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Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: Help a Girl Out?
9:11 AM
Good Tuesday morning! How is everyone? How's the apocalypse going for you all? My family and I are still doing just fine. We've got plenty of t.p., food, and medicine, so we're just hunkering down. The weather here yesterday was absolutely beautiful, so we did venture out to a neighborhood park. It was full of people walking their dogs, doing yoga, riding bikes, etc. We ate our lunch in an empty ramada, fully intending to socially distance ourselves, but the first people my 11-year-old daughter saw were two of her really good friends. The kids all squealed and jumped around, so excited to see each other! It broke my heart, actually, that these little pals have been forced to isolate themselves when they enjoy playing together so much. They did get to run around together for a couple of hours, happy as proverbial clams. Since my daughter's friends are boys, there wasn't any touching involved (cooties, doncha know), but she—and they—got some much-needed time to exercise, bask in the sunshine, and hang out with buddies. It certainly boosted her spirits and ours. At any rate, I hope you and yours are healthy and safe during these crazy times.
Speaking of boosting spirits, it's time for Top Ten Tuesday. Yay! It's easy to join in the TTT fun—just hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few instructions, build your own list, then spend some happy hours checking out other people's posts. It's a fun way to discover new blogs, check in on old favorites, and rake in the reading recommendations. What could be more fun, especially when you're stuck at home in need of a distraction? Today's topic is a good one, too—Genre Freebie (pick a genre and build a list around it! i.e., best/worst romances, non-fiction for travelers, memoirs for foodies, classics that feel timeless, romance novel kisses, science fiction that feels too real for comfort, women’s fiction for newbies, etc.)Freebies always throw me for a little bit of a loop and this one is no exception. I racked my brain for a unique, creative way to spin the topic and nothing came to mind. So, I'm going to take the lazy woman's way out today and ask for reading recommendations instead of giving them out. Here's the deal: I'm a positive, happy person who gravitates toward mystery/thrillers/apocalyptic fiction, even in the End of Days, apparently. I've read so many that right now my soul is seriously craving books that will lift my heart, make me laugh, and provide the kind of light, fun entertainment that's been lacking in my reading choices of late. Help a girl out? I like most genres, although I tend to steer away from high fantasy, poetry, serious sci-fi, and anything too dense/technical/boring. Erotica and the like is absolutely off the table. What have you got for me? Here's a quick Top Ten list that will give you an idea of what I like and am looking for more of:
- Light, entertaining stories that still have substance. Any genre. Bonus points if they're clean and well-written.
- Inspiring biographies/memoirs
- Easy, breezy romcoms
- Family sagas (think Kate Morton and Karen White)
- Action/adventure/survival stories where endurance/determination wins out in the end and/or where there's more going on than meets the eye (think LOST)
- Women's fiction that's heartwarming without being cheesy or sappy
- Mysteries that are engrossing, but won't give me nightmares (think cozies and Mary Higgins Clark-ish)
- Humor (fiction or non-fiction, just something that is funny without being too crude or suggestive)
- Sweet/small-town romance (think Robyn Carr without the R-rated bits)
- Haunted house/ghost stories that are shivery and engaging, but not terrifying
Okay, what do you have for me? I'd seriously love any recommendations you can come up with. Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Need Some Light, Fun Reading for the Apocalypse? Look No Further.
7:56 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Wonton Terror, it may inadvertently spoil plot surprises from previous Noodle House mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
The opening of the Asian Night Market is Cleveland's culinary kick-off to summer. It's a weekly food festival that brings the community together for delectable eats, lively entertainment, and warm conversation. Lana Lee is thrilled to be at the festival selling Ho-Lee Noodle House's unparalleled cuisine, even if it seems they might be outsold by the popular Wonton on Wheels food truck parked next to them. It's obvious something odd is going on with the truck's owners—who are old friends of Lana's parents—but Lana's shocked when their truck explodes on the first night of the festival, leaving one of its owners dead. Was it a tragic accident or something more sinister?
As it becomes increasingly apparent that someone tampered with the food truck, Lana launches a clandestine investigation into the incident. The more she digs, the more she realizes that Ronnie Chow was not a pleasant person. A number of people had grudges against him, but who hated him enough to kill him? Or did Ronnie do it himself in order to collect the insurance money? The closer Lana gets to the truth, the more dangerous her life is becoming. Someone doesn't want the truth to get out—and they will do anything to keep Lana from getting too close. Has Lana finally gone too far with her amateur sleuthing? Will her restaurant be the next one that goes up in flames?
I always enjoy reading about Lana's antics with her overbearing family, her quirky friends, and her dangerous investigations. The Noodle House Mysteries by Vivien Chien are just fun. Wonton Terror, the fourth installment in the series, is no exception. It's entertaining, even though I solved the mystery pretty early on. I don't expect a lot of surprises in a cozy mystery—I enjoy them because they make for clean, easy, distracting reading. This series is one of my favorites for all those reasons. I'm definitely in for seeing what happens to Lana and Co. next.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Noodle House Mystery series, including Death By Dumpling, Dim Sum of All Fears, Murder Lo Mein, Egg Drop Dead, and Killer Kung Pao)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
MG Novel Tells Sincere, Heartwarming Tale About the Importance of Farming, Family, and Friendship
10:24 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
There's nothing 12-year-old Paige McBride likes better than working the Idaho farm her family has owned for generations. Even with the recent death of her father, which has caused financial hardship, extra chores, and heavy sorrow, Paige is determined to keep the place running smoothly. When she learns about her mother's decision to sell her beloved land, she vows it will never happen. Not only does Paige have a foolproof plan to sabotage their realtor's schemes, but now she's got two unexpected secret weapons—a journalist who wants a hands-on farming experience and a wounded peacock of mysterious origins. Paige will use them, as well as every other trick she's got up her sleeve, to rescue the farm she loves. Will it be enough?
Wendy S. Swore's debut novel, A Monster Like Me, was one of the best books I read last year. I loved it so much that I couldn't wait to read her sophomore effort, The Wish and the Peacock. While her newest didn't move me as much as her first, I still enjoyed this poignant middle-grade novel. Paige is an admirable heroine—she's smart, loyal, hard-working, and focused. Her love for her home and family shines brightly. Young readers will enjoy the story for the funny antics Paige and her friends employ to foil the adults' actions, but what will really stand out is our heroine's dogged determination to save the things and people she loves. Paige's affinity for her land as well as the work she does on it ring with authenticity because Swore, herself, is a full-time farmer. It's not surprising, then, that The Wish and the Peacock exudes sincerity and heart. Overall, it's an empowering tale about the importance of friendship, family, legacy, and fighting for what you believe in. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Wish and the Peacock from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
TTT: Spring Has Sprung on Mt. TBR, Part Two
1:00 AM
I don't know about your Spring, but mine isn't going quite the way I thought it would! I had no idea my kids' Spring Break would be extended by a month or that I would be standing in line at the grocery store this morning with half the city just to buy laundry detergent or that all my local libraries would be closed for the duration. Wow, what a time we're living in! Despite the fact that I'm a Type 1 diabetic, I'm really not all that worried about the coronavirus—I have a year's supply of food in my house (my church's leadership has been preaching emergency preparedness for decades), plenty of toilet paper (I'm a Costco regular), a cabinet full of Bath & Body Works hand soap (I can't resist a sale), a couple month's worth of insulin (T1D strong!), and a *few* books on my shelves to keep me entertained. I'll be fine. I'm a bit of a hermit anyway, so I got this. I hope you are healthy and calm amid all this chaos. If you need a distraction from reality, there's nothing like a book to take you away from it all!
If you're not familiar with Top Ten Tuesday, you really should be. It's my favorite weekly bookish meme. Playing along is super easy and it's a great way to get acquainted in our fabulous book blogging community. All you have to do is head on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few quick instructions, create your own list, then spend some happy hours checking out everyone else's posts. It's a good time, I promise.
Today's topic is Top Ten Books on My Spring 2020 TBR. You may recall that I got a jump on this topic last week, listing ten of the books I want to read this Spring. I even read three of them last week. Go, me! Today, I'm giving you the second half of the list, in no particular order.
Spring Has Sprung On Mt. TBR, Part Two:
1. Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman—This is a bit of a cheat since I actually just finished this book. It may seem weird to read a dystopian novel while we're sorta living in one, but I enjoyed this novel about a drought in California reaching epically awful proportions. The story is fast-paced, engrossing, and thought-provoking. It's an interesting time to be asking yourself the kinds of questions that come up in this book: How will I act/react when faced with a devastating crisis? Am I in it for myself or do I care more about helping others? How far would I go to protect my family? How prepared am I for a natural disaster/pandemic/local or global crisis?
2. The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray—I was supposed to read this novel last week for a blog tour, but I'm a *little* behind. The story concerns a family whose matriarch and patriarch are arrested, plunging them from a respected couple into a reviled one. As the rest of the family grapples with the shocking development, they have to ask themselves what really happened. Is the revered couple guilty or innocent?
3. The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison—I'm not sure why dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels are so appealing to me right now, but this one sounds super intriguing. It's about a midwife who has to find her place in a world that has changed irrevocably as the result of a pandemic that has decimated the world's population. Maybe a little too real?
4. Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn—On a lighter note, this warm-hearted romance featuring a calligrapher with an uncanny ability to read signs others can't see sounds like fun.
5. All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White—I enjoyed The Glass Ocean, which was penned by this trio, so I'm excited to check out their newest joint venture. This triple-timeline historical looks intriguing.
6. The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey—A YA romance set in a bookstore? Yes, please!
7. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman—I couldn't find a detailed plot summary for this book, but it gets good reviews and I've heard high praise, so I'm going to check it out.
8. Big in Japan: Accidental Sumo by Jennifer Griffith—I was looking for a book set in Japan to read for the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge, and this contemporary YA sounds fun. It's about an overweight teenager who finds the kind of fame and popularity overseas that he's never had in Texas. Naturally, all the attention is not all it's cracked up to be ...
9. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (available April 7, 2020)—I'm really not into bloodsuckers, but when a novel is described as "Steel Magnolias meets Dracula," I don't know how anyone can resist! Looks like a super fun read.
10. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (available April 7, 2020)—I enjoyed Wingate's Before We Were Yours, so I'm excited to read another novel by her. Her newest concerns a trio of young women who journey across a tumultuous country in 1875 and the modern-day teacher who discovers their unforgettable story. I'm in, for sure!
There you go, ten books I'd like to read this Spring. What are you reading? Have you read any of my picks? What did you think? I'd truly love to know. Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
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