Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Sunday Post: Happy Easter!

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to 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.

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate! Come Sunday morning, in which we all hopefully will be sleeping in a bit, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt, baskets overflowing with candy and gifts ("overflowing" might be an exaggeration), and maybe some cotton candy making. Easter would probably be better named "Sugar High Day" in our house. I may drag everyone out of the house for a walk. It's been such a beautiful weekend. To be honest, if it weren't for Mouse, we probably would not do much at all for Easter. It's really just another day for us.

What are you up to today? Are you spending the day with family or do you have something else planned?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

How much of your day is devoted to your blog, and how much is devoted to reading? (submitted by Elizabeth)

How much blogging and reading I get in depends a lot on life factors. Work and family and other obligations. As much as I enjoy blogging, it is not my top priority. It often gets set aside for other things, which is why I take breaks now and then and am not able to post every day. Unfortunately, sometimes my reading suffers too.

I devote time every day to reading--it's never as much as I would like. I spend maybe twenty to twenty-five minutes reading during my lunch break at work. And then I try to read some in the evenings or before bed. Some weekends I am able to get in a lot read, but most weekends I get very little reading done. Sometimes the only reading I am able to fit in is five minutes here and there. I read when I can.

Fridays are usually the day I try to do most of my blog writing, including reviews and prepping posts for the upcoming week. Although, it is not uncommon for me to take days to write one post because I do not have a lot of time in one sitting to work on my blog. To help with my time constraints, I often will set up the skeleton and formatting of a post weeks or days ahead, so that when I am ready to write that review or some other post, it's much easier to do. I answer comments on my blog and visit other blogs throughout the week when I can, but the timing is rather sporadic. I do not always get a chance to blog on the weekends, although I try to get on the computer Saturday nights before bed to put up my Sunday Post.

I probably do read less than I would if I wasn't blogging. I enjoy the community aspect of blogging too much to give it up though. How about you? How much time do you devote to reading and blogging?

What I Am Reading: March is always a slow reading month for me. It's such a busy month, really. This weekend I began reading Elizabeth Percer's All Stories Are Love Stories. I am not too far in, but I was pulled in right away. The San Francisco setting, the earthquakes and fire seem a fitting way to end March--that's the way I ended February too, after all.

What I Am Watching: I did not have the chance to watch much this past week. This past week's episode of The Walking Dead was not as action packed as previous episodes, but was still a meaningful one. I went through my usual "I hate this show!" moment. It's not true; I do not hate the show. I just don't like it when bad things happen to characters I like.

Around the Blogosphere:

A DAY IN THE LIFE – 2016 EVENT LINK-UP (because to link up all the Day in the Life posts I want to share would be overwhelming)
Charlotte Bronte and Her Best Friend's Broken Promise (an article my husband shared with me)

What's Going On Off the Blog: With my boss on vacation and several schools in the county on spring break, work was a bit slower this past week--a nice change after an extra busy February and early March. This coming week will be a full one of meetings and our big staff appreciation event (I am a part of the planning committee). Hopefully everything will go smoothly!

This past Friday Mouse and I toured a local daycare center we are considering for after school care this coming school year. It's a private run center not too far from our house. Everything was very clean, and I was impressed overall with the layout and the programs they offer. While most of the staff seemed very friendly and worked well with the children that were there, I was a little put off by the woman giving us the tour. Maybe she was having a bad day. It's hard to say. Her answers to my questions were brief, and she didn't seem all that enthusiastic to be there--or talking to me. For all the encouragement they gave me to bring Mouse with me on the tour, our host barely talked to her. Not that my daughter's the one that needs to be sold on the place, but it just seemed odd given it's a child care center.

I will be touring the on-campus program this next week at the school Mouse will be attending. If my phone conversation with the site coordinator is anything to go by, I am thinking this may be the route we go. It also happens to be the more affordable choice--which, in and of itself, is a big factor in its favor.

It was a pretty ordinary week otherwise. Mouse had her Easter party at school on Friday morning. Saturday Mouse had her soccer class and played at the park with her friend. We visited a nearby mall after for lunch and a little shopping. Mouse loves to go there because they have a play area for kids. How she has energy to play, play, play, I do not know. She made a friend and the two were running all over the play area, having a great time. We made it home in time to play a big elaborate game with Mouse's Barbie dolls. She even got her dad to play with us.

How was your week?

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

© 2016, Wendy Runyon of 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.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer

The locomotive engine belched billowing clouds of steam, a black-iron dragon chained to the tracks. ~ Opening of Delia's Shadow

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer

Tor Books, 2013

Crime Fiction (Historical, Paranormal); 336 pgs
Source: From the Publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

The majority of you who voted in my TBR List poll chose Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer as my February read, and I cannot thank you enough.

Delia Martin left her comfortable life in San Francisco behind in an effort to avoid the dead who haunt her, taking a job as a teacher on the East Coast. She is drawn back, however, by a ghost who has traveled a long way to ask for her help. Only Delia isn't sure what help she is being asked to provide exactly. Things begin fall into place when she arrives back in San Francisco. Her best friend's fiancé and his partner are in the middle of a serial murder investigation that has them stumped and frightened. The murders are growing more grisly and personal. And they are eerily similar serial murders that took place thirty years before. Could they be connected? Is it the same killer?

The ghost haunting Delia is becoming more powerful, and Delia is intent on finding out what she can about the woman's death and in stopping a killer from claiming anymore victims. The police are desperate for answers and Lieutenant Gabe Ryan is willing to do anything, including using unusual methods to catch the killer--like using a psychic.

Delia's Shadow has a strong sense of place. I have long been enamored with the city of San Francisco and its history. The novel is set nine years after the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906, just in time for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. The author paints a realistic portrait of the city during that time period. It was hard not to feel a part of it. Delia and Gabe are no strangers to loss, both having lost loved ones in the earthquake and fires that followed. While Delia has come to terms with the past, Gabe is still struggling to do so, unable and unwilling to completely move on. There is something about Delia, however, that awakens something inside him, and those strings to the past begin to loosen.

I quite liked Delia and her friends (although I wasn't too fond of Isadora, who I just didn't connect with at all). She has been able to see ghosts since childhood, and it became unbearable right after the terrible earthquake and fire that took her parents. She could not go anywhere without seeing ghost upon ghost. Returning home brings much of that back for Delia, but she uses it to her advantage, trying to learn to control her gift, and find justice for the victims of a serial killer.

The mystery is quite dark. The killer has the upper hand for much of the novel and even I was beginning to wonder if the good guys would ever find the murderer. The ghosts added to the atmosphere of the novel, making it all the more creepy and raising the stakes higher. I enjoyed every minute of it! Even so, I would not have minded more insight into the murderer, even beyond what was offered. While the romance plays a part in the novel, it isn't its strongest asset, I didn't think. I really liked both characters involved and hoped they would come together, but it took me awhile to buy into the romantic thread of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed Delia's Shadow quite a bit. I was happy to discover there are two more books to look forward to, featuring the same characters.

To learn more about Jaime Lee Moyer and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads and Twitter.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Once Upon A Time . . . I Joined Another Challenge

One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.

~ C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia

Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting the 10th annual Once Upon a Time Challenge. It has been many years since I last participated in the challenge, but I look forward to it every year. It's a sign that spring is finally upon us. Not to mention the challenge is a portal to so many wonderful and fantastical books, movies--and even games. The Once Upon a Time Challenge is designed for readers to explore books that fall into the realms of fairy tale, mythology, folklore, and fantasy. There are a number of ways to participate, which you can find detailed on the sign-up page of Carl's blog. The main goal is to have fun. If you don't have time in your schedule to read yet another book--watch a movie or television show or read a short story! There are many choices available to make participation easy for everyone. This is more about the book loving community sharing in the love of a story than it is about being a challenge.

I am going for the easiest, the Journey, which commits me to reading just one book. It can come from any of the four categories. I am taking the less-of-a-challenge path this time around, which works out best for me. Still, I hope to read more than just one book that fits the challenge between now and the close of the challenge on June 21st. And this might be a good excuse to re-watch Labyrinth, which my husband has been itching to do, for the Quest on Screen level. Maybe the last thirteen episodes of Haven I have to watch can count towards the challenge as well . . .

I started the year with the intention of joining the Once Upon a Time Challenge if I could, and so here I am, ready to start out on my journey. I hope you will join me!

Some of the books I am considering reading for the challenge (and because book lists are cool):

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker
Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes
The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
The Dragon Round by Stephen S. Power
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
The Order by A.C. Donaubauer
The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott
Ink Mage by Victor Gischler
Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch
Shelf Life: Fantastic Stories Celebrating Bookstores
Charming by James Elliott
Gifted Thief by Helen Harper
A Clockwork Heart by Liesel Schwarz
Curio by Evangeline Denmark
Hunter by Mercedes Lackey
The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? Are you taking part in the challenge?

Monday, March 21, 2016

Where Is My Bookmark? (03/22/2016)

I have finally dived into my March TBR List winner, The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). If ever there was a day to call in sick so I could read all day . . . I didn't. But I want to.

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

The buzz in the street was like the humming of flies. Photographers stood massed behind barriers patrolled by police, their long-snouted cameras poised, their breath rising like steam. Snow fell steadily on to hats and shoulders; gloved fingers wiped lenses clear. From time to time there came outbreaks of desultory clicking, as the watchers filled the waiting time by snapping the white canvas tent in the middle of the road, the entrance to the tall red-brick apartment block behind it, and the balcony on the top floor from which the body had fallen.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from Books And A Beat hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Teaser from 6% of The Cuckoo's Calling:

'It'd be better for John if he'd just accept the facts. She killed herself. The rest of the family have come to terms with it, I don't know why he can't.'

and at 7%:

It's a death threat,' she said.

'Oh yeah,' said Strike. 'Nothing to worry about. They come in about once a week.'

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

The opening paragraph is actually from the prologue, taking place three months before John walks into Private Investigator Cormoran Strike's office asking for help. I really like the opening, the description, the setting of the scene and climate. The teasers give you an idea of what the novel is about. I'm completely intrigued so far!

What are you reading at the moment? Is it anything you would recommend?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is the Top Ten Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Talked About Enough/In A While. I tried to stay away from the books I have recommended right and left of late--and there are many! All of these are books I love, but could probably use more recognition from me. The covers are linked to my reviews if you want to know about the books.

1.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson ~ This is such an important book dealing with sexual assault and the trauma and stigma that can follow.

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert ~ A sweeping historical novel about a girl diagnosed with leprosy. Such a beautiful an sad book that is one of my all time favorites.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett ~ This was such an interesting book, one that appealed to the mystery lover in me as well as the book lover. While I am not a book collector per say, I found this book to be entertaining and informative.

The Hollow Man by Oliver Harris ~ There's just something about a British crime fiction novel that cries out "read me!" And read it, I do. I really liked this gritty and complex novel.

5.

Moonlight Downs by Adrian Hyland ~ Not only was it the Central Australian setting that drew me to this novel, it was the mystery and characters as well. A very well written and intriguing crime fiction novel.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy ~ I think most of you, if not all, have heard of this novel. Sparse in writing, it is an unforgettable story about a father and his son striving to survive in an apocalyptic landscape.

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning ~ I fell head over heels for this urban fantasy novel featuring the fae. I STILL haven't read the second book in the series. It makes no sense why not. I really should.

8.

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond ~ This is a gem of a novel about a woman who is drawn into searching for her sister's killer years after her murder when a tell all book comes out about the crime, naming a perpetrator who swears he is innocent.

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli ~ This novel is about a female photojournalist during the Vietnam War. I have so much love for this book. The history, the setting, the story itself . . . It just so happens my mom is visiting Vietnam right now, and I am tempted to pick this book up again and read it.

10.

The Illusion of Separateness by Simon Van Booy ~ Told in the style of non-linear but connected stories, this was such an amazing book. It is the story of how one man's act of kindness touched the lives of others, spanning from World War II to the present.

Have you read any of these? What books would you recommend that you haven't talked about in awhile?

Sunday, March 20, 2016

A(nother) Day in the Life of Me

Trish of Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity is hosting the second annual "A Day in the Life" event, encouraging bloggers to share one day out of their lives with each other. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision on my part to participate. I can barely keep up with prep for my regular blog posts this month. How would I ever have time to do this one? And yet, on Saturday, March 19th, I found myself journaling my day . . . just in case.

Last year I recorded a work day in my life, and so this time around, I thought I would share a weekend day with you. It is not anything special really, just another day in my life.

I was awakened by an evidently very hungry cat at 6:30 a.m. Didn't he realize it was Saturday--my day off--and therefore a day I would like to sleep in? Although, technically 6:30 a.m. is sleeping in when compared to when I normally get up for the work week. Still, it's too darn early for a Saturday, especially after a rough night. My insomnia has been back for a few weeks now, unfortunately. After dragging myself downstairs to fill Parker's dry food dish (in true cat fashion, he merely sniffed the food and then went about his business--so much for being hungry), I thought of my options and quickly decided more sleep was in order. Back to bed it was.

I woke up again at 8:22 a.m. (much better!), took a quick shower, got dressed and picked out clothes for my daughter, Mouse. Sometime during my shower, Mouse had woken up and made her way downstairs with her tablet where she sat on the couch watching The Odd Squad, her new favorite show about two child detectives who solve mysteries using math. It has been only recently that Mouse will venture downstairs on her own. Once she even got herself some cereal for breakfast. Not this Saturday though.

Before I had a chance to head down the stairs, I heard the new gardener outside and woke my husband so he could open the back gate for him. We had to let go of our previous gardener when my husband lost his job last year. This new one just started last week. Neither of us like gardening much and with our busy schedules and a Home Owner's Association that insists on a nicely manicured yard (who can blame them? I want that too), it's one extra expense we feel is worth it now that my husband is working again.

I could tell from my glance out the window it was already turning out to be a lovely day. The sun was shining and the birds were tweeting, flying around the trees in our yard. I made a note to open the windows when we got home later in the afternoon to let in some of the fresh air. My allergies might not thank me, but I do love the smell of orange blossoms, which is heavy in the air this time of year.

I finally made it downstairs, and gave my daughter a kiss on the head, asking her how she slept. She informed me she slept well. I gave the cats their wet food, and I made my daughter breakfast while she got dressed. I helped her with her socks. She is such a pro at putting on her shin guards by herself (we really need to get her bigger ones--she's grown so much since we bought them last year). I dried my hair somewhere in there, brushed Mouse's hair, got the snacks ready for after soccer class, and my husband cleaned up cat vomit (poor Parker). A quick glance at the clock and it looked like we might actually be on time to soccer class today. Nope. A little someone still needed to go to the bathroom. "Going potty is boring!" *Sigh* There was a time when leaving the house was more of an ordeal. Everything was a fight. I am already liking her being five if this is anything to go by.

We arrived just as the kids were doing their opening stretches. Mouse decided it was time to be extra shy and clingy. I walked her to a spot in the line of other kids with her practically welded to my side, encouraged her to listen to her coach and have fun, before slowly backing away as she looked at me with sad eyes. As soon as her coach gave her a grin and said, "Hi, Mouse!" (he used her actual name--he doesn't call her "Mouse"), she brightened up and all shyness was gone. She made sure he knew what she had for breakfast when he asked who the fastest child in the class was. And I'm pretty sure she told him about Parker throwing up all over "Mommy's book room floor."

Soccer Class

The soccer class was a bit chaotic this weekend. I felt for the coach. He had eleven 3.5 to 5 year olds, and many of them had their own ideas about what they wanted to do. We are just past the halfway mark for the season, and it's typical to see the kids start to stray at this point. At least that has been my observation over the years. The kids took frequent water breaks, and Mouse was mostly good about listening to her coach. At one point my husband used the "You are one of the oldest in the class, and the younger kids look to you as an example" speech. It did the trick.

After soccer, we walked over to the playground where Mouse played with her soccer class friend. For once she didn't come over and ask us to play with her and pretend to be the sharks to her and her friend's pirates or to beg for a snack. I was both relieved and saddened. My husband and I wandered over to near where the friend's mother was chatting with a couple of other mothers as they watched their children play. The set of benches looked inviting, and there we would have full view of the play area.

We couldn't help but catch snippets of the other women's conversations. I tend to be on the shy side and so making small talk and initiating conversations is not something I do easily. My interest was piqued, however, when I heard one of the mother's mention that her son was going to be attending kindergarten at the same school Mouse would be attending. She mentioned her efforts to find a decent after school care program for her child--something I am actively searching for as well. Knowing I couldn't let this opportunity slip by, I found a moment as the other mothers had stepped away to check on their kids, to approach her about what I had overheard. Most of the other parents I've encountered when out with Mouse are sending their children to other schools, and so I was happy to meet a parent with a child going to the same school. Later, my husband told me he was surprised I had struck up the conversation with the mother. I was pretty proud of myself.

After an hour in the park, we headed to the car and a quick stop at home for a change of clothes from soccer stuff to a dress and restroom break. Then it was back in the car for lunch at a favorite Mexican restaurant across town (we don't get to go very often anymore, but since our errands were taking us in that direction, we decided to take advantage of it). After was a trip to the store for new bath mats, shirts for hubby, and necessities for Mouse and me. There might have been a big tantrum in the car about not staying home to clean the house because she says she loves cleaning the house so much. She was very clear: not the dusting; just the mopping. "I hate shopping!" Me too, kid.

Our next stop: Barnes and Noble for Mouse's free birthday cupcake--the real purpose of our trip. We looked around a little, and Mouse played at the train table for a bit before we found our way to the children's stage where I read a couple books about Pete the Cat and Easter to her. She picked out a vanilla frosting cupcake with a colorful array of sprinkles on top before we headed out. The clerk behind the counter wrote "Happy Birthday!" on top of the container, which just thrilled Mouse. Surprisingly, we left without any books.

We finally made it home again. Mouse wanted to dive into her cupcake, but she only managed to eat a little of the frosting before being ready to move on. Now it was time to clean! Late, I know, but we do it when we can. I got a little distracted, however, needing to get the mail (my postal book club pick came in the mail!), checking out my rose bushes, finding a couple dead lizards (so sad), and setting up the sand and water table at Mouse's request. We had a tea party with potato tea and butter soup. I cannot tell you if we were supposed to be talking in British or Australian accents. I think we used both. My husband was inside vacuuming the kitchen floor in preparation for the mopping. At least one of us was staying on task.

Bookish Mail with the next Postal Mail Club pick

The roses are starting to bloom.

"Potato Tea"

Making more tea.

Mouse and I finally made our way inside and began dusting the library (otherwise known as "Mommy's book room" or the living room if you are my mother). Despite her earlier proclamation that she doesn't like dusting, Mouse volunteered, even grabbing her own rag and getting right to work. She sang and told me a story about what she wanted to do at work with my staff the following week. It has become a little game for us, her telling me about her day at my office while I tell her about my day at her school. She's got quite the imagination, and I love seeing where it takes her.

As soon as Mouse heard her dad was ready to start mopping, she was off like a shot. Obviously mopping is more fun (not for me--I hate mopping with a passion). It did not take her long to make her way back to me though, seeing me go through a pile of her art projects I hadn't yet managed to take upstairs where I store them. She found her measuring snake in the pile and wanted to know if she'd gotten any taller. She had. I won't go into too much more detail about it, other than to say I dusted, sorted, organized, and tidied the family room and library. I now have a pile of giveaways (toys and puzzles), stuff to take upstairs to put away (toys mostly), and a small bag of garbage/recycles. Mouse only fought me on a couple things she wanted to keep that I think we should let go of. And finally! All the birthday stuff is put away (well, except for the birthday decorations hanging in the dining area--they'll stay up for the rest of the month). Spring cleaning is officially under way. And I'm already feeling lighter. (Or I was for the rest of that day, at least.)

As it grew later (approaching 7 p.m.), we wrapped up our cleaning, and enjoyed a quiet evening. My husband put on an episode of Doctor Who as he prepared dinner for Mouse--pasta, I believe it was. I labeled Mouse's puzzle pieces in case they get mixed up with the wrong puzzle. Mouse was busy cooking in her play kitchen. I know it goes against all the best advice, but Mouse ate her dinner in front of the television, and her dad and I didn't bother with dinner at all, both still full from our big lunch. Mouse followed her dinner up with a "blue bunny" ice cream cone.

Mouse was not happy when told it was time to go upstairs to take her shower (she prefers showers to baths) just around 8 p.m. She wanted to watch more Doctor Who. I got her showered ("I don't like washing my hair!") and settled in to make sure my Sunday Post was ready to go up while my husband got Mouse's teeth brushed and read her a story before bed. Mouse was waiting for me when I came to her room, wanting to cuddle before falling asleep. We talked a little about the day we had and what we hoped to do the next day. Sometimes she falls right to sleep, but most nights it takes her awhile to drift off. I had planned to get in a little reading before bed, but I ended up falling asleep too.

One of the things we really need to work on over the next few months is getting her to bed earlier. We started the bad habit early on of letting her stay up late because of our work schedules. With both my husband and I not getting off work until late--my husband an hour after I do), we generally are eating dinner at 7:30 p.m., and that pushes bed time to extra late. She doesn't have to be up at the crack of dawn like I do in the mornings, and so it hasn't been a big problem. It will be when kindergarten starts in the late summer though. It's going to be a struggle, I am sure. Our goal is to start slowly, maybe fifteen minute increments at at a time until we get her to bed at a more decent hour.

Any ol' way, overall it was a good day I would say, albeit not very exciting. One in which we got a lot actually accomplished, at least. I can't always say that happens! Sunday Mouse and I let her dad sleep in while we got up and watched The Pirate Fairy movie, ate breakfast, and lounged around in our pajamas. Sundays are almost always much more relaxed around here. Maybe some day I will tell you about it.

I would love to hear about a day in your life! If you are participating, and I hope you will, please let me know. Trish of Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity will be posting a link page on the 23rd of March.