Mom and I, we read like, a ton. (In between peanut butter snacks, natch.) But we’re doing somethin’ a little different today. Today we’re musing about writing. Maybe cuz we’ve heard from some authors recently who are frustrated. Discouraged. Thinking of throwing in the writing towel. If that’s you – or you know someone who fills that bill – then this post’s for you. You might also want to buckle up. Just sayin’. Take it away, Mom!
Kimber here. Being all magnificent and everything. As per usual. Well. Her Momness was talking to someone about reading the other day. “I’m in a reading slump” says She Who Shall Not Be Named.
She Who Shall Not Be Named used to go to book clubs with Her Momness. But She Who said new releases have as much pizzazz as a can of soda that’s gone flat. (No idea what that is. But it doesn’t sound good.) Mysteries aren’t mysterious. Love stories have as much appeal as a plateful of overcooked eggplant. “I’m just not interested in reading” saith She Who.
Yo, wassup?
A confession. Mom and me? We’re Reece-aholics. (Not to be confused with a Reese-aholic of the peanut butter variety. Or crispy bacon. That’s diff. But just as tasty.)
Ever since we read Matt Guzman’s riotous fantasy/sci fi romp, Rieden Reece and the Broken Moon, we’ve been hooked on this kid and his madcap adventures. Rieden grows on ya. So we were delighted to hear Ri’s back for another crazy adventure in this fourth and latest installment. Here’s the 4-1-1:
Kimber: Mom! Mom! Come quick!
Her Royal Momness: What’s up Kimster? Earthquake? Fire? Flood? The imminent demise of doggie treats?
Kimber: ‘Course not. I just gotta tell ya about my new best bud, Petunia.
Mom: Petunia?
Kimber: Yeah. She’s furry and fluffy and she’s the star of the show in this new book for the little’uns, Blink and Glow.
Mom: Blink and Glow? By Raven Howell?
Kimber: That’s it! Mom, you’re a genius.
Mom: I thought that book was about two kids, Leo and Lilly. They catch fireflies, a salamander, and a Luna moth. For their classroom show and tell. The critters dim in captivity and grandma gently explains that they need to be free to live happily and shine bright.
Silly Mom!
Well. To cut to the chase, so to speak, Lilly and Leo think long and hard about what their grandma said as the lights of their trapped firefly and salamander begin to fade. It was fun to catch and jar them. But should the kids keep them?
This is a short, sweet story about loving and respecting nature and taking care of the environment. Bite-sized sentences are short and easy to digest and won’t strain young attention spans.
Besides a delightful story that’s both entertaining and educational, the text is complemented by vibrant illustrations. With bright, bold colors, the illustrations are top-notch. They’re gorgeous and dynamic, suggesting motion and fluidity.
Beautifully written, skillfully illustrated and briskly paced, Blink and Glow will make a welcome addition to any school or home library. It would also make an excellent read-aloud or bedtime story.
Step-by-step instructions for making your own firefly sun-catchers are included!
Kimber: Leo and Lilly aren’t alone in their adventures in their natural world. An unnamed little white dog is supervising. Just so ya know, okay? I named her Petunia. She’s my new best bud.
Mom: Why Petunia?
Kimber: Cuz Her Royal Magnificence, Queen of the Universe and World’s Most Amazingly Brilliant and Super Gorgeous Canine was already taken. By me.
Silly Mom.
Pages & Paws Rating
***
Author of Blink and Glow.
Review up tomorrow!
Author Raven Howell
Sprawled behind a rickety chair at the side of the old shack in the woods, I barely breathe. Even as a third grader, I know that keeping absolutely still and silent is the key to not being found. Crickets are settling in for the night, and an owl hoots in the distance. I also know there’s a bat that lives in this abandoned shack. I’m sweaty, dirty and there’s a rip somewhere on my pant leg. Yup, there it is. I notice it across my knee where I’ve cut myself, as I’m swiping off the spider crawling across my sneaker. Twigs crack. Someone’s coming! Probably my pursuer – the neighbor who’s “It” tonight in our evening outdoor hide and seek game.
If the genre is “thriller,” then two authors often come to the forefront: John Grisham and David Baldacci.
Grisham is the king of the legal thriller/courtroom drama. Has been for decades. Baldacci is a king of thriller fiction. Both are expert storytellers and hugely popular. Both authors have had their books turned into movies. And in 2024, both authors’ most recent releases focus on race relations and the courtroom, either directly or indirectly. It’s kinda like a “Titan Two-fer.”
This is noteworthy cuz legal thrillers are usually Grisham’s bread and butter, as is the case in his latest novel, Camino Ghosts. But Baldacci makes a memorable contribution to the genre too, with A Calamity of Souls. More on that in a min. So kindly keep your shirt on, Toots.
First, Grisham’s newest book, Camino Ghosts:
Mom’s a sucker. I know. This isn’t exactly news. If you’ve been reading along with us for any length of time, you know that Her Royal Momness is a sucker for pretty much any well-written ‘dog book.’ (Because, hey! Me!) Also horse stories. Good, solid action/adventure/outdoor-ish tomes. Historical fiction. Legal/crime thrillers. Children’s and YA books. Faith-flavored titles that aren’t preachy. Ghirardelli chocolate…
Almost smells good enough to eat! Almost…
But didya know that Mom’s also a sucker for ‘lost books’? Well, she is.
Like the other day when we were visiting The Book Place. (I have to wait outside. Something about ‘service dogs only.’ So annoying.) Anywho, Mom’s cruising along the shelves and comes to a sign that says:
Use You Library Card to Grab These Never-Before Checked Out Books
Well, Who can resist that?
One of us used to feel a wee bit guilty about our Did Not Finish list. But then I says to Mom, “Look, Cupcake. We get zillions of requests for book reviews every day. We don’t have time to slog through sludge!”
Well. I finally talked Mom into realizing that if a book doesn’t grab us in the first few chapters, we’re unlikely to keep going. Or if we do, it’s through gritted teeth. (Hi, Mom.)
Well, again. Life’s too short. Who wants to waste their time on sludge? Skunkers and clunkers? Especially when there are so many other good books around. Nowadays, we don’t bat an eye at chucking a book into our DNF pile. (For more, see 4 Reasons Why We’re World Champion ‘Book Bailers.’)
So here’s the latest Official Mom and Kimber DNF List. We ploughed through this sludge so you don’t have to. As in, don’t waste your time on the following Complete Wastes of Time (in no particular order):
Her darkest secret.
Her gravest mistake.
Can she make peace with herself… and Paris?
Kimber here, being my usual Magnificent Self. Telling you that Her Momness is doing that sparkly-eyed, sniffly nose thing again. Cuz of a book she just finished. Hang just a sec while a grab a hankie for Mom.
Ready, Mom? Okay. I’ll let her tell you more:
Can you spare five minutes? Good. Cuz that’s about all the time I’ve got on this Reading Goods thing. Ya see, Mom has her I’m Reading: Do Not Interrupt on Pain of Death face on. You know. With those eye glass do-dads and a furrowed brow. (No idea what that means. If you do, kindly holler.) So I gotta get this in like, pronto!
Squirrel!
Wait. Where was I?
Oh yeah. Reading Goods. You may know it as Goodreads. But let’s not get picky here, Buttercup.
Pages & Paws 