We are opening the #BasicWitchSwap up again for 24 hours only. One participant had to leave us, so we need at least one more person to complete the circle.

We will take all that want to join, but please understand packages must arrive by 10/31—this may not work for witches outside the US.

For more info or to sign up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckjsmgphBlkftGRGgacz8QY3x2lC4M7bbYLdkE...

Please share! 😃

#7days7covers #covercrush Day 5

@charl08 would you like to play? 😃

Post one cover you love each day for 7 days, no explanation needed. Tag someone new each day.

#7covers7days #coverlove Day 4

@Daisey would you like to play? 😃

Post a cover you love every day for seven days, no explanations. Tag a new person to play every day.

I‘m not sure how, after 30 years of avid reading, I was today years old before I read a Koontz novel, but here we are.

This is a fun, fast-paced paranormal mystery/thriller, with good writing, a supporting cast of colorful characters, and a really great main character: Odd Thomas is wonderful and I‘m going to read more of this series.

This was my #BookGiftedToYou for #Booked2019. My friend @ItsAngel gave it to me a year ago.😳😂

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I am not a nonfiction kind of girl, but Erik Larson, with his nonfiction that reads like fiction, has a way of grabbing my attention and keeping it. While this book wasn‘t my favorite of his (they can‘t all be Dead Wake), it was still a good listen. I really liked the story of Dr. Crippen, but the Marconi parts bored me at times. I get that it all comes together, but Marconi seems like a jerk and I just didn‘t care. 🤷🏻‍♀️

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

#7covers7days #covercrush Day 3

Do you want to play along, @Endowarrior21 ?

Post a cover you love every day for 7 days. No explanations. Tag someone new every day.

I timed my #audiowalk tonight so that I could see both the sunset and the rise of the big, beautiful, waning-but-still-pretty-darn-full moon. 🌝

Walking at night means I have to stay closer to home, but I love it this time of year.

Listening to this book, which isn‘t scary, but I managed to freak myself out anyway... I walk near a lot of cornfields and they get creepy at night. 😂

The moon is in Aries, and I‘m feeling energized. 🙌🏻

#BFCr3 wrap-up:

I probably could have gotten to 18 miles on my night walk tonight, but it got a little too creepy for me. 😂

Still no sugary drinks 🙌🏻

Healthy eating has been hit or miss... it‘s officially candy corn + peanuts season. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Total miles audiowalked this round: 111.86 🏃🏽‍♀️

Closed all my rings all 42 days 🎯

Only finished 19/24 books, but read some good ones!

Thanks to Lynn for being a fantastic host! ❤️

#7covers7days #covercrush Day 2

Want to join, @HOTPock3tt ?

Post a favorite cover every day for 7 days. No explanations. Tag someone new every day.

Lovely cover and a really good premise: young sisters in a Viking clan, grief and mourning, Norse gods and maybe even Ragnarök? Unfortunately, this book didn‘t do it for me, and I struggled for a long time to even finish it. ??‍♀️

Full review on my blog: https://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/09/14/arc-review-the-weight-of-a-soul-by-elizabe...

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I‘m playing along... thanks for the tags, @vivastory @squirrelbrain and @Meaw_catlady 😘

#7days7covers #covercrush Day 1

Care to join, @Chili ?
7 days, 7 covers, no explanations.

I am so conflicted.

The characters seem stereotypical, I didn‘t like the glossing-over of the civil rights movement, some of the dialect was cringey, and I‘m uncomfortable with the fact it was written by a white woman.

Still, the story is entertaining, the plot moves along nicely, and I truly enjoyed and was moved by many parts. The audiobook is incredibly well done.

If I just consider this a beach read, feel-good type of book, it‘s ok.⬇️

Oh, my heart. 💔

Truly, an excellent and powerful saga about a devout Muslim Indian-American family making their way through the world and trying to relate to each other.

My review: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/09/10/a-place-for-us-by-fatima-farheen-mirza-just...

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Not a bad week! I would have liked my eating to have been more consistent, but I improved from last week.

It‘s becoming clear I don‘t have a chance in hell of hitting my book goal of 24total for the challenge... I‘m only at 16 with one week to go, but the books I have read have been so good!

#bfcr3

I LOVED THIS BOOK. So very much.

Full review: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/09/07/another-1001book-review-possession-by-a-s-b...

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#1001books

When your teenage daughter asks to join BOTM, too, #bookmail is twice as nice.

Also, a fruitful day in the garden.

😃

Sharing in case anyone wants to join the tagged Littens (and me) for a buddy read of The Stand, starting Halloween weekend.

If you‘re interested, email Rachel at rpackard92 at gmail dot com so that she can add you to the Slack group. 😃

I had to spotlight this bookmark. Now my favorite bookmark, featuring my favorite Darcy. 😍

Thank you again, Judy!

#hftss

I suspect I was spoiled in the #HighFiveToSummerSwap 😍😍😍

Thank you SO MUCH, Judy! I‘m overwhelmed by all of the Austen goodness, I‘m eating candy for dinner, and having a blue bath with pink candles later. You are awesome! This bookmark! Omg ❤️

And thank you, Jody, for putting this great swap together. 🤗

The cover is cute, and the title is great. Unfortunately, I couldn‘t stand the main character (I hate to dislike a fellow Jennifer, but she‘s ridiculous), the story was predictable and silly, and the supporting characters were cliche.

I generally prefer my poorly-written trashy reads to have a lot more graphic sex. 🤣

This is really between a so-so and a pan for me.

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This sort of book is why I love to read. An absolutely beautiful, quiet story of an immigrant family in America. My first book by Lahiri, but this will definitely not be my last.

Full review: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/09/02/1001books-review-the-namesake-by-jhumpa-lah...

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#1001books

Every bit as good as (maybe even better than) the first book in the series, this second installment was full of action and nearly impossible to stop listening to. I loved learning Sybella‘s backstory, and she couldn‘t be much more different from Ismae. Strong writing and a compelling plot. This is definitely the best fantasy series I have read in a while, and I‘m looking forward to reading book 3 very soon.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Favorites time!

Color: black 🖤 and pink 💕
Tarot: The Fool, The High Priestess
Crystal: hematite, citrine
Book: Circe by Madeline Miller is my fave witchy book
Flower/Herb: patchouli, sage, lavender
Candy: anything gummy, chocolate, or caramel 😋
Essential oil: Angelica, lemon, lavender

What are your favorites?

#BasicWitchSwap

The tagged book was a popular gift in the witchy swap last year... did you know that you can sign up for The Night School with the author? Free ‘online Hogwarts‘ for those who are interested in practice as well as stories.

Thanks to the lovely Erin and the fabulous Rachel for sharing! 🖤

https://maiatoll.com/the-night-school?utm_source=enrollmentsuccess_FBshare

#basicwitchswap

#BFCr3 Week 4... reporting live from Busch Stadium.

I managed all of my goals this week except the healthy eating. 😬

Go Cards!

1. My current audiobook has me all 😍

2. Headed to StL for our annual weekend visit. Cardinals game, zoo, and the Arch. 🙌🏻

3. What, like pick one?? Rocky road 😋

4. Piano (poorly) and saxophone (even worse) 😬

5. Done! 😁

#FriYAYintro

Rachel, I love your #moonreflections 🌚

1. I‘m excited for a short getaway with the kids this long weekend, & for October. Bring on the screamathon, Samhain, & our witchy swap!

2. Taking more time to take care of me, now that my kids are getting older. I‘ve been a single mom for 15 years, & I‘m excited to have this time.

3. I‘m so ready!

4. Blessings to @MeganAnn @MaleficentBookDragon @Catsandbooks @4thhouseontheleft & everyone else!

Look what arrived today! I‘m so excited for Wednesday. Thank you, Judy! ❤️

#highfivetosummerswap #hftss

After seeing mixed reviews of this one around here, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Once I got started, I could not stop. I had moments when I wanted to pitch it across the room, but I refrained because I‘m trying to be a better friend to books. 😂

Full review: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/08/29/i-finally-read-the-great-alone-by-kristin-h...

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Of course I‘m getting this one.

The BOTM quick take says: ‘A little feminist, a little romantic, but mostly just fun—and downright dirty on top of that. Yes, please.‘

They had me at ‘downright dirty.‘

😂

We are still waiting to hear from 3 witches to know that they have received their match. If you‘re tagged, can you please let @Meaw_catlady or me know?

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

#BasicWitchSwap

Apologies for yet another post that is not book related (I am a terrible Litsy-er lately) but all of this #BasicWitchSwap talk and Alyisha‘s last post made me wonder if anyone else uses Co-Star for daily horoscope? If you want to add me on there, I‘m sprainedbrain (obv).

I tried the light bulb... no ding, and this was all I thought of doing. 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Hey, witches, @Catsandbooks created this cute questionnaire to help with our stalking/shopping.

1. So many! lilac, freesia, peach, vanilla, sea, lavender...

2. Pretzels, gummy candy, fruit

3. Crystals, candles, incense, essential oils, tarot, cats

4. All of it! Walks in the woods, bonfires, trick-or-treating with my little, followed by soup and homemade bread.

Now you!

#BasicWitchSwap

I had a productive lunchtime outing today, and my #HighFiveToSummerSwap package is on its way... should arrive by Saturday. 😃

Also, Branddy, your next book for #ReadersGonnaRead is on its way and should arrive early next week!

I read and liked this book before I was ten. Decided to reread before the new movie, since I wasn‘t sure what I remembered from the book and what was actually the Winona movie (which I love).

While I did enjoy this audio, I think maybe the book is just a bit too sugary sweet and preachy for grown-up me. I still love Jo, but was disappointed with the way her character ends up... the whole ending seems like kind of a cop out. 😬🤷🏻‍♀️

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Let‘s play, my pretties!

🌝 tea (black, mint or unflavored)

🌚 fiction

🌝dark

🌚cats

🌝tarot

🌚both!

🌝crystals

🌚west

#BasicWitchSwap #ThisOrThat

I finished this galley last night, and needed some time to compose my thoughts.

A well-written story of loss and upheaval set in chaotic Venezuela. Overall, a good (and at times, disturbing) story, but I struggled to stay interested due to some flashbacks that didn't seem to advance the story.

Full review is on my blog: https://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/08/25/arc-review-it-would-be-night-in-caracas-by...

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I wasn‘t even going to post about this book, as I was sort of ashamed to have wasted a few hours reading it. It‘s been on my kindle for years and I‘m actually mad that I can‘t demand my money back... it‘s not even available anymore that I can see.😂

It‘s bad, and not just because of the ‘taboo.‘ Lazy, manipulative writing. Disgusting characters. Not erotic in the least. Gross.

This is absolute garbage. Seriously.

Not a bad week 3 for #BFCr3, but I must get to 5 or 6 days per week of healthy eating. I always feel much better when I have fewer cheats. 😃

One of the better Austen-related novels I‘ve read so far. If you like historical fiction, wish you could have met the amazing Jane, and don‘t mind a little time travel, this could be the book for you.

My full review, with only two penis references, is on my blog. 😂

https://sprainedbrain.blog/2019/08/24/another-gushing-review-the-jane-austen-pro...

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Hey, witches!

All match emails have been sent, so please check your inbox and (if you haven‘t already), respond to let us know you have it.

Let the stalking and shopping commence! 😊

#BasicWitchSwap

I have to work 5/8 of these days, and the kids start back to school on Monday so things are going to get nutty... but I‘m still planning to join in the #SummersEndReadathon. 😃

I have a whole bunch of audiobooks on loan from the library that I need to finish, plus an embarrassing number of NetGalleys to read as I wrap in the #reviewathon. I will post my tbr and goals tomorrow.

Let‘s get this, readathoners! 🙌🏻

According to Goodreads, it‘s been 2 years since I finished Oryx and Crake. No idea why I didn‘t get to this one soon...it was awesome.

Atwood is a fantastic writer (not news, I know). This is the perfect dystopian for me. Scary because it seems like a possible future for us. Excellent characters, a grown up storyline, humor, and non-stop action.

Highly recommend the audio, as it made Adam One‘s preachiness bearable-with fun songs! 😆

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I often have a hard time connecting to short stories or end up wanting more. I was drawn to this collection mainly because it‘s published by University of Iowa Press (my alma mater) and won the Iowa Short Fiction Award.

So glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone. These ten stories are all about smart women in different stages of their lives and the choices they are faced with, each on their own search for happiness and fulfillment. Cont‘d ⬇️

This is an incredibly good audiobook. I say that both a person that isn‘t drawn to westerns, and as a woman who is often disappointed with how male writers write female characters.

Pointing that out as this is a western, written by a white man, about an absolutely brilliant, strong, unforgettable female mixed-race character. This book is beautifully written, heartbreaking, and does not shy away from race, gender, class or sexuality themes. ⬇️

I met most of my goals in week 2 (I had that dang wine last Sunday, but otherwise was on plan). 😳

I still need to catch up on my books read... Kristin Lavransdatter really slowed me down in week 1, and I‘ve only finished 4/24 so far.

#BFCr3

I really liked this! A fast, fun historical fiction with court intrigue, a little romance, a touch of magic, and NUN ASSASSINS. Solid writing, an interesting story, appealing characters, and good narration.

Thanks to the always fabulous reviews of @Ashley_Nicoletto for putting this series on my radar.

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Hey, weirdos! If you‘ve been on the fence about the #BasicWitchSwap, it‘s time to execute a perfect dismount and sign up!

Rachel and I are closing the form in the morning so that we can start matching people up. If you love witchcraft in stories, practice, or both, I hope you will join us!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckjsmgphBlkftGRGgacz8QY3x2lC4M7bbYLdkE...

1. Anything Reese‘s, candy corn (but only without the weird black and brown!) and mellowcreme pumpkins.

2. I like both for decorations, but I mainly read scary.

3. Kindle covers (I‘m weird), funko pops, witchy/magical charms (for bracelets)

4. Medusa, Frankenstein‘s monster, Circe, Elphaba, Agnes Nutter, Hermione Granger, Molly Weasley, Vasya (Winternight trilogy)

#screamathon

I was already familiar with most of these stories, but I think I was bound to love Gaiman‘s fanciful, often funny, spin on them. Especially in audiobook format, read by the author. 😍

It‘s like listening to a brilliant storyteller recount magical legends... because that‘s exactly what it is.

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