Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Weekly Mews: High Winds, Good Books, and More Hot Cocoa

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 to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

Happy weekend! The winds have been blowing fiercely in my corner of the world. The static electricity count is high and the skies are blue. It was a fairly uneventful week. Work was busy as usual. I got the opportunity to meet my new manager. Mouse tried out her new pointe shoes and they are working out well. Did you know pointe shoes have an average life span of 12 to 15 hours? She is still early in her training and so 15 hours takes a while to reach, but still, it passes more quickly than we would prefer. Auditions for the summer ballet and musical are coming up next weekend and Mouse is starting to feel nervous. Now for some book talk!

New to the Shelves

Recent purchases:

A Gathering of Crones (The Crone Wars #2) by Lydia M. Hawke

Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

Have you read any of these books? What books did you add to your TBR this week?

Last Read

It only looks like I read a lot this past week because I was so close to finishing one book when the week started, another one I was well into already, and the third was a fairly quick, hard to put down read. I finished reading Circe by Madeline Miller, which will definitely be a contender for my top books read this year. I loved every minute of it. Next up was The Maid by Nita Prose, which was just as entertaining a mystery as everyone told me it would be. Molly is such a great character. I also finished Dressed For Freedom: The Fashionable Politics of American Feminism by Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, my last carryover from 2021. It got off to a slow start and I considered giving up on it a couple of times early on, but I am glad I stuck with it because I found it to be a worthwhile read in the end.

Reading Now

I am currently reading The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré and Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur. I am right on target with my reading of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, which is my year long reading project for the year. It turns out Melinda of A Web of Stories is reading the book this year as well, and she graciously shared her reading outline with me. I was just going to play it by ear but having the outline will help me with pacing it out more evenly.

Up Next in Reading

Chances are I will be in the mood for something on the lighter side after I finish The Girl with the Louding Voice. Perhaps it will be A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth Bass, which I hear is big on the laughs, or Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, the second in a series in which I loved the first book.

What I Have Been Watching

I am re-watching Jessica Jones with my husband, who had only seen one and a half episodes previously. I had forgotten how evil and frightening Kilgrave is. David Tennant does such a great job with his character. We are all caught up with Wonder Years and New Amsterdam. I put on Chuck the other day just to have on in the background as I was doing a little blog visiting and prepping.

This Week In Reading Mews

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week?

© 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.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Where Is Your Bookmark: Snuggling Under a Blanket with a Mystery

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader. I am also linking to First Line Friday, hosted by Carrie of Reading is My SuperPower.

I am well aware that my name is ridiculous. It was not ridiculous before I took the job four years ago. I'm a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and my name is Molly. Molly Maid. [opening of The Maid]

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

My head is spinning, the floor is tilting under my feet. Tiny teapot spin before my eyes. "Would anyone like a cup of . . . " But I can't finish the question because my vision dims.

The last thing I remember is my knees turning to marmalade and all the world fading to black. [excerpt from 56% of The Maid]

I currently am reading The Maid by Nita Prose, which seems to be an early favorite among many bloggers I follow. As described on Goodreads:
A charmingly eccentric hotel maid discovers a guest murdered in his bed. Solving the mystery will turn her once orderly world upside down in this utterly original debut.
From the opening lines of The Maid, I was hooked and wanted to read more about Molly and just what kind of trouble she would find herself in. This has been a hard book to put down! The second excerpt I shared comes right in the middle of--well, a spoiler--which is why I chose it instead of what came before and directly after. I love the description of Molly's state of mind and what is happening in that moment. Shock. Confusion.

Does The Maid sound like something you would enjoy? Have you read it?

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books,

read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme.

Hosted by the Kathryn of of Book Date.

As I settled in to do a little blog writing and visiting today, I realized I left my blanket in the other room. I am always cold these days and today is no different. I have plenty of blankets of one kind or another, including a couple covered in cats, but none of the bookish-themed variety. Today I thought I would share some of the literary themed blankets I have on my Etsy wish list (the photos are linked to the Etsy shops where I found the blankets):

photo by FPAUganda

photo by HappyCatsSt

photo by claytondaviest

photo by CelesteVigueUS

photo by NQNGA

Okay, so maybe I couldn't get away from the cat theme still (although isn't that dragon one cute?). Do you have a literary themed blanket or maybe pillow (maybe I should get one of those!)?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

© 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.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Bookish Mewsings: Borrow a Bookshop Holiday / The Charm Offensive / Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors

Borrow-A-Bookshop invites you to live out your dreams of running your very own bookshop in a historic Deveonshire harbour village . . . for a fortnight. ~ Opening of The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday

Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar (Hera, 2021; 227 pgs)

Imagine being able to borrow a bookshop for two weeks. To live, breathe and work in one. Jude Crowley does just that, having booked a stay at The Borrow-a-Bookshop Café in the harbor village of Clove Lore, a dream vacation for her and her boyfriend, philosophy professor Mack. Only, Mack turns out to be a liar and a cheater. Jude take as chance and decides to go alone to heal her broken heart. It turns out she won’t be alone, however. Evidently the mysterious and brooding Elliott has booked a stay there too. Jude wonders if anything else could go wrong.

Jude has always played it safe. She lives with her parents, just graduated from college, and takes care of her grandmother. But with her grandmother moving into an active residential home and her parents moving away and selling their business, her life is up in the air. She’s quick to jump to conclusions, which I did not always think was fair. Elliott, on the other hand, seems to be hiding something—and from someone. A veterinarian by trade, Elliott gets on Jude’s every last nerve—in the beginning.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday was a charming and fun read. I especially liked getting to know the townspeople and the village itself. I would love to visit a place like that. Jude and Elliott seem an odd match at first but I was happy to see them come together—they both deserve happiness.

Dev Deshpande knows the exact moment he started believing in happily ever after. ~ Opening of The Charm Offensive

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun (Atria, 2021; 358 pgs)

I do not like reality dating shows. I have seen maybe one or two, but the whole concept makes me cringe. Especially knowing how manipulated they tend to be (one of my coworkers was on a house remodeling television show—and I heard the stories). Still, when I read the description of The Charm Offensive, I got excited and knew I wanted to read it. I may not like the reality of these types of shows, but I enjoy them in a fictional setting.

Some background: Dev is a believer in fairytales and his job is to make sure they happen on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. While his own love life may not be what he dreamt of, he wants to make dreams come true for his contestants. In walks Charlie Winshaw, a disgraced businessman in desperate need of image rehabilitation. He proves to be quite the challenge--someone who does not believe in true love and is rather stiff and extremely uncomfortable in front of the camera. Off camera, Charlie seems stand-offish and cold on the surface. Dev pulls out all the stops to try and create a love connection between Charlie and his female contestants. He just needs Charlie to try a little harder. As the two men work together and learn more about each other, they soon find themselves in a not-so-planned romance—one that could jeopardize the entire show.

I still do not like reality dating shows. However. This is one of my favorite books of 2021. I fell in love with the characters and never in a romance novel have I rooted for a couple as much as I did Dev and Charlie. I really appreciated the author tackling the issue of mental illness head on as well, which added an extra dimension to the novel I hadn’t been expecting but was grateful to see. There were tears and laugh out loud moments, even a bit of swooning. I was all smiles by the end.

So much about the world baffled Dr. Trisha Raje, but she was never at a loss for how to do her job. ~ Opening of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (The Rajes #1) by Sonali Dev (William Morrow, 2019; 481 pgs)

Another of my favorite books read in 2021, this was my first Sonali Dev novel (although I own several). Why did I wait so long to read this one?!

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s top neurosurgeon, but it does not seem to be enough for her influential Indian immigrant family who descended from royalty. She disappointed her father greatly years ago and nothing she does seems to please him. Chef DJ Caine gave up his well-reputed job when he learned his sister had a tumor. He is desperate to get the job the Rajes offer—it would help bring in the money he and his sister need. Sparks fly from the moment Trisha and DJ meet—and not necessarily in a good way. Trisha’s arrogant and quick to judge.

There was so much more to this novel than I expected. Romance plays an integral part, although at times I wondered how the author was going to bring such strong-willed characters as DJ and Trisha together. I admit I was not a huge fan of Trisha at first, but like for DJ, she grew on me. And the more I got to know her under the arrogant exterior, the more I came to like her. Both DJ and Trisha carry past baggage with them which they must work through if they want their happy ending.

Sonali Dev does not shy away from issues of race and class, which is not a surprise given the tie in to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (at least in terms of class). She did not gloss over anything, but addressed these issues head on. Trisha and her family are Indian immigrants while DJ and his sister are a mix of Indian and Rwandan. Their experiences in life have been very different on that front, but also because one was born with privilege and wealth while the other has faced poverty and homelessness.

Julia Wickham . . . Because of course there has to be a Wickham character. I loved Trisha’s family and look forward to learning more about the various members in future books in the series. I found myself especially drawn to Trisha and her father. He is more stubborn than she is, and honestly, I felt his anger and disappointment in her was misplaced. I will not go into detail about the role Julia plays in the story, but, like in the original Pride and Prejudice, the character is more out for herself than anyone else.

While the novel does have similarities to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, it is also very much its own story. A reader does not have to be familiar with one to appreciate the other. But those who are familiar with the original, will have fun picking out the similarities, including the role reversals.

I went in expecting to like Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors and was even more pleased when I came away loving it.

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

Monday, January 17, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday 2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To

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

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is the 2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To. On the plus side, it means I have some good reading ahead of me!

Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

An Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows, and When the Moon Is Low.

Kabul, 1978: The daughter of a prominent family, Sitara Zalmani lives a privileged life in Afghanistan’s thriving cosmopolitan capital. The 1970s are a time of remarkable promise under the leadership of people like Sardar Daoud, Afghanistan’s progressive president, and Sitara’s beloved father, his right-hand man. But the ten-year-old Sitara’s world is shattered when communists stage a coup, assassinating the president and Sitara’s entire family. Only she survives.

Smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair, Sitara finds her way to the home of a female American diplomat, who adopts her and raises her in America. In her new country, Sitara takes on a new name—Aryana Shepherd—and throws herself into her studies, eventually becoming a renowned surgeon. A survivor, Aryana has refused to look back, choosing instead to bury the trauma and devastating loss she endured.

New York, 2018: Forty years after that fatal night in Kabul, Aryana’s world is rocked again when an elderly patient appears in her examination room—a man she never expected to see again. It is Shair, the soldier who saved her, yet may have murdered her entire family. Seeing him awakens Aryana’s fury and desire for answers—and, perhaps, revenge. Realizing that she cannot go on without finding the truth, Aryana embarks on a quest that takes her back to Kabul—a battleground between the corrupt government and the fundamentalist Taliban—and through shadowy memories of the world she loved and lost.

Bold, illuminating, heartbreaking, yet hopeful, Sparks Like Stars is a story of home—of America and Afghanistan, tragedy and survival, reinvention and remembrance, told in Nadia Hashimi’s singular voice. [Goodreads Summary]

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family's strange and magical circus, it's the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother's journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. [Goodreads Summaary]

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who's left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she's not alone. For more than a decade she's been meeting with five other actual final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette's worst fears are realized--someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.
[Goodreads Summary]

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

A mesmerizing novel in verse about family, identity, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places—for fans of The Poet X, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, and Jason Reynolds.

Nima doesn’t feel understood. By her mother, who grew up far away in a different land. By her white suburban town, which feels both dangerous and familiar. At least she has her childhood friend Haitham, with whom she can let her guard down and be herself.

Until she doesn’t. As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen, the name her parents didn’t give her at birth: Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might just be more real than Nima knows. And more hungry.

This book is a story of mothers and daughters, of friends and enemies, of journeys and homecomings, and of realizing that sometimes the person you’re meant to be has been staring at you in the mirror all along. [Goodreads Summary]

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptism. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to come and collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed, leaving them with more questions than answers. Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly’s daughter, Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, the four descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked backed.

Alternating between Orquídea’s past and her descendants’ present, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an enchanting novel about what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming your power. [Goodreads Summary]

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner

A charming historical fantasy with a tender love story at its core, from the author of Unnatural Magic.

Hard-drinking petty thief Dellaria Wells is down on her luck in the city of Leiscourt—again. Then she sees a want ad for a female bodyguard, and she fast-talks her way into the high-paying job. Along with a team of other women, she’s meant to protect a rich young lady from mysterious assassins.

At first Delly thinks the danger is exaggerated, but a series of attacks shows there’s much to fear. Then she begins to fall for Winn, one of the other bodyguards, and the women team up against a mysterious, magical foe who seems to have allies everywhere. [Goodreads Summary]

Chapter and Curse (Cambridge Bookshop #1) by Elizabeth Penney

In Elizabeth Penney's Chapter and Curse, Molly Kimball is used to cracking open books . . . but when a poetry reading ends in murder she must use her skills to crack the case.

Librarian Molly Kimball and her mother, Nina, need a change. So when a letter arrives from Nina’s Aunt Violet in Cambridge, England requesting their help running the family bookshop, they jump at the chance.

Thomas Marlowe―Manuscripts and Folios, is one of the oldest bookshops in Cambridge, and―unfortunately―customers can tell. When Molly and Nina arrive, spring has come to Cambridge and the famed Cambridge Literary Festival is underway. Determined to bring much-needed revenue to the bookstore, Molly invites Aunt Violet’s college classmate and famed poet Persephone Brightwell to hold a poetry reading in the shop. But the event ends in disaster when a guest is found dead―with Molly’s great-aunt’s knitting needle used as the murder weapon. While trying to clear Violet and keep the struggling shop afloat, Molly sifts through secrets past and present, untangling a web of blackmail, deceit, and murder. [Goodreads Summary]

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

In this thought-provoking and sensitive novel, inspired by the true story of a Louisiana leprosy hospital where patients were forcibly quarantined, acclaimed author Amanda Skenandore tells an extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope--and the last woman who expected to find herself in such a place...

1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West's days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She's been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.

The diagnosis--leprosy--is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years. Some are badly afflicted, others relatively unscathed. For all, the disease's stigma is just as insidious as its physical progress.

At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves? [Goodreads Summary]

The Library of the Dead (Edinburgh Nights #1) by T.L. Huchu

Sixth Sense meets Stranger Things in T. L. Huchu's The Library of the Dead, a sharp contemporary fantasy following a precocious and cynical teen as she explores the shadowy magical underside of modern Edinburgh.

When a child goes missing in Edinburgh's darkest streets, young Ropa investigates. She'll need to call on Zimbabwean magic as well as her Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. But as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted?

When ghosts talk, she will listen...

Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker. Now she speaks to Edinburgh's dead, carrying messages to the living. A girl's gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper that someone's bewitching children--leaving them husks, empty of joy and life. It's on Ropa's patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will change her world.

She'll dice with death (not part of her life plan...), discovering an occult library and a taste for hidden magic. She'll also experience dark times. For Edinburgh hides a wealth of secrets, and Ropa's gonna hunt them all down. [Goodreads Summary]

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley

Inspiration can come from the most unlikely - and inconvenient - sources.

Kara Sullivan’s life is full of love - albeit fictional. As a best-selling romance novelist and influential Bookstagrammer, she’s fine with getting her happily-ever-after fix between the covers of a book.

But right now? Not only is Kara’s best friend getting married next week - which means big wedding stress - but the deadline for her next novel is looming, and she hasn’t written a single word. The last thing she needs is for her infuriating first love, Ryan Thompson, to suddenly appear in the wedding party. But Ryan’s unexpected arrival sparks a creative awakening in Kara that inspires the steamy historical romance she desperately needs to deliver.

With her wedding duties intensifying, her deadline getting closer by the second and her bills not paying themselves, Kara knows there’s only one way for her to finish her book and to give her characters the ever-after they deserve. But can she embrace the unlikely, ruggedly handsome muse—who pushes every one of her buttons—to save the wedding, her career and, just maybe, write her own happy ending? [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read any of these? What 2021 releases were you unable to get to this past year that you were excited to read?

Saturday, January 15, 2022

Weekly Mews: A Bookstore Run, Leg Cuddles & Good Books

I am linking up to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

It was an ordinary week in my life over all. The highlight was a trip to to the local dance store in town to get Mouse fitted for new pointe shoes. We stopped by Barnes and Noble on the way home since it's in the neighborhood. Mouse and I both found a couple books we were interested in reading. To be honest we found a lot more than that, but settled on just two for each of us, taking advantage of their sale. We evidently missed the rain while we were in the store, too busy browsing the shelves and tables of books. We ordered hot chocolate at the store's café before heading home.

More people called out of work this week due to illness. We were able to get permission to have most staff work from home exclusively for the time being to further limit the amount of people in the office at one time. As a supervisor, I am still required to go in for my designated week, but at least there will be very few others in at the same time.

We had opted out of the Girl Scout cookie rally which is being held this weekend at the Los Angeles Zoo. From the sound of it, the rest of our troop did too. The new cookie season starts in another week for our area. I am not sure yet how that will look for the girls--whether they will be doing booths at the local stores or not. If they do, it will mean jam packed weekends with dance and rehearsals thrown in.

Most of the holiday decorations have been put away but the tree is still up. I hope to get it down this weekend. There have been years we have left it up for months, decorating it for other holidays and the seasons. I do not think it came down at all in 2020.

Nina has not laid on anyone since she was a kitten, and so everyone got quiet, watching her (but pretending not to) as she made her way onto Anjin's leg and slowly settled in for a brief nap.

New to the Shelves

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (Mouse's pick)

The School of Good and Evil (#1) by Soman Chainani, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (Mouse's pick)

Have you read any of these books? What books did you add to your TBR this week?

Reading Then

This past week I finished reading book seven, White Witch, Black Curse, in the Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I think it's my favorite in the series so far.

Reading Now

I am loving Circe by Madeline Miller and will likely finish early this next week. I have officially set my bookmark a few pages into The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, which I plan to read over the course of the year. I made a tiny bit more progress in Dressed For Freedom: The Fashionable Politics of American Feminism by Einav Rabinovitch-Fox and hopefully by next week I will be able to say I am half way through. Although I am finding it slow going, it is interesting. I especially like how the author discusses how economics and race intersect with fashion throughout the twentieth century.

Up Next in Reading

I worry that anything I pick up next will not live up to the high I will be in when I finish Circe. Perhaps The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré, which will be so different and has received equally high praise. Or perhaps I will go with a mystery like The Maid by Nita Prose. We will see which way my mood takes me.

What I Have Been Watching

After hearing so many people mentioning the coming of the third and final season of The Discovery of Witches, I decided to give season one a try. I am about three episodes in so far. My husband has even watched a bit with me. I read the books so long ago, I am afraid the details escape me. It is probably for the best though as I can enjoy the show without making constant comparisons. We also have been catching up with The Wonder Years, which we just love.

This Week In Reading Mews

Weekly Mews: A Hot Cocoa Kind of Week

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions to My TBR

Bookish Mewsings: The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton & The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Where Is Your Bookmark: An Exiled Goddess & Earthquakes

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week?