A Librarian and Her Books

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A spooky and psychological thriller with lots of suspense.

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A-Z Reading Challenge 2026

As I set my reading challenge this year, I’m definitely staying mindful of my failure of last year. So far I’ve started strong and am determined to stay ahead this year so I don’t fail again. I do feel quite a bit refreshed and in a much better mental place at the beginning of this year. With that in mind, here are my categories for this year’s reading challenge. Since I failed last year, I’m…

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The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick - a Book Review

Arthur Pepper, aged 69, is at a pivotal time in life. Recently widowed, he wakes every morning wanting little more than to slog through his daily routine with little contact with the outside world. He wakes at the same time, wears the same clothes, and cares for his only companion, Frederica the fern. Oh, and he attempts to avoid the well-meaning also-widowed neighbor who has adopted him as her…

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Admission of Defeat

For the whole of 2025, I tried to push myself. The more I stressed over how far behind and how unmotivated I was to accomplish literally everything, the worse it got. Even up until the last day of the year, I kept thinking with just a final push I could accomplish everything I’d planned. Now I sit here and ask myself… Why? Maybe it’s part of the human condition to convince ourselves to, in the…

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Model Home by Rivers Solomon - a Book Review

I originally chose this novel as a Haunted House book for my reading challenge, but I have changed my mind. While there is that element of the creepy family home of hidden terrors that plague the nightmares of the now-grown children, that’s not really what this book is about. People looking for tense moments of aching dread, jump scares, and ghoulish imagery will need to look elsewhere. This…

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We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen - a Book Review

If you’ve followed my blog a while, you may have noticed I don’t read a lot of science fiction. I’m far from an aficionado, but I do have some favorites in the genre. Andy Weir comes to mind as someone who’s blown me away with his tightly-crafted and scientifically-convincing works. I love when someone can lay out for me a scientific future that really makes sense. It feels possible and concrete.…

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Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi - a Book Review

Alka Joshi has this knack for creating memorable narratives. This novel, loosely based on the story of the artist, Amrita Sher-Gil, a celebrated female painter of the early 20th century, follows Sona, a nurse in a hospital in Bombay. When Sona meets the famous painter, Mira Novak, the fictionalized character drawn from the inspiration of Sher-Gil, Sona finds herself sent out on her own journey of…

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Voyage of the Damned by Frances White - a Book Review

Boy, do I have mixed feelings about this one. Voyage of the Damned is the debut 2024 novel by Frances White, and her second novel is slated for a 2026 release. On her goodreads profile, this novel is described as a “magical gay murder cruise.” That is an incredibly apt surface description, but there is a lot more going on here. Synopsis Ganymedes Piscero does not want to go on the forced group…

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My Friends by Fredrik Backman - a Book Review

How many authors can continuously churn out books that rake in well more than a 4 star average? Not many, but Fredrik Backman is one of them. He’s a prolific author, and it’s amazing he’s able to have the kind of quality to his writing considering the quantity of work he’s released. I have literally never read a Backman book I didn’t love. And I’ve never read one that didn’t make me cry, that’s…

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The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee, Translated by Sandy Joosun Lee - a Book Review

I can safely say this is unlike any other book I’ve read. For being billed an adult novel, it certainly has a very middle-grade children’s book vibe. The story is very sweet but simple and exudes magic from every angle. It imagines a lovely world in which an eager young woman goes to work in a department store that sells dreams. Each night every man, woman, child, and animal can visit and buy…

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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson - a Book Review

This title is probably new to no one, considering the successful BBC adaptation that aired in 2024. Drawing subtly from the real-life murder case of Hae Min Lee, this binge-worthy young adult true crime novel keeps readers on their toes to the very end. And though it seems to be partly inspired by a real case, that shouldn’t sway the reader into thinking they’ll know what happens. Aside from the…

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The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown - a Book Review

I am still overwhelmingly behind, the dread of catching up just pushing me to become even further behind. So here I am trying to remedy that. The plan is to do little else than write reviews for the next few days until I’m all caught up. I may as well start with one of my favorites of the last few months. Synopsis When Cassie Andrews’ favorite patron dies unexpectedly during her shift at a…

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The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iverson - a Book Review

I have numerous other reads I finished before this one, but I just completed the audiobook and have a lot of thoughts I’m desperate to get out, so I’m skipping ahead a bit. Synopsis Harriet has always been considered odd. Reviled by her father, mistrusted by the local townsfolk, Harriet has only her wild and beautiful garden and her Cousin Eunice, her dearest and only friend. When her father…

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Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler - a Book Review

I have been very fortunate this year so far in that the book club books chosen by my fellow members just happen to slot into my Reading Challenge. This book, Parable of the Sower, the first book in the Earthseed series, fits into the Banned Books category, which is always a favorite of mine to explore. I wish banned books didn’t exist at all, but they do, and I love seeking them out. It doesn’t…

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Reading Challenge Update - April 2025

It’s about time I updated my reading challenge. So far, so good, and I still have a few reviews to get up, which I’ll be working on in the next few days. I know… I’ve said that before, but I really mean it this time! Happy Reading, and thanks for stopping by! Alliterative Title – The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee – finished, review incoming Banned Book Color in the Title Book…

Reading Challenge Update - April 2025

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A Cleft in the World by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler - a Book Review

I stumbled across this lovely novel when meandering through the local library, which I can often be found doing. I was initially intrigued by the cover and the weighty title, so it wound up going home with me. The novel follows Georgie Bricker, a French professor at a small women’s college in Virginia. A victim of childhood trauma, Georgie’s intense agoraphobia hasn’t allowed her to leave her…

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Mister Magic by Kiersten White - a Book Review

If you, like me, are a child of the 90’s or before, you are quite well-versed in the fact that some children’s programs meant to bring joy and comfort dredged up feelings less desirable, often inspiring regular nightmares and originating new deep-seeded fears. Even shows I adored when I was a kid I can watch today and there’s something unsettling about the characters, costumes, and plot points.…

Mister Magic by Kiersten White - a Book Review