I think I am reading too much again.

Oscar Lives Next Door: A Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson’s Childhood by Bonnie Farmer, Marie Lafrance (Illustrations)

Sweet little children’s book about Oscar Peterson.

Feb 15, 2025.

Endless Night by Agatha Christie

This was such a dark Christie novel similar to “And Then There Were None” and “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”. It’s quite short and it developed quietly and slowly in a gothic thriller way. The ending was very chilling. The reveal was great.

Feb 8-16, 2025.

The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings by Sy Montgomery

I like birds. It was interesting to read more about hummingbirds and the great people who rescue them. The author is a great narrator too.

1.25x. Feb 16-17, 2024.

Ascendance of a Bookworm (Light Novel), Part 3 Volume 2 by Miya Kazuki, You Shiina (Illustrator), Quof (Translator)

I made myself a rule that get to read and complete one volume of this series for every physical TBR book I read. I have been very addicted to this series and I need to slow it down otherwise I’ll get hyper focussed on it. In any case, another great volume with Myne learning noble politics in this world interspersed with humour and some moments with her friends and families. I tear up every time she talks to her biological family. This series is incredible.

February 16-17, 2025 on Kobo Libra 2.

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, Jerome Pumphrey (Illustrator), Jarrett Pumphrey (Illustrator)

Fun! Reynolds has become one of my favourite children’s and middle grade authors. Good art too.

February 18, 2025.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serlet, Megan Hilty (Narrator)

Oh boy. While I did not think One Italian Summer was a great book, it was an easy listen especially since it was narrated by Lauren Graham. The audiobook narrator of this book did a fine job but this book was overdramatic and messy. The characters are thinly drawn and disposable. I found the protagonist very annoying after awhile. I kept waiting for the twist and it was stupid. I will have to spoil the book a bit to continue this review.

In comic book fandom, “fridging” is when a female character is killed to develop the characterization of the lead male. In this book, a character is effectively fridged so that the lead character develops. I didn’t really buy the great friendship in this book. It would have worked if I had been more emotionally invested. It felt rushed. So characters and plot are weak, was there a good setting? No, because at least there was Italy in the last book. This is was plain old romcom style New York City but without the lightness. Boring and frustrating! I am not going to listen to another Serle book anytime soon. I can’t believe this had so many good reviews. Thank goodness it was less than 7 hours and I sped through it in half the time.

1.75-2.0x. February 18, 2025.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Kimmerer has such a great voice for narration so I listened to this completely on audio. This is really an essay criticizing capitalism and modern economics. I agree with a lot of her points and have studied economics both in school and in my spare time. I do it mostly to study the game. It’s not a good game, but it’s the one we have to live in right now. I try to practice less transactional things by giving and donating when I can. I really enjoyed this essay but I wish there was more. I would have read a longer and more well researched version of it.

1.6x. February 19-20, 2025.