The Infinite Blacktop

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I read the first two Detective Clair DeWitt books a few years ago. I bought this used copy of the third book, The Infinite Blacktop by Sara Gran, to catch up on the series.

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Clare DeWitt, the worlds greatest detective, wakes up from a car accident, bruised, bloody, and pissed off. She realizes one thing right away - that was no accident. Determined to find out why someone tried to kill her, she sets out on what could possibly be her most important job yet.

DeWitt is a detective in the vain of Dirk Gently, a believer in the interconnectedness of all things and a follower of her own instinct and intuition, someone who goes where life takes her. Clare’s meaner and tougher than most, and Gran’s books have a distinctly noir vibe. There’s lots of blood, guts, violence and graphic language in these books which I had forgotten when I started reading this third installment. I had also forgotten that Clare’s story has as much to do with her past as with her present and that almost all of it involves a mysterious and elusive book that led her to become a detective. In this book her past and present finally catch up with each other and we follow her as she realizes this. I really like that this book was as much about the existential dilemma of whether to try or give up as much as it was about the main mystery. DeWitt struggles with the ever present feeling of “why bother, why not just die” vs the idea that there are people and things worth trying for. Although this book does explain it’s own backstory and could be read as a stand alone, I think it would be better to read it in it’s place in the series. I would recommend the series to anyone who like modern noir, those who like strong and tough female leads, and people who might be interested in mysteries that deal with the weird and existential.

What kind of mysteries do you enjoy?

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The Tale of Beatrix Potter

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I don’t know where I got this little biography, The Tale of Beatrix Potter by Margaret Lane, but I’m glad I picked it up!

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Beloved the world over for her sweet and imaginative childrens books, Beatrix Potter’s work is well known. Her life remained shrouded in mystery and speculation until her coded journal was found and deciphered.

I grew up with The Tale of Peter Rabbit and the other Beatrix Potter books. I was acrtually super surprised that my husband did not. I thought ALL kids read these books growing up!! These books, featuring anthropomorphic animals with little waistcoats and independent lives, were a huge impact on my childhood. Until I read this biography of the author, I took that fact a little for granted. I’m glad that I could read about Potter’s life and have my love of these books rekindled. Her story is also extremely fascinating. I had known that Peter Rabbit was originally written as a letter to the child of a friend, but I had no idea the rest of Potter’s story. This book was very interesting; Potter’s life was sheltered and solitary as she was sequestered and contained by her parents. In her early childhood her and her brother were very close but as soon as he was able, he left and started a life without his sister. She wasn’t allowed to do the same until she was well in her forties. The way she escaped and created was to dream, draw and write stories, many of which later became her books. She had many pets growing up and was completely devoted to them. She also kept a shockingly detailed and and very secret journal, creating her own code and writing in teeny script. It was only years after her death, when the journal was discovered and years after that, when it was decoded, that her true thoughts and feelings about her life and her true history were known. I would highly reccommend this book to those who like literary biographies, people who were fans of her books, or anyone interested in one woman’s journey to freedom.

Have you read this book?

This book was mentioned in my November Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

Weekly Video Round Up #3 | 12/21/2020 - 12/27/2020

12/22 - BxxKmas 2020 | BookTube Reflections Tag | Looking back at my first year on Booktube | BookTube and Cats

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays. Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

Here is the Booktube Reflections Tag which was originally created by Everything Elle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkOVy9IzjJI ) and I found it through Bill Ruttenburg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPocgaph5pU ). I really like this short sweet little tag but I ramble on about my thoughts quite a bit.

Channels mentioned: Books and La La (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmT3SYwGCZvzFLTo_18Cvnw )

Cats in this Video: Martin

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI
9) Dec 18th - BxxKmas vlog 2, 1000 doors reasathon wrap up: https://youtu.be/dr9xOg2y_68
10) Dec 19th - Move my bookcase with me: https://youtu.be/9XOKXAUpjoc
11) Dec 20th - 20 books from 2020 that I want to read in 2021: https://youtu.be/2B-1-xsbn1U

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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12/23 - BxxKmas 2020 | Cloak and Dagger Xmas Part 1 | Week 3 Vlog | Beach Bum Booktuber

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays. Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

In this vlog I start the Cloak and Dagger Christmas Readathon, eat some pasta, watch an earth mover, walk on the beach, see some snow, see some holiday lights, celebrate the solstice (sorta), and visit an art store.

Cloak and Dagger Christmas Readathon:
Hosts: Kate Howe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgcj...
Carolyn from Carolyn’s Reading Ramblings Kate from The Novel Nomad: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4Tw...
Janelle from Too Fond of Books:

Clue Prompts:
1. Study: Associated with your profession, what you studied in college, or a field you'd like to learn about more www.stopyourekillingme.com/JobCats/index.html
2. Library: A book that references books, borrow a book from the library
3. Hall: entry into a new-to-you mystery sub genre or author or series
4. Billiard room: [cue balls] next numbered book in a series, book has a game or sport involved
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5. Conservatory: nature, travel, warm climate
6. Kitchen: cozy food-based mystery, small town mystery
7. Dining Room: closed circle, small group of people, hotel, dinner party
8. Lounge: [cocktails] written or set during the Golden Age (1920s-30s)
9. Ballroom: party

Amateur Sleuth Level: 3 prompts Police Detective Level: 5 prompts Sherlock Holmes Level: 9 prompts

Extras:
Group Read – The Bird by Daphne du Maurier
Group Watch – Agatha and the Truth of the Murder • December 12th 8:15pm EST and December 13th 10:45 am Australian Central Daylight Time
Instagram scavenger hunt • Candlestick • Revolver • Lead pipe • Dagger • Rope • Monkey wrench

Books in this video:
Magpie Murders (2014) Anthony Horowitz
The Moving Finger (19xx) Agatha Christie
Buried (xxxx) Jeffery Deaver

Cats in this video: no cats wanted to appear in this vlog

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI
9) Dec 18th - BxxKmas vlog 2, 1000 doors reasathon wrap up: https://youtu.be/dr9xOg2y_68
10) Dec 19th - Move my bookcase with me: https://youtu.be/9XOKXAUpjoc
11) Dec 20th - 20 books from 2020 that I want to read in 2021: https://youtu.be/2B-1-xsbn1U
12) Dec 22nd - BookTube Reflections Tag: https://youtu.be/hiJ6fYrs5c4

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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12/26 - BxxKmas 2020 | Daily BuJo Fill In | Bullet Journaling | Fast Writing | No Talking | Minimalist BuJo

Hi, I'm Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays. Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

Here is a typical day of filling in my bullet journal. I will be posting my January set up very soon and will also post a jan plan with me. I have a very minimalistic bujo and don't mind if I make mistakes.

Do you bullet journal?

Cats in this video: sadly none.

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI
9) Dec 18th - BxxKmas vlog 2, 1000 doors reasathon wrap up: https://youtu.be/dr9xOg2y_68
10) Dec 19th - Move my bookcase with me: https://youtu.be/9XOKXAUpjoc
11) Dec 20th - 20 books from 2020 that I want to read in 2021: https://youtu.be/2B-1-xsbn1U
12) Dec 22nd - BookTube Reflections Tag: https://youtu.be/hiJ6fYrs5c4
13) Dec 23rd - BxxKmas Vlog 3, Cloak and Dagger 1: https://youtu.be/xYL8Jkucg68

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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12/27 - BxxKmas 2020 | 2021 Reading and Channel Goals | Goal Making | NOT Smart Goals

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays. Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

I am trying to make obtainable goals for reading and for this channel for 2021! I love goals making. Check out more of my 2021 goals on my blog (below).

What are your bookish or channel goals for this year?

Cats in this video: none.

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI
9) Dec 18th - BxxKmas vlog 2, 1000 doors reasathon wrap up: https://youtu.be/dr9xOg2y_68
10) Dec 19th - Move my bookcase with me: https://youtu.be/9XOKXAUpjoc
11) Dec 20th - 20 books from 2020 that I want to read in 2021: https://youtu.be/2B-1-xsbn1U
12) Dec 22nd - BookTube Reflections Tag: https://youtu.be/hiJ6fYrs5c4
13) Dec 23rd - BxxKmas Vlog 3, Cloak and Dagger 1: https://youtu.be/xYL8Jkucg68
14) Dec 26th - Daily Bullet Journal Fill In: https://youtu.be/diKPqNabev8

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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The Body in the Library

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

The second in the Miss Marple Series, I listened to The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie for free on the internet.

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The Bantrys are totally shocked when they wake up with the body of a dead blond on the library hearth rug. Who but Miss Marple can help discover her idenity and reason for being there?

When I lucked out by reading (listening) to the first book in the Miss Marple series quite by accident a few months ago, I decided that I would continue the series in order! I was lucky to find all of them on a free audio book site. Then I got confused. On that site it says that this is the third book, but on another site it says this is the second. The book in between this and the first book is short stories, so I decided to skip to this one (or this is book two?? IDK). From the start of this book it seemed quite familiar to me… then I realized that I had seen the adaptation on the BBC series. Luckily I couldn’t remember the ending, so it was still a great mystery and surprise to me. This book sees Miss Marple called into the case right away, but she still downplays her role and skills. She and Mrs Bantry travel outside of St Mary Mead to other locales where the lead up to the murder may have taken place. This aspect opens Marple to a wider world in some ways. The series is interesting to me bc it is not MM who is the main character, and the narrator changes with every book. The Body doesn’t have one lead narrator which wasn’t my favorite, only bc it meant that we got away from some of the storylines I liked more than others. There was a lot dealing with coppers in this book and those bits were a bit boring. So far, this series really feels like Agatha Christie is trying out different things and finding what she likes best. Overall, I would recommend this book and I would recommend this book series for those who like classic mysteries, British mysteries, who dun its where the lead detective or person who solves the crime is not a main character, and those interested in Agatha Christie’s writing.

Are you an Agatha Christie Fan? what is your favorite of her series?

This book was mentioned in my November Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

Dune

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

Dune by Frank Herbert is a sci fi classic and I’m surprised I haven’t read it until now. I listened to it free on the internet. The site didn’t list the author.

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The Duke Lido and his family must move to a mining planet rife with danger and intrigue, and a battle for power that rages between the emporors subordinants. The planet’s indiginous people aren’t happy about it either.

So many sci fi fans (including my husband and father) love this book and I have wanted to read it for a long time. But it’s so intimidating!! It’s well loved, it’s long, it’s problematic, there are lots of reasons to be worried about this book. The main reason that I never picked it up was how long it was. We know that I avoid long books as much as possible. That was why I was so happy to find this book on audio. I’m not sure who the reader was but he read really well. I LOVED this book! It’s a tome for sure, outdated, misogynistic, yeah, but it’s so good!! It’s absolutely compelling and interesting with a ton of quick and easy character development and world building. It is looooong, but especially listening to it, I was so surprised how fast paced it was and how much the story moved along. If I had a complaint, it would actually be that the ending was rushed! There was so much still to happen and the book wrapped it up very fast and matter a factly, which was a bit jarring after all the time and work put into the beginning. I’m not 100% sure, but it seemed that Dune was the originator of a lot of sci fi devices and trope. Was this where sand worms first came from? Was this were life saving land suits came from? Was this where books and Movie like Tank Girl got the idea for a waterless planet? Space drugs? All sorts of great things are in this book. Although Dune does have the classic (and mainly annoying) chosen one trope, I really enjoyed how it was tackled here. Although it had the problematic theme of the white man freeing the indigenous population, II felt it tackled some of those issues in the way that the characters dealt with and felt about the problem inherent in that. I think I need to read (possibly physically) this book again before I make a real (spoiler rich) in depth review of Dune. But for now I can say that I highly recommend this book for those who love space operas, classic sci fi, chosen one stories, mystical sci fi and all those who love big books.

This book was mentioned in my November Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

Weekly Video Round up #2 | 12/14/2020 - 12/20/2020

12/14 - BxxKmas 2020 | I Reached My GoodReads Goal! | GoodReads Goals and Thoughts | What I think of GoodReads

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays.
Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

I started my Goodreads account in August and I hit my goal of 50 books in December. Do you use Goodreads?

Books Mentioned:
The Tale of Beatrix Potter (1970) Margaret Lane

Cats in this Video: None

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

12/18 | BxxKmas 2020 | 1000 Doors Readathon Finale | Chatty Vlog | Vlog Fail?

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays.
Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

I finally participated in the 1000 Door Readathon and in this vlog I finish it! This readathon was created by Meg with Books (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7p6EBNVA4bSzDdzl3bL_GA ), Drinking By My Shelf (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBv9PyaDIjq_7nnTreH93_A ), and Tea, Books, and Tasmyn (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjQuXVURkIu1zXLWhydIIvw ) and features Monica Kim (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE91wUZaPq7M3uKgJlp9oag ).

This vlog is very chatty and a bit of a fail. I talk A LOT, visit a free little library, drink coffee, read a yellow book, eat pizza and pasta, get off my bxxkmas posting schedule, visit a park, and then talk some more.

Books read in this vlog:
Cape May Ghosts Stories (1988) David J Seibold and Chrles J Adams III
It’s Fine By Me (1992) Per Petterson

Cats in this Video: Martin and Flounder

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

12/19 - BxxKmas 2020 | Move My Bookcase With Me | Let’s mover books around all day! | Read Shelf Declutter

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays. Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

We are rearranging our middle room so help me move my read shelf! Book sorting, no talking! Cats in this Video: Irving makes a brief appearance.

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI
9) Dec 18th - BxxKmas vlog 2, 1000 doors reasathon wrap up: https://youtu.be/dr9xOg2y_68

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

12/20 - BxxKmas 2020 | 20 books from 2020 I want to read in 2021 | Books Seen On BookTube | Books to Read

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos on Mondays and Fridays. Since I don’t celebrate xmas in the traditional way, why would I celebrate Bxxkmas in a traditional way? I’ll be posting at least 4 videos a week for the rest of December!

I barely know what these 20 books are about but I heard about them on BookTube in 2020 and I want to read them in 2021!!

Books mentioned: You gotta watch the video!!

Cats in this Video: none! But there is a BIRD

BxxKmas 2020:
1) Dec 2nd - Non Fiction November Vlog: https://youtu.be/vACxBZIhVew
2) Dec 4th - TBR ASMR no. 3: https://youtu.be/YTPm8Vnp3sc
3) Dec 5th - Anti TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/LCvUj-WBNu0
4) Dec 7th - November Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/wd1QYJwUIZM
5) Dec 9th - BxxKmas Vlog 1, 1000 doors readathon: https://youtu.be/CXVIqTGpcKw
6) Dec 12th - LoFi seltzer ASMR: https://youtu.be/FxTKboI8JQ8
7) Dec 13th - Nonfiction Booktube tag: https://youtu.be/UNOqe53w-I0
8) Dec 16th - Reaching My GoodReads Goal in 2020: https://youtu.be/SQyQ-dPlSkI
9) Dec 18th - BxxKmas vlog 2, 1000 doors reasathon wrap up: https://youtu.be/dr9xOg2y_68
10) Dec 19th - Move my bookcase with me: https://youtu.be/9XOKXAUpjoc

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

Green-Wood Cemetery

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I think my mother in law gave us Images of America: Green-Wood Cemetery by Alexandra Kathryn Mosca bc she knows how much we love that place!

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Told in pictures and captions, this book relates some of the history of the cemetery, it’s monuments and inhabitants.

This is a simple and straight forward book with many historic tidbits. The history of Green-Wood is extremely interested to me. I love to visit, it’s one of the most beautiful and specials places in Brooklyn. This is a seemingly huge cemetery in the middle of Brooklyn and takes it’s lead from prospect park and central park by having a variety of areas, all environmentally and aestectically different. There are lakes, rolling hills, forest like areas, winding cobblestone paths, interesting flora and unexpected fauna. We loved to take long walks there on a regular basis bc not only was it wonderful, but it was a short walk from our house. I miss it all the time and think that all cemeteries should be so magical. It is a cemetery rich in history, especially NYC history. Basically anything you may be interested in, there’s a grave for that! Architecture, art, music, baseball, history, food and drink, business and industry, activists, animal rights, and much much more are just a few of the subjects you can find fascinating graves and history within in the cemetery walls. Even though this book was mostly pictures with captions, but it definitely captured a small glimpse of all the things that I mentioned above. If you are interested in learning more about Green-Wood, this book is a nice place to start. If you already love Green-wood this might share some insights you were unaware of. I would recommend this book if you are interested in leaning more about Green-Wood, if you like classic pics of NY, or histories of cities and cemeteries.

Have you read books like this? Do you like to read nonfiction or fiction about your favorite places?

This book was mentioned in my November Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

Basquiat

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I remember seeing Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art by Phoebe Hoban on my tbr in at least 2 of my last houses. So that means I’ve had it for at least 10 years.

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Born in 1960, Jean -Michel Basquiat was determined to become a famous artist. He accomplished his goal before his untimely death in 1988.

Jean-Michel, by all accounts made his own career using his talents and tenacity. This book follows his life from birth to death, but not in a linear fashion. It was very interesting to learn about his early life as Basquiat was notorious for distorting his own story and keeping people guessing about his origins. However the man was born, the artist was born from Basquiat’s shear will, prolific artistic drive and, having seen his works in real like I feel, his extraordinary talent as an artist. The majority of this book is devoted to his most active years as an artist, his various galleries, managers, art friends, and the art scene during that time. A large portion is devoted to his lifestyle, his work, but also his excessive alcohol and drug use. Similarly to his birth, childhood, schooling, and actual work, there is less of this book devoted to his relationship with Warhol, then there is about the art scene, the gallery owners, and the many many deals that were made at the time. Basquiat often gets into ridiculous detail about these topics, leaving out any pictures of his actual work. Much of this book could have been edited for content as well as context. Much of it was boring and repetitive. Overall it did give a good sense of how Basquiat was a shooting star of a person, whom no one in his orbit could ignore, how his work was a sort of unschooled magic that flowed from him at basically all times, and how his demise and death was irrifrutably tragic, but also completely self imposed and self realized. I found this book very interesting but I cannot recommend it due to poor writing and poor editing and lack of examples of Basquiat’s work.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Are you a fan of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art?

This book was mentioned in my November Wrap Up.

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Herbs

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I got this magazine style how to book at the Bradley Beach Library Sale this summer. Herbs: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy by Norma Jean Lathrop was written in the 80s but is still relivent today!

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Interesting and informative, Herbs gives you a solid base of knowledge to grow herbs on any scale.

I really enjoyed this book even though it is not, like a riveting read. This instructive manual, had sections for how to choose, propagate, transfer, plant, and use a wide variety of herbs. Some you may know and some you may not be familiar with. This books includes a long list of different herbs, their uses and properties. It also contained a section of profiles of gardeners around the world. I really liked hearing about the different people’s gardens and how they felt about them. I also liked that there is a section on some of the magical and medicinal uses of herbs. I really enjoy that almost every book on herbs mention their magical properties. I read Magical Herbalism earlier this year and liked how these were connected. I would highly recommend this book to those looking to start their journey growing herbs, those who are interested in gardening in general, and those who like gardening books.

Are you a gardener who likes reading? Or a reader who likes gardening?

This book was mentioned in my November Wrap Up.

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The Old Country

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I’ve had The Old Counrty by Mordicai Gerstein for a really long time. I bought it on a trip to Vermont.

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When Gisella’s brother goes off to war, she decides to hunt and kill the fox that has been stealing the family’s chicken. She never expected to end up becoming a fox herself!

I really did not like this book. I had tried to pick this up several times in the long history that I have had it. Reading it now, I know why I DNFd it in the past. Although the intention of making this book read like a fairy tale or fable is a neat idea, I felt everything about this book was overly heavy handed and obvious. The aspect of war was uninteresting to me, and the lessons were over stated and also clunky. I found at times the writing seemed childish and talking down to the reader, but at other times too adult with themes that felt way over the intended readers head. Some of the concepts were interesting, like a fox stealing your body, a court of animals putting you on trial, etc… A main idea was everyone and everything having it’s own nature and whether one can learn to change that nature. The book never fully decides, so the reader must. While writing this review I found that the part that I remembered most fondly was the ending which was a surprise to me. I wouldn’t recommend this book, but I wouldn’t say for sure don’t read it either. I would suggest that as an adult you read this before giving it to a child to read.

Have you read this book? What were you thoughts?

This book was featured in my October Wrap Up.

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The House of Silk

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I have two copies of The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz, and I’m not sure where I got either of them.

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At the end of his life, Dr Watson decides he can share some of the more precarious and scandalous cases he worked on with Sherlock Holmes. The House of Silk might be the most violent and scandalous of them all.

Like I said, I’m not sure where I got this book or when it first showed up on my radar. I don’t even remember what compelled me to pick it up when I did. I do know that I love Sherlock Holmes and Holmes stories. This one was officially endorsed by the Arther Conan Doyle estate and I had seen a few other books by the writer, so I was excited to read it. There were things I really liked about this book and things that I really didn’t enjoy. I made a full review (spoiler free) over at my booktube channel. The most striking thing about this book was how much and how well Horowitz emulated Conan Doyle’s writing style in prose. But another striking thing was how much it is different in plot than the original stories. This book was a weird mix of classically holmsian and distinctly too modern to be a true Holmes novel. Overall I really enjoyed it but there were a lot of tough subject matters brought up that made it not the most fun read. I would not recommend this book to those that do not want to read about violence, trauma, rape, and child abuse. But I would recommend this book to readers who like Holmes variations, mystery lovers, and books where the writer copies the style of another writer.

Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? If so, how do you feel about Holmes variations?

The House of Silk was mentioned in my October Reading Wrap Up and in my first Stand Alone Review.

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The Murder at the Vicarage

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I found this audio book of The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie for free on the internet. I was delighted to find that it was read by Richard E Grant.

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The Vicar in the town of St Mary Mead is scaniliized when the town grouch is found dead in his study. The vicar is wrapped up in the mystery and takes a stab at solving it. Luckily, Miss Marple is also on the case.

This was the second Agatha Christie book I have ever read and it was a good one!! I didn’t know at the time that it was the first in the Miss Marple series. I think I lucked out by now having read the first in the Poirot series and the first in Miss Marple. Now that I’m thinking of it, I actually listened to both of them… Interesting. I wonder how I will feel when I physically read a AC book? I’ll find out soon, as my mother has just given me 2 Christie books she has unhauled. The Murder at the Vicarage was hilarious! There were many parts where I laughed out loud and many more where I was broadly smiling! This was a fast paced and interesting mystery that kept me on my toes. I did not guess the ending but I was perhaps most surprised at how little Miss Marple, who is one of Christie’s most well known ameture detective, was actually in this book. This book is narrated by the vicar and he is mostly driving the action with sly Miss Marple only coming in to neatly wrap up the mystery at the end. She pops in and out in other places in the book, but only for a few pages at a time and for most of the book, she only seems like a very small side character. So far, having read one Poriot book and one MM book, I think I liker her mysteries better just for the shear silliness. I would HIGHL:Y recommend this book, and especially this audio book, to anyone who likes mysteries, those who want to explore older mystery/crime writers and novels, anyone who watched the BBC series and those who love a bumbling lead character, a gossipy village setting, or a seemingly impossible death!

Have you read any Agatha Christie? Do you prefer Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot?

This book was in my October Wrap Up.

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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

A friend recommended The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks many, many years ago. I distinctly remember buying this book when I lived in NYC. Pretty sure I bought this in the barnes and nobles on West 4th St right by the subway station. I used to stop there on my way to work when I worked in the west village and very fond memories.

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Oliver Sacks, a renowned neurologist, is most well known for his l-dopa trials, some of which were documented in the movie Awakenings, writes about more of his interesting case files.

I read a few of these case studies way back when I bought the book (15+ years ago???), and they really stuck with me, so I was excited to pick this one up again. The studies are conversational and really put across the fact that Sacks was more interested on how these people could live with their disorders and damages, rather than what the damages were. Although there is a lot of technical talk in each chapter, there is also a lot of description that make it easy for a leman to read and understand. Each chapter also has a little bit of end notes, mostly written for the book, far after the actual case, which were a wrap up of the case, notes, or observations on the case. I liked the way this books was structured very much and I think it made an otherwise heavy or hard to read book very assessable. This book was written quite a while ago and a lot of the terms and language used was very outdated. It was a little shocking to see the “R” word so frequently and easily used in a medical/clinical book. There is are quite a bit of problematic things in this book, but one must look at it as coming from a certain time. It would not make sense to go back and change the language in this book, but I found myself needing to pause every once in a while. I would recommend this book to anyone interested on medical, neurological, or clinical observations, those who like to read short non fiction case studies, and readers who are interested in the different was the brain can work.

Have you read this book or any book by Oliver Sacks?

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