Tag Archives: book reviews

August 9, 2025 · 2:47 am

This and That 8-9-2025

kaylishop.com

I have inherited the new, simplified-design Kindle that Brian bought for my husband. Harvey has always been a voracious reader, but this is one of the many ways he has changed since his stroke. He can’t handle the simplified Kindle, and he seems to be unable to dive into a book anymore. He has two paperbacks by his favorite authors on the table beside him, but he isn’t reading.

I’m enjoying the new design. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, just larger, clearer type and ease of use. I can throw it in my carrier when we vacate my place for my housekeeper. I really enjoy being able to do that. I am enjoying “Inheritance” by Nora Roberts right now, the first of a trilogy.

We went to visit Harvey today. He announced he had taken a new wife. He said her name is Amaterasu. He said that she is the daughter of Ka Pook, Harvey’s former 24 hour nurse, who has taken a new position in Bangkok. She is 18, tall and beautiful. Harvey said they had a quick ceremony since the marriage was a business arrangement, since she could go to the States if she married a citizen. He didn’t seem to worry about bigamy, or my reaction to the marriage. He was concerned about making arrangements at the airport.

I asked him if, since women seemed to be throwing themselves at his feet, finding him irresistible, if he planned to marry wife #3. He looked at me and said, “I’ll take it as it comes.”

Later we Googled the name, discovering that she is the Japanese sun goddess, a central figure in Shinto mythology. Apparently, he ‘met’ her on TV.

At home, I’m watching the skies, trying to get my laundry dry on the balcony. I brought in several dry things earlier, then rescued some other stuff a few minutes ago from a sudden rain, only to put the them out again about 10 minutes later. Doing laundry during the rainy season in Thailand teaches one to be alert and fast moving. 😁

I sketched several things while we were at the cafe staying out of my housekeeper’s way yesterday. I plan to draw some more thank you cards to leave for her plus start painting some of the sketches.

I hope you’re having a good day and finding reasons to smile.

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November 28, 2024 · 9:45 am

Just Let Me Finish This Chapter!

JoAnne White-Pinterest

I guess you would call me a voracious reader. I have always loved books, from the time I was a young kid, sitting on the floor, looking around the living room in my parents’ home. My dad was pouring over a book from the library on geology, his secret career wish (though he was a top advertising creator on the radio in Tulsa OK, winning awards.) My mom was working the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle and CryptoQuote. She was actually able to FINISH both most weeks. My older brother was reading one of his treasured comic books. I couldn’t hold it in any longer and said plaintively, “I wish to HELL I could read!” Happily, my parents ignored my language. My mom motioned for me to join her in her chair and proceeded to start teaching me.

I have a group of favorite authors. My home is full of wonderful books, though I try to use my Kindle as much as possible because if I don’t, we’ll have to get a bigger house!

My newest favorite author is R. G. Ryan. He has created a series of books centering around Jake Moriarity, a ‘finder of people.’ I discovered Ryan on X, followed him, and tried the first book in the series, Watercolor Dreams. To say I loved it is a vast understatement. I was sucked into the world he created, really liked the people and wanted more.

His newest in the series is called, “The 5th Doctor”.


I went to Amazon and downloaded it late yesterday evening. When my husband wanted me to come to bed, I was saying, “Just let me finish this chapter!” I finally went up to bed around 2am. I’m still having a bit of trouble getting anything else done today because I’d like to get back into it.

I recommend the whole series of Jake Moriarity books. The characters are people you would want to know, and feel you DO know, with the relationships evolving from book to book. The plots are always interesting with plenty of heart-stopping action, but the thing that draws ME is R.G. Ryan’s sense of humor and humanity. The first makes me snort from time to time as I read and the second make me tear up.

I recommend you start with the first book in the series, Watercolor Dreams and enjoy them in order.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if YOU’LL discover a new favorite author, too.

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May 7, 2024 · 10:16 am

Three Authors I “Know”

The Last Flight of the Starleap – Simon Panneton – @spanneton on X

“Ghosts, after all, cannot mount daring rescue missions, they cannot pilot spaceships, they cannot fight, and they cannot save their loved ones, no matter how badly they may want to.
But I could, Ellie will say, if you show me how…”

When I Grow Up I Want to be A Chair – Ryan Rae Harbuck – @RyanRaeHarbuck on X

“Her story is not about a chair. Her story is about her strengths and how they rose out of her instinctive vulnerabilities.“

Watercolor Dreams – Book 1 of Jake Moriarity series – R. G. Ryan – @RGRyan777 on X

“Jake Moriarity…a lost soul in a desperate search to find this lost girl. Moriarity can save her, but first, he has to find her. And the only thing he has to go on is like a watercolor painting that has been left out in the rain with all the colors running together.“

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I’m an avid reader. I love to get lost in a book – a world different from mine – a place to escape and live in another’s shoes for a while. I have several favorite authors and a good collection of a bunch of their books. I re-read them in an ongoing basis, adding to my collection if my favorites are still with me and writing, treasuring the worlds and characters they created if they’re not.

Rarely I find new authors who speak to me. Somehow in the past year I’ve found THREE – Simon Panneton, Ryan Rae Harbuck, and R. G. Ryan. I found them on X and follow them – and have actually exchanged messages with them. I’ve found them to be caring and interesting people, in addition to writing books I love. Isn’t that amazing and wonderful?

I’ve read the three books I’ve listed above and highly recommend each of them to you. I’ve provided a link to each book so you can find them easily on Amazon. Each will touch you and leave you changed – enriched – MORE.

Go ahead – dive in!

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October 3, 2023 · 3:07 pm

Gift to Myself

The Last Flight of the Starleap by Simon Panneton

I downloaded this book on my Kindle a month or so ago and loved it, racing through the 526 pages of it to find out what happened. I then did something I almost never do – I started it again, reading it much more slowly so that I could savor the clever and unique turns of phrases employed throughout the book.

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A few examples –

“Swing straining a little under the weight of kids trying to kick the blue off the sky.”

“her face painted ten shades of astonished.”

“I can’t find words big enough to fit how I feel.”

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Next, I did something I’ve NEVER done – I contacted the author, telling him how much I loved the book, writing a review on Amazon (my first) and telling YOU about it on my blog.

THEN I did something I REALLY don’t do much anymore. I have more books than I have shelves, even though I regularly donate books to our local library for book sales. Book are expensive, so I’m trying to only keep books I NEED to have with me. Also, since money flies out the windows these days, more and more with inflation, I’m trying to read my Kindle more and more, limiting myself mainly to what I can find through my free Kindle subscription – even though even Kindle is starting to charge me monthly. I bought this one, though, even saying all the above. Even having had read it twice already.

This is Simon Panneton’s first book. It’s already one of my favorites and “have-to-haves-for-my-own.”

It came yesterday. My husband opened the package, leaving the book on the dining area table for me. This morning he asked me about it. Then asked if he could borrow it and read it. Since I know where he lives (:0) and am sure he’ll return it, I’m letting him read it.

I highly recommend this book and am eagerly awaiting his next one.

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April 3, 2019 · 9:25 am

The Book Thief

Alina CiuCiu – LinkedIn

 

I’ve just started re-reading a truly important book – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  It’s about a Jewish girl in Nazi Germany who steals a book and begins a life of book stealing and learning, helping others survive. That’s a really simplistic description of a book reminiscent of The Diary of Anne Frank, creating characters you’ll always remember. It’s one of my favorites. If you haven’t read it, you’re missing out on a wonderful experience.

 

The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

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