Space Station Mir

  Happy Top Ten Tuesday!   This is a hard one for me since I'm writing from my phone, but I found a few of the books that I've been reading recently as well as books that I have recently added to my TBR that I think qualify as featuring covers in autumnal colors. Book Covers Featuring Autumnal Covers The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Meet Cute Magic by Morgan Elizabeth Comfort Read by Dylan Morrison Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy Happy reading, and looking forward to seeing your Top Ten Tuesdays! I hope Jana's had better luck setting up the link this week and is feeling better!

 It's that time again! Reading was a lifesaver in September, and I'm already on a good reading streak for October. Let's hope I have even more time to chill and read as the fall continues. Books I Read in September 2026 Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki--This is one of the most unusual books I've ever read, and not just because the protagonists are respectively an alien, a woman who's made a deal with the devil, and a trans violin prodigy. I enjoyed it, even though parts of it are extremely dark, and other parts of it I didn't fully understand. The alien parts are my favorite, but this is also a book that really made me think about the nature of good and evil, and left me with no answers but a reminder to always look deeper and beyond what I think I know.  A Fellowship of Curses & Cats by J. Penner--I wasn't sure about this one from the description but J. Penner never misses for me. She continues to explore the established cast from the first book, ...

Happy Top Ten Tuesday!  I'm trying to get back in the swing. This one is asking for a bit more work than usual since I can't just pull up Goodreads, which I've only had as an adult. I do still have some of these on the shelves at least. Books That Conjure Up Happy Memories  The Source by James Michener-- Going to Barnes & Noble with my grandpa who wanted to pick out this book for me since he thought I would enjoy it (he was right) Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares--My friend lending me the first 2 books at camp The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis--Reading these aloud with my dad The books by she who must not be named--Reading these aloud with my brother A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle--Finding this in the children's section of a library I went to as a kid The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler--Reading this as a kid, teaching it as an adult, and sharing with other adults who appreciated it in one of my book clubs Last Day on M...

 Today's Top 10 Tuesday topic is a fall freebie and I missed last week's topic-- top ten books on my fall TBR--so I think this is a fun alternative. I've been looking for ways to take things off of my plate this fall. Therefore, I'm giving myself permission to not read these books this fall, however much I may or may not want to read them in the future. I am actually reading a lot of books right now, but pretty strictly immersive cozy fantasy and other comfort reads. Top Ten Books I'm Not Going to Read This Fall Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood--It sounded good, it's high on many fall lists, I downloaded it, and I couldn't get into it. Maybe another fall, but not this one. Theo of Golden by Levi Allen-- Super popular, comes highly recommended, and the waiting list at the library is two hundred plus people long. See you another time, Theo of Golden. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke--Everybody was talking about this book this year, and when I read the concept I was ...

 What a cool topic! Like Jana , there was a period of time where I went to a lot of author events and book festivals. I didn't go to a lot for a while after Covid, and lately, there have been other reasons that I haven't felt comfortable going, but I have been lucky enough to meet many of my favorite living authors. Charlie Jane Anders-- I've actually been lucky enough to meet her twice, both times at the Baltimore Book Festival. So glad I got to chat with her, while she added some one-of-a-kind doodles to my books! 😊 Margaret Atwood-- I got to meet her at the National Book Festival one year and got her to sign my copy of MadAddam! Amy Tan-- I met her at the Fall for the Book Festival many years ago! James McBride--I got to listen to him read at the National Book Festival one year from one of my favorite books, The Good Lord Bird, and it was a profound experience. The rain literally stopped for him. Maggie Stiefvater-- I got to meet her at the Baltimore Book Festival last ...

 Hopefully I'll do a better job with the blogging in the fall. I'm hoping for a slower fall than summer this year--usually, fall/beginning of winter is busier but after this summer, I'm doing my best to slow down and breathe.  Books Read in August 2026 The Red Heart by James Alexander Thom (Book club read)--A long, very '90s historical novel about an apparently real-life white woman who was captured as a child from her Quaker family and lived out her life among the Delaware and other Native American tribes. Once I got past the long-winded style (once so familiar to me!), I enjoyed the book and all the research the author put into it, although his commitment to verisimilitude was actually a little jarring to me since I'm both not accustomed to and suspicious of that style of historical fiction these days. However, after reading more about the author, his process, and his other books, I think he's genuinely trying his best for a thorough and detailed depiction of ...

 Here's to me having the energy to do a Top Ten Tuesday this week! Finally! I enjoyed last week's topic, plus I've visited a few of the same bookish places as Jana , so I'm using her list to jumpstart mine. 😊 Me at the State Library of Victoria in 2025 Top Ten Bookish Places I've Visited --and I hope to visit many more in my lifetime! Shakespeare & Company Bookstore in Paris, France--This was one of the highest on my to-do list when I was in Paris. I wasn't able to buy a book as I was a poor student backpacker (space being actually more of an issue than money) but I'm so glad I went! To me, it makes me think of Sylvia Beach, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas plus Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Joyce--all the Lost Generation in Paris, especially back when I idealized that more than I do now. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City--Kid me was not very interested in museums but I always wanted to see the Met because of  From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil...

 Oops, it has been a while! Consequences of not having a personal computer, and I've had a lot going on. I did, however, read a lot in June and July, so here's the breakdown! Books Read in June 2026 The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Book club read)-- I enjoyed learning about the life of Mary McLeod Bethune and her relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt. I didn't learn much I didn't already know about the latter. I was also disappointed about how much was changed historically because I don't feel like it was necessary for this novel, but at least it was very well researched and well explained in the author's note. Game Changer by Rachel Reid--Everyone loves Heated Rivalry but Kip and Scott were actually my fave so I loved reading a book about them. Will probably read the rest of the series at some point but maybe when the craze has faded a bit more. The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson (Another book club read)--An i...

 Mostly finished book club reads but one just for myself;  Katabasis was a really fun and immersive read. Thought I'd also add some books I'm currently reading, since we're getting well into June! Books Read in May 2026 The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery (Book club read)--This is the second of Montgomery's books that we've read in this book club. Highly, highly recommend--Hogwood's life, the silly, sweet, social, and genuine life of a pig that lived out his natural years--is healing and inspiring and a fun joyous read. Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden (Other book club read)--The character is literally a psychopath and plot twists very contrived. It's a feminist revenge fantasy which some people may like but I did not. Katabasis by R. F. Kuang--Two graduate students at an alternate magical version of Oxford descend to the underworld to retrieve their dead advisor. Nerdery, academia, and chthonic adventures ensue. H...

 Hey! It's been a while. Happy Top Ten Tuesday! I think last week's topic is a bit easier so I'll take the opportunity to catch up. Still writing from my phone so sorry for the plainer entries lately! Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet Wuthering Heights--I don't know how I never got assigned this but I somehow missed it in school and it's one of the few books I picked up as an older kid/teen that I just couldn't get through (before I embraced DNFing lol). It sounds pretty awful though so I'm not really mad but it also feels weird I've never read it. Anything by Annalee Newitz- I love everything by their partner, Charlie Jane Anders, and I love their podcast together but I haven't gotten around yet to any of Newitz's work. I just bought Automatic Noodle though! Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell--I loved Carry On and now I need to get to the rest of the series! Pachinko by Min Jin Lee--I attended and loved a talk by the author on this boo...

It's been a busy month and a half or so, plus my laptop conked out, but here are the books I read in April. May is shaping up to be busy as well, as is June. Many good things, but lots of overwhelm. I'm doing a lot of escapist reading right now, but writing about it on the blog may have to wait. Books Read in April 2026 Shadows We Carry by Meryl Ain (Book club read)--Follows the lives of Holocaust survivors' children--appreciated the more uncommon topic but the writing/structure was not for me.  How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (Other book club read)--Quick read, a bit saccharine, but enjoyed the characters and the Maine setting. Revolves around a book club in a women's prison, and how a young former prisoner reestablishes her life when she gets out. Featuring African grey parrots--they are pretty cool! Working the Mound by K. Iwancio (eARC review): Read my review here The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses (The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti #3) by Malka Ann Older--...

Working the Mound (Philly Sillys #2) by K. Iwancio Release Date: March 25, 2026 Link to Buy: Kindle When this post (below) came across my Threads scroll, I couldn't say no. Fortunately, the author said yes to my review request, and my absurd descent into the world of entertainment baseball romance (yes, you read that right) began. K. Iwancio writes hilariously self-aware smutty romance. While the book absolutely showcases her and the characters' love for baseball, the Savannah Bananas , and Philadelphia, it is foremost a tribute and an exemplar of romantic smut. I was mostly tempted to read due to the amusing rarity of an entertainment baseball/romance mashup--a subgenre that may at this point in time be exclusive to this author. Although I was repeatedly warned about the spice level on Threads and in trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, I persisted in reading. I'm not-not glad I did just because it absolutely was so funny but the spice was too high for my taste, ...

Happy Passover to my fellow celebrants! My favorite read this month is not at all what I would have expected. I was really looking forward to Yerba Buena , by one of my favorite authors, Nina LaCour, and to reviewing The Magic Seeker  by another one of my favs, Jane Buehler. And while I absolutely enjoyed those, it was My Friends that still has me thinking. Maybe I like literary fiction again?! Books Read in March 2026 The Magic Seeker by Jane Buehler (eARC book review)-The 6th book in the delightful cozy fantasy romance Sylvania series. See my review here Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone-Picked up this literary romance for my birthday and so glad I finally read it. "Gold Coast" is misleading since it's set mostly in NYC but "Crazy Rich Ghanian-Americans" gives you a good idea and frankly it's the most realistic depiction of someone in the publishing business I've ever read since the protag, Ofos, is openly supported by her parents/trust fund and theref...

I'm trying to post but take it easy, so I'm including my reactions to some of the example buzzwords Jana used in the prompt, plus any more I think of. I had some very strong and immediate reactions, probably since these buzzwords are so common, especially in romance and the romantasy that's ultrapopular these days! Happy Top Ten Tuesday! My Reactions to Common Book Buzzwords or Phrases Phrase: "Morally grey characters" My Reaction: NO. Why?: I'm thoroughly sick of this trend, especially because it typically means "morally grey male love interest" which typically actually means "I fell in love with a serial killer BUT HE LOOOOVES ME." No. Don't get me wrong, I can and do enjoy genuinely nuanced characters and I do not expect anyone, much less a fictional character, to be perfect nor do I want them to be, but if I see that phrase, I think Rhysand, or, at best, Christian Grey, and I'm just not into that. (But if you are, you're ...

 I've got a few books to review lined up, and I'm also interested in some new releases and hoping to read something to get into the spring mood. It's been a long, dark, and cold winter and I'm reveling in the longer daylight hours. Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Books On My Spring 2026 TBR Working the Mound by K. Iwancio--Reading this for review from the author. This is a smutty baseball romance novel with a team called the Philly Sillys, based on the Savannah Bananas but set in Philadelphia. As soon as I heard that description, I had to read it! This is the second in a series, but they're all standalone. Review coming soon! Steeped in Suspicion by Kirsten Mari--Received for review from LibraryThing. It's a cozy fantasy mystery. Enjoying the atmosphere in a small magical town replete with piskies, leprechauns, a talking cat, and a council of witches.  Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind by Annalee Newitz--I think I'm actually in a bit o...

The Magic Seeker: A Fairy Tale with Benefits (Sylvania Book #6) by Jane Buehler Release Date: March 17, 2026 *Added on March 17* Links to Buy:  The Magic Seeker a book by Jane Buehler - Bookshop.org US The Magic Seeker: A Fairy Tale with Benefits (Sylvania Book 6) eBook : Buehler, Jane: Kindle Store  I've read almost all of Jane Buehler's Sylvania series at this point, and I love them all. There's something so entirely healing in her quiet and simple fantasy world that's transitioning from monarchy to democracy in both the human and fairy worlds. This is the tough part that few series like to depict, and yet, this is one of the softest fantasy series I've ever read--and I mean that in an entirely positive context. Each book is centered around one or two characters and a central romance. Although understanding the context of the world makes each book richer, for most of them, I would say you can read them as a standalone. The Magic Seeker, book 6, is the first one wh...

 I've been busy at work and in my personal life so that's overshadowed the blog, but not my reading! Since I haven't posted in a while, I thought it might be fun to also share some of the books I'm currently reading, as well as the ones that I actually finished in February. The ice this month was really difficult for me here in the Mid-Atlantic and having to amuse two dogs inside and deal with their potty breaks in our tiny (and very icy) backyard was a lot. I'm very grateful though, for the dogs, and the backyard, and the ability to curl up in a warm house with a cup of tea and a book. I hope everyone still dealing with snow/ice (and everyone in general!) is doing well and staying warm! Books I Finished Reading in February 2026 A Bridesmaid's Guide to the Things People Hide: An Emelia Walsh Cozy Mystery by Abigail Scott--I read the first book in this series for LibraryThing review  and I enjoyed it so much, I read the second book and am looking forward to the t...

 Here we are again! Another month, another year, another list of books read. It has been a trying month, and unfortunately I expect it will be a trying year, but I am grateful that there are so many wonderful books in the world to help me through. Books Read in January 2026 This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher--Picked this up at a local bookstore who advertised this for their romance book club. The premise--4 members of an epic fantasy quest 10 years later--was exciting, however, while the ironic self-aware tone was humorous, it was also very detached, and I therefore had a hard time caring about or identifying with any of the characters until like 2/3 of the way through, which is just way too long. I feel like I finished it just to finish it and because I was so excited by the premise. There were definitely highlights but it was ultimately a miss for me, I think. All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert--I enjoyed this as much as I enjoy all of her books--there's something about he...

 Here are my goals from last year.  And here are my bookish goals for 2026! Bookish Goals for 2025 Read 52 books.--I didn't want to overburden myself, and I have no regrets. I ended up reading 84 books, which is less than the fluke of last year's 90 (the most in my adult life!) but still pretty good.  Read at least 14 books by authors of color.--13 books would be 25% of 52 so I decided to add another for luck and in case I end up surpassing my overall reading goal again. I ended up reading 13 books by authors of color, which is less than 25% of 84, but still better than last year.  Read and review all of the books I have accepted or will accept for review this year.--I did this! I reviewed all the books I agreed to review in 2025--and I actually have no books to review yet in 2026, so I'm at net zero for reviews for once.  Read at least 3 books by women in translation--I've already read one!--Unfortunately, that was the only one I read all year-- The Housekeepe...

 I'm a day late, and new authors seems more do-able than all bookish discoveries--plus, I think these were my most important bookish discoveries in 2025 anyway. Happy (late) Top Ten Tuesday! Best New-to-Me Authors in 2025 Jessica Topper and Amanda Usen--Grouping them together since I've only read their joint Matzo Ballers Hanukkah romance series. Technically, I finished the first book on December 31, 2024, but I read three of them in 2025 (and one already in 2026!), so I think it's fair to count them as new-to-me approximately as of 2025. I just love their joyful, sexy, Jewish brand of Hanukkah romance: they're both incredibly funny and compelling writers who create complex and interesting characters from the get-go. I will definitely continue reading the Matzo Baller series and probably check out some of their other books as well. J. Penner--I became absolutely obsessed with their Adenashire cozy fantasy books in 2025! They are definitely now on the must-read list for ...

 Woof. This was--I guess kind of an average reading year? Mostly good or decent reads, a few mediocre ones or ones that weren't for me. The books I'm including below are the ones I've thought about most this year--particularly The Feather Thief and Better Living Through Birding --it's hard to imagine I only read them in 2025! I guess I'm officially a nonfiction fan now. Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Best Books I Read in 2025 Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott--I loved Baba Yaga as a kid and I love this modern, Jewish take on the story The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk W. Johnson--I'd recommend this to anyone. Just a fascinating story--I never knew how much I wanted to know about fly-tying and the mystery of dead nineteenth century birds Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins--Another gut-wrenching Hunger Games triumph--and maybe unfortunately one more for our times  Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie ...

 My reading slowed down a bit while I was busy in December and then I got very sick at the end of December (still kind of sick, honestly), so my reading slowed down. I knew I needed a really engaging book while I was ill, so I pulled out Sunrise on the Reaping   and it was everything I could have hoped! Can always count on Collins for a propulsive read, with substance, even. Books Read in December 2025 Gap Year by Lindsey Goldstein--This was an eARC I received from the publisher about a woman in her 40s who gets divorced and goes on a "gap year" in Ecuador while her 18-year-old daughter is on one in Spain. I found the Ecuador content interesting but I wasn't that into the writing or character. I do wish there were more books about older female protagonists taking journeys like this though. The Menorah Matchmaker (Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance #3) by Amanda Usen The Rugelach Road Trip (Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance #4) by Jessica Topper--I read the first two Matzo Baller...