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Showing posts with label Celesta Rimington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celesta Rimington. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: One-Word Wonders
Today's TTT topic is an interesting one: Top Ten Books That Are Too Good To Review Properly (I Have No Words!). Usually, I have the opposite problem—too many words. The reviews I tend to choke on are for classic books that have been critiqued so many times there's literally nothing new to say about them. Since I don't read that kind very often, I'm going to have to spin the prompt today.
How about a game? Let's see if it's even possible for me to be succinct when writing about books. You up for it? Okay, here's how it's going to go. I'm going to describe the last ten books I've read in just one word. Stop laughing! I can do this. I think. To make it even more challenging, I will try to avoid the adjectives I tend to most overuse in my reviews: engrossing, fascinating, compelling, heart-warming, enjoyable, tense, fun, depressing, entertaining, and taut (my husband always makes fun of me when I describe books as "taut psychological thrillers"). I'm not even going to include a plot summary, although I will link the titles to Goodreads. Will I emerge victorious? Let's see...
But first, be sure to hop over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our hostess some love. If you're feeling listy today, join in the TTT fun!
The Last Ten Books I Read Reviewed In Just One Word
(from most recent to least)
Powerful
---
2. Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington
Triumphant
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3. Madam by Phoebe Wynne
Disturbing
---
4. Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green
Haunting
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5. A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert
Predictable
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6. Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots by Liz Rosenberg
Heart-wrenching
(Is a hyphenated word cheating??)
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7. The Cure For What Ales You by Ellie Alexander
Melodramatic
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8. The Ice House by Monica Sherwood
Underwhelming
---
9. Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Awe-inspiring
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10. Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien
Amusing
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Phew! That wasn't actually as hard as I thought it would be, but it wasn't easy either. I think I'll stick with my usual style from now on. Have you read any of these books? How would YOU describe them in one word? What books have you read that are too good to review? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
I promised my German book blogger friend, Marianne,
I would send her pictures of my "Griswold" Christmas house, but I decided to go ahead and share them with you all as well. Decorating is not my forté (neither is photography, as you can see). Still, I love this time of year and decking my house out with all my favorite things is a fun way to make things feel festive. You'll see several of my collections on display here: nativities (I especially love those designed by Jim Shore), nutcrackers (they're lining the windowsills—I've been collecting them since I first saw The Nutcracker when I was about 10), Santas (Did I mention I'm a Jim Shore fan?), and Department 56 village houses (from their Original Snow Village collection).
My husband's all about the lights, so he festooned the bannisters with glow-y garlands (the strand of leg lamps he strung on one can't be seen from the front door, thank goodness). The lights that hang down from the loft, unfortunately, decided to crap out after he strung them up. Bummer. At any rate, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!
My 13-year-old spent the weekend enthusiastically wrapping presents while I worked on Christmas cards, so those things are done. All I have left to do now is some last-minute gift shopping for our family Secret Santa gift exchange, making homemade doughnuts for the neighbors (my husband and I are getting booster shots on Doughnut Day Eve, so we'll see how we're feeling for this exhausting event—it may get cancelled), getting my dad a birthday gift (our shared birthday is December 22), and shopping for Christmas dinner (ham, homemade rolls, funeral potatoes, etc.). How is your holiday prep going?Amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I'm still working on my goal of reading 200 books this year. I'm six away (really five since I'm halfway through the e-book I'm reading and about the same with the audiobook I'm listening to). This week's TTT prompt—Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR List—asks what's next up on the docket. In addition to those I listed last week, I've got ten more possibilities to share with you. I love these seasonal TBRs, so I'm excited to see what everyone has on their lists today.
Don't forget to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give some love to our gracious hostess, Jana.
Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR List
1. Poison Lilies by Katie Tallo (available May 24, 2022)—This is my current read. Dark August, the first book in the series, was one of my first reads of 2021. I loved it and have been waiting *patiently* for a sequel. Although Poison Lilies doesn't officially come out for a while still, I got an e-ARC from Edelweiss Plus. Huzzah!
Our heroine, Augusta "Gus" Monet, has moved into an old Ottawa apartment complex. She meets her eccentric neighbor, a blind woman who hasn't left the building since the 1950s. When a corpse from the same era is found in a deep pond nearby, Gus's neighbor pays her to investigate the very cold case.
2. Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien (available January 25, 2022)—I'm always up for the newest installment in this fun cozy mystery series, which is one of my very faves. In this one, Lana Lee helps host a speed-dating event. When one of the participant's dates is murdered and she's accused of the crime, she asks Lana to help prove her innocence.
3. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid—I think I'm the only one who hasn't read this buzzy mystery/thriller yet. Good thing I'm an airhead and checked out two copies from the library! Set in the 80s, the novel is about a house party gone horribly wrong. It's getting great reviews, so I'm in.
4. In the Market for Murder by T.E. Kinsey—Cath recommended this fun historical mystery series. I enjoyed the first book, so I'm excited to read the next installment which promises to be just as enjoyable. This time, it's the murder of a local farmer that has Lady Hardcastle and her maid playing Sherlock and Watson.
5. Ghost Ship by Brian Hicks—When I posted about my love for books about maritime disasters, Lark recommended this non-fiction account of the fate of the Mary Celeste. It's going to come due at the library soon, so I need to read it soon. It sounds fascinating!
6. Futureface by Alex Wagner—I'm hoping my quest to become a professional genealogist will take a step forward in 2022, as testing has been stalled for the past couple years by COVID. In the meantime, I always enjoy an intriguing family history/DNA story. This one, about a woman's search for her true identity, sounds like just the ticket.
7. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (available February 1, 2022)—I love Sepetys' historical YA novels, so her newest definitely earns a place here. Set in Communist Romania in 1989, this book features a young man who is forced to become an informer, but uses his unique position to undermine a dangerous government.
8. Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington—I enjoyed this author's debut middle-grade novel. Her newest is about a grieving boy who moves to a strange town in middle-of-nowhere Utah. The residents believe in a "magical entity" that grants wishes. The boy hopes it's true because he really, really needs his wish to come true...
9. The Last Daughter of York by Nicola Cornick—As much as I love historical fiction, I don't tend to read books set before the 19th Century. Still, this dual-timeline novel set in York (which I loved when I visited England a few months ago) sounds like a good one.
10. Stiff by Mary Roach—I've been wanting to read a Roach book for forever, so I finally bought this one. It sounds absolutely fascinating!
There you go, ten books on my Winter TBR list. Have you read any of them? What did you think? What are you planning to read this winter? I'd truly love to know. Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Friday, August 27, 2021
Inside Trading at My Favorite Indie
Here's what I took with me to trade:
These stacks are a combination of books I've received for review and those I purchased with my own money. I do feel a little bit guilty about trading in volumes I got for free, but honestly, I donate a good 85% of my books to the library, so...
Of these 29 books, Changing Hands accepted 14 for a trade-in credit of $67.80. I know the titles they accept depend on a lot of factors like current inventory, demand, sales, time of year, condition of the books, etc., so I'm always intrigued by which titles they take and which they don't. The books they accepted from me (most of which were in new or like new condition) this time were:
- A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins
- The Wish and the Peacock by Wendy S. Swore
- Blink of an Eye by Iris and Roy Johansen
- While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart
- A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan
- The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington
- The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- The Sanitorium by Sarah Pearse
- The Deep by Alma Katsu
- Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
- Coop Knows the Scoop by Taryn Souders
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
- Dreams of Falling by Karen White
Although you can choose to donate the books Changing Hands doesn't take for credit to the store, I always opt to take them to the library instead. I'll be dropping what's left of my pile off there next time I go. If you live locally and you want any of the leftovers, let me know.
What did I get with my newfound book wealth? I thought you'd never ask! Changing Hands sells both new and used books. Since I prefer the latter, I picked up three new books (two are hardcovers) and one used paperback.
- Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos—deVos is a local author, so this YA satire/zombie novel, which came out in June, is signed by her.
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo—This National Book Award winner explores poverty in India. It sounds super sad, but also totally fascinating.
- Thunderstruck by Erik Larson—I'm a new fan of Larson. This 2006 book by the narrative non-fiction master explores the accomplishments of Guglielmo Marconi and the near perfect murder committed by Hawley Crippen.
- Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara—This historical mystery/thriller came out earlier this month. It concerns a family of Japanese-Americans who has just been released from Manzanar and is being resettled in Chicago. The suspicious death of a family member who was sent ahead sends them into a tailspin.
After using my trade-in credit, I paid a total of $12.07 (including taxes) for these four volumes. Since I spent over $10 in real money, I got a punch on my frequent buyer card. Altogether, not too shabby of a trip.
What about you? Do you have a local indie you love? Do they accept books for trade-in? Have you read any of the books I just traded in or bought?
Monday, May 17, 2021
Middle Grade Zoo Adventure a Fun Mash-Up of Genres
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lex has always felt a special connection with Nyah, but when the pachyderm sends her a telepathic message, Lex is puzzled. The elephant seems to be telling her to go outside the zoo, into the woods beyond, to find the answers to the many questions Lex has about her past. Is she crazy to listen to the advice of an animal? As nervous as she is to leave the safety of her precious zoo, Lex feels compelled to follow Nyah's instructions. When Lex makes an otherworldly discovery out there, she embarks on a magical adventure involving a ghost, a treasure hunt, and a mystery, all of which promise to lead her back to her own inexplicable beginning.
Magical realism is common in middle-grade books, but to find it combined with a mystery, a ghost story, and a tale of lost treasure? That's something special. The Elephant's Girl, a debut novel by Celesta Rimington, offers this enticing genre mash-up along with a unique setting, two likable heroines (one human, one pachyderm), and an exciting plot. Not only does the book educate readers about elephants, but it also teaches important lessons about humans' responsibility toward animals, kindness, the true meaning of family, standing up for one's self, and finding courage to do hard things. The story is predictable and I didn't always find the magical realism bits convincing, but overall, I found The Elephant's Girl to be a delightful, entertaining book. Young animal lovers looking for a fun, magical reading adventure won't be disappointed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, and books by Kate DiCamillo)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Elephant's Girl from the generous folks at Penguin Random House as part of an awards program I'm helping to judge. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: I'm Not a Pet Person, But...
Are you an animal lover? My kids accuse me of being an animal hater, which isn't true at all (witness: I've let them have pet goldfish, a hyperactive puppy, even a feral cat). I like all kinds of creatures (at least of the four-legged variety); I just prefer that they belong to someone else. Petting sweet, snuggly animals is fun. Cleaning up poop, listening to endless barking/whining, paying vet bills, trying to tame aggressiveness, dealing with chewed-up everything? Not fun.
Considering what I've just told you, it's probably not a surprise that books about animals are not something I seek out. So, I had to think a bit before I could come up with a list of ten to fit today's TTT prompt: Top Ten Favorite Animals in Books. I do have some, even though anthropomorphic narrators are actually a big pet peeve of mine. As a child, I loved reading about animal characters. These days? Not so much, although I can definitely appreciate a loyal, funny, inventive, smart, or just adorable animal character. The list below proves it!
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. Hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details. If you can't think of books to fit the topic, no worries. Spin it your own way or do a themed list that you make up yourself. Any way you shake it, TTT is a good ole time.
Top Ten Favorite Animals in Books
1. Wilbur and Charlotte from Charlotte's Web by E.B. White—This is the first title that came to mind when I saw the prompt. Who doesn't love cheerful Wilbur and his wise spider friend, Charlotte? I adored this book as a kid.
2. Black Beauty from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell—I was obsessed with horses (reading about them, at least) as a child. This classic, narrated by the titular colt, totally captivated young me.
3. Manchee from The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness—In this YA series, all living things can read each other's thoughts, so Manchee the dog can "speak" to his master, Todd Hewitt. Although his thoughts are simpler than those of the human characters, his personality and unfailing loyalty come through loud and clear.
4. Marley from Marley & Me by John Grogan—I was surprised by how much I loved this animal book when I read it. I laughed, I cried...I adored it. The film is just as heartwarming and touching.
5. Nyah from The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington—Elephants are always depicted as wise, gentle creatures. Nyah is such a pachyderm in this middle-grade novel about a girl who lives in a zoo.
6. Ivan from The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate—As with Marley & Me, I really didn't expect to love this middle-grade novel as much as I did. Ivan, a caring gorilla, won me over. Big time.
7. Mrs. Frisby from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien—I remember this story more from the movie than the book, but still...I felt for the titular mouse, a brave widow trying to save her young children. Mice are not animals I like. Mrs. Frisby, though? She's the exception.
8. Jethro from the Amish Candy Shop mystery series by Amanda Flower—Jethro's a mischievous pot-bellied pig whose besotted owner believes he's going to be the next big Hollywood star. He's a pretty fun character, I have to say.
9. Too many to chose a favorite from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling—Fawkes, Scabbers, Hedwig, Fang, Buckbeak, Fluffy...the list goes on and on. There are tons of great animal characters in this series.
10. Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell—Okay, this is kind of a cheat since I haven't actually read these books and I hear they're different from the movies. Still, I love Toothless.
There you go, ten favorite fictional animals. Which are your faves? Are you an animal person? Do you have pets? Or are you like me, someone who enjoys critters more in books than in real life? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
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