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.
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re either: 1) A humungous book lover, 2) A humungous dog lover, 3) Both, or 4) Tired of kitty-sitting the neighbor’s feline.
Well. Have we got a deal for you.
Ya see, Her Royal Momness stumbled upon this “Summer Reading Challenge” thingy about three months back. (Stumbling. Ya know. Like Mom finds most things. Don’t tell her I said that, okay?)
Anyhow, this SRC Challenge ’24 is hosted by the 52 Book Club. Since 2024 is a Summer Olympics, this year’s reading challenge had an Olympics-ish flavor. With 24 sports-inspired book prompts. Participants chose which “medal” they wanted to aim for, based on the number of books they planned to read during the summer in line with select Olympic-ish book prompts: Bronze, Silver, or Gold?
Via The 52 Book Club:
My baby picture. I know. I’m adorable.
Today is an auspicious day! Cuz it’s not just any Monday. No siree, Lassie! Today is my birthday!
Yeppers, I’m eight years old today! Yea, me!
If you don’t already know me, I’m Kimber the Magnificent. I’m a rescue dog. Border Collie mix. The Smartest Member of the fam. (Mom says so. So it must be true.)
I’m loyal. Affectionate. Lithe, alert, and agile. I I’m also a quick learner. Brilliant and beautiful. With a champagne-esque personality: Bubbly and effervescent. I’m unconditional love on four feet. In fact, I love everyone! (Except the neighbor’s cat. Go figure.) I’m The Best Ever! (another Mom-ism.) I’m also shy, modest, and retiring. But who’s counting?
I co-narrate this blog thingy. (I’m the witty one. All sparkly and dazzly. In case ya hadn’t already figured that out.)
Her Royal Momness says I epitomize this John Grogan quote:
“A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water-logged stick will do just fine.
A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he’ll give you his.
How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?”
Mom: So friends, are you short on joy, effervescence, or extraordinariness (new word I just made up)? Get a dog.
Just don’t ask for mine. Cuz this sweet girl’s already taken.
* Aka: Kimmi. Kim-Kim. The Kimster. Baby Girl. Sugar Bear. Boss Dog…
“Eureka!” says Mom the other day, coming home from the library. With both arms full of books. And then some.
I have no idea why Mom says this. But she says it a lot. Especially when she’s lugging home another truck load of “books” from The Book Place.
You’re kidding, right?
I say this to Mom a lot. Especially when she gets The Look. You know. That Look. It usually precedes a mile-long description of her new favorite book. Of course I listen. Because, ya know. That’s my job. Well, that and being beautiful and brilliant. (It’s a tough job. But I’m up for it!)
So when Mom came up with yet another harebrained idea for Fine Wine Fridays – where do these things come from? – I just smiled and listened.
Mom’s latest brainstorm? A list of really cool murder mysteries/whodunits.
Being the brains in this dynamic duo, I reminded Mom that she doesn’t typically gravitate toward either genre. But you know Mom!
So here, in no particular order, are Mom’s version of Fine Wine Friday murder mysteries/whodunits. (See more Fine Wine Friday picks here.)
Crystal Shadows: Gripping New Blood (Olympia Publishers, 2020)It was a dark and stormy night…
No. Really. It was. I, Kimber, was there. And the night wasn’t just “dark and stormy.” Rain was coming down in sheets. Sideways. The wind was howling like a banshee with a tooth ache. A flood watch and a wind advisory were in effect.
“It’s a perfect day to curl up by the fire with a good book,” spake Mom.
Well. Who am I to disagree?
Thankfully, R.J. Parker’s Crystal Shadows: Gripping New Blood filled the bill. Here’s why:
Kimber here. Doing my magnificent stuff as we jump into the holidays!
Speaking of holidays, have I got a deal for you! It’s an oldie but a goodie: Marjorie Holmes’s classic, Two From Galilee: The Story of Mary and Joseph.
The first time Mom read this book was shortly after the earth’s crust cooled. Or maybe it was in 1975? (Let’s not quibble, okay? )
“Oh my goodness!” Her Momness exclaimed the other day. We just finished lugging another dusty box up from the resident archaeological dig (Mom calls it “The Basement.” But I have my doubts).
Anyway, we opened this box and lo! It was jammed with beloved books from when Mom was a young’un. You know. Like, 900 years ago. (Don’t tell Mom I said that, okay?)
Kimber here. I’m an expert on thanks-giving. Just ask Mom. I’m thankful for just about everything and everyone. That dropped bit of bacon. Unattended hot dogs. Belly rubs! Sea gulls! Snoozes in the sun. Walks in the woods! My favorite blanket, right next to the heating vent.
Mom says words related to “thankful” include gratitude. Appreciation. Gladness. Being at peace. Contentment. Cheer. Like me! Mom says I’m “thankfulness on four feet!” See? Told you I’m an expert.
As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought I’d mention a few things that make my tail wag like a pinwheel (do any of these ring a bell?):
Kimber here. Mom is busy rustling up some Independence Day eats. I’m not too sure about the potato salad and corn on the cob thing. But I’m all over the grilled burgers! Yeah, Lassie!
Well. The subject of “best U.S. historical fiction” came up the other night. We were watching videos of last year’s fireworks or somethin’. You know. The stupid Big Boom things. (Why do humans do this every Independence Day? I don’t get it.)
I was all ears. (For the book list. Not the Big Boom things. Mom got me a Thunder Shirt for that.)
Anyway, just in time for Independence Day, Mom and I put together a list of the best historical fiction reads set in the U.S. Mom says we aren’t even going to try to cover books by decade, social movement, issue, or what not. That’d take us like, till the cat comes home. Gag me with Meow Mix!
Kimber: I’m gonna be seven years this month! I’m telling you this now to give you last-minute gift-getters a heads up.
Anyway, Her Momness insists I’m still a “puppy.” So embarrassing. I keep telling her I’m a lap dog. I mean, really. What’s a measly 55 pounds?
So. I may not be seven yet. But I’ve been around long enough to make some observations. Like: Postal carriers aren’t always friendly. Neither are fences. There’s no such thing as a “ten second rule” when Yours Truly is on kitchen patrol.
Squirrel!
Wait. Where was I?
Oh yeah. I’ve made some observations in seven years-ish. One of them is there are lots of different kinds of readers. You may not think us canines notice stuff like this. But we do. Here are a few of the readers I’ve seen. Any of these sound familiar?
Pages & Paws 