Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Friday, September 16, 2022
Friday Friends of the Library Shopping
Even though half the books I have attempted to read and/or revisit have not worked out. Yet, here I am with this again. Though, truthfully, it happens; one week you’re into this, another week you’re into that. With that said, I went to the library early in the afternoon and just HAD to stop by the Friends of the Library Bookstore. What else would one do with $5 in his pocket, right? Well, yeah. Subsequently, this is the urban fantasy madness that followed…
Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy has been on my reading wish list since 2007 (which I think admitting is part of my problem). Anyway, the story features a woman ex-cop named Joanne Walker who is part Native American and I believe Irish. The dilemma consists of Joanne attempting to save a woman fleeing a Celtic god who is running what we all understand as the folkloric Wild Hunt. Either way, I crave the adventure of it all. Don't know why. But I do.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Sailor Moon & Mini (mini) Book Haul & Possible Karen Chance Reading
Tuesday seemed like a day for some minor retail therapy. It appears the stars have aligned for some small, small fortunes.
I went to Gamestop early in the afternoon looking for some of those thumb grippers for an Xbox Series X controller. And while that mission was successful, I happened across these Sailor Moon travel hand sanitizer sleeves (or whatever). Now, for any other item/IP/brand/whatever I wouldn't even look twice at purchasing something unnecessary like this. But finding these stacked up shook me to my core. So much so that I knew right away if I didn’t buy one of each character now, I ran the risk of never finding them all at once again. Therefore, I got one of each and kept it moving. The guy at the register was pretty much like "you ain't playing around." Never with Sailor Moon, buddy. Never!
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
And I said: “Buy them STORES OUT!”
Recent acquisitions to slightly satiate my appreciation for reading (and buying books). I've been in a particular cozy kick lately. Or, in fact, desire to get back into reading cozies. It seems I haven't read a few in a hot minute. Heck, I didn't even pick up the Mrs. Jeffries series by Emily Brightwell last year. And, double heck, I didn't read cozies through December. I'm feeling those pangs. Additionally, having finished reading The Wheel of Time in November, I spent about a month and a half recovering from that experience. Now, I craze some more high fantasy goodness. Luckily, Tanya Huff and Mercedes Lackey have been somewhat handling that deal. Nonetheless, these are the books I spent the weekend doing what I love best (digging underneath stacks) acquiring…
Now… the heavy part is finding time to read them. Oh,
well!
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Saturday Night Clean-Up
You know what this means...? Time to clean up and get rid of some books! What's going to make the cut?
Monday, December 7, 2020
Monday, May 11, 2020
Muller & Paretsky Short Story Haul
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Monday, November 11, 2019
Let's Buy Some Newly Released Mystery Books!
Motherless Child (An R. J. Franklin Mystery Book 2) by V. M. Burns
Friday, November 8, 2019
Friday, November 1, 2019
#WeekendReads First Rider's Call by Kristen Britain
Friday, October 18, 2019
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
6 Ways I Try to “Save a Little Change at the Bookstore Retail Chains”
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
"PICTURE THIS" Book Blogging #1 ~ The Sliced Reviewer
A book you liked or loved and shared more than likely won't land the same adoration by some in your audience. On the flip-side, there are some who may like/love it the same as you. Regardless, the same principle applies to yourself, even when the former situation sneaks up and hurt your feelings just a little bit.
But think about it, pussycat. It’s fair to say we’ve all tried recommended books by book bloggers. And it's fair to find ourselves of the opposite opinion about whether we liked the book or not. Sometimes you like a recommended book from a book blogger, and sometimes you don’t. It's all par for the course in this “business”. Right?
And yet, despite all that jazz, as a book blogger an audience member's dislike of a book you loved and shared on your platform sometimes stings. As it has a personal touch to it. And–if you choose to sit in it–it ruffles with your “credibility” as a reliable book reviewer.
You still with me here, pussycat?
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
A Little Library Book LOVE
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Friday, January 4, 2019
I Guess the 1st Book Haul of 2019
Monday, November 5, 2018
Library 25 Cent Sale ~ Basically Book Upgrades
"The devastating fire tore through the horse farm, destroying everything it touched. Picking through the wreckage, Dr. Kay Scarpetta uncovers human remains—the work of an audacious and wily killer who uses fire to mask his brutal murders. And when Scarpetta learns that her old nemesis, Carrie Grethen, has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is somehow involved, the investigation becomes personal. Tragedy strikes close to home. And Scarpetta must match Grethen’s every move with one of her own to douse the inferno of evil that threatens everyone around her..."Yeah. Yeah. Read the book almost ten years ago. Since I found myself in the mood of changing my mass market copies into hardback, this decent copy will do. This is the book where Cornwell made a wild misstep by killing off one of the series main characters. Why? Because she brought his ass back three books later. It was clear she needed him. Either way, it is what it is.
Monday, October 8, 2018
5 Reading Slump Killers ("with" Cynthia Bailey)
After finishing a book, I usually take a day or two off from reading. Sometimes that day or two sticks around a little longer. And three days is always too long. Then it begins to sting when I have four bookshelves riddled with unread titles glaring at me wondering what the hell I‘m doing sitting around without a book in hand. One shelf wants to be chosen. One book desperately wants to be elected. And I just sit there like a chump biting my lip and as indecisive as ever. Something has blocked me from reading. My mood? Energy? Maybe solicitude from my last book? All I know is days are ticking by and I can't seem to find a dang thing I want to read and it's pissing me off.
It's a reading slump indeed.
So I, like many book bloggers, decided to create another remedy post for readers who need to get through a reading slump. And if one method listed doesn't work, another one always will. So let's go!
Hell, I’ve learned long ago how throwing away and getting rid of old junk kills some spectrum of my anxiety. There’s this sort of alleviating transference I get from donating old clothes; alongside tossing pay stubs, art supplies, and old birthday cards into trash bags. Seriously, when miscellany leaves happiness circulates within the soul.
So one method that often helps me pull out of a reading slump is getting my shelves organized. By “getting organized” I mean going to a shelf to pull unread titles off to compile what I haven‘t read and how long its been hanging around–and deciding what should hang around. Something about pulling unread books off, piling them up, and actually looking at them helps get me centered. It’s revisiting titles long acquired that at one point I was excited. That is until time and other books caused my enthusiasm to slip by, before deciding what's next for said title. And, naturally, the benefit is I find myself donating piles of unread and clutter-clogging books after a change in interests.