Tag: George T. Cat

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 5-21-23

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

It’s kind of been one of those weeks, and not just reading wise. Twitter no longer accepts tweets directly from Jetpack, so I have to remember to tweet my posts first thing in the morning. I am NOT a morning person, so it’s going to take a while to make that part of my normal routine as I’m ingesting my caffeine for the day. C’est la vie.

The end of last week’s schedule fell completely apart, hence my desperation move of combining two books I did not like into one relatively short review explaining why they did not work. Then the audiobook I was listening to was turning out to be a bit of a rage listen, so I bailed on that and switched to print. In the end, that worked better, more of a case of it wasn’t a book for me as opposed to please decide who your book’s first person voice is and stick to it. Your reading mileage may definitely vary. (Yes, that’s a Star Trek book coming up tomorrow. I got really frustrated this week.)

(The Bandit Queens is excellent so far, it’s just a bit longer than I was anticipating.)

But someone is having an excellent week. Here’s George, sunning himself on his catio. Although we’ve seen both Luna and Tuna go through the cat flap, it’s clearly become George’s territory and he’s very proud of himself about it!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Life’s a Beach Giveaway Hop (ENDS THURSDAY!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Come What May Giveaway Hop is Bea

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island by Susan M. Boyer
Moms Rock Giveaway Hop
A Review: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
C/D+ Reviews: Short and Unsatisfactory: Books and Reviews 
B- Review: You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg
Stacking the Shelves (549)

Coming This Week:

Watching the Clock (Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations #1) by Christopher L. Bennett (review)
Red Team Blues by Cory Doctorow (review)
Dioramas by Blair Austin (review)
Dear Chrysanthemums by Fiona Sze-Lorrain (review)
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-23-23

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

This was a Grade A reading week from beginning to end. Which is kind of fitting, as today is the start of National Library Week, celebrating a place and an experience where so many of us began our lifelong love of reading. I certainly did. Libraries, for me also represent both a sweet memory and a lifelong bad habit. Procrastinating work on research papers in high school guaranteed a trip to the big downtown library with my dad. So I got both a whole afternoon of his attention – which was always hard to get – and a couple of hours in the palace of wonder otherwise known as the Cincinnati Public Library’s Main Library. It was a win-win for me at the time – but I have to confess that the procrastination habit has not served me all that well in the long run. But in that short run the whole thing was pretty damn sweet.

And speaking of sweet, here’s a picture of George, sweetly curled up on our new comforter. It really brings out his orangeness, doesn’t it?

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Just Because Giveaway Hop (ENDS TONIGHT!!!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop (ENDS THURSDAY!)

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: Who Cries for the Lost by C.S. Harris
A Review: Wings Once Cursed and Bound by Piper J. Drake
A Review: Three Debts Paid by Anne Perry
A- Review: Unraveling by Peggy Orenstein
A+ Review: Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by T.L. Huchu
Stacking the Shelves (545)

Coming This Week:

The Way of the Bear by Anne Hillerman (review)
Happy Place by Emily Henry (review)
The Comeback Cowboy by Jackie Ashenden, Caitlin Crews, Nicole Helm, Maisey Yates (blog tour review)
The Beach Reads Bookshop by Lee Tobin McClain (blog tour review)
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw (audio review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 2-5-23

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

First things first. The Terraformers was just incredibly awesome, so if you like science fiction at all it is so worth taking a look at!

Second thing – but clearly not any less important (because they’d never forgive me) – this week’s cat picture. This is George looking entirely too adorable. He also looks rather kittenish but the picture was taken just last week so he’s three and supposed to be out of the kitten stage. Which he clearly doesn’t think he is. Yet or possibly ever.

Third thing – I finished Babel Friday. I have thoughts. I have lots of thoughts. They are far from pleasant thoughts. You’ll see…

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the February Favorites Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop is Rita W.

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
B+ Review: Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen
Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
February Favorites Giveaway Hop
A Review: The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly
Stacking the Shelves (534)

Coming This Week:

Encore in Death by J.D. Robb (review)
Babel by R.F. Kuang (audiobook review)
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg (review)
The Scarlet Circus by Jane Yolen (review)
Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-8-23

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

I’m not terribly sure what I’m reading this week – at least towards the end. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are all set for one reason or another but the end of the week, not so much.

I’m equally unsure of exactly what George and Luna are looking at out the window. They’re clearly watching something on “Kitty Television” in the backyard, but we can’t see what. That one of their preferred perches for this activity is behind the human TV makes it all that much more inscrutable. But then again, they ARE cats.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

New Year’s Day 2023 (observed) You are the New Day (Guest Post by Galen)
23 for 2023: My Most Anticipated Reads for 2023
A- Review: Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz
A- Review: Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson
A- Review: Breaking the Circle by M.J. Trow
Stacking the Shelves (530)

Coming This Week:

Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire (review)
Welcome Winter Giveaway Hop
City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita (blog tour review)
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan (review)
Book Lovers by Emily Henry (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-25-22

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Whether or not you believe that this is “the most wonderful time of the year”, today is Christmas. If this is your holiday, then Merry Christmas. If all you’re celebrating is a day off, like this household, then that can be plenty to celebrate. If you’re celebrating that you have heat and power and in your house after this week’s weather, that’s something pretty big to celebrate!

A tree fell on our house in the middle of the night on Xmas Eve Eve, so we’re definitely celebrating that last bit. The tree hit the back stairs and managed to do nothing more than barely scrape the side of the house and deck. But that sudden impact made for quite the shock at 3 something in the dark of the a.m.

It didn’t wake either the cats or myself, although Galen was up and about trying to see what the damage was in the middle of a rather interrupted night.

Something to celebrate on a very cold and wintry holiday.

p.s. The boys say Happy Holidays!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holiday Ho Ho Ho Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Kelly
The winner of the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop is Susan S.

Blog Recap:

B Review: Shenanigans by Mercedes Lackey
A+ Review: Look Closer by David Ellis
Winter 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Sentinel Security: Striker by Anna Hackett
A Review: Eversion by Alastair Reynolds
Stacking the Shelves (528)

Coming This Week:

Boxing Day (guest post by Galen)
The Gingerbread Cat by Stephanie Osborn (review)
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (review)
In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan (review)
Best Books of 2022

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-4-22

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

It’s a kind of misty, moisty weekend here in the ATL. Here’s a picture of part of the clowder watching the world drip by.

That’s Lucifer on the left and George and Luna on the right. This particular configuration gets along well. George and Luna are buddies and nobody messes with Lucifer. He’s the smallest of the five cats, but he has a tremendous amount of presence. And he was here first so the rest of them defer to his demonic majesty.

Between  The Twist of a Knife and A World of Curiosities this week, I ended up with some mystery television to watch. Magpie Murders was terrific. I won’t say it was better than the book, but it certainly made terrific use of its new medium. Three Pines, on the other hand, was not bad, and certainly better than an earlier attempt, but I have some reservations. They did a good job casting Gamache, but so much of what makes him so fascinating in the books is going on beneath the surface, which is not something that TV does well at all. But I’m curious enough to see how the series turns out.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop is Lyzabeth
The winner of the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop is Rebecca
The winner of the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop is Marisela

Blog Recap:

B Review: The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson
A+ Review: The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz
B Review: A Wish for Winter by Viola Shipman
Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Stacking the Shelves (525)

Coming This Week:

The Socialite’s Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden (blog tour review)
Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
Hide by Tracy Clark (blog tour review)
Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London (blog tour review)
Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 11-13-22

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

Everyone needs their own Spot, at least according to a print by Mary Engelbreit. Here’s George in the George spot at the end of the couch:

Sadly, this used to be the Freddie spot until Freddie went to the Rainbow Bridge. Occasionally, now it’s the Tuna spot, which sometimes ends in it being the spot where an epic battle takes place between George and Tuna over who gets possession of the spot. But it’s a very cozy spot, and I often end up reading on the couch with George in his spot near my feet. (Little does he know that I’m usually hiding my slippers under that blanket to keep him from chewing on them!)

Current Giveaways:

$10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop
B+ Review: A Matter of Happiness by Tori Whitaker
A- Review: Conqueror by Anna Hackett
Veterans Day 2022
Stacking the Shelves (522)

Coming This Week:

Under a Veiled Moon by Karen Odden (blog tour spotlight + excerpt)
Cold Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann (review)
In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop
The Girl with the Emerald Flag by Kathleen McGurl (blog tour review)
Death on a Winter Stroll by Francine Mathews (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-28-22

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

As far as books go, this week started terrifically and ended well, but middled in the slough of despond a bit. Looking back, I think the biggest issue with both Would You Rather and Small Town, Big Magic was that they were both billed as romcoms and neither of them were. I could even debate whether Small Town, Big Magic was a romance at all. But both books dealt with too many serious issues, and dealt with them seriously, to be romcoms. I think I might have liked both of them a bit more if I’d come in with more accurate expectations. YMMV.

But speaking of expectations, one of the expectations we keep hoping for here at Chez Reading Reality but not yet achieving is peace among the cat clowder. As you can see from the picture above, George and Luna are definitely getting there. It may look like he’s about to bite her throat but they were actually grooming each other – and they are playing together as I type this. Hecate, on the other hand, seems determined to remain in lonely – and very bitchy – solitude. The other day Hecate cornered Luna in my office and big Tuna came rushing to his sister’s rescue. Hecate has been in near total retreat ever since. We’re starting to wonder if there’s enough Feliway in the universe to calm this situation down.

Current Giveaways:

Old School Giveaway Hop (ENDS WEDNESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Back to School Giveaway Hop is Kelsey

Blog Recap:

A Review: The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher
B- Review: Would You Rather by Allison Ashley
B Review: Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck
B+ Review: The Forty Elephants by Erin Bledsoe
B+ Review: The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White
Stacking the Shelves (511)

Coming This Week:

Bronze Drum by Phong Nguyen (audiobook review)
Buffalo Soldier by Maurice Broaddus (review)
A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari (review)
Glam and Glitz Giveaway Hop
Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-21-22

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

I needed a bit of extra time to get this post together this weekend because I was having a difficult time deciding what I felt like reading this week – at least until I prepped the Stacking the Shelves post and decided that T. Kingfisher’s The Seventh Bride and Karen White’s The Shop on Royal Street were the books calling my name that I hadn’t quite been hearing loudly enough up to that point.

So here we are.

But speaking of things just being where they are, here’s a picture of, well, still not peace in our time, but at least a bit of a detente between George and Luna. George and Hecate are both still less than thrilled with poor Tuna’s presence in the house. Not because Tuna has done anything, just that he’s so large and such a big bumbler. He keeps charging up to George, kind of like a big, floppy dog, and George is all “Get away, GET AWAY!”

Luna, on the other hand, seems to be getting along with everyone!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Back to School Giveaway Hop (ENDS TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Apple A Day Giveaway Hop is Ashley C.

Blog Recap:

B Review: Star Trek: Picard: No Man’s Land by Kirsten Beyer and Mike Johnson
Old School Giveaway Hop
B+ Review: Becoming Family by Elysia Whisler
B Review: Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews
B Review: The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews
Stacking the Shelves (510)

Coming This Week:

The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher (review)
Would You Rather by Allison Ashley (blog tour review)
Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck (blog tour review)
The Forty Elephants by Erin Bledsoe (review)
The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White (review)