Review: The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really did enjoy this book, although (for once) I think the mini series depiction was better than the book.

Beth Harmon is orphaned and sent to an orphanage where she meets the janitor, Mr Schaibel. Mr. Shaibel teachers Beth chess, and that's the end of the story... Beth absorbs all the information necessary to become an amazing chess prodigy utilizing her already awesome brain.

Throughout the story, we see Beth struggle with drugs, alcohol, loss... yet she overcomes it all with her strength and determination to become the World Champion in chess.

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Review: The Bone Code

The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Yet another great story that kept me guessing until the reveal of the killer.

Tempe gets brought into a case involving a set of bodies found washed up on the shore after a hurricane in South Carolina. They're both naked, wrapped in plastic, and sealed in a barrel drum. This reminds Tempe of a case she had in Montreal years ago that went unsolved. As the case follows the twists and turns, more deaths and attempted deaths occur. I was kept interested until the very end!

I loved that we got to visit some new places and meet some new people along the way.

**Spoiler Alert**

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[I do worry that this will give more life to the conspiracy theorists that claim vaccines are changing our DNA. (hide spoiler)]

I do worry that this will give more life to the conspiracy theorists that claim vaccines are changing our DNA.

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Review: A Castaway in Cornwall

A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

Laura Callaway has never felt like she belonged in her small town where she currently lives with her uncle (through marriage, not blood) and his family. Her blood relatives have all passed away and she is just trying to survive life. She has a passion in life for collecting lost items from shipwrecks along the seashore, both flotsam (items lost to the sea) and jetsam (items deliberately thrown overboard). She tries to reconnect these items to their owners or the owners family, bringing closure for lives lost.

During one shipwreck at night, she saves the life of a man from being killed by a local smuggler. Laura and her neighbor, with the help of a young local doctor, nurse the man back to health. Through this process, there appear to be things that do not add up. Is this man English, or is he really a Frenchman from the other side of the war?

I really enjoyed learning about shipwrecks, the Napoleonic Wars, and Jersey. I loved the little quirks of Cornwall that I was able to learn, including about the sand buried church! These historical novels, with good research, are wonderful ways to learn little tidbits about history.

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Review: The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this Advanced Readers Copy!

I really enjoyed this book. As someone who loves learning about history, there was a lot to learn about the historical side of this story.

Evangelina Cisneros was a real woman in history. She was determined to be an enemy of the Spanish state, and was put into a women's prison in Cuba.

She was dubbed "The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba" by the New York Journal, a newspaper owned by William Randolph Hearst. This newspaper was in a circulation war with The New York World newspaper owned by Joseph Pulitzer. In order to sell more papers, Hearst was encouraging war with Spain over Cuban independence. I had no idea that we entered the Spanish American War, mainly because of newspaper stories!

I also liked meeting fictional Grace Harrington. She was a strong, independent woman who determined that she wanted to be the next Nelly Bly, a stunt newspaper girl! Grace was asked to help write some of the stories about Evangelina, her escape from prison with the help of Journal journalists.

I really appreciated the Author's Note at the end that told of the research and the truth behind this historical fiction book. It was nice to know who was based on a real story and where the side characters came from.

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21 in 21 - February Update

 

 I said I would update the blog once a month with an update on my 21 in 21 project

1. Donate 1 item per day
1. January - I'm 25 items behind
2. February - On Schedule
   
2. Bike 52 hours
1. January - I have completed 0.5 hours so far
2. February - I am 1% complete
   
3. Run 52 hours
1. January - I have completed 1.98 hours so far
2. February - I am 6% complete
   
4. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Dane County
1. January - I have completed 0 of 61.6 total miles
2. February - I have completed 0 of 61.6 total miles
5. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Fond du Lac & Sheboygan Counties
1. January - I have completed 0 of 39.6 total miles
2. February - I have completed 0 of 39.6 total miles
6. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Green County
1. January - I have completed 0 of 22.7 total miles
2. February - I have completed 0 of 22.7 total miles
7. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Rock County
1. January - I have completed 0 of 63.9 total miles
2. February - I have completed 6.07 of 63.9 total miles
   
8. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Walworth & Jefferson Counties
1. January - I have completed 0 of 25.2 total miles
2. February - I have completed 0 of 25.2 total miles
9. Hike the complete Ice Age Trail in Washington County
1. January - I have completed 9.7 of 45 total miles
2. February - I have completed 13.67 of 45 total miles
   
10. Mail 1 "just because" postcard each day
1. January -  I'm 14 behind, but working through them!
2. February - I'm 42 behind... This is way harder than I thought it would be!
   
11. Mail 1 "just because" gift each month
1. January - I mailed a scarf to my friend Hallie
2. February -  I mailed a baby gift to my friend Kathy
   
12. Get a massage once a month
1. January - I had a massage on January 4
   
2. February - I had a massage on February 26
   
13. Complete the 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge
1. January - I have completed 4 of 50 reading challenge prompts
2. February - I have completed 7 of 50 reading challenge prompts
   
14. Maintain a feedback ratio of 80% in NetGalley
1. January - I am currently at 36% and I have 46 out of 72 books left to read/review
2. February - I am currently at 37% and I have 48 out of 76 books left to read/review
   
15. Sort through 1 box/tub/crate/drawer per week
1. January -  I'm 2 behind
2. February - I am on schedule
   
16. Watch 1 TED Talk per day
1. January - I am on schedule
2. February - I am 8 behind
   
17. Complete GEP 3 for DAR
1. January - I have not yet registered
2. February - I have not yet registered
   
18. Update Blog monthly with 21 in 21 status
1. January - Updated on January 26
2. February - Updated on February 28
   
19. (Re)Learn to Cross Country Ski
1. January - Contacted a local instructor about scheduling a private lesson
2. February - No update
   
20. Watch one "new to me" movie each month
1. January - I watched Girl on the Train on January 30
   
2. February - I watched Judy on February 28
   
21. Get a facial once a month
1. January - I had a facial on January 3
   
2. February -  I had a facial on February 6
   

Wisconsin Friends Explore Challenge 2021

 

Hooray!  A new challenge and way to get outside this year!  I'm super excited, and my friend Jessica said she's going to join me in the challenge!

 https://sites.google.com/view/wisconsin-friends-explore/home?authuser=0

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is hosting a challenge to get people outside, explore, discover new things.... and most importantly support the Wisconsin State Park System.

Goal for the year is to complete as many of these challenges as possible in the set time frame of March 20 through September 22.

Like my 21 in 21 Challenge, I'll try to update this monthly with a current status.

1. Hike 50 miles total on WSPS properties

2. Hike every trail on one WSPS property

3. Camp six nights total in the WSPS

4. Camp overnight while backpacking at least once

5. Fish at three different WSPS properties

6. Paddle five different bodies of water on WSPS properties

7. Visit and photograph 5 different waterfalls on WSPS properties

8. Build and photograph sand sculptures on 5 different WSPS beaches

9. Bike 50 miles on state trails or WSPS properties

10. Take a selfie from 10 scenic overlooks   

11. Take 10 photos of historic buildings, which includes lighthouses, located on WSPS properties

12. Photograph examples of Indigenous Cultures on 10 WSPS properties

13. Visit a WSPS property in each of the six districts

14. Visit the same WSPS property once a month, March through September 

15. Identify and list 25 plants seen on WSPS properties-take photos of at least three 

16. Identify and list 25 different birds seen on WSPS properties-take photos of at least three

17. Identify and list 25 insects seen on WSPS properties-take photos of at least three

18. Find 15 geocaches on WSPS properties

19. Join a Friend's group

20. Clean up litter for 2-3 hours total at two or more WSPS properties

21. Pick garlic mustard for 2-3 hours at a WSPS property

22. Cross-country ski 50 miles at a minimum of 2 properties

     

     
    

Review: The Guncle

The Guncle by Steven Rowley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam - G.P. Putnam's Sons for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

Patrick, an actor who hasn't worked in a few years, has been keeping to himself in Palms Springs for a while. When his best friend, who is also his sister-in-law passes away, he finds himself being asked to watch his niece and nephew while his brother deals with his own health issues. Maisie (9) and Grant (6) come to stay with Patrick for the summer, and together they work through the demons of love and loss. Maisie and Grant call Patrick GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) or Guncle, an awesome nickname if I've ever heard one!

Patrick has had other losses in life, and I loved seeing how he dealt with his own issues while helping the children deal with the loss of their mother. By the end of the summer, you can see changes in all 3 of them!

I loved the Guncle Rules throughout the book. I wish there was a full listing of them at the end!

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