Friday, January 01, 2021

Weekly Mews: Goodbye December & 2020 (Or should I say good riddance?) (Please Vote in my January TBR List Poll!)

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.

As part of my monthly wrap up, I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently. 

New to the Shelves:

My December purchases


Subversive (Clandestine Magic #1) by Colleen Cowley
Radical (Clandestine Magic #2) by Colleen Cowley
Revolutionary (Clandestine Magic #3) by Colleen Cowley
Caught Dead Handed (Witch City Mystery #1) by Carol J. Perry
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson


While I did not find any books under the Christmas tree, my husband and daughter did.

Anjin's Christmas Books:


Reckless by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips
Cruel Summer by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips
Pulp by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips


Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Bosh


Mouse's Christmas Books


Time Museum 2 by Matthew Loux
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (a duplicate copy of a book we already own and have read, but it's the thought that counts)


Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski
If the Shoe Fits (Whatever After #2) by Sarah Mlynowski
Sink or Swim (Whatever After #3) by Sarah Mlynowski
My Haunted House (Araminta Spook #1) by Angie Page, illustrated by Jimmy Pickering


Nightlights (#1) by Lorena Alvarez Gomez
The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner


What I Am Reading: I ended the year with three graphic novels, two of which were Mouse's Christmas presents (The Okay Witch and Nightlights). The third was Book Love by Debbie Tung, which I think all book lovers would relate to. These books were a great way to end out an otherwise stressful year. 
Conversations with my daughter after I finished reading her graphic novels:
Me after the 1st one: This one is so good! You're going to love it!
Mouse: Okay. [Still unread.]

Me after the 2nd: I'm not sure about this one.
Mouse [immediately reading it]: I loved it, Mom!
Mouse and I are currently reading the 4th book of the Dork Diaries series. I am debating my chances of recommending we take a break after this one to read something else before picking up book 5. It is a fun series, but I think I am developing series fatigue. 

The first book I picked up to read this year was Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women. (Check out my First Read of 2021 post to see what Mouse and Anjin selected too!) As I was going through my TBR shelves I found two more historical novels featuring women from Jeju (White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht and The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn). I may have to pull those from the shelves and read them too!  

My next read will most likely be whichever book wins my January TBR List Poll. I hope you will vote! I can't wait to see which book comes out on top.

What I Am Watching: This past month I watched so many Christmas movies! And some Halloween movies for good measure. We watched Soul and Wonder Woman 1984 on Christmas Day. Soul was much more than I expected. I really enjoyed it. Wonder Woman 1984 was fun, if a bit silly at times. My husband thought they did a good job of making it feel just like a movie out of the 1980's. We ended up watching the pilot episode of the original Wonder Woman show starring Linda Carter Christmas night before going to bed. Boy, did it bring back memories! Mouse loved it. 

Last weekend was musical weekend. Mouse was in the mood to re-watch The Greatest Showman and then we all agreed it was time to re-watch Hamilton. My daughter disappeared while my husband and I watched La La Land for the first time.

After reaching the part in the book Wonder where Auggie talks about how much he likes The Sound of Music, Mouse expressed an interest in watching it. She does not remember seeing it before--but then, she'd been less interested then and got distracted by her toys. She loved it this time around. It helped that she knows some of the songs fairly well already. 

I tortured my daughter and husband with the first couple episodes of Doogie Howser, M.D. the other day. And then rewarded them with The Mummy. It may not be the best movie, but there's just something about it that brings us back to it now and then.

And of course, there's been more Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer watching.

Off the Blog: My family and I had a nice Christmas. If you celebrated, I hope you did as well.  My mom joined us virtually for opening presents early in the day and then we had a big family virtual get together with more of my extended family. It was almost like being together in person. But not quite. We had our traditional salad, spaghetti and pie. There was a snow ball fight (fuzzy snow balls; not real ones) reading time (at least for me), and movie watching.

My mom had to say goodbye to her long-time companion, Allie, right before Christmas. She had a lot of health issues, and so it was not sudden, but it was still a blow. She had been with my mom nearly nine years, since just after my dad's death. My mom had adopted her from her local animal shelter at a Senior Adopt an older dog type event. Allie would often come visit us when my mom came to town. She was such a sweet dog, so calm in temperament. We all miss her very much.

It was nice to have a week off from work. I tried not to follow the news too closely, although it was hard at times not to notice the many pleas from local hospital staff for people to follow the public health directives to stay home and avoid gathering as the number of people in the hospitals rose considerably. The situation is dire with the Emergency Rooms and ICUs throughout the county overflowing and too few staff. The National Guard was recently called in to help. I think I heard that 20% of the staff in my office have active cases of COVID right now. 

Our New Year's celebrations have generally been low-key for years now and it was no different this year. We had our traditional hot fudge sundaes and banged our pots and pans at the strike of midnight. We moved some of the furniture around for good measure.  

It is back to school (virtually) for Mouse this next week and work for my husband and me. 

Me: Seriously?! I'm trying to work here, Gracie. You can't just sit on my keyboard.
Gracie: It's nice and warm though. Let me just rest a minute longer.

Gracie: You owe me.
Me: Thank you for at least letting me close the computer.


Here is what I finished reading in December:
  • Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renée Russell
  • Together, Apart by Erin Craig, et al
  • How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse (The Thorne Chronicles #1) by K. Eason
  • Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (Dork Diaries #2) by Rachel Renée Russell
  • Royal Holiday (Wedding Date #4) by Jasmine Guillory
  • Wonder (#1) by R.J. Palacio
  • The Broken Spine (A Beloved Bookroom Mystery #1) by Dorothy St. James
  • Tales from a Not-So-Talented Popstar (Dork Diaries #3) by Rachel Renée Russell
  • The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner
  • Nightlights (#1) by Lorena Alvarez
  • Book Love by Debbie Tung
December was a month for finishing up some of the books I had started the month before (and one I had been reading since September). My daughter and I enjoyed reading the first three books in the Dork Diaries series--there were quite a few laugh out loud moments. I adored The Okay Witch, a middle grade fantasy graphic novel. I will be sharing my thoughts on it and Nightlights later in the month.

There really was not anything I did not enjoy reading in December. How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse was a fun read as was The Broken Spine. I had not intended to read Book Love as my last book of the year, but I had pulled it off my shelf for a closer look and the next thing I knew, I was turning the last page. 

I have been enjoying reading your favorites' lists and wrap up posts. In a few days I will be posting mine for the year. I hope you will visit when I do. 

This Past December In Reading Mews:

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


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 Saturday 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). 




January's TBR selections are completely random with no particular theme, but when I was looking for options for the poll, these three in particular jumped out at me. Do any of these sound good to you? Which do you think I should read this month? 


Fairy Godmothers, Inc. 
(#1)
 by Saranna DeWylde
Armed with her trademark mix of quirky charm, witty comedy, and sexy paranormal romance, Saranna DeWylde takes readers on a rollicking ride through twisted fairy tales and towards the ultimate Happily Ever After in her first Fairy Godmothers, Inc. Series installment. Ever After is a town that runs on magic, and that magic is fueled by love. So when the three fairy godmothers in charge of Ever After's magic supply realize the town's power has started to wane, they conspire to transform Ever After into a premiere wedding destination in hopes of attracting a major infusion of love to the town... 

If love is the source of all the magic in the universe, and the town of Ever After, Missouri, is the epicenter of enchantment, then the locals are in dire need of a reboot. At least according to resident fairy godmothers Petunia, Jonquil, and Bluebonnet. Their solution? Blow a bit of fairy dust in the direction of those in need of romance...what could possibly go wrong? 

SOME KIND OF AWFUL... Lucky Fujiki's first name is a cosmic joke. Her luck is so bad, even the number seven steers clear of her. But when her adorable godmothers ask for a favor, Lucky can't say no--even if she can already feel the bad juju waiting to strike. And her mission is even worse than she imagined: to promote Ever After as a wedding destination by faking a marriage to her first love and long-time ex, Ransom Payne--he of the Embarrassing Incident that neither of them will ever live down... 

OR ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL? Ransom Payne has spent years building an impressive new reputation for himself, and now his godmothers want him to pretend to wed the one girl he'd like most to forget? Sure, weddings in Ever After could be a huge boon for his chocolate business, but risking more up-close-and-personal time with Lucky? Considering the stakes, it's a curse he'll have to bear, at the risk of being humiliated--or perhaps, bewitched...[Goodreads Summary]


Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder
 by T.A. Willberg

The letter was short. A name, a time, a place. Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.  

Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant for Miss Brickett’s named Michelle White receives a letter warning her that a heinous act is about to occur. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see—her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect. 

Almost unwillingly, Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself being drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and mentor is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII. Masterful, clever and deliciously suspenseful, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a fresh take on the Agatha Christie—style locked-room mystery with an exciting new heroine detective at the helm. [Goodreads Summary]


Lana's War
by Anita Abriel 
Paris 1943: Lana Antanova is on her way to see her husband with the thrilling news that she is pregnant. But when she arrives at the convent where he teaches music, she’s horrified to see Gestapo officers execute him for hiding a Jewish girl in the piano.

A few months later, grieving both her husband and her lost pregnancy, Lana is shocked when she’s approached to join the resistance on the French Riviera. As the daughter of a Russian countess, Lana has the perfect background to infiltrate the émigré community of Russian aristocrats who socialize with German officers, including the man who killed her husband.
 ewish girl or wonder about the secrets held by the man whose house she shares. And as the Nazis’ deadly efforts intensify, her intention to protect those around her may put them all at risk instead.

With Anita Abriel’s “heartfelt and memorable” (Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author) storytelling, Lana’s War is a sweeping and suspenseful tale of survival and second chances during some of the darkest days of history.



Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Wishing you all a peaceful and healthy New Year!  Happy Reading!


© 2021, 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.

70 comments:

  1. Gracie's mane is magnificent!

    I also watched WW84 and I thought it was a lot of fun too! Glad you and your family had a good Christmas overall (though it's sad your mum had to say goodbye to Allie)

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    1. Eustacia - She's such a beautiful cat. Thank you. :-)

      I am glad you enjoyed Wonder Woman 1984 too!

      Thank you for visiting!

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  2. I found my way to many great kids' books during the years my sons were young. It started with me researching the good books, but it eventually led to my sons recommending books to me, including The Phantom Tollbooth. I'm glad you are enjoying sharing books with Mouse.

    Sound of Music is the movie around which I measure all other movies. It hit the screens when I was in fifth grade, and our choir presented a school program with all the songs from it. Sweet memories.

    I love the sound of Fairy Godmothers. I do hope my library will get a copy.

    Hope your transitions back to work/school go smoothly. I'm eager for all to receive a vaccine in 2021. Happy New Year!

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    1. Deb - There are a lot of great books out there for young people. I try to pick books I think my daughter will like and more often than not let her choose her own books these days.

      I hope you get a chance to read Fairy Godmothers, Inc. It really sounds like a fun read.

      Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have a Happy New Year too.

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  3. So sorry to hear about your moms puppy. Pets are so hard to lose.
    You got lots of awesome books. The my haunted house looks so cute. My daughter enjoyed the Whatever after series.

    Fairy Godmother sounds fun!

    I hope you have a great week, Happy Reading Wendy!

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    1. Michelle - Thank you. Losing an animal is such a blow. I really feel for my mom. This can't be easy for her, especially as isolated as everyone is right now.

      Mouse and I read one of the Whatever After books this past year and she loved it, so I went ahead and got her the first three for Christmas. I'm sure she'll love them. :-)

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

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  4. Sounds like your household had a lovely holiday season and good books surely make it better. Happy New Year!

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    1. Helen - It was a nice holiday, even if a bit different. I hope you have a Happy New Year as well. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. Wendy, sounds like you guys had good holiday celebrations and glad you got to spend time virtually with your Mom and others. So sorry about her pup. You have been watching some 'vintage' TV - ha! Doogie Howser - now that brings back memories. As you might imagine, I voted for the Midnight Murder book. LOL

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    1. Kay - Neil Patrick Harris looks so young as Doogie Howser. It brought back memories for me as well.

      Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  6. Had to vote for Fairy Godmothers, Inc. That title is just too cute. And your daughter's reaction to the graphic novels...reading the one you didn't love...totally made me laugh. I was stubborn like that with my mom at times, too. :D

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    1. Lark - Isn't that a great title? Thank you for voting. :-)

      My daughter is definitely at that age where she is beginning to be more contrary. :-) It got a good chuckle out of me.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. I'm so sorry for your mom losing Allie. What a sweet pup. This year has been just so crazy right? Sounds like you guys made the most of all of your celebrations and I just hope this new year brings you lots of good things!

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    1. Iliana - Thank you. Allie was such a sweet dog.

      I am definitely glad to see 2020 behind us. Here's hoping for a good New Year. Thank you for visiting!

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  8. Gracie is gorgeous! And how nice of her to let you close the laptop. Sounds like a good Christmas though I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's companion. She sounds like a sweet heart. Your conversation with Mouse made me laugh. I know I had that same conversation with my daughter and I know the harder my mother tried to talk up a book to me the harder I resisted reading it! Yay for the Carol J Perry. I've really been enjoying that series and am looking forward to getting caught up on it this year.

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    1. Katherine - Thank you. She lives up to her name and is very graceful (although I think she was really named Gracie because of her coloring--but either fits).

      I guess I am going to have to change tactics with my daughter when recommending a book to her. LOL

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. I love the story about Mouse immediately wanting to read and then loving the book you weren't sure about. Definitely sounds like my kids! :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Nicole - Haha! I am glad to see her asserting her independence. Although I may not feel that way when she's older. LOL

      Thank you for visiting!

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  10. I am so sorry to hear about your mother's dog. It is even harder because of the holiday. I am glad that you were able to gather virtually for the holiday. Mouse hit the jackpot this Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Carole - Thank you. The timing was horrible given we couldn't spend Christmas together. I really felt bad, but with the restrictions we didn't want to take the chance. Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. I voted for Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder, I hope it is great (whenever you get around to it!) and I may have to find it as well. Happy New Year! Here's my week's post: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.blogspot.com/2021/01/stacking-shelves-127.html

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    1. Sarah - Thank you for voting! It sounds like it will be such a great mystery, doesn't it? I hope you have a Happy New Year too. Thank you for visiting!

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    2. I ended up seeing it on quite a few other blogs also as I was hopping around yesterday. I put in a hold request on it at the library and am #9 on six copies, so I should have it for myself very soon!

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    3. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it when you read it, Sarah!

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  12. You have some awesome looking new books. And oh my gosh the Whatever After books- my daughters LOVED those. In fact they guest- reviewed a couple on my blog years ago- -I should go back and re- read those, they were so young!!!

    I hear you on the Covid stuff. It's heartbreaking to hear the pleas from medical professionals and then see people partying or going around maskless. I saw some old high school friends on Facebook mugging it up for pictures- maskless- at a restaurant/ bar and I just shook my head. I try not to judge but man...

    Love your cat pics!

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    1. Greg - Thank you. I felt a little guilty that I didn't get any books for Christmas, but I'll just have to buy my own. :-)

      Yeah, I get so frustrated seeing people ignoring the safety precautions.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. I'm sorry to hear about Allie😥 So tough. I hope 2021 is good to you!

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    1. Tammy - Thank you. I hope you have a Happy New Year too.

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  14. Happy new year!

    RIP sweet Allie. I have a soft spot for Schnauzers. They are stubborn, but usually have quite the personality.
    I still need to watch the first Wonder Woman, but I am curious about 1984 too. I also need to watch Soul.

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    1. Shannon - Thank you. Allie could be stubborn, but she was also extra sweet. :-)

      I hope you enjoy the Wonder Woman movies when you see them! They have their flaws to be sure, but they are fun in their own way. I highly recommend Soul. Such a good movie.

      Thank you for visiting. Have a Happy new Year as well.

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  15. The Okay Witch looks so adorable. Soul and Wonder Woman 1984 are on my watch list, I think I will end up catching them up this week. Have a great new year!

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    1. Gayathri - It was. I wouldn't mind if The Okay Witch became a series. I hope you enjoy Soul and Wonder Woman if you watch them. I hope you have a great new year as well. Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. We used to watch The sound of Music every Christmas since I was eight years old. We didn't watch it this Christmas, as it was only me and my hubby and he would rather die.

    We are planning on watching The Mummy tonight! I'm busy with The Book of Two Ways and just feel like Egypt.

    Good luck with going back to work and Mouse "back at school". We still have another week of holidays.

    I haven't read any of the books on your poll, I just voted for the one I will most probably enjoy the most!

    Have a good week!

    Elza Reads

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    1. Mareli (Elza) - The Sound of Music was a tradition for us growing up too. I hope you enjoyed The Mummy! It's a fun movie.

      Enjoy the rest of your holidays! Thank you for voting!

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  17. Book love by Debbie Tung, I read it and absolutely loved it, you're right to say every book lover can relate <3 I can also relate to yours and Mouse reactions over books ^^ Ah, Angel and Buffy ! I'm so sorry for Allie, your mother must be so sad. We have an old adopted cat (she was thought to be 14 when we took her home 2 years ago) and she seems to be doing fine - she loved lockdown ! I hope you and your husband will be safe at work and your daughter safe at school. Gracie takes up a lot of space, but she's soooo beautiful ! And my youngish kitty loves my keyboard too. Lana's war's cover is gorgeous, it transports you back in time just looking at it, I hope that novel is good. I wish you a very good week to start this hopeful year :)

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    1. Iza - I am glad to hear you enjoyed Book Love too. I really enjoy Debbie Tung's work. I am glad your older cat is faring well in the lockdown. I know our cats have enjoyed having us home all the time. Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  18. I voted for Fairy God other's Inc - Lana's War sounds really good as well, but a bit heavy. I opted for the light and happy 😊

    So sorry about your grandmother's dog, losing a pet - expected or not - is always hard.

    I LOVE Sound of Music - I'm glad Mouse got to experience it now that she's old enough to appreciate it. And I've been doing Buffy too (I decided to skip Angel this re-watch, since I'm about 50/50 on what I like and don't like).

    Have a great week!

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    1. Berls - Thank you for voting! I might need light and happy after my current read. :-)

      Thank you for your kind thoughts for my mom.

      I hope you have a better week, Berls. I know you've been through a lot lately. Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. So sorry about your mom's dog. It's always hard losing a pet.

    Sounds like you all had a great Christmas morning and the week itself. I love some of the MG books you are reading and am looking forward to discover those books with my daughter one day. For now, we are still with picture books and enjoying the occasional chapter books.

    Lots of good books here - love what you got last week. I enjoyed Soul and WW84 as well. I thought WW84 had some of the crappiest CGI ever and the story was weird but it was still enjoyable.

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    1. Athira - Thank you. It was a difficult loss.

      There are many great books out there for all ages. It's been fun exploring them as our children grow, hasn't it?

      I imagine the poor CGI is part of what my husband was referring to when he said Wonder Woman 1984 stayed true to the 1980's superhero movies. :-)

      Thank you for visiting!

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  20. I read Caught Dead Handed a couple of years ago and liked it. I need to get back to that series. We watched Wonder Woman 1984. It was cute and very much like the 1980's. I'm sorry to hear about your mom's dog. My mother is in a similar situation. Last week her cat, she had for 19 years, passed away. She had been my mother's companion since she lost my father. Very sad.

    I do hope 2021 will be a better one for all of us. Have a great week!

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    1. Yvonne - I read a later book in the series and loved it. I am looking forward to reading the rest of Perry's series. I am glad to hear you liked Caught Dead Handed! I am so sorry for your mom and the loss of her cat. I know you've been through that recently as well. We love them so much, don't we? I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. Glad you were able to read so much. Fairy Godmother sounds great And sorry to hear about the dog. I'm sure they'll be missed. May you do great service and find joy wherever you are in 2021.

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    1. Trin - I think Fairy Godmother, Inc. sounds great too. :-) Thank you for your kind words and have a good week!

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  22. Yes, good riddance to 2020! Your post reminds me of all the books I used to read with my kids when they were younger. I miss those days. My heart goes out to your mom for the loss of her dog.
    Wishing you another great year of reading!

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    1. Laura - I am enjoying exploring middle grade novels more. There are some really great books out there. Thank you for your kind thoughts for my mom. I hope you have a great year in reading too. Thanks for visiting!

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  23. I am so pleased you enjoyed a lovely Christmas, with lots of comfort films, new books and reading. 😊 Mine was a very, very quiet Christmas as I tested positive for Covid. Only a mild case thankfully and it did give me a great excuse to stay in bed watching all the Harry Potter films, and more films and TV then I could possibly name!😅 Here's to a happier, healthier and easier 2021 for us all!

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    1. Jessica - I am so sorry you've been sick, but am grateful it was mild. I hope you have gotten plenty of rest. I hope you have a healthier and happier new year. Thank you for stopping by!

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  24. So sorry to hear about your moms dog, that's really rough.
    I'm glad you had a good Christmas.

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  25. It sounds like a relaxed and pleasant holiday break. There's nothing wrong with a quiet time. I'm sorry about Allie. After we lost Gina I didn't know if I could have another dog but we love Lulu to pieces. I voted for the mystery because that's my favorite right now. Happy New Year!

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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    1. Anne - It was. I like the quiet. :-) Thank you for your kind thoughts about Allie. My mom wants to do some traveling and so I don't think she is going to be adopting another dog any time soon. Perhaps someday though. I hope you have a Happy New Year as well. Thank you for stopping by!

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  26. There were no books for me under the tree either :(
    We watched WW84 on New Years Eve too, though we found it a bit disappointing. We also watched Croods 2 which was lots of fun.

    I’m just starting Lana’s War so that got my vote :)

    Wishing you a great reading week, and a happy new year 🥳

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    1. Shelleyrae - I am sorry you didn't find any books under the tree either. We will have to treat ourselves to make up for it!

      I don't think I've seen the Croods movies. My daughter may have.

      I hope you enjoy Lana's War. It sounds so good1 Thank you for voting and visiting! I hope you have a happy New Year also.

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  27. We watched WW 1984 on Christmas and I was...not impressed. It's funny that you mentioned The Mummy because my husband turned it on today. But it was the Tom Cruise version (which I didn't even know was a thing). And it was...bizarre! Happy new year to you all!

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    1. Melinda - I think my husband liked Wonder Woman 1984 more than I did, but my expectations were not high, so it was about what I expected. Tom Cruise was in a version of The Mummy?! I didn't know that. LOL Or maybe I did but forgot.

      I hope you have a happy New Year too. Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  28. You had a great month! I love the photos of the cat on the computer.

    Enjoy your reading and viewing,and I am glad Mouse enjoys books and movies, too.

    Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Laurel-Rain - She's such a silly cat. LOL Thank you for visiting!

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  29. How did Doogie Howser hold up? I remember watching and enjoying it when it was first on TV. So many interesting books and movies in your post too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - We didn't watch many episodes, but it was much more believable when I watched it growing up. LOL One of the episodes we did see was pretty squirm worthy given today's standards. I love Neil Patrick Harris though. Thank you for stopping by!

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  30. Glad to hear you had a nice Christmas. The pics of the cat on the keyboard are all too relatable. If mine isn't sitting on my keyboard, then he's jumping in my desk chair to sleep every time I stand up, haha.

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    1. Suzanne - I am glad to know I am not alone when it comes to cats interfering with our work. LOL Thank you for visiting!

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  31. I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's dog, Wendy.

    Speaking of movies, I haven't been to the cinema ever since the lockdown period. I want to watch Wonder Woman, but not sure when I'd watch it, though. I suppose I'm still feeling queasy about being in an enclosure space for about two hours. I know that sounds silly...

    I'm glad to hear you've a copy of White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht. I enjoyed that book, though it's a sad one. I'll be curious of your thoughts if you do read it, Wendy.

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    1. Melody - Thank you. She really loved that dog. She's very much missed.

      I haven't been to a movie theater in so long either--definitely not since the lockdown. Ours are all closed anyway, other than an occasional popcorn sale. We've never taken part in that though. We were able to stream the new Wonder Woman 1984 movie at home. I honestly don't know when I will be comfortable going to a movie theater again even when they re-open. I think it will be awhile. I feel much the same way you do.

      I am glad to hear you liked White Chrysanthemum! Lisa See's book is really sad too.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  32. I think it's awesome that you and your daughter are reading the same books and can discuss them. Your kitty is gorgeous and so fluffy. My husband is allergic to cats, so no kitties for us. I'm so sorry to read about your mom's dog--it's always hard to lose a pet, and I can't even imagine losing one the night before Christmas.

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    1. Danielle - Thank you. She's such an affectionate cat too (at least with me). I am allergic to cats too unfortunately but am able to manage it with allergy medicine for the most part. Thank you too for your kind thoughts for my mom. Allie was a big part of her life and it was a difficult loss. Thank you for visiting!

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  33. I’m glad you had a good Christmas and got lots of books. I love the photos of the cat on the keyboard. When I was in college, I didn’t have a desk, so I did all my work on the couch. My dog would regularly walk across my keyboard. I don’t know how it didn’t break. Have a great week!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. AJ - Well, at least everyone else got lots of books for Christmas. LOL None for me, sadly. But I do get books year round, so I shouldn't complain. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  34. I'm really looking forward to reading Lana's War!

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