41/?
I really enjoyed The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. It was fun to take notes on all the clues in the characters to figure out the mystery. (confession: I take notes on characters and clues in almost all the books I read.)

"She said that she wrote for the child in herself, but for once I think she was wrong. I think she wrote for the adult in children. She never disrespected them or "wrote down", because she didn't know how." from the introduction by the author's friend and editor.

"... the book didn't lie about bigger things either: that parents were flawed, that adults were hiding secrets, that the world worked in ways that were both unclear and unfair. It was clear eyed in the many ways that people fail themselves and each other, and it offered no straightforward solutions to any of it." from @dansinker and his recent blogpost on the book.

#MagpieReads #books #reading #bookstodon

Alt...

Book cover: the westing game by Ellen Raskin.

> Five totally plausible reading trends to watch out for this summer. https://lithub.com/five-summer-reading-trends-to-watch-out-for/

I am not buying their suggestion people will start picking up theory books. The horror trend I definitely see happening. Remaining 3 seem kind of meh to be honest. YMMV.

#books #reading #Bookstodon

Book Promotion: Sci-Fi & #Fantasy books on Kindle Unlimited

A collection of 60 #books for you to read free on KU. Read my #spaceopera

#spaceship #magic #aliens #legendary #fedibookfair #boost #amreading #writing #dwarfs #readers #rogue #heroes #bookwyrm #reading #goodbooks #space #time #dwarves #dystopia #sorcery #monsters #futurism #planets #sciencefiction #science #scifi #writing #young #newadults #teen #teens #ya #books #booktoot #booksky #bookfunnel @bookstodon

https://books.bookfunnel.com/sci-fi-fantasy-kindle-unlimited-ku/5qbyps05g9

No country has ever increased freedom and liberty by banning books - www.bookbanpetition.us

#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarianship #lit

PUBLIC WARNING ~ I READ BANNED BOOKS!
Act Out Tees ~ www.ActOutTees.com
#bannedbooks #reading #books #freedom #reader #literature #knowledge #curious #bold #think #PrintOnDemand #Tees

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: "𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹" 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻 -

As an old tabletop RPGer, I grimly accepted this recommendation into the series by Dinniman. Hopefully I am more entertained than the trite humor of writers like Pratchett.

#books #bookreviews #bookworm #readreadread #tbr #tbrpile #tbrlist #quotes #reading #mattdinniman #dungeoncrawlercarl #fiction #fantasy #rpglit #dandd

Help fight against book bans by signing the petition at www.bookbanpetition.us

#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarianship #lit

My latest read: "Dark Tales" by J.D. Allen

One book, four horror novellas. Worth a look! 👍

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8654677904
Book Radar
https://thebookradar.com/review/5445
StoryGraph
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/f384acb7-9a27-4773-8029-cb2fb2814c0f

#horror #book #books #bookreview #bookreviews #bookrec #bookrecs #booksofmastodon #readersofmastodon #bookstodon #booktodon #read #reads #reader #readers #reading #readingcommunity

Alt...

"Dark Tales" by J.D. Allen

In the #BadEconomy

> Supermarket workers’ grim reality: Not enough cash for lunch, wearing diapers in lieu of breaks https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/us-news/grim-realities-of-working-in-a-supermarket-revealed/

Highlighting a new to me book I'll likely order for our library.

#Books #reading #supermarkets #Groceries #exploitation #work #labor #jobs #corruption

And then it was Monday. The best way to escape the heinous return to monotony is with faceless monsters. As one does. Enjoy, and thank you for reading my series.

#writing #reading #fiction #books #horror #apocalyptic #journal #monsters #novels

https://patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.com/2026/06/08/the-greenland-diaries-day-61/

The Greenland Diaries: Day 61

Last night, I employed the same desensitizing strategy to avoid the sights and sounds of the old world. The Drum still boomed about the darkness, and my headphones didn’t do anything to stifle the shadow thunder.

I’ll never get away from it.

I’m happy with the name I gave the monsters, even if it’s soaked with irony. It’s not easy inventing a title for an unknown creature. Based on their flowing appearance I could call them phantoms or wraiths. If the criteria happen to be their look, then I could call them spikes, claws, or faceless. The Unnamed fits the unknown, so I’ll stick with it. I hope those kids pass on the name to whatever survivors they find by Highway 100.

The heat drifted off the plants this morning. The whole world has been tethered in this green. Houses have been completely covered and invaded. Trees are in full bloom. The grass on the lawns has grown up to my knees. Snowy can barely walk through it. Cotton-willow seeds fill the breeze and occasionally my mouth. It’s annoying.

I was happy to see those people yesterday, despite the awkwardness of the situation. Those kids looked rough, dirty, and ready for death. I hope their father gets them to a safe place. There are still people in worse shape than me, and that’s slightly comforting.

Does it make me wicked for being happy about their hardship? 

I wish someone could answer me.

Today, I explored Crystal Lake some more. I took some more water for washing and bathing. I pulled a red wagon with me I found next to a playground. I filled up some plastic containers. I’m going to try and build a fire tomorrow and boil the water. That should kill any bacteria inside of it. I’ll drink a little bit and see if it hurts my system. I’ve got a bunch of bottles of water still, at least enough for a few months, but I’m terrified about running out of it with this heat. I stopped at the Rainbow too and rummaged in the darkness with my flashlight. I found some more cans, but no boxed food.

The lake was overgrown along the paths and shore with vines. There were a few public beaches. The sand had been spared the vegetation; in fact, they crawled around it in their wormy paths. The water was clean and clear. The strange shape in the center looked untouched and pure. I wonder if it moves when the Drum does. 

Most of the walk was uneventful and quiet. I kept an eye and ear out for Gerald, but there were no signs of anything around. No shadows moved in their absent windows or shattered doors.

On our walk back, Snowy and I saw something rather disturbing. 

I’d run from it before. I’d fought it before. I’d killed it before. 

It was the Unnamed.

It was going up a hill towards the park when we saw it. It looked like a walking cloud of dragging darkness, with no real shape or definition. It had a cloak of sorts, only it was a mixing blue, green, and black. It had the golden blades from before, dangling from its fluid sleeves. Gold horns pulled up from the blackness beneath its hooded cloak. No feet touched the ground as the monster walked.

It was a foot-soldier, not the big type with the mutilated arm. It was out in the middle of the day without the Drum. The cloak that disguised them so well in the darkness was disorienting in the daylight, like a shifting fog of undecided matter. I grabbed Snowy and crawled underneath a bench just downwind of it. I had my M16 with me, and I focused the black sight on it.

It passed by me without a second thought. I could’ve killed it, but who knows how many more are lurking out there without the Drum guiding them. The Unnamed vanished into a small patch of woods by the street. The cluster couldn’t have been more than twenty trees, and it disappeared completely into them like a sealed door.

I didn’t wait around for any more observations. I ran home pulling the water containers. I almost soiled myself when I saw it. It made me sick to my stomach to see it in the daylight.

Why can’t the nightmares ever stay the same?

https://thoughts.pivic.com/the-past-days-thomas-mann-politics-music-ai-the-cia

I've written about what I've been into for the past days:

* Reading Thomas Mann's 'The Magic Mountain'
* Keeping a keen eye on Swedish right-wing politics (it's election year)
* listening to great music
* detesting big AI companies

#music #MusicTips #ThomasMann #reading #books #artificialIntelligence #AI #svpol #sverigedemokraterna #kristdemokraterna #tidö

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Simone feels confident that her husband can run their restaurant in London while she flies to Texas to spend a week camping with their daughter Lucy.

Lucy is about to leave home for college, and Simone is feeling that empty nest syndrome early. This week is important for the two women to re-connect before Lucy is gone for good.

They had planned to camp out, so Simone brought the things she would need and then the airport lost her luggage. That took a while to resolve and finally she was on her way to see Lucy.

They spent one evening together and decided to go to bed early. Simone could already feel the jet lag.

In the middle of the night, she thought she heard something, but she was so tired that she ignored it and went back to sleep. The next morning, Lucy was gone.

Simone calls her husband after she has received a ransom notice. They tell her not to contact the police. Of course, when she calls her husband that is exactly what he tells Simone to do.

Simone is too afraid that the kidnapper will harm Lucy so tries to deal with them on her own.

This is a tightly paced thriller that made me anxious because of the situations they found themselves in. I loved the twists and didn’t expect the ending.

I also loved the references to her home in London and her restaurant business. It was interesting how she used her love of cooking in the story.

If you like domestic suspense, this is a good one. The plot was tightly woven with surprises that popped up often. It has well-developed characters who drove the story and enough description to make you feel like you are there with them.

This is the second book I have read by this author and hope to read more. I will add a link at the bottom to my review of Wrong Place Wrong Time

First published May 5, 2026, so a new release.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past. I do appreciate you.

Books by Gillian McAllister:

Caller Unknown

Wrong Place Wrong Time

Famous Last Words

I will be reading her newest book – That Night soon – so watch for that review.

What I am currently reading:

Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell

Femme Feral by Sam BeckBessinger

Upcoming reviews:

Robert B Parker’s Booked by Allison Gaylin

Here is a link to my review of Wrong Place Wrong Time

https://virginia-gruver.com/2025/08/22/wrong-place-wrong-time-by-gillian-mcallister/

Happy Reading!

If you like bargains, check out my bookshop on Pango. https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/virginia468417

Rate this:

#BookReview #Books #Fiction #London #reading #Texas

Hooray!! Just finished reading my first 500+ page novel in like forever! Wow, Foundryside was good!

For over a decade, I haven't had the bandwidth to read for fun. Finally becoming a reader again!

#book #reading #yay

Currently reading...

they by helle helle

#books #reading

Take action against book bans in the United States at www.bookbanpetition.us

#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarianship #lit

My review of Jane Ellen Harrison's Reminiscences of a Student's Life is up at Conspicuous Consumption.

https://afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/06/reminiscences-of-students-life-by-jane.html

#books #reading #bookstodon

8 1/2 out of 10

Very interesting. Very matter-of-fact. Very engaging.

Enjoyable read.

#reading #books #music #memoir #ClemBurke #Blondie

I would read this story about the weird observations of Dana Holmes and her sarcastic boyfriend I assume is called Watson 🤔😂

@reading @bookstodon @books @humor@fedigroups.social @humor@lemmy.world @aiop

#SherlockHolmes
#BookMemes #Meme #Memes #Humor #Humour #Funny
#ReadingMemes #Reading #Readers #ReadingCommunity
#Litterature #Novel #Novels #Bookshelf
#Books #Bookstodon

Alt...

Post by dana bad My bf was like “sometimes you act like sherlock holmes but without the genius. Like you're always making weird observations but they're inaccurate.”

Tears and underlining: Reading "Doktor Faustus" (1947), by Thomas Mann (1875-1955). #111Words #ThomasMann #TonioKröger #DerTodInVenedig #DerZauberberg #DoktorFaustus #Novels #Novellas #Fiction #Literature #GermanLiterature #DeutscheLiteratur #HorstDaemmrich #Philadelphia #WestPhiladelphia #UniversityOfPennsylvania #ComparativeLiterature #PhD #GraduateSchool #Reading #Distance #Emotions https://111-words.ghost.io/tears-and-underlining-reading-doktor-faustus-1947-by-thomas-mann-1875-1955/

Started reading Mahogany L. Browne's "Chrome Valley: Poems"
https://amzn.to/4eiAa6J
📖🖊️
Only read the first 20, but if it continues like this, I'm thinking "gut wrenching" won't do it justice.
#books #reading #poems #poetry

Alt...

Started reading Mahogany L. Browne's "Chrome Valley: Poems" Only read the first 20, but if it continues like this, I'm thinking "gut wrenching" won't do it justice.

"expanding at a pace not seen this century "

- Independent #bookstores are multiplying, although many people still think they're dying out https://apnews.com/article/independent-bookstores-expanding-booksellers-association-e1f745e4e431febca8f3e122e6b8f109

#books #reading #amreading #writing #amwriting #community

Also new on my #blog: "Books Reviewed: May 2026."
https://itinerantlibrarian.wordpress.com/2026/06/05/books-reviewed-may-2026/

Monthly roundup of #reading and #books. This month I also reviewed a couple of card decks.

#books #reading #AlchemicalThoughts #occult #cartomancy #divination #Pagan #heathen #witch #esoterica #Bookstodon #writing
💙📚

Εικόνισε τη στιγμή  Παράλυση από σοκ Λιποθυμία από τη θύμηση  Έρευνα από νοιάξιμο  Ωρίμανση από ευθύνη  Αλλαγή δρόμου από ξύπνημα  Αυθεντικό χαμόγελο από συνειδητοποίηση  Αγνότητα από συγχώρεση  Γαλήνη από απομάκρυνση  Ευτυχία από ύπαρξη  Αγάπη από γνώση εαυτού  | by SearchingTheMeaningOfLife

[photo by EvAr]

by SearchingTheMeaningOfLife

Για περισσότερα :

books2read.com/
www.stixoi.info
www.poemhunter.com
www.wattpad.com
www.smashwords.com
www.easywriter.gr
www.goodreads.com
www.scribd.com
www.kobo.com
itunes.apple.com
www.overdrive.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.thalia.de
www.everand.com
shop.vivlio.com
fable.co

Βαθμολογία:

#Artcreativity #Artisticlife #Artisticmind #Bookadict #Bookishlove #Booklover #Bookmania #Bookshelf #Createdtocreate #Creative #Creativeinspiration #Creativelifestyle #Creativeproject #Creativityloves #CreativityLove #Instapoem #Micropoem #Micropoesia #Neverstopcreating #Newideas #Poemascortos #Poesia #Talents #Versos #Writersconnection #Writerscorner #Writersociety #Writersofinstagram #art #book #books #drop #fakeWords #Έρευνα #Αξιοσημείωτα #Ποίηση #Φιλοσοφία #αποσπάσματα #αποφθέγματα #life #love #passion #Passions #Philosophy #poem #poems #poetry #reading

RE: https://mastodon.social/@skipscherer/116699051753142180

Delve 138!

What more could you ask for on a quest? Yet, what happened to the whispering shadows? Where is the turmoil that rakes one's soul?

Sometimes, the brightest rooms hide the darkest intents.

Fantasy Serial | New Tue & Fri
—
💙📚 #reading #amreading #writing #amwriting #writingcommunity #SFF #entertainment #altfic #books #shortstories