Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into Keeper of the Lost Cities / The Tropes I Enjoy Most (and then some)

Today's featured book is the first in my daughter's favorite series, Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. She FINALLY has agreed to let me read it, and I am looking forward to starting it soon. She has the annotated and illustrated version. 

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

Blurry, fractured memories swam through Sophie's mind, but she couldn't piece them together. She tried opening her eyes and found only darkness. [opening lines from Preface of Keeper of the Lost Cities]

and 

"Miss Foster!" Mr. Sweeney's nasal voice cut through Sophie's blaring music as he yanked her earbuds out by the cords. "Have you decided that you're too smart to pay attention to this information?" 

Sophie forced her eyes open. [opening of first chapter in Keeper of the Lost Cities]

I purposefully added the last lines in both because I like symmetry of her opening her eyes in these two very different scenes. It was probably unintentional on the author's part, but I always like it I come across that sort of thing. I imagine from the preface, Sophie is not in a good place. A bit of foreshadowing would be my guess. The first chapter opens with a fairly everyday moment. Both of these together make me want to keep reading. 

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.

"Is it going to be hard to get into Foxfire?" she asked.

"Counciller Bronte will be difficult to impress," Alden admitted. "He feels your upbringing and lack of proper education should disqualify you. Plus, he doesn't like surprises. The Council had no idea you existed until today, and he's more than  a little miffed about it. But you only need two out of three votes. Just do the best you can."

The Council didn't know about her? Then why did Fitz say they'd been looking for her for twelve years? [excerpt from page 56 of Keeper of the Lost Cities]

This excerpt makes me wonder if Sophie is part of a some sort of a prophecy. I look forward to finding out!

Keeper of the Lost Cities (#1) by Shannon Messenger

Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…

 
But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

 
But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Keeper of the Lost Cities? Does it sound like something you might like? 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is co-hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life, and Karen from For What It’s Worth. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Which tropes do you enjoy most?

This would be an easier question to answer if I was asked to list the ones I tend to avoid because I like many different tropes (not to be confused with subgenres--because I have a long list of favorites on that subject too). I did my best to narrow the list down, but I am sure I missed some. 

Romance: I enjoy fake relationships the most (at least right now). But I also really like second chance love, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers. Add in a bookish theme and I am even happier! Destiny/soulmate tropes work especially well in paranormal or supernatural romance, I think, and is one of my favorites. 

Mysteries: Small circle and isolated locales are among my favorite types of mysteries. The Everybody Did It trope can be quite fun if done right. I am also happy with the mystery where everyone has a reason to want the person dead but in which only one person did it. The nosy reporter is another mystery trope I really enjoy. As much as I love cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths (whether in cozies or another subgenre of mysteries) can be hit and miss for me depending on how they are used--but I really like them when they work for me. A good heist trope is another favorite of mine.

Fantasy: Mix in fantasy with any of the genres I read and I am in reader heaven. But looking strictly at fantasy tropes, magic is by far my favorite. Magic schools, magic libraries, magic/supernatural beings and creatures, magic artifacts, witches, warlocks, wizards--I cannot get enough. I know some might say they are overdone, but I really like the Chosen One and Reluctant Hero tropes. Dragons and quests are also fantasy tropes I am drawn to. When it comes to quests, a ragtag group of strangers coming together is my ideal. While I am not a huge fan of the damsel in distress trope, I do like role reversal tales quite a bit. Oh, and I can't forget the redeemed villain! Or time slips!

Science Fiction: I am not well read in the science fiction genre, admittedly, but I do enjoy what I have read. Put a ragtag group together to go on a heist, quest or to battle a common foe and I am already hooked. Space travel, time travel, and alternate universes are among my favorite science fiction tropes.

Horror/Thrillers: I like thrills more than I like gore, so my horror trope tastes run along those lines. Abandoned or old houses have to be at the top of the list, especially when those houses are like characters themselves. Supernatural beings or monsters can be a lot of fun. Or that mysterious neighbor. Ancient evil and cursed or forbidden artifacts need to be included here too.

Historical Fiction: I especially enjoy historical fiction with protagonists out of their time. I find historical fiction that uses social and political upheavals to be very appealing. And I just love a dual time line. 

Some of my other favorite tropes include revenge, overcoming adversity, underdogs, groundhog day type tropes, family secrets, hidden diaries found, generational sagas, stormy weather, and saving that cute animal.

So much for narrowing it down--although, to be fair to me, I didn't list them ALL. 

What are some of your favorite tropes? 

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.

Are you reading more e-books lately? ((submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

Surprisingly, I am reading less e-books than I normally do. Usually the e-books easily make up the majority of my reading. However, so far this year, 58.8% of my reading has been print books; digital books have made up 38.2% of my reading; and only 3% in audio. 

What format of books have you been reading most of lately? 

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

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© 2023 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: My Bookish Mewsings on The Moon Within by Aida Salazar & Other Updates

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.

 

May is going by so fast! We had painters at the house today, giving our shutters a fresh coat of paint. That should make the homeowner's association happy.  My husband considered doing it himself, but my mom and I talked him out of it. He's got a bad shoulder and we worried about his safety. 

This week was relatively calm as far as it goes. Work continues to be busy. My husband and I had to get creative with our work schedules this week in order to make sure Mouse was picked up from school. My mom often helps out with pick up (thank you, Mom!), but my mom's aunt fractured her pelvic bone and my mom has been helping her and her partner out this week and possibly for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the after school program Mouse sometimes goes to was full  for the week and unable to take her. My great-aunt seems to be doing well. Hopefully that continues to be the case. 

At the moment, I am reading Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age, this month's TBR poll winner. It is good so far! These four retired assassins are a force to be reckoned with!  

Earlier this week, I finished reading Well Played (Well Met #2) by Jen DeLuca. You can check out my review here.

I am considering one of these next. I wonder which one it will be . . . . 

Marion Lane and the Raven's Revenge (#3) by T.A. Willberg

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Homicide and Halo-Halo (Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2) by Mia P. Manansala

Playing It Safe (Electra McDonell #3) by Ashley Weaver

What are you reading right now? What do you plan to read next? 

I wish I had read this book with my daughter two or three years ago, when I first added it to my TBR shelf. But I am glad I read it now. Aida Salazar's novel in verse, The Moon Within (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2019, 240 pgs), is a beautiful and inspiring book about not just a Mexican-Puerto Rican girl, Celi, entering a new phase in her life, but also that of her friend, Marco, who is also coming into his own.  This is a story about growing up: first periods, first love, friendship, family bonds and conflict, bullying, and transitioning. It is steeped in culture, traditions, and heart. This review includes some spoilers--so stop reading and skip to the next section if you plan to read this novel. 

Though I've never seen it

I know my locket is there. 

It keeps my questions

            my secrets

warm

unanswered

and safe. [excerpt from  pg 5 of The Moon Within]

Celi doesn't want the fanfare her mother has planned for her first menstrual cycle. She's embarrassed by her mother's wish to celebrate something Celi would rather keep private and hidden. But her mother does not want her daughter's experience to be the same as hers. She does not want her to feel shame or fear. As a mother and as someone who was once a young girl going through puberty, I understand both points of view.  

Celi, your moon will not be like mine.

You will not begin womanhood in doubt

in shame

but surrounded by the strength

of women in your community.

    No it isn't. It is a way you've made up!

It is a way that we have to reclaim 

so that we are not erased. [excerpt from page 182 of The Moon Within]

In the author's note, the author talks about how something once so celebrated and honored in some cultures has been made to feel dirty in modern-day western cultures. This is something I have observed too, although I like to think the tide is changing.  

As Celi navigates her changing body and puberty, her friend Marco is going through his own changes. Born a girl, Marco has long felt more like a boy. I loved how Salazar celebrates him in his and his family's acceptance of who he is. The author draws from precolonial indigenous, Mesoamerican ideas and beliefs, referencing the Aztec god Xochiquetzal, who was both male and female. Xochihuah, people with dual genders or who are gender fluid, are believed to have been considered sacred and well respected. 

While Celi loves Marco and their friendship, conflict arises when the boy she is crushing on is rude to Marco, deadnaming him and making fun of him. Celi struggles with her feelings--her attraction to Iván and her loyalty to her best friend. 

My locket lies open on

            a shore of a sea

                        of confusion

steady sand grounds my feet

like Marco--my best amifriend forever

            but the waves of Iván

                        crash into me

            a foam that wraps around my legs

                        sends a tingle through my body

                                    and swarms my heart

                        with a feeling of

            first love? [excerpt from pg 141 of The Moon Within]

Celi's relationship with dance, music and the moon (Luna), play a big part in this book. Celi is most herself when she is dancing, often to the sound of drums played by her father or Marco. It is a part of who she is. The title itself suggest the importance of the moon to the story, as it can be tied to the moon cycle as it relates to the female body. And here the author brings dance and the moon together: 

I watch her light up a sliver of dust

in my room.

Like a performance

small specks dance

twirl,

                bounce,

                                        float,

                glide,

                        somersault. 

They dance like I do. [excerpt from pg. 7 of The Moon Within]

I love the idea of a moon ceremony; and while it is not a tradition I carried out, it is one I admire and see the beauty in. The picture painted by Salazar as she wrote about Celi's moon ceremony was very moving and heartfelt. 

As my last offering to my moon altar

I lay my first doll, Alma, inside an open gourd

then I add a flint, for protection

and a spool of thread to mend

her bird-print dress

I say goodbye beneath my breath

while Mima sprinkles her

with

 crystal dust

that feels like love. [excerpt from pg 197 of The Moon Within]

I also really liked that she included Marco in the experience, incorporating his transition in such a way that honored both him and Celi.

The Moon Within carries such a positive message and the characters are very relatable. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Have you read The Moon Within? Have you read any poetry or a novel in verse recently? 

School is winding down for Mouse, and this week of school has been spent doing mostly non-academic activities (Mouse said she would rather work on her play than play board games). Just three more days of school to go and then it's on to middle school in August. Mouse isn't sure she's ready--and I am not sure I am either. Reading wise, Mouse is reading V.E. Schwab's Gallant. 

I recently watched the movie The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, based on the book with the same title by Gabrielle Zevin. I really liked the book and remember how much the characters came to mean to me as I read it. I wasn't quite as enamored with the movie, although I did enjoy it. Today I made my family watch A Man Called Otto, an Americanized movie version of Fredrick Backman's book, A Man Called Ove. I thought it was very well done. I really like Tom Hanks and Mariana Treviño was great as Marisol. Let's face it though. The cat stole the entire movie. (It goes without saying though that the book was still better.)

My daughter has been begging me to watch more anime with her and we most recently started the first season of Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-Kun! It is about a human boy who is sold by his parents to a demon, and the demon enrolls the human boy in demon school, trying to pass him off as his demon grandson. It's a cute show--a good mix of action and heart. We also started the second season of By the Grace of the Gods, an isekai slice of life anime. 

What have you watched recently?

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

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© 2023, 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: My Bookish Mewsings on Well Played by Jen DeLuca (& Books I Want to See on the Screen)

Along with this mini review, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

It all started with a necklace. 

A beautiful pendant, made of gleaming silver in the shape of a dragonfly, strung on a green silk cord. Its eyes were tiny crystals that caught the light, and the wings were a delicate filigree. I spotted it on the last day of the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire, while Emily--or Emma, since we were still in character--and I strolled the grounds.  [opening line of Well Played]

               ★                    

His arm went around me, his fingertips stroking slowly up and down my upper arm. There was no expectation of anything physical. He hadn't even kissed me since I'd first arrived. 

It was the best date I'd been on in years. [excerpt from 56% in Well Played]

Well Played (Well Met #2) by Jen DeLuca
Berkley, 2020
Romance; 332 pgs

My thoughts: I adored Well Met, the first in a romance series by Jen DeLuca, and so was looking forward to reading Well Played. Now seemed like the perfect time since my family and I had just been to a Renaissance Faire, and I was very much in the mood to maintain that Ren Faire ambience. It didn't take me long to settle in with the book, and the next thing I knew, I was done! 

While a portion of the novel takes place off season, much of it is set during the summer in small town Willow Creek. Stacey lives for the faire and looks forward to being a part of it each year. Her dreams of a career and her own life fell away years before after her mother got sick, Stacey has accepted that she's stuck in her current life. She tries to pretend she's happy, but that façade cracks a little when her  best friend Emily and Simon get engaged. After drinking too much one night, Stacey leaves a comment on the Dueling Kilts band fan page of her sometimes Ren Faire fling, which leads to a year of e-mail correspondence and later texts.  She pours her heart out to him and him to her. Or so she thinks. If you are getting a Cyrano de Bergerac vibe, you wouldn't be far off. Or catfishing for the less romantic take on it. But this is a romance so let's go with with the Cyrano vibe . . . 

Although Well Met was magic for me in every way, I was a little less enamored with Well Played. I did enjoy it though. It was funny and charming, not to mention the setting. I found Stacey relatable (and it's always nice to come across a plus sized heroine). On the outside, she's confident and flirty, which we see some of in the first book in the series where she is a secondary character. But in this book, with her front and center, we get to see a more complex character, as the layers fall away. It was great to see some of the repeat characters from the earlier book--Emily, Simon, April and Mitch (whose turn it will be in Well Matched, which I look forward to reading). 

I admit to not knowing much about faire life, but one aspect I really appreciated about this novel was how it gives readers a glimpse behind the curtain of a Ren Faire and some of it's moving parts--from the local volunteers to the vendors and entertainers who spend their life on the road traveling from faire to faire, as well as the rehearsals, costumes, and some of the behind the scenes action. 

Challenges Met: Backlist, Mount TBR, COYER

Have you read Well Played or any of the other books in the series?  If not, does this sound like something you might enjoy?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is co-hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life, and Karen from For What It’s Worth. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Which book/series would make a great movie/tv series?

I am currently watching Shadow and Bone on Netflix, having just read the first five books in the Grishaverse series (the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Crows duology) by Leigh Bardugo. There was some crossover because I actually started watching the show before I read the books. As often is the case, I wish I had read the books first. And I wish I had put some time between the books and watching the show because . . . well, if you've read the books and seen the show, you will understand. Seeing how the writers weave the books together despite the separate time lines, creating new content, and manipulating the book material to fit this new story has been fascinating to say the least. I am enjoying the show--but I loved the books, especially Six of Crows and even more so Crooked Kingdom. Anyway. To the question of the week! 

My mind is stuck in Renaissance Faire mode right now, and so I admit I would really like to see Jen DeLuca's Well Met series come to life in a television series. Or maybe a movie for each book. I think though it'd be more fun as a short television series because you could really get to know the characters more that way. I would want the series to maintain the humor and lightheartedness of the book series--in a smart and clever way. I don't want them to be turned into Hallmark-esque movies. Although, those  types of movies have their place too. 

Has Dear Martin by Nic Stone been made into a movie yet? It should be, if not. 

I hope they make a movie out of Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women. It's a part of history worth featuring on the big screen and such a moving story!

I tend to gravitate a lot towards fantasy and science fiction, and I can think of an endless number of possibilities. Here's just a small few that come to mind:

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes would make a great movie--science fiction and horror mixed together. 

Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab please. My daughter seconds this idea! Preferably in a series format.

Oh, and what about the Hollows series featuring Rachel Morgan by Kim Harrison. I would have that series on repeat. 

Genevieve Cogman's The Invisible Library series would be such fun to see in television series form! The fae and dragons and Librarians! I don't think I could take it if it wasn't done right though. 

I could keep going. But if all of these books and all the others I would want to see on screen were made into television series or movies, when would I read?!  Besides, we all know the books are often better.

What books would you like to see come to life on the screen--if done right, of course? 

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.

Have you ever attempted to repair a damaged book? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Kind of. I once ordered a set of books on E-Bay that were said to be in good condition. The seller's definition of good condition and mine are not the same. The covers were ripped and extremely loose (I could see the threads barely hanging on) and pages were falling out. My husband and I tried taping the pages to the covers but it was clear we didn't know what we were doing. 

Then there was the time I accidentally dropped a book into a bucket of water. I ended up buying a new copy. There was no coming back from the damage done to that soaked book. 

I have read a few fiction books in which characters restore damaged books.  I am in awe of their skills. It really is an art all its own. 

What about you?

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

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© 2023 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 Mother's Day!

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.

Just a quick post to check in and say hello. We spent yesterday with my daughter's Girl Scout troop at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, taking in the fun atmosphere, enjoying the entertainment, and browsing the artisan and vendor stalls. I am always impressed by the costumes we see. My daughter had fun dressing up again this year. I think we all got a bit too much sun and are still feeling the effects. My husband, daughter, and I did manage to go to the theater today and see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which we all enjoyed. We visited with my mom as well. It made for a nice Mother's Day weekend.

My spring roses

This week I finished reading the second book in the Six of Crows duology, Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo. It's my favorite of the books in the Grishaverse series I have read so far. I love all the main characters and grew quite attached to them over the course of the two books.  I think I will take a break from the Grishaverse for the time being, but I definitely plan to read the next duology (King of Scars) at some point. 

Attending the Renaissance Faire this weekend put me in the mood for a little faire romance. I am currently reading Jen DeLuca's Well Played (Well Met #2). 

Thank you to everyone who voted in my May TBR Poll! I am looking forward to diving into this month's winner soon. 

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes got two (2) votes and Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson came in with seven (7). Winning with eleven (11) votes is Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age. It sounds like there will be a good mix of excitement and humor!

My TBR List is 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 let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

Thank you again for voting!

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

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© 2023, 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: Catching Up and Checking In

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.  

It has been over a month since I last blogged, much less set eyes on my blog. I had not intended to be away so long but here we are. I have not been in the best of places mentally and my knee has been giving me more trouble again. It probably didn't help that I decided to move the couch from one room to the other all by myself. Enough of the depressing stuff . . . 

Last we visited, my daughter was headed to science camp with her sixth grade class. It did in fact rain, but she had a great time and was still able to go horseback riding, canoeing, rock climbing, hike, and learn archery. 

While Mouse was away, the cat played.

A few days after Mouse got home, we celebrated a late birthday with a couple of her good friends and then were off for a Spring Break trip to Universal Studios Hollywood. Our first day there was rainy and cold but we had a blast at the park, taking the studio tour and riding some of the rides. While most of the day the rain was light, it began pouring in the late afternoon, and so we took that as a our cue to leave to check into the hotel.  The second day of our trip, we had a more laid back day, visiting the shops at Universal Studio Walk and had lunch at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen (Steampunk chocolate heaven!). In the evening we enjoyed the Lion King musical at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. It was just as good the as the first time I saw it! The sun was out the following day for our second day at Universal Studios. We were able to explore Super Nintendo World a little bit more and went on a few rides that we skipped the first day of our visit. After that, we headed home to finish out our spring break at home. It'd been a while since we had a chance to get away, so it was nice to be able to do so--even if we didn't travel too far.

Dessert at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

The beginning of April, we visited the observatory in Rancho Mirage with Mouse's Girl Scout troop. We tracked the space station as it travelled across Utah and New Mexico before it disappeared from our sight. We saw stars and the moon up close, as well as Venus. Towards the end of April, we went on another troop fieldtrip, visiting the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert for their Glow in the Park event that they hold in the spring. They go all out with the lights and lanterns. It really is lovely.

Giraffes after Dark 

Dragon after Dark

Mouse had her spring band concert a couple weeks ago. Her school along with another local elementary school and the middle school jazz band performed together. My mom, husband and I were lucky to find seats--so many families and friends had to stand on the sidelines of the auditorium because there were so many people there. 

We are on the final countdown now for the end of the school year. State testing is out of the way and these last two and a half weeks will be less academic and more fun stuff from the looks of the school schedule. Mouse is feeling a little sad to see the school year come to an end. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that she's leaving the elementary school she's attended since kindergarten--the comfort of the familiar and heading into the unknown. 

My work has been as busy as ever. We continue to be short staffed and with everyone having to make up for it; is it any wonder people have been calling off a lot? 

We have plans tonight to go see the movie Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. with my mom this evening. I have heard mixed reviews, but it's one we've been wanting to see since we first heard about it.

What have you been up to?

A tired cat

It seems to be feast or famine when it comes to my reading as of late. I suffered a brief reading slump during the second half of March and the first half of April, with only a scattering of reading in between--mainly Manga and the occasional short story. The second half of April through now has me deep into Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, however. I missed seeing Leigh Bardugo at the Los Angeles Festival of Books because we were meeting Victoria Schwab and Peng Shepherd at the same time as Bardugo's signing, unfortunately. But I wouldn't have wanted to miss the authors we did see!

Recent Reads: 

Shadow in Bone (#1) by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm (Shadow and Bone Trilogy #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising (Shadow and Bone Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows (#1) by Leigh Bardugo

Currently Reading: 

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

My TBR List is 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 let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

I could use your help deciding which book to read next! I have been reading a lot of fantasy lately and think it's time to switch things up a bit. Which of these three books do you think I should read next? Have you read any of them? If so, what did you think? 

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes

A devilish thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.

Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read. [Goodreads Summary]

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.

PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.

It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). It’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart. [Goodreads Summary]

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon.

They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire - it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they've been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman--and a killer--of a certain age. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

When my daughter bought the first volume of Magus of the Library, I knew I would not be able to resist reading it myself. This past month I read the first four volumes and hope to get to the next two this month. It is a sweet story about an orphan boy from the slums, raised by his sister, who sneaks into the town library to read. He loves books. The librarian there isn't too keen on people from the slums and chases him out. A boy with pointy ears who has never fit in, Theo, dreams of different life--one where he is more a hero than a bullied outcast. Fate steps in and he meets a traveling Kafna, one of the librarians from the great library  of Aftzaak, and it changes his life forever. He travels to Aftzaak to take the test to become a Kafna himself. Theo is a kind boy who sees the best in everyone and every situation. He never hesitates to step in when help is needed. 

Mitsu Izumi has created an intricate world full of colorful characters, tenuous alliances, and a hovering threat that may dismantle a fragile peace. The great library dedicates itself to protecting books and knowledge, but also serves a unifying purpose for the people. It is hard not to see real world parallels as often can be seen in fantasy novels. I enjoy the descriptions and artwork of care and mending of books and the magical beasts and spirits. 

Magus of the Library, Volumes 1-4 by Mitsu Izumi,

translated by Stephen Kohler, lettering by Evan Hayden

I fell into a reading slump this past month and found myself disinterested in reading just about everything. I finally decided to pick up one of my unread short story collections, Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison, something with familiar characters, set in a familiar world--and bite size reading so I wouldn't have to commit to something too long if I wasn't feeling in the mood. 

I am enjoying getting to know the characters better through these short stories. I admit I did not care for the first story "Be Spelled," about how Ceri became enslaved by Al. However, I have enjoyed the other stories I have read so far--seeing Jenks, the pixie, take on his own case with the help of his gargoyle friend Bis in "Ley Line Drifter" and reading the story about Ivy, a living vampire, early in her career in "Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil." One of my favorite stories was when Rachel first summons Pierce in "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel." Although, now that I have said that, I may have liked "Dirty Magic" a story about Mia, the banshee, even more. It certainly was a sad one. And how I miss Kisten's character! He and Rachel make a good team in "The Bridges of Eden Park." I look forward to reading the remaining stories as the mood strikes.

Mouse has been making her way through her birthday books and is currently reading The Haunted Bookstore: Gateway to a Parallel Universe (Light Novel), Vol. 1 by Shinobumaru, illustrated by Munashichi. It is about a girl who lives in an otherworldly bookstore and rescues a mortal boy who is  an exorcist. His very presence is a threat to her world and she can only hope to convince him the spirits are not his enemies after all. Mouse is enjoying it--ghosts and books are a winning combination.

Mouse also recently read Victoria Schwab's This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1), which she liked quite a bit. It had been a birthday gift from a friend. She still prefers A Darker Shade of Magic to it, but is eager to read more in the series. We got the chance to meet Victoria Schwab at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this past month, much to Mouse's (and mine) excitement and Mouse even got her book signed!

New to my shelves:

This Easter Bunny likes to make sure everyone's basket has a book or two in it. This year, my basket included:

The Poetry Remedy:  Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind, and Soul by William Sieghart

Lady Killer, Vol. 1 by Joëlle Jones and Jamie S. Rich

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper

The sun was shining over the Los Angeles Times Book Festival this year and my family and I enjoyed browsing the various booths, enjoying a little entertainment, and seeing which author's turned out. Of course, we couldn't walk away empty handed!

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler

OBIT (Poems) by Victoria Chang

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

Elemental (Shadows of Otherside #1) by Whitney Hill

A Fire Among Clouds (Codex Black #1) by Camilo Moncada Lozano, colorist: Angel DeSantiago

Nightmare in Savannah by Lela Gwenn, illustrated by Rowan MacColl

The Case of the Girl from Deja Vu (The Nightmare Brigade #1) by Frank Thillez, illustrated by Yomgui Dumont

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword  (#1) by Henry Lien

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Our local independent bookstore's lease was not renewed, and, for awhile there, I was not sure if they would find a new home. The good news is they have, and it's closer to where I live! Today was their last day at their current location before their big move. They hope to be opened the middle of June in their new place. Strictly to help them out so they don't have to move so many books (okay, so maybe that's not the real reason), Mouse and I picked up a few books today: 

The Atlas Six (#1) by Olivie Blake

Jameela Green Ruins Everything by Zarqa Nawaz

Once There Was by Kiyashi Monsef

Gallant by V.E. Schwabb

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma Kun, Vol. 1 by Osamu Nishi

Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain (Mapmakers #2) by Cameron Chittock and Amanda Castillo

What new books made it onto your shelf recently? 

My family and I have been enjoying the second season of Schmigadoon! otherwise known as Schmicago.  And my husband and I are loving the new season of Ted Lasso. I have also seen a few episodes of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and am hooked. All three of these shows take me to a happy place when I am watching them. 

We are all caught up with The Mandalorian, a favorite show of ours. That season finale was sure intense and very well done! My family and I decided to rewatch the first season of Shadow and Bone before venturing into the second, which we just started. 

This past month I watched The Winchesters, a prequel spinoff series to Supernatural. The show has a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed the 1970's setting. 

We ventured out to the movie theater last month to see the Super Mario Brothers movie. I admit I liked it more than I thought I would. Our family enjoys playing the Nintendo Mario Kart game together and it was fun to see some familiar sights. 

What have you watched recently?

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

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