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'A room of one's own' by Virginia Wolf - This is the first book I have read by her and it won't be the last. I enjoyed this one greatly. She speaks out on how difficult it is for women to write and have privacy, have money and just have what they need in order to live a good life. The way she writes is thoughtful, powerful and beautiful.

'Animalkind' by Ingrid Newkirk & Gene Stone - I always knew that some level of cruelty happened to animals around the world but after reading this book it opened my eyes to the past and the present and how we as a society still treat animals. It also discussed educational information on how smart animals are as well as how they live together and how they connect with us.

'Unfamiliar' volume 1 by Haley Newsome - Being a short graphic novel I liked how I got through it in a day and it was enjoyable and cute. About a young kitchen witch who discovers her home is haunted and how she must go forward with it, also making new friends. I liked the artwork and the plot was simple yet fun.

'500 self portraits' by Julian Bell - Just as the title says, it's 500 self portraits of different artists over many years. In the future I would like to learn more of these artists and their works, it made me realize there are so many that I know nothing of.

'World of wonders' by Aimee Nezhukumatathil - In this book the author talks of her years as a child, young adult, first time mom and how she compared some difficult situations to how animals, insects and plants find a way to survive and make it through. That no matter what happens to you, you may come out ahead stronger and smarter. The chapters are short but cover a wide range of interesting stories and experiences.

'Quozl' by Alan Dean Foster - To be honest this is one of the first sci fi books I've read. And it was a good one! Fun, comical, thought provoking and different. It wasn't until it got to the end that it got weird but overall I loved this book and how strange it was. It's about these aliens called Quozls who come to planet earth and their interactions with us humans. I enjoyed the authors writing style quite a bit and plan on reading more of his in the future.

'The never ending story' by Michael Ende - I'm sure many of you know of this story from the well known movie. Like a good amount of cases - the book was better! It went on to further adventures of Bastan and what happens to him later on. For those of you who don't know the story, it's about a boy who finds a book and goes on an adventure of a lifetime in a faraway fantasy world with wonderful and magical creatures who he befriends and learns more about himself.

'Days at the Morisaki bookshop' by Satoshi Yagisawa - I started this book because it was in a blind book valentines day event that I chose and I'm happy I did. It's about a young girl who is going through some difficult times in her life and ends up working and staying with her uncle at his bookshop. She develops a new love of books and reading while there and also makes some new friends and quick but still a feel good sort of book.


I'll try to stay more on top of my writings of books I'm reading. But doing a short description of books like this was sort of fun.
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The last time I wrote about my recent reads was February! So I figured this is well over due since I read several books a month. This time I think I may just write about the ones I enjoyed. There are so many books I'm going to write this in two parts!

'The Promised Neverland' by Kaiu Shirai & Posuka Demizu - I am finally close to being done with this series. The next one I am on is volume 18 - there are 20 volumes in all. It's been such a good manga series, I love it so far. And for me the best part is reading it, enjoying it and then taking it back to the library! It's a pretty dark series so be warned before you do read it if you have trouble with darker stories that are pretty graphic and heartbreaking at times.

'Lore Olympus' by Rachel Smythe - This series has been good, too. I recently finished volume 8 this week. I've been reading the actual books from my public library. I wasn't sure I was going to like it way back when I first decided to read it but I'm glad I checked it out and stuck to it. I thought this last volume was the end because of how wholesome it felt - but the story is still ongoing!

'Gon' by Masashi Tanaka - I started reading these books randomly when I found out they were at a nearby library that I was at a few weeks ago. There are only 7 in total. It's about this cute little dinosaur that has adventures in the wild with all sorts of animals. No words are needed, it's just nothing but beautiful illustrations. Some funny at times, others dramatic and of course - most are just realistic.

'The almost zero waste guide' by Melanie Mannario - I loved so many of these tips... it was nice to learn some new ones as well. In this book there are over 100 tips to reduce your waste without changing your life. It was a quick read and made me think a-lot.

'The day the falls stood still' by Cathy Marie Buchanan - This was a book I had laying around for a few years now. I got it from my local library book sale. It's about a woman in the 1920's who lives near Niagara falls and her life. There are some ups and downs and the ending was pretty shocking. I loved the writing style and plan on checking out more of her books in the future.

'Little men' by Louisa May Alcott - Years ago in my mid 20's I read Little woman and loved it. I tried reading it in my teens and didn't care for it, but I'm glad I gave it another chance. My mom recently found the book 'Jos boys' and so this reminded me that I needed to read more. I liked 'Little men' overall. Not as much as 'Little woman' but it had it's own special charm to it.

'I'd rather be reading' by Anne Bogel - If any of you are as passionate as I am about reading this is a quick and enjoyable book to check out. It was nicely paced with quick chapters on why reading can be so special to us. I feel like this book is especially important in todays world where so much of everything is on our phones with quick videos or photos. It's nice to just slow down and read a good book and this book is a reminder of the joys that can give you.
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I'm late at this again - but I didn't forget! :-p I'm a part of a little book club group that tries to meet once a month to talk about favorite books and media. Last month this was one of the books I shared and wanted to talk about. And I find it interesting because it's connected to my grandfather.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/book-review-gifts-of-the-crow-by-john-marzluff-and-tony-angell/

This was a book I bought a few years ago while down in Columbus during covid. I went with my ex because we originally had planned a trip out of state but couldn't do that anymore with the pandemic so we did a trip a few hours away and while in Columbus went to a bookstore where I picked up a few books, this one being one of them. And I read it quickly after I bought it. I heard of this book before, so I was glad when I found it.
What I enjoyed best was the different stories from it. All over the world they discussed different stories of crows and their interactions with each other - with us. How intelligent they are, making tools to use, how they communicate with each other, how they know the difference with us humans. It was an eye opener of a book. I always knew they were smart creatures but to dive deeper into the subject and learn more just made me happy. It took my mind off of a difficult part in my life, gave me something new to think about and appreciate. I remember a time when I took my lunch break and sat outside at a playground reading this book with the thought that I might see a crow any moment since I was just outside reading away. I don't remember seeing one. But just being outside with this book is a nice peaceful memory. If anyone is interested in birds in general I recommend this book!
An finally - the way this book is connected to my grandfather - Raymond Slaby - is because he talked about wanting to come back as a crow after he passed away. He loved birds and who knows, maybe crows were his favorite? I have some funny stories to share about him and this topic but I'm not sure I'll share in this post. But whenever I see a crow, raven or similar bird I think of grandfather and smile to myself.
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Today while at work and deep in thought while cleaning I came up with an idea - each month I'm going to suggest a book for you guys. Just one. Since I missed last month I'll do two this month. I'll still write about what I am reading as I read those books but I thought this would be nice, too.

"Let the great world spin" By: Colum McCann

This book was published in 2009 and I picked it up at one of the many library book sales. Before that I already owned a book by Colum McCann but never read it. I decided to read this one first because it felt like a better choice at the time. I read it around the time of 2018/2019 I recall.
It covers different characters over a set of time in 1974 in New York city and how their lives are on different paths but also cross from time to time as fate strings them together for certain, unexpected events. Even if they haven't met - they still in strange ways are connected. The name of that is called 'non-linear fashion' and this is the first time I've heard of it and I think it may be my favorite writing style now.
I absolutely love how Colum McCann writes. His sentences are captivating. It's beautiful. It's heartbreaking. It's raw. It's powerful. I love stories that are tragic and real and this one marks all of the boxes for what I love in a story. There are parts of this story that as I read I got goose bumps, tears, couldn't put the book down - and if I did have to put the book down I found the quickest way to pick it back up again. I think it took me just a week or two to read this book. And that is unusual for me since I usually take sometimes up to a month to read a book about it's length - which was over 300 pages.

https://www.nationalbook.org/books/let-the-great-world-spin/
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Lately I have finished some good books and currently reading a good mix of books! Here they are if any of you are curious! I don't think I have talked about them and wanted to share them incase any of you have been looking for a new book to check out. If any of you would like me to describe them or talk about what I liked best I can. I didn't want to make this post too long since it already felt like it would take up room on the reading page! ^^;;
~~~

These are the ones I have finished:

'The cat who saves books' By Sosuke Natsukawa & Louse Heal Kawai

'You are here' By David Nicholls

'The 1923 tornado in Lorain & Sandusky: deadliest in Ohio history' By Betsy D'Annibale

'Promised Neverland Volume 5' By Kaiu & Posuka Demizu

'Nana Volume 5' By Ai Yazawa

"Lore Olympus Volume 5' By Rachel Smythe

~~~~

These are ones I am still currently reading:

'The original sin' By Marius Gabriel

'Dinosaurs: 300 prehistoric creatures (mini encyclopedia) by Gerrie McCall

'The promised neverland Volume 6' By Kaiu & Posuka Demizu

'Lore Olympus Volume 6' By Rachel Smythe
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Last week and just yesterday I finished two very good books that I recommend to you guys:

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-things-they-carried
"The things they carried" By Tim O'Brien
This amazing book covers the war and events before, after and during Vietnam for the author. There are so many emotions caught up in these pages - heartache, anger, sadness, frustration, confusion, fear of the unknown, fear of the known... It's beautifully written and paints such a vivid picture of what these young men must have gone through.
My father was in Vietnam. For most of my childhood he did not ever talk about it. Now he opens up about it. After reading this book I have a spark of curiosity for it, I may read more books by Tim O'Brien again soon.
I actually picked this up from a banned book display at my local library!

https://www.onemorepagebooks.com/book/9781609494872
"Geneva on the Lake: A history of Ohio's first summer resort" By Wendy Koile
If any of you like a good book about the history of a small town and the ups and downs it's suffered - this book may be for you! Being a local of this area, Geneva on the Lake has a certain charm that I've found in few other places. But after reading this wonderful book I have much more knowledge and appreciation for this town and the evolution of it. I felt like I learned a-lot. There are some nice photos throughout, too. Sort of like the icing on the cake!
I read another book by this author and I plan on reading her others soon!
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One goal I want to do in the future is read more banned books. This seems to have gotten more popular over the years and I am happy to see it. Those who wish to band any works of literature regardless of who wrote them and what the subject may be are people who I will never understand.
Back in 2020 I watched the show The handmaids tale. And it completely captured me. I think after the events of January 6th especially. As I watched the show I had the sinking feeling: "this could actually happen... help us all". I know it's a show that isn't for everyone. When I've mentioned it to some - the reactions are of shock and questioning like "You know women get R*#^& in that show, right?!" Yeah... I know. There are many things that happen that are hard to swallow. I think to date it's the darkest show I ever watched. Then I joined fellow handmaid groups on facebook and I learned it's a book series by a woman named Margret Atwood.
It took me a few more years, but I finally found the Handmaids tale back in July while on a trip with Mike and we stopped at a cool little bookstore. Gosh, it was a hard read at times. There were times where I had to put it down for day without picking it up again. But I finished it and I am so glad that I did. Next up! The testaments. This one was also slow and hard to read at times, but eventually it gets more... strong, hopeful are words I would use to describe it. It was well over twice the size of the fist one, but covered many different characters as opposed to the fist book that covered Offred. And after finishing that I was grateful and glad I did.
I do recommend reading these books, but do be cautious as you read them. They are very heavy ones. Also the show is good in it's own way. But heavy and dark, too. There were a good number of differences from the show to the books... But I think each was good in it's own way.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2019/09/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-testaments-real-life-inspiration
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Earlier this year I read the first three volumes of a manga series "Nana" by Ai Yazawa. I knew of it for many, many years now. My favorite manga series "Paradise Kiss" is by the same author. A few years ago I stumbled upon random volumes of "Nana" at a used bookstore for a good deal. This past Christmas Mike ended up getting me the first few volumes which I was missing.
As far as the first three volumes go, they were fantastic! The main characters are both 20, both named Nana and have come to Tokyo for two different reasons, but become room mates and friends. It's a lovely manga series that sadly is yet to be completed because of mysterious, unknown reasons that the author cannot finish it. But I do plan on reading the rest of the series.
I've always loved the artwork of Ai Yazawa and her writing is genius. I recommend "Paradise Kiss" if you are looking for a shorter series with an actual ending.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_(manga)

And over the last few months I have been reading the first three volumes of "Lore Olympus" by Rachel Smythe. Earlier in the year I tried reading it on my phone, on web toons and it was honestly hard to get into. Then I found it one day at my local library while wandering around. What a nice surprise!
So far I've enjoyed it greatly. The story has some heavy and dark real life issues which from what I have heard from some has turned them off to reading it. But these are honestly something I saw that gave the writing strength.
It's basically a re-telling of the relationship between the Greek goddess and god Persephone and Hades. There's dozen of other Greek characters and the plot has a very modern, up to date feeling with relatable things such as social media for example. I also recommend this one, it's still an ongoing series. But there are 6 volumes out to read I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lore_Olympus
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Awhile back, what maybe two weeks ago now...?? I watched a movie at random with my boyfriend Mike. It was a random movie that my parents gave us to sell in the yard sale back in June. It didn't sell and we figured we'd watch it at some point, so I kept it. He rolled a dice to see what movie we'd watch out of I think five choices. And it went on this random movie called "A bag of hammers": A film by Brian Crano.

This little rant will have spoilers, you have been warned ~

On the DVD cover it is a bright background, yellow with a bit going on... three of the main characters and some random other things like hammers, ect. "A comedy about good times and grand theft" they say... Okay, so we thought this was a comedy... boy, if could we ever be wrong about anything, it was this movie and the the label "Comedy". This was one of the most recent depressing and heart wrenching movies I've seen. I got teary eyed two or three times. On the back is also the misleading sentence "Featuring touching performances from it's young cast, A bad of hammers is a hilarious offbeat comedy about learning life's hard lessons."

So we put it in and gave it a watch. The start of the film made me laugh a few times, but then slowly we got into darker waters - murky waters it was starting to feel like. The two main characters make a living off of stealing cars and live a somewhat dull, quite life. But the one guy had a relationship end to this, the first car we actually see them steal is his ex's who they confront at her dad's funeral nonetheless and she lets them have it! Then we meet more characters - a waitress at a small dinner who is the one guys sister. And these two main characters have a house next to theirs that they own and rent out. So this is where the other main character comes in, a boy and his mother who came here after a hurricane destroyed their home. Already we see that they are struggling since she mentions how she is late on rent or needs some money and will pay it back from her landlords - which to me honestly takes some nerve. Just to ask or assume someone will give you a large sum of money is a bit disgusting if you ask me.

But anyway, as the movie goes on we see this boy who lives next door struggle. He gets bulled at school, seems to have no friends, has a terrible home life. His mother is trying to find jobs that she isn't qualitied for because as the interviews go on and they ask her these questions she only responds with things like "I like to help people". At first you feel a bit sorry for her, but as time goes on she proves that it's difficult to keep feeling this way. She's verbally abusive to her son, not keeping food in the house, not keeping things clean. The waitress I mentioned earlier finds this out while being invited inside for a soda and makes a call to have someone come and do an investigation. On and off everyone around them sees the mother as she verbally abusive her son. She even sneaks into the landlord's home to take a check back or steal money, honestly we aren't sure because they come in and find her in their house unexpected. And she claims she came for eggs. Then when the subject of rent is due she suggests sleeping with them.. in order to pay, I assume... it was a painful and weird scene to watch. As the movie goes on things go from bad to worse and one thing leads to another and then we find out she takes her own life!

Now the two young men are left with a bad situation - they have to report this - but will they keep the kid or let him go into foster care? They both had bad experiences from foster care and the one is more hesitant than the other about this choice. The boy then stays at their place for the time being. They eventually have to tell him about his mom, while out at the dinner with the waitress. He can order anything he wants, which in itself is heartbreaking because throughout the movie you can tell he isn't given much food or choice to food at all. And here is where the movie finally announces the title. They talk to the boy about how life will sometimes hand you a bag of hammers and it all depends on how you use those hammers. I've never heard this expression before, but it seems to fit this strangely sad and messed up moment we now have been brought to. The kid asks to stay with them and they keep him for a short while before the two young men have a fight about their situation. One wants to keep the kid and the other doesn't. Eventually they make up and decide to keep the kid, give him the best life they can with what they have. Which honestly is a much more happier fate for this kid than he had with his mother.

The final part of this movie was about the school finding out now where this kid lived and taking him away. When the teacher asks the kid about where he would want to be, what would make him feel happy basically. The kid talks about how he's felt unwanted so much of his life and he's finally wanted now by these two guys who he looks up to. Then we get this weird sort of rush of moments and experiences for the boy and all of the people he knows - from the waitress to these two new guys - and how happy he is. From birthdays, to telling them to stop stealing cars, to daily living together, to seeing the waitress finish college, to the boy growing up finally happy with a good, solid support system - it was unexpected, emotional and heartfelt beyond words. But then we find out it was all just a dream, or a daydream... or a wish on what could have been... Back to reality now and He goes into some sort of foster system that is pretty bad considering how he looks and talks when we see him being asked questions about it by a social worker. Something damaged him there. They said they have a set up a new family for him to go to. Then we find out it's the two young men! Happily he goes with them and they have a good life together. At the end they show the boy grown up and going off to college with a guitar strapped on his back. Both the guys are there, aged but proud and excited for their adoptive son's next new chapter.

And that was it! "A bag of hammers" was a movie honestly I wasn't expecting and now I think it's one of my new favorites. It was NOT the comedy they said it would be - but something to me made it feel all the more better. Real. Which I will take anyway over a comedy. Secretly I love movies, music, art and books that make me think and feel. And this one completely did that. I'm not a huge movie person, usually I fall asleep halfway through most movies I watch these days (My couch is too comfortable) but this movie kept me awake and engaged. I feel like what I said about it doesn't give it justice. I'd say give it a watch and see how you like it, but be warned - you might get teary eyed or cry. And that's okay. This movie goes to show you that we know little of those around us until we take the time to be there for them, listen to them and care for them.
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https://laurenbeukes.com/books/the-shining-girls/
This has been by far one of the best books I've read in awhile! "The shinning girls" by Lauren Beukes caught me by surprise! I had gotten in back during covid a few years back from one of those little free libraries. It seemed like an unusual read, so I took it in place of one of my own books. I think I have a weakness for books that go back and forth between the past and the present. This one is about a time traveling serial killer who prays on girls/women who he sees as shining - they are bound for important and beautiful futures until he ends their lives. One girl survives his attack and goes on to hunt him down. I *highly* recommend it.

https://stephenking.com/works/collection/night-shift.html
I've had this books FOR YEARS. So long that it's become yellowed, pages are torn and weary and it just has that old book feel. But this was another one that caught me by surprise. I've read a small handful of Stephen King's books before, but never a short collection of stories. So I've been meaning to read this one. It was good! Some stories caught my attention more than others, but overall I liked them all. They all felt different and stood out in their own way. It was released in 1978, so I think to date it is one of the oldest works of Stephen King I have read. I recommend it if you like scary, interesting short stories.

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