April's 2026 Challenge - Everything Old Is New Again, Part 2

Hi, this is April returning for another year of Challenges. I am following the "6" in 2026 with 6 LibraryThing-based challenges and 6 personal ones.

My challenges this year are a combination of old and new challenges. I have 3 perennial KITS that I always participate in: RandomKIT, MysteryKIT, and ScaredyKIT. I am adding 3 new ones to the mix: HomeCAT, DecadeCAT, and Colored CoverKIT.
My 6 personal challenges will be a mix of old and new books.

On a personal note, I am leaving my 6th decade this year (turned 59 in March) and am looking to reframe my reading priorities. I had my first DNF in January and have considered doing this more often. I am finding that I turn more and more towards cozy mysteries and further away from romances.

I have decided to swap two categories this quarter. I am moving BingoDOG from an unofficial category and plan on doing a blackout on the board. I am then moving The Library Challenge to unofficial status.

The books I read for the LibraryThing challenges cannot be used for other LibraryThing challenges. My personal categories can and most likely will be used as LibraryThing challenges.

RandomKIT hosting October

January (Can You Keep A Secret) - The Secrets of Dumbledore by JK Rowling
February (Hospitals) - Cross Down by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
March (What's In A Name) -The Strange Case of Susanna by GH Komali
April (From Queens to Knights) - Lady Beast's Bridegroom by Jude Knight
May (Dance Like No One is Watching)
June (Numbers or Symbols)

ScaredyKIT hosting June and September

January (Isolated Location) - Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
February (Ghost Stories) - 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey by Kathryn Tucker Windham
March (Haunted Houses) - The Librarian of the Haunted Library by Brian Yansky
April (True Crime) - The Barn by Wright Thompson
May (Reanimation) - Dracula and Frankenstein by Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley
June (Evil Children)

MysteryKIT hosting April

January (Female Detectives, amateur or professional) - Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
February (Clerical Detectives) - The Silent Spirit by Margaret Coel
March (Nordic Mysteries) - The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
April (Private Eyes) -The Strange Disappearance of A Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan
May (Hardboiled/Noir) - Joyland by Stephen King
June (Police Procedurals)

HomeCAT hosting January and December

January (bathroom) - Quilted Northern 100th Anniversary Bathroom Book by Uncle John's Bathroom Reader
February (living room) - Extra Cheesy Zits by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
March (the attic) - By Familiar Means by Delia James
April (the kitchen) - The Skeleton Takes A Bow by Leigh Perry
May (the front porch) - Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly
June (Garden Rooms)

DecadeCAT
I have a children's book on my shelves for every decade, so I will be reading them for this challenge.

January (50s) - A Day At The Zoo by Marion Conger
February (10s) - Grandma Kisses by Laura Neutzling
March (80s) - If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
April (00s) - Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
May (30s)
June (choose your own decade)

Colored CoverKIT hosting January
For this challenge, I plan to read 2 books a month, one for the color and one for the cover item.

January- color (orange) - Southern Spirits by Angie Fox
January - cover (something found in a garden) - Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles
February - color (blue) - Curse of the Dragon Shadow by Selina A Fenech
February - cover (item of clothing) - Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by HP Mallory
March - color (green) -The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood by Susan Wittig Albert
March - cover (greenery) - Aunt Sally's Gnomes by Dean Jarvis
April - color (yellow) - Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstoreby Robin Sloan
April - cover (sun, moon, stars) - When Pigs Fly by Bethany Buttons
May - color (turquoise) -Jackaby by William Ritter
May -cover (jewelry) - Forgotten Memories by Cecilia Agetun
June - color (purple)
June cover (food or drink)

Kindle of kittens challenge
For this challenge, I plan on reading the 12 oldest and 12 newest books on my Kindle, as of December 31st, 2025. Books are listed in alphabetical order for my ease in locating them on the Kindle. These are the selections remaining as of April 1st.

Oldest:
2014
Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Per-Bast: A Tale of Cats in Ancient Egypt by Lara-Dawn Stiegler
The Sight and Fell by David Clement-Davies read in April
A Girl Named Carmen Winstead by Trace Murillo - no touchstone read in May
Fifteen Postcards by Kirsten McKenzie
Limitless by Jim Kwik
Miss Spelled by Morgana Best
Once Blessed, Thrice Cursed by Coralie Moss
The Sweet Smell of Murder by Cindy Bell

Newest:
2025
A Wish To Die For by C.A. Phipps
Bogs, Brews and Banshees by Rowan Dillon
Murder At Sunrise by Holly Finch no touchstone is correct
Murder Most Pemberley by Jessica Berg
Murder Mystery Book Club by Danielle Collins
Mythological Creatures of Native American Lore by Riley Cross read in April
Netherfield by Maria Grace read in May
Take Me Back to Yesterday by Jasmine Little
Wrighting Old Wrongs by Maria Grace

Unfinished business challenge
This is a list of the remaining books planned for challenges in 2025 that I did not make it through as of April 1st. I hope to read 2 a month.

ALEX CROSS SERIES (in order)
The House of Cross
Return of the Spider
GIFTS AND THINGAVERSARY BOOKS
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang
Cat About Town by Cate Conte
Cher: The Memoir Part One by Cher read in April
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Really Did That? by Amy Newmark
Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from My Cat by Amy Newmark
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Fable by Adrienne Young
Heist Society by Ally Carter
How Witchcraft Saved My Life by Vincent Higginbotham
Janis: Her Life and Music by Holly George Warren
Lending A Paw by Laurie Cass
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Crime That Binds by Laurie Cass
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
What the Cat Saw by Carolyn Hart
Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Beast by Brie Spangler
Beastly by Alex Finn
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay
Once Upon A Time by Irene Bedard
The Beast's Heart by Leife Shallcross
SHELVES
I Am Spock by Leonard Nimoy
Jackaby by William Ritter read in May
Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly
Lily White by Susan Isaacs
One Last Dance by Eileen Goudge
Prime Evil by Douglas E Winter
The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
The Beach House by James Patterson
The Black Book by James Patterson
The Chef by James Patterson
The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere
The Life and Writings of Abraham Lincoln by Philip Van Doren Stern
The Malleus Maleficarum by Henrich Kramer and James Sprenger finished in April
Thurber on Crime by James Thurber
When I Was Your Age by Kenan Thompson
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Welcome to my home challenge
This is for all books brought home in 2026. This includes purchases and gifts. I will list the Library Sale books as they accumulate. These are the unread books are of April 1st.

Christmas
If You Would Have Told Me by John Stamos read in June
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul read in May
The Tales Behind Tarot by Alison Davies
Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed

First Quarter impulse buys
Bats Sing, Mice Giggle by Karen Shanor
Days of Gold by Jude Deveraux
The Letter by Richard Paul Evans
The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate
Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans

OKC Library Sale books
Beauty and the Beast by Barbara Hambly
Blackthorn's Protection Magic by Amy Blackthorn
Cajun Justice by James Patterson
Crystal Clear by Jaya Saxena
Fur Love or Money by Sofie Ryan
Gwendy's Magic Feather by Richard Chizmar
Hollywood Obscura by Brian Clune
Lizzie by Dawn Ius
Mort by Terry Pratchett
Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans
On Secret Service by John Jakes
Reading Tea Leaves by A Highland Seer
Scaredy Cat by Sofie Ryan
Six Cats A Slayin' by Miranda James
The Barn by Wright Thompson read in April
The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood by Barb Bentler Ullman
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by Sharyn McCrumb
The Master of Blacktower by Barbara Michaels
The Secrets of Lizzie Borden by Brandy Purdy
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Huff
Uncle John's Ultimate Bathroom Reader by The Bathroom Reader's Institute

Birthday books
Cross and Sampson by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
The World of Peter Rabbit boxed set by Beatrix Potter

Thingaversary books
A Man and His Cat 07 by Umi Sakurai read in May
Act Like You Got Some Sense by Jamie Foxx
Hunted by Megan Spooner read in 2024
Gone With The Witch by Angela M Sanders
One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake
Secrets of the Gnomes by Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet
Starter Villain by John Scalzi read in 2024
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
The Tea Dragon Festival by K O'Neill
Wellness For Cats by Annabelle Valentin
What The Fact?! by Gabe Henry
Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by AA Milne

Impulse buys
April
You're My Little Papa Bear by Nicole Edwards read in April
Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis - gift from husband for San Jordi
May
You're My Little Firecracker by Nicola Edwards read in May
You're My Little Mama Bear by Nicola Edwards read in May
June
The Dead of the Day by Steven E Wedel
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Early Review wins
Be A Bookworm, Not A Bully by Typhani Russo (April 2026 win) received in May read in May
(May 2026 win)

Annual Book Bullet challenge
Once again, I have created a challenge for my Book Bullets. I am starting the year with 134 recommendations from 30 LTers. @JayneCM leads the way with 15 bullets taken.
I have 10 bullets from one-time contributors and hope to read all 10. I also hope to read an additional 20 others (1 from each contributor).

1. Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney - from @VivienneR
2. A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I Lin from @krys_reads
3. The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander from @staci426
4. Steeped In Suspicion by Eryn Scott from @MissBrangwen
5. My Lucky Life In And Out Of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke from @cbl_tn
6. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley from @Charon07
7. I Am A Cat by Natsume Soseki from @NinieB DNF
8. Don't Point That Thing At Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli from @mstrust
9. Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill from @whitewavedarling
10. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell from @Zozette
11. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio from @RidgewayGirl

2026 Bullets (these will be listed on a spreadsheet with my other bullets). I hope to read at least one a month, beginning with the first bullet taken.
First bullet of the year goes to @mstrust.
1. You Are The Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson from @mstrust The First Bullet of the Year
2. Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire from @GraceCollection
3. Purgatory Funeral Cakes by Sanyo from @nerdytheorist
4. Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me by Ralph Macchio from @LibraryCin
5. The Barn by Wright Thompson from @susanna.fraser
6. No Cats In The Library by Lauren Emmons from @thornton37814

Will I Ever Finish A Series challenge
This challenge is for the many, many series I am reading. I am going to focus this year on ones that are almost done (2 or fewer left). The goal is at least 12.

1. Cat Massage Therapy, Vol. 3 by Haru Hisakawa- currently caught up with series
2. A Man and His Cat 06 by Umi Sakurai
3. I Ate The Sheriff by K Bennett series finished
4. The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood by Susan Wittig Albert
5. By Familiar Means by Delia James
6. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson - will not continue this series
7. The Strange Disappearance of A Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan
8. A Man and His Cat 07 by Umi Sakurai
9. Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly
10. Netherfield: Rogue Dragon by Maria Grace

I finished almost half of the squares in the first quarter and am now upgrading this to an official challenge.



2. The Malleus Maleficarum by Henrich Kramer and James Sprenger - witches and heresy
4. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson, who died in 2004
5. Tangerines
6. Lady Beast's Bridegroom by Jude Knight
7. Topsy's Big Escape - elephant on cover
8. Every Heart A Doorway - 2017 Hugo
9. I Ate The Sheriff - end of the series and end of the theme of the series
10. A Day At the Zoo - published in 1950
11. Alice Feeney- read Daisy Darker
12. The Green Mile: Two Dead Girls
13. January RandomKIT - The Secrets of Dumbledore
14. Mur, The Kitty-Knight
15. Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type
16. Joyland by Stephen King
17. A Magic Steeped In Poison - Judy I Lin's debut
18. Impossible Creatures - "It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him."
23. A Man and his Cat 07 - Japanese manga
24. Fifty Poems of Emily Dickinson
25. Dracula and Frankenstein by Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley

The Library Challenge
This is now an unofficial challenge. I will see what I can get done this year. These are the remaining books as of April 1st.

Belle's Library recommendations
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
Oroonoko by Aphra Behn
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
The Misanthrope by Moliere
The Odyssey by Homer
The Princess of Cleves by Madame de la Fayette
The Rover by Aphra Behn

from The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night by Anonymous
Story of King Shahryar and His Brother
The Birds and Beasts and the Carpenter
The Ebony Horse
The Fourth Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman

from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Assembly of Fowls
The Man of Law's Tale
The Monk's Tale
The Physician's Tale
The Wife of Bath's Tale

from The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault by Charles Perrault
Riquet with the Tuft
The Fairy
The Master Cat
The Ridiculous Wishes
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood

Wednesday's Library recommendations
Dracula by Bram Stoker read in May
Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley read in May
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Paradise Lost by John Milton
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

from The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Hansel and Gretel
Rumpelstiltskin
The Frog King
The Ungrateful Son

APRIL

Impulse reads this month
1. The Green Mile Part 3: Coffey's Hands by Stephen King
2. Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin
3. Aunt Sally's Gnomes: The Threat Over The Fence by Dean Jarvis

59. The Green Mile Part 3: Coffey's Hands by Stephen King ★★★★


Welcome back to E block, the deadliest place this side of the electric chair, where assaults are a daily grind, and miracles are about to happen. Paul Edgecombe has become curious about John Coffey, the brutal killer of two girls. But Coffey is about to reveal something extraordinary, and life on the Green Mile may never be the same again.

This selection is the build-up part of the story and the introduction of the King twist. A great short story that ended tragically and left me wanting the next edition.

I began with the first part as a challenge read in January and have been reading one part monthly. This book is listed as an impulse read in >16 lowelibrary:

Happy new thread, April, and good luck with your blackout Bingo!

>18 christina_reads: Thank you

60. Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin ★★★½


Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long, he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes.

A funny book about cows that type and make demands, and what occurs when the farmer refuses.

I read this book for >6 lowelibrary: DecadesCAT and >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG - Onomotopeia in title

61. Giggle Giggle Quack by Doreen Cronin ★★★★


Farmer Brown is going on vacation. He asks his brother, Bob, to take care of the animals. “But keep an eye on Duck. He’s trouble.” Bob follows the instructions in Farmer Brown’s notes exactly. He orders pizza with anchovies for the hens, bathes the pigs with bubble bath, and lets the cows choose a movie. Is that giggling he hears? Giggle, giggle quack, giggle, moo giggle, oink…

This sequel was funnier than the first book. This was an impulse read since it is the sequel to my DecadesCAT read and is listed in >16 lowelibrary:

Today is my 11th Thingaversary, and here are my presents to myself.

For series reading
A Man and His Cat 07 by Umi Sakurai
Gone With The Witch by Angela M Sanders
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
The Tea Dragon Festival by K O'Neill

Books I have read that I wanted a copy of for my collection
Hunted by Megan Spooner
Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Favorite illustrator
Secrets of Gnomes by Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet

Impulse purchases
Act Like You Got Some Sense by Jamie Foxx
One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake
Wellness For Cats by Annabelle Valentin
What The Fact?! by Gabe Henry - this is a fact-a-day book that I will read next year

And one to grow on
Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by AA Milne

Happy Thingaversary (a little late)

>22 sallylou61: Thank you.

Happy Thingaversary, April!

>24 MissWatson: Thank you

62. I Am A Cat by Natsume Soseki ★½


Written over the course of 1904-1906, Soseki Natsume's comic masterpiece, I Am a Cat, satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle-class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him. A classic of Japanese literature, I Am a Cat is one of Soseki's best-known novels.

I tried reading this book and could not get into the flow, so I got the audiobook from the library. After listening to 15 of the 22 hours, I could take no more. The prattle was droll and boring. I could muster no interest. DNF

This book was a bullet from @NinieB and read for >11 lowelibrary: Annual Book Bullet Challenge

63. Don't Point That Thing At Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli ★★★½


In Don't Point that Thing at Me, British author and art dealer Kyril Bonifiglioli introduced the Honorable Charlie Mortdecai: degenerate aristocrat, amoral art dealer, seasoned epicurean, unwilling assassin, and general knave-about-Piccadilly. Since its publication in the 1970s, this dark-humored crime thriller has earned its place as a beloved cult classic. With his thuggish manservant Jock, Mortdecai endures all manner of nastiness involving secret police, angry foreign governments, stolen paintings, and dead clients, all just to make a dishonest living—while decked out in the most stylish garb and drinking the most bizarre alcoholic cocktails. Don't miss the brilliant mixture of comedy, crime, and suspense.

I love the movie Mortdecai so much that I kept hearing Johnny Depp in my head telling the tale—very snarky, curt, and straightforward, hilarious antics. I took off 1/2 a star for the ending.

This book was a bullet from @mstrust and read for >11 lowelibrary: Annual Book Bullet Challenge

64. You're My Little Papa Bear by Nicole Edwards ★★★


Celebrate your special papa bear with this sweet and colorful rhyming board book.

A simple edition to the series celebrating fathers and their love for their children

This book was an impulse buy, since I collect the series and had to have the newest edition. Added to >10 lowelibrary: Welcome to my home challenge

65. Mythological Creatures of Native American Lore by Riley Cross ★★½


Across North America, Indigenous nations have passed down warnings of beings that were never considered imaginary. These entities were spoken of as real presences—hunters, guardians, and enforcers that existed alongside humanity. The question is not whether these stories survived, but why modern encounters continue to echo ancient accounts. Drawing from tribal oral histories, historical records, and contemporary eyewitness reports, this book explores the unsettling possibility that these entities never disappeared-they simply remained hidden. This is not a fictional retelling of myths. It is an examination of what Indigenous peoples have always known—that some beings were never meant to vanish, only to be respected and avoided.

The myths were good; however, the writing was repetitive and badly edited. It read like the author took an outline and just updated certain information for each creature.

I read this for >8 lowelibrary: my Kindle of Kittens challenge

Some nice gifts for yourself!

>30 Tess_W: Thank you. I tried so hard this year not to make them all impulse buys.

66. The Sight and Fell by David Clement-Davies ★★★½

For the first time, The Sight and Fell are united in a single eBook co-edition.

The Sight In the wilds of Transylvania, a legend is about to be born, as a wolf pack races through the bitter snows, to find a birthing den for two cubs, one black, one white. In the birth of Fell and his sister Larka, a race is on to defeat the wicked Morgra, and to come to terms with the extraordinary powers of The Sight.

This story was great. A battle of good and evil, told through wolves. Great details and I was completely drawn in. Even though the ending was foreshadowed. I was still surprised. 4 1/2 stars

Fell The sequel to The Sight, The story of the loner Fell and his fight to save a human girl, and unravel the mysteries of the power that has haunted him all his life.

This sequel did not live up to the first story. I found myself setting it aside and wishing I could read the first story again instead. 2 1/2 stas.

I read this for >8 lowelibrary: : my Kindle of Kittens challenge. This was the oldest book on my Kindle, added March 30th 2014

67. When Pigs Fly by Bethany Buttons ★★★


Marked from birth and loved for his difference, Phillip grows up on a farm where wonder and danger live side by side. As the world begins to demand more of him than joy alone can give, Phillip learns that protection has rules—and breaking them has consequences. When Pigs Fly is a modern fable about bravery without glory, love without guarantees, and the moment when a life stops being small. Rich with tenderness and tension, this novel explores what it means to stand watch, to choose others over yourself, and to keep moving forward even when flight comes at a cost. Some stories are about escaping. This one is about holding the door.

This book started off reminding me of Charlotte's Web, but quickly showed why it could not live up to that tale. The story had some gaps that made it seem confusing when telling Phillip's story. I kept going back to see if I had skipped anything.

I read this book for the cover portion of >7 lowelibrary: Colored CoverKIT.

68. The Barn by Wright Thompson ★★★★


In summer 1955, two men, Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam, were charged with the torture and murder of the fourteen-year-old Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi, and acquitted in a mockery of justice, leaving behind an ink cloud of a false confession. In The Barn, Wright Thompson reveals the true nature and location of the long night of hell that August: inside the barn of one of the killers, within the six-square-mile grid whose official name is Township 22 North, Range 4 West,
Section 2, West Half, fabled in the Delta of myth as the birthplace of the blues, and twenty-three miles from Thompson’s own family farm. Wright Thompson has a deep, local understanding of this story—the world of the families of both Emmett Till and his killers, the historical forces that brought them together in the same place, and how the crime came to loom so large. Putting the killing floor of the barn on the map of West Half, and the Delta, and America, is a way onto the road this country must travel if we are to heal our oldest, deepest wound.

While not a 100% about the murder of Emmitt Till, this is still a great book and a must-read about racial inequality and the history of the Mississippi Delta. Like the author states at the end, this book was written for southern white boys who never learned this history. Even though he grew up 3 miles from the crime scene, he never heard of Emmitt Till until he went to college. This is why we need to teach all histories, from all people, and not try to brush it away to avoid hurting feelings.

I read this book for >3 lowelibrary: ScaredyKIT, but it is also a 2026 bullet from @susanna.fraser for >11 lowelibrary: Annual Book Bullet Challenge and a >10 lowelibrary: Welcome to my home read

69. The Strange Disappearance of A Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan ★★★★


Mumbai is a city that thrives on extravagant spectacles and larger-than-life characters. But as Chopra is about to discover, even in the city of dreams, there is no guarantee of a happy ending. Rising star and incorrigible playboy Vikram Verma has disappeared, leaving his latest film in jeopardy. Hired by Verma's formidable mother to find him, Inspector Chopra and his sidekick, baby elephant Ganesha, embark on a journey deep into the world's most flamboyant movie industry.
As they uncover feuding stars, failed investments, and death threats, it seems that many people have a motive for wanting Verma out of the picture. And yet, as Chopra has long suspected, in Bollywood the truth is often stranger than fiction.

At the end of the second book, Inspector Chopra opened the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency, so as this book begins, they are private detectives. The last line of the book refers to Baby Ganesha (a one-year-old elephant), "But for Now, he is a private detective, and a damned good one at that." I love this series and how Ganesha is always part of the case, even helping out. In this one he saves Inspector Chopra's life . A great cozy mystery set in a location that I get to learn about with every book.

I read this book for >4 lowelibrary: MysteryKIT and for >12 lowelibrary: Will I Ever Finish A Series challenge

I had watched a Hallmark movie about San Jordi (a day where you gift your love a book and a rose on April 23rd) and woke up this morning to find a rose, some chocolate, and a copy of Judge Stone on my desk.

70. Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill ★★★★


Beneath the still surface of a lake lurks a monster with needle-sharp teeth. Hungry and ready to pounce. Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human before, but when a witch is thrown into her lake, something makes Jenny decide she's worth saving. Temperance doesn't know why her village has suddenly turned against her, only that it has something to do with the malevolent new pastor. Though they have nothing in common, these two must band together on a magical quest to defeat the evil that threatens Jenny's lake and Temperance's family, as well as the very soul of Britain.

I found this fae book appealing and was intrigued by where it was going. I enjoyed the characters and the banter amongst them. I was slightly disappointed in the ending, mainly because I had figured it out, but I will not say anything further to avoid spoiling it for other readers. All in all, a good debut novel.

This book was a bullet from @whitewavedarling and read for my >11 lowelibrary: Annual Book Bullet

71. The Malleus Maleficarum by Henrich Kramer and James Sprenger ★★★


For nearly three centuries, Malleus Maleficarum (The Witches' Hammer) was the professional manual for witch hunters. This work by two of the most famous Inquisitors of the age is still a document of the forces of that era's beliefs. Under a Bull of Pope Innocent VIII, Kramer and Sprenger exposed the heresy of those who did not believe in witches and set forth the proper order of the world with devils, witches, and the will of God. Even if you do not believe in witchcraft, the world of 1484 did. Formal rules for initiating a process of justice are set down: how it should be conducted and the method of pronouncing sentence; when to use the trial by the red-hot-iron; how the prosecutor should protect himself; how the body is to be shaved and searched for tokens and amulets, including those sewn under the skin. As Summers says, it was the casebook on every magistrate's desk. Montague Summers has given a very sympathetic translation. His two introductions are filled with examples of witchcraft and the historical importance of Malleus Maleficarum. This famous document should interest the historian, the student of witchcraft and the occult, and the psychologist who is interested in the medieval mind as it was confronted with various forces which could be explained only by witchcraft.

It took me 6 months to work through this book. The best part is the last third, when they are actually telling the steps to get a witch to confess and how to punish said behavior. I had to keep setting the book aside because of the obvious hatred of women in the writing. Regardless, it was a very interesting read and I learned a lot about the Catholic Church of the time.

This book was part of my >9 lowelibrary: Unfinished Business and fits the >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG - microhistory square

72. Lady Beast's Bridegroom by Jude Knight ★★★


Lady Ariel lives retired in the country after being badly scarred by a fire. She hides her burns from others by donning a mask, only enticing more gossip by Society who has dubbed her “Lady Beast”. Now, her second cousin, who inherited her father’s title but not his private wealth, wants to have her committed so he can manage—and steal—her fortune. Only finding a husband will prevent the cousin from having his way. Peter, Lord Ransome, a man so handsome that society has dubbed him “Beau”, inherits not only his father's debts but also his burdens. He must manage and care for a stepmother who loathes him, her daughters, and his own two half-sisters, who spend more money than the estate can provide. His only recourse is to find a wealthy bride to save his estate and his family. For him, that means marrying “Lady Beast”. It’s merely a business transaction, after all. But then Beau learns that true beauty lies in the heart.

A regency romance that has a little too much detail in the romantic scenes than necessary (thankfully, there were not many of them, unlike most romances today)
This was a twist on Beauty and the Beast, although it does not follow the tale at all, other than having a Beauty and a Beast role reversal. It follows the romance tropes common in Harlequin-style romances.

I read this book for >2 lowelibrary: RandomKIT, and it also fits the fairy tale or myth retelling square on my >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG card.

73. The Skeleton Takes A Bow by Leigh Perry ★★★½


English adjunct Georgia Thackery and her best friend, Sid the skeleton, must find a murderer and the victim after the local high school auditorium becomes the scene of a late-night murder...and Sid is the only witness! Against her better judgment, Georgia allows her daughter Madison to sneak Sid into the Pennycross High School Drama Club’s spring production of Hamlet. As a bona fide member of the Thackery family, Sid is thrilled to lend a hand—or in this case, a skull—to help Madison’s thespian pursuits. But when Sid accidentally overhears a murder occurring off the stage, he and Georgia suspect something’s rotten in the state of...well, Massachusetts. As an adjunct English professor, Georgia is familiar with Hamlet’s typical body count. So, she knows the scene Sid heard from the wings—long after rehearsals ended and the high school closed for the night—was definitely off-script. But how can she and Sid investigate a murder if the victim’s corpse is nowhere to be found? It seems like a dead end. But even a bare bones investigation is better than none at all, because if Georgia and Sid don’t act quickly, Madison and her classmates could be in danger of something far worse than stage fright...

While the detecting is very amateurish with several missteps, that adds to the humor of the book. I love Sid, and his interactions with the family are great. I will be locating the first book of the series before continuing with the rest. A good cozy for when you want to read without too much thinking.

I read this book for >5 lowelibrary: HomeCAT

74. Aunt Sally's Gnomes: The Threat Over The Fence by Dean Jarvis ★★★★


Join Leopold and the gang as they confront a mysterious enemy that threatens their very existence. The story is packed with excitement, humour, and intriguing facts about gnomes that you won't find anywhere else.

Another great little tale about garden gnomes and their adventures. The most fascinating fact- aliens did not build the pyramids, gnomes did with their superior engineering skills.

This was an impulse read and listed under >16 lowelibrary:

75. Cher: The Memoir Part 1 by Cher ★★★½


After more than seventy years of fighting to live her life on her own terms, Cher finally reveals her true story in this intimate celebrity memoir, the first of two parts. Her remarkable career is unique and unparalleled. The only woman to top Billboard charts in seven consecutive decades, she is the winner of an Academy Award, an Emmy, a Grammy, a Cannes Film Festival Award, and an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, who has been lauded by the Kennedy Center.
She is a lifelong activist and philanthropist. As a child who dreamed of becoming famous, Cher was raised in often-chaotic circumstances, surrounded by singers, actors, and a mother who inspired her in spite of their difficult relationship. With her trademark honesty and humor, Cher: The Memoir traces how this diamond in the rough succeeded with no plan and little confidence to become the trailblazing superstar the world has been unable to ignore for more than half a century.
Cher: The Memoir, Part One follows her extraordinary beginnings through childhood to meeting and marrying Sonny Bono—and reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the highly complicated relationship that made them world-famous, but eventually drove them apart. This powerful autobiography reveals the daughter, the sister, the wife, the lover, the mother, and the superstar. It is a life too immense for only one book.

Cher tells her story all the way from birth through her relationship with Gene Simmons, ending right before her acting career begins. While she does not shy away from anything negative, she tastefully tells the story and does not stoop to graphic tabloid journalism, as some memoirs do. I enjoy listening to memoirs when the author reads them, and I wish Cher had narrated the entire book and not just portions. All in all, she has had an interesting life and I look forward to Part 2, releasing in November.

I read this book for >9 lowelibrary: Unfinished Business.

APRIL READING UPDATE

I read 17 books this month. My reading stars for the month averaged ★★★
This brings my yearly reads to 75.
No ★★★★★ reads
★★★★ - 6
★★★½ - 5
★★★ - 4
★★½ - 1
★½ -1
3 library, 5 Kindle, and 9 books from my shelves.

I finished all my KIT and CAT challenges except the color portion of the Colored CoverKIT, which I am currently reading.
I have read at least one book for each of my personal challenges.

MAY

Impulse reads this month

1. The Green Mile Book 4: The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix by Stephen King

Happy new thread, April!

>3 lowelibrary: That kitty is just right for ScaredyCAT, and is cute at the same time.

>45 VivienneR: Thank you, and he is a disturbingly adorable cat.

76. You're My Little Firecracker by Nicola Edwards ★★★★½


Featuring everything from adorable firecrackers to sweet apple pies, You’re My Little Firecracker is a festive story that celebrates the love between a parent and child. Each colorful spread features a sweet, rhyming sentiment paired with a die-cut shape that adds depth and interest. With chunky pages for little hands and endearing text, this board book is the perfect read for the Fourth of July or any time of the year!

I absolutely love this series and the adoringly punny love notes from parents to children.

This was one of 6 missing books in the series, and I immediately brought it home. Read for the >10 lowelibrary: New to my home challenge.

77. A Man and His Cat 07 by Umi Sakurai ★★★★½


Geoffroy, a former piano prodigy, arrives in Japan with a chip on his shoulder and Mr. Kanda in his sights! Bitter that his beloved father, renowned pianist Gustave Lambert, will acknowledge no one but Fuyuki Kanda—not even his own son—Geoffroy aims to become Mr. Kanda himself by stealing his talents! Can a boxful of kittens and Mr. Kanda’s kindness soothe Geoffroy’s wounded heart?

One of the better ones in the series, this one introduces a whole box of kittens into Fukumaru's house. I loved the interactions of Fukumaru, Marin, and the kittens.
The humans were okay, also.

I read this book for >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG -literary tradition from another country (Manga is a Japanese tradition). The book also fits >10 lowelibrary: New to my home challenge and >12 lowelibrary: Will I Ever Finish A Series challenge

78. No Cats In The Library by Lauren Emmons ★★★★★


Clarisse is a clever cat who loves books. She may not understand the dark, squiggly lines, but she can’t get enough of the pictures. One day, she stumbles upon a magical building where people walk in empty-handed and come out with an armload of books. She has to find a way inside! There’s just one problem: NO CATS are allowed in the library! That’s not going to stop clever Clarisse, though. Once she sneaks in, she stumbles upon exciting new stories and even helps a little girl practice reading aloud. But when the librarian comes looking, will Clarisse be allowed to stay?

A great little picture book of a cat who discovers the library. Recommended for all readers who love cats and libraries. The book went on my to-buy-a-copy list immediately.

This book was a 2026 book bullet from @thornton37814 and read for >11 lowelibrary: my annual book bullet challenge.

79. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan ★★★★


The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey have landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead "checking out" impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he's embarked on a complex analysis of the customers' behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what's going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.

I had no idea where this book was going when I started to read it, yet I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. As the book progressed, I got more invested, and even though I did not expect the ending, I loved it.

I read this book for my April color portion of >7 lowelibrary: Colored CoverKIT, and although the cover is a bright yellow, the best part is that it glows in the dark.

80. The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul ★★★½


In The House of Hidden Meanings, RuPaul strips away all artifice and recounts the story of his life with breathtaking clarity and tenderness, bringing his signature wisdom and wit to his own biography. From his early years growing up as a queer Black kid in San Diego, navigating complex relationships with his absent father and temperamental mother, to forging an identity in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New York, to finding enduring love with his husband Georges LeBar and self-acceptance in sobriety, RuPaul excavates his own biography, uncovering new truths and insights in his personal history. A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag. “I've always loved to view the world with analytical eyes, examining what lies beneath the surface. Here, the focus is on my own life—as RuPaul Andre Charles,” says RuPaul. If we’re all born naked and the rest is drag, then this is RuPaul totally out of drag. This is RuPaul stripped bare.

Not knowing anything about the person, but only knowing the drag queen persona. This was an informative read. An honest depiction of his life and flaws.

I read this book for >10 lowelibrary: Welcome to my home

81. Be A Bookworm, Not A Bully by Typhani Russo ★★★


Written by the founder of the nonprofit Bookworms Against Bullies, this guide reflects the organization's mission to use literature as a tool for building compassion, empathy, and connection. Be a Bookworm, Not a Bully encourages children to see reading not just as a skill, but as a pathway to becoming thoughtful, respectful, and caring individuals- one page at a time.

This book was an Early Reviewers April win and is listed in >10 lowelibrary: Welcome to my Home challenge

82 Forgotten Memories by Cecilia Agetun ★★★


When Jax gets summoned by his best friend and asked to protect his only child, Cassie, who’s been hidden away in the human world, he agrees. He thought it would be simple – protect the girl while she learns the truth about herself and the abilities she holds. What he hasn’t counted on is the shock that runs through him when they touch, immersing him in feelings and memories he can’t place. As he tries to figure out the nature of the bond that connects them, he realises that something else is at play – a magic that could be working for or against them. Will he be able to honour his promise and keep Cassie safe?

A YA novel that kept my attention, but not enough to continue reading more of the series. The characters are one-note and typical teens.

I read this book for the cover portion of >7 lowelibrary: Colored CoverKIT

83. You're My Little Mama Bear by Nicola Edwards ★★★½


Celebrate your precious mama bear with this sweet and colorful rhyming board book.

Another addition to my You're My Little collection. This one for moms.

I read this for >10 lowelibrary: Welcome to my home challenge

84. Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly ★★★★★


Kathleen Paulson enjoys her life as a small-town librarian, but sometimes even small towns can have big problems. The local businesses of Mayville Heights hope to convince the Chicago-based company Legacy Tours to sell a vacation package for their town. Legacy Tours partner Mike Glazer grew up in Mayville Heights, but he’s no longer the small-town boy people once knew. Even the local bootlegger has an issue with the bossy loudmouth Mike has become—until someone shuts him up for good. When Kathleen discovers Mike’s body on the boardwalk, she can’t help but get involved in the investigation—even if her beau, Detective Marcus Gordon, would rather she didn’t. Now, with a little help from her cats Owen and Hercules, it’s up to Kathleen to make sure the killer is booked for an extended stay in prison before someone else takes a permanent vacation.

The mystery took a backseat to the characters in this book, but I did not mind at all. I need to continue reading this more often, because Kathleen, Hercules, and Owen remind me of Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum. I could read about their antics all day and not miss the lack of plot.

I read this for >5 lowelibrary: HomeCAT and >12 lowelibrary: Will I Ever Finish A Series challenge

85. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell ★★★★½


The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help. Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.

I enjoyed this tale of mythic creatures and the adventures of Christopher and Mal. A very realistic tale that did not shy away from negative events as some YA books do. The added Bestiary at the end was fantastic and bumped the book by half a star.

This book was a bullet from @Zoette and read for >11 lowelibrary: my annual book bullet challenge. I am also using it for >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG - great first sentence
"It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him."

86. Netherfield: Rogue Dragon by Maria Grace ★★★★★


Elizabeth Bennet, Dragon Keeper, accidental guardian of Pemberley the young firedrake, and even more accidentally betrothed to one Fitzwilliam Darcy, would beg to disagree. Banished from her home, her marriage indefinitely delayed, and desperate to secure Pemberley’s future, Elizabeth must tame a rogue dragon who is determined that she is the last Dragon Keeper in the world whom he would ever accept. Darcy cannot fix on the hour, the spot, the look, or the words that upended every expectation he had for his future. That is not to say this particular future with Elizabeth is unwelcome. But he never expected that future to start whilst he was called so very far away from her, caught in the middle of keeping the fragile peace between dragons and humans. Darcy discovers a treacherous plot against Elizabeth. More shocking, the heart of the conspiracy beats in someone very near and dear to her. With war on the horizon, time is running out for Elizabeth and Darcy to save the dragons and any hope of a future together.

I started this series for the Pride & Prejudice vibes. I am now 100% invested in the dragons. The bickering, posturing, and hatching made this book hard to put down—a great installment and investment in the series. I am already planning to read the next one as soon as possible.

This book was read for >8 lowelibrary: Kindle of Kittens challenge, and it also fits >12 lowelibrary: Will I Ever Finish A Series challenge

87. Jackaby by Willaim Ritter ★★★★


This thrilling novel pits R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplainable, and his new assistant, Abigail Rook, against a supernatural serial killer. Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary, including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local police seem adamant to deny. While Abigail finds herself drawn to Jackaby’s keen intelligence and his sensitivity to phenomena others barely perceive, her feelings are confused by the presence of Charlie, a handsome young policeman willing to help Jackaby and Abigail on the case. But is Charlie’s offer a sincere desire to be of service, or is some darker motive at work?

This YA paranormal mystery drew me right in. The characters are quirky, and the paranormal creatures are described in an enjoyable, believable manner. This is one of those enjoyable reads that makes you say, "Why has this been on my shelves so long?"

I read this for >7 lowelibrary: ColoredCoverCAT and also for >9 lowelibrary: Unfinished Business

88. Joyland by Stephen King ★★★½


Set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, Joyland tells the story of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever.

This is a simple, quick read. However, it reads more like a tale of a young man's summer at Joyland Park and not a true murder mystery, although a cold case is involved and solved. Being Mr. King, there is some paranormal activity, but nothing compared to most of his stories.

I read this book for >4 lowelibrary: MysteryKIT since it is tagged noir and the book blurb states that the Hard Case Crime series is the best in hardboiled crime fiction. I am also using this book for >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG Difficult to Categorize, since it could be a mystery, a ghost story, or a coming of age story.

89. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio ★★½


When Lauren returns home to her flat in London late one night, she is greeted at the door by her husband, Michael. There’s only one problem—she’s not married. She’s never seen this man before in her life. But according to her friends, her much-improved decor, and the photos on her phone, they’ve been together for years.
As Lauren tries to puzzle out how she could be married to someone she can’t remember meeting, Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb and abruptly disappears. In his place, a new man emerges, and a new, slightly altered life re-forms around her. Realizing that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, Lauren confronts the question: If swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, how do you know you’ve taken the right path? When do you stop trying to do better and start actually living?

I was definitely not the audience for this book. I could not get invested in the story (I found it senseless) and really disliked the characters.

This book was a bullet from @RidgewayGirl and read for my >11 lowelibrary: Annual Book Bullet Challenge

>60 lowelibrary: At least you learned a valuable lesson about taking book bullets from me!

>61 RidgewayGirl: I have started being more selective in the bullets I am taking this year.

90. The Green Mile Book 4: The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix by Stephen King ★★★★★


Time has run out for one of the inmates at Cold Mountain penitentiary. Eduard Delacroix is set to take that final walk down the Green Mile. But first he must say goodbye - to the guards, to his fellow inmates, and to a strange creature that forever changed his life. Little does he know of the terrible fate that awaits him, and of a devilish plan of revenge.

This is the center of the book and sets the stage for the book's climax. This is a great tale and one of the saddest parts of the story.

This is an impulse read since I am eager to finish the story and remember the ending. It is listed in >44 lowelibrary:.

91. Dracula by Bram Stoker and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley ★★½


Dracula ★★★
During a business visit to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania, a young English solicitor finds himself at the center of a series of horrifying incidents. Jonathan Harker is attacked by three phantom women, observes the Count's transformation from human to bat form, and discovers puncture wounds on his own neck that seem to have been made by teeth. Harker returns home upon his escape from Dracula's grim fortress, but a friend's strange malady — involving sleepwalking, inexplicable blood loss, and mysterious throat wounds — initiates a frantic vampire hunt. The popularity of Bram Stoker's 1897 horror romance is as deathless as any vampire. Its supernatural appeal has spawned a host of film and stage adaptations, and more than a century after its initial publication, it continues to hold readers spellbound.

While I found the book not to be one of the better vampire books I have read. I do recognize the concepts and influences the book has had on almost all vampire books and movies.

Frankenstein ★★½
The idea of a reanimated corpse was famously conceived by an 18-year-old Mary Shelley on holiday with her future husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron near Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The three were tasked with writing a ghost story, which resulted in one of the most famous novels of the 19th century. Published anonymously in a three-volume series, Frankenstein instantly set the standard for literary horror, and its themes led many to believe it was the first true science fiction novel. Young scientist Victor Frankenstein, grief-stricken over the death of his mother, sets out in a series of laboratory experiments testing the ability to create life from non-living matter. Soon, his experiments progress further until he creates a humanoid creature eight feet tall. But as Frankenstein soon discovers, a successful experiment does not always equal a positive outcome.

I had trouble following the book. I struggled through it til the end, though. I am starting to believe that I am not much of a classics reader.

I read this book for >4 lowelibrary: ScaredyKIt and am counting it as one book, and it is also for >13 lowelibrary: BingoDOG since both books are in several different Legacy Libraries. Both books are also on the reading lists in my unofficial challenge >14 lowelibrary: The Library Challenge

>64 lowelibrary: Even though I knew the story so well,I remember struggling through Frankenstein, I found the author continually wandered off the plot to make a point of something rather obscure. On the other hand, I loved Dracula and found it held up well.

>65 DeltaQueen50: I got so lost in Frankenstein and lost understanding whose tale was being told several times, and I hate having to backtrack to understand a book. I found Dracula to be an okay tale, but I do get the classic classification. So much of this book is replayed and represented in some version in almost all vampire stories.

92. A Girl Named Carmen Winstead by Trace Murillo NO TOUCHSTONES ★★★


For as long as she can remember, Carmen Winstead has been alone. Abandoned by her mother, bullied by her classmates, shunned by the world. Then, tragedy strikes. And the entire town discovers the terror of her rage and pain. As local authorities search for the answers, Carmen’s worst bullies turn up missing. Dragged, kicking, and screaming into the depths of the darkness, the bodies float beneath the streets of the town. And Carmen whispers from below, watching, warning.
But a long line of gifted women, known as green witches, harness the forces of magic to do good. But the power fueling Carmen’s rage is darker than they ever imagined. And if they stand against her, they may find themselves in the fight of their life.

This is part of an urban legend collection, and it is a simple book. After reading it, I say it is geared to the lower end of the age group (12 and up).

I read this book for my >8 lowelibrary: Kindle of Kittens challenge.

MAY READING UPDATE

I read 17 books this month. My reading stars for the month averaged ★★★½
This brings my yearly reads to 92.
★★★★★ 4
★★★★½ -3
★★★★ -2
★★★½ - 3
★★★ - 3
★★½ - 2
3 library, 3 Kindle, and 11 books from my shelves.

I finished all my KIT and CAT challenges except RandomKIT, which I am currently reading, and DecadesCAT.
I have read at least one book for each of my personal challenges, including my unofficial challenge

The last few weeks have been rough personally, which has put a dent in my reading time.
Little One is not responding well to the pill version of his thyroid medicine and is now on a liquid form. The vet is afraid he may not be absorbing the medicine into his bloodstream and is also concerned that he is showing signs of pancreatitis. I am not ready to lose my reading buddy, but I need to start preparing for the inevitable.

JUNE

Impulse reads this month

>68 lowelibrary: I hope Little One gets the treatment he needs and feels better soon!

>68 lowelibrary: I hope Little One responds well to treatment. I know from personal experience that pancreatitis is unpleasant (to say the least). Wishing you both well.

>70 christina_reads:, >71 VivienneR: Little One says thank you, and that the medicine is gross. Most of the medicines are only a 10-day treatment for the gut issues, then he will only be on the thyroid meds.

93. If You Would Have Told Me by John Stamos


If you would have told a young John Stamos flipping burgers at his dad’s fast-food joint that one day he’d be a household name and that, at the height of his success, he’d be living alone, divorced, with no kids, high on a cocktail of forgetting, he might’ve asked, “You want fries with that?” John burst onto the scene in General Hospital, propelling him into the teen idol stratosphere, a place that’s often a point of no return. But Stamos beat the odds and, over the past four decades, has proved himself to be one of his generation’s most successful and beloved actors. Whether showing off his comedic chops on Full House or his dramatic skills on ER, pushing the boundaries on Broadway or living out his youthful dreams as an honorary Beach Boy, John has surprised everyone, most of all himself. A universal story about friendship, love, loss, and the courage to embrace love once more, John Stamos’s memoir is filled with some of the most memorable names in Hollywood, both old and new. Funny, deeply poignant, and brutally honest, If You Would Have Told Me is a portrait of a boy who went from believing in Disney magic to a man who learns that we have to create our own magical moments in life.

I loved hearing John Stamos tell his story. I relived the Blackie Parrish years with fond memories. He tells stories about friends and family with a pronounced caring that lets the listener know how much they mean to him. He stays positive even as he recounts the darker moments in his life and the losses he has suffered. His memory of learning about Bob Saget's death had me crying with him. A very well-written memoir that fans will enjoy.

This book was read for >10 lowelibrary: Welcome to my home challenge

Today, I went to the grand opening of a new indie bookstore in my town, The Lost Pages Bookstore. We left with 7 books (4 for me and 3 for the hubby). I knew the owner was an independent author, but I did not realize until cataloging the books that he was a LibraryThing author.

My books are:
The Dead of the Day by Steven E Wedel - the bookstore owner and he kindly signed it for me
The Giver by Lois Lowry - a children's classic, I have never read
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass - on my book bullet list
Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak - needed a copy in my home library