Archive for July, 2025



OvergrowthOvergrowth by Mira Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is going to go down as one of my favorite books, ever. I am sad to have to let it go, but I’m promising myself to read it again soon.

I loved the whole story. I thought at first that it was another cozy mystery, just as it starts with the mother and family. But get ready, this is a roller coaster of fun, adventure, and, yes, nail-biting fear.

I listened to the Libby audio version, narrated by Caitlin Kelly, whose voice, acting, and enthusiasm make this so enticing to read that I picked it up at every chance. But I think this would hold up without a reader. The snark and love would show through, no matter how you decide to dive into it.

Thank you to whoever recommended it to me. I’m sorry, I don’t remember who it was.

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One-Liner Wednesday


Iffy weather only allows One-Liners!

But it gives great sunsets!

A part of Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday prompt.

Not that close, really.

Tuesday Toon


This was my day! A row or two on scrappy socks. Ride my stationary bike for 30 min. while doing Duolingo.Then kept reading “Overgrowth” by Mira Grant. It is so good!

Murderbot was a great book but fun as a Apple/Amazon series.

Though a bit crass, The Boys, is a car crash you can’t stop watching.

That’s my day. Wow. Don’t try that at home. I’m an expert.

It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.

The House of the SpiritsThe House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is so much to this book, I am having a hard time pinning it all down. But I found a review on GoodReads that says it all. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show…

This is a book about three generations of a family in Chile. All the characters are well-developed and complex, with both strengths and flaws. Ultimately, there may be a cautionary note for all of us.

Ana Navarro recommended this book on The View during the “Ladies Got Lit” segment. It is worth jumping into.

As I was browsing through the reviews, I realized this is actually book three, so I put book one on hold, Daughter of Fortune. I may have to read this book again after a deep dive into the first two. It held up well as a stand-alone for me. The writing is great, with enough Spanish to make me pay attention. Javiera Gazitua (Narrator) and Senén Arancibia (Narrator) brought the book alive. I found this on Libby,

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So true

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with Q.” Think of a word that starts with the letter Q and write your post around it. Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Quiet.

Not my life. I don’t know quiet. Yet I live in the desert in a tiny frontier town.  When the power went out it was silent for one minute. Then we all started talking. And as long as there was a long battery life, my stories continued. Well, the downloaded ones.

But it started me thinking. Let’s say there was a solar storm or whatever. How would life change?

I don’t have unlimited yarn, but I could knit and crochet for quite a while. And though it might seem noiseless, counting must happen. And the more sound around me, the more loudly I count.

I could draw or paint. I have a few diamond paintings ahead but after those are gone I might have to invent my own with all the leftovers from previous projects.

But the noise within me would start screaming. ADHD does not do quiet.

Though I might play my keyboards until the batteries go kaputt.

But look at my noise! Piano, recorders, violin, and uke. I can play and sing and read aloud forever! I’m no quitter!

And maybe we would spend a lot more time getting to know our neighbors. What’s stopping us? Well, that’s the question!


The Inheritance of Orquídea DivinaThe Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thing about reading is how many places you get to go. In this case Ecuador. Experience language, history, culture, foods, family interactions in a magical-yet realistic.

Ana Navarro recommended this book and I’m glad she did.

Don’t you love it when you can practice little bits of the Spanish language as you read. Meanwhile, I so enjoyed the far fecthed family adventures and immersed in magic.

This was a fun ride. Frankie Corzo (Narrator) reads Zoraida Córdova’s charactors so well you feel you are there with the characters going through some very crazy times.

I was so fortunate to pick this up from Libby.

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I Am YouI Am You by Victoria Redel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a surprise. It seemed a little self-indulgent or preachy at times, but much of the story was intriguing. I loved the aspect of history and painting. I found the story of the ‘boy’ suddenly needing to be herself an interesting concept, as well as how one adjusts to that change in self-perception.

The historic, Dutch aspect gives the story depth.

There are times when I don’t like the main character or the others who appear, but that could be a reflection of the coldness of the social structure in that time and place.

I’m not sure how I obtained this book, but it is a giveaway right now on GoodReads. I think you might like it.

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One-Liner Wednesday


Missing yet another friend.
A part of Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday prompt.

Children Of The Sun: A Novel of Epic Paranormal Fantasy (The Comyenti Series Book 2)Children Of The Sun: A Novel of Epic Paranormal Fantasy by Natasja Hellenthal
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The blurb for this book mentions a cliffhanger at the end of book one. I didn’t notice that because I had book two ready, so I was able to continue the story. But straight up front, I’m warning you that no matter how wonderful the story is, this book ends in a horrid cliffhanger. I refuse to read anything else in this series.

On the other hand, if you don’t mind that kind of ending, the rest of both of these books are interesting.

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