Weekly Mews: Bookish Mewsings and a September Birthday

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.

  

 

This week, I finally finished reading Small Island by Andrea Levy. I was a little disappointed that no confetti fell from above when I read the last line. I also was able to fit in Sweep With Me (Innkeeper Chronicles #4.5) by Ilona Andrews. 

I currently am reading The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley for my upcoming Mystery book club meeting and Nikki Payne's Pride and Protest. 

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List is hosted by Michelle at Because Reading. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile 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).  

Thank you to everyone who voted in this month's TBR List Poll! The winning book stayed in the lead all week, although it was a close contest. 

The two books that did not win were tied most of the week, but Murder at the Wham Bam Club (Psychics & Soul Food Mystery #1) by Carolyn Marie Wilkins came in second with six (6) votes in the end, with Zomromcom (Supernatural Entanglements #1) by Olivia Dade receiving four (4) votes. Winning with seven (7) votes is The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia!  I enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Moreno-Garcia and look forward to reading The Bewitching this month.

Thank you for voting!

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom
(Random House Audio, 1997; 3hr, 51m)
Source: Library

Am I the only parent who, upon hearing my daughter is reading a book for a class that I haven't read yet, picks up said book to read too? I have not done this every time (I still haven't gotten around to reading Holes) but I did reread The Outsiders last year because she was reading it in class. And this quarter, I decide to read Tuesdays with Morrie since she was reading it for school, especially since my library had a copy of the audiobook I could borrow. 

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

Mitch Albom had not seen his college professor Morrie Schwartz for almost twenty years, but when he saw an interview of him on television in which Morrie talked about his Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) diagnosis, Mitch decided to reach out to Morrie. The two began meeting regularly on Tuesdays, Mitch armed with his recorder to capture every word of Morrie's lessons on how to live. Morrie knew he was going to die but was not done teaching. His words, in part thanks to Mitch's memoir, would go on to inspire and offer comfort to generations of people, young and old.

The memoir, Tuesdays With Morrie, is sad in that it documents the final months of Morrie's life through Mitch's eyes (Lou Gehrig's Disease is cruel).  But it is also an inspiring story. Morrie had so much life and was so positive up until the end, even as he struggled to eat and could no longer care for himself. Mitch shares a little bit about his own experience, seeing his mentor deteriorate before him, but does not linger on those aspects long.

In the afterward of the 25th anniversary edition of the book, Mitch Albom explains that he wrote the book to help pay for Morrie's medical costs. The book ends with audio clips from conversations Mitch had with Morrie. It was very moving, hearing Morrie share some of his lessons in his own words.

My daughter's class is still working their way through this short memoir, and so she has not voiced an opinion on her reading experience yet. I look forward to hearing what she takes away from it when she is finished with it.

"Be compassionate," Morrie whispered. "And take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, this world would be so much better a place." 

He took a breath, then added his mantra: "Love each other or die." [excerpt from Tuesday with Morrie]

A Silence in Belgrave Square (A Below Stairs Mystery #8) by Jennifer Ashley
(Berkley, 2025; 311 pgs)
Source: Thank you to the publisher for sending me a e-copy via NetGalley for an honest review

I settled right into Jennifer Ashley's 8th book of the Below Stairs mystery series and it felt like coming home. This is by far one of my favorite historical mystery series. I am very attached to the characters and enjoy every moment spent with them, and this time was no different.

Valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must uncover the secrets of Victorian London’s most elite noblemen to save the man she loves.

It is not like Daniel McAdam to be so open with Kat about his upcoming mission, but with the stakes so high, Daniel hopes Kat will realize just how dangerous the situation is and stay far away. This is supposed to be his last mission for his boss, whose relationship with Daniel is contentious at best. Daniel should know better than assume warning away Kat will have any effect. But then again, he probably does know she will not be able to help herself. Kat enlists the help of an old friend to keep an eye on Daniel in a way she cannot. In the meantime, Kat has her own job as head cook to worry about, not to mention those blackmail letters that several of her friends and colleagues have been receiving. With a blackmailer to catch, a threat against the Crown to thwart, and now a murderer to catch (because there indeed was a murder), Kat and Daniel have their work cut out for them.

I especially enjoy seeing Kat put her connections to good use in getting into places and finding the answers she seeks. She's resourceful and well-respected among many across different classes. She doesn't see herself as better than those whose situation is not as good as her own. She knows all too well what it is like to be down on one's luck. In A Silence in Belgrave Square, we're reminded of some of those strong loyal friends Kat has made, whether it's them putting their trust in her, doing her a favor, or looking out for her.

Kat and Daniel's relationship through the series has been a slow burn romance, which I have enjoyed seeing unfold. The ever mysterious Daniel clearly adores Kat and will do anything for her. Even Grace, Kat's daughter has come to enjoy Daniel's visits when the three of them are able to be together. We have watched Grace grow over the course of the novels. She's growing into quite the young lady.

A Silence in Belgrave Square is full of moments that made me sigh in delight and gasp in concern as trouble came. This book felt like a turning point in the series, and I am eager to see the direction the author will take her characters in future books. 

Sweep with Me (Innkeeper Chronicles #4.5) by Ilona Andrews
(NYLA, 2020; 146 pgs)
Source: Own TBR

I feel like I am spoiling myself, reading books in two of my favorite series back to back. The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews is my favorite of this husband and wife writing team's books. In my dream life, I would be an Innkeeper to a sentient and magical house like Gertrude Hunt too.

It is Dina Demille who is, in fact, Innkeeper of Gertrude Hunt, a bed and breakfast in Red Deer Texas, along with her wolf shapeshifter boyfriend, Sean Evans. Gertrude Hunt is one of several special inns that serve as safe havens and portals between worlds. Treaty Stay is a special holiday for Innkeepers, one that celebrates the ancient treaty that united the Inns and set the rules for the Inns in an effort to protect them, their intergalactic guests, and those on Earth, most of whom are unaware of the planets and worlds beyond their knowledge. This time of year, on Treaty Stay, Innkeepers are unable to turn away guests, and so it is with open, however reluctant, arms Dina and Sean welcome their latest guests, and, of course, everything goes array. Or, at least some things do. Seeing Dina in her element is one of my favorite parts of the series. She has to put out several fires, get creative in helping her guests find solutions to their problems, including her own chef Orro, who loses faith in himself when he cannot make a fast food hamburger taste as bad as the real thing. Then there is the human determined to get into Gertrude Hunt to confront one of Dina's more distinguished guests--the lengths his hired help go through and the trouble they face was quite entertaining! Dina has her own worries, concerned that her connection with Gertrude Hunt is not as strong as it once was. Sweep with Me was full of humorous moments (space chickens, anyone?) and several touching ones too. I hated that Sweep with Me was so short. I am never ready to leave Dina's world.

Small Island by Andrea Levy
(Picador, 2004; 441 pgs)
Source: Own TBR

Although I was not able to read Small Island with my Historical Fiction book club in June, I decided I still wanted to read it on my own. Now I wish I could go back in time and attend the meeting because there is so much to discuss! 

Hortense Joseph arrives in London from Jamaica in 1948 with her life in her suitcase, her heart broken, her resolve intact. Her husband, Gilbert Joseph, returns from the war expecting to be received as a hero, but finds his status as a black man in Britain to be second class. His white landlady, Queenie, raised as a farmer's daughter, befriends Gilbert, and later Hortense, with innocence and courage, until the unexpected arrival of her husband, Bernard, who returns from combat with issues of his own to resolve. 

Told in these four voices, Small Island is a courageous novel of tender emotion and sparkling wit, of crossings taken and passages lost, of shattering compassion and of reckless optimism in the face of insurmountable barriers---in short, an encapsulation of the immigrant's life.

I confess I was not sure I would finish this book at first. The slow pacing combined with a character I did not connect with right away made me doubtful this would be a book I would enjoy, but then it happened and I was invested and found my heart aching for these characters, each with their own struggles, disappointments, and heartaches. The novel takes the reader back and forth in time, before World War II, during the war, and after, jumping back and forth as we get to know each of the four main characters.

Hortense and Gilbert Joseph hope for a better life in England, the "Mother Country," when they emigrate from Jamaica. Hortense has dreams of living in a big house with a real door bell and getting a job as a teacher. Gilbert wants to be a lawyer. The reality of their situation hits them full force when they arrive (separately) in London, trading life on one "small" island for another. Not only do they face the struggle of putting together a life in a new place with doors closed in their face and opportunities limited, but also with the classism and racism of a society that looks down on them because of their situation and color of their skin. Hortense especially has a hard time adjusting, her expectations of a better life dashed and being completely unprepared. While Gilbert may have been my favorite character through most of the novel, Hortense stands out as my favorite now that I have finished it. I did not care for her much at first, I admit, finding her haughty and somewhat dismissive, but the more I got to know her, instead I saw an unfaltering confident and courageous woman. 

Queenie and Bernard Bligh, white and privileged, offer their own perspectives of life during a tumultuous time in English history. Queenie is a particularly interesting character, a farmer's daughter, who gladly left that behind to live in the city. She married Bernard more for security and stability than love, I feel. I got the impression she was always wanting more out of her life, never quite satisfied and is often lonely. During the war, she helps families who have been displaced from the bombings in London and later takes in boarders to help with the bills during her husband's long absence during and after the war. Her neighbors are not too keen on the idea that she takes in Black boarders, but Queenie does not care. And then there is her husband. Bernard's experiences in the war have left him with many deep scars. He seemed to be the most stuck and the least likeable of the characters. He clearly has some deep-seated prejudice against non-whites.

Andrea Levy's Small Island is a multi-layered and thoughtful book that is at times subtle and other times more hard hitting. Having the four different perspectives only enhanced this nuanced novel. There was much sadness in this novel given the struggles and hardships the characters faced, but there is also hope, even when things seem impossible.

"Listen to me, man, we both just finish fighting a war - a bloody war - for the better world we wan' see.  And on the same side - you and me. We both look on other men to see enemy. You and me, fighting for empire, fighting for peace. But still, after all that we suffer together, you wan' tell me I am worthless and you are not. Am I to be the servant and you are the master for all time? No. Stop this man. Stop it now. We can work together, Mr. Bligh. You no see? We must. Or else you just gonna fight me till the end." [excerpt from Small Island]

If you have ready any of these, I would like to know your thoughts! Do any of them sound like books you would like to read?

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. 

This week every year is always a mix of joy and sadness. There's my birthday (yay!), followed by the anniversaries of the deaths of my grandmother and my father. Let's focus on the good stuff: 

1. A nice birthday lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory with my family (my mom, husband and daughter)! We also stopped by the bookstore and mall (Mouse needed new shoes) before heading home. 

Gifts from my mom: 

Shakespeare playing cards, a reading journal, and bookish-themed socks! 

No picture of the bird feeder as we still need to put it together

 

2.  My husband and daughter surprised me with an ice cream birthday cake on my actual birthday. My favorite kind of cake (mint chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate cake)! 

3. Being able to open the windows and enjoy a breeze coming through the house Friday morning. In the early evening I was able to open them again, and enjoyed listening to my neighbor's music filtering in. My work day was done and I enjoyed being in that moment.

What have you been up to this past week? 

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

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© 2025, 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.

From the Archives: Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys & We Carry Their Bones by Erin Kimmerle

I am reviving my From the Archives feature from years ago, in which I featured books I journaled about during my pre-blogging days. This new version will feature books I journaled about but did not review on my blog at the time I read them. 

As I get closer to finishing Tananarive Due's The Reformatory, my thoughts keep coming back to two particular books I read in the summer of 2023. All three books are linked together through their setting and history. I actually had written a review for the original two books back then that I meant to add to, polish and post, but for some reason I never did. I do not remember why now. Most of my From the Archive posts come straight from my journal and are not as well put together or lengthy as this one.  

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Anchor Books, 2019

Fiction/Historical; 210 pgs
Source: Own TBR

We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys by Erin Kimmerle

William Morrow, 2022

Nonfiction; 256 pgs

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

In 2023, I set a goal for myself to read at least one fiction/nonfiction pairing, and I settled on Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys and We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys by Erin Kimmerle. I read The Nickel Boys first and followed it with Erin Kimmerle’s book. Even though Colson Whitehead’s novel is a work of fiction, I couldn’t help but think of his characters as I read the nonfiction book, We Carry Their Bones. Erin Kimmerle is a forensic anthropologist with the University of South Florida who took on the task of not only locating the school’s graveyard to determine the number of graves there actually were, but also to figure out who was buried there so the families of those boys could finally get answers as to what happened to them.

The Nickel Boys is a novel set in 1960’s Florida about two boys at a so-called reform school for delinquent and wayward boys. Elwood Curtis was neither of those things. Abandoned by his parents, he was raised by his grandmother. He did well in school, held down a job, and was about to enroll in a class at the local black college. At a time when having dark skin itself was enough to be considered a crime by many of the white people in power, an innocent mistake was all it took for Elwood to be arrested and sentenced to the Nickel Academy. Elwood quickly learned that life at the Nickel Academy would be more than difficult. He is befriended by Turner, another inmate at the school who helps Elwood navigate life at the Nickel.

Touted as a school that will teach boys how to be “honorable and honest men,” the Nickel Academy was anything but. The school was divided into two halves due to the segregation of the times. While treatment on both sides was bad, it was much worse for the boys on the non-white side. Resources were scarce, mostly because of the corruption among officials and tradesmen. The boys were a free source of labor. The boys suffered all kinds of abuse—physical, sexual, and emotional—and their living conditions were horrendous. Children were chained to the walls as punishment or locked in tiny spaces and kept in isolation. Everyone knew what being taken the White House meant. Beatings and torture of the boys were common place. Some boys were taken away and never came back.

Whitehead, among other sources, uses Kimmerle’s research and findings to help shape his novel, The Nickel Boys, making it more personal and tangible in a way that only historical fiction can. His characters may be fictional, but, as Kimmerle’s research shows, what the characters had to endure and suffer through was very much the way of life at the real Dozier School for Boys. The White House is a real place as was Boot Hill, where many bodies of boys were (and some still are) buried. There were no markers and just how many people were buried there and exactly why and how they died was a point of contention based on faulty and missing records. School records show 31 bodies were in the school’s graveyard, however, Kimmerle unearthed nearly double that amount. Children of all ages were found buried, their causes of death from pneumonia, fire, blunt force trauma, and gunshots among possibly others.

The Nickel Boys was my first Colson Whitehead novel, and I found it to be extremely well written. My heart broke for Elwood, Turner, and all the other boys in the novel. The book also made me very angry at the treatment and torture these boys endured. As I read Nickel Boys, I could not help but think of some of the children I have worked with over the years in my own profession. Children who are troubled, neglected and abused. These children are not so different from the children who were forced to stay at schools like Nickel and Dozier. While I would like to believe schools like this and the treatment the children received have long since ceased, it would not be surprising to find out that is not the case. Racial disproportionality and disparity continue to be a major problem throughout the United States within the schools, child welfare and criminal justice systems, and in the medical field.

I loved Erin Kimmerle’s energy and dedication in helping identify and reunifying the boys of Dozier School for Boys with their families. Seeing the struggle she, her team, and the families of those boys had to go through to get to get answers was beyond frustrating. The roadblocks the local and state government, law enforcement, and other officials put up to hinder the truth coming out did not stop them though. This was not a secret that people wanted to get out. Even those who supported the efforts from the beginning or came around later to seeing the necessity and value in giving these boys some semblance of justice were afraid to publicly give their support, instead offering it in whispers and in private. It is shameful the lengths taken to try to stop the truth from getting out about the school and what went on there. The families of the boys, Kimmerle, and other supporters persevered, however. 

Kimmerle also provides context and history in her book—what lead to the creation of the school and how it endured as long as it did despite the many complaints, legal issues, and attempts to close the school there were. The school finally closed in 2011. It was open for about 111 years all told. Kimmerle and her team used ground penetrating radar to locate and map the graveyard to determine how many graves there really are and then begin the process of exhuming the bones and using forensic science, including DNA testing, to identify the deceased.  

Both authors touch on the long term repercussions and damage caused to the psyches of the boys who survived Nickel/Dozier. The nightmares and post-traumatic stress symptoms, in particular. The school accepted children as young as five and six years old, often for minor transgressions such as trespassing and truancy or even using profanity. Their education was scant and they were more often forced to work. To think this was just one school among many of its kind at the time. 

Both The Nickel Boys and We Carry Their Bones are excellent books in their own right. Reading the books back to back enriched my reading experience. There is so much more I want to say about these two books and my thoughts here don't really do them or the history described in their pages justice. 

I have not yet seen The Nickel Boys movie, but I do hope to soon. Perhaps after I finish reading The Reformatory. Have you read either of these books? If so, what did you think? 

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© 2025, 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.

Top Ten Tuesday: Twelve Nonfiction Books I Never Got Around to Reviewing

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books I Never Reviewed, and there's a lot. But today I thought I would focus on twelve nonfiction books I never got around to reviewing. 

Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic by Anthony Almojera 

Mariner Books, 2022; 256 pgs

Following one paramedic into hell and back, Riding the Lightning tells the story of New York City’s darkest days through the eyes of one extraordinary medic and the New Yorkers he serves—and serves with: ordinary people who will continue to make New York an extraordinary place long after it has been reborn from the ashes of 2020.

Paramedic Anthony Almojera had a difficult job on a good day. During the worst of the pandemic, he and all first responders faced an impossible job. They had to improvise when resources were scarce and faced overwhelming odds. I came away from this memoir feeling even more grateful for those on the frontlines during the worst of it. So much heartbreak can be found in the pages of this book, but also enduring strength and compassion. Rating: Very Good

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
Viking, 2019; 304 pgs

Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. SHOUT speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice—and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.

I read Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Speak years ago and it spoke to me personally. It is one of my all time favorite books. In Shout, a memoir-in-verse, the author shares her own story and experience, including some of the feedback she's received about the impact impact Speak has had on many women's lives despite attempted bans. I cried alongside her, felt empowered right along with her, and will never stop recommending her books. Rating: Outstanding

Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black 
Transworld Digital, 2020; 344 pgs

Our bones are the silent witnesses to the lives we lead. Our stories are marbled into their marrow.

Forensic science and anthropology have always been an interest of mine, and I was excited at the opportunity to read Sue Black's Written in Bone, and it did not disappoint. The real life examples and science the author shared were fascinating. Rating: Very Good

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
Baker Books, 2018; 156 pgs

For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.

It is hard to resist a book about books and reading, and when I came across Anne Bogel's I'd Rather Be Reading, I had to read it. Her essays to be extremely relatable and I walked away with a longer wish list and feeling like she got me. Rating: Very Good +

The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown
St. Martin's Press, 2021; 327 pgs

In 2017, DNA tests revealed to the collective shock of many scholars that a Viking warrior in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden was actually a woman. The Real Valkyrie weaves together archaeology, history, and literature to imagine her life and times, showing that Viking women had more power and agency than historians have imagined.

I found the way Nancy Marie Brown wove literature and history together with recent archaeology findings interesting. I loved that the literature from so long ago supports the theory that women were warriors as well. The author also provides evidence of how that history was suppressed over time by a growing religious movement that supported more patriarchal views. Rating: Good +

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Jen Gunter

Citadel, 2021; 386 pgs

Frank and funny, Dr. Jen debunks misogynistic attitudes and challenges the over-mystification of menopause to reveal everything you really need to know about [it].

After a disappointing visit with my general practitioner in which I raised questions about menopause (and it was clearly not in her wheelhouse), I was grateful for Dr. Jen Gunter's book on the subject. It was not only informative but also provided me with other respected resources to check out. I had hoped for more in-depth insights of some of the possible symptoms regarding peri-menopause than were provided, but I found the information on pharmaceuticals and the companies behind them very informative. Rating: Good +

 

Becoming by Michelle Obama 
Crown, 2018; 426 pgs

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same. [Goodreads Summary]

I have always thought highly of Michelle Obama and my respect for her only grew after reading her memoir. Rating: Very Good +

Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookiee, Laugh Like a Hobbit: Life Lessons from Pop Culture by Robb Pearlman
Smart Pop, 2021; 112 pgs

Much like a dragon-guarded mountain filled with stolen dwarf gold, Pop Culture is far more than just a side quest or afternoon's entertainment: it contains a veritable treasure trove overflowing with life lessons.

Robb Pearlman's book was funny and full of pop cultural references and the lessons we take away from our favorite stories. This book was philosophical and thoughtful, written in the  format of a conversation between cos-players at a convention. Rating: Good +

Dressed for Freedom: The Fashionable Politics of American Feminism by Einav Rabinovitch-Fox
University of Illinois Press, 2021; 288 pgs

Often condemned as a form of oppression, fashion could and did allow women to express modern gender identities and promote feminist ideas. Einav Rabinovitch-Fox examines how clothes empowered women, and particularly women barred from positions of influence due to race or class. 

This was a surprising reading choice for me given I am not too interested in fashion, but the historical aspect of fashion as a political statement was enough to make me want to give it a try. While this book was a bit more academic than I generally prefer, I did find it interesting--reading about the history of fashion from the 1890's through the 1970's and the way women have used fashion to make statements in regards to their bodies, femininity and social roles, including how it spilled over into feminist activism. It is well researched and documented. It took me awhile to read this one, but I did find it a worthwhile read. Rating:  Good

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed

Hanover Square Press, 2024; 272 pgs

 In this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud-funny collection, Reed shares surprising stories from her life as a reader and the poignant ways in which books have impacted her students. From the varied novels she cherishes to the ones she didn’t, Reed takes us on a rollicking tour through the comforting world of literature, celebrating the books we love, the readers who love them and the surprising ways in which literature can transform us for the better.

This collection of essays from a booklover and teacher is both relatable and interesting. I especially enjoyed her essays about her experiences with her students and some of the discussions they had regarding the books they were reading. Shannon Reed believes in reading for the enjoyment of it first and foremost, and I definitely agree with that! Rating: Good +

You'll Never  Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar

Grand Central Publishing, 2021; 241 pgs

Writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers Amber Ruffin writes with her sister Lacey Lamar with humor and heart to share absurd anecdotes about everyday experiences of racism. 

While people tend to be much more familiar with overt racism, less attention is given to the everyday microaggressions Black people deal with while out running errands, at work, or just being out in public in general. Amber and Lacey share their experiences with a good dose of humor, but it does not take away how thoughtless and hurtful such comments and acts can be, whether seemingly intentional or not. We all need to do better. Rating: Very Good

Brown Girls Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014; 366 pgs

Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.

I have a soft spot for stories told in verse and Brown Girls Dreaming is one of my favorites. Jacqueline Woodson shares her experiences growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, raised in South Carolina and New York, at a time when the Civil Rights movement was growing. This is a powerful collection of poems, a coming of age story full of heart and soul. Rating: Very Good 

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? If not, do any appeal to you? 

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© 2025, 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.

Weekly Mews: My Thoughts on The Wolf Den Trilogy, Being Mortal, & The Mystery Guest (& What Everyone Else is Reading)

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.

We are approaching the end of January, and I cannot tell you whether this month has gone by fast or slow. Sometimes it feels like one or the other and rarely in between. I have been moderating my news intake, wanting to stay informed but also not be overwhelmed. It is hard not to be overwhelmed though, feeling sadness, anger, and dread set in. I cannot imagine my father and grandfather, both veterans, would have been happy with the state of the U.S. right now if they were alive. They did not serve their country for this.

I find solace in my reading and with my family. After a day of running errands yesterday, I settled in to finish reading The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, while my husband and daughter entertained themselves listening to music, following along and reading the conductor's score which they had up on the television set. I am not even close to being well-versed in reading music, but I love that they are. They were a distraction from my reading, but I did not mind at all. I made the mistake of affectionately calling them my music nerds and was quickly corrected. My daughter preferring "fangirling over music" while my husband called it "geeking out over music." 

Today has been lowkey. I am doing laundry as I try to rush out this post to you--even as late as it is. 

What have you been up to? I hope you are well!

I just started Home and Away by Rochelle Alers, a dual narrative novel about a present day journalist and her great-grandfather's recollections of the his years with the Negro Baseball Leagues during the 1930's and 1940's. I will soon be cracking open Murder in the Dressing Room, a cozy mystery by Holly Stars. I also hope to read Heartstoppers, Vol. 2 by Alice Oseman this week. 

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

This past week I finished three books. Let's take a look! 

The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose
Ballantine Books, 2023
Mystery/Cozy; 289 pgs
Source: From the publisher via NetGalley

When an acclaimed author dies at the Regency Grand Hotel, it's up to a fastidious maid to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty. [From the Publisher]

Many thanks to everyone who voted for The Mystery Guest in my January TBR poll this month! It was a delight to read. This is a billed as a stand alone novel featuring Molly Gray, a character introduced in Nita Prose's mystery novel, The Maid, which I read three years ago and enjoyed immensely. The Mystery Guest is set four years after the events in The Maid. Molly Gray takes her role as Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel very seriously. She is neurodivergent and struggles to read social and conversational cues, but she is extremely observant, often noticing details others miss or overlook. When a famous mystery author drops dead just as he is about to make a big announcement to his adoring fans in the hotel's newly refurbished tearoom, Molly and her maid-in-training, Lily, are among the prime suspects in his murder. 

I love the humor dispersed throughout the novel. Molly is as unconventional a character as she is endearing, with her quirks and resilience. It turns out she and Mr. Grimthorpe, the murdered author, knew each other when she was a child, although he didn't recognize her when they meet again at the hotel. Through flashbacks, the reader is given a glimpse into Molly's past, including her memories of her beloved Gran, who raised her. Gran is ever present in Molly's life even if just in her memories. The lessons and love she bestowed on Molly played a big role in who Molly is today. The reader also gains more insight into Molly and her family history, adding emotional depth to the characters. In addition, the more we learn about the Grimthorpes, the family her Gran once served as a housemaid, the more light is shed on just what type of person Mr. Grimthorpe was and why someone might want him dead. 

There are familiar side characters like Angela, the bartender, and Mr. Snow, the hotel manager, the annoying Cheryl--and my favorite, Mr. Preston, the hotel's doorman--who I was glad to see again (well, maybe not Cheryl). Detective Stark was back, having made her first appearance in The Maid. What I especially appreciated in The Mystery Guest was how Detective Stark's character grew over the course of the novel. Everyone underestimates Molly, and Detective Stark was among them, misjudging Molly in The Maid, and again in The Mystery Guest--at least at first--but once she gets to know Molly better, she realizes how valuable her skills and way of looking at things can be. 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Mystery Guest. It was a solid mystery that pulled at my heartstrings, made me laugh, and was an all around entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what Nita Prose has in store for us next!

*

The Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper (Union Square & Co; Historical Fiction)

The Wolf Den (#1) (2021; 422 pgs)

The House with the Golden Door (Wolf Den #2) (2022; 474 pgs)

The Temple of Fortuna (Wolf Den #3) (2023; 352 pgs)

[While I attempted to avoid including major spoilers, I am reviewing all three books below. The first part of the review is generalized, and then I break it down by each book]

In anticipation of this month's historical book club read, The Temple of Fortuna, I read the first two books in the trilogy on my own late last year. Together, these books paint an amazing portrait of the life and times in Pompeii from the eyes of often overlooked women. Her descriptions of Pompeii, her characters, and their lives came off the pages and stayed with me even when I was not reading. The Wolf Den Trilogy is well-researched and based on factual events and discoveries. While none of the main characters were real life people, there were a few important side characters that were real. I was enamored by the descriptions of Pompeii and Rome, the architecture, the murals, and the lives of the people. Elodie Harper brought all of that to life. 

The novels' characters are multi-layered and well-developed. The main focus is on Amara, but so many of the other characters stand out as well, some I came to love even more, like Britannica, who was by far my favorite. And oh, how I loathed Felix, Amara's pimp and nemesis, throughout the trilogy. I had no idea Julia Felix was a real historical figure until I read the author's acknowledgements. How I loved her and Livia! 

The trilogy starts with the novel, The Wolf Den, in which the reader is introduced to Amara, once the beloved child of a doctor in Greece, sold by her impoverished mother as a concubine, and later enslaved in a brothel in Pompeii. Amara hates her life as a prostitute and despises her pimp even more. She is ambitious and resourceful, determined to find her way out of her current situation, even as impossible as that may seem. 

The women of that time had little freedom, even when they were free. Through Elodie Harper's novels, we see how strong the bonds of friendship can be and also how fragile in the most desperate or darkest of situations. Forced together by circumstance in the brothel, we see friendships bloom, the women trying to make the most of their situations and look out for each other. 

There is a lot of loss in the first novel of the trilogy. The Wolf Den was at times desperately sad, these women's situation often feeling helpless. It gets worse before it gets better for Amara, with the loss of a dear friend nearly breaking her. My heart broke over and over for these women. 

The second novel, The House with the Golden Door, brought some hope in the way of Amara's promotion to the life of a courtesan. While technically now free, she is still beholden to a man, this time in the form of her patron. It takes time for Amara to adjust to her life away from the brothel. She misses her old friends and feels alone. She, however, is able to make new connections and find a way to solidify her position. Or so it seems. Her position is still precarious. She must keep her patron's interest to maintain her new lifestyle, and she quickly begins to realize that is easier said than done. He isn't the man she thought he was. Amara must be resourceful and cunning if she wants to survive. Friendships are tested and Amara has more difficult choices to make. Although I enjoyed this second novel in the trilogy a lot, I did not find it quite as good as the first. I questioned some of Amara's choices, feeling that they put her more at risk than was wise. While the first book made me sad, this second was full of tense, hair pulling moments. 

The Temple of Fortuna finds Amara in Rome, with a new more wealthy and powerful patron. Someone who admires her skills and intelligence. Demetrius is much older than Amara and not the love match she perhaps would hope for, but he does provide for her and respects her in a way her previous patron did not. Demetrius is not cruel, but he is detached and sometimes cold. Amara knows he cares about her, but is not sure he is capable of loving her. When he unknowingly places her in a dangerous position that threatens their safety, he sends her back to Pompeii temporarily, but not before asking her to marry him. Returning to Pompeii is both a joy and a hardship. Amara is happy to return to old friends, but she also must face the guilt she has for leaving behind her young daughter and the girl's father. Their lives are so much different now, her daughter doesn't even know her. And then there is Felix who will never leave her alone. 

Let's not forget, however, that the trilogy is set in 79 CE. In this final book of the trilogy, Pompeii meets its end with the eruption of Pompeii. The panic, fear and devastation from the volcano's eruption described in the pages of the book were visceral. It made the tension I felt reading The House with the Golden Door seem so minor in comparison. Based on her research, Elodie Harper describes what she believed the experience might have been like for her characters as well as the recovery process that followed.

There is more I want to say, but I suppose we already are in spoiler territory. If Fortuna existed, it could be said she had a hand in how certain events played out. I found The Temple of Fortuna to be a satisfying ending to the trilogy--perhaps my favorite of the three because of it. 

I have so many thoughts about this entire trilogy and so many different aspects I could write about. I talked about these books as I was reading them so much that even my husband became interested in learning more about Pompeii and the recent findings found among the ruins. I highly recommend this series to historical fiction lovers.

*

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Metropolitan Books, 2014
Nonfiction (Health/Sociology/Science); 282 pgs
Source: Own TBR/Gift

In Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending. [From the Publisher]

Death and dying are difficult topics to talk about, and even more to face, and yet it is a part of all of our lives. With empathy and compassion, Atul Gawande offers a glimpse at the history of the care for those who are terminally ill and the elderly reaching the end of their lives, and how medicine has shaped that process, for both good and bad. I went into this book expecting it to be depressing and sad, and while it was sad, in a strange way, it was, at times, comforting. 

Medicine is a wonderful thing, meant to help fix problems and cure diseases. But there comes a time when we have to question whether medicine is doing more harm than good, when quality is sacrificed at the expense of prolonging life. The medical profession is not set up to stop trying to fix the patient, and Dr. Gawande suggests this is a problem. Where do you draw the line between extending life that only extends suffering? The answer may vary from individual to individual. It is a personal choice, the answer different for everyone. It's all about choices and deciding what is important to us. 

Having a doctor who is willing to listen and take our concerns, fears, and wishes into consideration is ideal, but unfortunately not always reality. The author talks about a variety of different approaches doctors take with their patients, some more effective than others. Some doctors make all the decisions, the Doctor Knows Best approach, while other doctors leave the decision entirely to the patient, giving them all the options available, which can be overwhelming. Ultimately, what works best, he says, is when the doctor offers information, choices, and guidance, a combination of both. He discussed how important listening to the patient is and how the language used in how patients are approached can make a huge difference in providing them the support and comfort they need. 

Dr. Gawande's research lead him to communities in which the infirm and dependent elderly could live a more socially fulfilling life. One where they can maintain some semblance of independence. He writes at length about the value of palliative care, including hospice, and how it can provide a dignified and more comfortable way for the dying to spend their final weeks or days. And in some instances, people can have both, treatment and palliative care, which research has shown can decrease hospital visits, expenses, and increase the quality of a person's life.

It was impossible not to relate this book to my own family. In reflecting back to my grandmother's slow decline, her dementia and the type of care she received in the 1990's, to my father's sudden passing over 13 years ago, even with his health issues leading up to it, and to my father-in-law's drawn out death due to metastatic lung cancer the year before last. I also couldn't help but think of my mom. She is able to live independently, but slowing down, with health issues cropping up. We are all getting older. As he often does, my husband listened to my thoughts on the books as I read, and we shared some of our own fears and wishes. Neither one of us has completed our Advance Health Care Directives yet, but I think I am ready. I started to once but became overwhelmed. I appreciated Dr. Gawande's more compassionate approach on such a difficult subject matter and can only hope that there are more doctors like him out there and that communities like those he wrote about, those focusing on quality of life, continue to flourish and become more of the norm. Challenge Read: 2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

What was the last book you finished? Would you recommend it?  

Where I share what everyone else in my family is reading

~ Mouse ~

The Strange House, Vol. 1 by Uketsu, illustrated by Kyo Ayano

Haikyu!!, Vol. 1 by Haruichi Furudate

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising Sequence, #1) by Susan Cooper

~ Anjin's Reads ~

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and the Future of Blizzard Entertainment by Jason Schreier

Too Many Heroines!, Vol. 2 by Takibi Amamori, illustrated by Imigimuru

~ My Mom ~

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

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

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz - With all the worries and stressors in life, 

I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1. As I lay reading in bed last night, it started to rain outside. Such a beautiful sound! It rained again not too long ago. The perfect Sunday. 

2. My historical book club met late yesterday afternoon to discuss The final book in The Wolf Den Trilogy, The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper. We had a good discussion. We spent a little time looking over maps of Pompei, including photos of the ruins, which was fun.

3. Anjin, Mouse, and I visited our local independent bookstore this weekend to pick up my pre-order that had come in (I'll share that next weekend) along with a few other books we found. It's always a pleasure to chat with the staff--and I got $10 off my purchase! 

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

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