The Animal Crossing Book Tag

Hello everyone,

Today I want to do something a little bit different than my usual posts. Over a month ago, I saw Riddhi @Whispering Stories ‘s post where she did The Animal Crossing Book Tag, and I knew I had to do it too. I love Animal Crossing: New Horizons, although my poor island has been neglected for a few weeks and I really need to get back into it. This tag was created by Bookish Things and Tea.

Let’s jump into the tag!

Image from Stickpng

Gamecube – A classic that you want to read

Right now, there are two classics I want to read. I really want to read Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell because it has been on my TBR for a very long time. I also want to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, but the length intimidates me, and I am a huge fan of the Disney adaptation and I know that this is a lot darker.

Wild World – Your favorite second book in a series.

This was a hard one because I feel like most of the time I find second books in the series lacking. However, I would have to pick Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery. I just love how we continue to see Anne growing up, as well as the rest of the Avonlea crew.

New leaf – The best new release you’ve read recently

If recently means so far this year, I would have to say The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith. I really enjoyed this first adult novel from Jennifer E. Smith, she tackles several different topics and I loved the backdrop of an Alaskan cruise. I highly recommend this for fans of her YA works. I am also planning on having a longer review up in a few weeks.

City Folk – Your favorite book set in a large city

This was a hard one because I usually don’t focus a whole lot on where the book is set, or rather how big the surroundings are, but if I had to pick one I would have to say The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani, which is a thriller set in Paris. I really enjoyed it, and if you’d like to read more of my in-depth thoughts, check out my full-length review that I posted last year.

Isabelle – A book that has been with you through thick and thin

For this one I have two books, I couldn’t decide between either of them. Both are sort of comfort reads and I keep coming back to them every so often. They are Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I love both of them for different reasons, but yet each time I read them I enjoy them even more than the previous time.

Bells – A book rich with character

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. While told mainly in a series of vignettes set in a small town in Alabama, we also get to know several of the characters, and their lives through various trials. I fell in love with the characters and could barely put it down.

Pitfall – A book you wouldn’t mind never seeing again.

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata. I should have DNF’d this, but I didn’t. I get that it was tackling some serious topics but it took a very bizarre and disturbing turn and I was definitely scarred for a few days after reading it.

Fossil – Your favorite history/historical fiction book.

I would definitely have to pick both Radium Girls and The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. Both tackle different topics that are somewhat unknown to most people, and Kate Moore writes in such a way that it is hard to put down. I will say that both books have made me angry with various things that happened to the women that are explored, but in a good way. I can see why these books might not be for everyone, but I highly recommend them!

I am tagging anyone who would like to participate in this tag! Here are a few rules if you decide to do it:

• Please link back to the original creator of the tag, Bookish Things and Tea.
• Answer the following Animal Crossing themed book questions.
• Feel free to use graphics, but be sure to credit Bookish Things and Tea.
• Tag some friends to spread the love!

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Hello Everyone,

Today’s review is on At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon.

Summary:

It’s easy to feel at home in Mitford. In these high, green hills, the air is pure, the village is charming, and the people are generally lovable.
Yet, Father Tim, the bachelor rector, wants something more. Enter a dog the size of a sofa who moves in and won’t go away. Add an attractive neighbor who begins wearing a path through the hedge. Now, stir in a lovable but unloved boy, a mystifying jewel theft, and a secret that’s sixty years old.
Suddenly, Father Tim gets more than he bargained for. And readers get a rich, provincial comedy in which mysteries and miracles abound.

My Thoughts:

*Note: this review starts out as more of a journal of my feelings while reading the book, and then launches into my overall thoughts.*

At Home in Mitford has been hard for me to get into. I thought I would take to it immediately, however, it does seem a bit too saccharine and wholesome for my tastes. That seems weird of me to say, but it’s true. Maybe it’s because we are following a community, but no one seems to have any problems, which I find it hard to believe. Things just seem to perfect. Right now I am still on the fence on whether or not I want to keep reading it. I might stick with it for now.

This is so unusual. I feel disengaged from the book and have very little desire to pick it up. However, I also don’t want to DNF it either. I think I am going to read a couple of chapters a day and read something else too.

I finished At Home in Mitford and it was okay. As I have already mentioned, I never felt fully invested in the story, but there was enough that kept my interest piqued. It just felt like not much happened, but I guess that is the point since it is a slice of life novel. However, things just seem to perfect in Mitford, even the problems that do arise are conveniently dealt with.

I did like getting to know the people of Mitford, my only complain is the dialect, it three me off. Even though I know it is supposed to be set in the South, I kept imagining British and Scottish accents.

I did like that through Father Tim’s example readers get to see the spiral of what can happen when one doesn’t take breaks to relax and running oneself ragged. I also liked getting to know Dooley, it was interesting to see his character growth, even though he is a child.

I felt like the writing style was interesting, it was told in vignettes. However, they did seem disjointed at times, especially during the first half of the novel.

Overall, At Home in Mitford was an okay read. There is a small part of me that wants to eventually pick up the next book to see what happens, but I am not in a big rush to do so. 3/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

First Line Fridays #84 – The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading is My Superpower.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

“A girl is running for her life.”

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Anne of Windy Willows by L. M. Montgomery

Hello Everyone,

Today’s review is on Anne of Windy Willows by L. M. Montgomery.

Summary:

The fourth book in the Anne Shirley series.

Newly graduated from Redmond College, Anne is hired to be the principal of Summerside High School, which means being separated from Green Gables and also from her beloved boyfriend Gilbert, who is away at medical school. In her new job, she quickly discovers that the Pringle family rule the town of Summerside, and she was not the person they wanted to run their school. Can Anne, far from her friends and family, confront the Pringles and win the trust and love of the town? – Taken from GoodReads

My Thoughts:

I’ll be honest, this is not my favorite installment in the Anne series. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but it is definitely the weakest one in the series. One of the things I didn’t like about it is that we see very little of the gang from Avonlea that we have grown to know and love over the course of the first three novels. We also don’t have any scenes with Gilbert, yes he is mentioned, but there are no interactions with him where he is actually in a scene.

I also didn’t like how the novel kept switching between epistolary and narrative, and as a result flipflopping between 1sy person and 3rd person, it was jarring at times.

However, that being said, I did enjoy getting to know the various characters that Anne encounters in Sunnyside. But there were definitely a couple of them that I wish we saw a lot more of, like Pauline Gibson, who we get a couple of chapters about during Anne’s first year there, and then she isn’t mentioned again except in passing in the last chapter. I did love getting to know Little Elizabeth and Katherine Brook, but I extremely disliked Hazel.

Overall, while not the best installment in the series, Anne of Windy Willows is still an enjoyable treat for those who are fans of Anne Shirley. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Code Girls by Liza Mundy

Hello Everyone,

Today’s review is on Code Girls by Liza Mundy.

Summary:

In the tradition of Hidden Figures and The Girls of Atomic City, Code Girls is the astonishing, untold story of the young American women who cracked key Axis codes, helping to secure Allied victory and revolutionizing the field of cryptanalysis.

Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history; now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, bestselling author Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment. – Taken from GoodReads.

My Thoughts:

This was an interesting look at the forgotten women who helped crack the coeds that helped end World War II. I’d heard of the code breakers, but I didn’t realize just how many of them were women, as well as how some of the biggest codes that were cracked were done so by women who did not receive the credit they rightly deserved.

I’ll admit that this was a little bit dry at times, and it seemed to be repetitive. However, I do appreciate the care the author took to describe the different kinds of codes and how they were cracked, as well as the history of coding.

Overall, this was a fascinating read and I highly recommend it for those who are interested in World War II history, as well as the code breaking that took place in that era. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

2022 Library Haul, Vol. 1

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another library haul. I finally ended up signing up for a library card this week with one of my local libraries. I’d been meaning to for a while, but for whatever reason I hadn’t. However, I was at the library for a job interview and the time had come for me to get a library card (by the way, I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned that we moved to Texas in December), as well as check out a few books. I did restrain myself and only checked out 5 books. I think the odds are greatly in my favor that I will actually read all 5 of them before they are do back early next month. Here are the books I checked out:

Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence

As I am writing this, I have just finished Dear Fahrenheit 451. I loved it! I highly recommend it! I laughed so much and could relate to a lot of things that the author says as a librarian and a book lover. This is definitely going to be on my favorites list at the end of the year. I loved reading her different thoughts for each book, and it was just really good. Please read this one if you can get your hands on it!

The City of Brass by S. A Chakraborty

If you saw my 22 books to read in 2022, you know that this is one of those books. However, I have been intrigued by it for a couple of year, but I’m also intimidated because I don’t know if I’ll like it. However, I am intrigued to read a Middle Eastern inspired fantasy. I have already started it and so far I am hooked!

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Lately I have been really getting into romance, and I have been wanting to read Waiting for Tom Hanks for a while. I was sold by the fact that it is about a woman who loves Sleepless in Seattle (which I still need to read, but I love You’ve Got Mail), and longs to find her own version of Tom Hanks. When she gets the opportunity to work on a movie set, she meets the star of the movie, who is the complete opposite of her ideal man, and well, I guess we kind of know what is going to happen between them.

The Odyssey of Star Wars by Jack Mitchell

First off, how did I not know this existed?! I was sold by the title alone, however I am even more intrigued by the fact that this is Rogue One and all the films of the original trilogy in the form of epic poetry. Yes, I know it’s kind of nerdy, but at the same time I am really looking forward to reading this (it is also a reminder that I still need to read the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars books by Ian Doescher). I also love the cover art. I discovered this purely by accident, I was browsing the new books section at the library, and I saw the title. That’s all I need to be convinced that I needed to check it out and bring it home with me.

The Dark Fantastic by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas

Lately I have had an itch to get back into literary analysis and criticism (more so writing it), I did a lot of it in college as an English major, and by the time I graduated I was burnt out. I have a few ideas of things I want to do with this new found urge to analyze literature and movies, but I also want to read more books on literary analysis and criticism as well. The Dark Fantastic sounded really interesting because it looks at race in four popular book series and tv series, focusing more specifically on the portrayal of young black women in these fictional worlds. I looking forward to reading this and learning a lot more about what the author has to say about race and imagination.

And those are the 5 books I checked our from the library. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I feel optimistic that I will make it through all of them by the time they go back, but even if I don’t – thank goodness for renewals!

Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.

First Line Fridays #83 – Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading is My Superpower.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

“Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies’ eardrops, and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, the darkest secrets of pool and cascade, but by the time it reached Lynde’s Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde’s door without due regard for decency and decorum, it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children, and that is she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.”

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

22 Books I Want To Read in 2022

Hello everyone,

Today I would like to share the 22 books that I am hoping to read in 2022. Since it is March, I have already read a few of these books, so I have a good feeling that I will make it through all of them by December 31st. A lot of these books are ones that I have been meaning to pick up for several years and for one reason or another I just haven’t, but 2022 is the year I am going to prioritize them!

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

I have been meaning to pick up the Lilac Girls for several years but just haven’t gotten the chance. This year I am determined to read it. I think it will be heartbreaking because it is set during World War II and it is following the lives of three very different women and their experiences during this tumultuous time in history.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

I have heard nothing but great things about Station Eleven. I think the only reason that I’ve been reluctant to pick it up is that it is set during a pandemic, and since we are just coming out of one (I hope!) it just never felt like a good time to read it. However, I feel like I am in a good place to read it, and I’m looking forward to it.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss

I’m a little embarrassed that it has taken me so long to pick this up. I’ve had it on my shelves since 2018, and it sounds right up my alley. Not only is it a Victorian mystery, but it follows the daughters of several notorious characters from Gothic literature, such as Dr. Jekyll, Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Moreau and others. Also, Sherlock Holmes and Watson also make an appearance. It sounds really good and I am looking forward to seeing how all these characters interact with one another.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

I’ll be honest, I don’t know a whole lot about this book, except that it is set after the Civil War, and that a movie came out starring Tom Hanks. It sounds really good, and I think I’ll enjoy it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Welp, I think it’s about time that I finished reading the Harry Potter series. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to pick up the last book. I think it’s partly because I didn’t grow up with Harry Potter like a lot of my peers, so I’m not as crazed about it. I do want to finish it though, and I think this is the year to do so!

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

I had every intention of picking up The Starless Sea when it came out several years ago, but I never got to it. I’ll admit that I am a bit hesitant to pick it up because I read The Night Circus and wasn’t a huge fan of it. But I have also seen that some who weren’t into The Night Circus have really enjoyed The Starless Sea – I’m hoping I am one of those readers.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing is another book that I am wanting to pick up because of how beloved it is. Again, I know very little about it, except that it is set in the South in the ’60s and it is part mystery. I’m looking forward to seeing why everyone loves it, however, I’m also worried that it won’t live up to the hype.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

The Memory Police has been on my radar for a while. The concept of memories disappearing, and things just disappearing from existence sounds fascinating and I’m looking forward to seeing how the author pulls it off. Also, I enjoy reading novels in translation, I just find them fascinating because it is written from a different perspective than an American-centric one.

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

The Poppy War is a martial fantasy based on China’s bloody history during the 20th century. I also know that it is gory and graphic and does not shy away from the horrors of war, but I’ve also heard nothing but good things about it and I am looking forward to picking it up.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

I’m intrigued to read about the town of Mitford, and it did come recommended for fans of Debbie Macomber’s books. Who knows, maybe this will become a new favorite series.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I’ve had The Queen of the Tearling sitting on my Kindle for a while, although I don’t even remember buying it. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, and I know my friend Allison really enjoyed it. I know it’s a fantasy, but I’ve honestly forgotten the synopsis.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Serpent & Dove was a book that I heard a lot about on BookTube when it first came out, and it definitely got mixed reviews. However, after hearing Grace from G-Swizzle talk about it and how she found it to be a book that helped her work through deconstruction of some of her beliefs, my interest was piqued. As someone who is working through her own questions and concerns about certain aspects of my beliefs, I’m curious to see how that affects my enjoyment of the book. I’m personally expecting to love it, but who knows!

The City of Brass by S. A. Chabkraborty

This is the first book in a Middle Eastern based fantasy series involving djinn, and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews to the point I want to give it a go. However, I am nervous because I’ve only just recently started dipping my toes into adult fantasy.

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

I really need to read Cranford. I have had this on my shelves for almost 7 years! I remember that because I picked it up when I went to The Last Bookstore in L.A. for the first time. I’d meant to read it in preparation for reading my senior thesis, however I ended up writing it on the author’s other work, North & South. I’m looking forward to reading it and seeing whether I enjoy it more or less than North & South.

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

I read Convenience Store Woman three years ago, and I enjoyed the quirkiness of it. Earthlings is Sayaka Murata’s latest novel (at least the latest that has been translated into English), it sounds a little weird, but it will probably be enjoyable. (*Spoiler alert: I read it in February and did not enjoy it. It was a pretty disturbing read.).

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Arsenic and Adobo is a cozy mystery that centers around food, and I am looking forward to reading it. I’m also intrigued to see how the murder is solved.

The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore

I loved the author’s previous work, Radium Girls, and before I even knew what this one was about, I knew I had to read it. I am looking forward to reading more about the state of asylums, and even how woman who did not fit into the conventions of society were treated.

The Cape Doctor by E. J. Levy

I’ll be honest, I was first intrigued by this book simply because of the title, and that fact that it is set in Cape Town, South Africa, when it was the Cape Colony. It is follows a young woman who longs to be a doctor, but the only way she can do so is by dressing as a man.

The Doctors Blackwell by Janice P. Nimura

I am excited to read about two of the first female doctors in U.S. and the various obstacles they had to face in the field of medicine. As well as other ways they pioneered the world of medicine. I also like that it seems, based on the synopsis, like the author does not shy away from some of the seemingly problematic beliefs that these two women had.

The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt

I am a Disney fanatic, and when I saw that this book was coming out I knew I had to read it. Not only is about Disney animation, but it is about the women who worked on some of the early movies that Disney released. I’m excited because I feel like for a long time the women who worked on these films have been overshadowed by the men, and I am glad that their story is finally being told.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

This sounds like an amazing book featuring magical realism, as well as exploring family dynamics and life in a small town. I don’t want to know to much else about the book, because I do want to just go in and be surprised.

The Arsonists’ City by Hala Alyan

After reading Salt Houses last year, Hala Alyan has become a new favorite author of mine and I want to read everything she puts out. I believe that this is her sophomore novel and it follows several generations of a family where the patriarchs are from war-torn Syria and Lebanon. I expect this to pack a punch and be a hard read at times, but I am still excited to pick it up soon.

And those are the 22 books I will be prioritising this year. Stay tuned to see if I actually make it through this whole list, I think I can do!

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Mini-Reviews #12

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of mini-reviews.

One Piece, Volume 21 by Eiichiro Oda

This volume in the ongoing One Piece series follows Luffy and his crew as they continue to try and defeat Baroque Works and save the kingdom of Alabasta. We get to see each crew member go up against a member (or several members) of Baroque Works, as well as learn about each of their strengths as fighters. However, it doesn’t end in this volume and it continues in the next one so I will have to wait and see what happens next in Volume 22.

Confessions of a Curious Bookseller by Elizabeth Green

I fully expected to love this book, it’s about a bookseller, it’s told in epistolary style, and there even seemed to be hints of a romance. It had all the makings of a version of You’ve Got Mail (one of my favorite rom-coms) and my interpretation of the synopsis led me to believe that that would be the case – and that’s probably my fault. Needless to say, this book was a disappointing read. There is no romance, the main character – Fawn Birchill – is extremely unlikable and she honestly deserved for her business to fail (oops, spoiler alert). She is a narcissist and is passive aggressive to everyone. She has some weird gripe with her dad, which is never resolved, and based on how much she lied and made up stories, I wonder how much of that is actually true. One character I wish we could have gotten to know more is Fawn’s business rival, Mark Nielsen because he seemed like a stand-up guy, especially since he had to deal with Fawn’s crap. I will say the last 30 pages redeemed Fawn a little bit, but I would’ve liked to see more of this change. 2.5/5 Stars.

Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes

Disciplines of a Godly Woman was a good book to inform and refresh Christian women of the different disciplines we ought to be practicing in our daily lives. I also appreciated how the author also makes sure to explain the difference between legalism and discipline. I’ve already started working on implementing some of these disciplines in my life, although it isn’t easy. I recommend this book for all Christian women. 4/5 Stars.

If They Come For Us by Fatima Ashgar

Even though it has been a couple of years since this came out, and I don’t know why I didn’t right a review for it because I remember really enjoying this poetry collection, as well as learning about a different culture other than my own. Thanks to Random House – One View and NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. 4/5 Stars.

Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen

I really loved Sarah Andersen’s latest collection of comics, in fact I have reread this one several times. They are so relatable and funny, I can’t wait to see what she puts out next. Thanks to Andrew McMeels Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. 4.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

First Line Fridays #82 – Eat Joy edited by Natalie Eve Garrett

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Reading is My Superpower.

Eat Joy edited by Natalie Eve Garrett

“Looking back on some of the more challenging times in my life, I remember not only the emotions involved, but also the taste.”

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.