Category: What Are You Reading

May Book Review - Saturday Edition

5/30/2020

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I hope you're having a great weekend. I've officially moved outside, to enjoy this amazing weather. And the Sunsets - OMG the sunsets! I took the picture above yesterday with my phone. It doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea. Summer is here and I'm loving it!

So thats why I'm posting later than normal today, I'm too busy doing nothing outside, lol. But still I've got a quick review of another book you need in your life.

This one is a bit different... I don't know about you, but I needed a laugh this month. So much has happened and we have lost so many people, this has left me just wanting (needing) to step away from the news and read something lighter. So no self-help or business building books, this week and also nothing dark or apocalyptic either. #ChangeofPace

This book is a light, fun read. Tim Conway's humor is not like typical, modern comics. He doesn't shame, or humiliate people or even poke fun at them. He had an optimistic joy for life and it shines through in this book.

Quick Book Review - Tuesday Edition:
What's So Funny? by Tim Conway

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes - Although I don't often read biographies of comics
Setting: Chagrin Falls, Ohio and other US places.
How's the story telling? Amazing.
Was it well written? Yes
Would you recommend this book? Yes
Page Count: 273 pages

My Last Minute Thoughts:

Thomas Daniel "Tim" Conway (December 15, 1933 – May 14, 2019) was an American actor, comedian, writer, director and six times Emmy winner. He was 85 when he passed and he lived a very full life. A good part of the book is about his childhood and his adventures in Chagrin Falls; clearly it was a different time, but the humor translates.
From 1956-1958, he was in the Army and there are some funny comments and tidbits there.
If you are looking for a light, uplifting read that will make you laugh a bit, then read this book.

This review contains affiliate links, but I never post about anything I don't love.

Speak soon~

April 2020 - Best Of

5/13/2020

I'm coming to you late today because I took the day to do some much needed mundane chores such as dusting, laundry, etc., #Goodtimes

Actually it felt good to be physically active and see concrete results, so much of what I do online is less "physical" and requires longer timeframes to see results. (Unlike instantly seeing the laundry basket go down, lol)

The sun came out for a bit but it is still cooler, with more rain on the way! I have hope though as the weather is supposed to become warmer starting Sunday.

I posted a bit more in April and thought I would give you the rundown, if you missed anything...

Quick Book Reviews:

Isolation Diary:

Have a great evening and speak soon~

Quick Book Review - Tuesday Edition

5/12/2020

Happy Tuesday!
It’s kind of a grey day here in central New Mexico this morning, but I’m not complaining. I am grateful that we are having a bit of rain and the temps are dropping.

It’s been a busy week already and it’s only Tuesday! Lol, I have a couple of baby showers to attend this month and a wedding (well NOT attend in person, but on Zoom), and I’m wrapping gifts for those, reading, painting, and there’s always work…
But I also found time to write up two quick book reviews for you today, both by Neil Gaiman.

Quick Book Review - Tuesday Edition:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes - Occult and Supernatural (its actually listed as a child’s book)
Setting: The Graveyard in Old Town; Somewhere in England; Present Day
How's the story telling? Amazing.
Was it well written? Yes
Would you recommend this book? Yes
Page Count: 325 pages

My Last Minute Tuesday Thoughts:

I'm at the point in my life where I just read anything Neil Gaiman writes. I saw this listed as a children's book and thought, "Oh well, he tells a good story let's have some lite reading.." Umm, well…I'm sure I would have loved this as a teen, too.
So while the book was very entertaining, I was amazed at how dark this book was. It felt very much like an old world fairy tale; full of wonder, evil and magic. I highly recommend it for anyone that loves a creepy tale.

This review contains affiliate links, but I never post about anything I don't love.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes - Myth and folklore
Setting: Collected stories set in several realms
How's the story telling? Amazing.
Was it well written? Yes
Would you recommend this book? Yes
Page Count: 304 pages

My Last Minute Tuesday Thoughts:

This book has been on my list to read for a while, now I find I have time to tackle it. Before reading I wondered if this would be a "retelling" with added characters, plot twists and lessons or if the book would stay true to the actual literature. Then I read the reviews and noticed some people were complaining and this book was not liked as much as some other of Gaiman's books. Hmmmm....
I was happy to see this wasn't a collection of overly embellished stories, but more a fond retelling of the old, classic stories. I really enjoyed the book overall, but if you are expecting this book to be like American Gods you will be disappointed.
Read another reviews of a Neil Gaiman book here: Good Omens

Okay now I'm off to put on a pot of tea and finish wrapping those gifts.
Speak soon~

What Are You Reading? Thursday Edition

4/30/2020

Happy Thursday!
It’s a chilly, rainy morning here in Central New Mexico. I thought we were going to beat the rain on our morning walk, but it started just as we got to about the halfway point! But all this rain equals amazing Spring flowers so I'm not complaining.

There's lots to talk about this morning, so I'm just going to dive right in with another book review.

Thursday Short Review:
Deception Point by Dan Brown

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes - Political Thriller and Suspense
Setting: Washington DC, Antartica + More
How's the story telling? Amazing.
Was it well written? Yes and Dan Brown focuses on government conspiracies, scientific misinformation, and not religion in this book, so I really enjoyed it.
Would you recommend this book? Yes
Page Count: Coming in at 464 pages this isn't a Saturday afternoon read. BUT well worth the time spent reading it. I actually stayed up too late reading it on more than one night, as the story pulled me in.

My Last Minute Thursday Thoughts:

I always forget what a good storyteller Dan Brown is...
You know I am usually put off by NYT bestsellers, so many are rubbish, but some are actual jewels, guess which one this is?
I did stay up too late reading this one and bet you will get pulled in, too.
If you are looking for a very compelling read, full of intrigue and adventure dive in.
If you want to read more of my book reviews hit this link

This review contains affiliate links, but I never post about anything I don't love.

Okay now I'm off to tackle the laundry and put on a pot of coffee.
Have a great day!

What Are You Reading? Sunday Edition

4/26/2020

Happy Sunday!
I'm getting a late start this morning because I slept in. It was after 9:00 before I had my first coffee. Of course, the fact that I stayed up till 2:30 chatting on WhatsApp had nothing to do with it, lol.

But regardless, it's a gorgeous day here and I'm going for a lovely, long walk this morning. But before I go run off, I thought I would knock out a few more book reviews, lol. I'm so far behind, that I really should be writing 10 at a time, lol - but we both know thats not going to happen. Today we will have to make do with two, instead.

Yesterday, while I was trolling for books on Amazon I noticed there was an Expanse novella that I hadn't read yet, so I scooped it up. Auberon came out in November 2019 and I have no idea how I missed it then? Oh yeah - I remember now, I was busy writing my book, lol.

Sunday Short Review:
Auberon (An Expanse Novella) By James S.A. Corey

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes! It is very well written science fiction
Setting: The planet Auberon
How's the story telling? Very good. This short story answers the question of where did Erich land after the "churn", as described in the novella The Churn.
Was it well written? Yes.
Would you recommend this book? Yes, I stumbled on the television series and loved it. I have read all the books and the novellas.
Spoiler: Addictive!
Page Count: 66 Pages. I read on my Kindle while eating cookies and drinking tea on a rainy afternoon.
How many books in the series? There are currently 8 books in the series with additional novellas along the way. Book 9 is supposed to be the last book, (but hopefully not), it is scheduled for late 2020-early 2021 release.

If you read the The Churn novella, you were given insight into Amos Burton and the Baltimore criminals. Erich from this novella is a main character in Auberon and his story is worth catching up on. Also read my review of Book One in this series here.

Saturday Short Review II:
The Churn: An Expanse Novella (The Expanse) By James S.A. Corey

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes! It is very well written science fiction
Setting: Baltimore
How's the story telling? Very good. The plot is easy to follow and the stories are not (thankfully) predictable.
Was it well written? Yes, this is the backstory of Amos.
Would you recommend this book? Yes
Spoiler: Addictive!
Page Count: 60, I read this on my Kindle in one sitting.
How many books in the series? This novella was released April 2014, and is considered a prequel to the books.

I have paid links in this post, but trust me, I only make a small fee off them and never write about anything I don't personally love.

Okay I'm off for that walk now.
Have a great Sunday!

What Are You Reading? Saturday Edition

4/25/2020

Hi, friends! Spring is in full swing over here in our part of the world, and I'm doing a bit of Spring cleaning. I admit that I forgot/lost my password to Goodreads and am a bit late in updating my book reviews. (So be prepared for weekly reviews until I am caught up.)

I read Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Book 1) way back in February 2019 and was hooked on the series. So before I review the entire 8 books in this series, and overload you, let's begin with book #1.

Saturday Short Review:
Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Book 1) By James S.A. Corey

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes! It is very well written science fiction
Setting: Space
How's the story telling? Very good. The plot is easy to follow and the stories are not (thankfully) predictable.
Was it well written? Yes, just enough intrigue to keep you engrossed in the story, but not overkill with the space politic. The tech was believable and set the stage, not overpowering the story as is often the case in badly written science fiction novels.
Would you recommend this book? Yes, I stumbled on the television series and loved it. Recently a good friend told me how amazing the books were and I’m so thankful he did! This was a good, solid read. The characters are richly detailed and flawed in brilliant ways. Space, tech and the politics all add further dimensions to the story without dragging it down. I look forward to reading every book in the series.
Spoiler: Addictive!
How close does the television series follow the book? It's not a verbatim story of what you see on the television series, BUT it's close enough that you are not lost or distracted by odd plot twists or crazy storylines. I still love watching the series which has now been picked up by Amazon.
Page Count: Coming in at 562 pages this isn't a Saturday afternoon read. BUT well worth the time spent reading it. I actually didn't want the first book to end, even though I had already ordered the second and third books after only a few chapters.
How many books in the series? There are currently 8 books in the series with additional novellas along the way. Book 9 is supposed to be the last book, (but hopefully not), it is scheduled for late 2020-early 2021 release.

James S. A. Corey is the pen name of fantasy author Daniel Abraham, author of the critically acclaimed Long Price Quartet, and writer Ty Franck. They both live down the street from me in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I think I have seem them buying tacos, but I kept my cool and didn't fan girl out. lol.

More reviews shortly!

What Are You Reading Wednesday

3/6/2019

Hi, friends! Winter is in full swing over here in our part of the world, so naturally, I have two things on my mind: reading and staying warm! Nothing like a warm fire and a good book!
Fortunately I have a pile of TBR and a cozy place to read. #WIN

This book was recommended to me and was so good!

Great Book!

Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes
Setting: Arizona
The story telling? Yes
Was it well written? Yes
Would you recommend this book? Yes, I really enjoyed the amount of humor, magic and action. The characters are likable and the author doesn't waste time trying to set up a "new magical world". There is plenty of excitement with gods, goddess, vampires, witches, druids, werewolves & more, in this fast paced story.
Spoiler: Addictive!
If you are looking for a "traditional" fantasy/sword and sorcery book this might not be for you. It is chocked full of magic, and magical lore, but it takes place in modern day.

If you want a fast paced, full-on magical tale this is your book. I enjoyed reading the adventures of an ancient druid who is plagued by magical assassins - set in modern day Arizona. It had the right amount of humor, depth and plenty of action. This is a good story that makes this book tough to put down and leaves you a bit sad its over. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I read this while I was ill (even the SC filter couldn't make me look normal)

I have ordered book two and three & can't wait for them to arrive.

Did I mention the old gods pop up in this story?

I also read Garden Spells last month while I was ill. Although, I couldn't get into it at all. I was surfing around Amazon (always dangerous) and it was a "recommended for you based on your other purchases" so I gave it a try.
:(
Perhaps will try it again later.

I'm not going to review it - other than to say I had to force myself to read it....and feel like it was a waste of time.

But I do plan to review at least two books every week till I get caught up. (Perhaps I should review four at a time or we will be at this till next Christmas?) Lol

My Neil Gaiman reading frenzy continues...although Sandman is a collection of other peoples stories.

I'm currently reading.

So enjoying the "Expanse" series, too. I think there are 7 books, with another coming out in later this month?

:D The snow is melting!

Making for a clear, but cold day. I'm headed back to my spot by the fire to finish Leviathan Wakes. I actually put off reading this series because I enjoy the television show so much. Usually reading and watching don't mix, you know? But I haven't been disappointed...

What are you reading? Do you have any recommendation? Share your current "can't put it down" books please!

January in Review

2/6/2019

Hey! How are you?
If the rest of this year passes as fast as Janurary did then I'm in serious trouble!

So what the Hell did I do?

I had guests for 2+ weeks and worked. The house was full of people, plus some stayed down the street at a B & B. So there was lots of laughing, eating and visiting going on! It really was an amazing visit!

We watched some movies...

I blogged about some movies to watch with your BFF here and also reviewed a random movie a friend recommended to me here. I also managed to do some used book shopping.

I read a bit and owe you several reviews. Hopefully later this week I will get those out. The top book on that pile Hounded by Kevin Hearne was recommended by one of my friends here for the visit. She knew I would like it and she was so right! I'm already reading the second one in the series and buying the rest!

We decided to eat healthy for this adventure so I mostly cooked. We wolfed down nice cream and smoothies everyday as well as homemade soups, Buddha Bowls, vegan cookies and lattes. I didn't take many pictures because I was busy eating too, lol!

Buddha Bowl - Red Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Avocado, Yellow Squash, Onions, Peas, Fresh Mushrooms ~ MMMMMMMMM

We ate a LOT! I think we went through approx. 40 pounds of bananas in two weeks! It's hard to tell because I had a lot of produce before we began this adventure, lol. Everyone seems to be happy eating plant based vegan and no one went hungry.

The downside though, one person caught a cold and before you knew it we all had it. I finished off the month in bed, but at least I had a lot of new books to read.

Call me sneezy-

I'm excited to see what February brings.

See you at the airport~

New Year’s Resolutions?

1/20/2019

Another mini used book haul~

Hello ~
So I’m wondering, how do you feel about New Year’s resolutions?
My 2017 resolution was to stop spending so much on printed books and working so much. I actually went on a book buying fast for several months in 2017 and cut way, way back in 2018. It was difficult because I so love books, but it is made easier when I think about having to either ship them or store them when we move again.

And the working so much? Well, I have taken a bit more time off and am back to daily walks, which help me handle the stress a lot better. Just getting away from my desk and out in nature has made a big difference.

Behold the beautiful New Mexico Mountains!

Bring on the veggies!

I also vowed to eat better - which I'm still enjoying. :D

Some resolutions really change your life, others not so much. So for 2019 I am working on buying used books (cheaper and recycling is always a good idea) and also being picky about how many I keep. I'm going to continue eating the clean, veggie rich diet and make more time to travel. I think we may visit Sweden this year as well as some short trips in the US.

So how about you? What are your resolutions and are you keeping them?

Weekend Reads Continued

11/2/2018

Hi!
It seems ludicrous to think I went on a "book buying fast" for most of the summer, doesn't it? I stayed away from Amazon (for books anyway) and did my best to avoid books stores, not that those really exist anymore. So just recently I've started shopping again. (You can read about the fall mini book haul here.) I held back, so it's a short post, lol.

Part of my recent promise to myself has been to stop working so much and find time to do things I love. I have put so much on the back burner lately because of work, but now that I am taking time to read, make art and travel again I feel so much better! #WIN

So far I've read two books from that mini haul.

The first book I read was this delightful book on Frida and Diego by Catherine Reef. This is a lovely book filled with the artists stories, photographs, history and art.

Frida and Diego by Catherine Reef

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes
Setting: Mexico
The story telling? Yes
Was it well written? Yes
Would you recommend this book? Yes, there are enough stories, antidotes and photographs to make it light reading. If you want to skim these powerful artists histories and learn a bit about politics of the time, its great. It is a light, enjoyable read. One rainy afternoon I lazed around with a pot of tea and read it cover to cover.
Spoiler: I learned more about the artists and politics of the age. I had no idea Frida was hit by a streetcar nor how much pain she endured. I really didn't know much about their relationship or how it impacted their art.
If you are looking for a "traditional" autobiography you will probably not like this.

The book itself is art.

The richness of the paintings featured are captured well.

I am happy to add this book to my collection.

Reading in front of the fire is the best.

The second book I read this week was Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Was it a page turner? Yes
Do I like this genre? Yes (Fantasy)
Setting: End of the world - so mostly England
The story telling? Yes
Was it well written? Yes
Would you recommend this book? Yes, especially if you are fan of either author or need a good laugh. There is a lot going on as the end of the world approaches, but you will enjoy the characters and their bumbling, as the lines between good and evil blur.
Spoiler: Parts are laugh out loud funny, other parts you need an understanding of Britain and the British to really fully appreciate the humor.

This has been on my list to purchase for sometime, but I never seemed to remember it at Amazon. The used bookstore had a well read copy for $1 so I couldn't pass it up. Next I will probably buy in hardback.