Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Title: Nothing to See Here

Author: Kevin Wilson

Publisher: Ecco 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 272

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; MMD 2020

Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help.

Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth.

Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

Such a strange little book, but I absolute adored this one. Many of the summaries that I saw led with the children’s affliction making the book focused on the fantasy aspects instead of the real focus. This book is really about the search for identity and family and a sense of belonging. From page one, I was rooting for Lillian and the twins to find their places in the world. Even days later, I’m still thinking about the question of “What makes a family?”

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Next up on the TBR pile:

Watching the Birds Videos

Love this video! My favorite is the dress from Ever After.

Ahhhhhh….. so excited!

Appropriate as I’m watching the last season right now.

How did a I miss this treasure?

Color me intrigued

This looks like it might be fun

Network Effect by Martha Wells

Title: Network Effect (Murderbot Diaries #5)

Author: Martha Wells

Publisher: Tor.com 2020

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 346

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

You know that feeling when you’re at work, and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.
Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable A.I. you’ll read this century.
I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.
When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action.
Drastic action it is, then.

Oh Murderbot! I can’t believed I’ve finished all the books that have been published. I just want to sink further into this world and see Murderbot’s evolution and search for an identity. This first, full-length novel dives back into the story and reintroduces many beloved characters. We get to see Murderbot move forward in its relationships with humans and non-humans alike. Plus we get a great long-form action sequence in the last third of the book. As usual, my favorite part of the book was the little asides from Murderbot. The parenthetical statements are the best and occasionally made me laugh out loud. Such fun!

Murderbot Diaries:

Next up on the TBR pile:

Pandemic 1918 by Catharine Arnold

Title: Pandemic 1918

Author: Catharine Arnold

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 2018

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 363

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Before AIDS or Ebola, there was the Spanish Flu — Catharine Arnold's gripping narrative, Pandemic 1918, marks the 100th anniversary of an epidemic that altered world history.

In January 1918, as World War I raged on, a new and terrifying virus began to spread across the globe. In three successive waves, from 1918 to 1919, influenza killed more than 50 million people. German soldiers termed it Blitzkatarrh, British soldiers referred to it as Flanders Grippe, but world-wide, the pandemic gained the notorious title of “Spanish Flu”. Nowhere on earth escaped: the United States recorded 550,000 deaths (five times its total military fatalities in the war) while European deaths totaled over two million.

Amid the war, some governments suppressed news of the outbreak. Even as entire battalions were decimated, with both the Allies and the Germans suffering massive casualties, the details of many servicemen’s deaths were hidden to protect public morale. Meanwhile, civilian families were being struck down in their homes. The City of Philadelphia ran out of gravediggers and coffins, and mass burial trenches had to be excavated with steam shovels. Spanish flu conjured up the specter of the Black Death of 1348 and the great plague of 1665, while the medical profession, shattered after five terrible years of conflict, lacked the resources to contain and defeat this new enemy.

I’m always up for a infectious disease book and this one is a well-researched, compelling look at one of the deadliest pandemics in history. I loved how Arnold sprinkles primary sources throughout the text giving the reader a clear picture of the horrors that people lived through in 1918. I didn’t learn much more about the pandemic due to my extensive knowledge previous to reading, but I did get to know various real people’s experiences. At times, the book was difficult to read due to the human suffering. But it was a fascinating and incredibly precent look at a historical event.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Weezer "Hero"

Loving this new song!

Life Right Now #23

As I look outside my window: It’s bright and sunny and so so hot.

Right now I am: Trying to escape the overly tired kids and get a bit of quiet time.

On my bedside table: The Guest List by Lucy Foley; Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

On my tv this week: J and I started Avenue 5 starring Hugh Laurie. It is a delight! We also continued Battlestar Galactica S1. And I watched a few more episodes of The 100 S7.

Listening to: Just podcasts and lots of kids crying and screaming this past week. It was a rough week…

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Paplou Soup (Omani fish soup)
Tuesday - Baked Potato Soup
Wednesday - Jamaican Prawn and Sweet Potato Curry
Thursday - Teriyaki Chicken
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Kale and White Bean Soup
Sunday - Orecchiette with Sausage, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Broccoli

On my to do list: I need to finish Alex’s school registration. That’s my big task. Otherwise, I have all my usual weekly tasks.

Happening this week: I have a library hold pick up scheduled for Wednesday morning. But very exciting, on Thursday we’re having a friend and her kid over for a backyard picnic and playdate (and pool time). This will be the first time we’ve had a friend over at the new house.

What I am creating: Lesson plans for our upcoming homeschooling year. I’ve got the first few weeks kinda set and I need to work on our long term plans before circling back around to Week 1.

My simple pleasures: Lemon curd on my homemade waffles; iced coffee; cool breeze sitting under our tree; being able to see out the playroom window (I trimmed the bush)

Looking around the house: Blergh! There’s random stuff everywhere because no one else in this house knows how to put things away correctly.

From the camera: I got the inflatable pool out this weekend. Big hit!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Title: Clap When You Land

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo

Publisher: Quill Tree Books 2020

Genre: YA Fiction

Pages: 432

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Modern Mrs Darcy 2020

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

CW: Death of a parent, Sexual assault

I picked this up because of its inclusion on the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide and as one of Acevedo’s earlier works, The Poet X, won multiple awards. I had some trepidation over of the “free verse” form of the novel, but I should not have been worried. This was a moving, beautiful account of two girls growing up in very different cities but connected by many threads. I loved getting to know each girl and piecing together their lives, struggles, and dreams. Camino felt more real to me, but both girls were expertly sketched out. By the end of the novel, I wanted to keep following them as they grew together and found their new places in the world. So good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer Bucket List Update #1

Things are still very much up in the air at the moment. Various places have reopened, but many with heavy restrictions. Our summer bucket list is going to look very different this year. No fun trips and very few outings to places. Instead, we are focusing on activities at home.

Visit Heron Haven
Comic Book Day
Make Ice Cream Sundaes
Hitchcock Nature Center
Read aloud 5 chapter books (2/5)
- Oh Say, I Can’t See by Jon Scieszka
- Amazon in the Afternoon by Mary Pope Osborne
Board Game Day
Scatter Joy Acres
Finger Paint
Read 50 books (16/50)
Have a Backyard Picnic
Weekly Sprinkler Time ✓
Go to the Zoo 5x (1/5)
Make S’mores
Tie Dye Something
Hopscotch in Driveway
Hike at the River
Complete Two Jigsaw Puzzles
Make Doughnuts

Next up on the TBR pile:

The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

Title: The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt #1)

Author: John Bellairs

Publisher: 1973

Genre: Children’s Books

Pages: 179

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Horror; Library

When Lewis Barnavelt, an orphan. comes to stay with his uncle Jonathan, he expects to meet an ordinary person. But he is wrong. Uncle Jonathan and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann, are both magicians! Lewis is thrilled. At first, watching magic is enough. Then Lewis experiments with magic himself and unknowingly resurrects the former owner of the house: a woman named Selenna Izard. It seems that Selenna and her husband built a timepiece into the walls--a clock that could obliterate humankind. And only the Barnavelts can stop it!

We ended watching the movie version with Jack Black and Cate Blanchett before reading the book, but I wasn’t too spoiled. Of course the movie changes some things around to make the story more fantastic for the screen. But by and large, the main story stays true to the spirit of the book. And what a book it is! If I had read this at about 9 years old, I would have been completely in love with this book. Even at 38, I really really really enjoyed this book. We get the right amount of humor, adventure, and horror in this slim little novel introducing us to Lewis Barnavelt and his eccentric Uncle Jonathan and neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman. I sped through the pages, only pausing to examine the wonderful illustrations. I probably won’t read the rest of the series, but I really loved this first volume.

P.S. The novel was illustrated by Edward Gorey. I love his work so much!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Deep into homeschool planning and it makes my little planner heart so happy!
My picture may be up somewhere in the library. I checked out another 55 books yesterday for curbside pickup. Plus we got our summer reading program prizes.
I don’t want the Murderbot Diaries series to end! I know there’s another book coming, but not until like next year. I need more now!
All the grocery stores were out of chicken breasts which means I need to rework our meal plan for this week. Thankfully one had an abundance of salmon fillets, so we have tonight taken care of.
Lists and piles all over my craft room. That seems normal.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Title: Home Before Dark

Author: Riley Sager

Publisher: Dutton 2020

Genre: Horror

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf Project

What was it like? Living in that house.
Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.

Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father's book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father's death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction.

I’m always here for a spooky house story and this one delivered! We get the perfect setting in Baneberry Hall, a mysterious past, and some truly creepy characters. Right away the spooky atmosphere pervades every page. We are thrown into the mystery of what happened 25 years ago (and even further back) at Baneberry Hall. We’re left with Maggie to try to understand what is real, lies, and potential supernatural. I found myself not wanting to read this at night in the dark. Sager perfectly creates a sense of unease that bleeds through the pages into real life. I rushed through the last 30 pages desperately needing to know what happened to Maggie. Such a great spooky book!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

Title: Conjure Women

Author: Afia Atakora

Publisher:

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - June

Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife; and their master’s daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women and their community come to a head at the beginning of a war and at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear and a spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom.

A very atmospheric look at three women in the mid 1800s. I was captivated by the dreamy descriptions of life in the south. May Belle and Rue were amazing and interesting women. I definitely wanted to see where their lives went. At times, the book was very difficult to read, depicting horrific situations and occurrences. Important, but definitely hard to read. Ultimately, I was bored with Varina’s story and would rather have had those sections reworked to focus on May Belle and Rue instead. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to feel about Varina. Those hesitations kept me from rating this with 5 stars.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #12

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Reading: Network Effect by Martha Wells - I’m so in love with the Murderbot Diaries. So sad that this is the last one that has been published…

Watching: I finally started S7 of The 100. It’s the last season! I’m sneaking in episodes during my workout sessions.

Listening: So many podcasts this past week. I need more music in my life.

Making: I’m working on homeschool curriculum and packets for the fall.

Feeling: So hot and sweaty! Our treadmill was delivered on July 1st. I’m aiming to walk 30 miles in July. So far, I’ve walked over 6 miles!

Planning: As we’re homeschooling this coming year, I’ve been spending a bit of time every day pulling resources, making lists, and working out our plan. I’ve got a ton of stuff, but now I need to narrow everything down for August.

Loving: Walking the treadmill makes me hungry, but I don’t want to eat crap. Instead, I’ve been grabbing a little handful of nuts after my workout. Honey Roasted Peanuts are my treat.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Palaye Royale "Little Bastards"

Palaye Royale’s new album is absolutely amazing! I’ve been listening to it all the way through every couple of days. So good!

Life Right Now #22

As I look outside my window: Bright and sunny after a hazy morning. Although the air is at low quality due to the fireworks last night.

Right now I am: Lounging in my chair, catching up on blog posts, before reading part of my book.

Thinking and pondering: How do the twins manage to leave random crap at my house every time they leave? This time it was an entire sheet set (wonder if A needs that for his dorm room?), some clothes, and body wash.

On my bedside table: The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs; Once & Future Vol. 1; Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

On my tv this week: We watched Hamilton on Saturday of course! Beyond that, we finished S2 of Cosmos and made progress on S1 of Battlestar Galactica.

Listening to: All the podcasts per usual. I need more music in my life this week.

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Leftovers
Tuesday - Kharcho (Georgian Beef Soup)
Wednesday - Teriyaki Chicken
Thursday - Paplou (Omani Fish Soup)
Friday - Monterey Chicken Skillet
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Prawn and Sweet Potato Curry (Jamaica)

On my to do list: I need to register Alex for the Academy, make an appointment for library pick up, work on homeschool plan, and do a ton of cleaning.

Happening this week: It’s Rainforest Week for our Summer Unit Themes! We’re going to learn about the plants and animals plus some conservation. I found some great library books and tv documentaries for this unit. The next week is Moving West.

What I am creating: Nothing really, although I do need to print my collage pictures for the memory planner. And I should make a few cards using a borrowed stamp set.

My simple pleasures: Hazelnut Cream Iced Coffee (homemade!); finishing pulling the weeds!; reading a fun light book (looking at you Murderbot Diaries!)

Looking around the house: J demoed the closet in the basement work room, so big progress made down there. I need to make our summer/fall house renovation list so we know want to focus on. I know I need to cut down the front bush and clean up the rose bushes. Otherwise, it’s the usual sweep, vacuum, dishes, laundry like every week.

From the camera: Not too impressed by the sparklers. They enjoyed the poppers more.

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

Title: Exit Strategy (Murderbot Diaries #4)

Author: Martha Wells

Publisher: Tor.com 2018

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 176

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?
Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah—its former owner (protector? friend?)—submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.
But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?
And what will become of it when it’s caught?

Oh what a ride! I wish that I had planned my week better so I could have read this in one sitting. Unfortunately I had to break it up into two reading sessions. We get the return of some previous characters and learn more about what GrayCris has been doing. Murderbot’s narration has continued to entertain me on every page. I love the little asides and commentary on human life. My favorite part was definitely the reboot process. Fascinating to watch Murderbot understand who they are. I must read the next one (a full length novel!) soon.

Murderbot Diaries:

#1 All Systems Red
#2 Artificial Condition
#3 Rogue Protocol
#4 Exit Strategy
#5 Network Effect
#6 Fugitive Telemetry

Next up on the TBR pile:

Once & Future Vol. 1

Title: Once & Future Vol. 1

Author: Kieron Gillen, Tamra Bonvillain, Dan Mora

Publisher: Boom Studios 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

When a group of Nationalists use an ancient artifact to bring a villain from Arthurian myth back from the dead, retired monster hunter Bridgette McGuire pulls her unsuspecting grandson Duncan, a museum curator, into a world of magic and mysticism to defeat a legendary threat. Now the two must navigate the complicated history of the McGuire family, all while combating the deadly secrets of England’s past that threaten its very future.

Finally picked this one up and oh my goodness, it was a good one. I’m always up for a reimagining of classic stories and myths. This one takes the King Arthur myth and turns it on its head. The reader is thrown completely into the story with Duncan and left to figure put what exactly is going on. I loved encountering the various characters and attempting to understand their place in the larger story. I will be waiting on pins and needles for the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

2020 Soups and Stews from Around the World - May and June

Week 18: Fesenjan (Pomegranate Walnut Chicken) from Iran

I don’t think I’ve ever had anything quite like this, but it was so so good! We might put this in regular rotation.

Recipe used from Simply Recipes

Week 19: Sancocho from Panama

Pretty decent chicken corn chowder. I did have to substitute sweet potatoes for cassava as I could not find any around here.

Recipe used from 196 Flavors

Week 20: Gazpacho from Spain

Incredibly delicious! This is most definitely a keeper! I will be pulling this out when it’s 90 degrees here.

Recipe used from The Suburban Soapbox

Week 21: Miso from Japan

Simple to make and super tasty. I didn’t know that it was so easy to make miso. We will have to do this again when we get takeout sushi next time.

Recipe used from Eat Plant Based

Week 22: Khao Soi from Laos

A Laotian take on ramen? A pork noodle soup? Either way, this was really really good! I think we will have to make it again.

Recipe used from Food & Wine

Week 23: Coconut Sweet Potato Soup with Spicy Shrimp from Vanuatu

I had some reservations about this recipe, but it tasted amazing! We loved the sweet coconut flavored broth mixed with the spiciness from the shrimp. Next time, I am going to try to thicken the broth a bit, but overall, this was delicious.

Recipe used from Panning the Globe

Week 24: Butha-Buthe (Spinach and Tangerine Soup) from Lesotho

Pretty bland… the broth was tasty, but the starch really overwhelmed it.

Recipe used from 196 Flavors

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Title: Get a Life, Chloe Brown (Brown Sisters #1)

Author: Talia Hibbert

Publisher: Avon 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 387

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

Enjoy a drunken night out.
Ride a motorcycle.
Go camping.
Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
And... do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Our book club selection for July. It was a nice, light, and fluffy contemporary romance that was an enjoyable read for a few days. I liked Chloe, but Red was my favorite character in the book. He had such great comebacks and wit. I loved it. The romance was fun and steamy at all the correct points. I wouldn’t call it my favorite romance of the last few years, but this was a good one. I’m interested in reading the sequel.

Brown Sisters

#1 Get a Life, Chloe Brown
#2 Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Next up on the TBR pile:

July 2020 Life Goals

Let’s check in on June’s goals and my progress.

Read 15 books ✓
Create weekly theme units for Arthur ✓
Next Round of Soups and Stews ✓
Send out June birthday and pick-me-up cards ✓
Figure out end of summer ✓

July’s Goals:

Plan for homeschool through August - We’ve made the decision to pull Arthur for this coming year due to all the uncertainty. I am able to stay home and teach him, so that’s what we’re doing.
Read 20 books - Need to up my goal apparently.
Send out July cards
Make fall plan for home renovations and repairs
**Added: Walk at least 30 miles on the treadmill

Next up on the TBR list: