Sunday Post: Mid-January Check-In

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. 

I am enjoying a mug of hot cocoa as I write this, with an afghan and cat on my lap. Mouse and my husband are building a house out of Lego. Earlier, Mouse and I were making ice cream sundaes out of play-doh, as her doll taste tested each of our creations. How are you spending your Sunday? Did you have a good week?


New to My Shelves:

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams 

(Postal Mail Club - from Becca Taylor)

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop
 (NetGalley)

After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson
(purchased)

What I Am Reading: I had less reading time than I had hoped this week unfortunately. I finished Tawni O'Dell's Angels Burning early in the week and also read my TBR List book that had won January's poll, What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan. Both were rather intense thrillers, offering glimpses into the darker side of humanity. I hope to have reviews for both of those up before the month is out. I have since moved on to Jennifer Robson's Moonlight Over Paris, a historical fiction novel about a young aristocratic woman from London who moves to Paris is search of independence and adventure during the 1920's. I thought maybe something a bit less dark would be a good change of pace.

What I Am Watching: My husband and I began watching Dark Matter on Netflix this past week. It is a science fiction show about a group of people who wake up on a spaceship with no memory of who they are or what's happened to them. I admit the Firefly comparisons came almost immediately for us, but we both are enjoying the show. We are still watching Doctor Who, of course, having now officially moved from one companion to the next. Mouse took it much better than I thought she would--I was the one who still couldn't help but tear up. 

Around the Blogosphere:

• My Six Most Memorable Alan Rickman Roles & Blogger Links (Such a great actor, such a huge loss)
• Video Clips Galore--Remembering Alan Rickman (So many great performances)
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain (I really need to read this book!)

What's Going On Off the Blog: Our Christmas tree is still up. My daughter asked, or rather begged, if we could keep it up again this year like we did last year. She remembers decorating it for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day and for her birthday too. It's quickly becoming a family tradition. At least the cats will enjoy it too.

To celebrate my husband receiving a job offer after being out of work for the past few months, we took advantage of our Disneyland annual passes and spent a day at Disneyland. The weather was perfect--sunny and cool. We had a fun time. At first Mouse was quite disappointed we weren't spending the day at one of the local malls that has a small play area for kids, but she soon came around, and was all smiles the rest of the day.

The week was rather ordinary in every other way. Work has been busy. I have been extra tired of late--probably a side effect of getting up so early in the morning to exercise. A couple of nights I was asleep before my daughter.

Challenge & Dare Update: I continue to make steady progress with COYER, and I have yet to stray from the TBR Triple Dog Dare. I have not read any books for the What's In A Name Challenge, but don't count me out. It's still early and I am sure I will start knocking those books off soon enough.

As for FitReaders, I wish I could say my first week of attempting to get back in motion didn't quite go as planned. I managed to get two official 2-mile workouts in. I figure spending all day on my feet at Disneyland has to count for something too. I may not have walked fast, but I did do a lot of walking. It is a start. Hopefully this next week will go better.

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

• Bookish Thoughts: Paradise Drive by Rebecca Foust
• Where Is Your Bookmark: Tawni O'Dell's Angels Burning & the Top Ten Releases I Meant to Get to in 2015 But Didn't
• Bookish Thoughts: The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

Upcoming on the Blog:
Monday - Bookish Thoughts: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
Tuesday - Where Is My Bookmark?
Thursday - Bookish Thoughts: Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell


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

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© 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.

Bookish Thoughts: The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

From the backseat, Saki sent another desperate message on her phone. ~ Opening of The Night Parade

The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2016

Fantasy (Middle Grade); 320 pgs

Source: NetGalley

I do not often read books that fall into the Middle Grade category, but this one intrigued me--and it came recommended by my friend and fellow blogger, Caspette of Narrative Causality. It was the setting (Japan) and the mention of Japanese mythology that convinced me to give it a try.

Saki is not happy about having to leave Tokyo and her friends to spend her break with her paternal grandmother. There is nothing exciting or worthwhile about spending time in a small village, preparing for an outdated ceremony like Obons, or so she believes. While in an effort to impress the village in-crowd, Saki bends to peer pressure and comes away from the experience embarrassed and bearing a death curse. She has three nights to lift it. Three nights, three spirit guides, and the Night Parade of spirits traveling to the ancestral burial site is nothing Saki has ever experienced before.

What a delightful book The Night Parade turned out to be! I loved every minute of it. I lost myself in the pages and wished I could join Saki on her adventures through the spirit world. The vivid descriptions, the sometimes quirky and always interesting characters, and the world Kathryn Tanquary has created had me under their spell as I read this novel. The story may seem simple on the surface, but it is quite complex when you look at it more closely.

Saki is about twelve or thirteen years old, I think, and on the verge of becoming a teenager and yet still with the innocence of childhood. Like many young and old, Saki is struggling to figure out who she wants to be, having to deal with peer pressure, family obligations, and being true to herself. She is also seeking to find balance between the old and the new: tradition/spiritual and modern times. Each of the obstacles Saki encounters along her path to life, including the curse, help her learn more about herself and choose the direction she wants her life to go.

The mythical beings and spirits are part of what make this novel such a great book, in my mind. I do not know much about Japanese mythology, but this book made me curious enough to do some research. I quite enjoyed getting a glimpse into this part of Japanese culture, finding it both fascinating and humbling.

As you can tell, I was quite taken with The Night Parade. I even read parts to my daughter, when she was willing to listen. I can see her reading it when she's older--and me again too.

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

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 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.

Where Is Your Bookmark: Tawni O'Dell's Angels Burning & the Top Ten Releases I Meant to Get to in 2015 But Didn't.

This past weekend I was looking for a quick book to read, and so picked up Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell, a crime fiction novel about a female police chief whose dark past resurfaces while investigating the brutal murder of a teenage girl. I hope to post my review next week.

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 last time I was this close to Rudy Mayfield he was leaning across the seat of his dad's truck trying to grope my recently ripened breasts. 

I close my eyes, and for a moment I smell a teenage boy's sweaty, horny desperation barely masked by Dial soap instead of the sweetish smoky reek of charred flesh mixed with the acrid odor of sulfur always present in this poisoned ghost town.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from A Daily Rhythm 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 Angels Burning at 4%:

I have an office now with a comfortable chair and a Keurig: I'm a coordinator, a schedule maker, a form filer, a public relations maven, a handshaking figurehead. I'm the first female police chief in the county. I cling to this knowledge in an effort to maintain some dignity as I descend into a muddy hole to retrieve a corpse.

and from 8%

"All I want to know is why you and Neely lied and sent me to prison for something I didn't do." 

I don't flinch. I stare him down, saying nothing until he finally gives up and leaves.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?  

It isn't often I come across a female chief of police, and so I was immediately intrigued. The author pulls no punches jumping right into the story, which is always a good sign when I'm looking for an intense fast-paced novel.

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

This week's  Top Ten Tuesday theme is Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn't.  I wanted to read them all this past year, but it was not meant to be. Hopefully this year. They all still sound good to me.

1.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn ~ This is the first in Deanna Raybourn's new series set in Victorian England which features intrigue, murder and adventure--all qualities I can't pass up, especially when enjoyed a previous book by the author.

2.

The Tide Watchers by Lisa Chaplin ~ I love historical fiction full of intrigue. This one is about a young mother who goes undercover to try to help save Britain from Napoleon.

3.

Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta ~ When I first heard about this book I knew I had to read it. This is a coming of age story for both a country (Nigeria) and a young woman. It is the story of forbidden love, prejudice, and the impact a civil war can have on people and a country. Somehow, I doubt my eyes will be dry when I finish reading this one.

4.

The Palest Ink by Kay Bratt ~ Another historical novel that caught my eye I've been wanting to read. Set during China's Cultural Revolution, this is the story of two bestfriends with very different futures ahead of them. They must make difficult decisions that impact their families, friendship, and loyalty to their country.

5.

The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham ~ I have enjoyed Michael Robotham's work before and look forward to reading more by him. This particular novel is a stand alone about a female detective getting back on her feet after being injured on the job. A friend is murdered, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it.

6.

The Gulf of Time and Stars by Julie E. Czerneda ~ Interstellar travel, alien races, and telepathic abilities. What more could I ask for?

7.

Wishing Cross Station by February Grace ~ I liked the sound of this on when I first heard about it. I wasn't able to fit it in last year, but I hope to get to it this year. Sent to pick up books for the school's collection, a young college library page finds something quite unexpected. Wishing Cross Station is described as "a bittersweet fantasy romance."

8.

The Ladies of Managua by Eleni N. Gage ~ Set in Nicaragua, "The Ladies of Managua brings you into the lives of three strong and magnetic women, as they uncover the ramifications of the choices they made in their pasts and begin to understand the ways in which love can shape their futures." I was drawn to this because of the setting, and the history woven into the stories of the three women.

9.

The Hidden by Heather Graham ~ Mystery, romance, and ghosts. I don't know what it is about this series, but I sure do enjoy it. I had hoped to get to this one last year, but didn't manage it. This year for sure!

10.

House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy ~ This promises to be quite thrilling! A family moves to a remote area in New York to restore a house they've inherited. What they hope will be a new beginning leads them to secrets best left buried.

Have you read any of these titles from last year? What books did you want to read last year that you weren't able to get to?

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© 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.

Bookish Thoughts: Paradise Drive by Rebecca Foust

Dusk mud flats mottled silver, mauve, five shades 
of taupe. Air barrel-aged in live oak
and madrone. Phoenix Lake's green jewel. ~ Opening of Paradise Drive

Paradise Drive by Rebecca Foust

Press 53, 2015

Poetry; 114 pgs

About the book: 

Paradise Drive links 80 sonnets in a narrative about a modern Pilgrim on a journey from rust belt Pennsylvania to the glittering suburbs of Marin County, California. The book takes great pleasure in questioning, tinkering with, and ultimately exploding the sonnet form. 

Of the three poetry books I read last year, this is by far my favorite. I liked the way each of the poems was connected to the other, telling the story of a character we only know as Pilgrim. The language and style of each poem was lovely in every way. I had not intended to read this book in one sitting, but I did. And then I read it again, more slowly later.

Cowed by all those straight white teeth,
Pilgrim ran for the bathroom, not for coke
as others supposed, but for something
more covert and rare: a book,
or any bit of anything written. ~ Excerpt from "Cocktail Party"

Rebecca Foust's poems are set in the here and now, dealing with first world problems. From poverty to wealth. She takes on issues of today, something I would not have generally associated with a sonnet (but then, my knowledge of poetry and its nuances is quite low). There is talk of war and terrorism, birth and raising a child with autism, grief and death, marital issues and drugs, among other issues. The sonnets are often filled with dry humor, sadness, and share a reality I found myself relating to easily. Our Pilgrim is a reader too, like so many of us. Hiding in the bathroom with a book at a party . . . Who among us hasn't wanted to do that (maybe we have!)? As I read, Foust's voice wound around me, enveloped me, and I was lost in its beauty and thoughtfulness.

The opening sonnet, "Paradise Drive" moved me with its imagery, while others touched me in different ways. I could relate to the "The Truth", which is about the Pilgrim's father, "He was false and flawed and still someone's god . . ." It made me think of my own dad and the life he had led when he was alive. The sonnet "Troth" brought back memories of my dog Riley, of sitting with him in those final moments, remembering our life together:

I'm on my knees, now, leaning in. He turns
his head, smells me. He tastes my face. ~ Excerpt from "Troth"

One of my favorites of her sonnets is "Je Est Un Autre" in which the Pilgrim finally meets someone she can talk to at the party, someone who seems to have similar interests, ". . . What a relief not to be all alone, how wonderful to agree on so many things!" The twist at the end is really what makes the poem for me.

I do not know enough about poetry, much less the sonnet, to understand how the author has reinvented the sonnet as I saw mention of in one synopsis I read several weeks ago. I hadn't even realized there were so many different styles of poetry out there until I looked up the definition of a sonnet. I am not an expert in poetry nor even a regular reader of it (although I write it on occasion). But I do know I was impressed by this collection to the point of being moved and delighted by it.

To learn more about Rebecca Foust and her work, please visit the author's website.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Paradise Drive on the Poetic Book Tours route:

January 1: Eva Lucia (review)

January 5: Everything Distils Into Reading (review)

January 6: Jorie Loves a Story (review)

January 7: I’d Rather Be at the Beach (review)

January 9: Eccentric Everything (review)

January 9: Eccentric Everything (interview)

January 11: Musings of a Bookish Kitty (review)

January 13: Diary of an Eccentric (Video post)

January 15: True Book Addict (review)

January 20: I’m Lost in Books (video post)

January 25: Emma Eden Ramos (review)

January 26: Bookgirl’s Nightstand (video post)

January 27: Necromancy Never Pays (review)

January 28: Suko’s Notebook (review)

January 30: Create With Joy (review)

January 30: Absurd Book Nerd (review)

Many thanks to the Poetic Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. Review copy provided by the author for an honest review.

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© 2015, 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.

Sunday Post: Off To a Good Start

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. 

We've had a couple of glorious rainy days (well, glorious minus the flooding, mudslides and car accidents); the sky is dark and gray with the occasional breakthrough of sunshine. These are the kind of days I wish I could be at home, curled up under an afghan, reading and drinking hot chocolate instead of being at the office. Alas, there are bills to pay and mouths to feed. How was your week? What have you been up to?

New to My Shelves:

The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler ~ The story of an elderly woman who hires a 15-year-old girl to transcribe her memories of a young woman who took to the skies as a pilot during World War II. You can see why I couldn't resist this book. It is one I had requested in December from Edelweiss.

What I Am Reading: I was quite pleased with my first two reads of the year. A middle-grade novel about a young girl trying to lift a death curse she unwittingly triggered and the story of a down and out town that is injected with life by a bookish tourist from another country. Both Kathryn Tanquary's The Night Parade and The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald left me with smiles on my face as I reached their ends. I have moved onto something darker (as if a death curse wasn't), and am now reading Tawni O'Dell's Angels Burning, a literary thriller about a police chief who must confront her own past while investigating a heinous murder. It hooked me immediately, and I hope to finish reading it soon.

What I Am Watching: My husband and I re-watched Pitch Perfect and saw Pitch Perfect 2 for the first time. As a family, we have been watching Disney's Fairy movies, which everyone in our house enjoyed. There has also been more Doctor Who watching of which my daughter is now officially a fan. We are about mid-way through season two at the moment.

Blacklist is back after the mid-season break. As is Supergirl. I may not love the new Supergirl show, but I adore Calista Flockhart's character, even as annoying as she is sometimes. That woman has the best lines. And I am back into watching Haven. I have started watching season 3. I really need to read The Colorado Kid.

Around the Blogosphere:

• Stacy over at Stacy's Books posted another fun quiz -Writers Lost in 2015 
• Book Haven's Greg and I have different takes on the movie (I loved it; he didn't), but I appreciate the points he makes and am enjoying the discussion. - Star Wars The Force Awakens Discussion Post 
• This would be me - You know You’re Parents When You’re Stupid 
• Booklust's Aarti posted a review of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. I still have my stuffed "Doggie" which brought me so much comfort as a child.

What's Going On Off the Blog: My house is very quiet and empty now that the guests are all gone. We are still working on taking down the Christmas decorations. It feels a bit strange having a weekend without anything planned. It's nice, but strange. I had the luxury of laying in bed and finishing a book Friday morning, something that I haven't been able to do in awhile. And I woke up Saturday morning with a stuffed dog lying on my arm. My daughter had woken up early and decided I needed some company.

Mouse was not especially happy about going back to school after a week and a half off. It was easier for me since I didn't have the same luxury of a vacation. My husband and I started going through Mouse's books, deciding which to donate to her school and which to keep. Not many were donated, admittedly, but we are in the process of organizing her shelves--something long overdo.

I donated six big garbage bags of clothes and toys to charity earlier in the week. I had told them I would only have three. My de-cluttering efforts continue.

Challenge & Dare Update: I signed up for a couple more challenges. The Nonfiction Challenge and FitReader. So far I have read five books for the COYER challenge and have been good about sticking to The TBR Triple Dog Dare. I am kicking off FitReader this week with a bang when I roll out of bed "in the middle of the night" as my daughter would say. It's really only 4:20 a.m. That's really my biggest hurdle to jumping back on the exercise wagon. Having to get up so early. But I can do this. I need to.

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

• Where Is Your Bookmark? (Including Top Ten 2016 Releases I Plan to Read)
• Bookish Thoughts: Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
• Beyond the Books: My Inspiration
• I Need More Nonfiction in My Life--And to Get Moving 

Upcoming on the Blog:

Monday - My Bookish Thoughts on Paradise Drive by Rebecca Foust

Tuesday - Where's Your Bookmark?

Wednesday - My Bookish Thoughts on The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

Thank you for helping me choose my next read from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow. While I will attempt to post my review that same month, I make no promises--it may go up the following month. 

The votes are in, and it looks like the winner is What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan!  Twenty-eight of you voted. The breakdown was 15 votes for What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan, 10 votes for The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly, and 3 votes for Tina Seskis's One Step Too Far.

 I really want to read all three books, and so whichever won would not have been a disappointment to me. Many thanks to those of you who took the time to vote! I plan to start reading What She Knew next.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Happy Reading!

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 © 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.