Weekly Mews: January Wrap Up & February's Maybes

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

  

I will save you from my thoughts on the state of affairs in the country this weekend; not much has changed on that front unfortunately. Several local high schools held walkouts protesting ICE and the current administration this past week and more are planned in the near future.

 

On the home front, Mouse is busy with her second semester of school, concert band and the spring musical rehearsals. There is some overlap in rehearsal schedules between band and theater, which she was worried would mean not being able to do the musical after all, but her teachers were able to work out a plan. Whew! 

I have been struggling with a few health issues, but, with the hospital strike limiting care, I have put off reaching out. I do have a video appointment with a doctor to see about my recent back trouble though as that doesn't seem to be getting better despite my rudimentary self-care. Walking does help somewhat, and I have been spending a lot of time on my feet as a result (although that has taken it's own toll). There's no doubt stress and grief are contributing factors. I have been attending a grief support group and that has helped some. 

The weather here has been lovely, spring-like even, except no blossoms and very few green leaves on my trees yet. The Santa Ana winds did blow through the middle of last week, but they didn't turn out to be too strong, fortunately. My half sister in Pennsylvania reported getting quite a bit of snow and below freezing temperatures. It sounds like many of you had similar weather. I hope you are staying safe and warm! 

Books Read in January

At the beginning of the month, I leaned heavily into books with themes centering grief and loss: Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: A Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch and What We Lose by Zinzi Clemons. They both filled different needs for me in my grief journey. Like Nina, I am finding comfort and reflection in my reading. Zinzi's novel hit me on a more emotional level, often capturing my grief in a more raw way. 

I jumped back into a couple of book clubs in January. The House of Doors by Tan Twang Eng may have gotten off to a slow start for me, but I found much to admire about the authors writing style and the depth in which he wrote about this characters. My Fantasy/Science Fiction book club started the year off with Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik. I was quite excited about reading this one, having read some of the author's other work, and it did not disappoint. I had been craving a fantasy read, and these stories hit the spot. While I started Buried Deep and Other Stories in print, I ended up switching to the audiobook due to time constraints. It was well worth it. 

Another of my January reads was A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, who has become a favorite of mine in recent years. I love a good ghost/haunted house story from time to time. Whereas Simone St. James's novel was the fun kind of horror novel, Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart was a different kind of horror story, a historical novel based on real events. I am drawn to books about lesser known historical events, and, although I may not have enjoyed it as much as I would have liked, I did find it to be a worthwhile read. And perhaps a warning of what may come again if certain people currently in power or with influence get their way.

To lighten things up throughout the month, I listened to System Collapse (Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was that the next book is not out yet. I have really enjoyed the Murderbot series. I also read both Boyfriends. Vol. 1 and Boyfriends. Vol. 2 by refrainow. These slice of college life romance graphic novels are really sweet and have a way of always putting a smile on my face at least for a little while. 

A monthly feature in which I l share the books I read this month ten years ago. 

(Rating Scale: 5 Paws=Outstanding; 4 Paws=Very Good; 3 Paws=Good; 2 Paws=Okay; 1 Paw=Didn't Like)

The titles are linked to my original reviews of each book when available. 

I am hard pressed to pick a favorite book among my January reads. There were no five star reads, but four of the book I read earned 4 stars. If I had to narrow it down, I will have to go with What We Lose for the emotional impact it had on me and System Collapse for being a much needed escape. 

What was your favorite book read in January? Did you have a good reading month?

One of my unofficial goals this year is to work my way through my collection of Medusa re-imaginings (I think I have six on my TBR shelves). I just started reading I, Medusa by Ayana Gray. I am really excited to read this one as I have heard good things about it. 

What are you reading right now?

~ Next Up (Maybe) ~ 

I was very close to putting together a TBR List poll for this month, but in the end took my daughter's advice and decided not to. I actually had asked my family if I should start it back up again. My husband was all for it, knowing it's my favorite monthly feature. Mouse, on the other hand, said no, that I should read to my mood since I have so many other commitments right now. The cats did not even try to offer their input. They only wanted more treats. So, while I am not doing a poll, I couldn't help but compile a list of the possibilities that caught my eye when I looked over my bookshelves. Of course, there's always a chance I will end up going in an entirely different direction too.

The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter  by Brionni Nwosu

Keeper of Lost Children  by Sadeqa Johnson

Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen  by Cheryl W. Thompson

The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum  (A Harriet Stone Mystery Book 1) by Valerie Wilson Wesley

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? Do any of them interest you?

~ February Book Club Reads ~ 

It is easy to make reading plans, but not always as easy to carry them out. I am hoping to attend three of my book clubs this month if the stars align and my schedule allows:

Playground  by Richard Powers

Conjure Women  by Afia Atakora

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1  by Natsu Hyuuga, 

illustrated by Touco Shino, Translated by Kevin Steinbach

Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think?

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz, who shares three good things in her Sunday Salon posts, I thought I would try to do the same. With all the worries and stressors in life, I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1. They came! Monday morning as I peered out the window, I saw a bird at my mom's bird feeder. The little bird must have told her friends because not too much later, the feeder was the water cooler of the neighborhood with so many House Finches vying for spots at the feeder. I worried that the other feeder, in a different part of the yard, would go unnoticed, but that changed by afternoon. It's a wonder I managed to get any work done this week because of the time I have spent watching my new little friends from my windows. As I type this, I'm watching one of the finches jump from blade to blade on our outdoor patio fan, which is slowly rotating in the wind. (There's even a squirrel that comes to visit. He was quite unhappy to learn he's blocked from the feeders themselves, but he has been collecting what he can from the ground.

2. These beautiful flowers came with a note that read: "Just wanted to make you smile today." 

 

3. I am so grateful to my husband for his support these last two weeks as he comforted me during my overwhelming muscle spasm episodes and for talking me through a panic attack. Really, for pretty much taking care of me in general and Mouse who has been under the weather too. 

Catching some sun and a nap

What have you been up to this past week? 

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

---

© 2026, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: What a Year It Has Been So Far!

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

I had planned to post an update last weekend (and the weekend before), but words failed me. These days it feels like writing about the books I read is trivial when the world outside my door is in such upheaval. I have likened current events in this country to that of Hitler and the Nazis and the terror, propaganda, and the hate they spread. But it goes further back than that, doesn't it? Recent events remind me of one of my favorite reads last year, The Reformatory by Tananarive. There's a scene in the novel in which the local white men terrorize their Black neighbors, claiming they are seeking justice, when really it is more about sowing fear and intimidation. It's an all too familiar scene that has occurred throughout this country's history and today--and worse.

I also find myself thinking about another book I read last year, this one for my Historical Book Club, called American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. The tactics of the slave catchers of the time are reminiscent of what is happening in Minnesota and other cities across the nation. Papers, be damned. We're told it is to get the worst of the criminals off the street and yet there is a lawlessness in the way these so called arrests are happening. No proper warrants, no due process, Constitution ignored, and random people, mostly of color, legal or otherwise, being carted away and locked up in inhumane conditions. They are beating and murdering people inside their jails and on the streets without any remorse. Journalists are being arrested for doing their jobs. As the people were told in the past, they tell us it is for our own good, to keep streets safe and clean; these enforcers are not able to see that it is really their own inhumanity that sullies this country. 

And that is just a part of the turmoil the country is facing right now. Don't even get me started on the Epstein Files . . . 

But not everyone buys the propaganda they are trying to force feed us, thankfully. People have taken to the streets, are writing and calling their representatives, providing shelter, and support to their neighbors and strangers; there are those who are speaking out, doing whatever they are able, in big and small ways. The challenge isn't just in fighting for our freedom now, but also in fighting against a past of wrongs imbedded in our society. Not all hope is lost. We have not all lost our sense of decency--our humanity.

How are you holding up? 

My poor print book has not gotten as much attention as my e-books in January, unfortunately, and so I have not yet finished The Phone Booth At the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina. While sad, I find the novel hopeful too, and I find myself wanting to take my time with it, rather than rush through it. So there is that too. 

Still recovering after the weighty Women of a Promiscuous Nature, I was still craving something light-hearted and decided Alechia Dow's Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, a Cinderella re-imagining, sounded like it would do the trick. After the first chapter I worried it might be too saccharine for my tastes, but it is proving to be just the right amount. 

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

My recent reads:

Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home. [from the publisher]

I was in the mood for a ghost story and figured I could not go wrong with A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James (Berkley, 2026; Mystery/Thriller/Horror, 344 pgs). I did not realize going into this one that it is set in the same town as The Sun Down Motel, which I have yet to read. But rest assured, A Box Full of Darkness is a stand alone novel.

The Esmie siblings hoped to never return to their childhood home, but they have long been haunted by the disappearance of their six year-year-old brother Ben. 

While not a fast-paced book, I did find myself completely immersed in A Box Full of Darkness. All three of the siblings live relatively isolated lives, not letting anyone get close to them. They aren't particularly close themselves, barely in touch until they reunite at the house with the common goal of finding out what happened to Ben. Dodie, of the three seems to be the most successful in terms of career; she is a well sought after hand and hair model. She only does first dates, not seconds, and lives in a tiny apartment. Vail has spent his entire life trying to understand what happened to his brother. He avoids relationships and earns his living as a UFO investigator, without real roots anywhere. Violet cleans the houses of the recently deceased for a living, a job she takes comfort in because she does not have to interact too much with other people. On the downside, she sometimes see ghosts. It was her ability to see ghosts that landed her in a psychiatric ward for a time and ruined her marriage. Her daughter wants little to do with her, and she doesn't blame her. 

With alternating chapters told from the perspective of each sibling, the reader gets a first hand account of the grief, pain and self-blame the characters are experiencing. Vail, Dodie, and Violet are not the easiest people to get along with, I imagine, but I found it easy to care about them and want them to find sort of peace. Their childhood was a difficult one, their brother's disappearance notwithstanding. Their parents were neglectful and they were often left to their own devices. They never talked about the nightmares they each suffered with each other growing up, the ones that seemed all too real. As the Esmie siblings put their heads together and start to dig into the history of their childhood home and the surrounding neighborhood in hopes of finding some link to their brother's disappearance, they find themselves up against a malevolent force that is out to get them.

This was as creepy and eerie as one would hope from a novel like this. The characters have suffered so much in their lifetimes. There were several side characters that play a part in the novel who play important roles in the novel, either actively involved or in supporting roles. One I admit I was suspicious of for a time. As much as I enjoyed this book, there were aspects of the story I felt were too convenient and others I wish had been explored more. Perhaps not my favorite of the author's work, but still a very satisfying read just the same. 

When the unimaginable happens, you make the best decisions you can, and you never know if they were the right ones. [excerpt from 70% of A Box Full of Darkness]

From the dragon-filled Temeraire series and the gothic, magical halls of the Scholomance trilogy to the fairy tale worlds of Spinning Silver and Uprooted, this stunning collection takes us from fairy tale to fantasy, myth to history, and mystery to science fiction as we travel through Naomi Novik's most beloved stories. [from the publisher]

My Fantasy/Science Fiction Book Club selection for the month of January was Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik (Random House Audio, 2024; Fantasy/Science Fiction, 12hrs 46min). I started out reading this anthology of short stories, but ended up listening to the audiobook because I was running out of time before the book club meeting. I have read and enjoyed a few Naomi Novik's books and was excited to dive into this collection of stories (especially because it meant another visit to Scholomance). 

Each of the stories is read by a different narrator, all of whom did an amazing job, with an introduction by the author herself, explaining a little bit of history about the individual stories. I like it when authors add that personal touch to short story collections. It often adds to my appreciation of the stories. 

Buried Deep and Other Stories started out with a bang for me. The first story, "Arminta, or, the Wreck of the Amphidrake", was one of my favorites. I loved Arminta! She's a woman who is her authentic self--high born but non-traditional, preferring a sword fight to wearing pretty dresses. This pirate story had me craving more stories like it. And can we please have more stories featuring Arminta? 

Another favorite (which won't surprise anyone) of mine was "After Hours", set in the Scholomance universe. This story takes place after the original trilogy, featuring a young witch named Beata, who is forced to room with Jayne, a privileged enclave girl. This story involves a curse, a dangerous, forbidden nighttime adventure, and a certain character from the trilogy who makes a very welcome appearance. 

But my absolute favorite of the collection was "Dragons and Decorum". This Pride and Prejudice re-telling set in the Temeraire universe was such a delightful read. Elizabeth is a captain in the the Aerial Dragon Corps and home on leave, attending a ball at her family's behest where she meets the less than charming Mr. Darcy. I was sad to see this one end. And may I just add that everyone needs a Wollstonecraft in their lives--a dragon who enjoys Gothic literature, no less!

Some other great stories included "Vici" set in the Temeraire universe (dragons!) and "Buried Deep," a Adriadne and Minotaur retelling (Greek Mythology for the win!). I also enjoyed "Spinning Silver" which inspired her full length novel with the same title (which I have yet to read) about a woman who gains the unwanted attention of a fae and must figure out a way to outwit him or be frozen. The story "Blessings" reminded me a bit of the "Sleeping Beauty" fairytale, at least the part in which the fairies bestow blessings on the princess at her christening. In Novik's story, several fairies are invited to the birthday of lesser nobleman's daughter. The fairies (who are all very drunk) are taken aback when the shadowed fairy among them gives the child the blessings of ugliness and strength. The ending of this one was so good! 

 

The anthology is made up of thirteen stories in all, a mix of fantasy and science fiction, and a great way to start off my Fantasy/Science Fiction Book Club year.

Accused of “promiscuity” in 1940s North Carolina, a young woman unjustly incarcerated and subjected to involuntary medical treatment at The State Industrial Farm Colony for Women decides to fight back in this powerful, shockingly timely novel based on the long-buried history of the American Plan, the government program designed to regulate women’s bodies and sexuality throughout the first half of the 20th century. [from the publisher]

I was having trouble choosing which e-book to read next and asked my daughter for help. I gave her the synopsis of three books, and she choose Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart (Kensington, 2026; Historical Fiction, 368 pgs). This book has received mostly good ratings as of the writing of this review. I wish I could say mine were among them, but I have come away from this book feeling it was just okay. 

You can imagine that this was not an easy read subject matter wise. While I was aware of some aspects of this part of American history, I was not familiar with the American Plan itself. Originally a government program said to have been created to protect the military and naval forces against venereal diseases, it became a way for men to further control women's lives than they already did. If a husband was unhappy with his wife, she might be a good candidate for reform. So might the single women living in a boarding house together, an unwed pregnant girl, or a just the random independent single woman seen out on a date. Mrs. Dorothy Baker believes women like that are the perfect candidates for the farm colony and is determined to put these women on the right path. Women of a Promiscuous Nature is broken into three alternating narratives, that of Mrs. Baker, the superintendent of the farm colony, and two of its residents, Ruth and Stella. 

Ruth is a confident and spirited woman. Her incarceration at the farm colony is clearly unjust. She had been seen on a date with a man, shared a kiss, and for that, was picked up on her way to work by a deputy, forced to have an invasive medical exam, and questionably diagnosed with a venereal disease, and taken straight to the farm colony with no chance to let her mother what had happened to her. 

It was impossible not to sympathize with Stella given her situation. She was neglected by her parents and abused by her father who gets her pregnant. Unlike Ruth who wants to be anywhere but at the farm colony, Stella will do anything she can to ingratiate herself to Mrs. Baker, earn her approval, something she never got from any of the other adults in her life. Unlike most of the other women at the farm colony, Stella hopes she never has to leave.

Dorothy Baker's backstory is full of rejection; she wants nothing more than to be respected and to reform the women she supervises into the type of women she thinks they should be. She believes her intentions are pure, but from the first chapter, it seems clear to me that she lets her own hurt and anger guide her actions, even many years later. I appreciated that the author offers us Mrs. Baker's point of view, but I would be lying if I said I saw her as anything other than one of the villains in the book. 

Of the side characters, Nurse Crawford was the most sympathetic among the staff of the farm colony. She seemed to care about the women although she was often complicit in what was done to them. Given her backstory though, it was easy to see why that might be. I was glad her character was fleshed out some because of the perspective her story had to offer. Of the residents, I would like to have gotten to know Frances Pratt more. She intrigued me and it was obvious there was more to her than met the eye. 

Women of a Promiscuous Nature is not an easy read. It touches on a dark and not so long ago history in the United States about the treatment of women. Medical experimentation and procedures were performed on women without their knowledge and consent, being forced to work in what were basically labor camps, enduring cruel and harsh punishments, and being incarcerated indefinitely without trial or due process. This was not a new concept for controlling many marginalized populations, unfortunately. What is scary is that there are people in powerful positions today who likely wouldn't mind putting such a system back in place, asserting yet more control over the autonomy of women. 

I had high hopes for this book. I would like to have seen Stella and especially Dorothy Baker grow as characters more. They might not have been in the same place they started physically, but on a psychological and self-awareness level, I was disappointed. I think I would have preferred to read a nonfiction book on this subject instead. Clearly, from the reviews, many people loved this book. So please don't take my word for it. This is a part of U.S. history that needs to be out in the open.

After reading Women of a Promiscuous Nature, I was in dire need of something the opposite of serious, and so I turned to Boyfriends. Volume Two by refrainbow (Webtoon Unscrolled, 2024; Romance, 306 pgs), a graphic novel. I read the first volume earlier in the month. This queer polyamorous graphic novel was even sweeter than the first. The four characters only known as Jock, Goth, Nerd, and Prep, are navigating their new relationship and college life among other things, and, in this edition, we also get to know the Girlfriends--who I hope will be around for future editions. I did not expect to enjoy this slice of life series as much as I do, but it makes for a nice escape for a short while. 

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? If not, which ones appeal to you?

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz - With all the worries and stressors in life, 

I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1. Somehow my mother's plants are still alive. Mostly thanks to my husband who remembers to water them. 

2. My husband and I put up a couple of bird feeders today. I made sure I could see them from my desk on my work from home days. I hope the birds come!

3. The Christmas decorations are finally all put away and my house is somewhat back to normal. 

4. I love my new giraffe (and my mom's frog). 

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

---

© 2026, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: Tiptoeing into 2026 & Some Thoughts on My January Reading So Far

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

I am linking up Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.  

Thank you to everyone for your kind words of comfort and condolences regarding my mom's passing. I wasn't able to get to everyone's comments, unfortunately, but perhaps I will yet. My winter holidays were relatively quiet. My brother and his wife were able to visit us in between Christmas and New Year's. It was just my husband, daughter and I for Christmas day, but we made the most of it and had a Lord of the Rings marathon. It was kind of nice not having to worry about entertaining anyone, but at the same time, we missed having my mom and Marty's mother and brother there to celebrate with us. New Year's Eve was not too eventful either. Just the three of us jamming together to our music as 2025 rolled into 2026. 

I did not prepare a wrap up for this past year. I am not sure yet if I will. As the world around us descended into chaos and violence, books helped me cope and at times inspired me. I ended up reading 110 books; my last one being Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang read by David Tennant, which was as fun as it was funny. I couldn't help but picture Dick Van Dyke as I listened to David Tennant read (the movie and book are quite different, by the way--but both delightful). 

I am not sure what this year will hold for any of us. The world seems so upside down. And, to be honest, my mental health is far from great. I hope to focus on that this year. Maybe get back into counseling, attend a grief support group, and focus on my overall health. In the meantime, I will continue to read for escape, to find comfort, to find and make connections, to learn and grow, to feel hope and be inspired, to explore other worlds, cultures and lifestyles, and, of course, for entertainment.

What have you been up to? I hope you are well!

My January reading is off to a good start. I have finished 5 books (see below under Bookish Mewsings) and currently am reading two others. I am reading A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, a horror/thriller novel featuring three siblings who return to their abandoned home to find out what happened to their younger brother who had disappeared during a game of hide-n-seek years ago. 

I am also reading Laura Imai Messina's The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World, translated by Lucy Rand. I am taking my time with this one, but I am loving it so far. While it is sad, it is also comforting. The novel is inspired by a real life phone booth in Ōtsuchi, Japan, where people from all over travel to speak on the (unconnected) wind phone to their loved ones who have passed on. Other wind phones have popped up in other places since. 

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

Years ago, after my father died, a fellow blogging friend recommended Nina Sankovitch's Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Magical Reading (Harper, 2011; Nonfiction/Memoir, 247 pgs). Although I added a copy to my TBR (books I own but haven't read), I did not make it a priority. However, now find myself gravitating more towards books about grief and loss, and the timing for Nina Sankovitch's book seemed right.

[...] life is hard, unfair, painful. But life is also guaranteed--one hundred percent, no doubt, no question--to offer unexpected and sudden moments of beauty, joy, love, acceptance, euphoria. The good stuff. It is our ability to recognize and then hold on to the moments of good stuff that allow us to survive, even thrive. And when we can share the beauty, hope is restored. [excerpt from 17 % of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair]

Nina devotes a year of her life to reading a book a day and documenting her experience during her 46th year, in honor of her sister, who shared her love of reading and who died at that same age. For so long, Nina had kept herself busy, not really letting herself sit with and process her grief. Tolstoy and the Purple Chair was about the books she read as much as it was about her journey that year, allowing herself to slow down, remember her sister, and rediscover the beauty of life.

[...] in that love which I carried forward, I would find forgiveness. [excerpt  from 40% of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair]

And now I understood why it was important to read these books. Because being witness to all types of human experience is important to understanding the world, but also to understanding myself. To define what is important to me, and who is important, and why. [excerpt from 56% of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair]

Books are experience, the words of authors proving the solace of love, the fulfillment of family, the torment of war, and the wisdom of memory. Joy and tears, pleasure and pain: everything came to me while I read in my purple chair. I had never sat so still, and yet I experienced so much. [excerpt from 56% of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair]

I highlighted many quotes from Nina's memoir, excerpts that moved me in some way. I have only read about 15 of the 365 books she read that year, and only came away with a handful of titles of ones I have not read that I hope to one day. While our reading tastes might not line up exactly, I am glad I took the time to read the book. It is about more than just the books she read. I often felt a kinship with her in our shared love for reading and in using books to help us process some of what we are experiencing and feeling.

But the meaning of my life is ultimately defined by how I respond to the joys and the sorrows, how I forge crossbars of connection and experience, and how I extend to help others as they travel on their own winding road of existence. [excerpt from 88% of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair]

From an author of rare, haunting power, a stunning novel about a young African-American woman coming of age—a deeply felt meditation on race, sex, family, and country. [from the publisher]

Another book from my selection of books centering grief and loss was What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons (Viking, 2017; Fiction, 213 pgs). Thandi grew up in Pennsylvania, spending her summers with her mother's family in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has never quite felt like she belonged anywhere. Her life irrevocably changes when her mother is diagnosed with cancer followed by her eventual death.

This short novel with vignette style chapters reads quickly but holds lot of emotion within its cover. It took me couple or so chapters to settle into this one because of the unique formatting, admittedly, but once I did, this was a hard book to put down. I am having a difficult time finding the words to express my thoughts on this book, and I think that is because of the emotional impact it had for me. Zinzi Clemmons writes from the heart and her own personal experience, and it shows. She captures so well Thandi's struggles whether it be trying to fit in, figure out who she is, in her relationships as a friend, lover and daughter, and also in dealing with the loss of her mother and becoming a mother herself. The more I sit with this book, the more I appreciate it.

I'd made a list list of all the things I needed to apologize for, all the things I needed to tell her I forgive her for. But as I stood there with those mathematics in hand, the weight of the moment on me, I said nothing. And when I tried to speak, only tears came. The pain was exponential. Because as much as I cried, she could not comfort me, and this fact only multiplied my pain. I realized this would be my life; to figure out how to live without her hand on my back; her soft, accented English telling me Everything will be all right... [excerpt from pg 95 of What We Lose]  

Loss is a straightforward equation: 2 - 1 = 1. A person is there, then she is not. But a loss is beyond numbers, as well as sadness, and depression, and guilt, and ecstasy, and hope, and nostalgia --all those emotions that experts tell us come along with death. Minus one person equals all of these, in unpredictable combinations. It is a sunny day that feels completely gray and laughter in the midst of sadness. It is utter confusion. It makes no sense. [excerpt from pgs 112-113 of What We Lose]

"[...] the worst times are when I wake up and I think, 'I have to call Mama to say hello.'" 

I realized that was how heart break occurred. Your heart wants something, but reality resists it. Death is inert and heavy, and it has no relation to your heart's desires. [excerpt from pg 145 of What We Lose]

Alongside the heavier reads, I fit in a couple of more lighthearted books over the past two weeks. I read a graphic novel by refrainbow, Boyfriends. Vol 1 that came recommended. It is a lighthearted queer polyamorous romance. Perhaps not my usual reading fare, but a sweet and enjoyable read nonetheless. I also listened to the seventh Murderbot Diaries series book, System Collapse by Martha Wells, narrated by Kevin R. Free (Recorded Books, 2023; Science Fiction, 6h:36m). It is just a fun read all around, entertaining with high tension moments. I love this series. I started listening to the audiobooks last year and enjoy Kevin R. Free's narration very much. Even though they're not entirely human, I find Sec Unit (aka Murderbot) relatable as they navigates their way in a mostly human world.

A mesmerizingly beautiful novel based on real events, The House of Doors traces the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and power under empire, and dives deep into the complicated nature of love and friendship in its shadow. [from the publisher]

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng (Bloomsbury, 2023; Historical Fiction, 315 pgs) was this month's Cellar Door book club selection. This is my first book by Tan Twan Eng who is most known for his book The Garden of Evening Mists. The House of Doors is told from the point of view of two of the characters, Lesley Hamlyn and author “Willie” Somerset Maugham, and goes back and forth in time between 1910 and 1921, with brief visits in the prologue and epilogue to 1947, and is set mostly in the Straits Settlement of Penang. The novel begins with Lesley looking back on her life after receiving a package in the mail. She thinks back to 1921 when her husband's old friend, Willie, and his secretary visit them at Cassowary House, and the secrets that were revealed about a past which had shaped her.

"Where does a story begin, Willie?" I asked. For a while he did not say anything. Then he shifted in his chair. "Where does a wave on the ocean begin?" he said. "Where does it form a welt on the skin of the sea, to swell and expand and rush towards shore?" [excerpt from 32% of The House of Doors]

I did not know much about real life author and playwright, W. Somerset Maugham, whose short story and play "The Letter" was an inspiration for The House of Doors before reading this novel and doing a little research on Maugham after. Like his story in real life, the character of Willie had to hid his sexuality from the outside world. He had married for convenience to a woman who made him miserable and travels the world with his partner, Gerald, when he is able. When he arrives as Cassowary House, he is struggling with health and financial troubles. Despite his own issues--or perhaps because of them--Willie takes a special interest in learning more about Lesley, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. Lesley, who has long held her secrets tightly to her chest, opens up to Willie, despite knowing what it could mean for her, that he will write about her story and how it could ruin her. And so she takes him back to 1910 and tells him a scandalous story, one about a Chinese revolution, affairs, and a high profile murder trial.

The writing is beautiful, and the way the author layered varying time periods and narratives was well done. I can see why Tan Twan Eng's books are highly regarded. He does not hide the warts of his characters, their flaws and vulnerabilities. They're very human and their lives messy, their weaknesses and hypocrisy on display. They were not always likeable, but I could understand where they were coming from. I loved the descriptions of Pengang. Tan Twan Eng creates a strong sense of place not just with the location and time periods, but also in his writing about the culture and colonialism hierarchy, particularly when it came to class and race.

I feel like I should have loved this book for all of that, and yet I find I did not. That is not to say I did not like it, because I did. I just didn't love it the way I would have expected. It took me awhile to get into the novel, it's pacing was slow initially; and while I finally was pulled in after awhile, I never felt fully engaged with the characters and their stories. I am not sure why exactly. Did I want more self-awareness on their parts; did their hypocrisy make me too uncomfortable; was there not enough conflict? Perhaps a little of all of those things. It turns out I was the only one in the book club who didn't absolutely love this one. Still, I am interested in trying other books by this author as there was much I did like about this book. 

A moth flaked down from the rafters and settled on the sheets. I reached out to brush it away, but Arthur stayed my hand.

"Don't harm it," he said. They're the souls of the people we once loved, come back to visit us, to watch over us." [excerpt from 72% of The House of Doors]

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? If not, which ones appeal to you?

Books for Christmas always make for welcome presents under the tree. Add in holiday gift cards for bookish shopping sprees and, well, what could make a booklover happier? 

Dear Manny (Dear Martin #3) by Nic Stone

100 Poems That Matter

It's Okay That You're Not Okay by Megan Devine

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Ladies Most Scandalous #1) by Manda Collins

Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

What Owls Know: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Wild For Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane by Devoney Looser

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz - With all the worries and stressors in life, 

I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

One of my former coworkers gave me a calendar book this year as a gift and I have turned it into a sort of gratitude journal. I accidentally skipped a couple days so far, but I have been good about keeping to it so far otherwise. It's a good way to end my day. 

I was accepted into a four part anti-racism summit for work that I am excited to be a part of. I attended the first session this past week. 

I've decided to lighten up my family room and recently purchased new couch and chair covers to help with that. I found a place for my grandmother's rocking chair and it's become Gracie's new favorite place to sit. Nina likes to lay down under it. 

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

---

© 2026, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.