For What It's Worth

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Spring - to read - or not to read...this is the question

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:47:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. Participation is optional and never required.

Question: Which books are you looking forward to reading this spring?

Answer: I am HORRIBLE at planning my reads. I'm a mood reader and haven't been reading much at all. However, I seem *whispers* to be reading more lately. So, instead of trying to predict which books I'll read, I figured I would spotlight the audiobooks I've downloaded from libro.fm and their ALC program (advance listening copy).

Have you read or are interested in any of these? I've read E. Lockhart and Tiffany D. Jackson before and I've seen the Matt Dinniman series everywhere (I have the first book of the series on Kindle). The rest are just shots int he dark. I'm usually all over the place with genre when it comes to audiobooks.

What's on you spring reading list?

Hellooooooooo

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:08:00 +0000

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

This is a pic of a potato from our local farmers market and seemed appropriate for the upcoming holiday. I see a heart - Kevin sees bunny ears and a few Instagram followers saw...something else lol

What do you see?

Long time no blog!

I've been away for a LONG time! My last post was July 2025 when I did a mid-year update for my audiobook challenge.

So what have I been up to? Does anyone care? Is anyone still reading this or any blogs? I went through my blog roll and deleted another 5 blogs that no longer post or have officially quit. I'm still holding hope out for Greg You still out there Greg - or does anyone know how he is?

Anyhoo...

Reading: It's still a bit of a slog but more than I expected for 2025. I read a total of 25 books (you can check out what books here) Almost all were on audio. I still can't multitask while listening but I also can't sit still to read anymore so it works lol Genre wise - I'm ALL over the place.

Life: Things are moving along. If you recall, we bought a camper van last year and have been traveling around the PNW for long weekends. My plan was to sort of abandon this blog and start a new travel one. I did start the other one but abandoned both. As is my way lol

The adventures have been a balm to my soul though. Just getting away from the internet, life drama and go out in nature has been one of the best things we've done. We belong to a program called Harvest Hosts where you stay at places like farms, breweries, wineries for one night free. We do that instead of RV parks and we've met really incredible hosts with such interesting stories. I'll have to tell a few some time but it re-centers me every time we go on one of these trips. And the dogs love it! I think they think the van is a giant crate and we are now a pack lol

Blogging: The blog turned 16!!!! this past December. A huge accomplishment, even if it's not what it used to be or isn't as active, No matter how bored/irritated/insert adjective I get with it - I always end up missing it and wanting to come back. So that's something.

Going forward: I'm clearly horrible about planning anything for this blog. I don't read much, don't have any interest in writing formal reviews anymore. I post a lot about my life on IG, so it feels weird to repeat it here to an even smaller audience but again...I miss it so I think I'm going to start posting small snippets of stuff. Maybe what I'm reading or what I just finished reading, a show I'm watching or pics from a trip I just took.

If you are so inclined, stop by and read/comment. I do try to visit all of you when I can but it's, admittedly, much less than I used to - but I have missed you all.

Tell me - what have you all been up to? Any blogs that you would recommend to build up my follow list again? It can be for books, hobbies, travel - anything that sounds interesting!

2025 Audiobook Challenge Mid-Year Check-In

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:19:00 +0000

It’s the half-way mark for 2025 and time to check in on our Audiobook Challenge. This event is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. Are you on target? Perhaps you are ahead or fear all is lost? Check-in and be sure to enter the mid-year giveaway.

Just a refresher on 2025 Achievement Levels.

Achievement Levels

- Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5

- Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10

- Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15

- Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20

- Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30

- My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+

- Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+

- Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+

- The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+

- I Can’t Hear You (earbuds always in) 125-150

Audibly Addicted (listening to all the books 24/7) 150+

It's been a minute (actually, since May 7th) since I've last posted, but here I am, managing to post an update to my audiobook challange - which I'm acutally doing pretty well with!

I've listened to 12 books (2 - The Usual Mayhem is a DNF - too silly for me & The Glass Girl - DNFFN - good but not in the mood for this one atm).

I was aiming for Weekend Warrior but I have made it to Stenogropher level. Even though I really can't multitask while listening lol & it looks like I might make it to Socially Awkward (now that's me!).

The rest have all been winners. I wish I was in the mood to write reviews because there were a few here that I really loved and would want to say more about but...alas - I am being a summer slug lol Maybe one day the urge will hit.

Topic detour while you're here.....

So, I have a little bit of blog-ish news. Kevin and I bought a travel van and plan on taking extended/long weekend type trips with the dogs and I started a blog to post pics, talk about my travels.

I feel - and have felt this for a long time - like I've outgrown FWIW and book blogging and want to start something completely new. I have the domain and all that but haven't set anything up yet but I will keep you all posted, if you are interested at all in following along. I will still talk books sometimes. Probably a wrap-up once a month.

I do have an IG account set up - @shamble_on (a nod to Kevin's love of Led Zepplin: Ramble On & zombies: shamblers IYKYK) and hope to start posting soon. Our first overnight will be at an alpaca farm lol

I hope you are all having a good summer!

Spring has sprung!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:41:00 +0000

My posting groove took a nosedive again. Oops lol

Spring has finally sprung and I have been out and about with dogs and gardening. This is my favorite time of year and I try to absorb all the good sunshine vibes while I can.

So what have I been up to? So glad you asked!

We saved a bee - well, Ripley saved a bee (or she found it and we provided food and shelter for it's recovery). It was on our living room carpet, slowly crawling across when Ripley found it. I don't know why but she likes bees lol We have a very docile species out here called Mason Bees and she is always investigating them and there she was - worrying over this little bee. (which is funny because she's normally an evil little dog lol). We took it outside and placed it on the only thing blooming at the time - our rosemary - and waited for pollen and sunshine to do it's thing. It did seem to revive and start feeding in the morning, so hopefully it went on it's merry way.

We had the best sundaes at a place called Sugarpine Drive-in. It's out in the Gorge area of Oregon and they have great food but their monthly rotating sundaes are next level.

I had the Coffee and Baklava - vanilla soft serve with Arabic coffee caramel, cinnamon-toasted filo crisps, crushed walnuts, pistachio, cocoa nib, whipped Arabic coffee cream.

Kevin had the Strawberry Ridge - a mix of strawberry/almond soft serve, lemon ricotta shortbread bites, basil whips.

And I spotted these little goslings on our morning walk through the park.

I've also been reading more! These were my April reads. I reviewed the Princess Swap on the blog a few weeks ago and hope to get reviews written for the others as well. I really enjoyed them all!

That's all for now because - still feeling lazy (about blogging) lol But I was hoping if I got something up it might motivate me.

Let me know what you've been up to in the comments!

Cinderella and the Beast, (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper), The Princess Swap #1 by Kim Bussing

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:15:00 +0000

What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast's castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother's home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don't miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)! ~ Goodreads

Source: Book provided by the publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers, in exchange for an honest review

Review: This is the first book I've accepted for review in over a year and I'm so glad I did! It was the lighthearted, adventure filled tale with heart that I needed.

The plot is right there in the series title, The Princess Swap, so I won't go too much into that - but think Freaky Friday meets Disney princesses. I'm also assuming that most of you know the basics of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

This is more of a "riff" on the originals rather than a direct retelling - even with the swap - the princesses don't have the exact experience of the original.

The core of each princess is the same but several details are changed. Without getting into too many spoilers - (Cinder)Ella already knows, and is friends with, the prince and the ball is now an event for the whole village to compete in for a royal favor - rather than snagging a prince. And another ball - closer to the original Cinderella ball is to take place with the beast - for reasons. There is (hinted - sapphic) LGBQT rep and Ella has a glass leg that causes her some pain.

Cinderella and the Beast, (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) plays liberally with the origin stories and the Disney retellings with it's own modern spin. The blending and blurring might annoy some purists but I found it to be a lot of fun and was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists the story took.

I've always preferred Belle over Cinderella but in this one, it was Ella (& the beast) who had the more complex (& surprising) story that really pulled me in and tugged at my heartstrings. But Belle still has her whip-smart, resourceful thinking in tact and has quite an adventure as well.

The way the two girls stories overlap and resolve was great. This book ages the princess down to 12 years old, so this is meant for younger readers. The romance is minimal, if at all. This tale is more about resourceful thinking, being brave, and forgiveness than the sole quest to get a kiss or be married.

So much fun! Books #2 - Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs) and #3 Rapunzel and the Sea Witch (or, The Little Mermaid and the Tower) sound fun too.

Review: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:31:00 +0000

Two young lovers. Sixty long years. One bookish mystery worth solving.

Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at the local flea market. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her—only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, the curmudgeon next door.

When she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door—who only now has begun to open his home and heart to Chloe and her siblings?

In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her grouchy old neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places. ~goodreads

Review: I've been a huge fan of this author for a long time (going back to her small pub/Tamara Morgan years) but this series has really struck a chord with me. Pure comfort reading! I'm so sad when I get to the end.

Although not officially a named series, they (2 books so far, another on the way in 26') are loosely called the "book club books" and center on a grumpy old man, a young girl at a crossroads, found family and a touch of romance, all connected through literature in some way.

I adored The Lonely Hearts Book Club and looked forward to the this one but was a little apprehensive because it sounded so similar to Lonely Hearts. While the bones of the story are similar (there's even a literary shoutout to Lonely Hearts curmudgeonly hero Arthur McLachlan) The Library of Borrowed Hearts stands entirely on it's own.

Librarian Chloe Sampson is barely holding things down after abandoning her own dreams to raise her 3 siblings after their mother left them. Her sister is angry, one brother likes to blow things up with his science experiments, and the youngest, Noodle, worries her with his sweet but unique personality that keeps him a target of bullies. Then there's her crotchety old neighbor, Jasper, who yells at the kids and keeps any toys that may land in his yard. Which happens often with Noodle when he plays outside with the dog.

At work, Chloe is charged with clearing out the old books at her job which leads her to find a rare edition of Tropic of Cancer. Finding the book is an unexpected potential windfall if she can sell it at a good price.

Chloe finds writing in the margins of the book. The notes, from the 60's, are between two star-crossed lovers. She's so intrigued by the back and forth between the pair and invested in their ending that she follows the clues to the next books in something of a book-ish scavenger hunt to solve the mystery of who the couple was and how it all ended.

Then Jasper shows a surprising interest in the book - even offering her a blank check in exchange for it, setting in motion a possible (grudging) friendship, new love and the healing of old wounds.

The story follows dual timelines and POV's - the couple from the 60's throughout their tumultuous affair and the present day where Chloe's struggle to let people into her life and see a future of new possibilities and happiness.

As always Gilmore weaves together an eclectic cast of characters. I felt this book was a bit darker than The Lonely Hearts Book Club, in some ways. With Chloe's mothers abandonment - how it hurt each of the kids in different ways and how they reached closure with that. The 60's timeline romance where certain things just weren't accepted - choices were made - resulting in painful consequences that reverberated for decades.

Ultimately though, the found family, connections, forgiveness and healing through books makes this one another heartwarming, must read by Gilmore. I highly recommend the audiobook Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, Bob Ball.

These books get the rare 5 star rating. It's not that they are perfect but that they leave me with such happy feelings and I could stay in that world, with these people long after the story ends.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: {Genre} Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:36:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: What is your genre of choice? Has it changed recently?

Answer: I am ALL over the place these days!

Honestly, I was never a big reader until I started this blog. I made a resolution to read one book a month and it was mostly travelogue/food memoire type stuff - like Anthony Bourdain, Under the Tuscan Sun. I had read some horror - mostly Stephen King in HS.

When I started the blog I was in my PNR Era - vampires/weres etc. Then I flipped to all YA, then romance/romcom's. I burned out on all of them at a certain point (all reading really) and now my reading is so eclectic and random, I have no idea what I'll pick up at any given moment.

I guess I'm more into literary fiction atm, mostly because that's what's offered on libro.fm - where I get my audiobook arc's. I've read a few romances lately, a mid-grade, I just finished a very dark memoir, and I'm currently reading a light YA. Just whatever hits me at any given moment.

I think my days of binge reading a specific genre to death are over but I'm kind of happy to be reading outside my comfort zone and reading at all!!

What is your genre of choice and has it changed over time?

Tell Me Something Tuesday (on a Thursday): I can't get no (blog) satisfaction

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: Are you satisfied with your blog?

Answer: Ehhh, I've put so little effort into it over the past few years that I can't really be disappointed that it not only hasn't grown but has drifted into oblivion lol

It's fine though because I don't have the same drive and expectations that I did when I started.

Right now, the world is on fire and I just want moments of escape and to chat with people I've now *known* for years and on that front - I am satisfied!

Reading update...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

I haven't been reading consistently for so long that these posts didn't seem worth doing, but I seem to have hit a groove. Nowhere near my previous reading highs - but I'm always reading something now, so yay!

READ:

Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore ~ Goodreads I hope to write a full review for this one soon but I ADORED it!!

Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden ~ Goodreads This was a 3-ish star read. I really disliked the narrator but the couple and small town vibes/modern twist on cosy romance was cute. Some drama but mostly low key. (short goodreads review here)

The Girl From Earth's End by Tara Dairman ~ Goodreads I always enjoy Dairman's mid-grade stories and I appreciate how much research she puts into them. This was a (bitter) sweet one with a lot of inclusivity - LGBQT and disability rep which is hard to find in MG. Another book I hope to write a longer review for soon but I loved it.

READING:

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy ~ Goodreads As the title implies, this isn't going to be a light fluffy read, but this memoir has been on my list since I missed the window to get the ALC on libro.fm. My library hold just came in and it's only a 6-ish hour audiobook.

Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) The Princess Swap Book #1 by Kim Bussing ~ Goodreads This is the first book I've gotten from a publisher in years! It's light and fluffy and just what I need some days. The swapped princesses' are a little disconcerting at first lol but it's cute.

READING STUFF:

With my resurgent reading, I've also felt like reviewing and maybe dabbling back into requesting books. Not to the point of getting overwhelmed again though!

I updated my Netgalley profile since I haven't even looked on there in several years. I guess they have their own reader now, so I'll have to see what that's all about. If I even get approved for anything after all this time. My ratio is still holding at a statistically impossibly 102 % lol

I'm also checking out Storygraph. I already had an account but haven't really looked or used it. I don't really care about stats. I just like to record what I've read for reference. so I would stick with the free version. Does anyone use them? Have any tips?

I am able to get a reciprocal library card with the nearby larger city. I already have the basic access which gives me Libby and Hoopla but I'm going in to show proof of address to get full access. They have a lot of services, events and online resources. I'm excited!

And.....I've already reached my Goodreads Reading Goal - only 12 books (I set it low) but that's more reading I've done at this point in a really long time.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Have you met any bookish/blogging friends in person?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:15:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

I'm a few days late but here's this weeks TMST!

Question: Have you met any bookish/blogging friends in person?

Answer: Yes! I've been lucky enough to be able to attend several book cons and meet dozens of my blogger friends in person. Most were just a quick hi - so that's what you look like lol but I have remained good friends with several people.

I've mentioned my weekly virtual movie date and that's with a blogger I met at BEA. I've only really met her twice & just waiting in lines but we've remained good friends for years now.

There are several more, that mostly have quit blogging, but we still stay in touch even though I don't see anyone now that I've moved out West. There aren't a lot of book conferences anymore either.

Have you ever met any bookish/blogging friends in real life?

Review: James by Percival Everett

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:32:00 +0000

A brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and satirical—told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with nuanced humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature. ~ Goodreads

Source: ALC provided by Libro.fm & Knopf Doubleday in exchange for an honest review

Review: I'm sure I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn back in school but I have no recollection of the story, other than than scenes from the 1993 movie. In my child memory - it was just a story about a series of adventures of a young boy. Percival Everett, flips that narrative on it's head by telling the story from the POV of the enslaved Jim (James).

Jim hears that he is about to be sold to a new owner and be separated from his wife and daughter. He decides to run away and lay low while he formulates a plan to get himself out of this and reunite with his family.

At the same time, Huck fakes his own death to escape his abusive father. Huck has a friendship, of sorts, with Jim and they venture on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River to avoid capture.

I'll just touch on a few things I took note of with this novel. For one, Huck sees this trip as an adventure, not understanding the implications for Jim.

Huck has certainly been through bad things and, even at 10 years old, understands that Jim is good and slavery is wrong, but just being a runaway slave at the same time as Huck's "death" puts Jim in extreme danger, as the likely murderer. Being found with Huck would present its own problems. While Huck might get a whipping (awful!), Jim would be hanged.

There are times that a young Huck acts out towards Jim, as a 10 year old would, when he feels betrayed or lied to, or just isn't allowed the adventures he wants. These are life-saving acts of preservation for Jim but the actions of petulant child, without greater understanding by Huck.

Secondly, Jim engages in code-switching for white people. He is well educated (self taught by reading most of his enslavers expansive library) and is able to write but this is something he only shares with certain people. Not even Huck. While educating a group of enslaved children, he explains why it's vital to use incorrect grammar or what he calls the "slave filter" language rather than letting the slave owners know they were educated.

"The children said together, “And the better they feel, the safer we are.”
“February, translate that.”
“Da mo’ betta dey feels, da mo’ safer we be.”
“Nice.”

The mere idea of slaves that can become educated, teach other slaves, making the enslavers feel less than superior was a huge threat. Education was an act of defiance.

Finally, there was an instance where Jim was sold to a Minstrel Show - a troupe of singers in blackface. They needed a tenor and the owner hears Jim singing (while under the brutality of yet another enslaver he meets on his "adventure"). The troupe is very proud of themselves as "good" white people. They don't believe in slavery but aren't abolitionists and use the paper saying they own Jim to their benefit. They put Jim in better clothes and feed him so they are able to believe they are the good guys. But this is the most farcical situation of them all.

Jim, a Black man, in blackface, singing with white men in blackface to make fun of Black people, for the entertainment of white people. While the cover of the troupe might seem safer, his natural hair and mannerisms attract the curiosity of white people. How is he SO good at playing Black? They want to touch his hair to see why his "wig" is so much better than the other singers, a woman shows interest which all poses danger for Jim.

The owner of the minstrel show also sees an opportunity to keep re-selling Jim. In this scheme, Jim is supposed to keep running away and go back just to be sold again - as a way to make enough money for his owner and to earn enough for himself to free his wife and daughter. Provided the owner would set him free and give him the money. The gist of this experience and every other that Jim endures is - he's never truly free.

James is a powerful, layered story filled with adventure, danger, betrayal, and a few twists. The story is scattered with songs from the minstrel show - which added a lot of depth as Jim takes the versions sung by the white people - used to mock - and tries to write a more honest version.

There were a few things that didn't quite work for me like the hallucinations where Jim had fevered, philosophical conversations with Voltaire and John Locke. I also felt the female characters didn't have anywhere near the same nuance and agency that Jim did. They were mostly someone's wife or daughter and raped/killed, although none of it was gratuitous and it was clear that this was all horrible and an everyday part of slavery.

I understand that a book can't be all things to all people. This was one experience of one man, so I get it, but it felt like a glaring omission in opposition to how well Jim and some of the other, male, side characters were developed.

The book drifts from horrific to light to mundane. Sometimes that seemed off as far as pacing. While I originally felt this was a flaw, in retrospect, it felt more like the weariness and wearing down of Jim throughout the story. There were no reprieves or moments where he could let his guard down, but you grab on to those small moments of quiet or good when you can before the next blow.

I highly recommend the audiobook if you decide to read James. The narrator - Dominic Hoffman was amazing.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Leaving My Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:59:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: Have you ever ventured outside your comfort zone and ended up having a good time?

Answer: Not really but also kind of? lol

I'm an intensely shy/introvert person with lots of phobias. 99% of life is outside my comfort zone. I hit a point (after losing Fonzi) where it was developing into a bit of OCD (in addition to panic attacks) and sought therapy. I'm not going to get into the whole thing here - but a quick take is that science shows that your brain treats a level 2 threat as a 5 alarm fire and exposure therapy can help retrain the brain to see threats more clearly and respond more appropriately. I try to push myself to do things that are outside my comfort zone more now and it has helped butit's still a struggle at times.

Pre therapy - but blogging has been an ENORMOUS help to me. Creating a blog and putting myself out there is way beyond my comfort zone and it's turned out to be wonderful for me. I'm terrified of flying, yet a flew to NYC for book cons, I've talked to total strangers like publishers & authors where you have to sell yourself, met other bloggers in person, designed things for my blog. Just ALL very scary for me.

Since moving to the PNW, I've been pushing myself to tackle my fear of height's - everything fun seems to be near some kind of cliff out here lol I try to make myself have conversations while I'm out and about - but I'm still awkward as hell ha!

I did a cave hike, which scared the shit out of me but I did enjoy that one. Kevin got me a headlamp and was always willing to turn around. Plus it never closed in on me (also claustrophobic). I'm actually really proud of myself for that one!

Now, do I have fun doing it though?? Not really. I tend to do better when it's still controlled in some way. Like when I went to book cons, I was fine in the crowd but could not handle smaller gatherings, like publisher events where you need to talk in small groups. I'm much better getting lost in the crowd or one on one. And do I like to fly now? Hell no! Still terrified.

I love the top of the mountains and the views once I get there, but I'm still white knuckling it the whole drive. But I kind of hate the idea that Kevin has to live a smaller life because I'm afraid to do things. He's not afraid of anything lol

I try to find a balance now. I look for places/drives/hikes that challenge me but aren't on THE EDGE or have railings so I at least have a sense of balance (most places have no railings or safety measures out here).

I just do my best!

Because this is a bookish feature though - I'll add that going outside my comfort zone with books has been successful! Especially this past year when I've veered more to audiobooks. I have found that format matters a lot ot me for certain genres so I'm able to mix it up more and venture beyond my reading comfort zone with great results.

Welp, that was more than you needed/wanted to know about me lol

Do you venture outside your comfort zone? And has anything good come from it?

Tell Me Something Tuesday: 3 Things I Never Get Tired of Doing

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: What are 3 things you never get tired of doing?

Answer: I know you expect me to say reading but I DO get sick of reading lol so here are my 3 things that I never get tired of doing.

Drumroll please.....

1. Gardening - Gardening is my happy place. I love looking at, buying and planting flowers, weeding - the whole thing. It calms me.

2. Eating - I've always liked eating lol but, since moving to the PNW, I've taken it to new levels. There are just SO many wonderful places to eat out here!

Most are small, locally based, use seasonal & local ingredients - with owners that support each other and the local communities. It's so rare these days to be able to walk through a neighborhood and just find a local pizza spot or a wood fire pit down an alley way.

The variety is AMZING too. We have every type of food out here from Ethiopian, Sri Lankan, Indigenous, Greek, French, Italian, to Russian, all varieties of Asian and fusion - you name it - I bet we have it. Dozens of pizza and ice cream places - all with their own unique spin.

3. Hanging with my dogs - I'm a dog mom. It's, like, who I am. Part of my identity lol When I lost Fonzi a few years back and didn't have a dog for months I was completely lost. I hated going for walks. I felt like I had no reason to wake up. I would go to bed crazy early. I hated it. I need a dog in my life. They get me moving and out and about to enjoy life. Everything is better when I'm doing it with Kai & Ripley.

(Of course, Kevin gets an honorable mention here haha! I need him too 😂)

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Spring Reading Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:23:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: Which books are you looking forward to reading this spring?

Answer: I have no idea what (or if) I'll be reading in spring but all of these books are recent purchases from my local bookstores & one review book - that I hope to read in my lifetime lol.

North Woods by Daniel Mason - Goodreads Bargain cart 50% off buy

"A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries"

Summer in the City of Roses by Michelle Ruiz Keil Goodreads I found this one at the airport section of local authors. The story is based in Portland, Oregon (near me)

"Inspired by the Greek myth of Iphigenia and the Grimm fairy tale “Brother and Sister,” Michelle Ruiz Keil’s second novel follows two siblings torn apart and struggling to find each other in early ’90s Portland."

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle - Goodreads I've heard so much about Chuck Tingle but I thought they wrote silly, parody type books, until I saw this one. I've heard that it's sci-fi/horror but I guess I'll see.

"From Chuck Tingle, author of the USA Today bestselling Camp Damascus, comes a new heart-pounding story about what it takes to succeed in a world that wants you dead."

Cinderella and the Beast (Princess Swap #1) by Kim Bussing - Goodreads I haven't accepted a book for review for over a year now but this looked light, fun and maybe just what my reader brain needs at the moment.

"What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast's castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother's home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!"

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by T.J. Klune - Goodreads I love this series. I read the first on audio and I think I'll do the same with this but the book is gorgeous with it's sprayed edges so I bought it anyway.

"Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade."

This delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham - Goodreads Another bargain cart buy. Sounds gory but funny.

"Four best friends, one music festival, and a cooler filled with human organs: this summer is about to get gory."

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates - Goodreads Welp, you can't say this list isn't eclectic! A little non-fiction thrown in for good measure.

"Ta-Nehisi Coates originally set off to write a book about writing, in the tradition of Orwell’s classic Politics and the English Language, but found himself grappling with deeper questions about how our stories—our reporting and imaginative narratives and mythmaking—expose and distort our realities."

What are your plans for spring reads? Have you read any of the books I've included on my list?

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do you like to cook or bake?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: Do you like to cook or bake? What is your favorite thing to make?

Answer: Like is a strong word. I don't enjoy cooking or baking yet I love looking for recipes, reading cookbooks and the idea of replicating them.

I make a complete mess of my kitchen when I cook - especially when I bake - and the results are usually 50/50 good/bad. I get very stressed and it's not relaxing to me, so I have no idea why I do it lol

I'm not a patient person and I give up on things easily so I think it's some sort of therapeutic device to teach me those lessons.

Things I love to make (& come out good!) though are Chicken and dumplings, butternut squash soup in the Instant Pot. Those two are my winter go-to's. I also make a great grilled cheese using a few tricks I've learned out here and roasted salmon.

I do enjoy baking sourdough bread. I have a King Arthur no-knead recipe that I use all the time. It's easy and comes out perfect every time.

I'm really horrible at things like cupcakes, cake, cookies and brownies and pie crust.

Do you like to cook or bake? DO you have any favorite recipes I should check out?

Reviews: We Came to Welcome You by Vincent Tirado & This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Since it seems like I'm actually/for real back(ish), I thought I would go back and review a few books I started in 2024 but finished in January of this year.

Neither were WOW books - but it will clear them out of my reader brain & keep up my posting momentum lol

The Other Black Girl meets Midsommar in this spine-chilling, propulsive psychological adult debut from highly acclaimed author Vincent Tirado, in which a married couple moves into a gated “community” that slowly creeps into a pervasive dread akin to the social horror of Jordan Peele and Lovecraft County—We Came to Welcome You cleverly uses the uncanny to illuminate the cultish, shocking nature of systemic racism.

Where beauty lies, secrets are held…ugly ones. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Sol and her wife, Alice are accepted into a gated community called Maneless Grove - thanks to a recommendation from Alice's co-worker, who also lives in the exclusive community.

Sol is on leave from work because of a plagiarism accusation and tensions are thick between her and Alice due to her drinking and keeping Alice at arms length, including not letting Alice join her on visits to her aging, bigoted, father at the nursing home.

We Came to Welcome You touches on a lot of subjects including racism, microaggressions, white washing, assimilation, PTSD from child abuse, alcoholism and just plain old WTF-ery from the Maneless Grove home owners association. They were told that they weren't required to join but it's clear - you need to join. Or else, lol

Without spoiling too much, the community has a Stepford Wives like grip on the residents and Sol and Alice's resistance to joining has consequences. The more they resist, the more something messes with Sol & Alice's minds and relationship.

This book is sufficiently creepy & keeps upping the stakes but ultimately falls flat with an ending that doesn't live up to the tension the author spent so long creating. Tirado wades into interesting waters but never fully immerses herself and the ending felt like, to me, and easy way out with more telling than showing.

Decent read but but the ending didn't fulfill the premise. I read a similar YA story, The Honeys by Ryan Las Sala, and that one really delivered on the ending in a way that I wish this one did.

And oh - DO NOT sign a homeowners agreement or move into a community without looking a it FIRST lol

The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation in this cozy quest romantasy about a group of friends who once defended their magical land together but haven’t spoken since, reuniting to attend a royal wedding, and ending up on a new adventure to save the realm—and hopefully themselves. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Pardon my brief rant...

Marketing matters. You cannot promote a book as The Princess Bride, "cosy quest" - title it This Will Be FUN, then deliver something entirely different and then be surprised when readers, looking for those every elements, don't like it because this is a totally different book than how it's pitched.

This Will Be Fun is the story of after the heroes save the realm and their lives have gone to shit. The legend of the four lives on in Mythria but the four (minus their now deceased leader, Galdwell) haven't even spoken in a decade.

When they are summoned by the Queen to attend her wedding, they are forced to face each other again. A new threat to the Queen has them banding together once again to save Mythria. Old wounds don't make this an easy task between their trust issues and squabbling over tactics.

Ok, there is adventure - as in they have banded together to save the realm - stuff happens. They are in a small village with "cosy" elements and magic. Silliness and light adventures surround them. But these four are so far up their own asses in self loathing, self pity and old grudges that this book is draining. I thought at some point they have to clear the air and move on right? Nope. They are stuck in this mode until almost the bitter end and that point I didn't really care what happened to them.

So why did I keep reading? I kind of liked the concept of what happens to heroes after they save the day and have to go back to reality. The Four had such different personalities and reactions to what happened and I thought that might be interesting. But really, I stuck around for Vandra - the love interest of Elowyn (one of the Four) and a former adversary/assassin turned ally. She was a ray of light and snark in this story. Otherwise, this was almost 400 pages of wallowing then a completely implausible (yet happy) ending.

If you are looking for a story about processing trauma with a dash of adventure, magic and romance then this might be a good book for you. Just adjust your expectations from the publisher pitch. I also don't recommend the audio version of this one. It's just hours and hours of listening to them whine and it feels so much more intense on audio lol

Review: Lost & Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch #3) by Lyla Sage

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other. From the author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the highly anticipated next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring enemies to lovers and forced proximity.

Teddy Andersen doesn't have a plan. She's never needed one before. She's always been more of a go with the flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn't seem to be going her way this time. Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it's starting to change. Teddy's used to being a leader, but now she feels like she's getting left behind, wondering if the life she lives in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore.

Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn't know what's taking care of his family's 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he slips up, and he has to admit that he can't manage everything on his own. He needs help. His little sister's best friend, the woman he can't stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy's the only option he's got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he'll never find what he needs. Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether or not to act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned? ~ Goodreads

Source: Libro.fm ALC in exchange for an honest review - (audiobook) Narrated by Jason Clarke, Samantha Brentmoor

Review: Once my go-to genre, I have struggled with romance the past few years. Not too many have kept my attention past the first one or two chapters but I saw someone I trust give this one a rave review on Instagram and had it pop up on Libro.fm for review at the same time, and thought I'd give it a go. I'm SO glad I did!

Aside from being off romance the past few years, I really hate romance on audio - yet this one worked for me - even with a growly hero. I usually hate hearing that lol

Gus, the aforementioned growly hero, is drowning under the weight of responsibility. He has his 6 year old daughter, Riley, for the summer, while her mom, Cam is away for work. He runs the family 8000 acre Rebel Blue Ranch and feels the pressure to live up to his dad's legacy as he takes over, while moving the ranch forward to meet modern times.

Gus can't be everywhere at once and he slips up, big time, when he forgets to pick up Riley at an after school practice. His family forms an intervention and proposes a solution in the form of Teddy Anderson - his little sister's best friend and, in the words of Gus, a chaos demon.

Teddy is creative, flirty, bold and yeah - a little chaotic but she's at a crossroads after her best friend, Emmy becomes engaged, she loses her job and she worries about her aging/ailing father.

Gus offers Teddy the job of watching Riley on the days he's working the ranch, which includes staying at their place a few nights a week so she can be with Riley first thing in the morning.

To say these two are oil and water would be an understatement. Where Teddy is spontaneous and flirty - Gus is measured and controlled. They have fought for years & most of their friends and family - despite suggesting this arrangement in the first place - aren't sure they won't kill each other lol

Hate to lovers is my favorite trope and this one was done so well! They truly don't like each other but slowly come to understand how similar they are. They love big, often sacrificing their own dreams and happiness and neither asks for or accepts help easily.

There is conflict, but this is, thankfully, pretty low drama. While it starts as hate - it's more of gentle needling on Teddy's part and grumpy grunts from Gus. Neither is actually cruel - they just don't like each other and that's fine. But over time, they start to see the burden the other carries and step up to share some of the load.

I love how once they got past the - oh shit - I actually like this person stage - they never really pulled back. They kept being there for each other and admitted when they were confused or scared. There's also no drama when it comes to Cam, Riley's mom, and I adored that!

I have not read the first two books in the series but that wasn't necessary - other than missing some of the bonds they share - like Emmy and Teddy's friendship. Emmy came off as selfish to me despite being told they were best friends. I'm sure I would have had better context had I read Emmy's book first.

Another highlight of Lost & Lassoed was Teddy and her dad's relationship. It's just been the two of them and he has a few health scares that rock Teddy and, as someone who mostly grew up with just my dad, I got that.

My minor, reader specific nitpick, is the there's a lot of dirty talk for the sex scenes. I'm not a prude, I like a good sex scene lol but I'm, personally, not a fan of explicit dirty talk - but to each their own. I also didn't love the from out of nowhere nickname - Teddy Baby.

All the love for this one and bonus points for an illustrated cover that doesn't blend into the sea of illustrated covers! It's unique and fits the story perfectly.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: My least favorite thing about winter.

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: What is your least favorite thing about winter?

If you are not familiar with PNW winters - they are rainy. So. Much. Rain. All day. All night. All day the next day. For days. Into months. It's cloudy and gloomy and drippy and seemingly never-ending. The weather people run out of ways to describe rain. It gets dark early in the afternoon and stays dark well past sunrise.

It typically starts late October and, even though we've had one or two early springs, it usually lasts until May-ish.

I hate it and it drags me down. Kevin has tried changing all the bulbs to daylight bulbs in the house for the winter, using one of those winter lights but nope. I just get SO mopey. My personality flips like a switch with the teeniest touch of sunshine lol

I love gardening, flowers and just generally being outside here. The summers are spectacular. Mild temps, no bugs, no humidity, lots of flowers. I love it and I mentally shut down without it.

I'm really making an effort to do better with it this year. Kevin and I have started going walking with the dogs, even if it's not perfect weather.

I added a lot of indoor plants to my (redecorated/brighter) office and that REALLY helps me. (shout out to Ethan who told me about coffee grounds to save my dying plants lol) I've added more since this picture and there's a big Monstera in the corner. The light hits the plants in such a pretty way, even in winter.

We found a year round farmers market in Portland, OR and, if you know me, it's all about plants and food (& dogs lol) and that's been a huge mood boost having that every Saturday. Bonus for it being near Powell's Bookstore.

We're also going to try to go see a few old movies. We have several small indie theaters that have older movie programs in the winter. Even silent films with live orchestras.

I'm taking up a few hobbies too. I'm learning Chinese on Duolingo. We have a large Asian population out here, including botanical gardens, restaurants, and grocery stores & I thought would be nice to know what I'm looking at lol

I got an embroidery kit to learn the stitches. Not because I want to embroider but because I wanted to try the Japanese art of mending: Shashiko. You basically mend, say, the your hole in your jeans with a patch - but then add a pretty/colorful stitch or pattern to reinforce it. I have no idea how long I'll stick to this hobby lol but I have a hole in my jeans and had this great idea to to fix it using the shashiko technique.

And, of course, I bake!

What are your least favorite things about winter?

Review: The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan.

Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past.

Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning. ~ Goodreads

Source: ALC in exchange for an honest review via Libo.fm

REVIEW: A review!!!! Do I still know how to do this??? lol I picked a tough one too. The summary doesn't give too much away and I don't want to either so, proceed with caution if you hate spoilers. I will stay vague about details but will reveal more than the synopsis above.

Grace, a retired math teacher, in her 70's, inherits a home on the island of Ibiza. After losing her son in a bike accident, then later, her husband, she's drowning in decades of guilt and grief and curious as to why a casual friend, Christina, whom she hasn't seen in decades, would leave a run down house to her. With absolutely no attachments and nothing to lose, she travels to Ibiza for answers.

Instead, she unravels mysteries of the universe itself in the deep waters off the Mediterranean coast.

There are legends about the water surrounding Ibiza. "Gifts" that are imparted upon certain people that enter the water. Grace becomes one of the recipients of those gifts. I won't say what they are, but I will say it gives her a heightened awareness of both the beauty of and danger to the environment and people surrounding her.

Grace is a perfect, skeptical, foil for this touch of supernatural. She's stubborn, set in her ways, and guilt has made Grace deem herself unworthy of happiness, never mind gifts of such magnitude and responsibility. As a math teacher, everything must be mathematically proven and represent patterns and this is certainly beyond that scope.

The Life Impossible is about many things - human interactions that send seemingly random ripples of interconnectedness for generations, deep grief and guilt that stop you from living a full life and the beauty and possibilities of the world around us.

There are a quirky set of characters, an island rich with history, beauty, magic, danger and mystery. It could be, in turns, funny, gut wrenching, heartwarming and action packed - yet - something about it didn't really pack the punch the author was going for.

So much of what was going on with Grace could have been even more magical but mostly happened within her inner monologue, as she worked through everything as if it was a math problem. Not dry, because Grace is a fascinating character, but not as impactful.

For example SPOILER -> she could hear the thoughts of animals, feel the earth in ways no one else can but that was rarely seen in action (although she does use these gifts in big ways) - just her in awe that she COULD do it and what that means for her <- END SPOILER

I wouldn't say everything was tell and not shown but so much was about Grace coming to terms with her past and how her new found gift impacted that. I loved that for what it was - but then it missed the mark as a transformative LIFE IMPOSSIBLE feeling, if that makes sense. I understand how Haig needed both the magical & logical to spur the Grace's healing. Both - independently were wonderful - but they didn't always flow seamlessly together.

This would be a book for fans of Fredrik Backman or stories about how random people seem to connect and change each others lives. Also, for anyone dealing with guilt, grief, aging. It was refreshing to read about an older woman finding new purpose and doing things that women "her age" shouldn't do - like traveling alone, diving, dancing. She has limitations but you can still find new purpose at any age.

This was a lovely story, beautifully narrated by Joanna Lumley - gentle, life affirming. I'm glad I listened to it but it did miss the mark as a great read - in comparison to a similar book and favorite 2024 read of mine - Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: What is your favorite thing about winter?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: What is your favorite thang about winter?

When I first moved to the PNW from Florida, a nurse told me to find the special things that only happen in winter and look forward to those - like a starbucks drink or food that only comes out winter. That advice really stuck with me and I have found several things that help me, not only tolerate, but enjoy, the winter. Parts of it anyway.

Soup! I love soup and dreary, rainy winter days are perfect for soups. My favorite is my chicken dumpling or my butternut squash but I also love going out for a good bowl of pho. I've been trying a few new recipes this year too.

Sweaters. I love sweaters and I missed being able to wear them in FL, so that's been fun.

Fireplace. We have a fireplace and I love the warmth and glow on cold winter nights.

By far though, I love the winter skies the most. We live in a very hilly area just a few miles from the Columbia River and we get the coolest clouds, mist, and fog just hanging in the air in the mornings. It doesn't matter where I go - for a walk by the water, driving to do errands, just sitting on my couch looking out my window - I'll get a gorgeous view in the morning. Every day - every view is totally different.

This is the Columbia River - just a quick drive from my house and where I take the dogs walking. The clouds hanging low and the mist coming off the water make for the coolest views. Dozens of dead logs float down the river and the small hotel down there has twinkle lights along their trail. It has a slightly creepy vibe but I love it!

The same place at sunset

That just doesn't happen in the summer because the skies are clear everyday and it gets bright early/dark later. We also have the sea lions are arriving now and Bald Eagles that line the trees along the river. Very cool!

What do you all love about winter?

I actually hate winter lol but that topic is next weeks TMST - so I'm saving that rant lol

Better Late Than Never, 2024 Favorite Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

I've been wanting to dabble back in to reviewing but the books from last year feel so far in my past - yet I want to acknowledge a few.

My reading genres were totally different in 2024. I mostly read ALC (advanced listening copy) audiobooks that I received from Libro.fm. They have a monthly, eclectic mix and it helped me read outside my comfort zone.

Favorites were mostly - books that stuck in my mind long after - rather than "enjoyed".

So, here are a few of my 2024 favorite reads with a few thoughts. Keep in mind, I read these many, many months ago so my memories could be a little hazy lol

In no particular order:

Maybe She Will by Gina Andrew ~ Goodreads: This is a gentle, women's fiction/romance, story about an "older" (41 years old - ancient in romance years lol) single mom of a teenage daughter and autistic son. She's stretched thin between parenting, advocating for her son and just general doing everything on her own.

After a tussle with Gavin, the new school coordinator at her sons school, she realizes that she might be able to let other people in to help, that it's ok to not have all the answers and that she's still sexy and worthy of a full life.

I loved all the characters (even the kids!), the romance and especially Josephine who has seemingly held the weight of the world on her shoulders for so long. Seeing her let go and have FUN and let other people in was wonderful.

Source: Purchased

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent ~ Goodreads Sally is strange. She's lived alone in the woods with her father for years rarely talking to others and when she does she is very literal - very matter of fact. At first, I suspected neurodivergent, but there is a much more sinister reason for Sally's behavior. A secret past that even Sally has been kept int he dark about.

ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGS -> kidnapping, rape, domestic abuse, racism, death, child abuse, captivity - psychological and physical torture <-

This is a deeply disturbing book about nature vs nurture, trauma/PTSD, (in)justice. There is no pretty bow wrapped ending but for some reason I really liked this one. I felt like the author did the topics justice, without sugar coating anything. This isn't an easy read but it is one that stayed with long after finishing. The audiobook is EXCELLENT with narration by Jessica Regan and Stephen Hogan.

Source: libro.fm

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer ~ Goodreads: Another really tough read. Annie is an AI robot, created to be a "cuddle bot" - yes for sex, and to perform basic household chores. But she also has a (small) bit of human emotion and sentience added in to her programming- which makes her pass more as human but also gives her ideas and thoughts. Something her owner, Doug, isn't too fond of.

I had such a visceral reaction to this story at first and had to set it aside several times (in anger) before really settling in with it.

Annie and Doug's relationship was so toxic and abusive (bot or not) and it initially focused mainly on sex - for a reason - since Annie is a Cuddle Bot - but it was just so hard to read. I thought this was gratuitous sex just for titillation but it is very important to the story.

Additionally, I listened to it on audio and hearing Annie's pain, confusion, discomfort, fear, happiness added another level to the book. (excellent narration!). It made me empathize and relate to Annie in a whole other way.

Annie Bot initially is the typical story of an AI growing feelings but as the story goes on it really takes on abusive relationships, technology and agency on multiple levels.

This book had me FUMING lol but I really ended up loving it and highly recommend reading with a friend or book club for venting purposes.

Source: libro.fm

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt ~ Goodreads: Let's end on a happier note lol Remarkably Bright Creatures was such a beautiful story about connections (both missed and made), grief, friendships and family - both blood and found.

And a cantankerous giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus! Marcellus' droll narration and unexpected, sweet, connection to Tova, the older cleaning woman at the aquarium Marcellus is - in his words - "day insert # of my captivity" - was just a delight to read.

Source: libro.fm

That's a wrap of my favorite 2024 reads! Maybe this means I will start reviewing a gain this year.

Have you read any of these? What were your favorite reads of 2024?

Cook the Book: Tiger Bread and Celeriac Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

As I noted in my 2025 Goals Post, I wanted to start making recipes from the dozens of unopened cookbooks I bought last year. I made TWO last week! One - a bit of a failure but the second was DELCIOUS.

Cook the Book Recipe #1

My MIL recommended the King Arthur Big Book of Bread and at first I passed on it because I have several bread books but when I got a look at it, I realized how many unique, global bread recipes there were and grabbed it on sale.

King Arthur is always great at explaining recipes, in detail - this one even has QR codes to videos - and gorgeous photographs.

I started with Tiger Milk Bread because I've made plain milk bread many times without problems. And it's a stunning bread inside:

I was kind of doomed from the start. I exploded my butter in the microwave. Then I was supposed to warm my cocoa powder and milk to set aside - but I threw in the chocolate chips too - that were supposed to added directly to the dough. So...do over there.

Then...and this was the biggie mistake. I was to divide the dough for a plain layer and a chocolate layer. I did that but I proofed (let the dough rise) both layers at the same time. I was supposed to mix in the chocolate then - before proofing.

I thought all was ruined. Very bad words were yelled in my kitchen lol but then I was like F it - can this be saved?? So I punched down the future chocolate layer and tried to mix in the chocolate sauce and chips. It went...okay. It never fully incorporated because the dough was dough had proofed and couldn't anymore. But I figured, it's got some chocolate and it did re-proof a second time, so I plowed on.

It did not get the solid big swirls like it should have because it the chocolate layer was a little too moist from not absorbing all the liquid chocolate. And it wasn't the super soft bread like milk bread should be. (If you haven't had Japanese milk bread before it's very similar to US Wonder bread - very soft and doesn't go stale as fast, using a method called tangzhong - cooking a flour/milk mixture first then adding to dough), but it turned out to be pretty decent bread. More like a good toast bread.

I feel like there's a life lesson in there somewhere - not to give up when things go wrong or let go of perfection or something like that lol

I'm going to give this recipe a 4.5 out of 5. It is a bit more advanced recipe (I would say moderate) but all the mistakes were on me getting flustered. I had read the directions, several times, and watched the video but I'm just a nervous baker lol Having said that - with ALL those screw ups, it still tasted pretty good!

Cook the Book recipe #2

Kevin bought me Seven Spoons by Tara O'Brady for Christmas. It's been on my list because I'm fortunate enough to have year round farmers markets with really rare/unusual local ingredients and this cookbook had, what looked like interesting, ways to use them.

One such ingredient was Celeriac. It's the ugly root ball of celery and tastes a little like a cross between celery and maybe a turnip/parsnip. It's easy to peel and cut up with a large knife even though it looks super intimidating. You can eat it raw or cooked - roasted, pureed. mashed etc.

I chose Celeriac Soup with Green Horseradish Oil. It was an easy recipe - roast the celeriac and garlic (I added carrot), then add to broth, seasonings, parmesan cheese rind an simmer - then blend. She used a potato to thicken but I substituted a can of cannellini beans. Kevin is pre-diabetic and the beans are lower carb and add protein and fiber, making it healthier for him.

I was a little iffy about the horseradish sauce. It's a mix of parsley, oregano, lemon, garlic and horseradish with olive oil. It was STRONG lol but a drizzle over the mellow soup added just the right amount of flavor and was delicious. I also added a dallop or yogurt. This tasted like a restaurant quality soup and I will definitely be making it again and trying more recipes from this book.

Easy, pretty (although sucky pic) and delicious! 5/5

2025 Audiobook Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:37:00 +0000

I usually only participate in the basic Goodreads Challenge (this years goal at 12 books) but I get most of my reading done with audiobooks these days so it seems like a doable challenge for this year.

It's also super laid back. Here are the basics:

The 2025 Audiobook Reading Challenge is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. Choose your level and get those audiobooks ready. JIAM is back for June and we’ll be hosting a special month long challenge. Grab your earbuds, decide on your goals, and sign up below!

Use hashtag #2025AudiobookChallenge on social media to alert others to your listens and progress!

Achievement Levels

Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15
Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+
The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+
I Can’t Hear You (earbuds always in) 125-150
Audibly Addicted ( listening to all the books 24/7) 150+

I'm going to go a little wild and optimistic and shoot for Weekend Warrior. I think I can get in 6-7 for the year. I am really weird in that I can't multi-task while listening, so that limits me to driving. Most books are about 11-ish hours long, so it takes me WEEKS to finish a book at about 1 hour 5 days a week lol

Check out either Caffeinated Reviewer or That's What I'm Talking About for more details if you want to sign up!

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Blogging/Reading Goals for 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: What are your blogging/reading goals for the year?

Answer: Is anyone reading this??? I have not blogged in SIX MONTHS!

I'm not even sure why I'm bothering at this point lol I'm not sure if anyone will visit this post - or if I won't vanish again for another 6 months.

I read 17 books last year and posted 16 times on the blog - not even one of those posts were a review EEK!

Last year was a YEAR. For a lot of reasons - Kevin lost his dad to cancer being one of those things but a lot had been going on. 2025 looks to be rocky as well, with the world and I have some medical tests upcoming but I DO want to try to get back to some type of regular reading and/or blogging. I am not one for resolutions or goals but I am going to try to do some simple things to maybe get me back on track.

1) Read one chapter from a physical book or Kindle and listen one hour to an audiobook - per day.

It doesn't seem like much but my book focus is shot! I do somewhat better with audio because I listen while running errands. But I can't seem to listen while doing anything else so it takes me weeks to finish an audiobook.

My hope is one chapter a day may lead to two - or just get my brain in that reader mode again. If not, one chapter a day will still get a book read, even if it's not very fast.

Oh how the mighty have fallen - I used to easily read one book a day!

2) Blog once a week or even a monthly wrap up if weekly feels like too much.

I have got to find an easier/more spontaneous way to do this. I want to blog but sitting down and formatting pictures/links and all that is not rewarding for me anymore.

I often think to post a picture of what I'm reading or somewhere fun I've been but then I do it on Instagram and figure everyone has already seen it. I don't know...I miss the old days of blogging (Old Lady...I remember in my day when we blogged...lol) and I'm struggling to find a way to do it that's still fun for me. But....I always miss it when I step away for too long.

3) Make 1 recipe from a cookbook I own per week.

Not quite reading - but I probably bought or was given, at least, 20-ish cookbooks last year and I don't think I've made more than 1-2 recipes from them. I keep getting distracted by new Instagram recipes instead lol

Several of the books are written in a way that tell family/cultural stories along with the recipes and I really want to deep dive into them and learn how to cook better now that I live somewhere with amazing ingredients almost year round.

If you are here reading this MUAH!!! Thank you - I missed you! Happy New Year!

What are your reading, blogging or even personal goals for the year?

Or do you do a word or phrase? That's what I usually do but I'm sort of just carrying all my past words forward this year since I think they will be relevant - LAUGH, SIMPLIFY, DISCONNECT lol

Long Time No See....And...A Tell Me Something Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0000

OMG! I haven't blogged since APRIL. I have no idea what's going on with me but I just can't seem to sit myself down to type out a post. I have read a few books and wanted to share a few things but... nope.

Life is lifing lol Good things, bad things, everything in between but we're plugging along. I'm trying to get the through the last day of a heatwave right now. It's been over 100 for 4-5 days now. Although the "cooldown" will still be in upper 80's low 90's.

So maybe this is the first of many posts to come or maybe you won't hear from me again until Christmas. Either way - HI! I miss you and I do try to sporadically visit you all. I'm mostly on IG now, if you would like to chat.

I saw the topic for TMST and thought I would use it to jump in with a new post.

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life and me)

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

Question: Have you kept any hobbies that you started during the pandemic?

Answer: I made two bigger hobby related purchases during the pandemic. A Zojirushi bread machine & a sewing machine. We had to make our own masks after all lol

Out of the two - the bread machine is the clear winner. I didn't use it much during the pandemic but it did lead me to start baking (of all kinds) and make sourdough starter. I mostly use it to knead the bread and I finish baking in the oven. I also use it a lot in the summer to make jams. I absolutely don't regret that purchase. I've gotten more than my moneys worth out of it and it started a hobby that I really enjoy and find relaxing.

The sewing machine...that's another matter. That just sat there for years lol I'm not great at sewing and I don't have a whole lot of patience for measuring, pinning and all that.

I do have it though, so I decided to try to make use of it and fixed a few of Kevin's shirts, made several dish towels (used a bar towel on one side & a soft flannel type fabric with a fun print on the other side). It's a simple square - yet mistakes were made - needles were broken lol, but I'm learning and getting a bit more comfortable. I doubt this will ever be a "hobby" but I no longer regret buying it.

What about you? Did you start any new hobbies during (or after) the pandemic?

And I just want to add that I understand that the pandemic wasn't a "let's start a new hobby" time for many, many people for many reasons - I don't want to make light of that and the measures vulnerable people still need to make now.

Please let me know what you've all been up to and reading!!!!