Currently #9

Reading: I’m deep into Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao for the retreat book selection. It has a beauty dreamy quality to the story. I’ve hit a bit of a lull in the story, but pushing through to see how it ends.

Watching: I finally started watching S1 of Goblin and it is amazing! I am lovely every single episode. It’s my new obsession.

Listening: Still Stray Kids all the time. It’s my happy place.

Making: Still working on my May Memory Planner pages. And hoping to get started on my June.

Feeling: It’s been very warm the last few days, but a storm rolled in last night. I’m so much cooler!

Planning: We’re going on our Iowa trip next week and finishing our itinerary. We’re planning ahead to save some money and avoid a ton of fast food.

Loving: I got back into SKZ Code from 2022 and have loved every episode. Watching those 8 guys do silly things make me so happy.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Stray Kids "Pacemaker"

Based on my new obsession, I decided to do a Top 10 series of my favorite Stray Kids songs. There are so many songs, but I keep coming back to the same ones again and again. (I’m focusing on songs featuring all 8 members; no subunit or solo songs.)

There’s no real music video for this song, but I still super love it. Not many people put this one their Top 10, but I always get excited when it pops up on my shuffle.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #16

As I look outside my window: Bright and sunny yet again. And the temperature is supposed to climb. I’m staying indoors today.

Right now I am: Figuring out what to make for brunch. I really have no idea. I was supposed to buy cinnamon rolls at the store and completely forgot. Guess I need a Plan B.

On my bedside table: Lots more manga; the new Abby Jimenez and the new Emily Henry.

On my tv this week: J and I have been watching our currently airing shows (Doctor Who, Welcome to Wrexham, Clarkson’s Farm). I also finished watching All of Us are Dead and this season of Below Deck: Down Under.

Listening to: All the Stray Kids music of course.

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Out at Book Club

• Tuesday - Jerk Pork

• Wednesday - Firecracker Chicken

• Thursday - Chicken Tortilla Soup

• Friday - Pizza Night

• Saturday - Honey Lime Chicken

• Sunday - Gochujang Pasta Alfredo

On my to do list: I need to work on the Iowa trip plan. We’ve got some ideas, but need to finalize our itinerary.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Strawberry Picking; Book Club

• Tuesday - Home Day (We were supposed to have a pool day but the weather is going to be cold and rainy)

• Wednesday - Home Day

• Thursday - Enrichment Co-op

• Friday - Heron Haven Hike

• Saturday - Co-op Book Club

• Sunday - Home Day

What I am creating: Nothing much. Although maybe I can work on my Memory Planner today.

My simple pleasures: Music, silly videos, finishing a television series

Looking around the house: I did a quick pick up yesterday and feeling a lot better about the state of the house. I do want to vacuum the upstairs today and feel a bit better.

From the camera: Some pics from Thursday night. Drinks and beautiful weather at a local brewery while the boys were at the homeschool dance.

May 2025 Wrap-up

May TBR Pile (24/27):

1. Bookworms BC: (NOT READING)

2. Friend BC: (Already read)

3. Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky ✓

4. Kid Book Club: (Already read)

5. Kid Read Aloud: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren ✓

6. Kid Read Aloud: Odder by Katherine Applegate ✓

7. Kid Read Aloud: The Giver by Lois Lowry ✓

8. Historical Fiction: The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis ✓

9. Fantasy: This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman ✓

10. Fantasy: How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann ✓

11. Romance: Swept Away by Beth O’Leary ✓

12. Horror: Stitches by Hirokatsu Kihara ✓

13. Comics: Shiver by Junji Ito ✓

14. Comics: Tomie by Junji Ito ✓

15. Comics: Fragments of Horror by Junji Ito ✓

16. Comics: Dissolving Classroom by Junji Ito ✓

17. Comics: Remina by Junji Ito ✓

18. Comics: Lovesickness by Junji Ito ✓

19. Comics: Sensor by Junji Ito ✓

20. Comics: Venus in the Blindspot by Junji Ito ✓

21. Comics: Frankenstein by Junji Ito ✓

22. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 5 ✓

23. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 6 ✓

24. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 7 ✓

25. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8 ✓

26. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 9 ✓

27. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 10 ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 7171 pages
Pages Remaining: 155,380 pages

Current Read - Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 11-16; Enchanrtra by Kaylie Smith

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books Bought/Received (0)

UnRead Shelf Progress

• Starting Number: 299

• Books Read: 1

• Books Acquired: 0

• Books Unshelved: 0

• Finishing Number: 298

June TBR Pile: I have quite a stack of comics to finish this month.

1. Bookworms BC: Water Moon by Samantha Yambao Sotto

2. Friend BC: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

3. Nerdy Bookish Friends BC: (already read)

4. Kid Book Club: May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao

5. Kid Read Aloud: Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

6. Romance: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

7. Romance: Seoulamtes by Susan Lee

8. Comics: Uzumaki by Junji Ito

9. Comics: Betwixt

10. Comics: Gyo by Junji Ito

11. Comics: Deserter by Junji Ito

12. Comics: Tombs by Junji Ito

13. Comics: Soichi by Junji Ito

14. Comics: Alley by Junji Ito

15. Comics: Black Paradox by Junji Ito

16. Comics: Smashed by Junji Ito

17. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 11

18. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 12

19. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 13

20. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 14

21. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 15

22. Comics: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 16

23. Comics: Twisted Wonderland Vol. 1

24. Comics: Twisted Wonderland Vol. 2

25. Comics: Twisted Wonderland Vol. 3

26. Comics: Twisted Wonderland Vol. 4

Movies Watched

TV Shows Watched

• Crash Landing on You

• Leverage: Redemption

• Doctor Who

• Last Week Tonight

• Below Deck: Down Under

• Um, Actually

• Game Changer

• Inheritance Detective

• Very Important People

• Murderbot S1

• Welcome to Wrexham S4

• Andor S2

• Goblin

• Mythic Quest S4

• All of Us are Dead

• All-Night SKZ (2021)

• Kingdom: Legendary War Behind (2021)

• SKZ Song Camp (2021)

• Kingdom Week: NO+ (2021)

• SKZ-Talker (2021-2022)

• SKZ-Talker Go (2021-2022)

• SKZ Code (2021-2022)

• 2 Kids Room (2022)

Comments - I’m slowly getting my reading mojo back. I actually read novels this month and not just manga (although I am still loving manga). We also watched some great shows. I even finished a few shows.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

Title: Swept Away

Author: Beth O’Leary

Publisher: Berkely 2025

Genre: Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Beachside Cafe; Cover Lover - Birds

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 3

What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand?

Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend's daughter.

Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.

With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they’re facing another challenge. Because when you’re stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone—and to fall in love with them.

I have enjoyed O’Leary’s past books, but had heard grumbles about this newest one. I went in with a bit of trepidation, but was pleasantly supposed. I really enjoyed seeing two characters with the ultimate forced proximity trope learn to rely on each other and eventually love each other. I am always the most excited in romance books for the parts where characters actually talk to each other. That’s what most of this book was about! Absolutely perfect. On the other hand, I knocked off a star because of the last section on land. We get the big reveal/twist that I totally telegraphed early on. That third act break-up was completely unnecessary and definitely should have been changed. I wouldn’t have minded a bit of a struggle at the end, but the way it played out was way too melodramatic. A little switch and this could have been a 5 star read for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• It’s Field Day! It’s always a super chaotic day, but we love doing this event every year.

• I may have gotten my reading mojo back this past week. I haven’t just been reading manga but also regular novels.

• I think it’s an iced coffee kind of day. Good thing I bought some concentrate earlier this week.

• Looking forward to my leftover kimchi jjigae for lunch today.

• Maybe I will try some other Korean recipe next week.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 10

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 10

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna were lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

This volume is mostly one big showdown at Shibuya Station starring Gojo! I loved seeing how all the different groups of sorcerers and curses interacted amongst the humans. We get some great little jump scares and reveals. And we learn a bit more about the dynamics between the Womb Paintings, Mahito, and Geto. I cannot wait to see how they resolve this battle in the next volume.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 9

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 9

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto have been assigned a mission to escort the Star Plasma Vessel to Master Tengen. When they’re ambushed by Toji Fushiguro, a mercenary known as the Sorcerer Killer, will Gojo and Geto survive? And will this be the turning point where Gojo becomes the world's strongest exorcist while Geto embraces a life of ruin and rebellion?

This volume carried so much emotional weight. Get to see the great dynamic between Gojo and Neto and then the twist in their friendship. What is going to happen when Gojo realizes exactly who is behind the present day troubles? Plus we get to learn more about Toji Fushiguro. My favorite scene was the one between Megumi Fushiguro and Gojo. Loved seeing a young Megumi interact with his future mentor. And we get some great action sequences!

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann

Title: How to Be Eaten

Author: Maria Adelmann

Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company 2022

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 291

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling

Where I Got It: Library

In present-day New York City, five women meet in a basement support group to process their traumas. Bernice grapples with the fallout of dating a psychopathic, blue-bearded billionaire. Ruby, once devoured by a wolf, now wears him as a coat. Gretel questions her memory of being held captive in a house made of candy. Ashlee, the winner of a Bachelor-esque dating show, wonders if she really got her promised fairy tale ending. And Raina's love story will shock them all.

Though the women start out wary of one another, judging each other’s stories, gradually they begin to realize that they may have more in common than they supposed . . . What really brought them here? What secrets will they reveal? And is it too late for them to rescue each other?

I cannot remember who exactly recommended this book to me, but I want to say thank you! This was the weird feminist rage book that I had been looking for. We get to see a group of fairytale characters wrestle with their trauma and how they are perceived by the public. We don’t get a resolution to their troubles, but a realistic portrayal of their issues. I found myself raging right alongside them. From the ways that the public treats their truth to how they treat each other. I loved the weird little pieces of insight the characters gain along the way. The biggest reason that I took off a star from my rating is the ending. I just really hated the big reveal of Will and how it impacted the women. Annoying.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Stray Kids "S-Class"

Based on my new obsession, I decided to do a Top 10 series of my favorite Stray Kids songs. There are so many songs, but I keep coming back to the same ones again and again. (I’m focusing on songs featuring all 8 members; no subunit or solo songs.)

Another super popular song. The music video is extra fun!

How about a fun SKZOO version?

Next up on the TBR pile:

Frankenstein by Junji Ito

Title: Frankenstein

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 1999

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 408

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

The master of horror manga brings the world's greatest horror novel—Frankenstein—back to life.

Junji Ito meets Mary Shelley! The master of horror manga bends all his skill into bringing the anguished and solitary monster—and the fouler beast who created him—to life with the brilliantly detailed chiaroscuro he is known for.

Also included are six tales of Oshikiri—a high school student who lives in a decaying mansion connected to a haunted parallel world. Uncanny doppelgangers, unfortunately murdered friends, and a whole lot more are in store for him.

Frankenstein - Absolutely amazing! I adore this manga version of Mary Shelley’s classic horror story. Ito highlights the horror so well in his drawing style.

Neck Specter
Bog of Living Spirits
Pen Pal
Intruder
The Strange Tale of Oshikiri
The Strange Tale of Oshikiri: The Walls
These interconnected stories started out well. Neck Specter was amazing, but then they started to feel a bit stale. Mostly I think it’s because Oshikiri is not a great character.

The Hell of the Doll Funeral - Very creepy short that I loved.

Face Firmly in Place - Strange and not that enjoyable.

Boss Non-non
Hide-and-Seek with Boss Non-non
These two stories about a cat were not of much interest to me. They were lacking in the horror that I love.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #15

As I look outside my window: It’s dreary today. Fits my mood I think.

Right now I am: Not wanting to make brunch. Maybe I will send J out for something…

On my bedside table: Mostly manga, although I did just get Emily Henry’s new book from the library. And I need to read the retreat book selection.

On my tv this week: J and I started watching S2 of Andor and S4 of Welcome to Wrexham and continued S1 of Murderbot along with some of our regular rotation shows. I started watching All of Us are Dead and Goblin with J was at a movie.

Listening to: K-pop all the time

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Ranch Cheddar Chicken

• Tuesday - Kimchi Jjigae

• Wednesday - Grill Night

• Thursday - Snack Dinner/Leftovers

• Friday - Firecracker Chicken

• Saturday - Spicy Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

• Sunday - Italian Beef Sandwiches?

On my to do list: Retreat tasks (finish some logistics, update grocery list, etc), Field Day tasks (make teams, write out instructions, check in with my cohost), Enrich Co-op tasks (update Session B registrants, finalize W9-10 lesson plans, brainstorm Session B lessons), Homeschool tasks (start planning out next year), Read my library book

Happening this week: A lighter week after a few busy ones.

• Monday - Home Day

• Tuesday - Home Day

• Wednesday - Park Playdate

• Thursday - Co-op Field Day; Homeschool Dance

• Friday - Co-op Parent Info Meeting

• Saturday - Home Day

• Sunday - Home Day

What I am creating: I want to work on my May Memory Planner today. At least I want to get the photos printed and staged.

My simple pleasures: Stray Kids, good books, good sleep, not 90 degree temperatures

Looking around the house: The retreat pile in my breakfast area is growing. Getting closer and closer and staging all our supplies makes a pile. Otherwise the house is in good shape this week.

From the camera: Baby pygmy hippo! She’s so cute!

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Yuji Itadori and his classmates are fighting two of the three reincarnated Cursed Womb: Death Paintings brothers. Meanwhile, Megumi Fushiguro loses consciousness after finally defeating a special grade curse that possessed a Sukuna finger! Whoever wins the fight between Itadori and the brothers will be the one to secure the prized finger!

Um… we get a giant flashback story within this volume of the story. We get a sorta conclusion to the curse story started in volume 7 and then everything switches. My star rating is really based on the flashback section featuring a ton of characters. I literally gasped when Gojo’s classmate showed up. I am so interested in how their partnership turns in the intervening years. I am so deeply invested in this entire story now. I cannot wait to see how this plays out.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 7

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 7

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Despite the injuries and losses they suffered in an attack on the Goodwill Event, the students of Jujutsu High have little time rest as people start dying under mysterious circumstances. Could these strange deaths have anything to do with Sukuna's lost fingers?

We get a conclusion of the Goodwill Event and an interesting development in the relationship between Idatori and Todo. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the friendship between those characters. Something is fishy… And then we get a new mystery of the unlocked doors and Fushiguro’s stepsister. I thought that we would continue with this story, but the volume ends in a strange way. We get the introduction of two new curses. Battle commences…

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

Title: The Stolen Queen

Author: Fiona Davis

Publisher: Dutton 2025

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Cover Lover - Headwear

Where I Got It: BOTM

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. That is until an unbearable tragedy strikes.

New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

This book started out strong. I was hoping for an interesting deep dive into women in archaeology and the issue of artifact provenance. I wanted to get into a philosophical discussion. Instead, we quickly turn to a melodramatic family conspiracy featuring a meek main character, an overbearing mother, a potentially bad husband, a tragedy, and a caricature of a real person. It just all felt very cliche by 50% of the book. I keep reading hoping that we would get back into the interesting parts of the artifacts. But nope. And then we get the reveal about Charlotte’s husband and child and I just couldn’t care any less. Blergh. I think I really need to step away from historical fiction books for awhile. They are just feeling very tired lately.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Venus in the Blind Spot by Junji Ito

Title: Venus in the Blind Spot

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

This striking collection presents the most remarkable short works of Junji Ito’s career, featuring an adaptation of Ranpo Edogawa’s classic horror story “Human Chair” and fan favorite “The Enigma of Amigara Fault.” With a deluxe presentation—including special color pages, and showcasing illustrations from his acclaimed long-form manga No Longer Human—each chilling tale invites readers to revel in a world of terror.

Billions Alone - Creepy body horror at its finest.

The Human Chair by Edogawa Ranpo - Very unsettling story. Loved it!

An Unearthly Love by Edogawa Ranpo - Dolls, always creepy…

Venus in the Blind Spot - Such a great story about obsession.

The Licking Woman - Um. Gross. Even for me.

Master Umezz and Me - Weirdly out of place story full of real emotion.

How Love Came to Professor Kirida - Strange story, but somehow I liked it.

The Enigma of Amigara Fault - Extra extra creepy story. I especially loved the the ending image. Horrifying!

The Sad Tale of the Principal Post - Interesting story, but not creepy enough for me.

Keepsake - I always love creepy item stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Sensor by Junji Ito

Title: Sensor

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 240

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

A woman walks alone at the foot of Mount Sengoku. A man appears, saying he’s been waiting for her, and invites her to a nearby village. Surprisingly, the village is covered in hairlike volcanic glass fibers, and all of it shines a bright gold. At night, when the villagers perform their custom of gazing up at the starry sky, countless unidentified flying objects come raining down on them—the opening act for the terror about to occur!

I loved the beginning of this story. The strange village and the visitor was a great setup for a creepy, otherworldly story. I loved following along as the story got stronger and stronger. But somewhere along the way, I started to lose interest. Really it was probably after the destruction of the cult, and the then the cult leader returned. It turned out that I didn’t actually care about this story or the characters. Weird turn I must say.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: I’m deep into the Jujutsu Kaisen manga series. I want to read a few more volumes before we start the anime.

Watching: We started the current season of Welcome to Wrexham. Who knew that I would enjoy a reality show about a football team so much?

Listening: All K-pop all the time. I recently branched out again and added J-Hope’s albums to my playlist.

Making: I made banana bread on Sunday and forgot how much I love it. So yummy!

Feeling: I’ve got so many projects ongoing, but very annoyed by some others’ inability to do the simplest things that I ask of them. Lots of annoyance…

Planning: We’ve finished our big curriculum pieces, so it’s time to plan our summer lessons. We slow down a bit, but add in some fun units.

Loving: With my weird mental health lately, I turned to silly Stray Kids videos. They have really helped give me those little doses of dopamine to get my brain back on track.

Next up on the TBR pile:

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman

Title: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #7)

Author: Matt Dinniman

Publisher: Dandy House 2024

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 724

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Cover Lover - A title and/or scene that makes you laugh

They call it Faction Wars. The ninth floor. Nine armies, each led by rich and powerful aliens from across the galaxy. Each team has one objective: to capture and hold the castle at the very center of the battlefield. Strategy, alliances, pitched battles, and, of course, betrayal... It all makes for great fun and even greater television. After all, none of these powerful aliens really die when they’re playing war.

Except this time. This time, winner takes all. Those who fall, stay in the ground.

As the AI continues its rapid decline, Carl and company take advantage of the chaos. For the first time ever, the crawlers are fighting back. They are now one of the nine teams. And this season, there’s a tenth army on the playing field. The NPCs, who are normally used as nothing but cannon fodder, have become fully self-aware and formed a team of their own.

For Donut and Katia, the stakes are even higher. Only one of them will be allowed to leave this level. If they all want to survive, they’re going to need a little help from a veteran or two. This is it. This is what they’ve been fighting toward. This is war. This inevitable ruin.

I finally got time to listen to the newest Carl book! And my goodness, I knew it was going to be a doozy. We finally get to see Faction Wars and the outcomes of so many things set up during the previous few books. I could not wait to see how Carl, Donut, and crew screwed over the corporations and the various enemies of the Princess Posse. The book starts and we immediately dive into nonstop action. Within the action, we get a few quiet moments of serious emotional weight. Just what I was expecting from this volume. The ending wasn’t a huge surprise overall, but I did love how it played out. I cannot wait to see what happens on the 10th Floor.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

• #1 Dungeon Crawler Carl

• #2 Carl’s Doomsday Scenario

• #3 The Dungeon' Anarchist’s Cookbook

• #4 The Gate of the Feral Gods

• #5 The Butcher’s Masquerade

• #6 The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

• #7 This Inevitable Ruin

Next up on the TBR pile:

Homeschool W32-33: Lots of Travel!

Arbor Day Farm

What We Studied

We completed one regular school week and then a few days of another week before leaving for Indiana for Alex’s graduation. So I decided to combine these two weeks into one post.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G5 for his language arts this year. Arthur started and finished another Applegate book. We have loved every book that she has written. We also covered more grammar and extra language arts assignments.

• Willodeen by Katherine Applegate

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

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 finished reading two classics.

• Poetry: A First Book of the Sea by Nicola Davies

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 1. Effectively this is Singapore’s 6th grade math text. We finished the textbook and will be doing review for the summer.

• Math in Focus Course 1 Book B

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 2B and 3A.We are close to finishing 3A, but not quite there.

• Singapore Primary 3A

• Primarily Logic

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Early Modern History Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year. Beyond random documentaries and museum visits, we will be pausing our history study until August.

Quentin is using History Quest Middle Times with Build Your Library Level 2 as his main history curriculum. We will be pausing history until August.

Science

Arthur finished his RSO Biology 1 course with the end of the academic co-op. We switched gears a bit and covered a few BookSeeds from Blossom & Root.

Quentin finished RSO Earth & Environment and RSO Astronomy 1 as a base. He started a side unit about oceans. We got through multiple topics and watched a few episodes of Blue Planet to reinforce.

• A First Book of the Sea by Nicola Davies

• Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman

• DK Earth's Incredible Oceans by Jess French

• DK Ocean

• DK Eyewitness Ocean

• The Ocean in Your Bathtub by Seth Fishman

• The Girl Who Built an Ocean: An Artist, an Argonaut, and the true Story of the World's First Aquarium by Jess Keating

• A Turtle's View of the Ocean Blue by Catherine Barr

• Oceanography: The Study of Oceans by Susan H. Gray

• Manfish by Jennifer Berne

• Marie's Ocean: Marie Tharp Maps the Mountains Under the Sea by Josie James

• Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea by Robert Burleigh

• Ocean Speaks by Jess Keating

• Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola

Enrichment Co-op

We covered our fourth week of co-op. Arthur covered slime chemistry. Quentin wasn’t feeling it and stay home that day.

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.

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 listened to Blondie, David Bowie, The Smiths, and Depeche Mode these weeks. Many winners for our listening.

• Music Lab: We Rock!

• DK Music and How it Works

• DK The Arts

Field Trip/Activities

Before leaving for Indiana, we had our twice a year visit to Arbor Day Farm. We absolutely love that place and can spend all day exploring and playing. A ton of homeschool friends joined us for a full day.

High

Thankfully we have reached the point in the year where we can slow down the lessons to allow for travel and activities.

Low

Arthur hasn’t gotten to all the literature pieces that I had hoped for this year. Not a huge deal as we will just continue, but I think I need to recalibrate for next year’s plans.

Next Week

• We are currently in Indiana and not covering any big lessons. We brought a bag of work to complete and will just fit it in here and there.

Next up on the TBR pile: