The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune. New York: Tor, 2025. 416 pages **

Nate Cartwright feels as if he has lost everything. His estranged parents died tragically and left him a cabin and a truck. Losing his job as a journalist in D.C. forces him to re-evaluate his life and his actions. Arriving at the town closest to the family summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, Nate is pleased to see that nothing has changed since he visited with his parents, time seems to have stood still.

That is, until he arrives at the cabin to find a man and his daughter squatting there acting aggressive and mysterious. Nate is determined to learn the story of the military mn as evidenced by his tattoos, and who names a little girl, Artemis Darth Vader (Art for short)? Nate begins a journey, their journey to get the answers he seeks.Who is tracking them and why are Alex and Art in hiding? 

Originally self-published because his publisher dubbed it "weird." I love TJ Klune as an author and his imagination is beyond comparison, however, this book while entertaining is "weird." His character development is outstanding and I can see Nate, Alex, and Art even now. Describing it as 'spine-tingling" in Amazon seems to be overstating it, however, I found it to be compelling and kept reading to see what else would unfold. Throw in a cult on a farm outside of Bird-In-Hand, PA, aliens, secret government project, love, acceptance, and friendship and you are left wanting more. It may not be for everyone and in the words of TJ "Things explode and helicopters fall from the sky as a little girl (who may not be a girl at all) fights to protect those she loves. Oh, and bacon. So much bacon."

I received an ecopy from Netgalley for a review. 

TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories. For more info, click here.

Other books by JT Klune:

The House in the Cerulean Sea- Book 1

Somewhere Beneath The Sea - Book 2

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Somewhere Beyond the Sea

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, 2) by TJ Klune. New York: TOR Publishing Group, 2024.405 pages. *****

In this sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, "

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life, built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the headmaster of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six magical and so-called dangerous children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. And he is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth; Zoe Chapelwhite, the island’s sprite; and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children."

I love the House in the Cerulean Sea; the characters and their growth on the island while adapting to being a part of a family are endearing and heartwarming. Somewhere Beyond The Sea surpasses book 1 and is the final one in the series.  Klune was interviewed as part of an author series, https://libraryc.org/ccls/64502, Chester County Library System. Klune is sincere, engaging, and a delight . In this second book, David, a yeti joins the family and provides a buddy for Lucy and completes the circle of family. The interactions between Miss Marblemaw, the inspector from DICOM, and the family are amusing and thought provoking. Arthur and Linus let the children take the lead in this book and many lessons on resistance and acceptance are learned. 

I definitely recommend this book for Book Clubs and everyone. There are so many topics and situations to discuss, especially in light of today's society. Notable for those YA readers who may not have found a book to turn them on to reading. Klune is a master storyteller, I laughed, shed a tear and cheered, often at the same time. Writing from his heart, Klune has a way with words that will resonate for a long time. I suggest that you read the books in order because they read as a continuation of each other.

TJ KLUNE is the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important―now more than ever―to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories. To learn more about Klune - https://www.tjklunebooks.com/about

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How To Read A Book

 

How To Read A Book by Monica Wood. New York: Mariner Books, 2024. 280 pages. ****

Synopsis from Amazon

"Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher.

Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest.

Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.

When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways."

How to Read a Book is my Book Club's choice for January. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I am a fast reader, the result of wanting to read many books and feeling pressured by time. Wood gives me pause in the way I read and skim passages, she says it best " The writer writes the words. And the book, the unique and unrepeatable book, doesn't exist until the given reader meets the writer on the page." This heartwarming story of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances, provides many topics for book club discussions. Harriet's (affectionately called Bookie by the inmates) love of books and reading is evident in her quest to choose the "right" books to engage the inmates. She lives by example to the women she leads in the group. I recommend this book for all adult readers. 

MONICA WOOD is a novelist, memoirist, and playwright; the 2024 recipient of the Sara Josepha Hale award for excellence in New England literary arts; the 2019 recipient of the Maine Humanities Council Carlson Prize for contributions to the public humanities; and the 2016 recipient of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Distinguished Achievement Award for contributions to the literary arts. She lives in Portland. For more info - http://www.monicawood.com/about.html

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Henry the Highland Coo has joined the girls in reviewing books for 2025!

One Word 2025 - Grace

Created by Inspiritivity on FB

 

After much thought and musing, my word for 2025 is GRACE. I have tried a few other words on for size, however, GRACE keeps calling my name. To extend GRACE to myself and to others. 

Definition from AI:

"Extending grace is an act of forgiveness and unconditional approval that allows someone to be forgiven without holding their sins against them. It can also mean to show kindness, patience, and understanding to oneself. "

Someone once told me that I should show grace to myself and stop being so hard on myself. 

Anne Lamott sums it up best "I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us" "Grace always bats last."

If you are unfamiliar with the One Word for the year concept, click here.

My Words from previous years;

2024 - Flourish

2023- Reflect

2022- Pause

2021 - Grateful

2020 - Joy  

2019 - Opportunity

2018- Clarity

2017 - Balance  

2016 -  Promise

2015 - Abundance

2014 - Believe

2013 - Simplify 

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#grace

2024 Top Books

My challenge fin Goodreads or 2024 was 50 books,  I read 55 and exceeded it by 5 books. 

My favorite books for the year, in no particular order.  I recommend each one of them.

Looking for Jane by Marshall

The Little Liar by Albom

What the Wind Knows by Harmon

The Women by Hannah

The Grey Wolf by Penny

How the Light Gets In by Maynard 

I have done more reading than writing this year, My eye condition has improved (I have a Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion in my right eye) and I am enjoying reading once again.  Looking ahead to 2025!

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The Portal in Philadelphia, PA

November 3, 2024

The Portal was installed in Philadelphia's Love Park in October, 2024. The Portal connects 4 cities;  Vilnius, Lithuania, Lublin, Poland and Dublin, Ireland. The portal opens to each city in 3-minute loops. The purpose of the Portal is to "build bridges instead of walls," suggests Michael Nemesis, the city of Philadelphia 's 2026 director. 

For more information: Smithsonian Magazine

When I first saw it on the Evening News I was fascinated. 

• How does it work? Webcams are used to connect with other cities in the world, "each one is equipped with a small camera above an eight-foot tall screen displaying live video" 24/7. 
• Can we talk to each other? No, a visual experience
• What's the purpose? "all meet as humankind together." 

My initial reaction is I have to see this! I have't been to Love Park in years and questions about logistics surfaced. 

• Parking - https://en.parkopedia.com/parking/underground/love_park_garage/19102/philadelphia/?arriving=202411051400&leaving=202411051600#google_vignette  Couldn't be easier, the Exit from the garage was in Love Park facing the Portal.We paid 25.00 for the time we were there.
• Safety - to enter the garage to leave, we needed to scan our parking ticket. Everything was clean and plenty of parking spaces on a Saturday afternoon.
• Dinosaur Costumes- I had a scathingly brilliant idea to wear our inflatable dinosaur costumes. Doesn't that sound like fun, what do you think??

I soon realized that we would need a helper/spotter. Visibility is an issue when wearing these costumes and we really didn't know what we were getting into at the Portal. Scathingly brilliant idea scrapped, and visit postponed.

Our son, Adam,  came home to visit the following weekend and Pan B was enacted. We would drive into Philly, check it out and enjoy the day.

My first impression is that I expected it to be bigger. Everyone was friendly, kind, and considerate, family party like atmosphere. Young people,  kids, strollers, couples, seniors, all races and sizes--laughing, chatting, offering to take pictures for each other.

I remarked that I thought there would be a security/police presence. My New York savy son pointed out several standing observers facing the crowd that I hadn't looked at twice. 

We joined everyone else in taking pictures.

As expected the visual wasn't always the best and given the different time zones, the crowd ebbed and flowed. (it was around @12;30-1:30 pm in Phila.)

Since it was visually interactive, people in both cities danced, mimicked actions, signed, held up signs, waved, etc., 

When these young men started congregating, there was much speculation as to what they would do, the crowd cheered when they held up cans of beer!

I wasn't able to differentiate each city, the crowd cheered each time the screen changed and they seemed to know based on markers in the picture and obviously knew more than I did. Not knowing did not take anything away from the experience for me. The expectation is that it will be moved in a few days to a new location in the city. 

Discussions about the Portal have since been suggested:

1. If you could step through it would you? (irrespective of Visas, passports, etc.,) Could it retrieve you like ebooks, etc., and recall you?
2. If it could be a vehicle for Time Travel, would you go forward in time or backwards to a particular time period or event?

I would not go forward, I have fewer years ahead of me than behind and I'm not sure I want to know. 

I definitely would go back - not sure where or when and does it have to be in my lifetime? 

Something to ponder, how about you???

Could't leave without a Love Park picture. If you have the opportunity to visit, I recommend it. A new and fun experience!

#theportal #theportalinPhilly

The World's Fair Quilt

 

World's Fair Quilt (The Elm Creek Book Series, Book 23) by Jennifer Chiaverini. New York, William Morrow, 2025. 336 Pages. Publication Date April 21, 2025. ***

In this latest novel in the series, Sylvia and Sarah are concerned with the financial status of Elm Creek Manor. Needing repairs including a new roof and not wanting to increase the tuition of the retreat for quilters, requires creative means to acquire money. Brainstorming brings back memories for Sylvia of another time in her life when her family faced financial difficulties. Teenagers Sylvia and her sister, Claudia, collaborate to design a quilt for the Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition (Chicago World Fair). With a grand prize of $1,200—more than the average annual income at the time, Sylvia and Claudia overcome their sibling rivalry long enough to finish the quilt and enter it in the contest. When Summer asks to borrow the quilt for an exhibit at the Union Hall in the Waterford Historical Society, Sylvia struggles with her feelings and memories associated with the quilt.

Chiaverini provides another glimpse into life at Elm Creek Manor and the 1930s. Fans of the series will embrace this new book in the series and the continued saga of Sylvia and her family. There were 24,000 entries in the contest and the reader is drawn into the creative process and angst of the short timeline to complete the quilt. Quilters will empathize with trying to create a unique quilt while conforming to the contest guidelines and rules. Chiaverini weaves a compelling story of friendship, resilience, and family. I love when I enjoy the story and learn something new. 

Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition (Chicago World Fair) - http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2023/03/chicagos-1933-quilt-contest-updated.html

https://journalofantiques.com/features/sears-national-quilt-contest/

I received a copy from Netgalley to review. 

Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including critically acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. Jennifer graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned her MA English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. She, her husband, and their two sons call Madison, Wisconsin home. 

For more information - https://www.jenniferchiaverini.com.

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