Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks: May 2021

Sunday, May 30, 2021

BW22: Fictional Librarians - Cheshire Cat

My heavens, June is upon us and it's time to climb back aboard our airship, the
Pum Deg Dau o Lygrau and weigh anchor. Join me as we set sail for Jasper Fforde's world of alternative history in the Nextian Universe. We are off to join literary detective Thursday Next as well as our fictional librarian of the month, Cheshire Cat who makes his first appearance in Lost in a Good Book as head librarian for the Great Library. He goes by many names including the Cat Formerly Known as Cheshire, Unitary Authority of Warrington Cat, or, Archibald which is what his mother calls him. He appears in books #2, 3, and 4 in the Thursday Next series.

There are a variety of ways to complete this challenge with plenty of rabbit trails. Read a book with one or more of the following (but not limited to) and have fun exploring:

Spell out the first and/or last name of the character's name - one book per letter from the title on the cover.

Spell out the first and/or last name of the author - one book per letter.

Read one or more books in the series.

Read any book written by the author.

Follow in a character's footsteps and read a book set in the country or time period of the story.

Follow in the author's footsteps and read a book set in their place or time of birth.

Read a book with the first or last name of the character or author in the title.

Jasper Fforde is a British novelist who resides in Wales and has a great imagination as well as a fun and fact filled website. Today, May 30th, marks the 17th year of the Fforde Fiesta, a weekend of silliness with Jasper Fforde and is virtual this year. Be sure to check it out.

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Count of Monte Cristo Readalong

Chapter 49. Haydée

Chapter 50. The Morrel Family

Chapter 51. Pyramus and Thisbe

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Sunday, May 23, 2021

BW21: World Turtle Day

Courtesy of Troy Mayne World Wildlife org

And now for something completely different. Today is World Turtle Day. Did you know that all tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises? What's the difference? So glad you asked. The key difference is where they live: Tortoises are exclusively land creatures, while turtles live in the water or at least spend most of the time in the water. Physically their shells, legs, and feet are difference and turtles stay away from water unless they are drinking or bathing because they can't swim.

The turtle has been around for millions of years and symbolizes many things for different cultures and is a big part of myth, native American folklore, fables. He is considered the old wise man who moves through the world slowly and there are lessons to be learned from the popular fable The Tortoise and the Hare.

So read a book with turtle in the cover, set in a place called turtle, or with a character by the name of turtle, or about a fictional or nonfictional turtle.

Have fun! Slow and steady wins the race.

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Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 46. Unlimited Credit

Chapter 47. The Dappled Grays

Chapter 48. Ideology

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Sunday, May 16, 2021

BW 20: 52 Books bingo - High Adventure

Happy Sunday! This week we are going to go on a High Adventure for our next 52 Books category. Where will our daring do's take us on our nonfiction and fictional literary adventures this week? Perhaps we'll climb the highest peak, dive to the bottom of the sea, hike narrow pathways and suspension bridges, brave the elements in the Antarctic or take an impossible quest that stretches the imagination.

There are a number of ways to go with this category and you can interpret it anyway you like, so have fun following rabbit trails and see where they lead you.

Reedsy takes us to the heart of the jungle, across and under the sea, through the desert, sky, and space with 100 Best Adventure Books of All Time.

The Art of Manliness talks about what every man should read during their lifetime in The Essential Man’s Library: 50 Fictional Adventure Books Edition and Trail and Kale talks about women who inspires us with Best Women's Adventure Books.

When I think of high adventure I always think of westerns for some reason. Outdoor life brings us a fictitious roundup of 19 Best Western Books of all Time.

Off the Shelf takes us on 7 Adventurous Novels That Will Whisk You Away on an Epic Journey Without Leaving Your Couch.

And of course, I can't leave out Goodreads major list of High Adventure Novels.

Have fun!

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Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 43. The House at Auteui
Chapter 44. The Vendetta
Chapter 45. The Rain of Blood

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Sunday, May 9, 2021

BW19: Motherhood by Katherine Dykstra

Happy Mother’s Day, my lovelies. This week is dedicated to you and all mom's everywhere including our angel moms. She who goes by many names including ma, mama, mum, mother, mumsy, mamman, mutter, mathair, mor, madra, majka, maji, mater and my favorite, she who rules the roost.

Motherhood

Katherine L. Dykstra

Baby dolls and dinosaurs-

one that cries, one that roars

The pitter patter of little feet-

a bike race in which they want you to compete

Fruity Pebbles, pancakes, no wait! a pop-tart-

those daily moments that steal your heart

One throws tantrums, the other just pouts-

ahh, the joys of motherhood- what life is all about

Another birthday - two paychecks in all-

but, it is so worth it with smiling memories on the wall

From late night tears to early morning grumps-

through all the bruises, scrapes and bumps

The kisses and hugs, the encouraging words-

from nursery rhymes to the bees and the birds

The laughter, the memories, those looks in their eyes-

never trade it for anything - never compromise

The toys left out, the clothes on the floor-

these are the moments we mothers live for

For we are the ones who are there through it all-

to always make it better and pick them up when they fall

From kissing their boo-boos and making sure they're fed-

passing down stories while tucking them into bed

Through the weight gain, cravings, labor and more-

to that one special moment we spend 9 months waiting for

Eighteen years is what they say, but our work is never done-

a lifetime of tears, laughter, sadness and fun

Nothing in the world can even come close-

to the one special bond God made matter the most

A relationship only two certain people can share-

a mother and her child, nothing will ever compare...

Happy Mother's Day

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Count of Monte Cristo Readalong

Chapter 40. The Breakfast

Chapter 41. The Presentation

Chapter 42. Monsieur Bertuccio

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Sunday, May 2, 2021

BW18: Fictional Librarians - Beatrice De Nova

Welcome to May and our celebration of mysteries, mothers, Memorial day, macaroons, and much much more including all things Star Wars. May the fourth be with you! We are climbing back aboard the good ship Pumdeg Dau o Lyfrau and floating through our interdimensional portal to Texas to begin our librarian adventures with Beatrice De Nova.

Beatrice is the assistant librarian in the Special Collections reading room at the Houston University Library and her adventure begins when she meets Giovanni Vecchio, an Italian bookish vampire who loves whiskey, in A Hidden Fire, the first book in the Elemental Mystery series written by Elizabeth Hunter.

There are a variety of ways to complete this challenge with plenty of rabbit trails. Read a book with one or more of the following (but not limited to) and have fun exploring:

Spell out the first and/or last name of the character's name - one book per letter from the title on the cover

Spell out the first and/or last name of the author - one book per letter

Read one or more books in the series.

Read any book written by the author

Follow in a character's footsteps and read a book set in the country or time period of the story.

Follow in the author's footsteps and read a book set in their place or time of birth.

Read a book with the first or last name of the character or author in the title.

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me!!!!

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Count of Monte Cristo Readalong

Chapter 37. The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian

Chapter 38. The Rendezvous

Chapter 39. The Guests

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