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Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

Title: Paladin’s Grace (The Saint of Steel #1)

Author: T. Kingfisher

Publisher: Argyll Productions 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 364

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

Where I Got It: Library

Stephen’s god died on the longest day of the year…

Three years later, Stephen is a broken paladin, living only for the chance to be useful before he dies. But all that changes when he encounters a fugitive named Grace in an alley and witnesses an assassination attempt gone wrong. Now the pair must navigate a web of treachery, beset on all sides by spies and poisoners, while a cryptic killer stalks one step behind…

Another winner from T. Kingfisher. I have loved all of her books except for one (The Twisted Ones). I enjoy her brand of action, adventure fantasy/horror with great characters. I did not realize that this book is actually part of a larger universe. It can be read first, but I will have to put Swordheart on my TBR list for a later date. For this book, we meet two real characters, Stephen and Grace, that find themselves in a much larger mystery than their everyday lives. As the mystery unfolds, we are right there with our characters puzzling out the clues and hoping that they find freedom and maybe even love. This volume sets up a great larger storyline featuring the former Saints of Steel.

The Saint of Steel

  • #1 Paladin’s Grace

  • #2 Paladin’s Strength

  • #3 Paladin’s Hope

  • #4 Paladin’s Faith

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Star Ratings.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: fantasy, T. Kingfisher, Library Love, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 10.11.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

Title: Ink Blood Sister Scribe

Author: Emma Törzs

Publisher: William Morrow 2023

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 416

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Spooky Season

Where I Got It: Book of the Month June 2023

For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements—books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect.

All magic comes with a price, though, and for years the sisters have been separated. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna’s isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they’ll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries . . .

I was so very excited about this book when I bought it and then it just sat in my room for months… I finally cracked it open this Spooky Season and was ultimately disappointedly. The story and the reveals moved so slowly at times that I put the book down and would forget to pick it up. I wanted more. More movement, more growth, more magic. At times, the sisters were written and acted like they were teenagers instead of their actual ages. Their immaturity really got to me at times. I wanted to see two slightly lost women reconnecting with each other and finding a place. But they spend most of the book just flailing around. I think I might have reached my fill of incapable characters.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Unread Shelf Project, UnRead Shelf Project RC, Emma Torzs, fantasy, Spooky Season RC, Book of the Month, 3 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 10.10.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemmin

Title: That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf(Mead Mishaps #2)

Author: Kimberly Lemming

Publisher: Orbit 2022

Genre: Romance

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Holiday I Don’t Celebrate (because it’s fictional)

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 7

Brie’s never been particularly coordinated…or lucky. Who else would accidentally throw a drink at someone’s head only to miss entirely and hit a stranger behind them? And who else would have that stranger fall madly in love with them because it turns out that the drink she threw was a love potion? Yeah, probably just Brie.…
 
Running her cheese business and dealing with a pirate ship full of demons that just moved into town was hard enough. Now on top of it, she has to convince a werewolf that she’s not really his fated mate. Though even she’s got to admit…having a gorgeous man show up and do all her chores while telling her she’s beautiful isn’t the worst thing to happen to a girl.

The second book in this series and I was so hoping to get Felix’s story after meeting him. Thankfully that’s the story we get. Brie and the werewolf Felix become mates, but have to navigate the mystery of disappearing women. Once again, we get a blend of romance and adventure. Both of those things don’t kick into high gear until the last third of the book, but it’s a short volume overall. I was okay with the pace as we get to know the characters before the action really starts. I loved the mystery of this one and how it pushes forward the world narrative. Mostly definitely I will be picking up the third book. I might also try to get the two novellas/short stories.

Mead Mishaps

  • #1 That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon

  • #1.5 Mistlefoe

  • #2 That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf

  • #2.5 A Bump in Boohail

  • #3 That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human

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Star Ratings.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: romance, Kimberly Lemming, fantasy, 52 Book Club
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 10.09.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Currently #18

Reading: I got back into comics with Year Zero, a series about the zombie apocalypse.

Watching: J and I are deep into S4 of Slow Horses. It’s just so so good. Love smart crime dramas.

Listening: I finally started a Beatles centered podcast called Nothing is Real. I needed something a little different than my usual news and comedy.

Making: I have filled our meal planner with lots of great fall dinners. I just tried a pork and sauerkraut stew that was lovely.

Feeling: Ready for academic co-op this Thursday. I’ve got our school bags mostly packed, handouts printed, and ideas of how to smooth the transition.

Planning: I finally set the date for the birthday party and now I need to get planning. I’ve got a ton of windows open with ideas.

Loving: We’re loving our weekly Vala’s visits. Tomorrow’s our next one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Currently
categories: Life
Tuesday 10.08.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Homeschool W7: Our Usual Routine for Fall

What We Studied

Today’s post actually includes a Flex Week and a normal week. We’re deep in Vala’s season, so our weeks are a bit shorter and bit busier than usual. Still, We accomplished a ton of school and moved all our skills forward. Overall, I’m really happy with our progress so far this fall.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. We started reading one of our “spooky” reads for this fall. We haven’t finished it yet, but getting very close to the end. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

  • The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie

  • Poetry for Young People: Carl Sandburg

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G1 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 2 and random books that we have around the house. We started a new classic for us. Quentin saw a trailer for the new The Wild Robot movie and wanted to bump up the book to read before seeing the movie. I’m always up for that.

  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

  • Poetry: Firefly July

  • Poetry: Cricket in the Thicket by Carol Murray

  • Write Shop B

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. Arthur focused on a chapter reviewing multiplying and dividing decimals and fractions.

  • Math in Focus Court 1 Book A

  • EM Financial Literacy G5

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A. He started with the lessons in 2B. I imagine that we will be slowing working through that this semester. Q continued covering the chapter about Multiplication and Division. We then moved on to the chapter on Money.

  • Primarily Logic

  • Singapore Primary Common Core 2B

  • EM Financial Literacy G1

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. We covered an entire section about the kingdoms of West Africa.

  • Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1

  • DK History

  • DK Timelines of Everything

  • DK Timelines of Everyone

  • DK A Child Through Time

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 supporting. We stayed in Western Europe and covered the British Isles. Our big story was the Norman invasion of 1066. We also covered the chapter about the Crusades. It wasn’t super detailed, but covered the basics. We also watched a documentary, NOVA’s Building the Great Cathedrals.

  • History Quest Middle Times

  • DK When on Earth?

  • DK History

  • DK Timelines of Everything

  • DK Timelines of Everyone

  • DK A Child Through Time

  • Kingfisher Atlas of the Medieval World

  • DK Eyewitness: Knight

  • DK Castles and Knights

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

  • Castle by David Macaulay

  • A Year in the Castle by Rachel Coombs

  • Ms Frizzle's Adventures: Medieval Castle by Joanna Cole

  • Knights by Sally Lee

  • Craco: The Medieval Ghost Town by Lisa Owings

  • Find the Knights by David Long

Science

Arthur is using RSO Biology 1 this year has the main science text. Our coverage will be spotty until October. Our academic coop will also be using RSO Biology 1 as a basis for the fall semester course, so we will be just supplementing at home. We will also be doing some of Blossom & Root’s Book Seeds and various other small units in between. We did do a bit of introduction to biology to prep for this week’s Academic Co-op. We read three chapters in the Story of Science, learning about Einstein and his miracle year. We continued watching the documentary series One Strange Rock. We will continue watching sporadically throughout the fall. I’m counting this as science for kids.

  • RSO Biology 1

  • Story of Science Vol. 3 by Joy Hakim

Quentin is using RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. Of course, we have a ton of extra science resources laying around the house. And I will be hosting some one-off science exploration days that align with the units. Q covered the geosphere and layers of the earth. We also watched a few episodes of One Strange Rock.

  • RSO Earth and Environment

  • Earth by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins

  • DK First Earth Encyclopedia

  • Planet Earth Inside Out by Gail Gibbons

  • The Magic School Buss Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole

Enrichment STEAM Co-op

We finished out the 2024 year for the STEAM co-op. I taught Arthur’s class two weeks about cryptography. Quentin’s class learned about watercolor and symmetry. The STEAM Co-op will be on break until early April 2025. This week we will be jumping right into the Academic Co-op for Arthur.

Art and Music

Art will be very sporadic this year, but we do have some fun excursions planned. And I will incorporate art projects into a lot of other subjects and unit studies. We continued our Harbor + Sprout Visual Arts modules with one about color theory and one about aspects of art techniques.

For music, we are using Music Lab: We Rock! as our spine. Each week we will be learning about a different rock musician and focus on a particular song. I have also created Spotify playlists so we can listen on the go. We enjoyed listening to The Supremes, James Brown, and Bob Dylan.

  • Music Lab: We Rock!

  • DK Music and How it Works

  • DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

No real field trips, but we did visit Vala’s twice and the zoo once. Our Vala’s visits are always a highlight of the fall. We hit all of our favorite attractions. At the zoo, we met some new friends. We went to the aquarium for the first time since spring. We are moving into our fall/winter plan of more buildings.

High

We wrapped up the 2024 mini summer session of the Enrichment STEAM Co-op. This was our fourth “year” and things have gotten easier as the sessions fly by. We will be taking a break over the winter (for academic co-op), but will start our 2025 session in April. Hopefully we will still see all our friends at events throughout the winter.

Low

We had a bit of a shake-up with Academic Co-op that required a member and myself to redo the entire plan for math. We managed to work up a plan fairly quickly, but teaching two classes was not on my plan this fall.

Next Week

  • Continuing our math lessons

  • Finishing our read alouds and started new ones

  • Learning about Art and Science in Europe (A) and the Magna Carta (Q)

  • Listening to Jefferson Airplane and The Byrds

  • Exploring rocks and minerals for science (Q)

  • Heading to Vala’s again

  • Starting the Academic Co-op!

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: homeschool
categories: Life
Monday 10.07.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Music Monday - Hailstorm and I Prevail "Can U See Me in the Dark"

Lovely this collaboration! Such a great mix of two bands.

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg
drop of corruption.jpg
seoulmates.jpg
jujutsu 19.jpg
jujutsu 20.jpg
jujutsu21.jpg
jujutsu22.jpg
jujutsu23.jpg
jujutsu24.jpg
black butler.jpg
jujutsu25.jpg
jujutsu26.jpg
jujutsu27.jpg
mayor of maxwell.jpg
antidote.jpg
tales accursed.jpg
tags: Halestorm, I Prevail
categories: Music
Monday 10.07.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Life Right Now #24

As I look outside my window: It’s bright and sunny, but thankfully cooler than yesterday. It reached 96 degrees yesterday and I could feel it at Junkstock. Today the high is 72 degrees and I’m so excited.

Right now I am: Going to put the computer down and pick up my book. I’m very invested in my current read.

Thinking and pondering: What am I forgetting when it comes to running the Academic Co-op? I feel like I don’t have all my ducks in a row, but I don’t even know now which ducks I need to get in a row. It’ll come to me, probably in the shower or at 2am.

On my bedside table: All the fall spooky books!

On my tv this week: J and I started S4 of Slow Horses and my goodness, it is intense. Just how we like it. He and I also continued our regular Dropout shows and watched the second episode of Dimension 20. I also continued Cafe Minamdang.

Listening to: Really not much at all this week. I caught an episode of Conspiracy She Wrote along with NPR’s UpFirst (daily). For music, I hit shuffle a few times while making dinner, but that’s it.

On the menu for this week:

  • Monday - Buffalo Chicken Sliders

  • Tuesday - Potato Leek Soup

  • Wednesday - Mongolian Beef

  • Thursday - Leftovers

  • Friday - Teriyaki Shrimp and Rice

  • Saturday - Green Chili and Pepper Jack Enchiladas

  • Sunday - Kielbasa Skillet

On my to do list: So much to do, but the biggest thing today is packing our Academic Co-op bag for Thursday. In addition to my teaching materials for math and civics, I need to pack Arthur’s basic supplies and all of Quentin’s school stuff to keep him occupied. On Wednesday night, I’ll have to pack our lunch.

Happening this week:

  • Monday - Nat Geo Volcanoes event at the Holland

  • Tuesday - Home Day

  • Wednesday - Vala’s

  • Thursday - Academic Co-op Starts

  • Friday - Heron Haven Hike; Luminarium Visit

  • Saturday - Arthur art class at The Joslyn

  • Sunday - Home Day

What I am creating: I’m very slowly working on my Memory Planner for August and September. I should have time after brunch today to get back to it.

My simple pleasures: Rambling with a friend, having a plan, good books

Looking around the house: It’s a mess. I did put all the enrichment co-op supplies away for the winter which helped the random piles. But… I’ve still got to sort through the Academic Co-op piles and the random stuff next to my chair (mostly school related stuff).

From the camera: Another fun Junkstock with a friend.

tags: Life Right Now
categories: Weekly Wrap-up
Sunday 10.06.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Year Zero Vol. 0

Title: Year Zero Vol. 0

Author: Daniel Kraus, Goran Sudžuka

Publisher: Artists, Writers, and Artisans 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel Horror

Pages: 128

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Season

Where I Got It: Library

In this action-packed prelude to the hit series, acclaimed horror writer Daniel Kraus (George Romero's The Living Dead, The Autumnal) unveils four globe-spanning tales from the earliest days of the zombie apocalypse when even the wildest rumors couldn't measure up to the horror to come. A streetwise Russian cop patrols the back alleys of the opportunistic black market that emerges in response to the crisis...a North Korean soldier observes strange happenings on the DMZ...An E.R. nurse in the rural South fights to protect her hospital from threats without and within...A transgender flight attendant who has observed disturbing clues as she crisscrosses the globe keeps a wary eye on the passenger in seat 23C.

I somehow completely missed this series. I absolutely love zombie stories so I definitely needed to grab this one. I didn’t even realize that this is prequel, but it was still a fun ride to see the beginnings of a zombie apocalypse. We follow a few characters as they slowly get the sense that something terrible is happening. The Korean storyline was my favorite. We get a few very introspective conversations and monologues by those characters. I really loved the reveals as the stories progressed. I most definitely need to keep reading this series.

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Star Ratings.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Daniel Kraus, 4 stars, graphic novel, horror, zombies, Spooky Season RC
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 10.05.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Behind the Horror by Lee Mellor

Title: Behind the Horror: True Stories that Inspired Horror Movies

Author: Lee Mellor

Publisher: DK 2020

Genre: Nonfiction - True Crime

Pages: 288

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Where I Got It: Library

Which case of demonic possession inspired The Exorcist? What horrifying front-page story generated the idea for A Nightmare on Elm Street? Which film was based on the infamous skin-wearing murderer Ed Gein?

Unearth the terrifying and true tales behind some of the scariest Horror movies to ever haunt our screens, including the Enfield poltergeist case that was retold in The Conjuring 2 and the serial killers who inspired Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.

Behind the Horror dissects these and other bizarre tales to reveal haunting real-life stories of abduction, disappearance, murder, and exorcism.

Overall, the stories behind the horror movies are pretty uneven. A few were very detailed and sufficiently creepy. I loved the chapters that detailed the background of the The Exorcist and Poltergeist. I found some of the chapters very detailed and informative. But then many of the chapters were too plodding. I found myself getting bogged down in some of the details. And a few times even I found the details to be too gross.

library 24.jpeg
Star Ratings.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: horror, library, Library Love, true crime, nonfiction, 3 stars, Lee Mellor
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 10.04.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

  • It’s the last week of enrichment co-op for the year! As sad as I am about the ending, I am also looking forward to a break.

  • Printing our academic co-op math curriculum and I’m actually getting pretty excited about this. Big turn around from the scramble after a teacher dropped.

  • Getting back into spooky reading and I’m loving it.

  • Looking forward to Junkstock with a friend on Saturday!

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Odds and Ends
categories: Life
Thursday 10.03.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

October 2024 Life Goals

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

  • Read 18 Books

  • Wrap up Enrichment Co-op

  • Prep Start of Academic Co-op

  • Enjoy Spooky Reading Season

October Goals:

  • Read 18 Books

  • Launch the Academic Co-op

  • Wrap-up Enrichment Co-op (finalize all forms)

  • Plan and Execute the Boys’ Birthday Party

  • Enjoy Vala’s throughout the Month!

Next up o the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Monthly Life Goals
categories: Life
Wednesday 10.02.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

September 2024 Wrap-up

September TBR Pile (20/21):

  1. Bookworms BC: None (already read)

  2. Friend BC: The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry ✓

  3. Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz ✓

  4. Kid Book Club: I Can Make This Promise by Christina Day (DNF)

  5. Kid Read Aloud: The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World’s Worst Knight by Tim Collins ✓

  6. Kid Read Aloud: Mars One by Jonathan Maberry ✓

  7. Kid Read Aloud: Lucy and the Rocket Dog by Will Buckingham ✓

  8. Kid Read Aloud: Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White ✓

  9. Romance: The Succubus’s Prize by Katee Robert ✓

  10. Romance: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming ✓

  11. Romance: The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton ✓

  12. Science Fiction: Key Lime Sky by Al Hess ✓

  13. Fantasy: Book of Night by Holly Black ✓

  14. Fantasy: Lost Boy by Christina Henry ✓

  15. Fantasy: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher ✓

  16. Horror: Never Whistle at Night ✓

  17. Horror: Murder Road by Simone St. James ✓

  18. Horror: From Below by Darcy Coates ✓

  19. Horror: Dead Lake by Darcy Coates ✓

  20. Horror: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith ✓

  21. Comics: Universal Monsters Dracula ✓

  22. Comics: Lore Olympus Vol. 6 ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal:

Monthly Total: 6225 pages
Pages Remaining: 210,834 pages

Current Read - Behind the Horror by Lee Mellors; Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

Books I Gave Up On (1) - The boys and I started reading the co-op book selection, but found it very boring. The writing wasn’t great and I was very not engaged with the story, so we gave up and moved one.

Books Bought/Received (4)

From BOTM, I grabbed three books. They were too good to pass up!

  • Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

  • The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

  • A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

I also took the boys to the library book sale and grabbed a few selections for me (along with many homeschool curriculum books). The only one that was actually a book for me to read was Strange Harvests by Edward Posnett

UnRead Shelf Progress

  • Starting Number: 310

  • Books Read: 6

  • Books Acquired: 4

  • Books Unshelved: 0

  • Finishing Number: 308

October TBR Pile:

  1. Bookworms BC: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maeherer

  2. Friend BC: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

  3. Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

  4. Kid Book Club: No One Leaves the Castle by Christopher Healy

  5. Kid Read Aloud: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

  6. Kid Read Aloud: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

  7. Kid Read Aloud: The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie

  8. Romance: That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming

  9. Fantasy: Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

  10. Nonfiction: Behind the Horror by Lee Mellors

Movies Watched

  • None really. We did rewatch a few movies with the boys, but nothing new.

TV Shows Watched

  • Only Murders in the Building S4

  • Star Trek: Discovery S3

  • Game Changer

  • Um, Actually

  • Make Some Noise

  • The Bachelorette

  • Below Deck Med

  • My Lady Jane S1

  • One Strange Rock

  • Dimension 20

  • Cafe Minamdang

Comments -

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
categories: Monthly Wrap-Up
Tuesday 10.01.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Music Monday - Halsey "Lonely is the Muse"

Some major 90s angst this is new Halsey song. I think I might just love it!

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg
drop of corruption.jpg
seoulmates.jpg
jujutsu 19.jpg
jujutsu 20.jpg
jujutsu21.jpg
jujutsu22.jpg
jujutsu23.jpg
jujutsu24.jpg
black butler.jpg
jujutsu25.jpg
jujutsu26.jpg
jujutsu27.jpg
mayor of maxwell.jpg
antidote.jpg
tales accursed.jpg
tags: Halsey
categories: Music
Monday 09.30.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

2024 Reading Challenges Update #3

Reading Challenges Check-in.png

I’m back to employing reading challenges to help direct my reading this year. Let’s check in with my progress of all the challenges I am attempting this year.

  • Goodreads 194/200 97%

  • Unread Shelf 38/50 76%**

  • Kid Read Alouds 36/50 72%**

  • 52 Book Club 44/52 84%

  • She Reads Romance 27/36 75%**

  • COYER 9/20 45%*

  • Decades 6/12 50%

  • Lifetime 8/12 67%

  • In Case You Missed It 11/12 92%**

  • Nonfiction Reader 12/12 100%

  • Library Love 55/60 92%

  • Clock Numbers 4/12 33%*

  • Fairytales 6/12 50%*

  • Spooky Season 8/26 31%

Total Challenges 1/14 7.1%

Total Reading Slots 458/566 80.9%

* - Needs Work
** - Doing a Great Job

Comments: I reading focused on reading my own shelves and made some great progress there. For the last quarter, I want to try and finish that one and work on fairytale retellings, clock, and spooky season challenges.

Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
categories: Reading Challenges
Sunday 09.29.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Life Right Now #23

As I look outside my window: Bright and fairly warm. Our proper fall weather has warmed up again.

Right now I am: Sipping my fancy coffee, prepping to read a bit before making brunch.

Thinking and pondering: How can I compel other adults to actually adult? The eternal question.

On my bedside table: Lots of spooky reads sitting there, but also some fun romance. Not sure what I will be picking up next.

On my tv this week: J and I have continued our ridiculous Dropout game shows. We also finally started Dimension 20.

Listening to: I got back into some podcasts this week, binging If Books Could Kill and You’re Wrong About. Basically I spent my Saturday listening to Michael Hobbs.

On the menu for this week:

  • Monday - Me out at book club

  • Tuesday - BBQ Chicken

  • Wednesday - Jerk Fish Chowder

  • Thursday - Teriyaki Shrimp and Rice

  • Friday - Pizza Night

  • Saturday - Buffalo Chicken Sliders

  • Sunday - BBQ Cheddar Meatloaf

On my to do list: So many things, but up first are the Academic Co-op tasks. I want to get everything set for our first meeting on October 10th.

Happening this week:

  • Monday - Vala’s! Potentially book club

  • Tuesday - Zoo Day; Meeting with a friend

  • Wednesday - Vala’s!

  • Thursday - Last Enrichment Co-op of 2024

  • Friday - Home Day

  • Saturday - Arthur art class at Joslyn; Junkstock with a friend

  • Sunday - Home Day

What I am creating: I did some work on my Memory Planner yesterday. I might be able to sneak up for awhile this morning…

My simple pleasures: I bought myself pumpkin pie sauce and have been making myself fancy coffees. Really loving the fall flavors without the $9 price tag.

Looking around the house: Things are decent. I’ll be excited to put away the big co-op supply bags after this Thursday. They take up a lot of real estate next to my chair. (I can’t leave them in the garage and it gets too hot in there.)

From the camera: Flower (weed?) along our hike on Friday.

tags: Life Right Now
categories: Weekly Wrap-up
Sunday 09.29.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton

Title: The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love (Love’s Academic #1)

Author: India Holton

Publisher: Berkley 2024

Genre: Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf RC; She Reads Romance - Only One Bed (repeated!)

Where I Got It: Book of the Month September 2024

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, stealing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon. 

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals. 

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.

A new series from India Holton! I must have it immediately! And thankfully this one was just as delightful as her previous series. In here, we get a colleagues and competitors to romance story. It’s not quite an enemies-to-lovers tropes but a bit more gentle than that. Devon and Beth are thrust together by their own choices and the machinations of a pair of black-clad gentleman for a madcap adventure to capture a rare bird. Along the way we encounter some peril, multiple one-room-in-the-inn situations, competing ornithologists, some protective French fisherman, and a whole lot of swoony moments. I loved seeing Beth and Devon succumb to their mutual admiration and attraction. Overall, a delightful adventure romance with equal parts. I can’t wait until Gabriel’s story!

Love’s Academic

  • #1 The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love

  • #2 The Geographer’s Map to Romance

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Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: India Holton, romance, Book of the Month, Unread Shelf Project, UnRead Shelf Project RC
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 09.28.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Dead Lake by Darcy Coates

Title: Dead Lake

Author: Darcy Coates

Publisher: Black Owl Books 2020

Genre: Horror

Pages: 158

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; In Case You Missed It - 2020

Where I Got It: Library

A week's visit to the remote Harob Lake cabin couldn't have come at a better time for Sam.

She's battling artist's block ahead of a major gallery exhibition. Staying at the lake house is her final, desperate attempt to paint the collection that could save her floundering career. It seems perfect: no neighbors, no phone, no distractions.

But the dream retreat disintegrates into a nightmare when Sam sees a stranger by the lake.

A tall, mysterious man stands on the edge of her dock, staring intently into the swirling waters below. He starts to follow her. He disables her car. He destroys her only way to communicate with the outside world. And something about the man seems… unnatural.

Soon Sam suspects he's responsible for the series of disappearances from a nearby hiking trail.

Completely stranded, Sam realizes she's become the prey in the hunter's deadliest game…

Another fun creepy Darcy Coates book for my Spooky Season. I didn’t realize that this was actual a novella and a few short stories. But I still really enjoyed each story. The novella was a fun take on the isolated cabin and a killer in the woods with a supernatural bend. As always, Coates excels at the creepy imagery that gets me every time. The second story featuring a monster in the woods was my favorite of the collection. I was truly horrified by that one.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: horror, Darcy Coates, 4 stars, Library Love, In Case You Missed It
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 09.27.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Title: Phantasma (Wicked Games #1)

Author: Kaylie Smith

Publisher: Forever 2024

Genre: Fantasy; Horror

Pages: 461

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Spooky Season

Where I Got It: Book of the Month September 2024

Spice Rating: 5

Welcome to Phantasma.

There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart…

Wicked Games

  • #1 Phantasma

  • #2 Enchantra

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Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Book of the Month, Unread Shelf Project, UnRead Shelf Project RC, fantasy, 5 stars, Spooky Season RC, Kaylie Smith
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 09.26.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Lost Boy by Christina Henry

Title: Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Titan Books 2017

Genre: Horror; Fantasy

Pages: 292

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings; Spooky Season

Where I Got It: Library

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favorite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.
 
Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter's idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. Because it’s never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbors are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock—the kinds of playthings that bite.

Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever. Peter lies
.

This book has been on my TBR list for years now. I had previously enjoyed Henry’s brand of mixing horror and fairy tales and this one definitely hit the spot. Right away, we know that we are going dive deep into how Jamie become Captain Hook. I was hoping for a villainous portrayal of Peter Pan and I got exactly what I was hoping for. In fact, he was much more horrendous than even I imagined. (I have always very much disliked the Peter Pan character from literature and the movie/tv versions.) We quickly learn how demented Peter is and attempt to navigate his impossible situations alongside Jamie and the other Lost Boys. In a short amount of time, I really came to care for those kids. But I knew that this story was not going to end well. Overall, this one is not for squeamish people and especially not for anyone who cannot handle violence involved children.

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Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Christina Henry, horror, 4 stars, Fairytale Retellings, fairy tale stories, Spooky Season RC
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 09.25.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Title: A Sorceress Comes to Call

Author: T. Kingfisher

Publisher: Tor Books 2024

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project

Where I Got It: Book of the Month September 2024

Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms—there are no secrets in this house—and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend. Unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him.

But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t evil sorcerers.

When her mother unexpectedly moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his kind but keen-eyed sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother's next victims. But Cordelia feels at home for the very first time among these people, and as her mother's plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.

Loved loved loved this book! I have loved almost everything that T. Kingfisher has put out. I love her blend of horror, fantasy, and fairy tales. The blend makes her book shave a great atmospheric quality mixed with solid plots. For this book, I wasn’t sure what we were getting at first. I was not super excited to spend 300+ pages with Cordelia as our narrator. Thankfully, we are introduced to Hester pretty quickly and from then on we get two narrators. Much better! I loved seeing the story and the situations play out from each perspective. The suspense ratchets up throughout the first half of the book leading to some great scenes. And then the plot kicks into high-gear and we get one long adventure leading to the conclusion of the book. I loved it!

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Next up on the TBR pile:

somewhere beyond.jpg drop of corruption.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg
tags: Book of the Month, Unread Shelf Project, UnRead Shelf Project RC, T. Kingfisher, fantasy, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 09.24.24
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
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