So excited about this new song featuring Spencer from Ice Nine Kills.
The Book that Made Me edited by Judith Ridge
Title: The Book that Made Me: A Collection of 32 Personal Stories
Edited By: Judith Ridge
Publisher: Candlewick Press 2016
Genre: Nonfiction - About Books
Pages: 241
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
What if you could look inside your favorite authors’ heads and see the book that led them to become who they are today? What was the book that made them fall in love, or made them understand something for the first time? What was the book that made them feel challenged in ways they never knew they could be, emotionally, intellectually, or politically? What book made them readers, or made them writers, or made them laugh, think, or cry? Join thirty-one top children’s and young adult authors as they explore the books, stories, and experiences that changed them as readers — for good.
Like most essay collections, there are some really good ones in here and there are some more boring ones in here. Overall, I was a bit disappointed in the collection. I don’t think the good essays outweighed the less interesting ones. Oh well. Not every book is going to be 5 stars.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Cursed
Title: Cursed
Edited by: Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane
Publisher: Titan Books 2020
Genre: Fantasy Short Stories
Pages: 272
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
It's a prick of blood, the bite of an apple, the evil eye, a wedding ring or a pair of red shoes. Curses come in all shapes and sizes, and they can happen to anyone, not just those of us with unpopular stepparents...
Here you'll find unique twists on curses, from fairy tale classics to brand-new hexes of the modern world - expect new monsters and mythologies as well as twists on well-loved fables. Stories to shock and stories of warning, stories of monsters and stories of magic.
All the dark fairy tales! I am here for this collection of stories. I love how some of the stories are direct descendants of the classic stories, while others are very new and imaginative. Unlike many short stories collections, I enjoyed every story in this one. My favorite may actually be the first actual story in the collection “As Red As Blood, As White As Snow” by Christina Henry. Oh so good!
Next up on the TBR pile:
Videos for a Lazy Day
I literally cannot wait!
I am intrigued…
I want to go there and right this one!
J and I went on a weird rabbit hole about water slides around the world. This is fascinating!
We are taking his maker course, but I love this epic maze for squirrels.
The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn
Title: The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy (Smythe-Smith #4)
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon 2015
Genre: Romance
Pages: 378
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf
Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second—or third—look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.
Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.
I, um, was not impressed by this book. It’s fine as a Regency romance, but I wasn’t super into the characters or the plotline. I really did not like the story once it shifted to Yorkshire. I like some tension and conflict with my main characters, but this book took it to a new level that I did not appreciate. Such a disappointment.
Smythe-Smith Quartet:
#3 The Sum of All Kisses
#4 The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Next up on the TBR pile:
The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn
Title: The Sum of All Kisses (Smythe-Smith #3)
Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon 2013
Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Sarah Pleinsworth can’t forgive Hugh Prentice for the duel he fought three years ago that nearly destroyed her family, sent her cousin fleeing, and left Hugh himself with a badly injured leg. That’s fine with Hugh, who can’t tolerate Sarah’s dramatic ways. But when the two are forced to spend a week together, they find that unexpected kisses, and mutual passion, may have the power to change both of their minds.
Oh Yes! This is exactly what I want out of my historical romance. Two strong-willed and fun characters, a progression from hatred to passion, not much miscommunication, a real relationship explored, and a bit of sexy time on the side. After the previous book, A Night Like This, I really hoped that we would get to see more of Hugh Prentice. Lucky me, this book is all about him! The quick glimpses that we got of him intrigued me. I needed to know more. And we get so much more! As for Sarah, she was annoying in the previous books, but I suspect that’s more because she was contrasted with Honoria and then Anne’s personalities. Sarah is much more straight forward and confident in herself. We get two very strong-willed people that clash and clash and clash before finally realizing that they love each other. Delightful!
Smythe-Smith Quartet:
#3 The Sum of All Kisses
#4 The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Next up on the TBR pile:
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Title: The Sun Down Motel
Author: Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley 2020
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Pages: 326
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Can’t Wait to Give Someone!
Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.
Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.
I was hesitant coming into this book (I have a horrible track record with thrillers), but this one was deliciously creepy and kept me entertained. I hate when books claim to be creepy, but they are actually just plots with something vaguely suspenseful. This one is completely creepy and I loved every page of it. We get real ghosts! I love it when we get real ghosts in books. I was even hesitant to read this before bed due to the creep factor. Perfect! Beyond that aspect, I didn’t mind the modern storyline in this one. Usually I find that one of the sides of the story isn’t that interesting or boring, but Carly is a decent character in her own right. She’s not just driven to find out what happened to her Aunt Viv, but also exploring her own relationships in this new-to-her town. I really enjoyed this one!
Next up on the TBR pile:
Homeschool W35: Rays, Whales, and Dolphins, Oh My!
What We Studied
Beyond our studies, we had two park playdates this week along with a grocery store visit and a library stop. Park playdates can be tiring for me, but we’re trying to get out more and meet new friends for our fall STEAM coop. Also, I really dropped the ball on taking pictures this week. Oh well.
Literature and Poetry
We finished reading The One and Only Bob for our read aloud. I liked it a little less than The One and Only Ivan, but still a really good book. There’s a lot of serious danger in this one and lots of talk of death. Be cautious.
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
Rainbow Soup by Brian P. Cleary (poems)
Math
A mishmash of review pages, little projects, and Khan Academy. We covered graphing, fractions, and multiplication with our homemade packets. Plus, we’re almost at the end of Lollipop Logic Book 3. I need to find some harder logic puzzles for both kids.
Social Studies
We finally reached the end of the Revolutionary War. In addition to covering the end, the Articles of Confederation, and the formation of the Constitution, we did biographies on a few African Americans during the war. I loved learning more about Elizabeth Freeman and Phillis Wheatley. I read some of Wheatley’s poetry in college and enjoyed her voice.
100 African Americans Who Shaped American History
Phillis Wheatley: Poet of the Revolutionary Era by Molly Aloian
Phillis Sings Out Freedom: The Story of George Washington and Phillis Wheatley by Ann Malaspina
Phillis's Big Test by Catherine Clinton
America's Black Founders by Nancy Sanders
Answering the Cry of Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle
Mumbet's Declaration of Independence by Gretchen Woelfle
Fight for Freedom by Benson Bobrick
Science
See Unit Theme
Art
Nothing formal, but lots of random drawing.
Music
We covered Pete Seeger on Monday. Arthur loved his songs for kids, but not so much when it came to the adult stuff. From there we did a sampling of music from the 1960s (Joan Baez, The Byrds, Dave Von Ronk, and Janis Ian). Arthur wasn’t really a fan of any of them, but I am. We’ll continue the 1960s next week.
Stand Up and Sing: Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice by Susanna Reich
Unit Theme
For Oceans, we focused on rays, dolphins, and whales. How did I not know that orcas are genetically dolphins? I love it when I get to learn something new.
Rays by Valerie Bodden
Thomas & Friends: Thomas and the Shark (Arthur read)
Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Nat Geo Ocean Animals
DK Oceans
DK Whales and Dolphins
Dolphins! Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle
How Do Dolphins Sleep? by Nancy Furstinger
Nat Geo Absolute Expert Dolphins by Jennifer Swanson
Ranger Rick: I Wish I was an Orca by Sandra Markle (Arthur Read)
Wild Orca: The Oldest, Wisest Whale in the World by Brenda Peterson
Amazing Whales! by Sarah L. Thomson (Arthur read)
Whales by Grace Hansen
10 Reasons to Love a Whale by Catherine Barr
Blue Whales by Grace Hansen
How Long is a Whale? by Alison Limentani
Misc. - Random picture books read
Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley
A Surprise for Mrs. Tortoise by Paula Merlan
Violet and the Eggplant Painting Problem by Cynthia Wylie and Courtney Carbone
Also an Octopus by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Inky's Great Escape: The Incredible (and Mostly True) Story of an Octopus Escape by Casey Lyall
This is a Seahorse by Cassandra Federman
Larry Gets Lost Under the Sea by Eric Ode and John Skewes
Beach by Elisha Cooper
Deep Underwater by Irene Luxbacher
Flip & Fin: Super Sharks to the Rescue! by Timothy Gill
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck
Jurassic World: Danger Dinosaurs
Dario and the Whale by Cheryl Lawton Malone
Stories in a Seashell by Alex Nogués Otero
Dinosaur Tracks by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Highs
We got to listen to a few episodes of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on our way across the river on Tuesday. All of us really love that show. We’re almost at the end of season six. There are only eight seasons, so we should be done with the series sometime this summer.
Lows
I’m losing all motivation for school. It’s such a weird month for our family.
Next Week
For the next two weeks, we are on a semi-break. Originally we were going to be traveling to Indiana for family stuff, but that isn’t happening. Instead, we will just be home. But I hope to include more craft projects, art, and games into the next two weeks. We’ll be reading our next selection (Frog and Toad collection by Arnold Lobel), working through various ocean animals, listening to the folk music of the 1960s and 1970s, and doing some basic math review. I might even add a few more outings beyond the already scheduled park playdates.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Music Monday - The Pretty Reckless "And So It Went"
I’m so addicted to this song right now…
Life Right Now #17
As I look outside my window: The clouds seem to have moved out for the day. Maybe we’ll get some good sunshine. My plants need it!
Right now I am: Being very lazy. I can’t seem to muster much motivation today…
Thinking and pondering: About how much vacation planning I should do now. I love a good project, but the vacation itself is still up in the air due to COVID. It wouldn’t be until late fall (September), but I do love to be prepared just in case.
On my bedside table: The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn; The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn - Getting ready to jump back into Regency romance.
On my tv this week: More Star Trek Voyager and more Hustle. We keep bouncing back and forth between the two.
Listening to: Nothing really
On the menu for this week:
Monday - Tater Tot Casserole
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Kale and White Bean Soup
Thursday - Avocado Bruschetta Chicken
Friday - Brinner (Sausage Crescent Rolls and Eggs)
Saturday - Steak on grill
Sunday - Chicken Corden Bleu Dip
On my to do list: Top of my list is to finish fixing the laundry room and put away all the clothes. Beyond that, I guess I should consult my giant brain dump list.
Happening this week: A bit of a lighter week, but still some activities.
Monday - Dentist appointment for me
Tuesday - Possible zoo day; Nebraska Outdoor webinar; Girly Book Club (zoom)
Wednesday - Playdate at Chalco
Thursday - ?
Friday - ?
Saturday - ?
Sunday - ?
What I am creating: I finally finished by December Daily 2020 album. I’m hoping to work on my 2021 Memory Planner this week. Need to start with January…
My simple pleasures: Getting lost in a book, finding hidden gems while road trip planning
Looking around the house: My craft room is just about cleaned and set. J hung some pictures for me (I’m so bad at getting things level and straight). I finally got rid of the giant pile on the floor. Now I just need to remove the recycling and trash pile and find a spot for my Christmas craft supplies and Project Life stack.
From the camera: Choosing my Top 15 picks from the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide. I already have Broken on my nightstand, so I guess I’ll start there.
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Title: The Beautiful Ones
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 323
Rating: 2/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Called to Me at the Library
They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis―neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse―and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.
When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.
But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina ― and himself―that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins.
Oh what a disappointment! After absolutely loving Mexican Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow, I thought I would at least enjoy this previous work from Moreno-Garcia. Unfortunately, this is a slow-moving pseudo-fantasy novel filled with insufferable characters. Basically nothing happens for the at least the first half of the book. The characters go round and round rehashing the same arguments and sentiments. They move to a different house, but it’s still the same. I enjoyed Nina, but at a certain point, I really wanted her to run away from all the other characters and pursue her science interests. Maybe find a kind and loving male scientist to marry. But no, she stays with Hector even after Hector’s true feelings for Valérie come out into the open. I just found everyone to be very dislikable. And let me mention that the fantasy element (the telekinesis) is such a minor thing. Why is it even in the book? I have no idea. The one redeeming quality of the book is Moreno-Garcia’s writing style. Her prose just glides over the page. Thank goodness she kept at it and wrote much more intriguing books later.
Next up on the TBR pile:
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Title: The Flatshare
Author: Beth O’Leary
Publisher: Flatiron Books 2019
Genre: Romance
Pages: 336
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. Tiffy and Leon have never met.
After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art.
Desperation makes her open minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.
Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more.
But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you've never met.
CW: Domestic abuse
My book club has had a string of not great and/or heavy books. We wanted to pick something a little lighter and fun and decided on this one. Overall, I really enjoyed this rom com in the vein of Jill Mansell’s novels or Bridget Jones’s Diary. We get one great in-person meet-cute, fun side character friends, a big conflict, and some sweet romance. I enjoyed Tiffy and the exploration of her life post-emotional abuse. I thought that portion of the story and character was well done. Her new romance with Leon isn’t an instanteous fix to her past trauma. Instead we get to follow along with her as she confronts her past (and present) and attempts to move forward. Yeah! Insta-love this is not. I loved seeing Tiffy turn to her friends for advice and comfort. And ultimately, I loved watching her and Leon develop a friendship and then something more. After reading this one, I’m more interested in reading O’Leary’s two other novels: The Switch and The Road Trip.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Odds and Ends
Here's my randomness for the week:
I finally finished a craft project yesterday. Only 50 million left to go…
Is May homeschooling fatigue a thing? I think I’ve got it.
Started planning our fall road trip (rescheduled from summer 2020) and I’m super excited about the possibilities.
Need to pick a dessert to make, maybe Andes Mint Cupcakes?
Next up on the TBR pile:
Red Queen by Christina Henry
Title: Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice #2)
Author: Christina Henry
Publisher: Ace 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
The land outside of the Old City was supposed to be green, lush, hopeful. A place where Alice could finally rest, no longer the plaything of the Rabbit, the pawn of Cheshire, or the prey of the Jabberwocky. But the verdant fields are nothing but ash—and hope is nowhere to be found.
Still, Alice and Hatcher are on a mission to find his daughter, a quest they will not forsake even as it takes them deep into the clutches of the mad White Queen and her goblin or into the realm of the twisted and cruel Black King.
The pieces are set and the game has already begun. Each move brings Alice closer to her destiny. But, to win, she will need to harness her newfound abilities and ally herself with someone even more powerful—the mysterious and vengeful Red Queen...
Overall I really enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it as much as Alice. The first book really connected the original story to a darker, grittier version of Alice in Wonderland. We get direct characters and action parallels. I was expecting more of the same style, but this book departed from the direct comparisons. Instead, we get more of a dark fairy tale story incorporating different elements (enchanted forest, people turning into wolves, goblins, giants). I loved the beginning with Alice and Hatcher emerging from the tunnel into the burned meadow. I loved the ending when Alice got to connect with the Red Queen and defeat the White Queen. But some of the middle got a bit lost for me and I wanted more connection to Alice in Wonderland. I wanted more Chesire and maybe the duchess or Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Not quite as successful for me as the first book.
The Chronicles of Alice
#2 Red Queen
Looking Glass
Next up on the TBR pile:
Currently #3
Reading: The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. Book club needed something a little more light and fluffy.
Watching: J got me started watching Hustle. I know he had me watch the first episode years ago and then we moved to something else and never continued. It’s entertaining in a light way. Con of the week style episodes. We’ve been alternating between Hustle and S3 of Star Trek: Voyager this past week.
Listening: Not much music this week, but I have been catching up on Bookend Homeschoolers podcast. Not every episode is super useful to me, but many of them have great nuggets of advice.
Making: I’m finally getting back to my December Daily album for 2020. Here’s hoping I finish before the end of the month.
Feeling: So very tired. Q has been getting up at 6:30am usually by screaming or crying. It’s taking a toll on my sleep to be woken up so abruptly.
Planning: To travel or not? I’m thinking about the summer months but also our road trip. We might be able to do the road trip in fall (like late September) and I need to start planning it.
Loving: I’ve been making fruit smoothies for breakfast on and off for the past two months. Big hit over here! I now have a stack of like 20 different recipes that we cycle through.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Homeschool W34: Candy Math Makes the Day Sweeter
What We Studied
Literature and Poetry
We started reading The One and Only Bob. I really like Bob as a character, but I think The One and Only Ivan was better told. We’re halfway through the book and things have gotten very intense.
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
Rainbow Soup by Brian P. Cleary (poems)
Clark the Shark: Tooth Trouble by Bruce Hale (Arthur Read)
Math
Another week of review and games. Arthur progressed in his Khan Academy lessons. We review some concepts. Arthur and Quentin both did some math with gummy bears and then with Skittles. They definitely enjoyed eating our manipulatives afterward.
Social Studies
We covered two more lessons about the American Revolution: Loyalists and Assistance from France and Spain. Getting close to the end of the war!
Mary Geddy’s Day: A Colonia Girl in Williamsburg by Kate Waters
Fight for Freedom by Benson Bobrick
Revolutionary Friends: General George Washing and the Marquis de Lafayette by Selene Castrovilla
Science
See unit theme
Art
Nothing formal, but Arthur had some fun drawing sea creatures. I grabbed a few “how to draw” books from the library and he’s been doing that during free time.
Music
We progressed with our study of American folk music. We covered the early years 1920s-1950s including the country side. We started with The Carter Family and the Weavers; not huge fans. Arthur did not like Johnny Cash or Jack Elliott but did like Bill Monroe. Guess he falls on the bluegrass side which is fine by me. For movie night, we watched O Brother Where Art Thou? J and I love the Coen Brothers and this is one my favorites. We talked about the fact that the movie is a version of the Odyssey and enjoyed the music. I didn’t think he liked it, but afterward Arthur told me he was going to watch it again.
Unit Theme
Our ocean study focused on exploration, fish, and sharks this week! We learned about Marie Tharp, Sylvia Earle, and Jacques Cousteau. Then we moved on to all the different species of shark! Arthur’s been loving the YouTube channel Brave Wilderness for great animal encounter videos. We found some that apply to the ocean!
Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Karen Coombs
Oceanography: The Study of Oceans by Susan H. Gray
The Undersea World by Tamra B. Orr
Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Early by Claire A. Nivola
Marie's Ocean: Marie Tharp Maps the Mountains Under the Sea by Josie James
Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea by Robert Burleigh
Ocean Speaks by Jess Keating
DK: Fishy Tales (Arthur read)
Goby Fish and Snapping Shrimp by Kari Schuetz
What's It Like to be a Fish? by Wendy Pfeffer
DK Oceans
Nat Geo Ocean Animals
Manfish by Jennifer Berne
The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho
Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs by Kate Messner
Nat Geo Kids: Sharks (Arthur read)
Sharks by Valerie Bodden
Sharks Have Six Senses by John F. Waters
Slickety Quick: Poems About Sharks by Skila Brown
Smart About Sharks by Owen Davey
DK Eyewitness: Shark
Great White Sharks by Nico Barnes
Hammerhead Sharks by Nico Barnes
Blacktip Reef Sharks by Grace Hansen
Nurse Sharks by Grace Hansen
Basking Sharks by Nico Barnes
Whale Sharks by Nico Barnes
Mako Sharks by Nico Barnes
Zebra Sharks by Nico Barnes
Misc. - Random picture books read
Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell! by Lucille Colandro
Iced Out by CK Smouha
Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni
Shark Dog by Ged Adamson
The Ocean Story by John Seven
Shark Dog and the School Trip Rescue by Ged Adamson
I'm a Shark by Bob Shea
How to Spy on a Shark by Lori Haskins Houran
The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist
Perfect Square by Michael Hall
Blue on Blue by Dianne White
Follow the Moon Home by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson
Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman
Highs
We had a lovely park playdate with three other coop families on Tuesday. The weather was perfect!
On Thursday, we went to the zoo. Haven’t been there in a few weeks and it was nice to go when the weather was nice. We had to check in with Marshall the rhino. He’s getting so big! He’s about 18 months old now.
Lows
Apparently everyone went ot the zoo on Thursday along with at least 8 buses full of school kids. it was crowded and people were not masking. I really dislike going when it’s so crowded. Hopefully next time we go it will be less people. The kids were super whiny the entire time (tired, warm weather, lots of people, probably contributed) and make me regret trying to go and do something fun. It was a long day…
Next Week
We should finish our read aloud next week. Guess I need to line out our next couple. We are going to continue covering the oceans (rays, dolphins, and whales), folk music (getting to the 1960s!), and the American Revolution (ending the war). I think we need to pull out some board games for math to supplement our review. Plus we have two park playdates scheduled.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Music Monday - Architects "Animals"
Really you need to check out Architects’ entire new album, For Those That Wish to Exist, but I’ll just highlight one of their songs today. Plus a bonus version…
An orchestral version from Abbey Road.
Life Right Now #16
As I look outside my window: It’s drizzly and cooler than yesterday. Thinking I should open the windows and get some cool air circulating.
Right now I am: Prepping a smoothie for J who’s going to a sale thing with a friend today.
Thinking and pondering: How much cleaning do I want to do today? It might just be a lazy day…
On my bedside table: The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary; Cursed
On my tv this week: We’ve been alternating between Star Trek: Voyager and Hustle with a splash of MythicQuest.
Listening to: Not much of anything this week. Where has the week gone?
On the menu for this week:
Monday - Chorba Frik
Tuesday - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken, Broccoli, and Bacon
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Texas Cheese Fries
Friday - Chicken Pad Thai Nachos
Saturday - Baked Potato Soup
Sunday - Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus
On my to do list: The one thing on my list today that I really want to get through is to finish putting away the laundry room.
Happening this week: A very light week comparatively…
Monday - Normal day
Tuesday - Park Playdate in Council Bluffs
Wednesday - Grocery and library
LoThursday - Park Playdate
Friday - Normal day
Saturday - Normal day
Sunday - Normal day
What I am creating: Possibly my December Daily 2020 album if I find some time this afternoon.
My simple pleasures: A nice cozy blanket, strawberry smoothies, neat and orderly piles.
Looking around the house: I was a cleaning machine yesterday and got so much done. I’m much less twitchy now when looking around the house. I still need to finish the laundry room and put away the shoes, but the rest of the first floor is looking very nice.
From the camera: Love to see him reading independently!
The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
Title: The Black God’s Drums
Author: P. Djèlí Clark
Publisher: Tor.com 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 114
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges:
In an alternate New Orleans caught in the tangle of the American Civil War, the wall-scaling girl named Creeper yearns to escape the streets for the air--in particular, by earning a spot on-board the airship Midnight Robber. Creeper plans to earn Captain Ann-Marie’s trust with information she discovers about a Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums.
But Creeper also has a secret herself: Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, speaks inside her head, and may have her own ulterior motivations.
Soon, Creeper, Oya, and the crew of the Midnight Robber are pulled into a perilous mission aimed to stop the Black God’s Drums from being unleashed and wiping out the entirety of New Orleans.
Another great novella from Clark! This time we’re thrown into a alternate history where the Civil War hasn’t really ended and New Orleans has been carved out as a free neutral city. From there, we get a fast-paced adventure story starring an orphan protected by a goddess. I love how Clark creates the most imaginative worlds and populates them with fascinating, complex, realistic characters. I sped through this story anticipating a large showdown and the book does not disappoint. Pick this one up for a big dose of fun fantasy.
Next up on the TBR pile:
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Title: Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Square Fish 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 413
Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy
Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold―a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.
Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite―and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.
As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.
Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.
Well… I didn’t hate it. But I didn’t love it either. There’s some interesting world building that’s hidden in here, but not quite fleshed out at much as I would have like. The characters are typical YA Fantasy tropes, but I don’t completely despise them. I would have liked a bit stronger of a female lead. I would have liked to get to know the Darkling a bit better. Seriously, a few more conversations with him would have gone a long way. I would have liked more action sequences. We only got a bit at the very end. I could have done with less training montages. Despite what sounds like a very negative review, Bardugo kept me wanting to turn the page and find out the next happening in the series. I will be picking the next one up soon. Hoping to read them all to then watch the television show…
Funny story: The last night I was read this, I stopped right after Alina and Mal crossed the Fold. My Kindle said I was 60% of the way through, so I stopped for the night. Turns out, I actually only had the epilogue chapter left and the rest of the pages were filled with previews for two other Bardugo books. Felt very silly sitting down to read the last 40% of my book and it was only three pages.
Shadow and Bone
#1 Shadow and Bone
#2 Siege and Storm
#3 Ruin and Rising
Next up on the TBR pile: