Musings of a Bookish Kitty: July 2020

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Weekly Mews: My Week & July's TBR List Winner

Outside: It is 102F as I write this. Summer is definitely here. There seems to be a breeze, however, so it's not unbearable.

What I Am Reading: I am currently reading How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Thank you to those who recommended it last week. I have begun reading this month's TBR winner, and think it will be a good one--a much needed escape from reality.

What I Am Watching: We finished watching Elementary. I was not as thrilled with the direction the last two seasons took, but they were still enjoyable. My husband and I next want to re-watch and catch-up on the British Sherlock series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. We had seen the first couple of seasons years ago, and really liked them. We seem to be on a Sherlock Holmes kick. Maybe I should actually read Arthur Conan Doyle's work. I have only read The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Off the Blog: I got word that a woman I have worked with off and on for 20 or so years passed away from cancer one morning this past week. I supervised her for a number of years directly, and then occasionally more recently. She was a free spirit and had a big heart. She will be missed.

Our local school board met last Wednesday evening to discuss the proposed options for the upcoming school year. After seven and a half hours they approved both a virtual learning program and a homeschool-based learning program. The in-person plan was tabled for further exploration and will be addressed at the next board meeting on the 21st. That portion of the meeting was not without drama. Meanwhile, I have between now and the 23th to decide which of the three programs to sign my daughter up in. A lot of neighboring school districts are making similar decisions, many planning to start the year out with a virtual format.

The rate of the virus continues to skyrocket in my county and many other places around the U.S. The county offices have closed down to the public again. My family and I continue to lay low, working mostly from home and going out only for essential business. I still go into the office once a week.

What I Am Grateful For: My daughter and I taking turns braiding each other's hair before bed. My husband--we are celebrating our wedding anniversary this weekend. We may not be able to go out and do something special, but we are together. Safe and healthy. Kitty kisses and cuddles.

I hope you all have had a great week. Please share what you have been up to this past week? What are you reading? What are you watching? Do you have any plans for this upcoming week?

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).

Thank you again for your votes! It was close, the winner coming out on top by two votes (9) and the other two, All Cats Are Introverts by Francesco Marciuliano and They Call Me the Cat Lady by Amy Miller, tying each with 7 votes.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel

Sometimes you have to leave behind everything you know to find the place you truly belong...

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they cruise around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru's old friends. He meets Yoshimine, the brusque and unsentimental farmer for whom cats are just ratters; Sugi and Chikako, the warm-hearted couple who run a pet-friendly B&B; and Kosuke, the mournful husband whose cat-loving wife has just left him. There's even a very special dog who forces Nana to reassess his disdain for the canine species.

But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know and Satoru won't say. But when Nana finally works it out, his small heart will break...

I began reading it earlier today and have met Nana and his human Satoru. I am looking forward to further immersing myself in the novel. I have a feeling it will be both heart warming and heartbreaking.

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

© 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.

Friday, July 03, 2020

Weekly Mews: June Highlights and My July TBR List Poll (Please Vote!)

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. I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post, where any book bloggers who write monthly wrap-up posts can link up and visit other bloggers to see what they have been reading. I am linking to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

New to the Shelves:

E-Books:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Silver Blade (Kinsmen, #1) by Ilona Andrews

Silver Shark (Kinsmen, #2) by Ilona Andrews

Print Books:

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

A Good Cry by Nikki Giovanni

(also featured: Mouse's and my face coverings)

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? If not, which ones are on your TBR pile? What new books did you add to your shelf in June?

What I Am Reading: Funny story. My husband and daughter were recently playing a baseball dice game, and my husband mentioned to me he had commented on a Kickstarter page about my daughter winning with her team of unicorns, and the creator commented back. His name, W.M. Akers, sounded familiar and, sure enough, he is the author on a couple of books I have on my TBR shelf. Which is why I am now in the middle of W.M. Akers Westside, the first in his historical mystery fantasy series featuring detective Gilda Carr.

I am in between nonfiction books right now, trying to decide if I want to start How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi or The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. I have heard good things about both. Have you read either one? Which would you recommend?

What I Am Watching: I have been wanting to see Hamilton for what seems like forever, but ticket prices have always been so high. I finally got my chance yesterday and was not disappointed. It was as amazing as I hoped. And now I want to see it performed live on stage even more! Have you seen it?

I recently watched Athlete A, the documentary about the Larry Nasser sexual abuse scandal in U.S. Gymnastics. I grew up following the sport, and always look forward to the gymnastic event in the Olympics, wishing I had half of their talent and skill as the gymnasts. The documentary was eye-opening, but not all that surprising. Just look at the Catholic Church and Boy Scout sexual abuse scandals. The way those girls were treated, not just the sexual abuse, but everything. And then the cover up . . . I really feel for those girls and women, and all they've had to endure. No one should have to go through that. They are so brave to come forward, and I hope this will lead to reform of the entire program.

My family and I are about to start the final season of Elementary. I read an (old) article about how the show makers didn't expect to get another season and so wrapped up the show with the sixth season finale. I am curious to see how this seventh season goes.

Off the Blog: We eased into June and have been sticking close to home as we watch the rest of the country open up. My county was so cautious at first, mandating masks early on in March and taking the shelter in place order seriously. The curve was beginning to flatten. And then the protests demanding to return to normal lives began, the politicians caved to the pressure (or maybe they agreed with those who felt their civil liberties were being violated), the county sheriff refuses to enforce any safety requirements, and now the Coronavirus numbers continue to rise. Many in the public do not seem to care, with some loudly continuing to argue this is all a liberal hoax. Meanwhile, the virus is getting closer to home. Coworkers and friend's family members. It's touched some of you as well. The Governor recently ordered restaurants, bars and some other high traffic businesses to cease indoor services in several counties throughout the state, including mine. He's also mandated facial coverings for the entire state.

We ventured out to the park last weekend for a picnic. There were a handful of people out and about while we were there. We found a quiet spot under a shady tree and enjoyed being outdoors and away from the house. The weather was perfect. It was really nice to get out, and we hope to do it again before it gets too hot. Not this weekend though. I imagine there will be many people out and about for the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Mouse had her annual physical early in the week, which went well. The hospital is taking extra precautions, of course. They parking lot was as full as usual, but we did not see many people about. We stopped by the Starbucks drive thru on the way home as a treat. The next day I read online that the Starbucks had to close for quarantine because someone who works there tested positive.

Work is going well. I had to drive to one of the downtown offices to pick up a replacement laptop. I was one of a handful of staff who were still working on an ancient computer evidently. The new computer is smaller, but it's faster.

I used more gas in the last week than I have in the past three months with all these outings!

We still have not made it back to the dance studio, but they are having classes in the studio. Mouse is still taking her classes via Zoom. The studio finally announced they were postponing the summer shows. It was inevitable, of course, but I am surprised they took so long to make that decision. Mouse took the news hard, even though her dad and I had tried to prepare her. She wants so much to be able to be with her friends again. I cannot blame her.

Here is what I finished reading in June:

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, Ann Hazzard & Jennifer Zivoin
Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
The Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

I am happy with how June turned out reading wise. I read some great books, each very different from one another. On the downside, Mouse has not been too interested in reading with me as of late, preferring to read on her own. At least she's reading. My blogging has suffered this month. I spent less time on my computer than usual. I work from home most days and find that by the end of the work day, I haven't much interest in jumping back on the computer in the evenings for my personal stuff. I did not seem to mind it when I was in the office full-time. I am planning to take a blogging break this month for a week or two, try to catch up on my backlog of review writing perhaps.

This Past June In Reading Mews:

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your June? Do you have anything planned for this month?

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

I considered doing a Christmas in July theme, but when looking over my TBR shelves, I came across these three gems and decided the theme was too good to pass up. The theme? See for yourself. Then help me decide what to read next!

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel

Sometimes you have to leave behind everything you know to find the place you truly belong...

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they cruise around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru's old friends. He meets Yoshimine, the brusque and unsentimental farmer for whom cats are just ratters; Sugi and Chikako, the warm-hearted couple who run a pet-friendly B&B; and Kosuke, the mournful husband whose cat-loving wife has just left him. There's even a very special dog who forces Nana to reassess his disdain for the canine species.

But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know and Satoru won't say. But when Nana finally works it out, his small heart will break...

All Cats Are Introverts by Francesco Marciuliano

Have you ever been labeled as "antisocial," "shy," or "lost in your own thoughts" because you don't realize someone's been calling your name 148 times? The cats understand. All Cats Are Introverts is a collection of self-reflective poetry from cats that clearly shows them to be the insightful, often alert, crowd-averse, personally engaging, probably napping-as-we-speak introverts of the animal kingdom. Enjoy this completely relatable and hilarious book, and perhaps you will soon see the cat—and even yourself—in a whole new light.

They Call Me the Cat Lady by Amy Miller

You’ve seen me on the street. You’ve walked past my house, and pointed, and wondered. The cat lady. All on my own, with only my five cats to keep me company. Did no-one ever tell you that you can’t judge a book by its cover?

Everyone in town knows Nancy Jones. She loves her cats. She loves her tumbledown house by the sea. She loves her job in the local school where she tries to help the children who need help the most. Nancy tries hard not to think about her past loves and where those led her…

Nancy never shares her secrets – because some doors are better kept locked. But one day she accepts a cat-sitting request from a local woman, and at the woman’s house, Nancy sees a photograph, in a bright-red frame. A photograph that opens the door to her painful past…

Soon Nancy doesn’t know what frightens her the most: letting her story out, or letting the rest of the world in. It’s impossible to find companionship without the risk of losing it. But can Nancy take that risk again?

A heart-wrenching and heart-warming story of love lost and found, and of second chances, They Call Me The Cat Lady is perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

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

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Where Is Your Bookmark? (My Current Read & Well-Hyped Books that Disappointed Me )

Happy Friday! What book is your bookmark in today?

I thought I would share excerpts from a book I recently started called Westside (#1) by W.M. Akers I am not too far in, but I like what I have read so far.

A young detective who specializes in “tiny mysteries” finds herself at the center of a massive conspiracy in this beguiling historical fantasy set on Manhattan’s Westside—a peculiar and dangerous neighborhood home to strange magic and stranger residents—that blends the vivid atmosphere of Caleb Carr with the imaginative power of Neil Gaiman. [from the 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.

I stole a glove.

It dangled off a table in a decrepit leather shop on Thieves' Market on the Eastside of Manhattan in sweltering late September 1921, and it was in my bag before I even knew it had been in my hand.

My thoughts: The opening not only gives us the time and place, but also a bit of action right away. It had me wanting to read more.

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.

"Last night, one of her gangs was ambushed by men in your uniforms, firing pistols."

"My men are guardsmen - they guard. That's it. No booze, no women, and not a step across the Borderline, on penalty of death. They know better."

"They killed three boys."

My thoughts: I have not yet reached this point in the book, but the situation does not sound good. Did some of his men attack the other gang or was it another group trying to frame them? Hmm. I had better get back to my reading so I can find out!

Have you read Westside or the newly released sequel, Westside Saints? Does Westside sound like something you would enjoy?

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.

What book/books got a lot of hype but were a disappointment for you? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

Sometimes a book just is not a good fit for a particular reader. Given the number of books many of us read, there are bound to be disappointments. It is easy for our expectations to be built up by the praise (even from fellow bloggers) and creative advertising, which could mean the harder the fall into disappointment. Take that fudge ad that keeps popping up on my Facebook feed. It looked sooo good and, after seeing it multiple times every day, hearing about the different flavors, how many people love it, and the big sale prices, I caved in and bought some. I liked the peanut butter chocolate fudge okay, but the other flavors I tried were disappointing. Is it me? Is it the fudge? Maybe I do not like fudge as much as I think I do because I have yet to find fudge that I love the way I feel I should . . .

We are getting off track here. Back to books. It's funny. Sometimes I run toward hyped books like it is their last day on earth, and then they languish on my shelves for years until I read them. Other times I dive right in. And then there are those books I avoid like the plague--because THE HYPE! There is no rhyme or reason to my reading behavior. At least none that I have found.

Anyway, you wanted to know some of the well-hyped books I found disappointing. [Book titles are linked to my reviews.]

No one can deny the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E.L. James received a lot of hype--both positive and negative. I have friends who did not just dislike the trilogy, but hated it, and others who absolutely loved it. I went into the trilogy to see why the books were so polarizing. I managed to read the first two books of the three, and, well, I am not in the least bit a fan.

John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez are two books that receive heaps of praise even today, years after they were first published. Neither won me over.

There is also Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, which, for all intents and purposes, I should have loved. Witches, after all! I remember all the hype when the book first came out, and then again with the movie. Like the book I found the movie disappointing too.

There have been other well-hyped books that have left me disappointed of course, but these are the ones that instantly come to mind. Just because they may not have been my cup of tea doesn't mean they weren't someone else's. And given the praise they've received, I would say that is a good bet.

What well-hyped books did you find disappointing?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

© 2020, Wendy Runyon of 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.