Saturday, April 13, 2019

Sunday Mews and My April TBR List Winner

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by the wonderful Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, 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 The Sunday Salon hosted by the amazing Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. 

Playing in the sprinklers.

It is such a lovely spring day. The kind of day I would love to be outside reading under the shade of a tree, with nature all around me. Or at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. It feels like forever when I was last able to go. Perhaps next year . . .

What I Am Reading: I currently am reading Karen Lord's Unraveling, and confess I am struggling a little getting into it. The premise is intriguing, and I am interested to know where the story is going still--so definitely not DNF material at this point. Hopefully it will pick up for me soon!

The truth is my reading has been in a bit of a low place as of late. I have read some great books, but I feel so distracted. I am sure it is partly the stress I feel under. At least I am reading some, if not a lot. So I suppose I cannot call it a slump at this point. 

What I Am Watching: Mouse is going through a Pokémon phase, and so we have been watching Pokémon movies lately. And more Find Me In Paris, a time travel show about a ballet school. I did watch Russian Doll, which I wasn't sure about at first, but ended up really enjoying. Have you seen any of these?


  • What are you reading and watching this week? 
  • Just how much of a chance will give you give a book before deciding to not finish it? 
  • What steps do you take to avoid falling into a reading slump when you feel one coming on? 



Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 




This month I put three very different books against each other and it was not much of a competition.
The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard got 3 votes with Paula Paul's A Killer Closet received 8 votes. The Master Key by Masako Togawa won 11 votes. Talk about winning by a nice lead!


I am thrilled that The Master Key won and am looking forward to diving in soon.


The Master Key by Masako Togawa, translated by Simon Grove
The K Apartments for Ladies in Tokyo conceals a sinister past behind each door; a woman who has buried a child; a scavenger driven mad by ill-health; a wife mysteriously guarding her late husband’s manuscripts; a talented violinist tortured by her own guilt. The master key, which opens the door to all 150 rooms, links their tangled stories. But now it has been stolen, and dirty tricks are afoot.

A deadly secret lies buried beneath the building. And when it is revealed, there will be murder.
 [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

© 2019, 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.

54 comments:

  1. Ooh The Master Key seems to have won fairly convincingly! Hope it's a good one! And I love spring, with the pleasant days before it gets hot. I hope you have a nice spring coming up!

    Hope your reads are good this week! :)

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    1. Greg - It did! I haven't yet started The Master Key, but I plan to this week. I imagine it will be a fast read. I am enjoying the spring weather, even if not the allergies. Thank you for stopping by!

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  2. The L.A Times Festival of Books is so much fun! I went a couple of times with my Mom and Nana. I'd love to go again one day. Maybe next year for me too! I agree that today was a beautiful day. Stress has a way of interrupting my reading also, so I understand the challenge. Hopefully next week will be a great week for you!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. Lindy - I hope we can make it to the L.A. Times Festival of Books next year too. It's been too long since we last were able to go. Thank you for visiting!

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  3. I think most of us are really, really ready for spring by now! Here, it's not fully arrived yet, but almost. Flowers are blooming, and it's nice and warm in the afternoon, even if it's very chilly in the morning.
    Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

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    1. Lexxie - I think we all are too! I am so glad spring is here, even if it means my allergies are acting up. I hope you have a great week too! Thank you for stopping by.

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  4. Gosh, I've never heard of Find Me In Paris, but it combines two of my favourite things to read about - time travel and ballet - so I must look up the show.

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    1. Trish - Find Me In Paris is a Hulu original, I think. It's addicting, although we still haven't watched the last episode of the season yet. Thanks for visiting!

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  5. I have always wanted to go to the LA Book Festival. I almost went about ten years ago, and I've regretted that I didn't make it.

    I'm glad The Master Key won. It sounds like a fascinating read.

    We all have reading slumps. The overwhelming stresses we face in real life certainly don't help!

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    1. Deb - I hope someday you are able to make it to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. It is a lot of fun. I miss going. I am looking forward to when my daughter is a bit older and doesn't mind sitting in on the discussion panels with me. She's almost there. ;-)

      I wish I could say that my stress level has decreased since I posted this, but I think it will be on the high side the next couple months with everything going on at work, in particular. This too will pass. Or it'll become my normal and I'll settle into it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. I love the tree in bloom! And I can't wait to see your review for The Master Key - I hope you enjoy it!

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    1. Eustacia - Thank you! It's already lost its purple blooms and is all green now. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  7. I'm sorry stress has been affecting your reading. My eye problems have affected mine but my vision is close to being back to normal. Our weather has been very up and down and we're expecting some storms today. Have a great week!

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    1. Kathy - Thank you, Kathy. I am sorry to hear your eye problems have been affecting your reading. I hope your eye is all better now! I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Enjoy your weekend, the nice weather and your books. That is a nice candid shot of her playing in the sprinklers!
    I watched Russian Doll and thought it was good.
    I noticed if I re-read some books, I get into reading slumps so I stopped re-reading for now.

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    1. Naida - Thank you! She had a lot of fun that day. :-) I enjoyed Russian Doll as well. I wish I could say my reading has improved this past week, but no such luck. Maybe this week? Thank you for visiting!

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  9. I hope you enjoy your reading more. When that happens to me I find shifting my genre slightly helps. I think you were on the right track with choosing 3 very different books for you TBR vote.

    Enjoy your week!

    Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post   

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    1. Anne - I'm finding that even starting a book is a problem. I do like to shift up genres quite frequently to avoid burn out though, and usually that works. Just not this time. Oh well. I need to start on my TBR winner. I think that it is short will help. Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Running through the sprinklers was a favorite thing for me in childhood. So much better than a swimming pool...LOL.

    I would also love to attend that book festival. It has been too long.

    I'm curious about A Killer Closet.

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I loved to run through the sprinklers as a child too. :-) Hopefully next year I can attend the book festival. I think I said that last year too. Haha. Thank you for visiting!

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  11. We watch a lot of Pokemon in this house... I sympathise, lol. Although, I have to admit that I actually dont mind it too much and we quite enjoy going Pokemon hunting for Pokemon Go.

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    1. Nicci - Haha! My daughter got one of those big books with all the different Pokemon listed in her Easter basket today and hasn't put it down. She loves Pokemon. We haven't gotten into the Pokemon Go, surprisingly. It does look like fun though. Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. I want to jump right into your photo... such a beautiful day! I'd love to go to the LA Times Festival of Books some day. Caught a little bit of it on CSPAN's Book TV yesterday, and it's fun to see photos on twitter and instagram. Sorry to hear stress and distraction are effecting your reading. I think we all go through those phases and it's no fun. Hope it passes quickly.

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    1. JoAnn - It was a beautiful day! Today was too, although too cold for running through the sprinklers. :-) Thank you for your kind thoughts. I hope you have a great week, and thank you for visiting!

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  13. Can't wait to here your thoughts on this one. :)

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    1. Lark - I think I will really enjoy it. I need to start on it soon. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I am so ready for Spring!!! The show about the ballet school sounds intriguing to. Have a good week!

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    1. Steph - I hope spring has come your way. I am enjoying it--except maybe for the allergies. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  15. Spring is a beautiful season, aside from Autumn, that is. :) I hope you'll enjoy The Master Key, Wendy.

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    1. Melody - Autumn is my favorite season too. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. We need some of that spring weather here as we had a surprise winter storm arrive. I've been intrigued by Russian Doll and may give it a try.

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    1. Nise' - I hope you finally got your spring weather! Thank you for visiting!

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  17. The Master Key sounds wonderful. Hope you enjoy it! (And I hope you appreciate that beautiful spring weather. :-) )

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Nicole - I think The Master Key sounds good too. I look forward to starting it soon. Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. I endured a lot of Pokémon when my boys were smaller :)

    Hope you find a way to relax.

    Have a great reading week

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    1. Shelleyrae - My husband has helped contribute to her Pokémon fandom. :-) I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  19. The only way for me to avoid a slump is to force myself to keep reading without a break in between books.

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    1. Ti - That's what I'm kind of trying to do. It's just a matter of picking up the book instead of doing something else--like play a game on my phone or watch another episode of Love It or List It. Ho hum. I figure it will pass. Hopefully sooner than later. Thank you for stopping by!

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  20. What a beautiful day for playing in the sprinkler! I'm sorry you're struggling with your current book. Maybe taking a break to read The Master Key would help? Also, I haven't seen either of the TV shows you mentioned, but I'm intrigued by the time-travel-ballet-school one. Have a good week, and I hope the lovely weather continues!

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    1. Lark - Thank you. The weather has been up and down, but mostly still spring-like, which is nice. We thought we might get more rain there for a day or two, but the clouds passed. I hope you have a good week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  21. I read the Master Key recently and thought it was fabulous. Hope you enjoy it! And, look at that beautiful spring picture of Mouse! As far as how long I'll give a book before giving up? 30-40 pages and if it's not working for me I put it aside. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Iliana - I am so glad to hear you liked The Master Key! I hope to start it this week. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  22. I hope you have better luck with your reading this week. I usually switch up genres when I feel a slump coming on.

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    1. Suzanne - Thank you! I wish I could say this past week was better. I am hoping this coming week will be! Thank you for visiting!

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  23. I voted for that one :D I just LOVE "key" symbolism :D I hope your stress lets up. Mine never does *sigh* and it affects EVERYthing, especially health. Stay well, Wendy :)

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    1. Donna Marie - I haven't had a chance to start The Master Key yet, but hopefully in the next day or two. I think I will like it. :-) Thank you for your good wishes!

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  24. I’ve been a bit distracted with my reading as well all year so far. I’m working on it but there is just so much going on at times so I understand what you are going through. Hopefully it gets better for the both of us soon. Have a great week!!!

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    1. Samantha - I hope it gets better for you as well! Thank you.

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  25. Lovely picture and what a gorgeous tree! Mouse looks so big! I think it's hard not to get in a reading slump when the the weather is so pretty. I end up spending a lot more time outside which means I'm more tired and have more to keep me busy. Hopefully you'll find something to hook you soon and you're having a great week!

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    1. Katherine - Thank you! I love that tree. It's all green now. I do find myself wanting to be outside more these days. It doesn't help that I am cooped up in an office so much of the days. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  26. Well, The Master Key sounds like a popular choice and reading the synopsis of all these choices I can see why ... I'd have voted for it myself.

    Yes, with the movie there seems to have been a renewed interest in all things Pokemon recently. A friend's grandchild told me a joke his nana and I had been telling years ago and thinking it new thought we were really trendy that we got knew the punchline. We didn't have the heart to tell him it was in fact a very old joke.

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    1. Tracy - I am so glad to see you home and blogging again. The Master Key is quite good. I'm a little behind and just finishing it up now.

      It is funny how some trends come around again after awhile. :-) My daughter cannot get enough of Pokemon and her dad is enjoying every second of revisiting that world with her. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  27. Oh, I hope your stress relieves soon. (((((((HUGS))))))) 💜

    The Master Key sounds wonderful, very Murakami-ish. 📘

    I love that Mouse loves Pokemon. My son is 26 and he and his friends still love them. Ha ha. 👍✨

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    1. La La - Thank you! The Master Key was good! I admit we have all been enjoying Pokemon. Thank you for visiting!

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