Weekly Mewsings: Wrapping Up May

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 got away from me and here comes June! Too many days of nonstop work and end of the school year activities for Mouse, plus I have been a bit under the weather. I will be taking an official blogging break during the month of June, but first, I wanted to share my May wrap up.

Books Read in May

I read a good mix of books in May and overall am happy with what I read. 

Among my May reading, were book club reads. There is nothing like a deadline to motivate me to choose an audiobook over reading the print version. And this month, three of five of my book club reads were audio versions. 

This Could be Us (Skyland #2) by Kennedy Ryan, narrated by Inés del Castillo and Jakobi Diem, was not only a great read but the choice of narrators was perfect. More often than not, I pick up a rom-com, paranormal romance, and maybe even a historical romance when I am in the mood for romance. I likely would not have tried this series (with its heavier themes and family drama involving children) had it not been for the Diverse Romance book club. Kennedy Ryan yet again demonstrates compassion and sensitivity to her subject matter and I love her characters and the theme of self-empowerment.

My Mystery book club read Norwegian by Night (Sigrid Ødegård #1) by Derek B. Miller, narrated by Sean Mangan, and we had a great discussion about its themes, especially about the lasting impact of war on people as well as views and treatment of immigrants across the globe. The main protagonist was a curmudgeonly American war vet now living with his granddaughter and her husband in Norway. I confess I liked the police inspector trying to find him and the boy along with the killer a bit more than I did him. Feelings were mixed about the book, with me falling in the middle. I do wonder if I would have enjoyed the book more had I read the print version rather than the audiobook. 

I listened to the audiobook Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Sarah Skaer, narrated by Lin King, for my Historical Fiction book club. This is one I definitely recommend you read in print rather than audio. The concept behind this translated work is a creative one--written as if it is a translated memoir by a Japanese woman in Taiwan in 1938. The author carries it over into  the "afterwards" written by fictional translators which I thought was a nice touch. Unfortunately, my audiobook didn't include those, and so it was lucky I had the print version to fall back on. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and food--lots and lots of food!--may enjoy this one. 

I was not able to finish Paul Murray's The Bee Sting in time for my book club meeting, but I still attended and enjoyed the discussion and then went on to finish it after. This is a terribly sad book, heavy in subject matter, with flawed characters who are facing difficult times. The writing and character development were among the strengths of this literary novel, following the four characters of a family in turmoil. Each character has a very distinct voice. Book club members had different takes on the ending, some feeling it was ambiguous and others saying it was quite clear. Although the novel is set in rural Ireland, it felt like could have been set in certain parts of rural America.

I did not expect to be able to attend the Science Fiction/Fantasy book club in May, but it turned out the band concert my daughter was attending of the local high school band turned into an after school field trip, and so she was able to go with her classmates and I was free to attend my book club. My husband did end up going and chaperoning the event. For this club, I read my husband's copy of The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke. It had been too long since I read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by the same author, which I really liked, and so it took me a moment to settle into the story featuring Jonathan Strange (he plays only a minor role). These fairytale like stories are written in much the same vein as Susanna Clarke's first novel. As with every collection, some stories are better than others, but I enjoyed this collection quite a bit. 

I had the opportunity to meet author Rebecca Thorne in April at the L.A. Times Festival of Books and she signed my copy of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea #1). This sapphic cozy fantasy novel was just what I needed. A mage and a former queen's guard runaway together to open a tea and book shop in a out of the way mountain town. I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters, but it was the side characters that stood out the most for me. Most of all, I loved the setting--the town and its surroundings as well as the tea and book shop itself. And dragons! There's a bit of mystery and occasional tension. This one leans heavy on cozy and was an enjoyable escape. 

In April I read Bless Your Heart, which I enjoyed and decided to pick up the second book in the series, Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan, in May. I liked Another Fine Mess even more than the first book. Lindy Ryan blends the humor and horror together well. This family of women who own a mortuary have many secrets, including ones they keep from each other. Dark and funny with a dose of sentimentality thrown in, this made for an entertaining read.

Jesse Q. Sutanto has become an auto-read author for me and her character Vera Wong is one of my favorites, so of course I wanted to read Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) (Vera Wong #2). I just love Vera and the way her son and found family are always there for her. Vera has a knack for drawing people in and being there when they need her most. There were many funny and sweet moments throughout the novel. This one had a much darker story at its core but it is still a fairly light read. Others have mentioned liking the first book more than this second one, and I have to agree--but I still really enjoyed this one. 

Thank you to everyone who voted in my May TBR List Poll! I enjoyed the month's winner We'll Prescribe You a Cat (#1) by Syou Ishida, translated by Madison Shimoda, which is made up of interconnected stories about the people who visit a clinic seeking mental health type services (most of them, anyway). They all are surprised when the doctor prescribes them a cat, just as the title says. Not all is as it seems in regards to the clinic and its staff, and the reader learns a bit more about that mystery with each story. The stories are simple and straight forward but heartwarming. That's part of their charm. 

So, overall a good reading month! 

Format pie chart from Storygraph

In May, it was an even split between all three book formats--and it wasn't even planned! 

Rating Scale: 5 Paws=Outstanding; 4 Paws=Very Good; 3 Paws=Good; 2 Paws=Okay; 1 Paw=Didn't Like

My highest rating this month was 4.5 while my lowest was 3.5. That's not bad at all, I would say! Nothing fell below my good rating. My highest rated book in May was This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan. I listened to the audio version and, while it did not earn the 5 paws its prequel received, it came close. I am fast becoming a fan of Kennedy Ryan's writing and storytelling abilities, not to mention how well fleshed out her characters are.

My June 2025 Reading Moods (according to Storygraph)

What was your favorite book read in May? Have you made progress with your reading challenges? Did you have a good reading month?

I am currently reading Religion in the Lands That Became America by Thomas A. Tweed, a history spanning from the Ice Age to today, for the nonfiction reading challenge. And I just started One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell #5) by Ashley Weaver, the final book in a historical mystery series I adore. 

June's Book Club Reads:

The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole (Fiction Book Club)

After Hours on Milagro Street (#1) by Angelina M. Lopez  (Diverse Romance Book Club)

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron (Historical Fiction Book Club)

Little Thieves (#1) by Margaret Owen (Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club)

I hope to read all four of these book club reads in June, although I will only be able to attend three of the meetings. The Ballad of Jaquotte Delahaye will be a re-read for me. I read it for the first time last year and enjoyed it. 

What are you reading right now?

Where I share what everyone else in my family is reading

~ Mouse's Current Reads ~

Along with a tall stack of manga, Mouse is currently reading Disney Twisted-Wonderland: Rose-Red Tyrant by Jun Hioki and Yana Toboso. She recently finished reading The False Prince (Ascendance #1)  Jennifer A. Nielsen. She gives is 4 stars.

~ Anjin's Current Reads ~

Anjin recently read Astro City Metrobook 1 by Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Alex Ross and The Black Company by Glen Cook, and is currently reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

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

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz, who shares three good things in her Sunday Salon posts, I thought I would try to do the same. With all the worries and stressors in life, I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1 & 2. Mouse and her fellow eighth graders in the middle school band performed together for the last time at their promotion ceremony this past Friday. It was a nice ceremony and a beautiful morning even if an extra warm one. It ended up being 100F that day, so I'm glad the ceremony was held early! The week before was the award ceremony. Mouse was given three awards, including highest honors. She had a blast on the eighth grade day at the park field trip and at the promotion dance. Another chapter in her life closed and a new one about to begin. 

3.  Anjin and I enjoyed the Conversation between Author Editor andré m. carrington and Graphic Novel Artist/Editor John Jennings Event at our local independent bookstore this afternoon. They shared their experiences about their work and their process, centering African American voices, and what influenced them and their books. Afterward, we got the chance to meet with them and have them sign our books. My Historical Fiction book club had read the graphic novel version of Kindred, illustrated by John Jennings, last fall. He was able to sign that and my copies of Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, both graphic novel adaptations of Octavia Butler's classics illustrated by John Jennings. I also picked up a copy of The Black Fantastic: 20 Afrofuturist Stories, edited by andré m. carrington, which is an anthology of contemporary Black speculative fiction.

andré m. carrington and John Jennings in conversation

The Black Fantastic: 20 Afrofuturist Stories, edited by andré m. carrington

Parable of the Sower, graphic novel adaptations of Octavia Butler's classic-

 by Damian Duffy & John Jennings

Parable of the Talents, graphic novel adaptations of Octavia Butler's classic- 

 by Damian Duffy, John Jennings, & David Brame

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

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