Books Read in 2024 (by rating)

[Books Read In 2024]

5 Paw Reads (Outstanding)

Legends & Lattes (#1) (2022) Travis Baldree

Kindred (1979) by Octavia E. Butler

The Hacienda (2022) by Isabel Cañas

The Fox Wife (2024) by Yangsze Choo
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) (2024) by Heather Fawcett
Demon Copperhead (2022) by Barbara Kingsolver Kingsolver (print)
Demon Copperhead (2022) by Barbara Kingsolver, narrated by Charlie Thurston (audio)

4.5 Paw Reads (Very Good +)

Amari and the Great Game (Supernatural Investigations #2) (2022) by B.B. Alston

Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) (2013) by Ilona Andrews, narrated by Jenna Sharpe et al. 

Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) (2015) by Ilona Andrews, narrated by Jenna Sharpe et al.

A Soupçon of Poison(Below the Stairs #0.5) (2015) by Jennifer Ashley

Speculations in Sin (Below Stairs #7) (2024) by Jennifer Ashley 
Mrs. Holloway's Christmas Pudding (Below Stairs #6.7) (2023) by Jennifer Ashley

Book of Doors (2024) by Gareth Brown

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation (2017) by Octovia E. Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings

The Storm We Made (2024) by Vanessa Chan

Don't Look Now and Other Stories (1971) by Daphne du Maurier

One Women's Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC (1989) by Charity Adams Earley

The Kiss Countdown (2024) by Etta Easton 

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 (2024) by Tatsuya Endo

Spy x Family, Vol. 12 (2023) by Tatsuyo Endo

The Sentence (2021) by Louise Erdrich

The Wolf Den (#1) (2021) by Elodie Harper

Weyward (2023) by Emilia Hart

Dune (#1) (1965) by Frank Herbert, narrated by Scott Brick et al.

Assistant to the Villain (2023) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Deja Brew (Elemental Magic #3) (2024) by Celestine Martin

The Truth According to Ember (2024) by Danica Nava

Heartstopper, Vol. 1 (2018) by Alice Oseman

The Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person (2015) by and narrated by Shonda Rhimes

Women of the Post (2023) by Joshunda Sanders

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) (2017) by V.E. Schwab

The Bandit Queens (2023) by Parini Shroff

Everything is OK (2022) by Debbie Tung

Murder Road  (2024) by Simone St. James
Locked in Pursuit (Electra McDonnell #4) (2024) by Ashley Weaver

Artificial Condition (Murderbot Diaries #2) (2018) by Martha Wells

4 Paw Reads (Very Good)

The Japanese Lover (2015) by Isabel Allende
Amari and the Despicable Wonders (#3) (2024) by B.B. Alston
The Price of Lemon Cake (Below Stairs #6.5) (2023) by Jennifer Ashley
Accidental Magic (Myrtlewood Mystery #1) (2022) by Iris Beaglehole 
Parable of the Sower (Earthseed #1) (1993) by Octavia E. Butler
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye (2024) Briony Cameron
Hammers and Homicide (Hometown Hardware Mystery #1) (2023) by Paula Charles
The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco (2024) by Michelle Chouinard
The Untold Story (Invisible Library #8) (2021) by Genevieve Cogman
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (Finlay Donovan 3.5) (2023) by Elle Cosimano 
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan #4) (2024) by Elle Cosimano 
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer (2024) by Maxie Dara
Misfit Mansion (2023) by Kay Davault
Haunted Ever After (Boneyard Key #1) (2024) by Jen DeLuca
David Copperfield (1850) by Charles Dickens
James (2023) by Percival Everett
The Keeper (2022) by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Ghost Roast (2024) by Shawnee Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, illustrated by Emily Cannon
A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter  (2017) by Nikki Giovanni
A Girl Called Samson (2023) by Amy Harmon 
The House with the Golden Door (Wolf Den #2) (2022) by Elodie Harper
The Witch With No Name (Hollows #13) (Hollows #13) (2014) by Kim Harrison
American Demon (Hollows #14) (2020) by Kim Harrison
The Housekeepers (2024) by Alex Hay
A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets (Saffron Everleigh Mystery #3) (2024) by Kate Khavari
Kiss and Spell (Elemental Magic #2) (2023) by Celestine Martin
Legacy (Keeper of the Lost City #8) (2019) by Shannon Messenger
Cold Curses (Heirs of Chicagoland #5) (2023) by Chloe Neill
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 1 (2017) by Osamu Nishi
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 2 (2017) by Osamu Nishi
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 3 (2017) by Osamu Nishi
The Golden Enclaves (Scholomance #3) (2022) by Naomi Novik
An Inconvenient Wife (2024) by Karen E. Olson
The Berlin Letters (2024) by Katherine Reay
Vengeance in Death (In Death #6) (1997) by J.D. Robb, narrated by Susan Ericksen
You'll Never  Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism (2021) by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar
Nosy Neighbors (2024) by Freya Sampson
Kaiju Preservation Society (2022) by John Scalzi 
Banned Book Club (2020) by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada, illustrated by Ko Hyung-Ju
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (Aunties #3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Pulp (2018) by Robin Talley
The Secret Keeper of Main Street (2024) by Trisha R. Thomas
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society (2024) by C.M. Waggoner
Brooms (2023) by Jasmine Walls & Teo DuVall

3.5 Paw Reads (Good +)

It's Elementary (2024) by Elise Bryant

Grave Peril (Dresden Files #3) (2001) by Jim Butcher, narrated by James Marsters

Summer Knights (Dresden Files #4) (2002) by Jim Butcher, narrated by James Marsters

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism (2021) by Jen Gunter

Magical Boy, Vol. 1 (2022) by The Kao
Magical Boy, Vol. 2 (2022) by The Kao

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years (2024) by Shubnum Khan
Keeper of the Lost Cities Unlocked (Keeper of the Lost City #8.5) (2020) by Shannon Messenger

Happily Never After (2024) by Lynn Painter
Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out (2024) by Shannon Reed
Ceremony in Death (#5) (1997) by J.D. Robb, narrated by Susan Ericksen 
Holiday in Death (In Death #7) (1998) by J.D. Robb
Conspiracy in Death (In Death #8) (1999) by J.D. Robb
Loyalty in Death (In Death #9) (1999) by J.D. Robb
Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1) (2021) by Katee Robert, narrated by Zara Hampton-Brown & Alex Moorcock
Gone with the Witch (The Witch Way Librarian #6) (2024) by Angela M. Sanders
You Will Never Be Me (2024) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 2  (2019) by Hitsuji Yamada
The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 3 (2020) by Hitsuji Yamada

3 Paw Reads (Good)

The Roanoke Girls (2017) by Amy Engel, narrated by Brittany Pressley

2.5 Paw Reads (Okay +)

Enchanting Alpha (2024) by Abby Ryan

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© 2024, 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.

First Sentences 2024

Opening sentences are our first step inside a story. Some hook us right away while others ease us in. I started keeping track of first sentences years ago. I enjoy looking back on these opening lines and seeing what memories they stir up. 

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2024.

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The women were arguing. ~ The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Teenage boys had begun to disappear. ~ The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

Death Surrounded her. ~ Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb

Kicking aside a jumble of tomato cages and terra-cotta pots, I searched for a pair of gardening gloves heavy enough to tangle with the invasive milk thistle threatening to take over my herb garden. ~ Hammers and Homicide by Paula Chase

Hey, Fukazawa. ~ The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 2 by Hitsuzi Yamada

Hello! ~ The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 3 by Hitsuzi Yamada

Neck craned, I squinted up between the shadowed apartments. ~ The Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison

When Irina Bazili began working at Lark House in 2010, she was twenty-three years old but already had few illusions about life. ~ The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

Vic buried her greatsword in the scalvert's skull with a meaty crunch. ~ Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

In an old wardrobe a djinn sits weeping. ~ The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Subnum Khan

"Jamie Gray!" ~ Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

The first time I saw Roanoke was in a dream. ~ The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

The folk here 

are old ~ A Good Cry by Nikki Giovanni

From Judy to the Crisis

Thursday, 14 April 1944

Dear Ms. Ella Baker and Marvel Cooke,

My name is Judy Washington, and I am one of the women you write about in your work on the Bronx Slave Market over on Simpson Street. ~ Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders

It's that time of year again, folks! ~ Misfit Mansion by Kay Davault

The future of women in the military seems assured. ~ One Woman's Army by Charity Adams Earley

The foot would not fit in my briefcase, so I wrapped it in cloth and wrestled it into an old knapsack I sometimes carry with me on expeditions. ~ Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Brutus was dead. ~ Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

"Poor devil." ~ Gone with the Witch by Angela M. Sanders

In Kellner Books on the Upper East Side of New York City, a few minutes before his death, John Webber was reading The Count of Monte Cristo. ~ Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

MM! ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

I am a cook, and better than most, even at my young age of nine and twenty, and the gentry aristocracy pay highly to have me. ~ A Soupçon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley

"That's a fine one," Bobby Perry said as she lounged in the studio at the top of Miss Judith Townsend's London townhouse. ~ The Price of Lemon Cake by Jennifer Ashley

"Mr. Whitaker is very ill." ~ Mrs. Holloway's Christmas Pudding by Jennifer Ashley

I was finishing a pleasant visit on my day out with Joanna Millburn, the friend of my youthful days who looked after my daughter, when I detected something was very wrong. ~ Speculations in Sin by Jennifer Ashley

Any idiot can spot a window of opportunity, but it takes a unique brand of idiot to fall through one. ~ Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

I can't look, I said, clapping a hand over my eyes. ~ Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

I don't remember a time when I didn't know how to read. ~ Why We Read by Shannon Reed

A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. ~ Dune by Frank Herbert

Aman walked into a darkened room, moving on silent feet. ~ Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

A claw swept across my face, and I felt the hot breath of hell. ~ Cold Curses by Chloe Neill

They came in the early morning. ~ An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson

We can't keep doing this. ~ Legacy by Shannon Messenger

If menopause were on Yelp it would have one star. ~ The Menopause Manifesto by Jen Gunter

Perhaps you know this story: Late one evening, a beautiful woman comes knocking on an unsuspecting scholar's door. ~ The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

The wind is a constant song in my ears, the air so cold and refreshing it sparkles against my cheek as I whoosh down the ski slope. ~ The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Years later, when the residents of Shelley House looked back on the extraordinary of that long, turbulent summer, they would disagree on how it all began. ~ Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

Whether I shall turn out to the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. ~ David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

The  moment my dad raised my veil, kissed my cheek, and handed me off to Stuart, I wanted to throw up. ~ Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

I lost an arm on my last trip home. ~ Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

It was a gift, seeing what most people were afraid to see. ~ The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas

Chelsea, do you need a lift to the bus stop? ~ Ghost Roast by Shawnee & Shawnelle Gibbs

Homeboy has ten seconds to divert his eyes from my ass before I lose it. ~ The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

The darkness comes upon us quickly, I just know it's a sign. ~ The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

In the last war, your father was spying for the Germans. ~ Locked in Pursuit by Ashley Weaver

"Don't look now," John said to his wife, "but there are a couple of old girls two tables away who are trying to hypnotize me." ~ Don't Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

That July night seemed full of possibility, with the empty highway stretching out before us. ~ Murder Road by Simone St. James

Humans are greedy. ~ Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 1 by Osamu Nishi

"That's an unfortunate misconception that I've been working hard to correct," Landon said, and I stared at the radio, not liking that the priest's professional, tutored voice had lost none of its elven persuasion through my car's speaker. ~ American Demons by Kim Harrison 

WHOAAA! ~ Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 2 by Osamu Nishi

Skritch ~ Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 3 by Osamu Nishi

Thunder roared and lightning crashed through the sky, illuminating the clouds above Thorn Manor. ~ Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole

The business of murder took time, patience, skill, and a tolerance for the monotonous. ~ Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb

Delilah Bard--always a thief, recently a magician, and hopefully one day, a pirate--was running as fast as she could. ~ A  Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

It took all of Abby's willpower not to kiss her. ~ Pulp by Robin Talley

The jangling telephone broke into her dreams. ~ The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

Cold rain soaking her boots, splashing her stockings, and leaking from the brim of her ruined hat and onto her face was the least of Saffron Everleigh's worries. ~ A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari

First, I got myself born. ~ Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Mrs. King laid out all the knives on the kitchen table. ~ The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

Dear Coppelia, 

Don't worry, I'm not going to propose killing Irene. ~ The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman

SIIIGGHHHH ~ Magical Boy, Vol. 1 by The Kao

Am I even doing this right? ~ Magical Boy, Vol. 2 by The Kao

There are  reasons I hate to drive fast. ~ Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

It rained toads the day the White Council Came to Town. ~ Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

I'm a liar. ~ Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

All that you touch

You change. ~ Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Jacquotte Delahaye was alone. ~ The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron

I sprint down the sidewalk, flying past designer boutiques, luxury shops, and a fancy art gallery. ~ Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

I was not always a liar. ~ The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

STAAAR LIGHT . . . ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 12 by Tatsuyo Endo

A Freya Grove bride was recently stood up by her groom this past weekend. ~ Kiss and Spell by Celestine Martin 

There is a game I like to play on my own. ~ You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

My sister Lacey is a lightning rod for hilarious racist stories. ~ You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

While in prison, I received a dictionary. ~ The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

I don't see her coming.  ~ It's Elementary by Elise Bryant 

The last thing Orion said to me, the absolute bastard, was El, I love you so much. ~ The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

January 3, 1827

Dear Elizabeth, 

You have not been far from my mind today. ~ A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon 

The acrid scent of blood and sweat hit me before I even made it out the door. ~ Enchanting the Alpha by Abby Ryan 

That meeting could've been an e-mail. ~ Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

Why can't you just stop complaining and be happy with what you've got? ~ Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada

I feel so lost and overwhelmed. ~ Everything Is Okay by Debbie Tung

Ten days they'd held me there. ~ Weyward by Emily Hart 

She dreamed of death. ~ Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb

Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass. ~ James by Percival Everett

Charlie, that was only the first bell. ~ Heartstopper, Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman

Sherry Pinkwhistle woke up to the deep silence of snowfall, cozily ensconced in the warmth of her bed and the knowledge that she just solved another murder. ~ The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner

WARNING: You are accessing CLASSIFIED Registry files. ~ Unlocked by Shannon Messenger

The low sweep of the southern horizon was a perfect line, unmarred by even the smudge of horses tossing their heads in the distance. ~ The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Focus. ~ Brooms by Jasmine Walls

It was official. ~ Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

In my hands is power. ~ Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb

Dear Comrade,

We are Cassandra. ~ Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb

I lost my arm on my last trip home. ~ Kindred (Graphic Novel Adaptation) by Octavia Butler,  Damian Duffy, & John Jennings

She holds her hands up as if in prayer, steam evaporating from her skin. ~ The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

I tapped the address in my file with the lid of the pen I'd been chewing on. ~ A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

Secunits don't care about the news. ~ Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

Katherine Harper hurried out of the Legion of Honor as fast as the slippery pavement and limited visibility allowed. ~ The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

It was an ordinary day when Evie met The Villain. ~ Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

When Quinton told us we'd be hiding out somewhere top secret, I pictured an underground bunker way out in the wilderness. ~ Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston

"I really hate these parties." ~ Neon Gods by Katee Robert

The painter stood balanced on the wooden platform, his brush strokes hidden from sight as he brings the goddess to life. ~ The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper

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© 2024, 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: Side Effects

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.  

I am feeling under the weather today and so this will be short. My husband and I went in for our annual flu shots yesterday and they offered to check our blood pressure and give us our COVID vaccines too. And of course I wouldn't be so lucky as to not have side effects from the vaccine. Thank goodness today's book club meeting was via Zoom, so I was still able to attend, but I haven't been good for much else. I have a dentist appointment first thing in the morning tomorrow and am hoping I'll be feeling better by then.

What have you been up to?

I made up for last week and finished four books this week. I finished Weyward by Emilia Hart just in time for today's book club discussion. I had been wanting to read Weyward since it first came out and the book club provided a good excuse to move it up on my to be read pile. It was as good as I hoped it would be. I enjoyed the book club's discussion and insights about the book. I also finished Percival Everett's James, which has gotten a lot of praise since it's release earlier in the year. I am really glad I gave into the peer pressure from some of you and read it.

I decided I needed something a little lighter mixed in with the heavy themes in Weyward and James, so picked up a copy of J.D. Robb's Holiday in Death (In Death #7) to read. I am not sure a book about a serial killer and sex crimes is exactly "lighter" reading, but it served its purpose. I listened to the previous books on audio, and wasn't too surprised it was Susan Ericksen's voice I heard in my head as I read the digital copy of Holiday in Death. I do prefer these books in audio and hope I can find the next one on Hoopla or Cloud Library (which a quick search now tells me no). 

I also read the first volume of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. I loved the first season of the Netflix series and wanted to give the graphic novels it's based on a try. It's such a sweet series and I look forward to reading (and watching) more. 

I am in between books right now and will be picking up this month's TBR winner next.

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List is hosted by Michelle at Because Reading. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile 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 to everyone who voted in this month's TBR List poll!

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner won this month's poll with eight (8) votes. A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara came in second with three (3) votes and An Intrigue of Witches by Esme Addison placed third with two (2) votes. I look forward to starting The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society tonight! 

What are you reading next? 

New to our shelves:

Classic Works of Horror by Edgar Allan Poe (Mouse's TBR addition)

Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment by Jason Schreier (Anjin's TBR addition)

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror by Robert Louis Stevenson (Mouse's TBR addition)

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi (#1) by Shannon  Chakraborty  (my TBR addition)

Heartstopper, Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman (my TBR addition)

The False Prince (Ascendance #1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen  (Mouse's TBR addition)  

Aa Pirate's Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea #2) by Rebecca Thorne (my TBR addition)

Island of Silence (The Unwanteds #2) by Lisa McMann (Mouse's TBR addition)  

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson (Mouse's TBR addition)  

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

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

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© 2024, 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: Reading Less but Still Reading, Book Clubs, & Time for My October TBR List Poll (Please Vote!)

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.  

I am not ready for October, but here it is. The end of September was a difficult one, marking a year since my father-in-law's passing. Work continues to be emotionally exhausting. Gracie gave us a scare for a couple of days. We think now she pulled a muscle in one of her back legs as she was limping badly, was extra quiet, and found a quiet place to hide for much of the time. Just when we decided it was time to call the vet, she was feeling better and is now back to her normal self. In fact, she and Nina were chasing each other all over the house half an hour ago.

October will be a busy month. Mouse has lots of band activities to attend (and I still need to buy tickets to the football game and the Band Extravaganza events. Don't let me forget!). She has her well check up with the doctor and I have a dentist appointment coming up in the next couple weeks. Neither of which are exciting, but things that must be done. 

Recommendation Request: Mouse's interest in mythology (especially Greek, Roman, and Norse) has amped up in recent weeks. If you can think of any books that might interest a 13 year old, fiction and nonfiction, she is open to recommendations. She just asks for nothing with romance (or very little, if any) and not Percy Jackson-like. 

What have you been up to?

Books Read in September

I kicked my September off with an entertaining mystery by Elise Bryant, It's Elementary. It was a funny light mystery with a hint of romance that went in a direction I did not anticipate. Next up was The Golden Enclaves, the third book in Naomi Novik's YA fantasy Scholomance trilogy. While perhaps not my favorite in the series, I found myself quickly immersed in El's world again. I am a huge fan of El, which I know she would not at all be happy to hear.

I took the plunge and took part in a book club hosted by my local independent book store. They have quite a few book clubs (19 adult clubs and 5 youth/children's clubs) and, being the eclectic reader that I am, I find myself drawn to more than I can realistically attend. I decided to start with the Historical Book Club. Amy Harmon's A Girl Called Samson was September's pick and a book I had wanted to read for awhile now. I haven't read too many books set during the American Revolution but I found the story of Deborah Samson, a woman who disguised herself as a soldier to fight in the war, fascinating--even more so because the character is based on the real like Deborah Sam[p]son. My book club had a good discussion about the book and we all agreed we liked the book. I plan to participate in this month's historical book club too where we will be discussing The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas.

Because I got it into my head that I needed to earn ALL the Kindle achievement bookmarks for the summer, I took a chance on a Kindle Vella novel (where authors are given the opportunity to self-publish a novel an episode at a time), choosing to read a paranormal romance called Enchanting the Alpha by Abby Ryan. I do not read a lot of self-published work, admittedly, but I do read (and have enjoyed) some, just not usually unpolished work like this. The premise was good and I liked Skye and Kieren, but I didn't love it. 

My September TBR List Winner, Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca, was just what I hoped it would be. It made for a great romance and the ghostly mystery was an added bonus. I ended the month with the graphic novel, Banned Book Club Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, & Ko Hyung-Ju, set in 1983 South Korea, when students were protesting the totalitarian regime of that time. I may not have read a banned book for National Banned Book Week, but Banned Book Club fit the theme. I know so little about South Korea modern history and found the book eye-opening. 

It's Elementary by Elise Bryant

The Golden Enclaves (Scholomance #3) by Naomi Novik

A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon

Enchanting the Alpha by Abby Ryan

Haunted Ever After (Boneyard Key #1) by Jen DeLuca

Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, & Ko Hyung-Ju

My September 2024 Reading Moods (according to Storygraph)

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

I began reading James by Percival Everett last month in hopes of attending the Black Lit Book Club at the local independent bookstore, but it wasn't meant to be. My reading slowed down considerably last month and hasn't picked up much since. It isn't for lack of enjoyment of what I am reading. It's more a matter of other things getting in the way. I did squeeze in the graphic novel Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung the first day of October. I kept telling my husband, "She totally gets me," and "This is me; she's describing me," just about every page.  

I recently started Weyard by Emilia Hart and am already invested in each of the stories of the three main characters across the different timelines. I have been wanting to read this one since it first came out and was excited to see it would be the Cellar Door Book Club pick this month (yet another book club--yes, I've gone book club crazy). 

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List is hosted by Michelle at Because Reading. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile 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).  

Please help me select my next read! My current reads seem a bit on the more serious side and so I thought I would lighten the mood with one of these three. And they fit with the spirit of the season! Which of these three books do you think I should read? 

An Intrigue of Witches (Secret Society Mystery #1) by Esme Addison

Introducing the Secret Society mystery series, and kick-ass red-headed heroine Sidney, a Black historian poised on the brink of discovering her true past . . . and her hidden witchy powers!

Thirty-year-old Black woman Sidney Taylor is a talented early American historian, working in fast-paced Washington DC, with her eyes on promotion. She’s also currently persona non grata. Who knew that making an inconvenient historical discovery would see her stuck at her desk, shuffling paper?

So when she receives an anonymous and very cryptic invitation to visit historic small-town Robbinsville, North Carolina and hunt for a missing archaeological treasure – with a million-dollar pay out at stake – it’s one she can’t refuse. Besides, her beloved grandmother lives in Robbinsville, and it’s been too long since she’s paid her a visit.

Soon, Sidney's on an exciting treasure hunt, following two-hundred-year-old clues that lead her ever closer to the artefact she’s searching for. But what is the artefact? And why is Sidney starting to feel like she’s at the heart of a terrifying conspiracy she doesn’t understand?

The answer blows Sidney’s world apart, plunging her into a dark, glittering world of secret societies, ancient bloodlines, witches and magic, linked to an ages-old conspiracy that could destroy the very principles upon which America was founded.

This delicious genre-blend of cozy thriller, contemporary fantasy and mystery is National Treasure meets the supernatural treasure hunts of Indiana Jones, with a dash of A Discovery of Witches. [Goodreads Summary]

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer (SCYTHE Mystery #1) by Maxie Dara

Sometimes it takes working with the dead to start living.

Kathy Valence is forty-two, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her ex's baby. She's also a modern-day grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), but frankly that's the easiest part of her life right now. Or at least it was, until her latest client's soul goes missing.

When she finally tracks down seventeen-year-old Conner Ortiz, he angrily denies he died of natural causes, despite what his file says. He insists that someone at S.C.Y.T.H.E. murdered him, and he demands Kathy find out who and why.

Kathy has only forty-five days to figure out what happened to Conner and help him move on before the boy's soul is doomed to roam the Earth as a ghost forever. She’s forced to rely on the help of her retired mentor, her almost ex-husband—and some sneaky moves by Conner himself. This is the wildest case of her career. . .and one wrong move could cost Kathy her job, not to mention her life. [Goodreads Summary]

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner

A librarian with a knack for solving murders realizes there is something decidedly supernatural afoot in her little town in this cozy fantasy mystery.

Librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle keeps finding bodies—and solving murders. But she's concerned by just how many killers she's had to track down in her quaint village. None of her neighbors seem surprised by the rising body count...but Sherry is becoming convinced that whatever has been causing these deaths is unnatural. But when someone close to Sherry ends up dead, and her cat, Lord Thomas Crowell, becomes possessed by what seems to be an ancient demon, Sherry begins to think she’s going to need to become an exorcist as well as an amateur sleuth. With the help of her town's new priest, and an assortment of friends who dub themselves the "Demon-Hunting Society," Sherry will have to solve the murder and get rid of a demon. This riotous mix of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Murder, She Wrote is a lesson for demons and murderers. 

Never mess with a librarian. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting! 

New to my shelves:

Upcoming (over the next couple or so months) book club books:

Kindred (graphic novel) by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings

The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado

Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal

The Temple of Fortuna (Wolf Den Trilogy #3) by Elodie Harper

E-Books:

Fourteen Days edited by Margaret Atwood & Douglas Preston

The House with the Golden Door (Wolf Den Trilogy #2) by Elodie Harper

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

Mouse's recent additions (which I may be borrowing when she's done): 

I Cross-Dressed for the IRL Meetup, Vol. 1-2 by Kurano

Medea by Eilish Quin

The Iliad by Homer, translated by Emily Watson

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

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

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© 2024, 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: A Peek Into James & Other Friday Fun

I had every intention of finishing Percival Everett's James in time for a book club meeting this week, but time got away from me. This work week has left me feeling exhausted and drained, and it doesn't help that I have not been feeling good, health wise. I hope the week has treated you kindly. I look forward to seeing what you have been reading!

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.

 

Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass. The moon was not quite full, but bright, and it was behind them, so I could see them as plain as day, though it was deep night. Lightning bugs flashed against the black canvas. I waited at Miss Watson's kitchen door, rocked a loose step board with my foot, knew she was going to tell me to fix it tomorrow.  [opening of James]

I grew up reading about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn's adventures. I decided against re-reading Mark Twain's classic novels before picking up James though, preferring to let my memories of them remain as they are. Percival Everett opens his novel with a well known scene from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, only this time from Jim's perspective. It's Jim's turn to tell his side of the story, and I am here for it! 

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Our wonderful host Freda of Freda's Voice is on a break, and Anne of My Head is Full of Books  has stepped in to host! 

Deep in the night from deep in the forest, I heard the barking and howling of hounds. I pulled myself into an even tighter ball atop the tree roots that had become my bed. There was a mama raccoon that lived in the tree. She had taken to walking past me nonchalantly in the darkness. Tonight she stayed in the tree, high above me, listening to the dogs. We were both animals and we didn't know which of us was the prey.  [page 92 of James]

I can already tell James will likely be among my favorite books of the year.

James by Percival Everett

A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.

When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

While many narrative set pieces of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light. [Goodreads Summary]

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?

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 hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Do you have a series you've been meaning to finish but haven't? Which one(s) and why? 

I am the queen of starting series. I always mean to get back to them. And sometimes I do. But there are so many. And so many new ones to start. One of my ongoing reading goals it so work my way through the series I am reading. Let's be honest though. It'll take me a lifetime. Probably longer. I am caught up in a few of the series I read, but not most. The list of series I am in the middle of is way too long to post here today, but here are a small few series I have been wanting to finish or catch up with:  

Amari Special Investigations by B.B. Alston

Elemental Magic series by Celestine Martin

Saffron Everleigh series by Kate Khavari

Electra McDonnell series by Ashley Weaver

Below Stairs Mysteries by Jennifer Ashley

Spy x Family by Tatsuyo Endo 

Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs

Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett

Kinsey Millhone Mysteries by Sue Grafton

Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris

Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews

Verity Kent Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber

Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn

Magus of the Library by Mitsu Izumi

The Country Club Murders by Julie Mulhern

Well Met series by Jen DeLuca

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano

The Wayfarers by Becky Chambers

Witch Way Librarian Cozy Mysteries

The Others by Anne Bishop

The Hollows by Kim Harrison

Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews

Deathless trilogy by Namina Forna

Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal

To answer the why of this week's question, all I can say is that each of these series captured my heart, has characters I have enjoyed getting to know, and want to continue to spend time with. Some I am newer to than others, but we have been through a lot together. Some make me laugh, almost all have brought tears to my eyes and kept me up too late at night because I have to know what happens next.

What about you? Are you a series reader? If so, which series are you looking forward to catching up on or completing? Are we reading any of the same series?

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.

With the changing of seasons from summer to fall in September, do you have a favorite book that reflects the essence of this transitional period or one that you enjoy reading when the temperature cools down? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. Although my reading does not always flow with the seasons and the cool temperatures do not hit until about mid-October, this time of year always makes me think of snuggling under a blanket with a book, the smell of cinnamon or wet leaves, and the feel of a chill in the air. It makes me think of Gothic novels, haunted houses, ghosts, witches, and dark academia, whether cozy, romantic, scary, or fantastical. I am not much of a re-reader and so there really isn't one book I return to this time of year. But here are some of my recent favorites that bring to mind this time of year:

The Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

A Deadly Education (The Scholomance Trilogy #1) by Naomi Novik 

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

What about you? Do you have a favorite fall read or a book you would recommend this time of year? 

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

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© 2024 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.