The Perks of Being a Book Lover

21/12/2024

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We have our last recommendation for 2024!

Each week we ask a fellow book lover to tell us about the latest book that they adored and we blast it out on

Sofie greatly enjoyed YELLOWFACE by

"I don't give out full five stars easily, but this book blew me away! With both Babel and now Yellowface being five star reads I can now safely say that R.F. Kuang is one of my favorite authors.

Yellowface is a literary thriller that is both extremely readable and packs a punch with its criticisms on the publishing industry and the online book community. It tackles racism, cancel culture, and how diversity is a marketing tool to the publishing industry which at the same time is still a very discriminating industry.

The fact that you read the story from June's perspective is brilliant! June is a very unlikable character but at the same time you understand her feelings and where she comes from.
Highly recommend this if you can handle being in an unlikable character's head!"

Thank you to Sofie for sharing! Be sure to give her account a follow for more.

19/12/2024

This week we have a REMIX episode with Tracy Clark , author of the Harriet Foster series. We spoke with Tracy back in 2023 when HIDE we first meet Harriet. Now ECHO the third in the series has just been published and it honestly may be my personal favorite.

Harriet is a Chicago PD homicide detective, black, middle-aged, and loaded down with emotional baggage. She is prickly but oh so fun to read about.

To hear our full conversation with Tracy, find the link to the show in the bio or find Perks of Being a Book Lover wherever you get your podcasts.

18/12/2024

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to catch up with mystery writer Tracy Clark to see how her Chicago PD detective Harriet Foster is faring.

We first spoke to Tracy back in January 2023 when her first Harriet Foster novel, HIDE, was released. Harriet is a midde-aged black woman working in a majority male-dominated profession, and Tracy has given her a lot of "stuff" to deal with: the death of her child, the dissolution of her marriage, and the apparent su***de of her partner at the police department.

Tracy has just released the 3rd book in the Harriet Foster series, ECHO, and it is getting rave reviews. The NYT just released an article naming it one of the standout mysteries of December (along with our guest last week Sharon Short and her book Trouble Island). I don't read very many series, but I have read all of these. They are fantastic, and this newest one has a dark academia storyline.

In this episode you will hear something a little unique—an author who is being real and telling you how prickly and uncooperative her star character is to deal with as she is being written. You definitely want to give this one a listen!

Again, you will get a little something old and a little something new in this episode. It ends where we began with excerpts from our first chat with Tracy.

We will see you January 1 with our Best of 2024 episode!

The link to the show is in the bio.

18/12/2024

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to catch up with mystery writer Tracy Clark to see how her Chicago PD detective Harriet Foster is faring.

We first spoke to Tracy back in January 2023 when her first Harriet Foster novel, HIDE, was released. Harriet is a midde-aged black woman working in a majority male-dominated profession, and Tracy has given her a lot of "stuff" to deal with: the death of her child, the dissolution of her marriage, and the apparent su***de of her partner at the police department.

Tracy has just released the 3rd book in the Harriet Foster series, ECHO, and it is getting rave reviews. The NYT just released an article naming it one of the standout mysteries of December (along with our guest last week Sharon Short and her book Trouble Island). I don't read very many series, but I have read all of these. They are fantastic, and this newest one has a dark academia storyline.

In this episode you will hear something a little unique—an author who is being real and telling you how prickly and uncooperative her star character is to deal with as she is being written. You definitely want to give this one a listen!

Again, you will get a little something old and a little something new in this episode. It ends where we began with excerpts from our first chat with Tracy.

We will see you January 1 with our Best of 2024 episode!

The link to the show is in the comments:

17/12/2024

I'm sick at home today catching up on my holiday reads with a Starbucks Medicine Ball hot tea to soothe my throat.

A bookclub friend loaned me this book probably 5 years ago and I forgot I had it until I was clearing off some shelves last week. Dang! Well that's embarrassing! So there is no better time than the present . And now I'm so glad I did because LET IT SNOW; a compilation of 3 holiday YA romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle is delightful. Each author writes a novella that is interconnected with the other two.

It's Christmas Eve and a blizzard hits the eastern seaboard. And yadadada teenagers fall in love. But these quirky teens are just so smart and loveable; just what you would expect from writers like John Green and Maureen Johnson. I'm on the 3rd novella now by Lauren Myracle and am confident she can carry the baton to the finish line.

What do you have going?

17/12/2024

How cool is it that our two REMIX guests this month, Sharon Short and Tracy Clark, both have books lauded by the New Tork Times?!

Sharon was our guest last week and Tracy's episode can be heard tomorrow!

Our columnist on the month’s best new releases.

14/12/2024

We are back with a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for . And this one is perfect for classic literature lovers.

Each week we ask a fellow book lover to tell us about a recent read that delighted them.

Lana C recommended THE WHARTON PLOT by Mariah Frederick's

"As an avid reader of historical fiction as well as mysteries, I happened upon the ideal read. This book fused a factual period in literary history with a murder mystery. Interwoven into the plot line Edith Wharton, a gilded age writer of classics like the THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, attempts to solve a murder with James Joyce, writer of ULYSSES fame, as her confidante. A great read to keep you guessing!"

Thanks to Lana for sharing this gem. Check back each Saturday for new

13/12/2024

I made a drop this week with field trip shelter pup Finna Drop Again from . Now, I'm old and I have no idea what that name means. Apparently it's kind of slang? So to me this sweet boy is Mr. Smooshie Face because he has soooooo many fabulous wrinkles!

Mr Smooshie and I dropped off HILLBILLY HUSTLE by in a in the Jeffersontown area of Louisville. This novel is "rural noir"; small town ma*****na runners and big time trouble. If you enjoyed the TV series Justified, this book is right up your up your alley. I really enjoyed this one Wes Browne had a new novel coming out in January and we just interviewed him today! You can hear our chat next season in late January. Mr. Smooshie gave the book a 👅. I left a book and took a book; this time HIDDEN PICTURES by Jason Rekulak.

Mr Smooshie is around 4 yo and maybe has a little Sharpei or mastiff in him with the amount of roly poly skin folds he has around his neck. Just so fun to squish when you pet him.

We headed to Lowe's and he made many friends with his big smile and happy demeanor. He is a great car rider. He may need a little encouragement and push on the t***y to jump in but once there, he is A+. He takes treats so gently from your hand.

This boy is goofy and just a delight. A big ol' derp. He loves pets but isn't a big kisser. I personally love a good sloppy dog kiss but I know I'm in the minority. So if you are looking for a loving dog who isn't gonna coat you in dog slobber, look no further!

Finna Drop a Wrinkle (lol!) is available at Animal House, 3615 Newburg Road, Louisville. He is neutered, vaxxed, and microchipped!

12/12/2024

This week on the podcast we catch up with author and former guest Sharon Short about her new mystery suspense novel TROUBLE ISLAND. The novel takes place during Prohibition on an island in Lake Erie between the U.S. and Canada. It's owned by a gangster and bootlegger and our protagonist Aurelia, maid to the gangster's wife Rosita, is not who she seems. This locked room mystery is set in winter on a remote island and perfectly atmospheric for this time of year!

You can listen to our whole conversation with Sharon on the podcast. The link is in the bio or find Perks of Being a Book Lover wherever you listen to podcasts!

11/12/2024

This week you get a little something old and a little something new on the podcast! We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Sharon Short , a mystery and suspense writer whose new book TROUBLE ISLAND came out last week. She was a guest to the show back in May of 2022 under her pen name Jess Montgomery when promoting her Kinship historical mystery series.

Sharon's new novel is a suspense set during Prohibition that involves an island in the middle of Lake Erie owned by a gangster bootlegger. The germ of the novel comes from a famous story in her own family about Aunt Ruth.

Plus, we will hear parts of our original interview with her about the Kinship series set in 1920s Appalachian Ohio. In this series, her MC is a female sheriff who takes over the job when her husband, who was the sheriff, is murdered. The character of the sheriff is inspired by a real life woman who was the first female sheriff in Ohio.

Tune in!

The link to the show is in the bio!

11/12/2024

This week you get a little something old and a little something new. We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Sharon Short, a mystery and suspense writer whose new book Trouble Island came out last week. She was a guest to the show back in May of 2022 under her pen name Jess Montgomery when promoting her Kinship historical mystery series.

Sharon's new novel is a suspense set during Prohibition that involves an island in the middle of Lake Erie owned by a gangster bootlegger. The germ of the novel comes from a famous story in her own family about Aunt Ruth.

Plus, we will hear parts of our original interview with her about the Kinship series set in 1920s Appalachian Ohio. In this series, her MC is a female sheriff who takes over the job when her husband, who was the sheriff, is murdered. The character of the sheriff is inspired by real life woman who was the first female sheriff in Ohio.

Tune in!

The link to the show is in the comments.

06/12/2024

I started reading the children's classic HEIDI by Swiss author Johanna Spyri inspired by our trip up to the Alps yesterday. We took a gondola to the top of . The book was written in 1881 and I never read it as a child.

I started out reading the Project Gutenberg version which was a free download because it's so old. But it made me realize how much a translation can affect the reading experience. It was a little clunky for a modern reader. Then I found one on Libby that was much better. But then I decided I needed a special edition to take home as a souvenir. I found this copy with a really cool cover at Stocker books in Lucerne. This small city is located at the base of the Alps!

This coming of age story of a young girl going to live with her grandfather in the Alps. This is a quintessential grumpy/ sunshine story! The grandfather is a considered a hermit by the local villagers and Heidi is full of wonder about everything. A tender story.

05/12/2024

We ended our podcast season a little earlier than we normally would. And the reason for that is that I (Amy) am traveling! My husband and I are on vacation in Switzerland this week.

Things are very festive around here in Geneva and now Lucerne. THE CHRISTMAS MURDER GAME by .k.benedict felt like the perfect getaway holiday read.

Do you travel in the winter? We have found it really cozy; less crowds and lower prices. And very merry❄️.

03/12/2024

Our last episode of the season is our holiday book buying guide with book seller Sam Miller, store manager at . Besides all the great books she recommends, we also talked about what we have been reading. And they all feature animals!

Carrie highly recommended GATHER by Kenneth Cadow. This novel features Ian Gray, a teenage boy who is growing up in rural Vermont. His dad isn’t around, his grandma isn’t around, his grandfather is dead, and his mother has a drug problem. Plus, his family is very poor, but they do have land, which Ian takes pride in and gets relief from when he explores the wilderness. Despite so many things working against him, Ian has a small band of people around him who provide him some stability, especially as they realize how smart he is about machines and how responsible he is about finishing work. Also by Ian’s side is his dog, Gather, a stray who Ian takes in at the start of the book. But before too long, a tragedy occurs, which sends Ian and Gather on the run on a journey of survival. Ian is one of those protagonists you can’t help but love.

Sam's book of the year is THE HORSE by W***y Vlautin. This novel about an old broken down musician living alone in the Nevada desert and he isn't sure if he can go on. And then a horse appears at his door. This one is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

And Amy read HOW TO BE A GOOD CREATURE: A MEMOIR IN 13 ANIMALS by Sy Montgomery. This small volume that has beautiful illustrations that highlight the life of premiere naturalist and writer St Montgomery. She takes 13 animals that had an effect on her life. Some are cute and cuddly like a childhood pet dog or pig; but others are a little harder to love like tarantulas and tigers. This would be a great gift book for an animal lover in your life and there is also a picture book edition for kids!

What have you been reading?

02/12/2024

Here are a few things that made us smile this week.

1- Miso the cat snuggling with Amy while she edits the last regular episode of the season

2- A completed Christmas sweater sugar cookie puzzle

3- Amy had her family in town for Thanksgiving. Her momma is a reader too!

4- Carrie makes Baklava for Thanksgiving dinner.

5- Carrie's THE CAT'S MEOW, prepping for future episode. It’s cold but the cat does this regardless of weather.

6- Amy's family Thanksgiving photo

7- and Suprise! Amy and DH at the airport on their way to a last minute trip to Switzerland.

What made you smile this week?

30/11/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Saturday this holiday weekend gives a sparkly magic middle grade book.

Each week we ask a fellow Book Lover to tell us about a recent book that really excited them. Perin recommends SIR CALLIE AND THE DRAGON'S ROOST by Esme Symes-Smith . This is the second in the Sir Callie series.

Sir Callie is a non-binary hopeful knight in a magical medieval world of dragons, witches, and shape-shifters trying to fight against growing anti-magical sentiment.

"Middle grade fantasy is already my favorite genre, and this book was so well done with a fantastic found family, a dragon coming of age narrative, and lessons on not judging people or dragons by broad categorizations."

Thanks to Perin for sharing! For more of her book recommendations, follow her at n .

To listen to this and more book recommendations, check out our podcast at Perks of Being a Book Lover wherever you listen to podcasts . Or the link is in bio.

29/11/2024

Let the good times roll Part 2



By my count I have been doing dog fieldtrips and drop offs for a year now! So here is a little trip down memory lane to see all the goofy best buddies I've spent the afternoon with.

All of these pups were shelter dogs at and all have found wonderful homes. I hope to be doing this for a long time. Its really improved my overall mental health.

BTW, this is a 2 part post because I couldn't fit all the fluff in one post!

29/11/2024

By my count I have been doing dog fieldtrips and drop offs for a year now! So here is a little trip down memory lane to see all the goofy best buddies I've spent the afternoon with.

All of these pups were shelter dogs at and all have found wonderful homes. I hope to be doing this for a long time.

BTW, this is a 2 part post because I couldn't fit all the fluff in one post!