4/5⭐ The exploratory vibe of the first book gave way to the epic journey in this one. I fell deep into the fullness of the world, the families involved and theme of what makes a family, the myths and lore that changed and built over time to the main predicament of this book, and the hero's journey mirrored in the characters' paths. It was a wholly satisfying conclusion to the first book, and I devoured it in only about half a day.

5/5⭐ Take Strange Horticulture, put it in the framework of a Nancy Drew game, mix in a bunch of Greek mythology, & voila, you have this masterpiece.

I stayed up way too late reading this book, & once I finished I immediately started the sequel. I adore the world the author built & honestly kind of want to live in Rhinebeck. This book is perfect for those who love mystery, magic, mythology, apothecaries & plants, & old houses with secrets.

2.5/5⭐ Excellent concept and deals with issues of memory, loss, and greed poetically, but it would have been better as a short story with the vast repetitiveness removed.

Forgetting was not the same as healing.

3/5⭐ As with the previous book in the series (Record of a Spaceborn Few), there are some interesting relationships and issues touched on, but ultimately the book feels more like the author's worldbuilding notes than anything else. #bookspin

5/5⭐ A beautifully written, often funny, always poignant book. The first part is a collection of metaphors for what writing is like, and the rest adds memoir components. Dillard has a wonderful way with words.

Nothing on earth is more gladdening than knowing we must roll up our sleeves and move back the boundaries of the humanly possible once more.

I had forgotten . . . all of wide space and all of historical time. I opened the blinds a crack like eyelids, and it all came exploding in on me at once–oh yes, the world.

Perhaps the way our minds process the world—as something divided, parceled off, and split up—is a projection of our own internal partitions, things accepted and things exiled.

Keepers of old secrets will tell you that the solutions in a crisis always emerge from the edges, not the center. It's never the king who saves the day. Or the knight with all the privilege and grooming. It's the absolute fool who comes riding in on a donkey with the ill-fitting armor, the poor man who fibbed his way into the royal party, the youngest daughter that no one would dare put their ducats on.

4/5⭐ Not an easy book. It depicts the grim reality of living in the USA as a Native American woman: the racism, police brutality, sexual assault & rape, murder, kidnapping, cultural annihilation, dehumanization, & injustice at every level possible. The author's voice shines through with so many emotions & self-reflections. These are the historical & current issues that can't be brushed under a rug & can't continue to be unrepaired. #roll100

4.5/5⭐ Dore, a social worker with therapy training, reflects on each of the tarot cards through a particular angle, some of which are close to the traditional card meanings, some of which are less common but still related. Her unique lens and psychological explanations, while sometimes hyper-focused on a narrow topic, make the text feel very accessible. ⬇

4/5⭐ This book is a solid guide for libraries supporting entrepreneurship in their communities, regardless of size, budget, and staffing. Part 1 contains generalized information and considerations with allusions to the case studies in Part 2, which is where the meat of this book lies. ⬇

@BennettBookworm is hosting a #20kgiveaway! My favorite bookstore is Heart & Soul Books in Harrisburg, PA. It has the coziest vibe with multiple rooms, tea and coffee, and comfy sitting areas. The book selection is great, there's bookish paraphernalia for sale, and the owner is super nice.

4/5⭐ Who doesn't want to read about the hilarity that ensues from Hell's bureaucracy & paperwork? 😄 This is a book where the journey is just as, if not more, important than the destination. I was invested in the scenes for their own sake & not just the ultimate goal. While the pacing's mostly even, some parts do wander to other character POVs, are barely tangential to the main story, & should've been cut because they killed the pacing. #roll100 ⬇

2/5⭐ Bloated, repetitive, and disjointed, making everything seem more complicated and inaccessible than it should be.

4.5/5⭐ This cookbook has tons of recipes, all of which seem simple and much healthier than their restaurant counterparts without sacrificing flavor. I love everything in this book from the variety of recipes to the layout and pictures to the tidbits scattered throughout for recipe variations, substitution options, and generally making cooking easier. There's something in here for everyone.

3/5⭐ The recipes are fine, but the weekly plans call for a new dish for every single meal and ridiculously long shopping lists. I don't know who has that time and money but it certainly isn't me.

I decided to go back to #BookTube and my #bookblog! My full 2022 wrap up can be found in video form on YouTube and in text form on my blog. Links below!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hk86zaiSJJM
Blog: https://hissingpotatoes.com/2023/01/17/wrap-up-2022/

3.5/5⭐ This is a reread for me. An informative, balanced introduction to revival Druidry, though the author speaks about current issues he's obviously not well versed in. #bookspin

2.5/5⭐ Great if you want a meandering stroll through various themes, as there's almost no plot to speak of. The thematic exploration is done well. Feels more like the author's worldbuilding notes than a book in its own right. #doublespin

#roll100 2022 results: I read 29 books from my list and unhauled a bunch more I just don't plan to read anymore. @puddlejumper

#owlsreadingchallenge 2022 results:

E (Exceeds Expectations, 4/5): Ancient Runes, Astronomy, Divination
O (Outstanding, 5/5): Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Potions, Transfiguration

Finished 23/24 #booked2022 prompts! @cinfhen @barbarathebibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

2/5⭐ A superficial and incomplete theological/philosophical exploration of humans' connection with nature. The “way forward“ sections are generic and fail to provide the promised solutions.

3.5/5⭐ Some parts felt a little more clumsy compared to the first book, but still a fun read.

Life is terrifying. None of us have a rule book. None of us know what we're doing here. So, the easiest way to stare reality in the face and not utterly lose your shit is to believe that you have control over it.

What was the difference between strung-together neurons and a simple bundle of if/then code, if the outward actions were the same?

1/5⭐ #booked2022

4.5/5⭐ A perfect mix of fun and serious. There are so many layers to the characters, so many meaningful themes and ideas without punching the reader in the face with philosophy. I could barely put it down. #booked2022

I never thought of fear as something that can go away. It just is. It reminds me that I want to stay alive. That doesn‘t strike me as a bad thing.

1/5⭐ The prologue and first chapter were promising, but then chapter two stagnates into the inane, repetitive POV of the main character. #booked2022

3/5⭐ You know you've out-aged a series when you keep yelling at the adults for putting way too much responsibility on 12-year-olds. #booked2022

4/5⭐ A collection of brief entries that pack a magical, resistance-inspiring punch. #bookspin

Witchcraft has been political ever since a witch decided to hold strong beliefs about what is right and what is wrong, regardless of what the institutions in power say.

It is only natural to see the new generation of Witchcraft evolving and reemerging as more feminist, queerer, browner, and more gender-fluid—because it is these folk who are being made to believe by those in political and spiritual power that they are misfit toys. It is the marginalized, and those who sympathize with them, who will bear the mantle of the Spirit of Witchcraft until they are no longer marginalized or oppressed.

[The existence of witches as defiers of the cultural attitudes of the overarching religion] also describes the development of Witchcraft traditions that are Earth-Centered practices in a world where we begin ignoring and destroying the Earth as a purely meaningless creation of a distant Creator.

1.5/5⭐ Questionable and inaccurate history, tons of repetition and meandering, unsourced correspondences. Does have some potentially useful recipes, spells, and ways to think about making the mundane magical.

My sister made me a puzzle advent, which I think is fun and clever and adorable. #audiopuzzling

3.5/5⭐ Cute magic-infused world. I appreciated the way spellcraft was woven through as something that can help but that the power still lies with the person. I especially liked the theme of manifesting the life you want.

1.5/5⭐ More of a coffee table soft introduction to Kondo's theory with generic stock photos. Unless looking for a philosophical tidying booster, people already familiar with KonMari can skip.

2/5⭐

0/5⭐ Actively encourages people to use others' birthdays/signs/alignments for work-related decisions like hiring and promotions, including tips for, I quote, “sneakily“ learning people's birthdates for those purposes. WTF!!! Astrological chart details don't always match within the text and with the chart website the author recommends. Interpretations for different planetary positions often feel the same or universally applicable.

#OctoberDailyDoodle final pages, part 2 of 2! My favorite on this page is 7 The Cauldron. @Clwojick

#OctoberDailyDoodle final pages, part 1 of 2! My favorite on this page is 25 The Candle. 🕯️ @Clwojick

Doing something different for #bookspinbingo this month, because 1) it's NaNo time, and 2) I need a reading break. Tracking both 50k and 100k goals since I'm rebelling and incorporating words from a previous draft into a second draft this year. @thearomaofbooks

#bookspinbingo results October 2022: 3 different bingos!

#roll100 #Booked2022

1.5/5⭐ These stories feel like part of a conversation I missed the beginning of. #roll100