Saturday, April 29, 2017

Sunday Post: April in Review & To Re-Read or Not to Re-Read

April In Review: April was an average reading month for me in terms of numbers, but it was a good month quality wise. I started out the month finishing Juliette Cross's latest, The Black Lily, a dark and fun fantasy romance novel featuring vampires and moved onto the more emotionally charged Etched On Me. I read two mysteries this month, one more of the thriller variety, The Girls Next Door (which was also my April TBR List winner) and a cozy set in England, A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall, which had me laughing out loud more than once. I also read the touching poems of Laura Foley about her father, called WTF: Poems.

My husband did a lot of reading with Mouse in April at her request. She usually gets to stay up a little later when he reads to her--which I think is part of her motivation. The other part being a break from me reading with her, I'm sure.

Solely For Me:
  • The Black Lily by Juliette Cross
  • Etched On Me by Jenn Crowell
  • A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison
  • WTF: Poems by Laura Foley
  • The Girls Next Door by Mel Sherratt

Some of the Books I Read With My Daughter in April (many of which we read over and over and over again. And then again):
  • The Pout-Pout Fish written by Deborah Diesen & Dan Hanna and illustrated by Daniel X. Hanna
  • The Last Day of Kindergarten written by Nancy Loewen & illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
  • Beautiful written by Stacy McAnulty & illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
  • The Littlest Bunny in California: An Easter Adventure written by Lily Jacobs & illustrated by Robert Dunn
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors written by Drew Daywalt & illustrated by Adam Rex
  • Pinkalicious and Aqua, the Mini-Mermaid by Victoria Kann
  • Peppa Pig and the I Love You Game by Neville Astley
  • Wolf! written by Becky Bloom & illustrated by Pascal Biet
  • Pet Parade by Daisy Meadows
  • Footprints in the Snow written by Cynthia Benjamin & Jacqueline Rogers
  • Mittens (My First I Can Read) written by Lola M. Schaefer & Susan Kathleen Hartung
  • Biscuit and the Little Pup written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli & illustrated by Pat Schories
  • Fancy Nancy: Spectacular Spectacles by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser and Ted Enik 
  • Ready for Kindergarten, Stinky Face? written by Lisa McCourt & illustrated by Cyd Moore
  • The Nian Monster written by Andrea Wang & Alina Chau
  • Pinkalicious: School Rules! by Victoria Kann
  • Fancy Nancy written by Jane O'Conner and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
  • Again! by Emily Gravett
  • Pinkalicious and Planet Pink by Victoria Kann
  • Pinkalicious: Pupstastic! by Victoria Kann
  • Pete the Cat: Pete's Big Lunch created by James Dean
  • Pete the Cat: Play Ball! created by James Dean
  • Pete the Cat's Train Trip by James Dean
  • Pete the Cat and the Bad Banana by James Dean
  • Pete the Cat: Snow Daze by James Dean
  • Pete the Cat; Sir Pete the Brave by James Dean
  • Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris by Jane O'Connor

My Favorite Book Read in April: It is a tough choice this month. Etched On Me by Jenn Crowell made quite an impression on me, but, admittedly, I couldn't help but wear my work hat while reading it at times. Still, it's very good, tackling difficult issues, not to mention an inspiring story. The Black Lily, the first in a new series by Juliette Cross though was a book I raced through, hanging on every word. A vampire Cinderella story in a way, but Cross definitely adds her own spin making it very much her own. When all is said and done, I would have to say The Black Lily wins out as my favorite for the month. I hope to have my reviews for both books up for you soon.

Mouse's Favorite Book Read in April: It is a tie between an old favorite, Andrea Wang and Alina Chau's The Nian Monster, and a new favorite, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex. After reading Daywalt's latest book, Mouse and I played several games of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It definitely adds a new dimension to the game. 


New to the Shelves: Saturday, April 29th was Independent Bookstore day, and I couldn't help but drag my family to our local indie store, The Cellar Door. I made sure no one walked out empty handed.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Purchase for Anjin)
Doesn't this look good? I think I want to read it too . . .

Again! by Emily Gravett (purchase for Mouse)
and her new handmade bracelet, which she sweet talked, puppy-dog-eyed her dad to buy her.

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
The Dinner by Herman Koch

A recent e-book purchase from my wish list because it was on sale:

The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky

What I Am Reading: I am in between books at the moment. I am sure I will be starting another one soon, but I am in that "What should I read?!" phase that often leaves me a bit stumped if I don't have a book already lined up to read next. Am I the only one that happens to? I am leaning towards Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hill by Hannah Dennison, but Beartown by Fredrik Backman sounds pretty good too. Or maybe Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjusson. Then there's Holly Jenner's Arena. The problem is too many choices . . .

What I Am Watching: I am all caught up with Blacklist (I think). Somehow my DVR stopped recording the episodes some time ago and I missed four episodes. It was interesting to get more of a back story about Mr. Kaplan, don't you think (for those who watch the show)?

What's Going On Off the Blog: More dental issues. My new permanent crown came out just two weeks after it was put in.  I hope it stays in this time.

I thought I would share a couple of photos from Mouse's Sunday gardening adventure from last weekend. Her plants are still alive, I am happy to say. For now, at least.

 Mouse's Ladybugs

 One of Mouse's plants ready to be planted.

It was your typical week in our household. Work, school, home and what not. Mouse is doing great with her school fundraiser readathon. She may not bring in a lot of money, but she's putting in a lot of reading time. As of right now, she's the top reader of all the Kindergartners in her school. The readathon ends on the 1st of May. Mouse still doesn't think she's a very good reader, but her confidence is definitely building. She bragged to a shop owner today that she can read Green and Eggs and Ham all by herself, but sadly not the Harry Potter books.

After soccer today, we spent some time in the library and came home with a stack of books. As I mentioned earlier, while out and about, we also stopped in at a local independent bookstore. We, of course, didn't come out empty-handed. I refrained from buying some of the independent bookstore day merchandise, but it was tempting. Mouse handed her dad a nicely packaged little square and asked him what it was. He quickly took it from her and put it back in the where she'd found it. I'm pretty sure he lied about what exactly it was (I was in line waiting to buy our books, and so was standing too far away to hear). It's one of those moments in which Anjin and I will be laughing about for years to come, no doubt.

Searching for a book

Gracie checking out Mouse's toys

This Week In Reading Mews:

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


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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.

How many books have you re-read? If you have re-read books, please tell us the book's title and why you re-read it.
Does this include children's books? Because if it does, I cannot even begin to list the titles of all the books I have re-read in the last few years since my daughter's birth. Nor could I tell you how many times I have read them. A zillion each, some of them.

I rarely re-read books for my own reading pleasure. So many books I haven't yet read I want to read is my usual excuse. It is not that I am opposed to re-reading. Because I am definitely not. One of my reasons for keeping a book after I have read it is because I want to re-read it. Someday. Ones I do not see myself reading, I give away.

The small few books I have re-read for my own pleasure include Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Girl From the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The Girl From the Limberlost was a childhood favorite I could not get enough of. I've been considering re-reading it again now as an adult to see if it still holds the same magic. At the same time, I worry that it won't. Pride and Prejudice I thought was rather dull upon the first reading in college, but many years later I loved it when I read it again--the second reading because I wondered if perhaps I missed something the first time around. Age, in this case, did make a difference. It's one of my favorite classics now.  I loved Jane Eyre from the first moment I read it in high school. It was required reading. I fell in love with it again in college when it was required reading again. And I still love it--re-reading it for my own pleasure from time to time.

I listened to Naked In Death by J.D. Robb and liked it much better than I did when I read the print version years ago. It was one of those books I decided to revisit because it seemed everyone else loves the series, and I started to wonder if maybe I hadn't given it a fair shake. I did listen to Jim Butcher's Storm Front years after reading the book in print. I actually have a number of books in audio version that I read in print at one time or another. I am probably more likely to listen to a book I have read in print than I am to re-read these days. However, I am not a big audiobook listener, and so it's hard to say when I will get around to re-visiting a book that way either.


What about you? Do you re-read books? What are some of your favorites to re-read?
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I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!




The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to 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. 

© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

50 comments:

  1. Glad it was a good reading month! I always like it when a book makes me laugh, even if it's a serious book or a thriller if they can inject humor into it too that's a good thing. :)

    Hope you like The Immortals! I've always liked that cover... and I just read Gone Without A Trace last week. I liked it, probably a 3 star, but the twist is pretty good. :)

    Indie bookstores are the best!

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    1. Greg - I like it when books make me laugh too. :-) I hope I like The Immortals too! Gone Without a Trace seems to be getting mixed reviews, but I can't resist the premise.

      Thanks for stopping by, Greg!

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  2. That's sweet she wants her dad to read to her, even if partly due to ulterior motives. lol. That's funny about the "package" she found at the store. :D Enjoy your books and have a great week.

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    1. Christy - She and her dad have a good relationship. :-) I am still laughing about that "package" she picked up. So funny!

      I hope you enjoy your week too, Christy! Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. I think that quality in reading is much more important than quantity. Here's hoping you enjoy May more.

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    1. Emma - I think so too. :-) Here's to a great month of May for reading! Thanks for stopping by, Emma.

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  4. I hope your crown stays in for good!

    And I'm actually quite a big re-reader, even though my TBR list grows much faster than I can keep up with xp But sometimes, the urge to return to a favourite story is way too strong (and this is why I can't throw books out...)

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    1. Eustacia - I sure hope so too! Thank you.

      I find it hard to give books away too. I want to re-read so many of them someday. LOL

      Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  5. I loved The Handmaid's Tale, and it was one I've re-read.

    Mostly I re-read books during my childhood, probably because I did not have access to a lot of books like I do now. But some were memorable, like Anne of Green Gables and The Girl from the Limberlost. I had forgotten about the latter book until I saw your mention of it.

    I also re-read Little Women and Gone with the Wind.

    Enjoy your week, and thanks for sharing. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I was thinking of getting the audio version of The Handmaid's Tale and listening to it the next time around. It's definitely one I can see re-visiting someday.

      I still haven't read the Anne of Green Gables books. One of these days. :-)

      I hope you have a great week, Laurel-Rain. Thank you for visiting!

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  6. I dont often reread. When I do, its usually via an audiobook. I agree with you-I have so many books I WANT to read, I don't have time for a lot of rereads. But, rereading a fav has helped break me out of a book funk.
    Have a great week!

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    1. Samantha - I have a feeling re-visiting books through audio will be more my go to re-reading method than reading the print versions--the more I listen to audiobooks. I've never really used re-reading a book to get out of a slump. I do turn to favorite authors though . . .

      I hope you have a great week too! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Seeing that picture of Mouse looking through those books makes my heart sing! Congratulate her on doing such a great job with her reading!

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    1. Kathy - I love to see her so into books. :-) She says thank you for the congratulations. Hopefully we can keep this up even without the school's readathon. Haha

      Thank for for visiting, Kathy!

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  8. I reread less and less, these days. I used to reread "comfort" books frequently, including Anne of Green Gables. :) Windy Poplars was my favorite.

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    1. Jenclair - Someday I will read the Anne of Green Gables books for the first time!

      Thanks for visiting, Jenclair!

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  9. It was a great reading month - you had some cracking books in there, Wendy, with The Handmaid's Tale and Uprooted. It's lovely when you have a little one to read to - I'm very lucky to still have a chance to still read to the grandchildren. Mouse seems to be going from strength to strength... Have a great week. My Sunday Post -
    https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2017/04/30/sunday-post-30th-april-2017/

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    1. Sarah - I enjoyed quite a few of the books I read--and even have a couple new favorite children's books! I think it's wonderful that you are able to read with your grandchildren. I know my mom and in-laws wish they could read more often with Mouse than they are able to.

      I hope you have a great week too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. That does sound like a good reading month! I want to add Ink and Bone and The Immortals to my TBR. And yes, I so agree about Mr Kaplan! I've been on the fence about the direction Blacklist is taking but that was a good episode!

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    1. Melissa - Now you have me wanting to read Ink and Bone or The Immortals now. LOL I really must decide soon or I'll go the entire day without reading. :-(

      I have been on the fence about the direction the show has been going too, admittedly. I even considered not watching anymore.

      I hope you have a great week, Melissa. Thank you for visiting!

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  11. Great reading month. Enjoy Ink and Bone! You made me giggle about the read over and over again. Between that and movies I can quote things my granddaughter loves. Have a great week!

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    1. Kim - Thank you! I have heard such good things about Ink and Bone. I can't wait to read it! Maybe that should be my next read. :-)

      We do a lot of re-reading in my house when it comes to children's books. If you get a chance, check out the book Again! It appealed to both my daughter and I--her for wanting me to re-read a book again--and me for understanding a demanding child who wants me re-read the same book over and over again. LOL

      I hope you have a great week too. Thanks for visiting, Kim!

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  12. I think children's books would throw us all way OVER the top. :) So...let's say no. :)

    Good choices to re-read. I am so enjoying the answers to this question this week. I have found half of the bloggers re-read and half do not. I am in the DO NOT re-read group.

    Thanks for sharing, and I hope you are having a good day.

    Happy Hopping!!

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog Hop Answer

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    1. Elizabeth - Yes, they would! I've been adding children's books to my Goodreads feed this year and it's thrown my stats way off balance. I haven't been recording the re-reading we've done, but the first time we've read each book. So it's a terrible account of what I've actually read. Kind of defeats the purpose of why I was using Goodreads in the first place--to track what I read throughout the year.

      I hope you have a great week, Elizabeth. Thank you for stopping by!

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    2. Whatever works for you is what I say. :)

      Can you make two tracking accounts? That might work.



      Delete
    3. Elizabeth - That's not a bad idea! I could try that. Thanks for the idea!

      Delete
    4. You are welcome.

      I don't know how to do that, though, but I am sure it is possible.

      Delete
  13. Nice, I've also got Locke, but I haven't got round to it yet. I bought it pretty much not knowing what it's about though, it's just that I've heard positive things about it.
    The Dinner is on my TBR as well, but I don't have it yet.
    As for rereading, I remember I used to rereat before Goodreads. Then I didn't, and I guess when I figured there are so many books anyway, I just want to read THEM ALL, right... Rereads can't really work with that goal so much :) but that said! There is a book I've read like 8 times. It was just special...

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    1. Evelina - My husband started reading it this morning and is enjoying it so far. Although he isn't too far in. I've heard good things about The Dinner and heard it was going to be a movie, so figured I should go ahead and get myself a copy. :-)

      That's how I feel too! I want to read ALL the books--and re-reading takes time away from that goal. LOL

      Which book have you re-read so often? Inquiring minds want to know! :-)

      Thanks for visiting, Evelina!

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  14. LOVE Again! and especially the pic of a child searching for a book :D She's precious!

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    1. Donna Marie - Again! is such a fun book. We are big fans of it here. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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    1. Ronyell - Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading them. :-) Thanks for stopping by.

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  16. It was a great reading month. Hard to believe that it is May already. Like the Mr. Kaplan story line and wonder where it is going.

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    1. Nise' - I can't believe May is here either. It seems to have sneaked up on me. I am glad to see the Mr. Kaplan story line pick up again. I wasn't sure where it was going either. The show has always been a bit dark, but it seems to have gotten way darker.

      Thanks for visiting, Nise'!

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  17. Harry Potter and Pride & Prejudice are my favorite rereads.

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    1. Chrissy - I would like to re-read the Harry Potter books someday. :-) Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. Don't you love it when our children rummage the shelves in search of some books to read? :) It's especially good to hear them say: "Mom, there's no more books to read. I need new books!" :D

    You've a lovely haul of books there, Wendy! Hope you enjoy them all!

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    1. Melody - I do love it. :-) I like to see which books she will choose!

      Thank you, Melody! I hope you have a great week.

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  19. I love that your daughter is a reader. I tried so hard with both of my kids but my husband is not a reader and I feel like that had everything to do with them shunning books. Seriously! It kills me! That, and reading logs in school. My son is now starting read more in college (because he has to) but I can tell that he's not despising it as much as he used to. My daughter read 13 Reasons Why for school and loved it. Immediately saw the series which even she admitted was a little too much for her. She has to fast forward through two scenes. But I've since recommended similar books and she is a big NO on them. I try. LOL.

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    1. Ti - I hope she stays a reader. Sometimes I wonder if she likes reading just because I do and she likes to make me happy. She already has to keep a journal of her reading and hates it. She purposefully will look for books with short titles so she won't have to write a long title out for her log. As it is, we don't log every book she reads. I'm happy she is willing to write one or two down!

      Thanks for visiting, Ti!

      Delete
  20. I was very glad to see that you enjoyed reading a vamp romance so much that you considered it your favorite book of the month!! YAAAAY!! I have just added "The Black Lily" to my Goodreads shelves, and hope to snap it up soon!!

    You and Mouse sure read a LOT of books in April!! And how nice that she did some reading with her dad, as well! Parents can have a HUGE influence on kids when it comes to reading. Sometimes this influence doesn't "take", but frequently it does. And how WONDERFUL that Mouse is the BEST reader in her kindergarten class!!! CONGRATN TO ALL OF YOU!!!! WOOT, WOOT!!!! <3 <3 <3

    SO happy to see that you've purchased "Ink and Bone", together with "Shadow and Bone". I've read the second one, and let me tell you, you will LOVE the world of the Grisha!! I really need to get the other books in this trilogy under my belt!

    Like you, I'm not a huge re-reader, either. However, I do have favorite books, as you know from my BBH answer, that I LOVE so much I have re-read them, and want to read again in the future. "Jane Eyre" is DEFINITELY one of these!! I don't think I'll EVER get tired of this novel! Of course, The Twilight Saga is a series I ADORE, so I will probably read it again in the future. I forgot to mention in my post that I have also listened to all 4 audio books, too!!

    Another thing I didn't mention in my post was that I've re-read the first 3 books of the Harry Potter series twice. I just didn't want to make the post too long, lol. Of course, I also want to re-read the rest of the series!

    I've never heard of "The Girl From The Limberlost", so will have to check it out on Goodreads. As for Jim Butcher, I've heard that his books are AWESOME, so I'll DEFINITELY look into them further, as well. And J.D. Robb, aka Nora Roberts, is supposed to have some GREAT mysteries. I do prefer her romance novels, but "Naked In Death" has garnered some rave review, so that's another one for me to check out!

    Thanks for sharing all of your bookish and non-bookish news, Wendy!! And thanks as well for commenting on my own BBH post!! Hope you and the gang are having a WONDERFUL week!!! And the kitties, too!! HUGS TO YOU & MOUSE!!!! <3 <3 :) :)

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    1. Maria - I really liked the main character of The Black Lily. It is a promising start to a new series. I admit I'm not a huge fan of vampire romance. I much prefer shapeshifters. Or witches and wizards would be even better. But we all have our preferences. :-)

      I'm looking forward to reading Shadow and Bone. I have been wanting to read Six of Crows, but hadn't realized it was part of the same world. I know it's a different series, but I decided I might as well start with the first book set in that same world. I'm glad to hear you like the series!

      I hope you had a great week, Maria! Thanks for your great comment and for visitng.

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    2. You're VERY welcome, Wendy! Oh, I happen to own "Six of Crows", yet, had NO idea that this novel was set in the Grisha world, too! Gosh, I REALLY have to catch up now!! Lol. Thanks for the info.!! <3 <3 :) :)

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  21. Pete the Cat seems to be pretty popular with Mouse, too. That is too funny about the condom. My college age son and I had a good a good laugh a while ago when he was telling about how he remembered I would blow up a balloon sometimes on weekend mornings to keep him entertained, so his father and I could hang out in bed a little bit longer, and then how he was appalled as a teenager when he realized the balloons I used to take out of the "neatly packaged little squares" were not balloons at all, ha ha!

    I hope you enjoy Shadow and Bone. I loved the first two books, but I haven't read Ruin abd Rising yet because I was spoiled the day after it pubbed, for the big spoiler, and I lost interest at that time. I have R&R on my bookshelf, so I will get to it eventually. I hope you are having a good week. :)

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    1. La La - Most of the Pete the Cat books were gifts. Funny enough, they were the only books in her recent Scholastic Catalog she didn't circle and tell me she wanted. I think she's tired of Pete the Cat. LOL

      That's too funny about the balloon condoms!

      I am looking forward to giving Shadow and Bone a try!

      Thank you for visiting!

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  22. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog hop. 😊

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  23. April was my best reading month, in terms of numbers. I also enjoyed all the books I read (except my audios, them not so much...at all). I keep a selection of books up in the carousel on my Kindle, so when I finish a book I have several on hand right off that I wanted to read next. If physical books, you can keep a small stack to choose from set aside. What a great literary week you guys have had! I would think they would have the condom-laden books separate from where Mouse would be searching? lol I remember the first time I saw one - a ton of them in my uncle's suitcase after unpacking. He zipped it up super quick! I was older than mouse, but years later I realized what it was!

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    1. Charlie - I am glad April was such a good reading month for you! :-) I have several books on my Kindle's carousel too--and on my TBR bookshelf--but it doesn't do me any good sometimes. There are times when nothing on either of those shelves sound good to me when it's time to actually read them in that moment.

      The bookstore is rather small and they only had the one display table for Independent Bookstore specific merchandise. To be fair to the store staff, the basket of condoms was sort of hidden and to the center of the table so not in easy reach to the youngest curious children, perhaps, But leave it to my daughter to want to check everything out. LOL

      Thanks for dropping by, Charlie!

      Delete

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