Blog

The Sunday Post #21: Catathon Readathon coming up!

| sarasreadingnook

Update:

Hi everyone,
I hope you’re doing well! Today is an exciting day because Olivia, myself, and our co-hosts have announced our 48-hour readathon, “Catathon Readathon”, which will take place on April 20th and 21st. We would love for you to join us if you can! This is the second time that we are hosting this readathon, and we are incredibly excited about it!

We even made activity prompts to accompany it!

If you are interested, please follow us on Instagram, where we will post everything related to the Catathon Readathon. All cards can be downloaded HERE.

Cohosts:
Thank you to our cohosts!
Abigail (and cats: Luna, Ellie, Dolly, Poppy, and Hugo) @abigailscupoftea
Christin (and Pocus the cat) @christin_rene_
Melanie (and Kyra the cat) @thatgirl_blogue

Other life updates:
It has been a busy week, but I am happy to be able to relax this weekend. Today, Olivia and I will be watching some movies at home and enjoying some delicious Greek-style lemon potatoes that were purchased from a local vendor. Although I have not tried this particular variety before, lemon potatoes have always been one of my favourite dishes. So, I was pleasantly surprised by my partner today when he brought a tray of these for us to enjoy!

Olivia Update 🐾

Olivia is still beaming with excitement after a sociable day yesterday that included many pets and treats from a visitor.

Olivia, satisfied, below 🙂

Reading/Watching Update

Currently Reading

Newly Added On My Bookshelf

Recently Watched

This Week on the blog

  • Reviews
  • Top Ten Tuesdays – Cat Book Recommendations (*tentative)
  • The Sunday Post #22

Last Week On The Blog

QOTD: What book are you most looking forward to reading this month?

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

The writing of this post was edited and enhanced with the help of Grammarly AI.

Catathon Readathon Announcement!

| sarasreadingnook

Catathon Readathon!

Hi everyone! It is time for Olivia, myself, and our cohosts to announce our second Catathon Readathon! It’s our 48 hr Readathon dedicated to what we love most – CATS!

Readathon Cards

All of the readathon info can be found here, including the answers to our crossword puzzle, TBR card, Readathon Checklist, and Activity Cards!

Thank you to our cohosts!
Abigail (and cats: Luna, Ellie, Dolly, Poppy, and Hugo) @abigailscupoftea
Christin (and Pocus the cat) @christin_rene_
Melanie (and Kyra the cat) @thatgirl_blogue

QOTD: Will you be joining?
What is your favourite cat related book? Let us know!

Review | What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

| sarasreadingnook
Title: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Source: Physical Copy (Gifted)

Description

For fans of The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this charming Japanese novel shows how the perfect book recommendation can change a reader’s life.

What are you looking for?

This is the famous question routinely asked by Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. Like most librarians, Komachi has read every book lining her shelves—but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of her library guests. For anyone who walks through her door, Komachi can sense exactly what they’re looking for in life and provide just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it.

Each visitor comes to her library from a different juncture in their careers and dreams, from the restless sales attendant who feels stuck at her job to the struggling working mother who longs to be a magazine editor. The conversation that they have with Sayuri Komachi—and the surprise book she lends each of them—will have life-altering consequences.

With heartwarming charm and wisdom, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is a paean to the magic of libraries, friendship and community, perfect for anyone who has ever found themselves at an impasse in their life and in need of a little inspiration.

(Source: Goodreads)

Review

I received this book as a Christmas present and was pleasantly surprised by it. The cover featured a cat and books, making it seem like a perfect quick read for 2024. Naturally, I was excited to read it and knew it wouldn’t take long for me to take it from my bookshelves.

The book is divided into five chapters that tell the story of people at different stages of life who eventually visit a librarian in Tokyo named Sayuri Komachi. She can quickly determine and recommend books that the patrons want, but the real magic is when she recommends books she thinks the patrons need to enrich their lives. This is a beautiful concept, especially for those of us who see the library and books as magical in their own right.

While I like this idea, the formula in this book is pretty repetitive. Each character’s backstory is unique, but there is a lot of overlap when the patrons visit the library and meet the librarian. I felt the redundancy was a bit of a barrier to enjoying chapters 2-5 to their full potential. The backstories, though, were all interesting to read and were one of my favourite parts of reading this novel. I learned quite a lot, especially regarding work culture in Japan and how it relates to these five individuals.

The book overall has a very cozy and warm atmosphere. Readers will especially enjoy this if they enjoy slice-of-life literature or television/film. However, although the book feels very cozy, I noticed that some of the physical descriptions contrast with this tone and are unnecessary/unkind, and I felt uncomfortable reading those sections of this novel. (Content warnings below.)

If you’re a cat lover like me, you might be disappointed by the small amount of cat content despite there being a feline on the cover. Hopefully, the author will include more cat-related content in their future novels!

I enjoyed reading this novel, but there were a few things that I needed to consider before writing my review. It’s a good choice for those who want to spend time with five different individuals and learn how visiting the library can enrich their lives.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Cozy, Enlightening, Reflective

Values/Themes

  • slice-of-life
  • work and careers
  • life stages
  • finding one’s place in the world

Favourite Part

Learning about each patron.

Feelings

  • cozy
  • warm
  • hopeful

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.25 stars

Acknowledgements

A: Thank you for the Christmas present!

QOTD: do you often visit the library?

The Sunday Post #20

| sarasreadingnook

Update:

Hello everyone! Short updates today.
This week was hectic, but luckily, I finished two books, so I am on track with my reading goal of 52 books this year (though I would like to aim for more if possible!). I’m delighted to be blogging again.

Happy Easter, everyone!

My Easter Foccacia

Olivia Update 🐾

There have been many snoozes this week! Olivia has also been happily eating her soft food, which she increasingly enjoys as she ages. Today has been a great day. She listens to the birds singing outside, who are starting to chirp now that the snow is melting.

Reading/Watching Update

Currently Reading

We are currently listening to Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. And we are likely to start reading some of our ALCs and ARCs this week for review.

New On Our Shelf
Nothing new this week.

Recently Watched

I watched several movies featuring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino this week, including: A Streetcar Named Desire, Mutiny on the Bounty, One Eyed Jacks, Don Juan DeMarco, Insomnia, and my new favourite: Scent of a Woman. I became interested in these two actors’ filmographies after watching The Godfather and falling in love with Marlon Brando’s performance as Vito Corleone. I wasn’t expecting to love Scent of a Woman so much, but Al Pacino was so good! Hooah! It truly was an Oscar-worthy performance. The film reminded me a lot of The Holdovers, one of my favourites, which was nominated for Oscars this year.

Currently Watching

I am enjoying The Regime and can understand the mixed reviews. The show is pretty odd, but I love Kate Winslet’s acting so much that I must keep watching it!

This Week on the blog

Review – What you are looking for is in the library

  • Top Ten Tuesdays
  • The Sunday Post

Last Week On The Blog

Book Review: The New Couple in 5B
Top Ten Tuesdays: Movies I’d Love to See As Books

QOTD: What’s your favourite recent film?

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

The writing of this post was edited and enhanced with the help of Grammarly AI.

Review | The New Couple in 5B

| sarasreadingnook

Title: The New Couple in 5B
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Format: Audio Listening Copy
Duration: 12 hours 8 minutes
Source: Libro.fm

Description

A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this binge-worthy thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.

Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.

At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.

(Source: Goodreads)

Review

I really enjoy reading psychological thrillers, so I was very happy to see that Libro.fm was offering this ALC for the month of March. The synopsis sounded very promising and mysterious. It truly caught my attention! I also noted several very promising reviews, including Sarah Michelle Gellar’s recommendation of the book. Naturally, I just had to listen to it to see for myself!

The book starts off very strong. Set in New York City, it was fascinating to see how Rosie and Chad’s life would change in this coveted apartment. And, of course, as the book progressed, Windermere became a much darker place. However, although plot elements were coming forward, the pacing of this novel started to feel slow and I felt that the book lost some momentum. I lost some interest but still kept listening onwards. Ultimately, I thought the conclusion was done well.

So, yes I did leave the book with mixed feelings, but I do feel like I may have enjoyed a physical copy more than the audiobook. I wonder if the narration had an impact on my enjoyment. While it didn’t fully click for me, largely due to pacing, I think that readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with paranormal aspects may enjoy this one!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

dark, mysterious, twists

Values/Themes

  • paranormal themes
  • criminal events
  • hidden truths

Favourite Part

The introduction of this book was quite strong! I enjoyed the first 1/3 of the book.

Feelings

  • unsettling
  • mysterious
  • suspenseful

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 2.75 stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Libro.fm and the publisher for this ALC! All opinions are my own.

QOTD: do you enjoy thrillers? Let us know!

The Sunday Post #19

| sarasreadingnook

Hello, everyone! Today we are linking up with …

Update:

Hello, everyone!

It looks like life will be calm for the next while, which is excellent news. I am excited to have more time to read and write book reviews because so many books are on my TBR list!

I’ve been into movies lately and watched many Oscar nominees this year. That took up quite a bit of my spare time last month, but I love to do this every year! More on this below.

Olivia Update 🐾

Olivia has been having a great time in her (relatively) new bed this week! She loves spending time with her Dolphin and Banana friends, napping beneath our piano (her favourite spot). She is also enjoying our new soft carpets, which provide a comfortable space for a super senior cat like her!

My partner and I have officially had Olivia for 10 years! We got her when she was 7.5 years young. There have been lots of cuddles and treats to celebrate.

Reading/Watching Update

Currently Reading

I am about to finish reading The New Couple in 5B, and What You Are Looking For Is In The Library. Great Expectations is a book that I am re-reading, and it just so happens to be my favourite book of all time. I am enjoying it!

No new books to add this week!

Thank you to Libro FM for the ALC of The New Couple in 5B. (All opinions are my own).

Oscar Nominees (Feature Films) We’ve Watched

I may post more on this since we’ve watched so many! My favourite films were The Society of The Snow and The Holdovers. Overall, I was happy that Oppenheimer won Best Picture. Although pleased with the award winners, I was personally rooting for Lily Gladstone for Best Actress. She performed expertly in Killers of the Flower Moon and showed fantastic dedication to the film. Happily noted, I was overjoyed when Da’Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress. She was just amazing in The Holdovers!

This Week on the blog

  • Many reviews to come!
  • I may do TTT and WWW if time permits

Last Week On The Blog

REVIEW | THE FURY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY WRAP-UP

QOTD: do you schedule your blog posts? How do you keep on top of blogging? Let us know!

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

The writing of this post was edited and enhanced with the help of Grammarly AI.

Review | The Fury

| sarasreadingnook

*Mystery/Thriller

Title: The Fury
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Celadon Books
Format: Physical ARC
Pages: 308 pages
Source: Celadon Books

Description

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

(Goodreads)

Review

“The Fury” is a gripping medium to fast-paced book about a former movie star, her friends, a spontaneous trip to a private Greek island, and — a murder. It even incorporates elements of Greek mythology and has an Agatha Christie feel to it. Like Michaelides’ prior works, I was captivated by the story, but I couldn’t put down this one. The twists and turns were fantastic. Even though I would place “The Silent Patient” higher on my list, it’s near the top of his works. If the plot piques your interest, I recommend it!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Twists, Turns, Compelling

Values/Themes

  • Deception
  • Obsession
  • Loss

Favourite Part

How Alex Michaelides kept my interest the whole way throughout!

Feelings

  • Tense
  • Mysterious

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 4 stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Have you read any novels by this author? Or similar thrillers? Let us know!

January/February wrap-up

| sarasreadingnook


Hi everyone! It’s great to be back again. Over the past few months, I took time off from blogging for extensive eye treatments. Viewing a computer screen has been quite challenging due to my dry eye condition. However, per my last follow-up, my eyes have responded well to the treatments, and reading has become much easier for me now! I’m glad to let you know that I should be able to contribute here more regularly. In this post, I will summarize the books I have read so far this year!

Reading Statistics

Reading Wrap-Up at a Glance

Mini Reviews

Book Cover images link to Goodreads. Highlighted Book Titles link to book reviews. Content Warnings link to The Storygraph, if available.

Reuniting With Strangers: A Novel by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio
Published: April 16, 2024
(4.25 stars)
Initially, I was interested in reading this novel as it was on the longlist for Canada Reads 2024. Although I didn’t get to every book on the list, I did try to read each book that most appealed to me. After reading the synopsis, I knew this book would be about reunifying the families of Filipino caregivers. Fortunately, I was hooked from the first chapter. Unfortunately, the main issue I encountered was the pacing — some parts were quite slow, but overall, the story was strong. Make sure you have tissues handy!

Content Warnings: None are currently listed, but this book has some heavy themes.

Fiction

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Expected Pub Date: July 16th, 2024
Review to come. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Content Warnings.

Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Thriller

The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Published: January 16, 2024
(4 stars)
“The Fury” is a gripping medium to fast-paced book about a former movie star, her friends, a spontaneous trip to a private Greek island, and — a murder. It even incorporates elements of Greek mythology and has an Agatha Christie feel to it. Like Michaelides’ prior works, I was captivated by the story, but I couldn’t put down this one. The twists and turns were fantastic. Even though I would place “The Silent Patient” higher on my list, it’s near the top of his works. If the plot piques your interest, I recommend it!

Content Warnings.
Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

Mystery/Thriller

A Ovelha Curiosa by Ana Maria Magalhães, Isabel Alçada, Nuno Feijão (Ilustrador)
Published: January 1, 2015
(4 stars).
It is a goal of mine to read as many Portuguese short novels as possible in 2024. This is the first Portuguese book I’ve read this year, and it was very cute! It’s about a cute and curious little sheep that gets into all sorts of trouble on her farm. I don’t believe there is an English translation yet, but if you want a short Children’s book to read in European Portuguese, this is lots of fun.

Children’s

O Nabo Gigante by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy, Niamh Sharkey (Illustrator)
Published: First published January 1, 1910.
(3 stars) This is the second Portuguese book I’ve read this year. It is the Portuguese translation of “The Gigantic Turnip” by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy. The book is a Russian folktale about a gigantic turnip that needs to be harvested and the teamwork it takes. While it wasn’t my favourite Children’s book, the illustrations were lovely.

Children’s

101 Dálmatas by Walt Disney Company
Published: Jan 1st, 1994.
(4 stars) We all know the story – 101 Dalmations! It’s one of my favourites from childhood. When this translation was recommended to me, I had to read it! It was only 48 pages long, and it was at a level that I could comprehend pretty well while also learning lots of new vocabulary in European Portuguese. Sometimes, embarking on a full-length novel can be intimidating (I’m still working on an Emily Henry book!). Reading these short books can help me stay engaged in the language while learning some new vocabulary. I will continue the series and am excited to start The Lion King soon!

Children’s

Bad Medicine by Christopher Twin
Published: October 24th, 2023
(3 stars).
This is another book on the Canada Reads 2024 longlist. In it, a group of Cree teenagers gather to share horror stories in front of a fire. Some of the stories were very moving, and overall, I enjoyed this book. However, I would have enjoyed a longer graphic novel to expand on the stories and enjoy the artwork.

Content Warnings.
Graphic Novel

River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta
Published: August 22nd, 2023
(2.75 stars)
In this book, Alicia embarks on a quest to find the comb of River Mumma, the Jamaican water deity, in the streets of Toronto. I was very excited to read the novel, but the story could have been longer and expanded. Additionally, I felt the world-building needed some development. But I enjoyed the mythology and also the setting in Toronto.
Content Warnings.

Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Mythology

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Published: September 1, 1952
(3 stars).
I’ve heard of Ernest Hemingway many times before, but I hadn’t actually read any of his books until now. I decided to start with something small, so I read “The Old Man and the Sea.” It is the story of a Cuban fisherman and his encounter with a giant Marlin in the sea. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t resonate with me as much as I’d hoped. I will try to read more of his novels in the future.

Content Warnings.

Fiction, Classics, Literature

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Published: January 1, 1979
(5 stars)
I had heard of Octavia E. Butler’s books many times before. Due to its historical nature, I read it during Black History Month, but I recommend it at any time of year. Dana is transported back in time to the antebellum South. The first scene of the book pulls you right into the story. I couldn’t stop reading this from start to finish. I rearranged my entire day to finish the book; it was very captivating. I highly recommend it!

Content Warnings.

Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

QOTD: What books are you looking forward to reading in March? Let us know!

Note: This post was edited with the help of Grammarly AI.

Review | Together We Rot

| sarasreadingnook

*Fantasy/Horror

Title: Together We Rot
Genre: YA Horror, Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Format: E-Book
Pages: 272 pages
Source: NetGalley and Penguin Random House

Description

A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

Wil Greene’s mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed–they claim she skipped town and you can’t find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn’t just leave…and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.

Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday–in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.

Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.

And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.

(Goodreads)

Together We Rot was a fairly compelling read. The book is true to the synopsis and does a great job of creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed how the author incorporated nature visuals in this one! However, where the book lost me at times was with the characters. I didn’t find them particularly memorable or fleshed out. Despite this, I did appreciate how the novel came together and wrapped up. The ending was satisfying!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Mysterious, Dark, Creepy

Values/Themes

  • Family
  • Trust
  • Nature

Favourite Part

The last third of the book.

Feelings

  • Eerie
  • Unsettling

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.25 Stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group/Viking Books for Young Readers for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Do you enjoy thrillers? Let us know!