I Read Like It's My Job

I love to read and to listen to audiobooks.

Am so very thankful for the public library, otherwise I'd have to get a second job to fund my reading habit.

Some books that I've enjoyed recently:

Ray Clark's DI Gardener Series, Books #1 to #6 (#7 to #11 are not yet available at the library)

Kelley Armstrong's "Finding Mr. Write"

Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton"

Andrew Cartmel's "Death in Fine Condition", Book #1 in his The Paperback Sleuth Series

M. A. Frick's Fate Unraveled Trilogy

Fez Inkwright's "Botanical Curses and Poisons"

Nicci French's "Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?"

J. Bree's The Bonds That Tie Series

Give me a good mystery, whether it's a police procedural from the UK, a fae princess defending her kingdom, thrillers, wizards fighting crime, true crime, dragon-riding soldiers fighting dark forces, or magical cats who catch the baddie!

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Adso

1 June is World Outlander Day

Am a huge fan of the books, and am enamored of the TV series because I can nab the DVD's from my library.

Adso is a recurring character in the story, as the cat who has likes and dislikes of certain visitors, which make for some funny plot twists. 

Here is a video of when central characters Jamie and Claire Fraser adopt the fluff nugget Adzo into their household.

Enjoy an Adso jigsaw puzzle!

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Wee Cheetie

Diana Gabaldon's book "Outlander" was first published on 1 June, 1991.

A world-wide phenomenon since then, the Outlander book series, TV series, and the resulting sales of t-shirts, tartans, fan tours of Scotland and North Carolina, are a big deal.

1 June is World Outlander Day.

For some of us, it's all about the wee cheetie, Adso.

Adso with his mom, Claire Fraser, played by Caitriona Balfe.

Adso with his dad, Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan.

Okay, okay...so, there are handsome lads in uniforms, tricorns, and kilts too!

😹😹😹

Adso is found alone in the North Carolina woods by Jamie, who gifts the kitten to his wife, in Book 5 of the series, "The Fiery Cross".

Adso appears in every book after that, and he's quite the character, as befitting any feline with time-traveling humans as companions.

Am thankful to my bff JB, who introduce this author and series to me; let's blame it all on her, shall we?

😹😹😹

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Adso

June 1 is World Outlander Day.

As I've posted about this book series before, I am beyond thankful that my bff recommended it to me.

How could I not like a series that has this adorable kitty?

His name is Adso, and was discovered as a kitten alone in the woods, by the character Jamie Fraser.

He gifts the wee grey potato to his wife, Claire.

Claire and Adso.

Jamie and Adso.

Lord John Grey and Adso...as a inside joke to some of us who are a bit too involved in the stories!

These images from the TV show were collected from Facebook.

However, while the show is great, the books are the only way to go!

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Dr. Ruth Galloway, cat lover

The Ruth Galloway Mystery Series, written by Elly Griffiths

Image from the interwebs

The Crossing Places, 2009
The Janus Stone, 2010
The House at Sea’s End, 2010
A Room Full of Bones, 2011
A Dying Fall, 2012
The Outcast Dead, 2014
The Ghost Fields, 2015
The Woman In Blue, 2016
The Chalk Pit, 2017
The Dark Angel, 2018
The Stone Circle, 2019
The Lantern Men, 2020
The Night Hawks, February 2021
The Locked Room, October 2022

***

I recently discovered the Ruth Galloway series, written by Elly Griffiths, on a Facebook group.

This series, to me, is like eating potato chips; you can't have just one!

Or more like the saying, "Cats are like potato chips; you can't have just one"?

Anyhow, one aspect of this series is that Ruth loves her cats!

Ruth is an archaeologist, living in North Norfolk, U.K.

She teaches at the nearby university, and finds herself involved with the local police when a skeleton is discovered and they call upon her unique skills at identifying buried bones.

There are other fun things, like druids, saltmarshes, spectral hounds and boogey men, and some good old romps in the sack!

She pines for her cat, Flint, whenever she's away from home for more than a few days.

*Warning*

Cats are harmed in the first two books, and that in itself would put me off a series (and a writer) in a heartbeat!

However, the author has made it very clear that she deeply regrets writing about such cruel things, and I've encountered no more of this type of nastiness in any of the other books.

The author is a true cat-lover.

I've halfway through book #13!

I'm told there is a TV series based on these books, but I haven't seen it...yet.

Amelia Peabody Books by Elizabeth Peters

Crocodile on the Sandbank(1975)

The Curse of the Pharaohs(1981)

The Mummy Case(1985)

Lion in the Valley(1986)

The Deeds of the Disturber(1988)

The Last Camel Died at Noon(1991)

The Snake, The Crocodile and the Dog(1992)

The Hippopotamus Pool(1996)

Seeing a Large Cat(1997)

The Ape Who Guards the Balance(1998)

The Falcon at the Portal(1999)

He Shall Thunder in the Sky(2000)

Lord of the Silent(2001)

The Golden One(2002)

Children of the Storm(2003)

Guardian of the Horizon(2003)

The Serpent on the Crown(2005)

Tomb of the Golden Bird(2006)

A River in the Sky(2010)

The Painted Queen(2017)

"The Amelia Peabody series is a collection of nineteen historical mystery novels, all engendered by Egyptologist Barbara Mertz under the pen name Elizabeth Peters. The series is centered on key figure and protagonist Amelia, for whom the series is named, and an a array of other characters to support her role. The novels entail a mix of romance, mystery, and tad of bit of satire to add to its well-balanced comic tone." so says website Book Series In Order.

What is not mentioned, is Bastet and Anubis, cats who guide their humans to solve the mystery!

I began this series in 2010, when a friend gifted me a copy of the first book, "Crocodile On The Sandbank".  I think that I read the entire series, book by book, after that.

I am thankful for that book!

During this pandemic lockdown, I've dipped my toe back into the waters of this delightful series...by audiobook this time...and just finished book 8, "The Hippopotamus Pool".

Although most of this series was written long ago, the storylines hold up well against the angst of today's news and morals; Amelia is a staunch believer that women can do anything that a man can do or better, and she is no shrinking violet!

It's her indomitable spirit, snide asides, and sometimes hilarious Victorian English upbringing that keeps me turning the pages...so to speak.

And...cats!  There are cats, and interestingly, the men in the stories seem to be even more cat people than is usual in books.

Jigsaw Puzzle

108Tiger Tabby

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National Read A Book Day!

Are you kidding me?

As if I need a specific date to remind me to read!

In honor of this TREMENDOUSLY IMPAWTANT DAY, celebrated every September 6th,
I give you the just released and newest book in Sofie Kelly's "Magical Cats Mysteries" series:

"A Case Of Cat and Mouse"
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published September 1st 2020 by Berkley Books
ISBN0440001161 (ISBN13: 9780440001164)
Magical Cats Mystery #12

"When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these felines."

I have the entire series!

So, for today's 'holiday', I am reading my copy of "A Case Of Cat and Mouse"...

Oops!

Why, oh why do I use a bookmark that sports a ribbon?
That ribbon attracts CATS!!!

What will you read today?

Jigsaw Puzzle

108Celestial Chuck and Book

📚👓📚

Edit:

Angel Allie left for The Rainbow Bridge

Click here to leave condolences at Friends FurEver Blog

August 9: Book Lover's Day

Image found on the interwebs

Bibliophiles, UNITE!

Today, we celebrate books and reading!

Image found on the interwebs 

A terrific quote, dontcha think?

Image from Society6 by Louis Wain

During this lockdown, I've found it difficult to read; my mind wanders easily, and there are so many distractions from the news.

I discovered that rereading a book series that I'd once enjoyed was just the ticket!

Comfort reading?!?

Since mid-March, I've read and listened to audiobooks for:

Laurie R. King: Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series

Ben Aaronovitch: The Peter Grant series

Jim Butcher: The Dresden Files series

Alan Bradley: Flavia De Luce series

Richard Castle: Nikki Heat series

Kelley Armstrong: Rockton series

Shirley Rousseau Murphy: Joe Grey series

Catherine Coulter: A Brit in the FBI series

Thankfully, when the library building was closed, I was able to check out ebooks and audiobooks via phone apps.

Now the library is open, and I've enjoyed reconnecting with my favorite librarians and staff.

In addition, I volunteered with a group to help convince voters to pass a millage for our local library.

I put up yards signs, attended Zoom meetings, and hung door hangers with a handful of other local library enthusiasts.

Image from "Vote Yes for Mt. Clemens Library" FB page

Image from "Vote Yes for Mt. Clemens Library" FB page

And the millage passed, by a good margin!

Our 1969 library is going to get new HVAC, lighting, and electrical systems.

New meeting rooms, new children's area, new furniture, and computers and genealogical set-ups.

Yes, I am an avid book lover!

And yet...

Mother Nature soothes the soul.

Being outdoors while listening to the birds, watching the squirrels and butterflies, and simply breathing; this too has helped me negotiate these unusual times.

Jigsaw Puzzle

Pic taken at Kensington MetroPark, where The Hubby and I enjoyed an excursion this Friday.
I used my Prima app to play with the colors.