Random find from Sirius XM’s Octane.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
Title: The Echo Wife
Author: Sarah Gailey
Publisher: Tor 2021
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 256
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
I’m embarrassed, still, by how long it took me to notice. Everything was right there in the open, right there in front of me, but it still took me so long to see the person I had married.
It took me so long to hate him.
Martine is a genetically cloned replica made from Evelyn Caldwell’s award-winning research. She’s patient and gentle and obedient. She’s everything Evelyn swore she’d never be.
And she’s having an affair with Evelyn’s husband.
Now, the cheating bastard is dead, and both Caldwell wives have a mess to clean up.
Good thing Evelyn Caldwell is used to getting her hands dirty.
I was completely blown away by the premise of this novel. I went into it with very little knowledge (just that it was about clones) and that was definitely the way to go. We immediately meet Martine and start to unravel what happened in the past. From there, we start to understand what is going to happen in the future. And things become very complicated. While the plot was fast moving, I kept coming back to the characters and our understanding of what makes someone human. I found the comparison between Evelyn and Martine to be fascinating. I loved following along as they each wrestled with a lot of self-reflection. I’ve read a few reviews that were not happy about the long scientific passages. I found myself skimming those passages but understanding that the focus on the scientific procedures was how Evelyn dealt with the many revelations and and new situations. I’m still thinking about all the implications of this novel. Another win for Sarah Gailey! I have to put their other books onto my short TBR.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Summer TBR
Summer TBR:
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Troy by Stephen Fry
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain
A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
For the Wolf (Wilderwood #1) by Hannah Whitten
The Guide by Peter Heller
Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019
Mara Dyer and Noah Shaw Series by Michelle Hodkin
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1)
The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions #1)
The Reckoning of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions #2)
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Black Cobra Quartet by Stephanie Laurens
The Untamed Bride
The Elusive Bride
The Brazen Bride
The Reckless Bride
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
The Thousandth Floor
The Dazzling Heights
Every Hidden Thing by Kenneth Oppel
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
Spring TBR: Let’s see how I did on my Spring TBR. I managed to read 12/25. Not bad, but not amazing either. I’m so much of a mood reader that sometimes I forget about books that I put on the list. I think summer’s list will go better.
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust ✓
Lady Mechanika series ✓
Volume 5: La Belle Dame Sans Merci ✓
Volume 6: Sangre ✓
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown ✓
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz ✓
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Experiemntal Film by Gemma Files
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
Broken by Jenny Lawson ✓
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Outlawed by Anna North ✓
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner ✓
Still Life by Louise Penny ✓
Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn ✓
It’s In His Kiss ✓
On the Way to the Wedding ✓
Happily Ever After ✓
Swamplandia by Karen Russell
Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster ✓
The Toll by Neal Shusterman ✓
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence ✓
Will Storr vs The Supernatural by Will Storr
The Nest by Cynthia d’Aprix Sweeney
Next up on the TBR pile:
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Title: The Road Trip
Author: Beth O’Leary
Publisher: Berkley 2021
Genre: Romance
Pages: 398
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
What if the end of the road is just the beginning?
Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry’s enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven’t spoken since.
Today, Dylan’s and Addie’s lives collide again. It’s the day before Cherry’s wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland—he’ll never get there on time by public transport.
So, along with Dylan’s best friend, Addie’s sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart—and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.
I just read The Flatshare for book club and was expecting more of the same. This book is less fun and light romance and more serious relationship drama. But I found that I really did like it. We get a great forced proximity trope to explore the past and potential future relationship between Addie and Dylan. We get a much more nuanced look at romantic relationships. I can definitely see how O’Leary has grown as a writer since The Flatshare. Addie and Dylan are much more realistic characters. Tiffy and Leon were a bit 2-dimensional. This book was much more relatable. While I really enjoyed the story between Addie and Dylan, I loved seeing the other relationships in the book even more. Addie and Deb have an amazing sister bond and I loved seeing them support each other unconditionally. And I loved seeing how Marcus changed and grew throughout the timeline. This book isn’t going to be on my Top 10 list probably, but I really did enjoy this one.
Next up on the TBR pile:
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
Title: The Drowning Kind
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Publisher: Gallery Press 2021
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 285
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.
In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives.
I’m not usually one for thrillers, but the premise of this one intrigued me. Plus, two of the hosts of my favorite bookish podcast, Currently Reading, really enjoyed this one. I had to pick it up and I ended up loving it! I get very annoyed when books are labeled as supernatural thrillers but then don’t have any actual ghosts. This one has actual ghosts and it made my heart happy. Right away we are plunged into the very creepy setting og Sparrow Crest and the springs right off the patio. You just know that something tragic is going to happen (and has happened many times before) and it does. From there, we follow Jax as she attempt to unravel the mystery and deal with her own future. We also get the story of how Ethel came to know of the springs and how it affected her life in the late 1920s. I actually liked both story lines, probably because I liked both women. I wanted to see how they were connected and what actually lived at the bottom of the springs. The book did not disappoint. This reminded me of The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James. I got the same kind of creepy creepy vibes. I might have to pick up McMahon’s previous book soon.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Odds and Ends
Here's my randomness for the week:
The heart is really getting to me… I never want to eat food (even though I really should) and I’m having so much trouble sleeping.
Thankful that we replaced the AC last fall. So much better than last summer!
Watermelon is amazing. That’s all.
I have so many projects in the works. I really need to make a few Gantt charts to help me out.
Working on our fall schedule and I just keep moving everything around. Really need to just commit to something for peace of mind right now.
Speaking of, I need to pull all my material for Quentin and rethink some things. He’s been just passively learning this past year and I think some of it will be beneath him.
Over the last week I have put in a Book Outlet order for 26 books and two Amazon orders a total of 30 books. Five were for the reading retreat and one was for me. The rest are for the kids for homeschooling. So many books will be arriving!
Next up on the TBR pile:
A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz
Title: A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter
Author: William Deresiewicz
Publisher: Penguin Books 2012
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 288
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide; Seasonal TBR
Before Jane Austen, William Deresiewicz was a very different young man. A sullen and arrogant graduate student, he never thought Austen would have anything to offer him. Then he read Emma—and everything changed.
In this unique and lyrical book, Deresiewicz weaves the misadventures of Austen’s characters with his own youthful follies, demonstrating the power of the great novelist’s teachings—and how, for Austen, growing up and making mistakes are one and the same. Honest, erudite, and deeply moving, A Jane Austen Education is the story of one man’s discovery of the world outside himself.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, but ended up really enjoying it. We follow William along as he discovers both life lessons and the works of Jane Austen. The book is part self-reflection, part literary analysis, and part fan letter. I enjoyed how each chapter focused on the writer’s big lesson from a novel and included what was happening in his life at the same time. My favorite chapter was about Northanger Abbey. I loved the discussion of the Thorpes and the Tilneys. A few of the pages do drag a bit, but overall it’s a joy for the fan of Jane Austen.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence
Title: Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life
Author: Annie Spence
Publisher: Flatiron Books 2017
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 248
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR
If you love to read, and presumably you do since you’ve picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it’s clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end.
In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler’s Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence’s take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature―sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths.
Finally! I grabbed this slim volume off the library shelves and read these delightful letters to various books. I really enjoyed Spence’s irreverent take on various books of classic literature as well as random surprise books from the stacks. Some of the letters made me laugh out loud. My least favorite section was the book recommendations at the end, but even those were interesting to see what she paired together. Overall, this is a book for book lovers. A delightful day’s reading.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Homeschool W36: It's Too Hot to School...
What We Studied
Literature and Poetry
We continued reading The Phantom Tollbooth and many other picture books. We also worked on some basic grammar review and more journal writing.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Silver Seeds by Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer (poems)
We Need More Nuts by Jonathan Fenske (Arthur read)
Hello Crabby by Jonathan Fenske (Arthur read)
Math
Continuing with our big review and games. We finished Lollipop Logic Book 3. Now I need to find some other logic puzzle series for Arthur.
Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert by Stacy McAnulty
Last to Finish: A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class by Barbara Esham
Social Studies
We covered three different U.S. History lessons this week. We started with a lesson on African Americans after the War featuring Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, Paul Cuffee, and Ona Judge. We moved on to a lesson on Benjamin Banneker. And finished with a lesson about John and Abigail Adams.
Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle
100 African Americans Who Shaped American History by Chrisanne Beckner
America’s Black Founders by Nancy Sanders
The Escape of Oney Judge by Emily Arnold McCully
Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard
Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill
Tick Tock Banneker’s Clock by Shana Keller
The Revolutionary John Adams by Cheryl Harness
A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams by David A. Adler
Abigail Adams by Alexandra Wallner
Leave It to Abigail: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams by Barb Rosenstock
Science
We learned all about matter and changing states of matter this week. I’m amazed at how quickly Arthur (and even Quentin) caught on to this concept.
Matter: See It, Touch It, Taste It, Smell. It by Darlene Stille
Change It! Solids, Liquids, Gases, and You by Adrienne Mason
Solids, Liquids, Gases, and Plasma by David A. Adler
Experiments with States of Matter by Trevor Cook
Art
Nothing formal
Music
We started our big unit on The Beatles. We are going to listen to all the songs from the Beatles and trace their musical growth through the years. This week we covered everything from 1962 and 1963.
The Beatles by Mike Venezia
The Beatles were Fab (and They were Funny) by Kathleen Krull
Unit Theme
We celebrated Pride Month this week by learning about gender identity, the rainbow flag, and the history of Pride. I found some really good basic books to introduce this topic.
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn
The Gender Wheel: A Story About Bodies and Gender for Everybody by Maya Gonzalez
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
Sewing the Rainbow: The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag by Gayle E. Pitman
The Rainbow Flag: Bright, Bold, and Beautiful by Michelle Millar Fisher
Misc. - Random picture books read
Pup 681: A Sea Otter Rescue by Jean Reidy
To the Sea by Cale Atkinson
Ebb & Flo and the Baby Seal by Jane Simmons
The Boy and the Whale by Mordicai Gerstein
Beachy and Me by Bob Staake
Inky's Amazing Escape by Sy Montgomery
Wake Up, Crabby! by Jonathan Fenske
Always Remember by Cece Meng
The Storm Whale by Benji Davies
A Whale of a Mistake by Ioana Hobai
A Whale in the Bathtub by Kylie Westaway
Star of the Sea by Janet Halfmann
Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Little Whale by Jo Weaver
The Heart of a Whale by Anna Pignataro
Starfish, Where are You? by Barroux
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon and Katherine Tillotson
Highs
We braved the very high temperatures to go berry picking on Monday. Unlike last year, we actually came home with a ton of strawberries. J made a strawberry pie and a strawberry rhubarb pie out of them. Yum!
Lows
The very high temperatures meant that we didn’t spend that much time outside this past week. I wanted to go to another state park, but knew we wouldn’t be able to handle the heat.
Next Week
We are going to finish The Phantom Tollbooth as well as our U.S. History Curriculum. For science we will be studying light and sound. We will continue listening to the Beatles and doing a math review. And we will cover Juneteenth for our unit theme.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Music Monday - Mike Shinoda "Happy Endings"
Very excited to hear new music from Mike Shinoda. And this one is much happier than his recently previous work.
Life Right Now #19
As I look outside my window: It’s lovely and bright outside. I’m actually watching our backyard neighbor work on building a swing set for his kids.
Right now I am: Finishing my cup of coffee before I have to go get brunch started.
On my bedside table: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon; Swamplandia by Karen Russell
On my tv this week: J and I finished the one and only season of Running Wilde with Will Arnett and Keri Russell. He had seen it back when I aired, I never did. It was a nice light show in between more serious things. Plus, Loki started and I am so incredibly in!
Listening to: Mostly politics related podcasts. I’ve been really enjoying What a Day from Crooked Media. It’s a nice little daily news roundup.
On the menu for this week: Umm…. I have a ton of possibilities, but am still formulating a plan. Possibly we will be eating -
Monday - Broccoli beef with rice
Tuesday - Red Curry Noodle Soup
Wednesday - Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Thursday - Balsamic Pork Roast
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Chili Verde
Sunday - Baked Cod with Fennel and Lemon
On my to do list: I need to update my big to do list. I knocked off a ton in preparation for book swap. I need to do a brain dump today and get it all down…
Happening this week:
Monday - Normal school day
Tuesday - Park Playdate; Trivia night (My team won last week and had so much fun, we’re doing it again. This week’s theme is Disney Princesses.)
Wednesday - Grocery and library?
Thursday - Zoo or State Park Day (haven’t picked yet)
Friday - Normal school day
Saturday - The usual
Sunday - The usual
What I am creating: Future plans. I really want to get back to crafting, but for now, I’m just making plans for all our fall events (book retreat, family road trip, 2nd year of homeschooling, and potentially a kid birthday party).
My simple pleasures: Good conversation with friends, sitting on my back deck in my new patio furniture with a cup of coffee and a book, not 90 degree days…
Looking around the house: Because of the book swap yesterday, my downstairs is looking really good! I went on a cleaning binge and it was well worth it! Today I need to tackle the clean clothes in various bins upstairs and do a general sweep up of random things.
From the camera: My book club finally had our Christmas 2020 book swap get-together yesterday. I hosted and we had lovely conversation, yummy food, and great books! Can you guess what one of our upcoming book club reads is? Trick question: there are two on the table. For July we are reading Malibu Rising (which I won!) and for November we are reading Code Name Helene! June’s selection is The House in the Cerulean Sea, so a friend gifted TJ Klune’s earlier book. I gifted Let’s Pretend This Never Happened because I just finished Jenny Lawson’s newest book (Broken) and had to share my love for her. (J made a strawberry pie and a strawberry-rhubarb pie to go with our meeting)
Looking Glass by Christina Henry
Title: Looking Glass (The Chronicles of Alice Novellas)
Author: Christina Henry
Publisher: Ace 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 301
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Lovely Creature
In the New City lives a girl with a secret: Elizabeth can do magic. But someone knows her secret--someone who has a secret of his own. That secret is a butterfly that lives in a jar, a butterfly that was supposed to be gone forever, a butterfly that used to be called the Jabberwock...
This was such a fun story! We finally get to see what happened to Alice’s birth family after she escaped from the sanatorium. We get to meet her two sisters (one of which she didn’t even know existed) and experience life in the New City. I loved the inclusion of the Jabberwock and the connection between Alice and Elizabeth. I would have loved to read a entire novel with this point of view…
Girl in Amber
Alice and Hatcher are just looking for a place to rest. Alice has been dreaming of a cottage by a lake and a field of wildflowers, but while walking blind in a snowstorm she stumbles into a house that only seems empty and abandoned...
This story was super creepy and I loved it! I have really enjoyed the sections of the series that deal with the villains and this story introduces a terrible new villain for Alice to defeat. It had me itchy all over with its imagery. Very creepy! Love it!
When I First Came to Town
Hatcher wasn't always Hatcher. Once, he was a boy called Nicholas, and Nicholas fancied himself the best fighter in the Old City. No matter who fought him he always won. Then his boss tells him he's going to battle the fearsome Grinder, a man who never leaves his opponents alive...
The low point of the collection. I just didn’t really care about Hatcher’s back story or connections. The only portion that I enjoyed was when Nicholas encounters Cheshire and Rabbit. Otherwise, this story was too long and drawn out.
The Mercy Seat
There is a place hidden in the mountains, where all the people hate and fear magic and Magicians. It is the Village of the Pure, and though Alice and Hatcher would do anything to avoid it, it lies directly in their path...
Strange story, but fitting in this series. There’s a new villain, a deeper exploration of Alice’s magical powers, and one more big obstacle for our main couple. I do wish that we had spent a bit more time with the magician that Alice spent the winter with, but oh well. At least, we get some semblance of a happily ever after for Alice and Hatcher.
The Chronicles of Alice
Looking Glass (novellas)
Next up on the TBR pile:
Broken by Jenny Lawson
Title: Broken (in the best possible-way)
Author: Jenny Lawson
Publisher: Henry Holt 2021
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 304
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR; Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide
As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.
With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.
I love Jenny Lawson so much. She can make me laugh hysterically one minute and have be sobbing the next minute. True story: J told me that I couldn’t read this book in bed because I was shaking the bed too much with my laughter. Lawson is just as absurd as she has been in the previous books. The funny chapters balance out the very tough chapters dealing with life’s struggles. After reading this one from the library, I have to buy this one for my own shelves. I am still thinking about so many of the life lessons that I was reminded of throughout the chapters. So incredibly good.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Summer Planning Videos
Oh to go to a show…
You know I will be watching these. The Fear Street books were jam back in middle school!
This is delightful!
A new Edgar Wright movie? I am so watching this one!
Most definitely adding this to our must-watch list.
Black Mad Wheel by Josh Malereman
Title: Black Mad Wheel
Author: Josh Malerman
Publisher: Ecco 2017
Genre: Horror
Pages: 297
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
A chilling novel about a group of musicians conscripted by the US government to track down the source of a strange and debilitating sound
The Danes—the band known as the “Darlings of Detroit”—are washed up and desperate for inspiration, eager to once again have a number one hit. That is, until an agent from the US Army approaches them. Will they travel to an African desert and track down the source of a mysterious and malevolent sound? Under the guidance of their front man, Philip Tonka, the Danes embark on a harrowing journey through the scorching desert—a trip that takes Tonka into the heart of an ominous and twisted conspiracy.
Meanwhile, in a nondescript Midwestern hospital, a nurse named Ellen tends to a patient recovering from a near-fatal accident. The circumstances that led to his injuries are mysterious—and his body heals at a remarkable rate. Ellen will do the impossible for this enigmatic patient, who reveals more about his accident with each passing day.
This book is so incredibly hard to describe. I would place it in the realm of atmospheric horror, more like an general unease and suspense throughout the entire book than a jump-scare type of horror. I really enjoy atmospheric horror. It actually makes me feel scared! This one definitely scratched my horror itch with a creepy journey of memory recovery. I love that we follow Philip (and later Ellen) as he journeys to Africa to find the source of a mysterious sound and then struggles to understand his own memories in a military hospital. I loved that the book is technically set in the 1950s, but it has a timeless quality that further cements the creepy atmosphere. This book is not for people who want definite answers and clear narration. The readers really have to work to piece together the story and what really happened. And yet, I absolutely enjoyed this strange slim novel.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Currently #4
Reading: Broken (in the best way possible) by Jenny Lawson. J said that I can’t read it in bed as I was laughing too loudly and shaking the bed. It’s just that funny!
Watching: J signed us up for a 30 day engineering course with Mark Rober. Arthur has been enjoying his various videos on YouTube. The squirrel ninja course is his current favorite video.
Listening: I’ve gotten a bit behind on a lot of my favorite podcasts. I’m attempting to run the backlog this week.
Making: I tried a new dessert recipe for a chocolate pound cake and it basically grew and exploded in the oven. Not sure if it was the recipe or my oven that caused the issues (our oven is a bit wonky right now). I had to scrape off burnt cake from the bottom of the oven and all over a cookie sheet and my pyrex. I’m going to try it again using a different container.
Feeling: The daily temperature has been hitting 90 every day for the past weekly. I’m just constantly hot and sweaty and I don’t like it.
Planning: I’m deep into planning the Reading Retreat for the end of September. I’ve got the book selections form ready to go and have started doing my expenses spreadsheet. Also, I’m putting the finishing touches on the book swap I’m hosting on Saturday. We didn’t get to do our Christmas swap so we’re doing it in June!
Loving: We got a new patio set! I can now sit on our back deck and enjoy a cup of coffee and a chapter of my current read in the morning before we start school. It’s been delightful.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Homeschool Memorial Day Break
First day to last day of Preschool and First Grade!
What We Studied
For the last week in May, Memorial Day, and the first week in June, we ended up taking a semi-break. For us, that means we only did school about an hour a day and added in more outings, activities, field trips, games, and crafts. We are schooling year round which easily lends itself to these types of lighter weeks to change things up. We’ve realized that both boys really do well with routine and structure. Dropping all school for two weeks is a terrible idea. Going a bit lighter works perfectly for us!
Literature and Poetry
We read the four book Frog and Toad collection by Arnold Lobel and started reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster. Frog and Toad are some of my favorite childhood characters so it was nice to revisit with Arthur. I’ve never actually read The Phantom Tollbooth, but have heard so many amazing things about it as an adult. Arthur’s not completely sold on the story, but I am loving the word play and silliness. Beyond our read alouds, we read a ton of picture books, Arthur tackled some early readers, and focused on reading comprehension. We also completed a sample standardized test meant to close out First Grade. It was a nice review for Arthur and work on some test taking skills.
Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster
At the Beach by Alexa Andrews (Arthur read)
Otter: Hello, Sea Friends! by Sam Garton (Arthur Read)
New playground just opened!
Math
We did a ton of review, some skill building, logic puzzles, and Khan Academy. We’re going to continue with all that throughout the rest of the summer up until we start Level 4 in August.
Social Studies
Nothing formal, but we did a ton of local exploration
Loggerhead
Science
See Unit Theme
Green Sea Turtle
Art
Nothing formal, but a lot of drawing and free expression
Mermaid’s purse and a wobbegong shark (very camouflaged against the wall of the tank)
Music
We finished our American Folk Music unit with lots of bands and songs from the 1960s and 1970s. We could keep going, but have decided to switch focus a bit for June.
Unit Theme
We finally wrapped up our giant Ocean unit. We focused on specific animals on different days along with a trip to the zoo to check out the aquarium. Arthur was super excited to spot both species of sea turtles (loggerhead and green), three species of shark, a couple mermaid purses, and a wobbegong shark! Plus Arthur watched a ton of videos from Brave Wilderness highlighting encounters with various sea creatures.
DK Ocean
Nat Geo Ocean Animals
Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Sea Turtles by Gail Gibbons
Nat Geo Kids: Sea Turtles by Laura Marsh
Nat Geo Kids: Mission Sea Turtle Rescue by Karen Romano Young
Octopuses by Elizabeth R. Johnson
Nat Geo Kids: Ink! by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Giant Squid and Octopuses by Ruth Owen
Giant Squid by Mary M. Cerullo and Clyde F.E. Roper
Giant Squid by Candace Fleming
Here There Be Monsters: The Legendary Kraken and Giant Squid by HP Newquist
Crabs by Ann Herriges
Hermit Crabs by Ellen Lawrence
Jellyfish by Grace Hansen
A Day in the Life: Jellyfish by Louise Spilsbury
Becoming a Jellyfish by Grace Hansen
A Day in the Life Sea Animals: Seal by Louise Spilsbury
Sea Lions by Colleen Sexton
A Day in the Life Sea Animals: Leopard Seal byKatie Marsico
Walruses by Renee C. Rebman
Super Swimmers by Caroline Arnold
Sea Otters by Nathan Sommer
Misc. - Random picture books read
Abracadabra It’s Spring by Anne Sibley O’Brien
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry
Good Thing You’re Not an Octopus by Julie Markes
Ocean Soup by Meeg Pincus
Shark Nate-O by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Nugget and Fang Go to School by Tammi Sauer
I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Octopuses One to Ten by Ellen Jackson
Squid and Octopus Friends For Always by Tao Nye
I am Not a Fish by Peter Raymundo
Inky the Octopus by Erin Guendelsberger
Day at the Beach by Tom Booth
Crabby Crab by Chris Raschka
Shark Detective by Jessica Olien
The Hermit Crab by Carter Goodrich
You're a Crab by Jenny Whitehead
After Squidnight by Jonathan Fenske
The Fisherman and the Whale by Jessica Lanan
Don't Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton
The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort
Following Papa's Song by Gianna Marino
Sink or Swim by Valerie Coulman
Flip & Fin: We Rule the School by Timothy Gill
Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals
There Might Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi
Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell
Ida and the Whale by Rebecca Gugger
Adelita: A Sea Turtle's Journey by Jenny Goebel
Melissa's Octopus and Other Unsuitable Pets by Charlotte Voake
A Small Blue Whale by Beth Ferry
President Squid by Aaron Reynolds
Mabel: A Mermaid Fable by Rowboat Watkins
Highs
So many to choose from these past two weeks!
Snapping turtle!
We spent a lovely day at Schramm State Park hiking the 3 mile trail, checking out the education center, observing the fish hatcheries, looking for fossils, and enjoying a picnic. Now that we have a state park pass, we’ll be back!
We watched a fun Book Blast presentation from the library highlighting some great new children’s books. Arthur made me put almost half of them on hold. At the end, they did a raffle and we won a book bundle of four of the selections. So exciting! They are doing it again July with different books and we definitely going to be attending.
Making magic wands
The local maker space is doing a summer STEM challenge with projects and activities. We picked up our passports, watched the kick-off, and made our first project! We will be having fun completing activities all summer long and earning prizes.
Speaking of summer challenges, we signed up for the library’s summer reading program and got our free book to kickstart our summer reading.
We made our summer bucket list and opened our summer basket! Schooling year round doesn’t mean that we skip summer activities. We just incorporate them into the school days.
Lows
It’s been super hot around here (in the 90s) and I really don’t want to go anywhere any afternoon. I have messed up our schedule a few days and cause us to be outside after noon. Not making that mistake again.
Next Week
We’re back to a normal-ish schedule for us. I want to get close to finishing our U.S. History curriculum (only 6 more lessons), start our new music unit (The Beatles), complete another read aloud, and continue reviewing for math and language arts. Plus we have a few extra topics for the week including Pride Month and States of Matter. Also, we have strawberry picking and a park playdate scheduled for the week as well as working on a 30 day engineering course as a family.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Music Monday - Papa Roach "Broken as Me"
I’ve been all about the hard rock this past month. And this new Papa Roach song featuring Danny Worsnop from Asking Alexandria is just perfect!
Life Right Now #18
As I look outside my window: It’s bright and sunny with a lovely breeze. The temps are supposed to top 90 today, but this morning it is lovely.
Right now I am: just coming back inside after enjoying a book and an iced coffee sitting in my new patio furniture on the back deck! It’s so nice to actually sit out there more now.
Thinking and pondering: about ways to make my life easier… blocking, grouping, planning ahead.
On my bedside table: The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks, The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
On my tv this week: We’re progressed with our watching of Hustle and Star Trek: Voyager. We might be done with at least Hustle by end of June.
Listening to: Nothing much really. I haven’t spent much time listening to podcasts this past week. I did catch up with Currently Reading and my politics podcasts this weekend.
On the menu for this week:
Monday - Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
Tuesday - Ginger Glazed Pork Chops and Brussels Sprouts
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Chicken Parmesan
Friday - Broccoli Beef
Saturday - Brinner
Sunday - Leftovers
On my to do list: My immediate tasks are to print curriculum, do laundry, put away laundry, and pop into the library (holds and prize bundle we won). From there, I need to do a big task list brain dump for the rest of June.
Happening this week:
Monday - Strawberry Picking
Tuesday - Trivia Night
Wednesday - Park Playdate
Thursday - Normal Day
Friday - Cleaning and Errands
Saturday - Book Swap!
Sunday - Normal Day
What I am creating: Mostly just lesson plans. I am also working on plans for the retreat, the coop, and road trip.
My simple pleasures: Hot weather cocktails, being cool, watching the breeze through the trees
Looking around the house: I spent a ton of time doing other tasks yesterday and didn’t get around to my cleaning tasks. Guess what I get to do today? Plus I really want to switch out the clothes and organize the shoes. I would love to have a clear foyer.
From the camera: I got to go to book club… in a restaurant!
The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov
Title: The Stars, Like Dust (Galactic Empire #1)
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: 1952
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 243
Rating: 2/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Perpetual
His name was Biron Farrill and he was a student at the University of Earth. A native of one of the helpless Nebular Kingdoms, he saw his home world conquered and controlled by the planet Tyrann—a ruthless, barbaric Empire that was building a dynasty of cruelty and domination among the stars.
Farrill’s own father had been executed for trying to resist the Tyrann dictatorship and now someone was trying to kill Biron. But why?
His only hope for survival lay in fleeing Earth and joining the rebellion that was rumored to be forming somewhere in the Kingdoms. But once he cast his lot with the freedom fighters, he would find himself guarding against treachery on every side and facing the most difficult choice of all: to betray either the woman he loved or the revolution that was the last hope for the future.
Woof! J warned me that I would not like this one, that I would be very disappointed by the connector novel, and I completely was. This was a convoluted mess of plot and characters with very little interesting discussions or questions. I was very confused about who was who for the first half of the book (and I don’t usually have that problem). Asimov shoved so many new people, new worlds, new factions, and new groups into this very slim book and it didn’t really work. But I made it through and J promises me that this is the low point of the entire Asimov Foundation collection.
Galactic Empire:
#1 The Stars, Like Dust
#2 The Currents of Space
#3 Pebble in the Sky
Next up on the TBR pile: