Can't Wait Wednesday: The Uncommon Reader/Recipe for Persuasion/Where Dreams Descend/Lady Rights a Wrong

The Old(er) 

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (Picador, 2007)

From one of England's most celebrated writers, a funny and superbly observed novella about the Queen of England and the subversive power of reading.

When her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near Buckingham Palace, the Queen feels duty-bound to borrow a book. Discovering the joy of reading widely (from J. R. Ackerley, Jean Genet, and Ivy Compton-Burnett to the classics) and intelligently, she finds that her view of the world changes dramatically. Abetted in her newfound obsession by Norman, a young man from the royal kitchens, the Queen comes to question the prescribed order of the world and loses patience with the routines of her role as monarch. Her new passion for reading initially alarms the palace staff and soon leads to surprising and very funny consequences for the country at large.

With the poignant and mischievous wit of The History Boys, England's best loved author revels in the power of literature to change even the most uncommon reader's life. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This delightful sounding novella landed on my TBR pile in 2009. I remember hearing great things about it, and being about reading, well, of course I wanted to read it too! 

Have you read The Uncommon Reader? Does it sounds like something you would enjoy? 

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Recipe for Persuasion (The Rajes #2) by Sonali Dev

Release Date: May 26, 2020 by William Morrow

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another, clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen?

Rico Silva, that’s what.

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster.

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her.

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico. Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…?

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I haven't yet read Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors admittedly, but how I can resist another Jane Austen influenced novel? I cannot. So this one goes on my wish list too.

Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1) by Janella Angeles

Release Date: June 2, 2020 by Wednesday Books

In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Magic and mystery all rolled into one! This one sounds fascinating.

Lady Rights a Wrong (Manor Cat Mystery #2) by Eliza Casey

Release Date: June 2, 2020 by Berkley

As the suffragette movement sweeps England in 1912, Lady Cecilia Bates wants to march but ends up trailing a killer instead in the latest entry to the Manor Cat Mysteries.

Lady Cecilia of Danby Hall feels adrift. She couldn’t be less interested in helping to plan her brother’s upcoming wedding, nor finding a husband herself. Instead, what excites her most is the Woman’s Suffrage Union meeting she has just attended.

Inspired by the famous and charismatic leader of the group, Mrs. Amelia Price, Cecilia is eager to join the Union—if she can hide it from her parents, that is. But when Mrs. Price is found dead at the foot of the stairs of her home, her Votes for Women sash torn away, Cecilia knows she must attend to a more urgent matter: finding the killer. With the help of her lady’s maid Jane and intelligent cat Jack, she hopes to play her part in earning women’s equality by stopping the Union’s dangerous foe. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this:  I haven't yet read the first book in the series, although it is on my TBR. This second one caught my attention as well. I cannot resist a historical cozy mystery, and the setting really appeals to me. 

Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

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© 2020, 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.

Six Degrees of Separation: Stasiland to Sparrow Hill Road

Six Degrees of Separation is a monthly link-up hosted by Kate of Books Are My Favourite and Best in which our lovely host chooses a book and participants take it from there: creating a chain of books, each connected to the one before. Seeing where we end up is half the fun! 

This month's Six Degrees of Separation begins with Ann Funder's Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall. I am not sure how I missed hearing about Stasiland until now. It definitely sounds like a book I would gravitate towards. I am old enough to remember the time before the Wall and the time after. I still remember when the Wall fell, not quite believing what I was seeing on my television screen and yet knowing what a momentous moment it was. I had heard enough stories about what life was like for those stuck on the East side of the Wall, how brutal the secret police (the Stasi) were.

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner is not a book I have read yet, but I do have a copy on my TBR shelf. Just as Funder's subjects shared their stories about life behind the Berlin Wall, so does Willner as she recounts her family history of five women separated for more than forty years because of the Berlin Wall, and their eventual reunion when the Wall fell.

The author of Forty Autumns was an American Army Intelligence Officer whose missions often took her behind the Berlin Wall into East Germany, all the while risking her life. That brought to mind the fictional Maggie Hope, an American working for the British government during World War II in Susan Elia MacNeal's series. She is the quintessential female spy and there is very little she cannot do if she sets her mind to it.

One of the things I especially liked about MacNeal's The Prime Minister's Secret Agent (#4) was the way the author wove Post Traumatic Stress into the novel, a very real side effect for those involved in the war. Of course, it was not called that at the time. It was more often referred to as Battle Fatigue or Combat Stress Reaction. Another author who wrote about a character with Battle Fatigue is Hazel Gaynor in her novel, The Girl From the Savoy. It took Teddy a long time to heal from the scars World War I left on him. I don't imagine anyone can ever completely heal from those wounds. Perry was another character in the novel who had fought in that war and carried his own scars.

The protagonist in Gaynor's novel, Dolly Lane, is an aspiring actress who takes a job at the Savoy as a maid hoping to hobnob with the famous in order to make her break into show business. I immediately thought of Sister Carrie by Theordore Dreiser, which is about a country girl who moves to the city and becomes a famous actress.

Although Carrie's sister and brother-in-law welcomed Carrie into their Chicago home, there was no love lost between them. Carrie and her sister were like oil and water, and it quickly became clear that Carrie would not be able to stay in her sister's home. Sister relationships are a common theme in fiction novels as well as in memoirs. One of my daughter's favorite graphic memoirs comes to mind in fact. It is Sisters by Raina Telegeier, which takes place while the two sisters, their brother and their mother are on a road trip headed from San Francisco to Colorado for a family reunion. The two girls are constantly bickering and have a love/hate relationship that siblings often do.

On the subject of road trips, one of my favorite road trip book (if you can call it that) is Seanan McGuire's Sparrrow Hill Road, the first book in the author's Ghost Roads series, about a hitchhiking ghost, forever on the highway.

And that brings us to the end of of this month's Six Degrees of Separation. The chain took us from the Berlin Wall to espionage, battle fatigue to country girls following their dreams, and sisters to road trips.

Have you read any of these books? Did you make your own chain? Where did you end up? 

Next Month's Starting Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

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© 2018, 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.

Where Is Your Bookmark? (Featuring Inside Out & Back Again/My Favorite DC Characters/Do Ratings Matter When Buying a Book?)

As I write this, I see a lizard scurrying across the back fence.  I can hear the birds starting to sing in the trees as the sun begins to rise. I want to hold onto this peaceful moment  for a little while before I have to log in for work. Soon my daughter will be awake and, after breakfast, we will start on her school work for the day, me all the while hoping work isn't so busy I cannot juggle it and schooling at the same time (and hoping the little one wakes up on the right side of the bed this morning).  

Most of you will likely be reading this on Friday when I am back in the office, face mask on as required, and armed with my little bottle of hand sanitizer, which I wear hooked on my lanyard along with my work badge. There will not be many people in as my coworkers and I are rotating in and out for social distancing purposes. It is a bit eerie, really. I am working from home most of the week, but required to go in every Friday. 

Mouse and I currently are reading my April TBR Poll winner selection, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai. This is Mouse's first free verse middle grade novel, and she seems to be enjoying it, even if she finds it sad. We are taking turns reading to each other. 

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (2011)

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by...and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape...and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next. [Goodreads Summary] 

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

1975: Year of the Cat

Today is Tết,
the first day
of the lunar calendar.

My thoughts: The book opens with a celebration, although one that is shadowed by war. As the verse continues, the reader gets to see a hint of rebellion in our 10-year-old protagonist. My daughter and I instantly feel connected to Hà.

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

I choose my doll,
once lent to a neighbor
who left it outside,
where mice bit
her left cheek
and right thumb.

I love her more
for her scars.

I dress her
in a red and white dress
with matching hat and booties
that Mother knitted.

My thoughts: This is actually from page 55 & 56. It is one of my favorite excerpts we have read so far. This comes from a poem called "Choice," which describes what Hà chooses to take with her as they prepare to flee Saigon. It's the lines "I love her more for her scars" that gets to me every time I read it.


What do you think? Have you read Inside Out & Back Again? Does it sound like something you would like to read?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do the star ratings a book receives on Goodreads or retail sites affect whether you buy the book or not? (submitted by Flora @ Flora's Musings)

When ratings might matter in my decision to buy a book:

• I am on the fence about a book.
• I am buying a book I have not read as a gift for someone.

In those two cases, I sometimes will turn to Goodreads or LibraryThing to help me decide. Goodreads reviews tend to be less critical than the reviews I find on LibraryThing, and so it gives me a good cross-range of the type of reader attracted to--or hating--a particular book. Frankly though, I never look just at the ratings. They do not tell me very much. Not to mention ratings leave a lot of room for interpretation. Besides, not everyone likes the same books.

I like to read a cross-section of reviews that fall under different ratings to get a good feel for the book I am on the fence about or thinking of buying as a gift for someone else. A lot of two star and below reviews are probably going to make me hesitate. Three stars--it all depends on what other readers have to say. Maybe they liked the book except for the romantic thread--something I would not mind in a book. Maybe they did not like that the book was preachy--something I would not like either.  I am suspicious when I come across a book with all five start reviews. How many reviews are there? Who is reviewing the book? How new is the book (because praise tends to be posted faster than the less than favorable opinions)? What do the reviews say? I prefer it when a book does not have all five star reviews. It keeps my expectations about a book realistic. Mostly, anyway.

Ultimately, ratings matter very little in my overall decision to purchase a book unless it is for one  of the two reasons mentioned above--and even that is with the caveat that I read the reviews that go along with the ratings. I am more likely to buy a book based on my interest level in reading it.

What about you? Do star ratings influence whether or not you purchase a book? 

Everyone has a favorite and then we also have something we dislike. Like a coin, there are two sides to every question. Each week, Carrie at The Butterfly Reads and Laura from Blue Eye Books ask participants to list what they like and don't like about that week's topic.

This week's topic is Favorite/Least Favorite DC Character

Admittedly, I am not too familiar with DC (or even Marvel) characters. I only know the ones I see on the popular or well-known television shows or movies. And even then, I probably do not know a quarter of them.

My least favorite DC Character is

Chesterfield Cobblepot (aka the Penguin), specifically the one in Batman Returns.


My favorite DC character is

Wonder Woman. I used to pretend to be her when I was a child (sometimes I would pretend she was my mother), and, even as an adult, I get excited whenever mention of the Woman Woman movies are made.

*

I missed out on last week's topic of Favorite Marvel Character and seeing as my husband and I are re-watching all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, I could not help but add in those too. Keep in mind my knowledge of Marvel characters is maybe just slightly broader than it is for DC, but still pretty slim.

My favorite Marvel character is

I think my husband wishes I would not go on about Captain America so much. There's just something about him--the time period he comes from, his strong moral fiber, and, well, Chris Evans does look good in that costume (embarrassingly, I had to ask my husband what his name for this post). So, yeah, Captain America is my favorite.


My least favorite Marvel character is

My least favorite was much harder to come to because I like all the superheroes (can Scarlet Witch please get more air time? She might be my favorite if she did), and the Marvel villains are all interesting. In the end, I am going with a group as opposed to a single character. They are insidious and evil, and sometimes I hear echoes of their belief system in real life people today, which is really scary.


Do you have favorite DC and Marvel characters? If so, please share! 

 I hope you all have a good weekend. Stay safe and well. Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Voices/A Spell for Trouble/The Gilded Ones/Red Sky Over Hawaii

The Old(er) 

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

Voices (Inspector Erlendur #5) by Arnaldur Indriðason, translated by Bernard Scudder (2002)

Detective Erlendur encounters memories of his troubled past in this gripping and award-winning continuation of the Reykjavík Murder Mysteries.

At a grand Reykjavík hotel the doorman has been repeatedly stabbed in the dingy basement room he called home. It is only a few days before Christmas and he was preparing to appear as Santa Claus at a children's party. The manager tries to keep the murder under wraps. A glum detective taking up residence in his hotel and an intrusive murder investigation are not what he needs.

As Erlendur quietly surveys the cast of grotesques who populate the hotel, the web of malice, greed and corruption that lies beneath its surface reveals itself. Everyone has something to hide. But most shocking is the childhood secret of the dead man who, many years before, was the most famous child singer in the country: it turns out to be a brush with stardom which would ultimately cost him everything. As Christmas Day approaches Erlendur must delve deeply into the past to find the man's killer.

Voices is a tense, atmospheric and disturbing novel from one of Europe's greatest crime writers.  [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I really enjoyed the first two novels in this mystery series, and received this one as a Christmas gift in 2007. One of these days I will get around to reading it.

Have you read Voices or another book in this series? Does it sound like something you might like? 

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

A Spell for Trouble (An Enchanted Bay Mystery #1) by Esme Addison

Release Date: May 12, 2020 by Crooked Lane Books

Alexandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.

Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.

Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I am dying to know more about Alex's family, not to mention all the secrets she's about to uncover in this great sounding cozy mystery. 

The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) by Namina Forna

Release Date: May 26, 2020 by Delacorte

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Doesn't this sound amazing? Not to mention the gorgeous cover. Just from the description, I find myself rooting for Deka, wondering what is in store for her. 

Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman

Release Date: May 26, 2020 by Mira

Inspired by real places and events of WWII, Red Sky Over Hawaii immerses the reader in a time of American history full of suspicion and peril in this lush and poignant tale about the indisputable power of doing the right thing against all odds.

The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding—only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.

When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I am always up for a good World War II story, especially one set in Hawaii. I am curious to know more about the people Lana takes in.  

Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

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© 2020, 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: Back to Rehearsal, Fluxers, The Titanic, and A Sassy Cat Named Marshmallow

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, 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 The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. 

What I Am Reading: My daughter and I finished reading Sticks & Stones this week, and are considering between an Ivy + Bean book next or a Rebecca book. This month's TBR winner may win out over those two. Mouse is looking forward to reading Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai with me. I am still reading Starbreaker (Endeaver, #2) by Amanda Bouchet. Last I left the two protagonists, Shade and Tess, they were enjoying a romantic morning at a resort--which I am sure will end soon enough. Trouble always finds them, after all. I hope to find more time to visit with them this weekend.

Mouse's current TBR pile

What I Am Watching: We caught a couple episodes of Love It Or List It on Hulu this week along with Captain America, and the first of the Avengers movies.

Off the Blog: This was our first week of distance learning. Someone online referred to it as crisis learning, and that seems a more fitting name in some ways. It was a tough week. Motivating Mouse to do her lessons, trying to juggle her lessons while also having to work my paid job from home at the same time, and figure out the ins and outs of Google Classroom and how to submit work. . . There were lots of tears. There were harsh words said on both sides along with lots of hugs and reassurances. Thursday went much more smoothly, and as another Monday approaches, I have a better idea of what to expect and can plan accordingly. This is a learning process for all of us.

Rehearsals for the ballet and musical have started up again. Our Saturdays are back to being full of dance with classes in the morning and rehearsals in the afternoon. The difference is we don't have to leave the comfort of our own home. Mouse hates having to take dance classes remotely, and so it's been a fight sometimes to get her to take part. I do my best to be gentle with her, but at the same time, I think the routine and structure are good for her, especially right now when there's so little of both. Of course, we have no idea if there will even be a show, and it is not at all likely to happen when originally scheduled, but we are all hopeful it will happen eventually.

I only had to go into the physical office one day this past week, and it looks like that will be the norm for the coming weeks as well. I will be teleworking all but one day during the work week and in the office every Friday. It is always so strange being in the office these days. So few staff about.

Mouse gave me a shadow drawing lesson during my lunch break earlier in the week. I need more practice, but it was a nice stress reliever for both of us.

 My first attempt at shadow drawing and Mouse's final instructional artwork

Sometimes when Mouse is especially down, I like to surprise her by setting a scene outside the door of her bedroom (or the bathroom if she's hiding in there). It often will bring a smile to her face when she opens the door and sees it.

 Mouse's "go away" sign

What greeted Mouse when she came out of her room this morning

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? 

When Nory Horace turned into a koat, she had the body of a black kitten and the head of a tiny goat. [Opening of Sticks & Stones]

Sticks & Stones (Upside-Down Magic #2) by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins (Scholastic, 2016; Middle Grade Fantasy, 208 pgs)

The kids in Upside-Down Magic know their magic is a little out of control. But that doesn't make them weird -- it only makes them human.

Strange things are happening at Dunwiddle Magic School and the Upside-Down Magic class is getting blamed! [Goodreads Summary]

Everyone is gifted with some sort of magic ability. There are the Fluxers (shape-shifters), Flares (make fire), Flyers (can fly), Flickers (invisibility powers), and Fuzzies (communicate with animals). And then are those whose magic is not quite, well, normal. Their magic is called Upside-Down Magic (UDM).  Flares with the ability to freeze things or make it rain. A Fuzzy who repeals animals or a Flyer who cannot seem to stay on the ground on his own. And a Flicker who sees sound waves. Then there are Fluxers like Nory and Bax--Bax can only flux into a rock. Nory's fluxes seem to be inconsistent--she often changes into two creatures at once. The UDM students are in a class, separate from their classmates who have "normal" magic abilities. They are often the butt of jokes and looked down on by their peers for being different.

Mouse and I broke the cardinal rule of not starting with the first book in the series, and so Sticks & Stones was our introduction to the wonderful UDM kids. Mouse and I enjoyed reading this book together. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments as well as more serious moments, taking on difficult issues school-aged children often face. Like dealing with divorce and a parent's job loss, bullying, overcoming obstacles, self-doubt, learning that it is okay to make mistakes (and that everyone makes them), and how to embrace our differences. The three authors handled each of these subjects with sensitivity and in a knowledgeable way, capturing the feelings of the characters and making them even more relatable.  My 9-year-old was struck by how these great kids were treated so poorly by their peers. "They are normal, Mom. They are unique and may have different talents, but they are just like everyone else." She is unable to pick a favorite character among the UDM students, but she did say that her favorite part was when Marigold accidentally shrunk Lacey Clench, the school bully ringleader.

Both Mouse and I would like to go back and read the first book in the series and continue on with it after. We love the cast characters. I have not told Mouse yet there is a Disney television series coming out this summer based on the books. She is going to be over the moon when she hears that bit of news.

Which magic ability would Mouse and I prefer to have? Mouse and I both wish we could be Fluxers. What about you? If you could be any of the five (Fluxer, Flicker, Flyer, Flare, or Fuzzy), which ability would you want to have? 

I stood in the warm L.A. sunshine, admiring the marquee sign above my store. [Opening of Mimi Lee Gets a Clue]

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (A Sassy Cat Mystery #1) by Jennifer J. Chow (Berkley/Penguin, 2020; Cozy Mystery, 336 pgs)

Mimi Lee is in over her head. There's her new Los Angeles pet grooming shop to run, her matchmaking mother to thwart, her talking cat Marshmallow to tend to—oh, and the murder of a local breeder to solve...now if only Mimi hadn't landed herself on top of the suspect list. [Goodreads Summary]

Mimi is the prime suspect in this cozy murder mystery, and she is determined to clear her name and further expose the murder victim's cruelty to the Chihuahua dogs he bred as well as who actually did kill him. She enlists the help of her neighbor, a  young lawyer named Josh. The reader gets an inside look at the upper crust of the Hollywood dog scene: doggy yoga and dog acupuncture, included as Mimi attempts to get to the bottom of the crime.

As much as I love cats, I am not always a fan of talking cats or cats who can communicate with their owners in a non-cat like way in mysteries, but it was impossible not to fall for Marshmallow in Jennifer J. Chow's Mimi Lee Gets a Clue. Can he come live with me? Although, my life is not as exciting as Mimi's, I'm afraid. Mimi did not ask for a cat and is reluctant to take in the stray her sister insists she take in, but she does. As the series subtitle describes, Marshmallow, a fluffy white Persian cat, definitely has a sassy side. He is also very insightful and able to get into places humans cannot go, which makes him a valuable partner in a murder investigation.

With a dash of romance, some action, and a lot of sleuthing, Mimi Lee Gets a Clue is a witty and entertaining mystery. Mimi is a relatable character, and I adored her family (cozy protagonists often have the best families, don't they?). There are a whole host of possible suspects to choose from, and give the victim was an awful person, it was hard not to sympathize with all of them for disliking him.  I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, and look forward to seeing what Jennifer J. Chow brings us next.

Do you have any animals in your life? For those of you who are home more now because of the pandemic, how are they coping?  

For a moment, the falling feels like something else entirely--like a brief, wild glimpse of freedom. [Opening of The Deep]

The Deep by Alma Katsu (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2020; Horror/Historical Fiction, 432 pgs)

Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic. [excerpt from Goodreads Summary]

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and Titanic stories have long fascinated me. Alma Katsu's novel The Deep features not only the Titanic, but also her sister ship, the Britannic which would take sail years later as a British hospital ship during World War I.

The novel opens with the main character in an asylum, hiding from the world after her ordeal on the Titanic. Annie Hebbley receives a letter from a friend who had served as a maid on that fateful voyage alongside her. Her friend asks her to join her as a nurse on the newly refitted Britannic.

The author takes the reader back and forth between the voyages as Annie remembers her time on the Titanic and begins her new life on the Britannic. She never expects to run into another passenger who had survived the Titanic, bringing back memories Annie would rather have kept buried. The terrors they faced on the Titanic seems to have followed them to the Britannic. Can they survive yet another ill-fated voyage?

I was taken with Alma Katsu's writing in this atmospheric novel. The Deep is not a particularly fast paced book, but it had no problem holding my attention. The historical and subtle supernatural elements are woven together into an intriguingly eerie and dark tale.  I was swept up in Annie's story as she re-visited her past, introducing the reader to a variety of characters, some based on historical figures. The class differences are often very stark. And each of the characters, however minor, has an interesting backstory, which only enhances the book. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot I can say about this one without offering up spoilers.

There is a definite turning point in the novel where it shifts from more of a historical novel to a thriller. If I had one complaint about the novel, it would that I wish the supernatural aspect had been a little less subtle than it was during the first half if only for continuity's sake. I think it could have been done in such a way as to not spoil any twists or surprises later on. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed The Deep and look forward to reading more by Alma Katsu in the future.

I personally have never been on a cruise. Have you? If you haven't, would you someday like to?

 I hope you all have a wonderful week. Stay safe and well.  

Happy Reading!

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© 2020, 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.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Breakfast at Tiffany's/Goldilocks/The Second Chance Boutique/The Brideship Wife

The Old(er) 

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote (Vintage, 1993, originally published in 1958)

It's New York in the 1940s, where the martinis flow from cocktail hour till breakfast at Tiffany's. And nice girls don't, except, of course, Holly Golightly. Pursued by Mafia gangsters and playboy millionaires, Holly is a fragile eyeful of tawny hair and turned-up nose, a heart-breaker, a perplexer, a traveller, a tease. She is irrepressibly 'top banana in the shock department', and one of the shining flowers of American fiction.

This edition also contains three stories: 'House of Flowers', 'A Diamond Guitar' and 'A Christmas Memory'.

Why I want to read this: I loved true crime book, In Cold Blood. I have never seen the movie version of Breakfast at Tiffany's because I have always intended to read the short story it is based on first. I picked up this collection in 2007 with every intention of reading it then, but, well, like so many other books, it continues to sit on my shelf waiting to be read. 

Have you read "Breakfast at Tiffany's" or one of the other short stories in this collection? If so, what did you think? Does this sound like something you would enjoy? 

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Goldilocks by Laura Lam

Release Date: May 5, 2020 by Orbit

The Earth is in environmental collapse. The future of humanity hangs in the balance. But a team of women are preparing to save it. Even if they’ll need to steal a spaceship to do it.

Despite increasing restrictions on the freedoms of women on Earth, Valerie Black is spearheading the first all-female mission to a planet in the Goldilocks Zone, where conditions are just right for human habitation.

The team is humanity's last hope for survival, and Valerie has gathered the best women for the mission: an ace pilot who is one of the only astronauts ever to have gone to Mars; a brilliant engineer tasked with keeping the ship fully operational; and an experienced doctor to keep the crew alive. And then there's Naomi Lovelace, Valerie's surrogate daughter and the ship's botanist, who has been waiting her whole life for an opportunity to step out of Valerie's shadow and make a difference.

The problem is that they’re not the authorized crew, even if Valerie was the one to fully plan the voyage. When their mission is stolen from them, they steal the ship bound for the new planet.

But when things start going wrong on board, Naomi begins to suspect that someone is concealing a terrible secret -- and realizes time for life on Earth may be running out faster than they feared . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Ooo! An all female mission! Not to mention they have to steal a ship to stick to their mission. Add in a secret? I am really curious about where this science fiction novel will take me!

The Second Chance Boutique by Louisa Leaman

Release Date: May 5, 2020 by Sourcebooks Landmark

Francesca Delaney's wedding gown shop has two necessary rules to guarantee success: 

1. Never covet a dress
2. Never sell a dress that led to a doomed marriage 

These two rules have helped Francesca build her reputation as a woman with a knack for matching a bride-to-be with the perfect gown.

At Fran's shop every gown has its history, and the dresses seem to whisper their secrets to Fran, telling her the perfect match.

But Francesca breaks both these rules the day she finds a beautiful 1950s couture floor-length gown. In her desperation to know the dress's background, she inadvertently becomes entangled with the original owner's son who would like the dark history of the dress to remain hidden forever. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I love a little history dressed in intrigue, and this sounds like it will be an interesting read! 

The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard

Release Date: May 5, 2020 by Simon & Schuster

Inspired by the history of the British “brideships,” this captivating historical debut tells the story of one woman’s coming of age and search for independence—for readers of Pam Jenoff's The Orphan's Tale and Armando Lucas Correa’s The German Girl.

Tomorrow we would dock in Victoria on the northwest coast of North America, about as far away from my home as I could imagine. Like pebbles tossed upon the beach, we would scatter, trying to make our way as best as we could. Most of us would marry; some would not.

England, 1862. Charlotte is somewhat of a wallflower. Shy and bookish, she knows her duty is to marry, but with no dowry, she has little choice in the matter. She can’t continue to live off the generosity of her sister Harriet and her wealthy brother-in-law, Charles, whose political aspirations dictate that she make an advantageous match.

When Harriet hosts a grand party, Charlotte is charged with winning the affections of one of Charles’s colleagues, but before the night is over, her reputation—her one thing of value—is at risk. In the days that follow, rumours begin to swirl. Soon Charles’s standing in society is threatened and all that Charlotte has held dear is jeopardized, even Harriet, and Charlotte is forced to leave everything she has ever known in England and embark on a treacherous voyage to the New World.

From the rigid social circles of Victorian England to the lawless lands bursting with gold in British Columbia’s Cariboo, The Brideship Wife takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through a time of great change. Based on a forgotten chapter in history, this is a sparkling debut about the pricelessness of freedom and the courage it takes to follow your heart. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This is not a piece I of history I am very familiar with. I am curious to know more, however. I want to know Charlotte a bit better and find out just what the future holds for her. 

Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

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© 2020, 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: Happy Easter & My Bookish Thoughts on Big Little Lies & Dog Songs Along With April's TBR Winner

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, 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 The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. 

Happy Weekend! Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate. I know for many Easter will not be what it has been in the past. Church services either via drive in style or streaming. No big gatherings with family and friends. Our Easters have always been on the quiet side, and so it will not be much different than usual for us. Mouse has been counting down the days until Easter, and with everything, I did not want her to miss out. We are expecting the Easter Bunny to visit as usual, leaving a few eggs behind for Mouse to find in the morning, along with a basket filled with goodies. Her dad promised Mouse we could watch the new Trolls movie which just came out. Maybe we will pop some popcorn to go with it.

Our Easter Tree

What I Am Reading: This week I finished reading Mary Oliver's Dog Songs in honor of National Poetry Month, I also finally finished Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies. I am now enjoying Starbreaker (Endeavor, #2) by Amanda Bouchet. I had not realized how much I missed Tess and her crew. I am not too far into this science fiction novel, but I can already tell it will be action-packed. I am hoping Starbreaker will break through my reading malaise.

What I Am Watching: I sneaked in a couple of episodes of Big Little Lies while my daughter was napping. I can see what all the fuss was about. I think I might like it more than the book, although is that fair to say so early in? As a family, we have continued with our Harry Potter and Marvel superhero marathon.

Off the Blog: We have had what seemed like nonstop rain for the past several days. I kind of miss the nonstop melodramatic storm watch news stories of seasons passed. Instead everything is about the coronavirus. I try to keep my news intake down to a minimum for the most part got sanity's sake, but some days that is easier than others.

Last weekend, news came out that two sheriff deputies in my county died of COVID-19. It hits close to home considering how closely my agency works with law enforcement, often working alongside them. It is hard not to think of my colleagues who are out there in the community, the risk to them. Restrictions at work have tightened even more to try to protects us and protect those we work with.

Although it might seem like the middle of a pandemic would be an odd time to move programs and staff around, the agency I work for decided now was as good a time as any. I am now supervising another program in addition to my other one. This just came about this past week, and so I am still learning what all of my responsibilities will be. I am looking forward to it. It seems like it will be a good fit.

I am still going into the office half of the week.  The teleworking the other two days is going well. I am finding my rhythm, although I imagine it will change up some with Mouse starting distance learning Monday. I do not have a lot of flexibility, but what little I do have will come in handy.

Someone knocked over the tent. Again. 

(She does it on purpose.)

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
(Berkley, 2014; Fiction, 465 pgs)

Surprisingly, I somehow avoided all spoilers for this novel since it first came out and so went into it blind. The reader learns straight away there has been a death--whether a murder or an accident--we are not told right away. Set in a beach side community, the novel centers around the lives of three mothers in particular: Madeline (who now I am only able to picture as Reese Witherspoon), a funny and passionate woman with two young children and a teenager who Madeline cannot seem to connect with; the beautiful Celeste whose life with her wealthy husband and twin boys is the envy of every mother at the school; and Jane, a young single mother who seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders.

I enjoyed Big Little Lies. I jokingly referred to the mama drama in the book a few times when mentioning it to my husband or friends. There was certainly plenty of that. Moriarty also tackles more serious issues including relationships with exes and their spouses, domestic violence, date rape, and bullying. I really came to feel for and like Madeline, Celeste and Jane, rooting for them as they struggled with their individual situations.

I liked the author's The Husband's Secret and had been wanting to read something else by Moriarty for some time now. The television series loosely based on the book had received a lot of buzz, and I was curious about that as well. Just from seeing the first two episodes of the series, I find myself liking the more in-depth glimpse into the various characters lives, particularly the minor-but-significant characters, the show offers. But also the main characters, especially in regards to Madeline. I have a new appreciation for her character. And that's just in two episodes. Who knows if that will change the more I watch.

While Big Little Lies was not a "love it" book for me, I did like it. I would like to read more by Liane Moriarty. She has a way with characters and relationships that draw a reader in.

*

Dog Songs by Mary Oliver (Penguin Books, 2013; Poetry, 144 pgs)

I was browsing my TBR shelves and came across my copy of Dog Songs by Mary Oliver. It seemed the perfect choice for National Poetry Month. For years now I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Mary Oliver's poetry, but I had never given her work a try before. Until now. Poet Mary Oliver shares her love for her dogs in this delightful collection. It brought back so many memories of my own dog, Riley, and the many dogs I grew up with. Those of you who have followed my blog for some time may remember that I was a dog person long before I became a cat person. I still love dogs, even though it has been years now since we had to say goodbye to my Riley.

This really was the perfect book to read right now, with tension and anxiety so high given the world situation. These heartfelt poems took me back to a kinder time and was a reminder of the simple pleasures in life.

While I enjoyed all of the poems, I do have my favorites. Like "A Bad Day" in which Mary Oliver admonishes her dog Ricky for barking and trying to rip the couch only for Ricky to remind her that his day has been a long one too--leaving him alone, not letting him out, feeding him late, a shorter walk than usual, and not playing with him like usual--so is it any wonder he is acting out? The poem came to mind that evening when I found myself getting frustrated with my daughter, a reminder to be more patient and understanding. I may have had a long day, but so had she.

There is also a poem called "Little Dog's Rhapsody in the Night" which I loved just for its simplicity and truth. It is a captured moment in time between a dog and his human companion, in which their love for one another shines through.

Here are some excerpts from a few of my other favorites:

So I climb on the bed where the light of the moon
is shining on your face
 and I know it will be morning soon.

Everybody needs a safe place. [excerpt from "Every Dog's Story," pg 7]

*

Okay, I said. But remember, you can't fix 
everything in the world for everybody.

"However," said Ricky, "you can't do 
anything at all unless you begin. Haven't
I heard you say that once or twice, or
maybe a hundred times?" [excerpt from "Show Time," pg 91]

*

she adored
every blossom

not in the serious
careful way
that we choose
this blossom or that blossom—

the way we praise or don’t praise—
the way we love
or don’t love—
but the way

we long to be—
that happy
in the heaven of earth—
that wild, that loving. [excerpt from "Luke," pg 19]

I cannot believe it has taken me so long to give Mary Oliver's poetry a try. If you have a favorite of hers you think I should read, please let me know! 

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman came in at five votes; The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo with ten; and Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai with eleven.  It was a tie up until the very last minute. I finally had my daughter pick the winner. She took a long time deliberating, but in the end, she said she made her selection based on the fact that she knows what it is like not to fit in. It just so happens this book falls within her Accelerated Reader level, and so she's agreed to read it along with me. Thank you to everyone who voted!

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (2011)

For all the ten years of her life, Ha has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by...and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Ha and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Ha discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape...and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next. [Goodreads Summary] 

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week. Stay safe and well.  Happy Reading!

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© 2020, 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.