, energy, and determination or assertiveness
Here are some favorites with characters who possess great spirit!

Happy Pride everyone! I can't believe Pride Month is already ending, June flew by 😅
But don't forget to #ReadQueerAllYear 🌈❣️

Okay this just made my day! I received my Jane Austen Lego set and I just had to put it together right away! It looks so perfect on my Austen shelf ☺️

Indigo - Serenity/Harmony 💙 #PrideRec2025 @PuddleJumper
I interpreted this prompt as characters finding serenity or peace within themselves and harmony or agreement in relationships with others 🙏🏼

Happy #5JoysFriday - and what a week it's been 🫠 @DebinHawaii

1. Evening pool time with friends
2. Temporary AC at work - FINALLY 🥵
3. I snagged the Jane Austen Lego set which I'm excited about
4. We've been watching a pair of wood-pewees build and inhabit a nest on top of one of our porch pillars. We peeked yesterday and saw a few eggs! 🪺
5. I won a storygraph giveaway! 🎉