Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Title: Bird Box

Author: Josh Malerman

Publisher: Ecco 2014

Genre: Horror

Pages: 305

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Horror; Seasonal TBR

Something is out there . . . 

Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?

Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motely group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?

I’ve been meaning to pick this one up for years now and I finally got around to it this month. Right away we are plunged into the uncertainty of Malorie’s world without sight. We start to piece together the story between the past and the present in alternating chapters. We slowly learn how Malorie ended up in the situation she is in. The tension just builds and builds and builds. Just like Malerman’s other works, we are treated to his use of atmosphere to create the main horrors of the stories. I loved the unknowns within this novel. I loved finding out what happened to all the other people in the house. I loved seeing Malorie struggle with her own decisions. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending. It felt too neat and tidy after all that tension. I’m not debating about reading the second book in the series and/or watching the movie version.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Cooler temperatures are amazing! We’re finally into light sweater weather.

• Looking for a new subscription box for the boys. We just did some theme craft boxes, but I’m thinking more about STEM projects.

• Warm rhubarb pie is just the best.

• One more pumpkin patch visit for the season next weekend. I cannot wait!

• I love spooky movie month!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

Title: Portrait of a Scotsman (A League of Extraordinary Women #3)

Author: Evie Dunmore

Publisher: Berkley 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 426

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Seasonal TBR

London banking heiress Hattie Greenfield wanted just three things in life:
1. Acclaim as an artist.
2. A noble cause.
3. Marriage to a young lord who puts the gentle in gentleman.

Why then does this Oxford scholar find herself at the altar with the darkly attractive financier Lucian Blackstone, whose murky past and ruthless business practices strike fear in the hearts of Britain's peerage? Trust Hattie to take an invigorating little adventure too far. Now she's stuck with a churlish Scot who just might be the end of her ambitions....

When the daughter of his business rival all but falls into his lap, Lucian sees opportunity. As a self-made man, he has vast wealth but holds little power, and Hattie might be the key to finally setting long-harbored political plans in motion. Driven by an old desire for revenge, he has no room for his new wife's apprehensions or romantic notions, bewitching as he finds her.

But a sudden journey to Scotland paints everything in a different light. Hattie slowly sees the real Lucian and realizes she could win everything--as long as she is prepared to lose her heart.

I started this book loving the characters and the premise. I was so very into the storyline until about 40% of the way through. It started to get very repetitive for me and I really started to lose interest. My main issue is how Lucian continues to treat Hattie even after they are married, and especially after they have sex. I get the enemies to lovers trope. I get the one bed trope. My issue is fundamentally how he treats her. He’s okay with having sex with her, but cannot have a simple conversation without becoming antagonistic and condescending. I just could not take it. Sure, Hattie is a bit spoiled, but she consistently shows so much compassion for people that it was hard to have Lucian treat her like a child. The dichotomy did me in. I just could not root for their relationship at all. I had high hopes at the end that the big decision would stick, but then we get him showing up all ready to profess his love. I just couldn’t buy it. very disappointed in how this one worked out. It didn’t get my all the warm and fuzzies that I want from my historical romances.

A League of Extraordinary Women

• #1 Bringing Down the Duke

• #2 A Rogue of One’s Own

• #3 Portrait of a Scotsman

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: Foundation and Earth by Isaac Asimov. I have finally reached the end of the giant series.

Watching: October is always spooky movie month. I make a list of possible selections and then most nights we pick on to watch. (Usually one of us pick three possibilities and then the other person has to choose one of those.) We’ve started the month with a variety of older movies, either new to me or or rewatches. It’s been fun so far.

Listening: I’m diving back into lots of hard rock as my music choice lately. Apparently fall is for hard rock.

Making: With the cooling temperatures, I’m finally back into making new desserts and trying new recipes.

Feeling: The bookish retreat last week really helped me calm my brain and recharge. I’m feeling a lot better right now.

Planning: My homeschool coop has decided to have a Halloween Party in a few weeks. Of course, I’m helping to plan the party. It’s what I do.

Loving: We picked up a gallon of apple cider at the grocery and it was the best decision of the week.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W8-9: Two Light Weeks Create a Strange Schedule

What We Studied

Between my retreat and a lot of field trips, we ended up having two weeks of part-time homeschool. Thank goodness I built in a break week for mid-October. We aren’t going to take that break, but use it to catch up on some parts of schedule.

Literature and Poetry

We covered a variety of Arthurian Tales for week 8 and then moved on to American Trickster Tales for week 9. I really enjoyed reading multiple different versions of the same style of stories.

• Young Arthur by Robert D. San Souci

• Excalibur by Hudson Talbott

• The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges

• Favorite Medieval Tales by Mary Pope Osborne

• Trickster Tales by Josepha Sherman

• A Ring of Tricksters by Virginia Hamilton

• 10 Minutes a Day Spelling

Math

We’re deep into Unit 3 focused on multiplication and division. I imagine that we are going to stay on this unit for awhile. I would really like Arthur to attain some mastery of multiplication and division before we move on.

• Singapore Math Common Core Edition 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

For history we covered the British Isles during the early medieval period. This was a great connection to our Arthurian tales.

• DK Timelines of Everyone

• DK History

• The Duke and the Peasant: Life in the Middle Ages by Sister Wendy Beckett

• DK Eyewitness: Knight

• DK Castles and Knights

• The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry by Danna Smith

• Magic the Margins: A Medieval Tale of Bookmaking by W. Nikola-Lisa

Arthur Independent Time

To allow for one-on-one time with Quentin, I have added an hour of independent work time for Arthur. Each week, he will have a mix of packet work (mostly grammar and math review), independent reading time, and special projects. Many of his projects will be aligned with our literature selections (some taken from B&R Language Arts curriculum) and history. This week, he focused on some story writing prompts and packet work.

Science and STEAM Coop

Our theme for these two weeks was camping. We ended up canceling our first week due to a medical emergency and unpredictable weather. Our second week happened, but was a bit abbreviated. The park that we chose was infested with bees. Our lesson was cut a bit short, but we still talked about camping and made a craft project before going and playing at the playground.

Art/Music

None this week

Quentin

I have scheduled at least four 1-hour time blocks for one-on-one time with Quentin. I bought Blossom and Root’s Early Years Volume 2 curriculum to use as our base. I love the variety of activities and some of the bigger projects included. For ELA, we continued our big overview of the alphabet with the letters K, L, M, and N. We read multiple nursery rhymes and did some math activities.

ELA

• Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers

• My “k” Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure

• Kylie Kangaroo’s Karate Kickers by Barbara deRubertis

• My “l” Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure

• Lana Llama’s Little Lamb by Barbara deRubertis

• My “m” Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure

• Maxwell Moose’s Mountain Monster by Barbara deRubertis

• My “n” Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure

• Nina Nandu’s Nervous Noggin by Barbara deRubertis

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

• If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

• If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

Math

Other

• High Five magazine volume

• Smart Start STEM PreK

Field Trip

Multiple field trips these two weeks! We visited Vala’s twice! I love getting as much fall festival visits in that I can. We took advantage of their homeschool days to pick some apples and enjoy all the activities. We also visited Platte River State Park to walk the waterfall trail and play at the playground.

Documentary Selection

I have carved out a one hour time block each week to watch a documentary related to our studies. We didn’t end up watching anything this week.

Misc. - Random picture books read

• Nick and Nack Put on a Puppet Show by Brandon Budzi

• The Legend of King Arthur-a-tops by Mo O’Hara

• Duck and Goose: A Gift for Goose by Tad Hills

• King Arthur’s Very Great Grandson by Kenneth Kraegel

• 100 Cats by Michael Whaite

• The Little Blue Bridge by Brenda Maier

• Never Follow a Dinosaur by Alex Latimer

• How to Potty Train a Dinosaur by Alycia Pace

• Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap

• Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat by Deborah Underwood

• The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

• Firefighter Duckies by Frank W. Dormer

• My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington

Highs

• While it isn’t really to do with homeschooling, I did really enjoy a personal break from everything for the bookish retreat.

Lows

• Our days got a bit out of whack. I’m not loving how off schedule we are right now.

Next Week

• Starting a new chapter book

• Covering the Crusades and the Magna Carta

• Learning about transportation for preschool and coop

• Embarking on a big dinosaur unit

• Continuing multiplication and division

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Cold War Kids "What You Say"

I’m always up for a new Cold War Kids song and this one does not disappoint.

Life Right Now #30

Right now I am: Relaxing after getting the kids put to bed.

On my bedside table: Malorie by Josh Malerman; Love Lettering by Kate Claybourne

On my tv this week: We’re deep into spooky movie month, so mostly movies this week.

Listening to: Mostly catching up on podcasts. Although I did make sure to listen to music while running around doing errands.

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Pork and Green Chile Stew

• Tuesday - Vegetable Beef Stew

• Wednesday - Leftovers

• Thursday - Swahili Fish with Rice

• Friday - Baked Potato Soup

• Saturday - Spicy Thai Noodles

• Sunday - Parmesan Tilapia

On my to do list: Well, I did have flu shots on my list, but I just scheduled those for Wednesday afternoon. Guess I can cross that off my list. I do need to do some coop management tasks, submit my work hours, and deal with the meal plan. I should also take a look at my big list and maybe pick a small project to complete this week. Possibly dealing with the health insurance and appointments.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Normal day

• Tuesday - Arbor Day Farm field trip

• Wednesday - Normal morning; flu shots

• Thursday - Coop

• Friday - Durham Museum field trip

• Saturday - Normal day

• Sunday - Normal day

What I am creating: A giant dinosaur unit for homeschooling. This will be our science unit for the rest of October and most of November. We’re really diving deep!

My simple pleasures: A night alone without any interruptions. It happens so rarely, I have to take advantage of the time. Last night, J went to see a movie with a friend. I ended up watching a movie that I knew he didn’t care about and then read a ton of book. All in peace and quiet. It was glorious.

Looking around the house: Meh. Things are here…

From the camera: View of my reading nook. A bit messy right now, but I love the light!

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Title: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories

Author: Angela Carter

Publisher:

Genre: Horror

Pages: 176

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual; Seasonal TBR

In The Bloody Chamber , Carter's famous collection of deeply unsettling stories inspired by fairy tales, a Beauty is turned into a Beast and Little Red Riding's grandmother is stoned to death as a witch; a young music student is swept off her feet in Paris by a middle-aged aristocrat and transported to his ancestral abode to re-enact the story of Bluebeard against a sumptuous fin de siècle background; a British soldier on a cycling holiday in Transylvania in the summer of 1914 finds himself the guest of an alluring female vampire. By contrast, in Wise Children, Carter's last novel), the comic, the bawdy and the life-enhancing prevail. An irrepressible elderly lady recalls the many colorful decades she and her sister spent as vaudeville performers - a tale as full of twins and mistaken identities as any plot of Shakespeare's. The early collection, Fireworks , reveals Carter taking her first forays into the fantastic writing that was to become her unforgettable legacy. The Everyman's Library omnibus gathers the best of Angela Carter in one astonishing volume.

I finally read this collection of short stories! And really, it’s a gem of the horror genre. We get a collection of stories that take classic fairy tales and turn them on their heads. The horror is subtle at times, but that makes it all the more terrifying. “The Bloody Chamber” is of course the story of Bluebeard, but we get such tension and buildup to the reveal that it makes it seem like a completely new story. I loved the vampire story as a new viewpoint on the undead in a crumbling mansion. Over and over, I was awed at the atmosphere and tension that Carter created within each short story. I really felt like I was right in the story experiencing the horror first hand. Beautiful and horrific collection!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 2016

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 561

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR

When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets—a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Oh yes! I was hoping for an action packed end to the story of these six misfits. And we got one. I feel even more for Kaz as he tries to rescue Inej and make the various parties pay for their crimes. I loved attempting to figure out his plan before it was fully revealed. I loved how he connected even more with many of the characters, specifically Wylan, love them together! Beyond Kaz, we finally get to see the other characters come into their own power and identity. There are plenty of heartfelt moments throughout the book that keep me emotionally connected through the various action sequences. I am so in love with the this duology. And we get a tantalizing appearance from Nikolai that should lead into his duology. It’s on my list for later this year! I am sad to leave Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias, but it was a good ending.

Six of Crows:

• #1 Six of Crows

• #2 Crooked Kingdom

Next up on the TBR pile:

I Need Some New Videos

Excuse me while I absolutely lose my mind over here.

I have been waiting for years for this!

I was not a fan of Anthony in the first book, but thankfully Kate straightened him out. I cannot wait for this!

This movie looks very interesting.

You know we’ll watch it.

The Guide by Peter Heller

Title: The Guide

Author: Peter Heller

Publisher: Knopf 2021

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 272

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR; Modern Mrs. Darcy

Kingfisher Lodge, nestled in a canyon on a mile and a half of the most pristine river water on the planet, is known by locals as "Billionaire's Mile" and is locked behind a heavy gate. Sandwiched between barbed wire and a meadow with a sign that reads "Don't Get Shot!" the resort boasts boutique fishing at its finest. Safe from viruses that have plagued America for years, Kingfisher offers a respite for wealthy clients. Now it also promises a second chance for Jack, a return to normalcy after a young life filled with loss. When he is assigned to guide a well-known singer, his only job is to rig her line, carry her gear, and steer her to the best trout he can find.

But then a human scream pierces the night, and Jack soon realizes that this idyllic fishing lodge may be merely a cover for a far more sinister operation. A novel as gripping as it is lyrical, as frightening as it is moving, The Guide is another masterpiece from Peter Heller.

I’m really surprised about how much I have really enjoyed Peter Heller’s books. Heller writes in a beautiful lyrical manner creating a full atmosphere to sink into. Once we dive into the atmosphere, I have really enjoyed learning more about what has happened to Jack since The River. Plus, we get a wonderful tension filled mystery. I sped through this story desperately needing to see what would happen next. Definitely a thrill ride for this month.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Woods are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

Title: The Woods are Always Watching

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton Books 2021

Genre: YA Thriller

Pages: 238

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR

Bears aren’t the only predators in these woods.
Best friends Neena and Josie spent high school as outsiders, but at least they had each other. Now, with college and a two-thousand-mile separation looming on the horizon, they have one last chance to be together—a three-day hike deep into the woods of the Pisgah National Forest.

Simmering tensions lead to a detour off the trail and straight into a waking nightmare … and then into something far worse. Something that will test them in horrifying ways.

TW: Sexual Assault

Another teen thriller from Stephanie Perkins. I was hoping this was going to be fun spooky-ish read. forOctober. Unfortunately, I got a mixed bag on this one. I liked the first half focusing on the relationship between Neena and Josie. Once Josie becomes injured, the tension increases, but my enjoyment decreased. The villains were too focused on the sexual assault. I could not deal with the sexual talk and it really knocked off stars for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - All Time Low feat. Pale Waves "PMA"

This one is creeping up on my current favorites list.

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Title: The Wallflower Wager (Girl meets Duke #3)

Author: Tessa Dare

Publisher: Avon 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 369

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR

Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.

Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.

When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.

Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?

And a two-legged dog.

And a foul-mouthed parrot.

And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .

Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.

Not if he ruins her first.

I must admit that Penny is not my favorite of the quartet of ladies featured in this series. I just am not charmed by her antics. But I must say that Gabriel is one of my favorites. I loved his rags to riches story and his lost boy personality. I guess he needed someone like Penny to bring him out into the open. I loved their romance bits and the appearances by the side characters (especially the banter between Ash and Chase). I didn’t necessarily love Penny’s narration parts. Still, it was a very enjoyable Regency romance. Now I have to wait for the last book in this quartet.

Girl Meets Duke

• #1 The Duchess Deal

• #2 The Governess Game

• #3 The Wallflower Wager

• #4 The Bride Bet

Next up on the TBR pile:

October 2021 Life Goals

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

• Read 15 books ✓

• Keep Homeschool and Coop Momentum Up ✓

• Have a Fun Family Road Trip ✓

• Relax at the Book Retreat ✓ - I’m there right now and I’m sure I’m relaxing.

Goals:

• Read 15 Books

• Plan a Fall/Halloween Party with Coop People

• October Spooky Movie Month

• Make Tentative Christmas Plans (including travel, advent activities, and goals)

• Update Christmas Lists

• Week in the Life 2021 - Document and get album started

Next up on the TBR pile: