Space Station Mir

 Halloween approaches, as the air gets cold, and the leaves are in full color. As I feel like I reiterate often around here, I don't really do seasonal reads, though I like the idea, and Halloween reads--does that mean a scary read? Books set during Halloween? Fall books? Books involving costumes? I'll try for a blend of the above. For a Jewish twist, I suppose the appropriate term might be Sukkot books, the Harvest holiday which recently ended. So, here are some books that remind me of Halloween, fall, October, and Sukkot. Top 10 Halloween/Fall/Sukkot Books  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! 1. The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks--This one definitely has fall and winter vibes and setting (wandering around an icy forest) as well as magic users and characters who aren't what they seem. 2. The Kings of Nowhere by C.G. Drews--This one is set during fall in Australia, and definitely has school year vibes as well as a darker tone. 3. Court of Venom by Kristin Burchell--This one is set in...

What a clever prompt! Words are my métier, but I am having some trouble because there are so many that intrigue me. I'm sure I will think of a ton after I post this.  Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten  Eight Words I Love to See in a Book Synopsis 1. Jewish--Even for someone who subscribes to the Jewish Book Council newsletters, this is rare enough that it gets a second look from me. Not necessarily a third, but I have found some great books this way. 2. Rabbi--See above. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late caught my eye at a Bookcrossing table and led to me buying and reading most of the series! 3. Wizard--I love spellcasters (and play them exclusively in D&D😛). Wizards especially, but witch, warlock, or sorcerer would also work! 4. Epic--Despite the fact that this is so overused, when it's appropriately used, especially paired with 'fantasy,' I'm often a fan. 5. Boston--Still probably the city I know best, at least at one time, and I'll always give a book that takes ...

 *Rubs hands together*. I have a lot of favorite bookstores, all over the country and the world. Here are some of my favorites, and I hope to have more someday! Happy Top Ten Tuesday ! Favorite Bookstores Daedalus Books in Charlottesville, VA--I loved the name and appropriately labyrinthine nature of this used bookstore--there are also a ton of other used bookstores in Charlottesville, but this is my fav. The Book Loft of German Village in Columbus, OH--Also a labyrinthine store, but in another way--this one has rooms and rooms of books, similar to the Strand in length, but better organized--each room has its own curated music! Plus there's a lovely outdoor area to read in the warmer months. Shakespeare & Company in Paris, France--This was on my bucket list. I'm glad I got the chance to peruse this famous English language bookstore across from Notre Dame.  The Seminary Co-Op in Chicago, IL--I got to see both the original and the new co-op space, and I love them both. The o...

I would say it's weird to not be starting the school year this September, since my new full-time job is not in education, but I am sort of starting a school year this September--my first as a Hebrew school teacher. That is not something I ever imagined saying, but my synagogue really needed teachers, and the education director heard I was one. I told him my Hebrew isn't that great and Hebrew school was often a terrible experience for me--and he said, me too! (On the latter thing--he is very good at Hebrew). We bonded over the idea of making this a better experience for these kids, so I will try. I don't know that this is going to be a regular thing, but it's a way to help my community, stay connected to education, and hopefully give these kids better memories than I have. Anyway, with one FT job and two part-time teaching gigs, I'm not sure how much time I'll have for the blog, but I'll keep chronicling whatever non-work reads I manage to finish (will probab...