Sunday, June 16, 2024

Weekly Mews: Middle of June Check-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.  



This is just a quick check in to let you know what I have been up to this past week and to see how you are doing. My agency has started back up the big in-person supervisor quarterly meetings, the first of which was this past week. There were a lot of new faces among the attendees. I think the last all-agency supervisor meeting we had like that was pre-pandemic. Mouse is enjoying her summer break so far. It isn't packed with activities like it has been in the past, and she's enjoying the extra downtime. Her Girl Scout Troop had their last meeting of the season, celebrating with a potluck. They are looking forward to a summer visit to Knott's Berry Farm this next month. 

Happy Father's Day to all the father's and father figures out there! We are celebrating my husband today. He's such a great dad to Mouse. We feel very lucky to have him in our lives!

Stretchy Nina
 
What have you been up to this week? 

This past week I read Locked in Pursuit (Electra McDonnell #4) by Ashley Weaver, a historical mystery set during World War II London. It's always fun to spend time with Ellie and Major Ramsey, and this latest installment in the series did not disappoint. I also finished Don't Look Now & Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier. This was a haunting collection of stories, and I am hard pressed to pick a favorite from the bunch. I am looking forward to trying her full length novels next. Thank you again to all who voted in my TBR List Poll for June. This month's selection was Murder Road by Simone St. James, which I enjoyed immensely. You can read my thoughts on it here.


My husband pointed out the other day that I was reading two books with the word "demon" in the titles. I hadn't noticed! However, once I knew I couldn't leave it at just two and decided to start a third (which I will likely finish before the other two because of the length and type of book it is). It takes at least three to make a pattern in a theme, after all. My current slow read (slow meaning I am stretching it out, reading a chapter or so  day over the next couple months) is Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead. Right from the start I saw the similarities to David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, which I read earlier this spring. I think I am really going to like this. I also decided it was time to jump back into Kim Harrison's urban fantasy series which I have been neglecting. I am about a quarter of the way into American Demon (Hollows, #14) now. I also am reading the young adult manga series Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun, Vol. 1 by Osamu Nishi. My daughter got me hooked on the anime series and offered to loan me the manga series (at least those books she has). Okay, so I may have begged her if I could read them. I thought now would be the perfect time to start. 


What are you reading at the moment? Have you read anything recently you would recommend? 

New to my shelves:

Friday I asked my daughter if she wanted to go out for frozen yogurt after I got off work. She asked to go to the bookstore instead. I hadn't intended to go after having gone twice the week before, much less spend money on new books, but these things never seem to go as expected.
James by Percival Everett
The Wren in the Library by K.A. Linde
The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

Mouse had a gift card to spend and came home with these books (I may have to borrow a couple of them): 
Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke
Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising #1) by Susan Cooper

Cat + Gamer, Vol. 1 by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson
Alpi the Soul Sender, Vol. 1 by Rona


I discovered gift cards in an old card I received from 2022 recently and decided to spend it on a books that were on sale and a few others on my wish list:

Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance #1) by N.K. Jemisin
Ebony Gate (Phoenix Hoard #1) by Julia Vee an Ken Bebelle
Witch King (The Rising World #1) by Martha Wells
I'm Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel
Murder Knocks Twice (Speakeasy Mystery #1) by Susanna Calkins
The Angel Makers (Constance Piper Mystery #2) by Tessa Harris

The Library by Bella Osborne
Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries #1-12 by Danielle Garrett
Bearly Departed (A Teddy Bear Mystery #1) by Meg Macy

Have you read any of these books or authors? If so, what did you think? What books did you purchase or borrow this past week?


Yesterday my family and I went to see the musical Mrs. Doubtfire at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. It was funny, sweet and very well done. I think we were all a little unsure going in, not knowing much about the musical (although Anjin and I have both seen the movie with Robin Williams and Sally Field so we knew the story). Rob McClure made the perfect Daniel (aka Mrs. Doubtfire) and  Maggie Lakis was the perfect Miranda, the ex-wife. I was very impressed with Giselle Gutierrez's performance as Lydia, the oldest daughter. She has such a beautiful voice. Nik Alexander and Aaron Kaburick were adorable and funny. It was such a fun show. It was a great way to celebrate Father's Day weekend.

Our watching of Doctor Who continues and we are enjoying the Jodie Whittaker seasons. We just finished season 12, I believe. I love her three companions and will be sad when their time on the show comes to an end. 

What have you been watching lately?

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

© 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.

36 comments:

  1. Maybe that’s a fad in naming books. Last week I read “The Demon of Unrest” by Erik Larson — a history book about the beginning of the Civil War.
    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Mae - I've heard of Larson's book and hope you enjoyed it. I think it's one my father would have liked if he were still alive. He was really into Civil War history. Thank you for visiting!

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  2. Mrs. Doubtfire is one of my favorite movies. I'm glad the musical was fun!

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    1. Diana - It is a great movie. We all loved the musical. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. My husband did a slow-read of Demon Copperhead, too. He didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did reading it at a normal speed. Ha!

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    1. Anne - I am taking Demon Copperhead at the same pace I took David Copperfield, which worked well for me. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. You did well, stocking up for summer! Cat + Gamer looks especially fun. That magic series should take some time.

    I don't know why, but I love to read books with a theme, so I can see why you felt like you needed a third demon book. lol

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    1. Deb - I'm hoping my daughter will let me borrow Cat + Gamer. She seemed surprised I was interested in reading it. The cat on the cover and in the title should have been a give away. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. I enjoyed The Witch King, though not a much as Wells' other books, the Murderbot novels and her fabulous Il-Rien series, which blew me away. I loved A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and the rest of the series and I'm also working my way through the Beechwood Murder Mystery series and thoroughly enjoying it. Have a great week, Wendy:).

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    1. Sarah - I really enjoyed the first Murderbot Diaries book and look forward to reading more. My brother-in-law really enjoyed A Hundred Kingdoms and I am looking forward to giving it a try. I am glad you are enjoying the Beechwood Murder Mystery books. They sound like fun. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  6. I was disappointed in Witch King because it ended in a cliff hanger, but Murder Bot is an absolute favorite. Love NK Jemisin, too!

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    1. Jenclair - I don't mind cliffhangers if I am prepared for them or have the next book waiting in the wings. I kind of expect them with certain types of books. I look forward to trying NK Jemisin. I think I have the first book in all her series now. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. Sounds like you're having a lot of fun this summer! And I really loved Bella Osborne's The Library. Such a heartwarming story. :D

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    1. Lark - It's been a good start to the summer. :-) I am looking forward to reading The Library! Thank you for visiting!

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  8. Wow! What a great bookstore haul. I have American Demon on my stack too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - I really enjoy the Hollows series. Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. You are picking up some great books! I look forward to your thoughts on them. So glad Mouse can have the downtime. Adults don't get much downtime.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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    1. Anne - Thank you! I am looking forward to reading them. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  10. What a fantastic discovery. Happy reading.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  11. Mrs Doubtfire was such a wonderful film! I’d love to see on stage too. Have a great week!

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    1. Jodie - The stage production was so good! I am glad we got a chance to see it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. I left Who several seasons ago, but then I was such a Tennant fan lol.
    Awww kitty

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    1. Blodeuedd - Tennant is probably my favorite Doctor, but I have enjoy them all so far. I am looking forward to catching the new Doctor. We're almost there! Thank you for visiting!

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  13. Nina looks cozy. Glad Mouse is enjoying her summer break. lol about the demon titles, I've wanted to read Demon Copperhead for a while. I can never say no to a trip to the bookstore or the craft store. And that musical looks fun!

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    1. Naida - She likes to stretch out. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. Love the stretchy picture of the kitty! That's a lot of lovely books read this month so far!
    ~Julie @ Chapter Break

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    1. Julie - It's so funny watching her get in that position. LOL Thank you for visiting!

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  15. I also just got a copy of James and am really looking forward to reading it. I never read Huckleberry Finn so hope I get enough of the references.

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    1. Helen - I hope we both enjoy James when we read it. I read Huckleberry Finn in high school--which was a very long time ago. Hopefully I get the references too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. Glad you enjoyed Mrs. Doubtfire! My dilute tortie stretches like that sometimes. LOL! :-)

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    1. Meezan - I love our stretchy kitties. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  17. Too funny about the demon books! I'm really looking forward to reading Murder Road and I'm curious about the short story collection. I've read another short story collection by Du Maurier and really enjoyed it. Mouse has good taste in wanting to go to the bookstore and I'm glad to hear she's enjoying her summer break!

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    1. Katherine - I hope you enjoy Murder Road when you read it. I really enjoyed Don't Look Now. There wasn't a story I didn't like in the collection. Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. A theater version of Mrs. Doubtfire seems like it would be a lot of fun. I really liked the movie (all the changing of clothes would be hilarious). I have a copy of James too ... but let's see when I pick it up. I hope Mouse enjoys the log ride at Knot's Berry Farm ... we had a funny picture taken of that ride many years ago ... with everyone about to get splashed .... it still hangs decades later. The faces in the pic are really a hoot.

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    1. Susan - They did a good job with the costume switches on stage. :-) It was such a good show. The log ride is one of our favorites at Knott's Berry Farm. Last summer when she was there, she discovered she liked some of the other rollercoasters too and is looking forward to going on a few with her friends. Thank you for visiting!

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