Though I had to say a final goodbye to Hobbes on July 19, I will never forget my sweet but sassy muse. He inspired this book review blog and brought so much love and joy into my life. Though, there will be no more snarky book reviews from Hobbes, he will never be forgotten. The vet sent us this card and I thought it was a great way to end this blog. Forever imprinted on our hearts.
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Mom thinks I'm cute so she's pretending this book review is mine. She also wanted an excuse to post me in a Santa hat and sunglasses. Why? Besides the fact that she's a loon, she's doing her Christmas in July promo again and thinks my adorableness attracts more people. You all are weird if you think I have anything to do with books other than reclining on or sniffing them. If the story has animals or features me, I may read it. Mommy says I can go back to sleep and she'll do the rest of this review. Mom of Hobbes: I joined a book club hosted by @sweetsequels on Instagram. Fahrenheit 451 and The Tyranny of Big Tech were May and June's books. I'm terrible at joining in on any conversations about these books because they are happening on another app and I don't have time for any new social media sites. That being said, it gave me an excuse to read these books that I didn't get around to adding to my TBR. I do like to be informed, but struggle reading for information only. The books were not entertaining and my inner child loves to be entertained. Fahrenheit 451 - 4 stars - It's a dystopian fantasy that I normally like, but the topic of burning books is too close to current times. I'm already comparing the governments' behavior to the Capitol in Hunger Games and that's stressful enough to me. Also, this book was banned in the 1950s when it was written just like so many book cancellations now. Are firefighter's jobs going to change from putting out fires to burning books? It was disturbing and hard to follow at times on audiobook. The Tyranny of Big Tech - 4 stars - Scary and informative. It also got banned just last year. I need to get a VPN and hope all the spying Instagram, Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. does on me doesn't come back to bite me in the butt. If you don't understand what I mean, READ THIS BOOK. It's eye-opening and makes me want to live on an island far from technology and civilization. Kingdom of the Wicked - 3 stars - Not my cup of tea, but I really like this author's other books. Witches having relationships with demons doesn't jive with me. Ace of Shades - 3 stars - This has been on my TBR forever. I kept seeing the cover on Instagram and finally got to listen to it for free. It was okay, but nothing I will remember. I think the fandom died out fast, because I no longer see the book on Instagram. A Killer Cupcake - 3 stars - This one had potential to check all my boxes with dessert and a murder mystery. The mystery seemed forced. In an attempt to prove she didn't commit the murder, the main character makes several wrong deductions too hastily. She baked delicious desserts and it was located by a beach, so I thought it would have been a fun summer read. It was okay. Namesake - 4 stars - This was my quickest read and I liked it best. I read the first book in the series last year. The covers put together are stunning. I enjoyed listening to this and it was more of an escape than the rest of the books. The narrator isn't my favorite, but it was still a good read to end my month. I'm getting ready for Mom's new May fairy tale theme on Instagram. Just call me King Hobbes the first. Mom tried to get me to read these books, but as soon as I realized even the Rule of Wolves didn't really have wolves in it, I gave up. Not that wolves are better than cats, but I like to read about them, so I can know how to beat them up in a fight since I'm so tough. Here are Mommy's ratings even though she likes me to say they're mine: Rule of Wolves = 4 🐾 The Flight Girls = 5 🐾 Legion, Skin Deep, Lies of Beholder = 4 🐾 All the Stars and Teeth = 4 🐾 Jasper = We won't rate this book since Mom wrote it, but of course she likes to think it is a 5🐾book. Mom's comments: Rule of Wolves had several 5 star parts, but overall, it wasn't as fun to read as the rest of the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo. I think if I reread it in the future, I may end up changing my mind, but there were some slower parts. It brings back many of the Six of Crows / Shadow and Bone characters, but Nikolai is my favorite. There is a part where one of the characters dies and I struggled with that A LOT. The Flight Girls was historical fiction and it really interested me since I researched the World War II women pilots for my YA time travel book, Travelers. Cornelia Fort was the real live pilot who saw the first Japanese plane come into Pearl Harbor while she was out with her student during a flight lesson. I saw a lot of similarities between the main character in this book and Cornelia. I wrote a blog about her (I included the link to the blog below this review). Legion was three books in one. It was so unique! The character has what he calls hallucinations, which are basically parts of him. Because he's so intelligent, he has split personalities that are experts in different things. He gets paid a lot to solve crimes or mysteries, but he uses all of his hallucinations to achieve success. This book definitely isn't like any book I've ever read before. All the Stars and Teeth was a different kind of story about magic with a pirate and mermaid. I had trouble getting into it at first with the world building, but once you get past the history and names, it gets more interesting. I also struggled with the style of magic and how it was used. It was unique but a little too unique for my tastes. Since I've been busy getting Jasper edited and ready to publish May 14, I didn't read as much. I'm satisfied with what I accomplished in April even with all my distractions, including Hobbes, who needs a lot of extra care. He's worth it of course, but he does require more with his age and health needs. Hobbes: Do I look like Captain Jack Sparrow? Mom: No, you're cuter. Hobbes: Correct answer, now I won't kill you in your sleep. Mom: You can't even hurt a fly. Hobbes: Sssshhh, I'm trying to be a pirate like your book character, Jasper. You can thank me with food and lap time later. Mom: Ok, but I do those things for you anyway. Now onto the reason for this blog. Since you didn't read any of these books because there were no cats and only wolves, I will do the review while you take a nap. Hobbes: I listen to the books on Audible, but I think humans don't want my 1 paw rating on any books without cats. They are so strange. Review: All these books are rereads for me. Since I only reread books I like, they all got 5 stars. Nikolai is one of my favorite pirates or as he refers to himself, privateer, and he is part of this Grishaverse. I read The Shadow and Bone trilogy first, which was actually published after the Six of Crows duology. It made more sense that way because the trilogy explains more of the fictional world and has characters the duology refer to. The sequel to King of Scars comes out at the end of March and I'm ready to read that next. It was enjoyable to reread these books. I find rereads are similar to visiting a dear old friend and it doesn't bother me that my To Be Read (TBR) list is growing. There will be a Netflix series coming out in April based on the characters in these books and I will be watching it with Hobbes on my lap! Hobbes: Tell me again why I'm dressed like a pirate?
Mom: You're promoting my next book, Jasper, a retelling of Hook. Hobbes: Jasper is a pirate? Mom: Yes Hobbes: Ok, I do feel suave and dangerous, but I don't need a costume to make me these things. Mom: Whatever you say (Mom pats Hobbes on his tiny head) Hobbes: What books did you read in February and how'd you rate them? I was too busy getting my beauty sleep to listen to your books. I think you forgot how much I want you to read only books with cats. Mom: Sorry I can't read only books you like. Also, you're handsome with or without sleep. Hobbes: I know. Mom's Book Reviews:
I decided to interview my mom for her opinions, because you know I will give them all a zero paw rating except for the book with animals in it. Well, except they were shape shifters, but a lion is my alter-ego so Piper's Pond: The Unwritten Fairytale gets a 5 paw rating.
Mommy read mostly mushy, gushy, lovey, dovey stories this month. She said it was because she needed to end a stressful year on some lighter reading material. I basically get stuck reading whatever she reads to me because I'm blind.
Thankfully mommy could either read to me or play her audiobooks for me to give this review since I can no longer see. We're struggling with this whole blindness and getting older stuff, but I'm tough and adapting.
Hobbes went blind this month, which is partially why my heart and mind have struggled with not reading as many books as I did last last month. He is stubborn and resilient so he didn't let the fact the world is completely different stop him from helping me review October's books. This photo is of him in his younger days with nice healthy eyes. He has his bookish Halloween costume on for October's reads. Okay, Mom, enough blathering on about my blindness. I'm so smart I can still type of this review without eyes. If you believe that, I can pretty much convince you of anything, can't I?
Do you see how tired I look? Whew! My mommy read so many books and I got tired watching her. She listens to her books on her phone and since she participated in a readathon in September, she listened to an extra amount. Usually she's sitting like a lazy bones while typing her stories on the weekend, but during the readathon she cleaned the whole house as she listened to books. I was trying to take a nap, but the vacuum kept waking me up. UGH! Again all but one book had a cat in it. Harry Potter is the only decent book in my opinion since none of the others had cats. Decent means it wasn't perfect because the cat wasn't the main character. Mom is only giving me her ratings & not reviews since this is too long, but she told me to tell you that she is willing to discuss her opinions with anyone who is curious.
Let me leave you with a quote from the last book Mommy read because she told me to type it. “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Momma thinks people should choose to rise above the stuff they don't like in the world. She says what you do shows who you really are. Many are choosing to hurt rather than help heal and destroy rather than help build. I just stay inside and ignore people when I don't like what they are doing. Hobbes: I'm the only one who cares if Mom is awake doing mommy things.
Mom: Exactly what do I need to do that I didn't do when I was awake? Hobbes: Feed me, pet me, give me attention. Mom: I do that all the time I'm awake. Hobbes: Not when you're gone all day. Mom: I have to go to work to pay for your house and food. Hobbes: Then you must be woken up to meet my needs when you're home. Mom: I love him, but... Hobbes: I will not rate or read any books where vampires want to suck out my blood. YUCK!
Mom: These vampires like larger animal's blood. Hobbes: Really, and that makes it better? You mean like my kin, the mountain lion? Mom: Well, yes, but that makes them better because they don't kill people. Hobbes: What? I don't even know you right now. Me: I'm sorry. You know I hate books where animals are harmed needlessly, but they barely focus on that and they do need it. Besides, it's more of a love story. Hobbes: I'm ignoring you right now. Speak to the paw. You're dead to me. Mom: Since Hobbes is ignoring me, I will rate August's books. I gave books 1 & 4 five paws and books 2 & 3 plus the special edition I gave 5 paws . Bella is a little over-the-top obsessed with Edward in an unbelievable way in the 1st book. Insta love isn't my favorite. The 10th anniversary reimagining of Twilight called Life and Death was better. Bella was switched with Beau and Edward was Edyth and the relationship was more believable. The ending changed but mostly it was the same story. Movie vs. Book: The last book actually dragged a bit especially during the big confrontation with the Voltaire. This was the part when during the movie my heart raced and mouth dropped because the plot got changed a bit for the cinematic thrills and I thought I was remembering the book incorrectly. I was shocked so many died, but then... whew! The movie was better in this scene and kept my attention in a heart stopping way--get that? Heart stopping like when becoming a vampire. I'm such a dork! LOL! (Yes, my mom is a major dork.) Did you read a book by a new author to you this month? Mom discovered Marie Benedict and Natalie Lloyd and now she wants to read more of their books. I only care about the cat Diggory in Silverswift and the ice cream book. She really enjoyed her books this month and read more because they were all shorter books.
Any comments are Mom's. She forced me to type them: 1. Once More Upon a Time = 4 paws (Free Audible original) 2. Sleeping BEAUTi = 5 paws It was a great mix of fantasy & sci-fi. Keeps you wanting to read until the end. (Free Amazon ebook) 3. Agent 355 = 5 paws (Free Audible original) Great historical fiction for MG readers. True historical heroin and mentions another historical character Mom has in her book Settlers. 4. Ghostsitter - A Crazy Inheritance = 4 paws (Free Audible original with music and great production) Fun and not scary monster book for MG readers 5. Silverswift = 5 paws (Free Audible original) A lyrical and magical story written for MG readers but adults can enjoy it also. This one has a cat. 6. A Snicker of Magic = 5 paws (library audiobook) This author strings words together in such a magical way. Mom found a new favorite! A must read for MG readers and their parents! This one has yummy ice cream. I like to say more about the lack of cats in books and that we need more books with ice cream but Mommy said this post is already too long. Mom: What was your favorite book in June? Hobbes: 100 Ways to Manipulate Your Parents Into Doing Anything You Want Mom: That's not a real book. Hobbes: Yes it is, because I'm writing it. Mom: You're definitely doing research for it, but anyways, my favorite book was Aurora Burning. Hobbes: Was it about cats? Mom: No, but it was really good. Hobbes: Then this post should be titled Mommy's stupid book review and leave me out of this! Mom's Review: Anyhoodles, I gave Aurora Burning 5 paws / Geekerella 4 paws / The Princess and the Fangirl 3 paws. I read The Princess and the Fangirl before Geekerella because I didn't know they were part of a series. Even out of order, it didn't matter, but I liked the characters better in the first book. Hobbes: I don't read books written by people (boooorrring) but I'm playing along with this ridiculous post so my mom can show me off. I look good for an old guy I'll use paws to replace stars , but you do know these are her ratings not mine, right?
The Getaway = 3 paws (Mom: Too short to develop plot properly- dialogue sometimes awkward) Pieces of Her = 4 paws Aurora Rising = 5 paws (Mom: 2nd read was even better) The Hunger Games trilogy = 5 paws (Mom: Reading this again after so many years was even better plus gave me more perspective and insight, but I'm still team Peeta all the way!!) Hobbes: Again guys this isn't my opinion. I'm team Buttercup - hello, because cats rule and people drool; especially in their sleep. It's good for humans to get some Vitamin D with the sun, but I just like to experience the comfy warmth. Mom wants me to remind you that sun tans and burns are both considered damaged skin so wear your sun screen. Humans are such high maintenance. I can just do what I do without worrying about that stuff.
Hobbes: My way is the only way Mom: Well, yes, your world revolves around you, but... Hobbes: Nope, people are idiots and need to look at everything the way I do. Mom: That's not very nice to call people idiots. Hobbes: Sometimes the truth hurts, but you still love me no matter what I say. Mom: Yes, I'm a sucker for a cute face. Mom's sermon: Sometimes we can never truly see another person's perspective even when experiencing the same situation. We all deal differently with the same stress, grief, and joy. We're in the same storm with COVID but different boats. That being said, try not to judge someone who sees a situation totally different than you do even if you're like my cat and want to call them idiots--don't Take naps as often as you can. It's healthy and gives you all kinds of energy to keep your momma awake at night. I guess they're are some human health benefits to sleeping, but I don't know about any of that.
Hobbes's mom here with a little looking back. This is Tigger and Hobbes when they were kittens. Tigger left us too soon, but we have many happy memories of him. Sometimes remembering hurts, but don't forget to go back in time once in awhile to happier days. We should never live in the past but it's good to reflect, learn from, and move forward. If in doubt... 1. Wear a disguise because it keeps people guessing what you're up to. 2. Don't take yourself too seriously, you're really not all that. (I'm talking about humans not cats; we're definitely all that.) 3. Take a nap. 4. Eat. 5. Take a nap. 6. Laugh. (My mommy seems better after she laughs. Cats don't laugh; we purr.) Hobbes: Momma, aren't you glad I woke you up multiple times last night? Mom: Not really Hobbes: But you got to pet me, feed me, and look at my adorable face Mom: It was dark and I wasn't wearing my glasses Hobbes: You can't see in the dark? Mom: No Hobbes: That's why you were walking so funny and almost stepped on me Mom: Yes Hobbes: But don't you just love getting more time with me? Mom: Yes (yawn), no (yawn) Hobbes: (Silently looks at Mom with innocent face of adorableness) Mom: Yes, I love you and I never can be angry with you, you manipulating cutie. Humans need to be more like me. If you can't control the situation, worrying just makes your face have those ugly lines. Look at how young I look. I worry about nothing. Stop borrowing trouble from the future and take life one day at a time. Do what you can to be prepared, but don't lose your marbles in the process. Cats invented social distancing and we have nine lives. That should be enough to keep all you humans content at having to do it for a short time. What's the big deal? So you can't hang out with a bunch of yappy people doing all kinds of stupid things. It won't last forever and you'll avoid catching human germs.
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R.I.P.
Tigger & Hobbes added a lot of fun and life to this blog until they were taken from this world. I didn't have the heart to update this part of my website until now. I won't delete this, because they were a part of my journey. Archives
July 2021
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