Saturday, October 01, 2022

Weekly Mews: Welcoming in October with More Books (Please vote in my TBR 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.

I am linking up Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.  



My cat is doing everything she can to distract me from writing this blog post. Her favorite place to curl up and purr is on my chest--and it most often happens when I sit down with my computer (or try to eat). She is quite demanding about it too.

On the personal front, work is keeping me extra busy but that doesn't seem like anything new these days. I am losing my office space at work and so spent some time packing, tossing, and boxing up over a decade's worth of stuff. I will be sharing a new office space with seven other supervisors in my office (we'll be taking turns on our in office/out of office work rotation schedules--what that means when more than one of us are there at a time, I can't say). It turned out not to be as bad as I thought it would be and only took me a day as I tried to fit it in between my regular work. The extra strain on my knee was not good though. I tried to be careful, but I have been feeling it ever since. This past week I started physically therapy. I am optimistic I can make a full recovery. 

I have some catching up to do blog visiting wise, but I wanted to share with you what I have been reading and watching as of late. 


Read Recently

These past two weeks I finished reading several great books. I had fallen behind with my year long reading project, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and decided it was time to catch up. Once I started, I just kept going and finished a couple months early. Sangu Mandanna's novel, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, was such a delight. And I continue to enjoy both the Maggie Hope (Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante) and Witch Way Librarian (Seven-Year Witch) series. Spy x Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo was one of my favorite in the series so far. I actually got to read it before my husband and daughter this time! 


What did you recently finish reading?


Reading Now

Right now I am reading Witch and Famous (Witch Way Librarian Mystery #3) by Angela M. Sanders. I am enjoying my time in Wilfred, Oregon. 


What are you reading right now? 

Up Next

I am sticking with the theme of the season--witches (and a merman), ghosts, and vampires (well, formerly at least) for this month's TBR List Poll. which of these three books do you think I should read next?

Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin
What does a witch do when life's a bore? You wish for something more.

If wishes were fish, homebody witch Lucy Caraway could open an aquarium and gift shop. When she isn't grading papers over homemade tea blends, Lucy’s leafing through spellbooks to protect her familial magic from complete mayhem. On the eve of her ten year high school reunion, Lucy yearns for more—the soul mate she's searching for, the cute cottage she's coveting, and to be the best version of herself. Fueled by nostalgia and spiced rum, Lucy casts a spell that brings trouble in the form of a big lie and reunites her with her high school crush merman Alex Dwyer.

Like all merfolk, Alex saw the world and all its splendors, destined never to make a home on land. When he's unexpectedly given a jinxed cottage, he returns to his small hometown of Freya Grove, NJ, determined to get his life on track after a string of bitter disappointments. Alex believes a merman needs a house like a fish needs a bicycle. He plans on flipping it and getting as far away from the Grove as his tail can take him. But once he discovers that his new neighbor is the witch who got away, Alex starts to rethink his plan.

As the spell unfolds, baking disasters, flirtatious tea readings, and midnight meetups spark their decade old chemistry, Lucy and Alex wonder whether their newfound love is strong enough to outlast the fleeting power of a wish. [Goodreads Summary]

A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts by Leanna Renee Hieber & Andrea Janes
From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America's female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us--and why they haunt us...

Sorrowful widows, vengeful jezebels, innocent maidens, wronged lovers, former slaves, even the occasional axe-murderess--America's female ghosts differ widely in background, class, and circumstance. Yet one thing unites them: their ability to instill fascination and fear, long after their deaths. Here are the full stories behind some of the best-known among them, as well as the lesser-known--though no less powerful.

Tales whispered in darkness often divulge more about the teller than the subject. America's most famous female ghosts, like New Orleans voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, and Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem witchcraft trials, mirror each era's fears and prejudices. Yet through urban legends and campfire stories, even ghosts like the nameless hard-working women lost in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire --achieve a measure of power and agency in death, in ways unavailable to them as living women.

Riveting for skeptics and believers alike, with humor, curiosity, and expertise, A Haunted History of Invisible Women offers a unique lens on the significant role these ghostly legends play both within the spook-seeking corners of our minds and in the consciousness of a nation.  [Goodreads Summary]

Mere Mortals by Erin Jade Lange
"Two teenage vampires are turned mortal and must face the greatest nightmare of all--high school"--

This hilarious, fresh take on a classic vampire tale follows a pair of hundred-year-old teenage vampires who are turned mortal and must face the greatest nightmare of all—high school.

Charlie and her brother, Reg, have been vampires for…a very long time. For a century, they enjoyed the glitz and glamour of life as members of the wealthiest vampire clan. But now, after one careless mistake, they’ve been expelled from the vampire community and dumped in the middle of Nowhere, Iowa, to live as mortals.

Suddenly Charlie has to deal with zits, tears, and—worst of all—high school. But things start to change when she and Reg find a group of friends, including the deliciously good-looking Dexter. And though Charlie would give anything to be vampire again, she begins to appreciate some of the new experiences that humanity brings too.

But nothing could make them forget the life they’ve left behind. When they’re offered a second shot at immortality, Charlie is desperate to seize it. It’ll just mean a total betrayal of all her new friends, who will have their minds wiped of their memories of her. She can handle that if it means she can live forever…right? [Goodreads Summary]


Thank you for voting! What will you be reading next?

My TBR List is 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 let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 


What I Have Been Watching

We are still enjoying She-Hulk and started watching Andor, the new Star Wars series. Masked Singer is back, one of my daughter's favorite shows, and so we have been keeping up with that as well. 

I recently watched the PBS three part series,  U.S. and the Holocaust, which is very well done. I highly recommend it. It is hard not to see the parallels between what was happening back then to what has been happening in recent years  in the U.S. 

I also have started watching Grey's Anatomy again. I cannot remember when I stopped watching the show--maybe five or six seasons in. I have been re-watching the first couple of seasons. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the show. 


What have you watched recently?


New to the Shelves

Mouse and I added more books to our bookshelves recently.  Let's take a look!

The last of my Birthday books:


Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink
Unrestricted Access by James Rollins
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes


Woman 99 by Greer Macallister
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
Skin Folk by Nola Hopkinson
Cursed Luck (#1) by Kelley Armstrong
High Jinx (#2) by Kelley Armstrong
The Cracked Spine (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #2) by Paige Shelton
Just Killing Time (Clock Shop Mystery #1) by Julianne Holmes

Mouse's newest additions thanks to the school book fair and a gift from Grandma: 


Bounce Back by Misako Rocks!
This is Not a Drill by K.A. Holt


Locker Hero (Misadventures of Max Crumbly #1) by Rachel Renée Russell
Curse of the Phoenix by Aimee Carter
The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 6 by Nekokurage, Natsu Hyuuga, Itsuki Nanao, Touco Shino


Once Upon Another Time (#1) by James Riley

What new books made it onto your shelf recently? 


I hope you have a great week and month of October! Let me know what you have been reading and watching!


© 2022, 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.

46 comments:

  1. I have Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches on my TBR, I really want to get to it soon. I voted for Witchful Thinking because it looks cute and something I would enjoy.

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    1. Wendy - I hope you enjoy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. It really hit the spot for me. Thank you for voting!

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  2. Glad you had a good reading week.

    I added Tall Tales, the sequel to Once Upon Another Time, to my shelves this week.

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  3. My cat is also obsessed with sitting exactly where it's the most distracting xD I hope your knee gets better soon, that doesn't sound like something you need on top of busy work right now! Andor is really blowing my mind at the moment, I hope you're enjoying it too. All your new books look amazing, especially 'Sistersong'! I hope you have a good start to the week :)
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

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    1. Juli - And the cats know just when will be the worst time to be distracting. LOL Thank you for the well wishes. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. I can see how you would want to finish The Count of Monte Christo and not wait for your scheduled readings. I've read it a few times and found it quite suspenseful. What a great tale!

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Mae - Yes! The Count of Monte Cristo is a great tale. I am glad I read it and hope to read more Dumas in the future. Thank you for visiting!

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  5. Sorry work has been so busy. Enjoy your new books! Here's my SP: https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2022/10/02/sundaypost-on-the-road-again/

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  6. Cats can be really demending indeed ;-) And I always shared my workspace as we are in an openspace office!

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    1. Sophie - Yes they can be! As annoying as they can be, we love them. :-) My former office space was open too--the new office space is actually an office office so it'll be quite different for me on that front. Thank you for visiting!

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  7. So many great books. I hope your knee gets better. I currently have a 4 year old eating pink and white mice, watching a TV programme on the screen next to this one on my lap whilst typing...

    Have a great week ahead!

    Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
    My post:
    https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/10/02/sunday-salon-23/

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  8. Physical therapy is a great thing. It should be utilized more I think. I loved those Kelly Armstrong books Cursed Luck and High Jinx. Happy reading!

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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  9. Woman 99 sounds really intriguing - I'll be interested to hear what you think. Count of Monte Cristo has been on my TBR for years - it's my sons' fave book and I continue to be daunted by its size. Maybe next year. :) Hope you have a great week and find time to enjoy a good book.
    Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
    https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/sunday-post-18

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    1. Terrie - I enjoy Greer Macallister's work and am looking forward to reading Woman 99. The Count of Monte Cristo is a surprisingly easy read given its size. I hope you do give it a try. Thank you for visiting!

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  10. So sorry about your knee issues! Hopefully the physical therapy will work. I have had similar problems and the therapy was good.

    Your books look tempting. Enjoy your week, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I am glad you had good luck with physical therapy. Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. Sounds like you have a lot going on. Moving out/changing a long time office is always a bunch of work and it's amazing what we find in the drawers and cupboards.

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    1. Helen - I am just glad it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I just now need to figure out what I will need to take back and forth with me since I won't have a dedicated spot for the foreseeable future. Thank you for visiting!

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  12. I hope that you enjoy Witch and Famous! I really enjoyed Bait and Witch!
    Witches are definitely my theme for this season as well. Happy reading!

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    1. Sara - I liked Witch and Famous. It's a fun series! I cannot resist books about witches. Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. My cat does that sometimes too but usually when I'm sitting in the living room reading. He'll just jump and sit on my chest, and I'm like- what are you doing?? :)

    I am really liking Andor. Wasn't sure about it at first but it's growing me on a lot! She Hulk I started but fell behind on...

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    1. Greg - Cats are so funny. Who says they aren't affectionate creatures?

      I am glad you are enjoying Andor also. Thank you for visiting!

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  14. Sorry, I couldn't stop the cackle when I read the first sentence about your cat! One of my cat's favourite place to sit is slightly draped over my shoulder with the rest of him across my chest and down almost to my lap (he's a BIG boy). I can do nothing when he decides it's cuddle time, lol. And he always takes the opportunity for cuddles when I sit at the computer! I should make him get down but... He's a cat. It doesn't work too well plus his purr is so soothingly lovely. :)

    I hope the physical therapy helps sort out the knee!

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    1. Nicci - It's hard to work around a cat on my chest, that's for sure. LOL I have a hard time making my cat get down either. I love the purring. It's supposed to be good for ours and their health too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. Sounds like you had a good reading week and added some fun new books as well. I just finished a new cozy mystery by Amanda Flower called Because I Could Not Stop for Death.

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    1. Gretchen - Because I Could Not Stop for Death sounds good. I will have to check it out. Thank you for visiting!

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  16. Sounds like a good reading week though a crazy work week! I hope PT goes well. The Angela M. Sanders series looks great and I have The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches on my TBR! I hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Katherine - Thank you. I am really enjoying the Sanders' series. I hope you enjoy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches as much as I did. Thank you for stopping by!

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  17. Glad you're doing okay, even with the office move. And it looks like you've been reading a lot of fun books. Hope you have a great week!

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  18. Good luck on the physical therapy, I do hope you make a full recovery.

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  19. I'm glad your office move wasn't too bad. I always hated moving desks when I was working. I hope your knee heals quickly.

    I used to love to watch Masked Singer, but I got bored with it after the 4th season. No one I was excited about ever came on. I still haven't started Andor. I need to. I've just been focusing on all the cooking competitions, lol.

    My Sunday Post

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    1. Jenni Elyse - I will be in the office this next week and am not sure yet where I will have to camp out. The office space I am supposed to be using now won't be available for another couple weeks.

      I hope you like Andor when you do watch it. My daughter loves the cooking competitions. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  20. It's interesting to imagine sharing an office space with others. I imagine that it would save money for the employer.

    Your books look fantastic. Five Days at Memorial...whew. A difficult read for me.

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    1. Deb - We've outgrown our office space since we are in the process of expanding. Desk sharing makes sense if they let us continue to work a hybrid schedule but that isn't the end goal--a new building is--eventually. Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. Thanks for reminding me about the PBS / Ken Burns Holocaust series. I'd like to see that, though I'm sure it's quite bleak. We just finished the TV series Five Days at Memorial based on the book you have pictured .... and it is excellent and thought-provoking. see it if you can. Happy October!

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    1. Susan - I hope you do get a chance to see the U.S. and Holocaust series. I am not sure when I will be able to see Five Days at Memorial but I would like to. Thank you for visiting!

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  22. Good luck with the new office space and the physical therapy! Hope it helps your knee. Enjoy your books, the Haunted History especially caught my eye. I like the PBS documentaries also, especially the Ken Burns ones. You reminded me I need to watch the Andor series. Enjoy your week! And lol about your cat, Otis is the same, he wants to be on my lap at all times.

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    1. Naida - Thank you! They knee is healing slower than I would like but I am trying to remember that these things take time. I am back in the office tomorrow and from what I understand, the spot I'm supposed to work isn't ready yet. Looks like I will be desk hoping for awhile. Thank you for stopping by!

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  23. As always loving your wonderfully eclectic collection of books, especially, with Halloween only weeks away, those featuring witches ... several have just been added to my Wish List.
    Good to catch up with what you are watching also, we are busy watching Season 6 of Lucifer and Season 2 of Game Of Thrones. I tried she Hulk but I'm afraid its not to my liking but then neither were the films, I loved the original series.

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    1. Felicity - My husband and I enjoyed Lucifer and hope you will too. I saw the first season of Game of Thrones but haven't seen any further in the series. She Hulk is a bit different. We enjoyed it, although it's not my favorite of the Marvel series. Thank you for visiting!

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