Reading Log as of June 8th

I’m currently reading two flufferton books:  Ebook Unlikely Story by Ali Rosen and Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand which James picked out for me the other day when we were at Target. It’s #4 in the Nantucket series so have no idea who most of the characters are, but oh well!

“Chief of Police Ed Kapenash is about to retire. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce. But when a 22-million-dollar summer home is purchased by the mysterious Richardsons—how did they make their money, exactly?—Ed, Sharon, and everyone in the community are swept up in high drama. The Richardsons throw lavish parties, flirt with multiple locals, flaunt their wealth with not one but two yachts, and raise impossible hopes of everyone they meet. When their house burns to the ground and their most essential employee goes missing, the entire island is up in arms.”

 This week our 52 Books Bingo category is Wuxia which is historical fiction stories in which the characters use traditional Chinese martial art disciplines for either good or bad.

For the wuxia read I have several books in my stacks.  Poppy Wars by R.F. Kuang which is sort of is in that genre. Plus ebooks: A Thousand Li: the First Step by Tao Wong and The Girl with Ghost Eyes: The Daoshi Chronicles by M. H. Boroson which are on one of the lists above.

I finished rereading Anne Bishops Other series 1 through 5 which was a great reset as I was having a hard time getting into any of my new books.

Our Saturday Night movie was Speed with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock and it was James first time to see the movie. Quite exciting! 

Reading Log as of June 1st

 

Our 52 Books dragon of the month is Saphira from Christopher Paolini‘s Eragon. I happily supported the Saphira Figurine kickstarter campaign last year and look forward to receiving a collectable figurine of Saphira when it’s ready.

I finished Breaking the Dark (jessica Jones crime novel) by Lisa Jewell which was mediocre at best, writing and story wise.  She hardly used her powers and most of her decisions were really dumb. James asked if it kicked a&% and I shared there wasn’t much kick a*& in the story.

Also finished Nora Roberts newest Hidden Nature in which the villains were creepy and the reader knew from the start what they were doing, so the reader got to be involved not only with them, but  how the main character went about figuring out the mystery, in the midst of a lot of remodeling house talk.

On the nightstand is Guys Write for Guys Read: Edited by Jon Scieszka

“What is a typical guy moment, anyhow? Daniel Pinkwater remembers the disappointment of meeting his Lone Star Ranger hero up close and personal. Gordon Korman relishes the goofy ultra violence of the old Looney Tunes cartoons. Stephen King realizes that having your two hundred-pound babysitter fart on your five-year-old head prepares you for any literary criticism. And that’s just a sampling from Guys Write for Guys Read, a fast-paced, high energy collection of short works: stories, essays, columns, cartoons, anecdotes, and artwork by today’s most popular writers and illustrators.”

Right inbetween books so need to peruses the shelves and decide what I want to read. 

 

Off to Watch Captain America: Brave New World.

Reading Log as of May 25th

 

I'm still reading Lisa Jewel’s Breaking the Dark at breakfast time.  The writing is mediocre but James gave it to me so have to finish it.

Meanwhile rereading Anne Bishop’s Other Series and currently on Vision in Silver.

My bedtime reread is Nora Robert’s Three Island trilogy and currently on Dance Upon the Air.

I love reading unique stories – some of which may be weird, mind blowing, extraordinary, and most often – unusual or unconventional. Stories like Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar, Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall, or 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.  

Unique or unusual books I currently have on the shelves and will be reading eventually are Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomics,  and 84 Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff.  I’m looking forward to exploring more books from the lists highlights on 52 Books this week.

Our Saturday Night Watch was a scary sci fi thriller, The Gorge on Apple Tv. Excellent!

Reading Log as of May 18th

 

Time To Talk

By

Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road

And slows his horse to a meaning walk,

I don’t stand still and look around

On all the hills I haven’t hoed,

And shout from where I am, What is it?

No, not as there is a time to talk.

I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall,

And plod: I go up to the stone wall

For a friendly visit.

Why this poem is apropos for today! I had the exact opposite issue today – No time to talk, no time to post.  Hubby and I spent the day doing a deep clean at the shop.  My techs will probably hate me for reorganizing their benches in the process.  Oh well….

I finished Nalini Singh’s Archangels Ascension, #17 in the Guild Hunter series which was all about Aodhan and Blue, two male angels who are best friends and have to navigate Aodhan’s dark past to become lovers. Fortunately the story didn’t get too graphic.

Currently reading Lisa Jewel’s Breaking the Dark which is the first book in a Marvel crime series with a female detective, Jessica Jones.

Also rereading Anne Bishop’s Written in Red which is the first book in the other’s series:

“As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.”

 

Our Saturday Night movie was Woman in Gold with Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds which was excellent. 

Mother's Day Gift Books

 

James surprised the heck out of me with his books choices this time because only one was on my wishlist which was Virginia Woolf’s Writer’s Diary.  The rest were:

J.K. Rowling’s The Ickabog which has some colorful illustrations through out:

“The kingdom of Cornucopia was once the happiest in the world. It had plenty of gold, a king with the finest moustaches you could possibly imagine, and butchers, bakers and cheesemongers whose exquisite foods made a person dance with delight when they ate them.

Everything was perfect – except for the misty Marshlands to the north which, according to legend, were home to the monstrous Ickabog. Anyone sensible knew that the Ickabog was just a myth, to scare children into behaving. But the funny thing about myths is that sometimes they take on a life of their own.

Could a myth unseat a beloved king? Could a myth bring a once happy country to its knees? Could a myth thrust two children into an adventure they didn’t ask for and never expected?

If you’re feeling brave, step into the pages of this book to find out…”

Richard Mathson’s What Dreams May Come with is Sci Fi/horror –

“What happens to us after we die? Chris Nielsen had no idea, until an unexpected accident cut his life short, separating him from his beloved wife, Annie. Now Chris must discover the true nature of life after death.

But even Heaven is not complete without Annie, and when tragedy threatens to divide them forever, Chris risks his very soul to save Annie from an eternity of despair.”

And book 1 in a  Clint Wolf mystery series by B.J. Bourg – But Not Forgotten:

“When a local businessman’s arm is found in the jowls of a large alligator, Clint Wolf and Susan Wilson investigate to find out how it got there. They quickly discover that the man was murdered, but thanks to a secret force working against them, solving the case will be no easy task.

A new dog comes into Clint’s life, and not only does it bring him hope after having lost his wife and daughter two years earlier, but it proves to be quite the guard dog when a dangerous stranger comes sneaking around.

As Clint and Susan dig deeper into their case, the body count begins to rise, and they soon realize that no one is safe…not even the law. Will evil prevail, or will Clint and Susan get justice for their victims? Read this chilling mystery to find out.”

Woot Woot! 

Reading Log as of May 11th

 

Happy Mother's Day! 

Currently reading Nalini Singh’s newest in her Guild Hunter Series #17- Archangel’s Ascension:

“Aodhan and Illium. Adi and Blue. Sparkle and Bluebell. Friends become lovers, their future a wild unknown.

Finally reunited in New York, they must now learn to navigate the monumental shift in their relationship. But for these two members of Archangel Raphael’s legendary Seven, there is no time to rest. As they investigate a case for the Tower that echoes the darkness from Aodhan’s past, they will be forced to confront not only the scars that mark them both, but the promise of a vast power that flickers in Illium.

The threat of ascension has haunted and troubled Aodhan’s Blue for too long, the forces of change immutable and without mercy…and uncaring of Illium’s fierce wish to remain part of the Seven. Change is a constant in an immortal’s life, and this new horizon will bring with it both terrible heartbreak and a joy extraordinary enough to reverberate through time…”

Plus All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley which is wonderfully written:

“Millions of people climb the grand marble staircase to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art every year. But only a select few have unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. They’re the guards who roam unobtrusively in dark blue suits, keeping a watchful eye on the two million square foot treasure house. Caught up in his glamorous fledgling career at The New Yorker, Patrick Bringley never thought he’d be one of them. Then his older brother was diagnosed with fatal cancer and he found himself needing to escape the mundane clamor of daily life. So he quit The New Yorker and sought solace in the most beautiful place he knew.

To his surprise and the reader’s delight, this temporary refuge becomes Bringley’s home away from home for a decade. We follow him as he guards delicate treasures from Egypt to Rome, strolls the labyrinths beneath the galleries, wears out nine pairs of company shoes, and marvels at the beautiful works in his care. Bringley enters the museum as a ghost, silent and almost invisible, but soon finds his voice and his tribe: the artworks and their creators and the lively subculture of museum guards—a gorgeous mosaic of artists, musicians, blue-collar stalwarts, immigrants, cutups, and dreamers. As his bonds with his colleagues and the art grow, he comes to understand how fortunate he is to be walled off in this little world, and how much it resembles the best aspects of the larger world to which he gradually, gratefully returns.”

And my Nora Robert’s bedtime read – Midnight Bayou – which I can’t remember a thing so like reading it again for the first time.

“Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn’t understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he first saw Manet Hall, he’d been enchanted-and obsessed-with it. So when the opportunity to buy the house comes up, Declan jumps at the chance to live out a dream.

Determined to restore Manet Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief-sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan’s belief in the ghostly presence grows.

Only the companionship of alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall-a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that’s been buried for a hundred years.”

Our Saturday Night movie was the original Pink Panther with Peter Sellers. De dum de dum 🎶🎷

James' Review -Batman: The Killing Joke

 

Hey, fellow superhero lovers. After so much time away, I'm here to give you my thoughts on the story BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, one of the most influential Batman stories to have ever been written and released way back in the 1980s.

Written by Alan Moore, and released the same year as V for Vendetta, the comic sees The Joker escape Arkham Asylum and set out to hurt the Gordon family to prove that one bad day can make anyone be like him. The story is dark and looks at the origins of the clown prince of crime while examining the dynamic between Batman and The Joker, and doesn't pull any punches with what happens. The Joker is sadistic, and his actions impact Barbara Gordon for most of DC history going forward, and the ending sees another battle between hero and villain, with Joker delivering two iconic lines. I got my hands on the graphic novel, and I had a good time reading it, twice.

The comic is not the only version of the story, especially as DC and Warner released an animated movie adaptation in 2016, which starts off with Batman and Batgirl teaming up to fight crime, having a little... affair, and Batgirl giving up on, well, being Batgirl... all before we get to the main story. The love story between Bruce and Barbara stirred up a ton of controversy, which does make TKJ a controversial film... but it wasn't THAT bad IMO. So, what is my opinion on BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE?

Reading the story years after its release, especially in the deluxe version, KILLING JOKE offers an entertaining read that older fans will enjoy. It is not for kids, especially with how brutal it can get. After all, it was made in a time when superhero comics were starting to become more than just for younger readers. As for the movie, it isn't too bad, it has its moments and is an engaging watch... if you can handle an R-rated superhero action animation. I saw it on MAX, on a Tuesday morning, may I add. If anyone wants to read the comic for yourself, be warned, it will be very scary... which makes it fun. 9/10. With the movie, the writers did their best with the material and I did enjoy the opening action scenes.

See you all later, people.

-James M

Reading Log as of May 4th

 

Our 52 Books Dragon of the Month for May is Norbert from the Harry Potter Series. Will dip my toes back in to the potter world at some point. 

I’m currently reading a mystery set in Compiegne, France called The Mysterious Bakery on Rue De Paris by Evie Woods, aka Evie Gaughan

“Edie is … not in Paris?

Edie Lane left everything behind in Ireland for a once-in-a-lifetime job at a bakery in Paris. Except, thanks to a mistranslation, the bakery is not in Paris, and neither is Edie.

The tiny town of Compiègne, complete with its local bakery on the Rue de Paris, holds many secrets. This might not be where Edie intended to be but it’s not long before she realizes it’s exactly where she needs to be…”

She also wrote the Lost Bookshop which was every enjoyable and looking forward to reading more of her books.

Also on #3 in the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts – Savor the Moment and still plugging away with Les Miserables.

Will dive back into the Harry Potter series this month with Philosopher’s Stone, but don’t know whether I’ll read the rest of the series or just the first book for right now.

Saturday’s movie was The Goonies which was action packed and silly.

Reading Log as of April 27th

 

My 52 Books group is ending the month with a quest over land, by sea, through space or into ourselves. I have a few interesting nonfiction books on my shelves that fill the bill such as Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit from the personal Quest’s List as well as the memoir – True North: A Journey into Unexplored Wilderness by Elliott Merrick, plus All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley.

Robin Hobb’s Dragon Keeper, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi By Shannon Chakraborty, and The Bone Ships By RJ Barker, among others mentioned in the most recommended lit.

From the Wisdom list – Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Persig, and Virginia Woolf’s A Room on One’s Own. I’m looking forward to reading them all. I may not get to all of them this year but I’ll have fun trying.

I’m two thirds through Frozen River and enjoying it. But spending way too much time on youtube and watching podcasts and travel shows so need to put a kibosh on that and immerse myself in reading.

My buying ban is officially over. Bought myself a blind date with a book from Etsy and received the science fiction book Scythe by Neal Shusterman which was a win because have been meaning to read that one for years.  Also went to Barnes and Noble by myself so I could browse to my heart’s content and picked up Evie Woods The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris as well as All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley.

Our Saturday Night movie was The Shadow with Alex Baldwin.  So so. The acting was a bit cheesy. 

Reading Log as of April 20th

 

Happy Easter! 

Currently reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon which is good so far:

“A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. Ari

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.”

At bedtime rereading Nora Roberts Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy and on the second one – The Last Boyfriend.

Still plugging away with Les Miserables.

Our Saturday Night movie watch - A Few Good Men. Excellent

 

Reading Log as of April 13th

 

Found out why I haven’t been reading as much. Went to the eye doctor and was advised my eyes are a little bit different from each other and if I had the proper glasses, my eyes wouldn’t have to work as hard. Getting fitted for bifocals soon.  Oy!

Les Miserables – Jean Valjean has a crisis of conscience.

I reread Nora Roberts Northern Lights and it always surprises me. For some reason, I want The Professor to be the murderer and yet again, he wasn’t.  LOL!

Almost done with Kazuo Ishiguro’s The buried Giant. Interesting story, especially with the Arthurian language. They find such polite ways to say the worst things.

Picked up T.R. Ryden’s Occam’s Razor which looks and sounds really interesting:

“When ancient artifacts discovered in the Great Pyramid of Giza shed new light on a DNA pattern, venture capitalist James Anderson is thrust into an action-packed road of scientific exploration and discovery. An unlikely participant in the events that begin to unfold, he begins to realize he has stumbled upon the greatest and most terrifying cover-up in human history.

Occam’s Razor is a chilling speculative fiction thriller which ties together several well-known, and some not-so-famous controversial theories concerning alien visitation, human evolution, ancient legends, and much more. Explore just how plausible it is that the people in power may already know about an impending disaster, and join Anderson and his team as they figure out what to do in the face of unstoppable catastrophe.”

Our Saturday Night movie was the 2015 movie Jupiter Ascending with Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis which was excellent. 

James' Review -V for Vendetta

 

In the 1980s, the landscape of DC was changing as their comics became more than just "for kids". Stories like The Killing Joke and Watchmen were pushing the envelope, targeting an older crowd, and Alan Moore contributed to it. Near the end of the decade, DC fans were in for a surprise as Alan Moore and his team crafted another dark and memorable comic, one that focused on battling Fascism...

V for Vendetta.

Released in 1988, the story focused on the "terrorist" known as V and a woman named Evie as they fought tyranny in a world where England was under fascist rule. Yes, in the world of V for Vendetta, England, which fought Nazism in World War II, was taken over by a fascist party. Alongside Watchmen, V for Vendetta became one of the most influential comics, and would eventually gain a movie adaptation in 2006 staring Natalie Portman as Evie and Hugo Weaving as V.

I obtained the graphic novel earlier this year and read it to the end, and, in the last month, my parents and I watched the film adaptation. It isn't every day when you get to watch an R-rated comic book movie with your mom and dad, especially as they'd seen it before at one point. So, what do I think of the comic and the movie. Let us start with the comic, and I have no intent of spoiling the ending in case you never read it.

The story is compelling, intense, and motivational. V is a well-written mysterious character, and Evie serves as the audience surrogate, our way of seeing the world of the Norsefire-controlled England and V's crusade against the fascist. The tone is dark, and ominous, and, as it is aimed at an older crowd, there are a couple instances of explicit nudity, female nudity, and there is a sex scene at one point. As for the violence, V does kill bad guys here and there, but the blood is used... sparingly. However, the sex, nudity and blood is not the focus, its the story of good against tyranny while discussing the importance of individual freedom.

The movie, which involved the Wachowski Brothers of Matrix fame, tells the same story, but makes some changes. The late John Hurt stars as Adam Sutler, the film counterpart to the comic's villain Adam Susan, which can offer 1984 vibes for those who have seen the 50s and 80s adaptation of the novel, and when I was watching the film, I initially didn't realize the man playing Sutler was Mr. Hurt. Likely because I was focused on the other actors like Natalie Portman and Stephen Fry, but John had some incredible range, and is a joy to watch even though he was the villain here.

My overall thoughts?

I love the comic, and its worth a reread. I might reread it today or tomorrow. You can't go wrong with a story where someone opposes a British fascist regime, and the artwork is spectacularly gorgeous, not to mention the writing is incredible. The movie version is equal, despite taking creative liberties, such as certain events being revised or omitted or the villain having a name change along with how his fate plays out. The comic gets a 9.9 and the film gets a 10/10. Mr. Moore's contribution to DC is legendary, even though he isn't fond of movies adapting his works, but he deserves the respect. See you all later, people.

-James M

Reading Log as of April 6th

 

Our next 52 Books Bingo category is Narrative Nonfiction. Also known as creative or literary nonfiction which are true stories told in literary form rather than dry objective reporting. Narrative nonfiction entertains as well as informs but engages the reader’s emotions as well their attention.  Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt was the first nonfiction book I read written in narrative or creative nonfiction format and led me to reading read more nonfiction.

Have several Erik Larsen novels in the shelves which bought for hubby but will fill the bill for narrative nonfiction as well as Joan Didion’s Slouching to Bethlehem. It’s been years since I’ve read Didion so haven’t made up my mind what I’m going to read yet.

I’m currently on page 168 in Les Miserables and have discovered how Jean ValJean rises and Fantine falls. Good stuff.

Finished the middle grade mystery Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner which is book 1 in the Keeper’s Trilogy.  Will have to get the other two books to continue. A dystopian world in which kids up to the age of 12 are kept chained to their parents for safety. Goldie runs away and finds a mysterious world in the museum. Fun story with monsters and folks who help Goldie not only grow up and learn to fend for herself, but also help the city. 

Still in the midst of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant and enjoying it so far.

Our Saturday night movie was the 90's movie - Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, - which was entertaining and not too gory.   I watched the series way back when which was really good until it went the way of Lost with the last season.

Reading Log as of March 30th

 

Our 52 Books Dragon for the month of April is Querig from Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant which I’m looking forward to reading.

Besides The Buried Giant, currently on my nightstand is middle grade book Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner and the classic Les Miserables which I’m turning into my primary book if I want to get anywhere with the story.

I finished the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which was a fantasy mystery which kept me on my toes keeping track of the characters and the storyline. Very convoluted, but intriguing and unique mystery which went all over the place.  Was everyone in on it?  Too many people, secrets, behind the stairs politics, above the stairs agreements, black mail, murder, and love affairs.  The characters never quite knew who to trust. Loved the description and imagery.  A definite 5 stars. 

Our Saturday night movie was James Bond's Goldfinger.  The guys loved it. 

Reading Log as of March 23rd

Happy Sunday! Literary Linguistics – the interface between literature and linguistics and the study and analysis of language. Since one of our 52 Books Bingo categories is linguistics, I figured it would be fun, and ended up following so many rabbit holes on the internet, I forgot what I was there for. 

One book I stumbled across was Lexicon by Max Berry which captured me attention right off and I had to work really hard to not to buy it right then and there. Listed as a cerebral thriller you just gotta read the excerpt to get caught up.  But that could be just me…. LOL!

“They recruited Emily Ruff from the streets. They said it was because she’s good with words.

They’ll live to regret it.

They said Wil Parke survived something he shouldn’t have. But he doesn’t remember.

Now they’re after him and he doesn’t know why.

There’s a word, they say. A word that kills.

And they want it back . . .”

It’s on my wishlist for later.

I finished Cassandra Clare’s Sword Catcher which is the beginning of a 4 book series which is full of dark magic and secrets and was excellent. The story captured me from the very beginning and held my attention the whole way through. Made me mad, confused, glad, and sad. Who would rue the day?  To be continued in the next book, The Ragpicker King. 

Currently reading The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton which is convoluted and thrilling and the writing is awesome.

“Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m.

There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.

We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer.

Understood? Then let’s begin . . .

Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others . . .”   So so very good.

Also dipping my toes into a light hearted romantic comedy (very flufferton) Lease on Love by Falon Ballard.

Our Saturday night movie was Electric State with Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.  Enjoyed the heck out of it. 

 

Reading Log as of March 16th

 

Who else is kickin up their heels with the arrival of Spring on March 20th?  I think springtime is my favorite season. The temperatures are perfect, the flowers are starting to bloom, the urge to take on a new project, or declutter. And read new books or dive into old favorites.  

I gave up halfway through Marie Brennan’s 3rd book in her Lady Trent series – Voyage of the Basilisk because it isn’t holding my attention at all. Lot happening but it isn’t with the dragons. More about the characters than anything else. The first two books were excellent, this one not so much.

Currently on Cassandra Clare’s Sword Catcher which is holding my interest.

Continuing with Les Miserable and made it through Book 2 with the introduction of Jean Valjean.

Switched to reading Patricia Briggs Mercedes Thompson at bedtime and currently on Bone Crossed.

Have to figure out my Spring books. Added a few to my wishlist but will have to pick from my shelves since book ban is still in affect.

Our Saturday night movie was V for Vendetta with Natalie Portman which I thought I'd seen before. Maybe I had years and years ago but had forgotten so enjoyed it! 

Reading Log as of March 9th

 

I finished 3 books that had been in progress for a few weeks:

The Radcliffe Ladies Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas which was heartwrenching as well as heartwarming. Set in the 50’s, a divorced woman opens her own bookstore and starts a reading club. 4 students from Radcliffe college join her and the discussions surrounding Jane Eyre, Age of Innocence, A Room of One’s Own, Anna Karenina, and the Great Gatsby reveal the innocence and morals and upbringing of the 4 disparate 18 year olds.  Trigger warning: abuse and rape

Louise Penny’s The Grey Wolf, #19 in the Armand Gamache series was interesting as Armand discovers a conspiracy among the upper eschelon of the Canadian Gov’t. No one is telling the truth, hiding messages, and clues, misleading, and misdirecting him in order to foil his finding the truth.

Naomi Novik’s Black Powder War, #3 in the Temeraire series which had Laurence and co stuck in China, until they escape with 3 eggs, make it to Austria, only to be pressed into service to help fight the War against Napoleon.  Wonderful story but quite grueling for not only the characters but the reader as well as there was much action and many twists and turns.

My reading mood changed from a James Rollins thriller to Cassandra Clare’s fantasy, Sword Catcher which is capturing my attention.

Reading Log as of March 1st

 

Currently in progress:

 Naomi Novik's Black Powder War which is the 3rd in the Temeraire series:

"After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty’ s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.

Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn–thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master’s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte’s implacable army?"

Paula Munier's Home at Night, #5 in the Mercy Carr Mystery series:

"It’s Halloween in Vermont, winter is coming, and five humans, two dogs, and a cat are a crowd in Mercy Carr’s small cabin. She needs more room―and she knows just the Grackle Tree Farm, with thirty acres of woods and wetlands and a Victorian manor to die for. They say it’s haunted by the ghosts of missing children and lost poets and a murderer or two, but Mercy loves it anyway. Even when Elvis finds a dead body in the library."

And Les Miserables in which I'm making slow progress. 

Our Saturday night movie was Lord of the Rings War of the Rohirrim, an animated story which seemed to be a reprise or repeat story from the Lord of the Rings. Didn't enjoy it all that much. 

February Reading Wrap Up

 

What do all my books have in common this month:  They are either about people finding themselves,  working through grief, or searching for that elusive happily ever after and realizing real life is better.  I read 8 books of which 6 were physical, 2 were ebooks, 4 were new to me authors  and a total of 2603 pages.  I enjoyed  journaling spoilery thoughts about every single one, what I liked, what I disliked, etc.   

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama: The story was charming and revolved around books which helps the readers solve real life problems. A young girl on her own, learning how to cook and care about herself and take joy in life.  A working mother who faces all kinds of trouble after her baby is born. An accountant learning you can make a new start. An unemployed 30 year old man finally discovering what he was good at. And a retiree figuring out what he liked and enjoyed. Ordinarily I don't like books that reflect real life, but since the story involved Japanese culture and society, it made it more interesting. ****

Bookshops and Bone Dust by Travis Baldree:  Charming and entertaining, Bookshops and Bonedust is the prequel to Legends and Lattes which I haven't read yet, full of anthromorphic animals or not human, in which Viv the orc helps Fern, a rattkin, who is a walking, talking, foul mouthed rat with a pet dog who is a cross between a dog and a bird, fix up her bookstore while trying to solve the mystery of a necromancer. ****

Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb: #60 in the In Death series in which she hits it out of the ballpark.  We learn new things about Summerset and his history and those who were involved in the Urban Wars. *****

The Last Love Note by Emma Grey: A story about grief, love, loss. A story about powering through, resilience, humor, honesty, and family.  Never letting go, but moving forward, finding your way without the love of your life, and somehow falling in love again with the one was right in front of you all along.  I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. e, ****

Starter Villain by John Scalzi:  Silly and ridiculous and entertaining with intelligent cats, foul mouthed dolphins, and a bunch of villains who try to threaten and cajole their way to a fortune after they’ve dug themselves in a hole, but the starter villain is smarter than they think. ****

You are Here by David Nichols: Some strangers, some friends begin a coast to coast walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea of England and work through life issues in the process.  The story represented two very flawed, hurt, people not trying to get over bad relationships, until they were put together on this walk.  Was there too much angst, bitterness?  Not exactly. There was a just a right amount of humor to balance the story along with the revelations.  I liked that it didn't end with a happily ever after with all sins forgiven, but a 'let's try' together vibe.  ****

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah:  Joy walks out of her own life, onto an airplane, crashes, walks away from the wreck, and has a bonding experience with a man and his child living deep in the woods. Yet, something is strange about the whole thing. Is is all real or in her imagination?  Once I finished the story, I want to read it all over again.  At the beginning it didn't seem like it, but Comfort and Joy is a charming Christmas story about hope and finding happiness.    e, ****

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore:  Sloane, Maisey, Mateo, Greg, and Arthur. What do all these people have in common.  They've all experienced grief, or trauma in their earlier lives that have caused them to hide their true selves, burying themselves in other peoples lives, their children, their work, their books until one day Sloan decides to become involved in an angry old man's life.  From there, it snowballs, in a good way, until each one together, give each other the strength, the power to make the changes necessary to accept their pasts, and move on into the future. ****

Reading Log as of February 28th

 

What a week! Found out I have an inflamed gall bladder which doesn't have to come out right now, but later.  Seems the weird little twinges and pain I've felt over the past couple years have been biliary colic. I have gall stones.  I have a surgery consultation coming up next Wednesday.  At this point, I think I'm about at 85  percent health wise.  No pain, no tightness, and the fatigue is slowly getting better.  

I closed out the month of February with The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore. 

First Lines:  "The day I met Arthur McLachlan was perfectly ordinary.  I woke up at my usual hour, I ate my usual bowl of oatmeal, while hunched over the last few pages of my library copy of Parable of the Sower. I can't remember what I wore, but I'm pretty sure it was both machine washable and designed for comfort."

Sloane, Maisey, Mateo, Greg, and Arthur. What do all these people have in common.  They've all experienced grief, or trauma in their earlier lives that have caused them to hide their true selves, burying themselves in other peoples lives, their children, their work, their books until one day Sloan decides to become involved in an angry old man's life.  From there, it snowballs, in a good way, until each one together, give each other the strength, the power to make the changes necessary to accept their pasts, and move on into the future. 

I loved the idea of highlighting pages in the books, conversations and quotes which spoke to the people the reader loved but couldn't express.  

The Lonely Hearts Book Club was a beautiful story about standing up for yourself, finding yourself, helping others, and sharing your life.  

Source Books 2023

Books about Books 

Contemporary Fiction

356 Pages, ****

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

 

“You can run away from your life and your past, but there's no way to distance yourself from your own heart.”

First Lines:  "Christmas parties are the star on the top of my 'don't list this year. Other things to avoid this season: Ornaments. Trees. Mistletoe.(definitely) Holiday movies about families. And memories." 

Joy walks out of her own life, onto an airplane, crashes, walks away from the wreck, and has a bonding experience with a man and his child living deep in the woods. Yet, something is strange about the whole thing. Is is all real or in her imagination?  Like the movie Sixth Sense, once I finished the story, I want to read it all over again.  At the beginning it didn't seem like it, but Comfort and Joy is a charming Christmas story about hope and finding happiness.    

Ballantine Books, 2005

Contemporary Christmas Romance

272 E book 

****

You are Here by David Nichols

 

“You know that thing when you're watching a film that you're not really enjoying and the other person doesn't like it either, but you've paid for the rental, you're halfway through, you sort of want to know what happens and, besides, there's nothing else on. But really you're just waiting for someone to say, "Can we stop this? I hate it." And neither of us did. Some people sit like that for their whole lives together. Waiting for it to pick up, waiting for a good bit. We were lucky in that respect. It could have gone on longer.”

First Line: "In all her youthful visions of the future, of the job she might have, the city and home she might live in, the friends and family around her, Marnie had never thought that she'd be lonely."

Some strangers, some friends begin a coast to coast walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea of England and work through life issues in the process.  The story represented two very flawed, hurt, people not trying to get over bad relationships, until they were put together on this walk.  Was there too much angst, bitterness?  Not exactly. There was a just a right amount of humor to balance the story along with the revelations.  I liked that it didn't end with a happily ever after with all sins forgiven, but a 'let's try' together vibe. 

Harper, May 2024

355 Pages

Contemporary

14th book - ****

James' Reviews -Fantastic Four (1994 series)

 

Hello, true believers. The Crazy Video Game Wizard is back, with a review of another Marvel show from decades past. It started well after my dad and I finished watching SPIDER-MAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, and we watched the first episode of FANTASTIC FOUR (1994) together. My dad didn't enjoy it, and wouldn't watch the rest, so I watched the rest of the show without him.

This show follows Dr. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny, and Ben in their superhero adventures as the Fantastic Four, as they battle against dangerous foes as a family no matter the odds. For its time, the show has aged pretty well, and the gang is well depicted, faithful to their comic counterparts, and the action is engaging with many epic intro sequences for the first half of season one and the second half of season one. Despite the quality, Fantastic Four only lasted one season and was cancelled, due to low views.

Let us not forget, the voice acting is pretty good. Ben aka The Thing has a good voice, provided by Chuck McGann. Villains like Doctor Doom make an appearance, voiced by Simon Templeman, and he is pretty intimidating. Alongside the other antagonists the Four face in the series, the world-devouring Galactus crops up in a couple episodes, voiced by the deceased Tony Jay. Galactus' appearance reflects his comic book design, and his voice is heavily intimidating to the core.

Alongside SPIDER-MAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, and the 2005 Fantastic Four movie, the 90s show is an engaging, colorful product of its time, and deserves the attention in this day and age. I would highly recommend you see it if you have the chance. In fact, its on Disney Plus, so watch it there, if you have Disney Plus. The overall rating for this is a 9.9, especially since it was engaging to the end.

-James M

James Review -Deadpool (2016) w. Deadpool

 

Oh, hello there. So, you may be wondering who the fella in red and black is, and why he's cussing and killing bad guys with blood going everywhere. The name's Deadpool, real name Wade Wilson. Most people call me "The Merc With A Mouth", and I'm a big deal. 

You know Marvel Comics, right? Let me give you the f***ing beats, buster! I was created in the 90s with my big damn debut comin' in 1991, even though it took a while for me to develop my fourth wall-breaking $#!@, and it took longer for me to get into the movies. 2009 may have been my lucky day, BUT THEY SEWED MY DAMN MOUTH SHUT!!!

However, 2016 was the game changer, when they knocked it outta the park with my movie. And get this, that Ryan Reynolds guy who played the other me, HE PLAYED THE REAL ME! That's right, baby! My actor is THE Ryan Reynolds, and you know him from $#!* like the GREEN LANTERN movie and a bunch of others. Sooooooo, what's the story of my movie, baby?

Well, it starts with me riding with Dolpinder, high-fiving him, goin' after that bastard Francis and killin' his goons. However, the story really starts a few years prior, before my face gets real messed up, when I bust a pizza-delivering stalker. Man, the look on the other guy's face when I threatened him with a gun, and the stalker knows that if he went near his ex-girlfriend again, he will know I got some hard spots. Ok, that came out wrong.

So, after that, I hit a bar and, there, I meet the babe of my dreams. Her name's Vanessa, and she's a real hooker. So, after I pay her, off we go to put some balls in the hole. Big twist: I took her to the arcade for some fun. After that, we had a hell of a lot more fun on every holiday imaginable all the way to Christmas, where I pop the big question... before cancer pops up. $#*^! Looks like that love montage is over, and crap is getting real.

News flash. Not only do I have cancer, but it's gonna kill me. So, what to do, what to do. Luckily, this guy in a suit offers a solution, and, eventually, I take it. In fact, it seems they're gonna make me a superhero. Lets hope my superhero costume isn't green and animated like Green Lantern's outfit, and that's when we meet Ajax. Oops, that's not his real name, its friggin' Francis Freeman. And it turns out, The Workshop is real %$#@ed up and makes "super slaves", and they torture me in an effort to wake up my mutant genes.

A while passes and, BOOM, they wake up, and my face gets real messed up in the process. Francis is so toast, even though I lose to him after trying to fight him naked. Don't worry, I lived to tell the tale to my buddy Weasel. One look at my face, and he compares it to an avocado who had a hate fling with an older and more disgusting avocado, then as we discuss plans on what to do with my situation, I decide to get a mask and we agree on my new name: Deadpool, Captain Deadpool

*record scratch* No, just Deadpool. Sounds like a franchise, amirite?

Makin' my costume takes some trial and error, and the suit being red came from the fact the white suit I wore got stained with my own blood at one point. Okay, so, back to the start of the film. After I kill his goons, I find Francis, and reveal my face to him. However, the studio sends two X-Men to get me, Colossus and, uh, Nega-Sonic Teenage Warhead? Weird name, anyway. They try to take me to the X-Mansion, but I slice off my arm and escape, with my severed hand givin' Colossus the finger. Oh, and Francis got away. GOD FRIGGIN' DANG IT!!!

I retreat to my friend Blind Al's place so I can heal, and once my hand grows back, Weasel and I go to a, er, pole-dancer club to find Vanessa, who gets nabbed by Francis and his goons. Looks like its rescue time, but I need help, and I get it from Colossus and the Nega Sonic Warhead girl. And where is Francis holed up, the ruins of a battleship which looks like a broken down SHIELD ship for some reason. Cue his goon Angel Dust doing a superhero landing and battling it out with Colossus.

Now, we've reached the final battle with Francis, and we try to kill each other with Vanessa on the line. I am so determined to get my face fixed at this point, and here's a catch, Francis doesn't feel pain. Heck, he can't feel anything. So, I kick his ass, and Vanessa is saved. Now to get my face fixed, but this is where we run into a problem, there is no cure. Okay, looks like its time to kill Francis, but cue Colossus comin' in with some speech about being a hero and sparing your enemies.

Well, I got one thing to say with my gun.

BLAM!

Just like that, I got Francis, even though my face may never be cured. At least Vanessa is safe, and she doesn't mind how my face looks. We part ways with Colossus and Nega-Sonic Teenage Warhead, and our story concludes for a time with me and Vanessa kissing like we miss each other. Good film, yeah?

Oh, trust me. DEADPOOL (2016) is fantastic, in so many imaginable ways, and it isn't every day when the world sees an R-rated "superhero" film, even though I am no superhero by a long shot. Solid 10/10, and you gotta admit there are so many funny moments throughout just as there is so much good action scenes with solid special effects, and I got a sequel a few years later... even though it took longer for my third movie to get off the ground. Ryan Reynolds was born for the role of me, amirite, folks? Oh, and Cable shows up in Deadpool 2, and we got Josh Brolin as him, but that is a story for another day. 

Catch you suckers next time!

Reading Log as of February 22nd

 

Have been feeling horrible for most of the week. Combination of the new blood pressure medication and supposedly gall bladder issues. Had a chat with my doctor who said to stop taking the new med and suspects that since all pain is localized in my right side beneath my ribs. He's ordered an ultrasound for Monday. 

Can't concentrate on anything heavy so started Kristin Hannah's ebook Comfort and Joy which was sad and depressing so fit my mood. 

"Joy Candellaro once loved Christmas more than any other time of the year. Now, as the holiday approaches, she is at a crossroads in her life; recently divorced and alone, she can’t summon the old enthusiasm for celebrating. So without telling anyone, she buys a ticket and boards a plane bound for the beautiful Pacific Northwest. When an unexpected detour takes her deep into the woods of the Olympic rainforest, Joy makes a bold decision to leave her ordinary life behind--to just walk away--and thus begins an adventure unlike any she could have imagined.

In the small town of Rain Valley, six-year-old Bobby O’Shea is facing his first Christmas without a mother. Unable to handle the loss, Bobby has closed himself off from the world, talking only to his invisible best friend. His father Daniel is beside himself, desperate to help his son cope. Yet when the little boy meets Joy, these two unlikely souls form a deep and powerful bond. In helping Bobby and Daniel heal, Joy finds herself again.

But not everything is as it seems in quiet Rain Valley, and in an instant, Joy’s world is ripped apart, and her heart is broken. On a magical Christmas Eve, a night of impossible dreams and unexpected chances, Joy must find the courage to believe in a love--and a family--that can’t possibly exist, and go in search of what she wants . . . and the new life only she can find."

Started reading David Nichols You are Here at bedtime which also fit my mood about sad and depressed characters finding their way:

"Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way . . .

Michael is coming undone. Adrift after his wife's departure, he has begun taking himself on long, solitary walks across the English countryside. Becoming ever more reclusive, he’ll do anything to avoid his empty house.

Marnie, on the other hand, is stuck. Hiding alone in her London flat, she avoids old friends and any reminders of her rotten, selfish ex-husband. Curled up with a good book, she’s battling the long afternoons of a life that feels like it’s passing her by.

When a persistent mutual friend and some very unpredictable weather conspire to toss Michael and Marnie together on the most epic of ten-day hikes, neither of them can think of anything worse. Until, of course, they discover exactly what they’ve been looking for.

Michael and Marnie are on the precipice of a bright future . . . if they can survive the journey."

James Reviews -Knuckles (2024)

 

In 2020, after years of development hell, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie finally released, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and was a massive hit. With the success of the film, the Sonic franchise was rejuvenated, and the way was paved for the Sonic Cinematic Universe with 2022 seeing the release of Sonic 2. Nearly two years later, as we prepared for Sonic 3, the world saw Idris Elba's Knuckles get his own show, which guest starred Adam Pally as Green Hills policeman Wade Whipple (who is also the main star of this darn show).

So, I watched this whole series, and saw some videos about it on YouTube, what are my thoughts on this?

Honestly, KNUCKLES is fine. Its nothing too special or groundbreaking, its all about our favorite red echidna and Wade Whipple on a pretty wacky adventure. As someone who grew up watching wacky, childish stuff along with some pretty dark stuff, I like my cartoony over-the-top nonsense. KNUCKLES is a comedy through and through, and Adam Pally hits the comedic beats well, while throwing in plenty of seriousness when needed.

The show is six episodes long, with Ben Schwartz's Sonic appearing for a time in the first episode, even though he has a couple of lines with Tika Sumpter's Maddie having a mostly minor role. One of the top highlights in this series is Back To The Future's Christopher Lloyd, who voices the deceased Echidna warlord Pachacamac. Remember him from Sonic Adventure? Then, we get to the show's villains gallery.

First, we have The Buyer, played by Scottish actor Rory McCann, a former ally of Doctor Robotnik and the show's main antagonist, who hires G.U.N. Agents Mason and Willoughby to get that red echidna. We also have bounty hunter Jack Sinclar, who is an old friend of Wade from a bowling team, and finally Pistol Pete Whipple, Wade's father and a bowling legend. English actor and The Princess Bride legend Carey Elwes takes up the role and the character is lovable and scummy at the same time.

Now, I won't spoil the whole story, but the writing is interesting at best, and KNUCKLES offers a pretty alright soundtrack. If you like Sonic, go ahead and watch it. My overall ranking for this is 6 out of 7 Chaos Emeralds. It isn't perfect, but the show has some fun to it, even though it was kinda poorly received by most fans. Catch you next time, ya'll.

-James M

James Reviews -Batman: Resurrection (2024)

 

For nearly a century, DC's Batman has inspired, and mesmerized the world with his battles and stories in many forms from comics to TV to games. The movies have been no exception, with many directors and actors offering the greatest of takes on the Caped Crusader. In 1989, following the goofiness of '66, Warner Bros delivered one of Batman's most important outings ever. Batman (1989), directed by Tim Burton, saw Batman (played by Michael Keaton) battle the demented Joker (Jack Nicholson). The film was well-received, and Keaton reprised the role a few years later in the sequel, Batman Returns (1992).

Now, we get to today's topic. In 2024, Penguin Random House released BATMAN: RESSURECTION, a novel written by John Jackson Miller. 

Set in the Burtonverse after the conclusion of Batman 1989, the story addresses the aftermath of The Joker's defeat and follows Batman's desperate resolve to protect Gotham City as a new threat arises. The book captures the feel and aesthetic of Burton's movie(s), offering a deep story, and looks at Batman's state of mind after his final battle with The Joker, with appearances from Batman Returns' characters Max Schreck and Selena "Catwoman" Kyle, the latter of whom has yet to become Catwoman.

The villain for this novel is Clayface, who impersonates The Joker for a time, along with Doctor Hugo Strange, and the condition the former is dealing with is heavily tied to The Joker's actions in the first movie. When it comes to the characters, you can clearly picture Michael Keaton as Batman with the late Michael Gough as Alfred. As for Clayface, given that he is a shapeshifter, you can imagine various actors playing him with Jack Nicholson playing his fake Joker disguise.

Batman Resurrection, the first in a series of Batman 89 novels, fits the world established by Burton in the first movie, and captures the dark tone that Batman stories are known for without going too far. I would highly recommend this for anyone who is looking to get into the Dark Knight's adventures, and if you are a fan of the 1989 movie. 10/10, I would happily reread this, especially as I finished reading it ages ago.

Take care out there, folks.

-James M

Reading Log as of February 15th

 

J.D. Robb's 60th In Death - Bonded in Death - arrived so I dove in and she hit it out of the park with this one. I really enjoyed the heck out of this episode of Eve and Roark, and learned some new things about Summerset, and those who were involved in the Urban Wars. Fascinating and definitely a five star read. 

Another five star read was The Last Love Note by Emma Grey which was equally good. A story about grief, love, loss. A story about powering through, resilience, humor, honesty, and family.  Never letting go, but moving forward, finding your way without the love of your life, and somehow falling in love again with the one was right in front of you all along.   I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. One of those stories I'll have to get in paperback to read again. 

Finished John Scalzi's Starter Villain which was silly and ridiculous and entertaining with intelligent typing cats, foul mouthed sentient dolphins, and a bunch of villains who threaten and cajole their way and try to steal a fortune after they've mismanaged and overspent themselves into a hole.  

I'm currently reading Naomi Novik's Black Powder War, #3 in the Temeraire series.  Was going to dive into a Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon but think will stow it on the back burner while I read Alan Moore's The Great When which James surprised me with on Valentine's Day.  

"If this London is what they call the Smoke, then that place is the Fire...

The year is 1949, the city London. Amidst the smog of the capital stumbles Dennis Knuckleyard, a hapless eighteen year-old employed by a second-hand bookshop. One day, on an errand to acquire books for sale, Dennis discovers a novel that simply does not exist. It is a fictitious book, a figment from another novel. Yet it is physically there in his hands. How?

Dennis has stumbled on a book from the Great When, a magical version of London beyond time and space, where reality blurs with fiction and concepts such as Crime and Poetry are incarnated as wondrous, terrible beings. But this other, magical London must remain a secret: if Dennis cannot find a way to return this book to where it belongs, he risks repercussions, such as his body being turned inside out (or worse).

So begins a journey delving deep into the city's occult underbelly and tarrying with an eccentric cast of sorcerers, gangsters, and murderers – some from legend, some all too real, and all with plans of their own. Soon Dennis finds himself at the centre of an explosive series of events that may alter and endanger both Londons forever..."

Les Miserables has taken a back seat to other books this week so need to let it let it ride in the front passenger seat. It's been yelling dibs for a few days. LOL! 

Reading Plans for February

 

Woot! Woot! J.D. Robb's 60th book in the In Death series - Bonded in Death - has arrived and I am fully immersed in the story, wondering how she is going to pick apart the clues and find the murderer. So good....

"His passport read Giovanni Rossi. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he landed in New York and eased into the waiting car. And died within minutes…"

My bedtime read is John Scalzi's Starter Villain: 

"Inheriting your uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who's running the place.

Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.

But becoming a supervillain isn't all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they're coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.

It's up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyperintelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.

In a dog-eat-dog world...be a cat."

I need to finish Naomi Novik's Black Powder War, #3 in the Temeraire series as well as the rest of All Star Superman because James wants me too. 

James Rollins newest release and #3 in his Moonfall series - Dragons of Blackglass arrives on February 18th so I'm looking forward to starting that one almost immediately.

I really want to dive into A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon which is a chunky one, so will how that goes. 

Les Misérables year long sip read  - I aim to read 5 pages a day which is a total of 95 pages for the month, plus complete journal notes. 

For Super Bowl Sunday, James and I are heading out for our traditionally mother-son shopping trip to Barnes and Noble as well as Game Stop and what ever else store we decide to wander in to.  Breaking my book buying ban for the day, then I promise I will go right back to being good. :)

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

 

“The glow in The Perch dimmed, her corner untouched by the blast of light and heat from the hearth across the room, so she asked for a lantern to read by. The kid obliged, and despite the uncomfortable chair and the ache in her leg and the backwater in which she’d been abandoned, she was absorbed. She was transported. She was elsewhere.”

First Line:  "Eighteen! bellowed Viv bringing her saber around in a flat curve that battered the wight's skull off its spine. 

In Bookshops and Bonedust, the main characters are anthromorphic animals or not human.  Viv is an orc, a female fighter, wounded while searching for a necromancer.  She's left in a back water town, called Murk, to recuperate.  While there, she gets involved with Fern, a rattkin, who is a walking, talking, foul mouthed rat with a pet dog who is a cross between a dog and a bird. Fenn owns a bookshop in a sad state of disrepair.  Viv befriends and helps Fern, all the while falling in deep like with another dwarf, plus establishing friendships with a few other odd characters.  

Meanwhile, another bad guy coincidently hides the spell book in Fern's bookstore,  from the necromancer, whom Viv and her crew had been searching for, and ends up dead. Viv and friends find the book, and then his duffel which contains an animated skeleton, which means the necromancer will eventually be showing up on their doorstep. 

Although she became a beloved part of the town, it didn't stop her from leaving in the end.  After all, it was a temporary spot. However, she left the place better when she left. Charming and entertaining, Bookshops and Bonedust is the prequel to Legends and Lattes which I haven't read yet.

336 Pages

Tor Publishing, 

Fantasy, prequel 

What You Are Looking For in in the Library - Michiko Aoyama

 

“Life is one revelation after another. Things don’t always go to plan, no matter what your circumstances. But the flip side is all the unexpected, wonderful things that you could never have imagined happening. Ultimately it’s all for the best that many things don’t turn out the way we hoped.”

First Lines:  When Saya sends a test to tell me she has a new boyfriend, I instantly write back: What's he like.  But all she replies is: He's a doctor.    

What do Tomika, Ryo, Matsumi, Hiroya, and Matao all have in common?  Each are at a stage in their lives where something needs to change in order for them to grow, be happy, find fulfillment.  And that is where Sayuri Komachi comes in.  She is a large, enigmatic woman hidden in the back of the community library at the reference desk, who likes Honeydome Cookies, and felts old little things.  She doles out advice, personalized book lists, and a bonus felt piece that somehow, mysteriously represents something to each person. 

Through reading the books from Sayuri's list, and applying what they learn, they find what they need to turn their lives around. 

What I liked: 

How each vignette connected not only through the Librarian, but to the whole community of the characters.  

I liked that the story was also about books and the books are listed in the back if you want to read them. 

How the story was charming, but also reflected real life problems. A young girl on her own, learning how to cook and care about herself and take joy in life.  A working mother who faces all kinds of trouble after her baby is born. An accountant learning you can make a new start. An unemployed 30 year old man finally discovering what he was good at. And a retiree figuring out what he liked and enjoyed. 

Nothing was handed to them on a silver platter. They had to work, change, work some more, discover what they were good at or find a way around road blocks.  Ordinarily I don't like books that reflect real life, but I guess since it was a story reflecting Japanese culture and society, it made it more interesting. 

300 Pages

Hanover Square Press, 2023

Japanese Literary Fiction, Translated by Alison Watts