San Jose Rose Garden and books I've read
The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden
We visited in June 2024 with cousin Steve
Gorgeous!
-by Louise Penny
The Gray Wolf: Excited to see that the next one is The Black Wolf. This one revisits the monastery out "Between the Wolves". I might go back and reread that before the next comes out as they seem to be connected.
-by Thomas Rockwell
How To Eat Fried Worms: A childhood favorite-did an audiobook, loved it! It is a little dated but has so many good scenes.
-by Judy Blume
Freckle Juice: Another childhood classic that I listened to.
-by Robin Sloan
Moon bound: So different from his previous books. Well written, meta interest in stories, set in the far future so we can have talking animals and other oddness. It kept me reading, but I don't think I will ever need to re-read it.
-by Ingvild Rishoi
Brightly Shining: Vibes of The Little Match Girl, but set in present day. Christmas story but super sad?
-by Marci R Rendon
Murder on the Red River: Very little detective work in this, dependent on visions, because Native American...also, set in the 70's, so much smoking-edit that out and you lose 10% of the book, lol. All from Cash, she is hard from from torn from her family young and raised in terrible foster homes.
Girl Gone Missing: But it turns out I love her and quickly finished book 2
Sinister Graves: and book 3.
Broken Fields: and book 4. She really grows on you.
Where They Last Saw Her: Different people, didn't love it as much, but finished it no problem. I am up to date on her mysteries.
Ursula LeGuin: Wizard of Earthsea
First 4 books: Total comfort read. I mean to read the rest of the books again...someday.
Garth Nix
Sabriel: Audiobook read by Tim Curry! This is a re-read from a decade ago. Love the magic system in this world!
by Makana Yamamoto
Hammajang Luck: Sci Fi plus heist story. I think this might be better in movie format. It's not bad, but hard to convey the excitement of a heist. It is more of a description of a possible, slightly dystopian, future.
by Jodi Piccoult
The Book of Two Ways: Pure beach read/chick lit with Egyptian archaeology theme.
by Clare Pooley
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting: Fun characters who meet on their train commute. People are not what they seem, happy endings for all.
-by Linda Holmes
Back After This: Romcom about a podcast editor done dirty by a boyfriend and her work situation. I don't generally read romcoms, but such a great writer it was super fun.
-by Terry Pratchett
Soul Music: I know that I read this a while ago, but the audio book made it really stick in my head.
DNFs:
-by Tim O'Brien
America Fantastica: Had a great review, but after the first couple chapters it didn't gel for me.
-by Claire Oshetshy
Poor Deer: hmmm, dealing with childhood trauma of having accidentally killed your friend.
-by Sara Fujimura
Every Reason We Shouldn't: Teen romance while ice skating, just okay for me.
by Ellen Hopkins
Tricks: I picked it up because it is one of the most banned books. Several stories about how teens end up turning to prostitution. Well written and I can see that teens would want to read it. Didn't finish it because I see where it is going.
