Introverted Reader

Top Ten Romantic Books

Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl invited us to share a Valentine’s Day/Love Freebie this week. I'm not a big romance reader but I do pick up the genre occasionally. I also don't object if books in other genres have a strong romance angle. So here are my top ten romantic books. (Links go to my review, if I've written one, or to Malaprop's bookstore) Geekerella by Ashley Poston--This young adult retelling of Cinderella makes my geeky heart so happy! Soulless by Gail Carriger--A funny, smart, steampunk romance is a win for me. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, read by Deanna Hurst--A main female character who loves food? Who looks sensible on the outside but has a streak of fun on the inside if someone will only look for it? That's the romance for me. How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry, read by Fiona Hardingham--I've mentioned this book on a list recently. A book about books and love is the way to my heart. Persuasion by Jane Austen--I mentioned this last week as one of my favorite classics. But Captain Wentworth's love letter at the end seriously makes me weak in the knees. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig--This dual timeline book works much better in the past than in the present for me but the whole 12-book series kept me laughing and rooting for each new "historical" couple. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion--Main character Don's logical approach to love cracked me up! The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, read by Carly Robins--The plot is reminiscent of a gender-swapped Pretty Woman but also features a main character who has Asperger's syndrome. Who could resist? Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen--I love this local-to-me author for a lot of reasons. She writes…

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February 8, 2021

Bookish Miscellany

Weekly Update for February 7, 2021

Welcome to my weekly update for February 7, 2021! The governor lifted Southern California's stay-at-home orders so my husband and I took the opportunity to drive our RV up to Joshua Tree National Park for a long weekend. We've had beautiful weather while we've been here. It's so nice to get out and hike again! Posted: The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking--3 Stars End of Watch (Bill Hodges #3) by Stephen King, read by Will Patton--4 Stars The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, read by Imogen Church--4 Stars Top Ten Books Written before I Was Born 6 Degrees of Separation from Redhead by the Side of the Road to A Game of Thrones Read: It's been a busy week so I haven't actually finished anything. I don't even know the last time that happened! Currently Reading: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney, read by Jeanette Illidge Unbeaten Tracks in Japan by Isabella Bird Watching: Super Bowl LV is literally on the TV while I'm writing this. I don't really watch sports (I relate a little too much to the characters from What We Do in the Shadows attending a Superb Owl party, in fact) but my husband does love football so we took a short hike this morning and made sure we got back to the RV in time to catch the big game. I have to admit that I am curious to see which QB comes out with the win in this matchup. Up Next: It's another busy week so I'm not sure that I'll even finish any of these. What did your week look like? Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday…

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February 7, 2021

Bookish Miscellany

6 Degrees from Redhead by the Side of the Road to A Game of Thrones

Hosted by Books Are My Favourite and Best on the first Saturday of every month, this meme asks us to start with one title and create a chain of bookish connections to see where it takes us. This month, we're going from Redhead by the Side of the Road to A Game of Thrones. Redhead by the Side of the Road is Anne Tyler's newest release. I haven't read it but it was impossible for me to see that title and not think of... Anne of Green Gables, exactly as she's pictured on the book cover above. She's waiting on Matthew Cuthbert and the new life that awaits her. (Author: L. M. Montgomery) And that became my simple theme this week: redheads among my read books, in no particular order. Pippi Longstocking is another ginger whose adventures I enjoyed reading as a child. (Astrid Lindgren) And who can forget everyone's favorite red-headed family, the Weasleys from the Harry Potter series? Who's your favorite? At this point in my life, mine might be Molly. (J. K. Rowling) Alanna from the Song of the Lioness series is another perennial favorite. (Tamora Pierce) Then there's Scarlet, filling the role of a science fiction Red Riding Hood no less, from the Lunar Chronicles. (Marissa Meyer) And wrapping it all up we have A Game of Thrones and the rest of A Song of Ice and Fire, with Sansa and Catelyn Stark, Melisandre, Ygritte, and probably more gingers whom I've forgotten. So that's my chain from Redhead by the Side of the Road to A Game of Thrones! Where do your connections take you? Link up at Books Are My Favourite and Best! I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in beautiful Asheville, NC. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if…

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February 6, 2021

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick: Book Review

4 Stars. I read and loved Ms. Patrick's first book, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, during my blogging break. I was excited to listen to another one of her books. I really enjoyed The Library of Lost and Found as well, and for a lot of the same reasons. Martha Storm is so lonely but she's so kind and has so much to give [...]

End of Watch by Stephen King: Book Review

4 Stars. I haven't reviewed the earlier books in this trilogy so this will act as more of a series review. I've done my best to avoid any spoilers but there may be some small ones. I wouldn't classify these books as horror simply because that implies a level of the supernatural and/or gore that this series doesn't achieve. But [...]

Bookish Miscellany

Ten Books Written Before I Was Born

Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl invited us to share "Books Written Before I Was Born (These can be books you’ve read or want to read!)." I'm going to share a list of some of my favorite classics. Links go to my review, if I've written one, or to the Malaprop's bookstore website. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (Published 1908)--One of my favorite books of all time. I love all of the Anne books and really almost anything Montgomery ever wrote. Persuasion by Jane Austen (Published 1818)--You guys can have Mr. Darcy; Captain Wentworth is the Austen hero for me. "You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope." *swoon* Rebecca (Published 1938)--I've read this classic several times. The Gothic melodrama, sinister Mrs. Danvers, and Rebecca's complete dominance of the book despite the fact that she died before it even begins create a masterpiece in my opinion. The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett (Published 1896)--I rarely liked my required reading for school but my American literature professor hit it out of the park when she assigned this one. I read it in college and then re-read it when I visited Maine on vacation. Jewett described that beautiful rocky coastline so well, it's practically a character. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Published 1960)--Fortunately, this classic was never assigned to me in any of my classes. My sister and I have very similar taste in books and she dislikes it because it was required for her. I love the whole Finch family but Scout's innocence and Atticus's stand for what's right earned them both spots among my favorite characters of all time. The Chronicles of Narnia (Published 1950 - 1956)--I believe my third grade teacher's assistant read The Lion, The Witch, and…

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February 1, 2021

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking: Book Review

3 Stars. The Little Book of Hygge was pleasant enough, but as an introvert, I found very little new information here. I try to maintain a cozy, welcoming home and I've always preferred low lighting. I love candles (although not to the extent that Danes apparently do), sweets, comfort food, and Christmas. My list of close friends [...]

Bookish Miscellany

Weekly Update for January 31, 2021

Welcome to my weekly update for January 31, 2021! I mentioned the virtual Parade Across America last week and several of you said you missed it as well. I streamed it from the official Biden/Harris inauguration page but that video has been taken down now. This WBUR video appears to contain the whole parade instead. If you watched Biden and Harris walking down Pennsylvania Avenue in DC, you can skip ahead to the 32:00 mark to find the beginning of the virtual parade. I really enjoyed watching so many excellent performances from all our states and territories! I also thought I'd share my husband's experience with the COVID-19 vaccine since some of you may not know anyone who's received it yet and have questions. He is a healthcare worker. He received his first injection (the Pfizer one) on December 23. Side effects that only lasted one day: Slight soreness in the arm that received the injectionFaint headacheSlight nausea (possibly from the Mexican food he had for lunch) Side effect that lasted about a week: Significant fatigue. This didn't interfere with his ability to work but his wagon was draggin', as my aunt says, by the time he got home. He received his second vaccine on January 13. He'd heard repeatedly that the second shot causes worse side effects than the first but that wasn't the case for him. In fact, the side effects may have slightly decreased. Side effect the day of the second dose: Arm soreness. More noticeable than the first time but it didn't hamper his activities. Could be because a different nurse gave it to him.NO nausea or fatigue Side effect the day after the second dose: Significant fatigue. This was probably a combination of a stressful day, lack of sleep due to an earlier-than-usual alarm, and…

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January 30, 2021

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child: Book Review

2 Stars. This book really wasn't for me for a lot of reasons that might not bother other readers. The first thing to really irritate me was the mansplaining. A female doctor is already onboard. Instead of treating her as a valued colleague, Crane marches in, assumes she doesn't know anything about rarer diseases, and completely [...]

Goldie Vance Volumes 3 & 4 by Hope Larson: Book Review

4 Stars. I love this series so much! Goldie can be annoyingly cocky sometimes but her friends keep her grounded. The mysteries are fun and somehow remind me of cartoons I would watch as kid. The diverse cast of characters is a delight. There were some new illustrators added into the mix in these two volumes. There are some [...]