Regular readers may remember this post, where I shared my dreams of having a bookcase with a ladder. Well, I've got the bookcase part sorted, but I'm having to use a step stool to reach the high shelves. Would you like to see? Of course you would! These were custom-made and fitted for me by … Continue reading My Personal Library
The Chills at Will Podcast
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of talking to Pete Riehl for his Chills at Will podcast. I had a blast talking about reading, writing, self care, and tons of other stuff. Take a listen, let me know what you think! And a note, I mistakenly said Samanta Schweblin is Spanish, when she is, … Continue reading The Chills at Will Podcast
Book Review – A Touch of Jen, by Beth Morgan (Little, Brown & Company)
I almost don’t want to give anything away about A Touch of Jen, the explosive debut novel from Beth Morgan. My advice to those who have not read it is to stop reading this review right now, avoid reading any plot descriptions, and just start reading the book. I’ve said this before, but I’m a … Continue reading Book Review – A Touch of Jen, by Beth Morgan (Little, Brown & Company)
May 2021 Round-Up
Here’s the list, with a quick five-word summary: Because of You - Dawn French (Penguin) - Funny, entertaining, French is wonderful.Vulnerability is My Superpower - Jackie E. Davis (Andrews McMeel) - Honest, beautifully insightful, colorful comics.Piranesi - Susanna Clark (Bloomsbury) - Cosmic madness in Manchester, maybe?Two Besides: A Pair of Talking Heads - Alan Bennett … Continue reading May 2021 Round-Up
April 2021 Round-Up and May Reads
April Reads Well, suppose I’d better get my April round-up done before June comes along. Here’s the run-down: Parable of the Sower - Octavia Butler (Grand Central Publishing)Near the Bone - Christina Henry (Berkley Publishing)Folklore - Angela Mi Young Hur (Erewhon)Chouette - Claire Oshetsky (Ecco)Jews Don’t Count - David Baddiel (TLS Books)Sometimes Amazing Things Happen - Elizabeth Ford … Continue reading April 2021 Round-Up and May Reads
Where To Read Amazing Short Stories
I'm approaching the three-year anniversary of starting my habit of reading a short story every day. I've read over 1000 stories. To be honest, I don't manage to read one absolutely every day; I don't treat it like homework. There are days when I'm just not feeling it, or I'm engrossed in a novel. I … Continue reading Where To Read Amazing Short Stories
Beware the reading slump…
March has been rough. My brain flat-out gave up, and refused to participate. I found reading extremely difficult because I couldn’t focus. Maybe it was because it had been a year since the COVID crisis really blew up in Los Angeles, and I subconsciously wanted to mark the occasion with a bout of mental stillness? … Continue reading Beware the reading slump…
February 2021 Reading Round-Up
If you’re just interested in the list, let’s kick off with that. The Atmospherians, by Alex McElroy (Atria Books, released May 18, 2021)Happening, by Annie Ernaux (Seven Stories Press)Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson (Persephone Books)The Voice in my Ear, by Frances Leviston (Jonathan Cape)The Twisted Ones, by T. Kingfisher (Simon & … Continue reading February 2021 Reading Round-Up
My 2021 Book Picks
Well, this is all very exciting, isn't it? New page design, new domain name, same bookish content! Welcome, if we've never met before. Lovely to meet you. Let's get right to it. I spent a lot of 2020 reading, in order to block out the nonsense. And given how the first week of January is … Continue reading My 2021 Book Picks
More Reading Ramblings
Since my last update, I finished The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher, and I absolutely loved it. It was genuinely terrifying; Kingfisher has a great line in creating incredibly disturbing images. My full review can be found on Goodreads, but to summarize, The Hollow Places is one of the scariest and funniest books I’ve ever read. … Continue reading More Reading Ramblings
California Reading 