Mailbox Monday {10.28.2019}

Hello Readers! I am looking forward to this week so much, and it has almost nothing to do with Halloween being on Thursday. Honestly, I don’t understand why this “holiday” is such a big deal…but I digress. That discussion is for another post. I’m excited for this week because 1) the high temperatures are supposed to stay below 50 almost every day this week, which means I can break out more than one of my sweaters! I love fall fashion. Long sleeves and layers are totally my thing. The second reason is that November starts on Friday, which means that there are a lot of celebrations quickly approaching! I fully intend to take advantage of this season to focus extra on thankfulness and humility in November.

For today, I’m participating in Mailbox Monday! I have checked out some really good books from the library recently, so I will be sharing about those and an ebook I received for review.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

To Review

I’ve significantly cut back on how many books I accept for review recently. I don’t have time to read books that I’m not really into, so I’ve become pretty selective in order to work towards my personal reading goals. That said, I did recently accept one ebook for review.

Title: The Dog on the Acropolis

Author: Mark Tedesco

Synopsis: A family living in Greece at the time of the construction of the Parthenon and another family, thousands of years later, eking out a living at the base of the Acropolis.

The repercussions of the meeting of man and dog would unfold in unforeseen ways that would impact the lives around them.

The narrative takes the reader to Greece’s Golden Age, in which one dog, Daria, would scamper up the hill to keep up with Adelino, a stone cutter working on the new temple, and his son Tiro. The lives of Pheidias, the architect of the Parthenon, Adelino and Diana his wife, as well as Tiro their son, would intersect in unexpected ways.

The story brings then brings the reader back into the present where past and present eventually coincide, transforming the lives of both canines and humans.

I’m not really sure what to expect from The Dog on the Acropolis, but it sounds fun and different from what I usually read! I’m drawn by the historical aspect, and using the dog as a focal point (and perhaps narrator?) looks interesting.

Library Checkouts

I have a total of five books checked out right now, but only two are from the last two weeks.

Title: The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice

Author: Donna Kaufman

Synopsis: Every autumn, Moonbright, Maine, is the picture of charm with its piles of crisp leaves, flickering jack-o’-lanterns … and a touch of the sweetest kind of enchantment.
 
Witches, goblins, the occasional ghost—they’re all sure to be spotted at the annual Halloween parade, where adults and children alike dress in costume to celebrate Moonbright’s favorite holiday. And no place has more seasonal spirit than Bellaluna’s Bakeshop, a family business steeped in traditional recipes, welcoming warmth—and, legend has it, truly spellbinding, heart-melting treats …
 
Between good-natured Halloween tricks, frothy pumpkin lattes, and some very special baked goods, for three Moonbright residents looking for love—whether they know it or not—the spookiest thing will be how magical romance can suddenly be.

Even I, who dislike almost everything directly relating to Halloween and generally tend to be grumpy when the subject comes up, am drawn to this book. The town sounds adorable, and the idea is quirky but not too weird or creepy. I can’t wait to get into this! Do you think I can finish it by Thursday if I start it today?

 

Title: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women

Author: Kate Moore

Synopsis:  The Curies’ newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women’s cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

I’m about a third of the way through The Radium Girls, and it is terrifying in its own sense. As someone hearing the stories in 2019, I see so many red flags that none of the girls notice. It’s like watching a roller coaster speed toward broken tracks and not being able to do anything about it. It’s crazy to me that this is real, not just a story. What makes it most frightening is how easily it happened, and how something similar could (and quite possibly might) happen again in my lifetime.

What new books have you gotten recently? Is there anything you’re trying to finish by the end of the month?

Don’t forget you can hop over to Mailbox Monday to see what new books others are talking about!

Until the next chapter,

Jana