Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy by Anne Boyd Rioux

Title: Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters

Author: Anne Boyd Rioux

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. 2018

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 273

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Nonfiction Bingo - Biography

In Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, Rioux recounts how Louisa May Alcott came to write Little Women, drawing inspiration for it from her own life. Rioux also examines why this tale of family and community ties, set while the Civil War tore America apart, has resonated through later wars, the Depression, and times of changing opportunities for women.

Alcott’s novel has moved generations of women, many of them writers: Simone de Beauvoir, J. K. Rowling, bell hooks, Cynthia Ozick, Jane Smiley, Margo Jefferson, and Ursula K. Le Guin were inspired by Little Women, particularly its portrait of the iconoclastic young writer, Jo. Many have felt, as Anna Quindlen has declared, “Little Women changed my life.”

I was very excited to read this one considering I really love Little Women. And the first section was very interesting. I loved learning more about Alcott’s life and inspiration. I enjoyed seeing the connections between her life and her various written works. The second half of the book didn’t catch my attention as much. The writing seemed very stilted and a little too much literary criticism. The writing was a bit dry and I started losing attention pretty quickly. So a mixed bad I guess.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - The Maine "Numb Without You"

Definitely need to pick up this new album…

Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

Title: Fight or Flight

Author: Samantha Young

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Literary Escapes - Massachusetts; Alphabet Soup - Y; Romance

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn't hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava's ever had. And that's all it was--until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb's orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he's stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart's in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she's made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn't quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her....

The Girly Book Club selection for April and thank goodness it was lighter than the last two months’s picks. I enjoyed most of this book. There’s a very weird tonal shift about 2/3 of the way through the book that I’m not quite sure I liked. Mostly I liked the romance between Caleb and Ava, but they do have their problems. I’m not a huge fan of the alpha mentality. I wanted to see Caleb soften a lot faster than the novel showed. And I do think that this book needs a few trigger warnings (attempted sexual assault; domestic violence; abortion; death during childbirth). I was not expecting some of those items at all. Overall I still did enjoy this book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Umbrella Academy Vol. 1

Title: Umbrella Academy Vol. 1: The Apocalypse Suite

Author: Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba

Publisher: Dark Horse Books 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 184

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

In an inexplicable worldwide event, forty-seven extraordinary children were spontaneously born to women who'd previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of the children; when asked why, his only explanation was, "To save the world."

These seven children form the Umbrella Academy, a dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers. Their first adventure at the age of ten pits them against an erratic and deadly Eiffel Tower, piloted by the fearsome zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. Nearly a decade later, the team disbands, but when Hargreeves unexpectedly dies, these disgruntled siblings reunite just in time to save the world once again.

I’ve been meaning to read this for awhile and thankfully the library had it. I thoroughly enjoyed this volume although the time jumps took some getting used to. I loved the interplay between the children and the larger mystery of the world. I can’t wait to see more from the kids/adults. Should be interesting…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Spring Bucket List Update #1

A new season has begun! !

Read 50 books - So far, I’m at 15 books. I will definitely be hitting this goal by the deadline.
Eat at 3 new-to-me restaurants - Nothing yet, although we did use a Bar Ticket at Old Chicago last weekend. This coming weekend, I’m hitting at least two new-to-me restaurants while in Minneapolis.
Attend two theater performances
Make fun cupcakes
Create an Easter Egg Hunt
Make a planter for the front porch
Find two good parks
Host a cookout
Have fun at OnStage! - I’m going this weekend!!!!!
Tie Dye Shirts with the boys
Check out three new museum/zoos
Check out The Makery
Create a spring Spotify playlist
Buy a sprinkler for the yard
Smoothie month
Mini golf family night
Make a rain gauge
Buy and fly a kite - In progress. I bought kites for the kids’s Easter baskets. Just have to wait until Easter to pull these out and fly them!
Go berry picking
Sign Arthur up for summer camps ✓ - He going to attend one week at the Omaha Children’s Museum and one week at Omaha Zoo.
Find a Farmer’s Market
Make a trip to Peacetree for root beer and beer
Go on a hike
Visit Old Market
Redo my hair

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

Title: The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3)

Author: N.K. Jemisin

Publisher: Orbit 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Modern Mrs. Darcy - Recommendation from Someone with Great Taste; Dancing with Fantasy and Science Fiction - Finish a Series

The Moon will soon return. Whether this heralds the destruction of humankind or something worse will depend on two women.

Essun has inherited the power of Alabaster Tenring. With it, she hopes to find her daughter Nassun and forge a world in which every orogene child can grow up safe.

For Nassun, her mother's mastery of the Obelisk Gate comes too late. She has seen the evil of the world, and accepted what her mother will not admit: that sometimes what is corrupt cannot be cleansed, only destroyed.

I have such a book hangover from this series. Goodness! After the second book, I figured out a lot of what was going to happen in the third book, but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t love every single page. I love love loved the intertwining stories of Essun and Nassun plus the beautiful overarching narrative from Hoa with glimpses into the past. The parts that I found most intriguing were the sections about Syl Anagist. Such a fascinating society. I loved puzzling out exactly what was going on and how all the technology worked. Beyond that the relationship between Essun and Nassun is fascinating and I loved how Jemisin explores the themes of love and identity. The series is high on world-building, but what really moves the story along is the characters. I must now read Jemisin’s other works (already have How Long ‘til Black Future Month checked out from the library).

The Broken Earth:

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

I am beyond excited for the Stampin’ Up! convention this weekend!
Also looking forward to my solo drive to and from Minneapolis. Loading up my podcasts and music on my phone. I hardly ever have alone time and I definitely need some time away.
Finishing N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy and I feel like I’m going to have a book (series) hangover. So incredibly amazing!
I was bad this week and checked out eight more books from the library. Bad Tobe! Four of them are recipe/homemaking books so easy quick “reads,” but still I was supposed to be weaning myself off the library for awhile.
Kindergarten Parent meeting on Tuesday gave me all the feels. Gearing up to do this whole school thing again in the fall.
Did I mention that I’m excited about OnStage? Can’t wait to hang out with Pam and get my craft on!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Title: Five Feet Apart

Author: Rachael Lippincott

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 276

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Book Becoming a Movie; Women Authors; Romance

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

I’ll admit that I needed a bit of sweet romance in my life after the super heavy books I’ve read lately. That’s not to say that this is all rainbows and butterflies. The story does revolve around teens with cystic fibrosis, so not a light-hearted story. But it does have a lot of hope and humor throughout. I really enjoyed Stella and Will. I loved reading about their burgeoning friendship and romance. But most of all, I loved the ending. Big things happen, but they are all plausible. Everyone does not get magically better and they live happily ever after. They still have the disease, things just change for the better. Now I really do want to see the movie…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tulle Death Do Us Part by Annette Blair

Title: Tulle Death Do Us Part (Vintage Magic Mystery #6)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Monthly Motif - Mystery; Cloak and Dagger

Maddie’s love of classic fashion has made her Vintage Magic boutique a success—even if the visions she experiences when touching certain items often lead her into trouble. Decades ago, at a Mystic Country Club costume ball, a secret scavenger hunt ended in an unexplained death, hastily concealed.

Now, Maddie's invited to participate in a similar anniversary event: but one touch of the vintage petticoat used to hide evidence of the original crime hurtles Maddie into a scavenger hunt of her own. She must find missing petticoat pieces and re-stitch the clues it reveals...to expose a killer!

The last in Madeira Cutler’s story of sleuthing and fumbling at romance. Thankfully the series ended the way that I hoped it would. I was very concerned at the end of the last book, and thought about not finishing the series. But I persevered and am glad to see that this volume pulled out a good romance and a good mystery. I loved the Fiftieth Jubilee scavenger hunt. I only wish that the series had a bit more of a definite ending.

Vintage Magic Mystery:

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #6

Reading: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin — Finishing The Broken Earth trilogy and it is amazing!

Watching: We’re right in the middle of the Marvel movies. We finished Phase 2 last night.

Listening: Enjoying the back episodes of the Currently Reading podcast. I’m about half way through the back episodes.

Making: Working through The 100 Day Project and attempting to finish or make big progress on a ton of projects. Specifically working through Quentin’s 2018 Project Life album.

Feeling: This weekend is going to be great!

Planning: Leaving on Friday for the Stampin’ Up! convention. Working out where we’re going to eat and what we’re going to do beyond the convention itself. I can’t wait!

Loving: On a whim I made wacky cake last night. So good and so easy!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins 2011

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pages: 357

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - 365 YA (#17); Women Authors; Finishing the Series

One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill.

No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon.

Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.

I picked this one up as a free Amazon Prime Reading selection. It had been on my list for awhile. However, I didn’t really know anything about it, just all the buzz. I was pleasantly surprised by a dystopian science fiction young adult novel that didn’t annoy me. Like many YA novels, the characters have angst. For whatever reason, the angst didn’t annoy me like I thought it would. The action moves quickly and the world is interesting enough that I got over the angst. I really fell for Adam and found Juliette to be a decent main character. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

My copy also included the first short story “Destroy Me” which detailed the in-between story told from Warner’s point of view. He is a despicable human, but oddly fascinating.

Shatter Me

#1 Shatter Me
#1.5 Destroy Me
#2 Unravel Me
#2.5 Fracture Me
#3 Ignite Me
#4 Restore Me
#4.5 Shadow Me
#5 Defy Me

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Mike Shinoda "Can't Hear You Now"

How did I miss this song? So good…

Ghostland by Colin Dickey

Title: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Place

Author: Colin Dickey

Publisher: Penguin Books 2016

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 320

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Nonfiction Bingo - Spirituality (haha!)

Colin Dickey is on the trail of America's ghosts. Crammed into old houses and hotels, abandoned prisons and empty hospitals, the spirits that linger continue to capture our collective imagination, but why? His own fascination piqued by a house hunt in Los Angeles that revealed derelict foreclosures and "zombie homes," Dickey embarks on a journey across the continental United States to decode and unpack the American history repressed in our most famous haunted places. Some have established reputations as "the most haunted mansion in America," or "the most haunted prison"; others, like the haunted Indian burial grounds in West Virginia, evoke memories from the past our collective nation tries to forget.

I was expecting a book of collected ghost stories from around the United States. What I got was a beautifully told history of the somewhat unsavory parts of our history told through connections to ghost stories. I loved how Dickey connected ghost stories based in hotels to the uncanniness of hotel as domicile and yet not. I loved the discussion of the ghost towns of the west. I loved the chapter on the Winchester Mystery House and (partly because I’ve been there). Each chapter took a pretty well-known haunting story and turned it on its head connecting the underlying fears we have. I savored every page of this one. I liked it so much that it’s going on my permanent shelf.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #9

On my bedside table: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin (finally finishing The Broken Earth trilogy); Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

On my TV: We’re continuing with our Marvel movie marathon (just finished Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 last night). We also started S2 of The Tick (with Pete!) and close to finishing Letterkenny.

Listening to: The back episodes of Currently Reading podcast. I’m up to episode 14 (there are currently 32 main episodes out).

On the menu: Other than Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese, I have no idea what we’re eating this week… I’ll be gone Friday and Saturday night, but guess I need to figure out the rest of the menu plan.

On my to do list: I need to pack for OnStage, vacuum the house, and possibly get the oil changed on the van.

Happening this week: We have a few Romp n Roll classes, Kindergarten parent meeting, and playdate at Sorenson. On Friday, I’m driving to Minneapolis for Stampin’ Up!’s OnStage. So so incredibly excited!

What I am creating: Still plugging away at my 100 Days of Completing… I completed multiple weeks in Quentin’s 2018 Project Life album and March’s Memory Planner pages. Very satisfied with my momentum so far. Keeping at it.

My simple pleasures: Warm sunshine and a cool breeze.

What I’m planning: Prepping for my mini road trip. I also need to get tour summer travel plans sorted out.

Looking around the house: The usual cleaning schedule. I also need to do a big random crap sweep.

Looking forward to: OnStage and my next read.

From the camera: Checking in with the gorillas at the zoo.

The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown

Title: The Magnolia Inn

Author: Carolyn Brown

Publisher: Montlake Romance 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 272

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Literary Escapes - Texas; Romance

Inheriting the Magnolia Inn, a Victorian home nestled in the East Texas pines, is a fantasy come true for Jolene Broussard. After living with the guilt of failing to rescue her self-destructive mother, Jolene knows her aunt and uncle’s B&B is the perfect jump start for a new life and a comforting place to call home. There’s just one hitch: stubborn and moody carpenter Tucker Malone. He’s got a half interest in the Magnolia Inn, and he’s planting his dusty cowboy boots squarely in the middle of her dream.

Ever since his wife’s death, Tucker’s own guilt and demons have left him as guarded as Jolene. The last thing he expects is for his new partner to stir something inside him he thought was gone forever. And as wary as Jolene is, she may have found a kindred spirit—someone she can help, and someone she can hold on to.

Restoring the Magnolia Inn is the first step toward restoring their hearts. Will they be able to let go of the past and trust each other to do it together?

Too much God talk for me. And the characters were pretty bland and obnoxious at times. I just really didn’t like this book at all. At least this was a free Amazon Prime read for me. I think I should stay away from contemporary romance in general. It’s not my genre at all.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Atlas of the Unexpected by Travis Elborough

Title: Atlas of the Unexpected: Haphazard Discoveries, Chance Places and Unimaginable Destinations

Author: Travis Elborough

Publisher: White Lion 2018

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 208

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Nonfiction Bingo - Travel

From the fortuitous discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls by a stray goat, to the wonderfully bizarre beginnings that led to the aptly named Just Enough Room Island and even the royal romance that led shipwrecked lovers to discover Madeira, Travis Elborough takes you on a voyage to some of the world’s most wondrous, improbable and – most of all – unexpected of places.

An enjoyable little book to read during a rainy afternoon. I had heard of or knew about a majority of the discoveries featured in this book. But there were a few that were new to me. Those kept me reading and finding new little tidbits of information.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Title: The Library Book

Author: Susan Orlean

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2018

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 317

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Nonfiction Bingo - True Crime

In The Library Book, Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago.

One of those books that’s gotten such rave reviews from loads of people. I had to eventually read it! And it was such a delight. I was immediately sucked into the mystery of the burning of the Central Branch of the L.A. Public Library back in 1986. But this book is so much more than just a fire. Orlean celebrates libraries past and present. She traces the unique history of the L.A. public library highlighting some very interesting characters along the way. I savored each page feeling like Orlean was a bosom friend reveling in our shared love of libraries.

Next up on the TBR pile:

April Showers April Videos

Haha, yes.

I am terrified!

This looks quirky. Must see.

Not quite as good as the Star Wars song, but oh goodness. This one had me laughing out loud!

Love this cover!

Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair

Title: Cloaked in Malice (Vintage Magic Mystery #5)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher:

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 284

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Women Authors; Literary Escapes - Connecticut

There's nothing Maddie loves more than fabulous vintage clothes, but the visions she gets while touching them are starting to wear her down. Even so, when a beautifully dressed girl comes to Vintage Magic in search of her past, Maddie isn't about to turn her away, especially since she bears a striking resemblance to her good friend Dolly Sweet.

When Maddie touches Paisley Skye's exquisitely crafted child's cloak, the vision she receives is of the ugliest sort: a decades-old case of kidnapping and murder. To give herself more time to investigate, Maddie enlists the help of her FBI Agent boyfriend Nick and takes Paisley into her home. But when Dolly suddenly skips town, Maddie realizes that uncovering the folds of Paisley's past will reveal more than one vintage crime...

Up until this book, I had really enjoyed this series. I need a little cozy mystery every now and then. But this one really made me confused and the mad. It seemed poorly edited. The dialogue didn’t make sense at times. The characters all seemed to be not-quite-themselves. And the mystery was strange and very very far-fetched (even for this series). I just didn’t dive in like I wanted to. Plus, I’m still upset that Maddie chose Nick over Lytton in the last book. Doesn’t make any sense to me… I’m really going to be upset if Maddie and Nick get engaged and/or married in the last book…

Vintage Magic Mystery:

Next up on the TBR pile:

April 2019 Life Goals

Let’s check in on March's goals and my progress.

Go see Captain Marvel in the theaters for my birthday movie — Fail. Haven’t been able to find the time yet…
Take the littles to Legoland Chicago — Success!
Throw a small birthday party for the twins — Success!
Make Doctor appointment for Arthur and Quentin — Fail.
Read 20 books (four from my UnRead Shelf) — I succeeded on the first part of this goal, but failed on reading four from my UnRead Shelf. I only read two. Fail.

April's Goals:

Put together Easter baskets and home egg hunt for the boys - I’ve gotten some things started, but need a better plan.
Make summer travel plans - Looking ahead to the end of May.
Make Doctor appointments - Seriously!
Read 4 books from UnRead Shelf - Trying this again…
Buy some outdoor activity toys - We got rid of broken/old things when we moved. Now we don’t have much in the way of outdoor toys.
Find a good playground - Self-explantory
Oil Change - The van is just about due for an oil change. Need to keep that in mind so when the sensor gives me the alert, I’m not surprised.

Next up on the TBR list: