The Equalizer 3 was released last week! (Squeal!!) Okay, I’m done. I’m a fan of The Equalizer movies. For me, Robert McCall is right up there with John Wick. He has a different style in terms of how he deals with a threat, but it’s just as awesome. Whereas John Wick will confidently stride in, announce his presence then shoot everyone as quickly and as efficiently as possible, Robert McCall will silently come from the shadows, and make everyone suffer. And they will suffer slowly. He will destroy them, then stare them down as the life leaves their eyes, leaving no doubt in their mind who ended them. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington, The Equalizer 3 brings back the Robert McCall. McCall no longer works for the government, but he still uses his skills for good. He deals out his own brand of justice on those that threaten the livelihoods of good people. After an injury, McCall finds himself in Italy. It’s a small town filled with accepting and kind people. However, this quiet town has a mafia problem and McCall doesn’t appreciate how they do business with his new friends. Mr. Washington delivers an amazing performance as McCall. The way he plays McCall, on the one hand, makes him one of those guys you just want to be friends with. Then the other boot drops and he’s suddenly a ghost on a mission that gives bad guys nightmares. The lighting involved a lot of shadows and it fit the whole vibe. It was bright and sunny in Italy when McCall was happy, but when he did his thing an ominous dark boogeyman vibe set the stage for fear and death. Miss Dakota Fanning also graces us with her presence as a finance agent on her first field mission. Seeing her as an adult with Mr. Washington makes anyone who’s ever seen Man on Fire feel old, but she holds her own and does a good job playing opposite Mr. Washington. Overall, The Equalizer 3 was awesome. It holds up nicely with the other two films. Side note: I can’t help but wonder who would win in a fight, John Wick or Robert McCall? The answer is neither. They would maybe fight each other when they believed they were enemies, but then they would realize they should be killing bad guys together. Then the bad guys cry.

September is here. It seems it shouldn’t be, but here we are. Despite the passing of time getting faster and faster with every year, there is something to look forward to. The new books releasing in September 2023. After reviewing a few different lists, these are the four that stood out. Malibu Burning (Sharpe & Walker Book 1) , By Lee Goldberg September 1, 2023 #1 New York Times best-selling author Lee Goldberg releases a scorching thriller, Malibu Burning. Wildfires spread throughout Southern California every year. But this year, Danny Cole, a master thief has a plan to ride the tsunami of fire to pull off a crime and avenge a friend. In comes Walrwe Sharp and Andrew Walker. Sharp is an arson investigator and Walker is a former US Marshal. They suspect the massive fires were intentional and they have to stop the culprit before something more horrible happens. It sounds like an intense action cat-and-mouse game and with the massive idea of a wildfire a the center, it could be a hell of a ride. The Vaster Wilds , By Lauren Groff Lauren Groff's The Vaster Wilds , releases on September 12. I servant girl escapes a colonial settlement and begins her adventure in the wild. She has nothing to her name but a few possessions and her brain. What she finds in the wilderness challenges her imagination and belief in everything she was taught by her own people. She has to find a new way to live under the colonialism of America to survive. This book sounds like an intense read filled with adventure and history. “Extraordinary… staggering…with wrenching beauty…This is a triumph.” ­– Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Must be read…The writing is inspired, the imaginative power near mystic.” ­– Kirkus Reviews Champion of Fate (Heromaker, 1), By Kendare Blake New York Times Bestseller Kendare Blake releases the beginning of her new Duology on September 19, 2023. Champion of Fate follows the trials of Reed as she works to join the Aristene, an order of mythical female warriors. They are the muses of warriors. The Warrios become legends but the Artisene guide them to victory. They are called the Heromakers. Reed is approaching her final initiation but before that can happen she has one more test to pass. She has to guide her first hero to glory during battle. If she succeeds she can join the Aristene, fail and she’s cast out on her own. On top of this pressure, Reed has to deal with her assigned hero Hestion. He’s infuriating and intriguing. Their partnership brings everything into question for Reed. Now she has a choice to make. This seems like a fun fantasy read with plenty of action and adventure. Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell, By Sy Montgomery Also released on September 19, 2023, Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell , by Sy Montgomery is a book for nature and wildlife lovers, and philosophers looking for insight about time and healing. Sy Montgomery and wildlife artist Matt Patterson arrive at Turtle Rescue League to meet the hundreds of turtles in recovery. Some have been injured, and some are sick, but the founders, Natasha and Alexxia, follow the motto: New Give Up On A Turtle By rescuing, protecting, and releasing, Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson explore the lives of some of the most persistent, resilient, and long-lived animals in the world. This non-fiction book seems filled with heart, thought, and a lot of turtles. Everyone likes turtles. These are four books releasing in September. Happy reading.

Zombies. Zombies are awesome. The stories of zombies are unsettling, scary, and violently graphic. There are many zombie stories out there. All of them are similar but different. The challenge is making them different enough to not look like a paper-cutter version of all the others. Here are four zombie books that take the genre in different directions and different time periods. Viking Dead (Tomes of the Dead ), by Toby Venables Set in Northern Europe, in 976 AD, this story follows Bjólf and the Viking crew of the ship Hrafn. After a battle, Bjolf and his crew sail up an unknown river. They find themselves in a land where the dead don’t stay dead. They hear stories of a dark castle and black ships filled with undead berzerkers. Now they can’t leave. Trapped by the black ships, their only options are to fight the shambling undead of the forest, invade the castle to find answers or join the undead ranks. This book goes against the future apocalypse trope and instead inserts undead into the time of Vikings. I imagine the action, Viking vs. Zombie Viking, of this story will be well worth the read. My Life as A White Trash Zombie , by Diana Rowland On the humorous side, Diana Rowland’s series follows Angel Crawford. Angel is a high school dropout, can’t hold a job, and has a pill addiction and a criminal record. Her life is a mess. After a car accident, she finds herself ‘unharmed’ in the ER. She’s now part of the undead, and she has a job offer at the morgue. This book seems like a nice casual cozy read. This is a completely different take on the Zombie genre and if there are a few laughs along the way, I am all in. Empire, by David Dunwoody Zombies have taken over the world. Governments have been crippled and after a century of fighting the undead military forces are giving up. The hoards of humans and animals have no natural predators. No one can stop them, except Death. Irritated that the zombies have avoided him for so long, the Grim Reaper decides it's time to set things right. He will find allies in what remains of the human race and he will discover an enemy who wants nothing more than to control the power that drives the zombies. I love this idea. I never thought of it before, but the Grim Reaper would find zombies irritating. They would be messing with his job. It makes sense he would eventually get angry enough to do something about it. Double Dead (Tomes of the Dead) , by Chuck Wendig Coburn’s been a vampire for close to a century but he’s cool with it. However, After five years of a forced slumber, Coburn wakes up to find humans have been overrun by zombies. He’s undead, but he’s not as undead as the zombies, and their dietary requirements are different. He eats blood, they eat flesh. This means Coburn’s food supply has dwindled and he can’t eat the zombies, they’re gross. So now Coburn not only has to find food from live humans, but he has to protect them too. He can’t have them disappear if he wants to keep eating. I like this idea too. It takes the zombie genre and adds another classic monster. A vampire forced to protect his food supply from zombies just tickles my funny bone. These books have taken zombies and put twists on the genre in ways that make them stand out even more. All zombie stories are fun, but if you’re looking for ones that step outside the box, these may be a good place to start.

Spine-tingling, fear-induced heart palpitations, and jump scares. Darcy Coates is a master at making a monster jump out at you. She makes it feel like you're the one facing a parasitic alien that just tore a kid's face in half. Ms. Coates has become one of my new favorite authors. I have read Parasite , a sci-fi horror story, and Quarter to Midnight, a short story collection. What stands out to me, is she can make me feel like I'm in the same room as whatever monster is lurking in the shadows. She does it with a straightforward yet very descriptive approach. She can paint a vivid picture using very few words. She doesn't over-embellish or spend pages explaining the look of something. She does enough to get the point across and she does it in a way that scares you. That's a talent I wish to have someday.
I have acquired a few Darcy Coates novels over the months and I intend to collect more. Here is my TBR list for now.
The Whispering Dead (Gravekeeper #1) Kiera can see the dead. She finds herself taking shelter in an abandoned groundskeeper cottage. The cottage is in an old graveyard where the dead roam. Kiera becomes the newest target of a dead woman. To put her to rest, Kiera has to investigate the spectral's past. Sounds fun to me. I will no doubt read the whole series.
From Below Ghosts and monsters are scary enough, but let's put them at the bottom of the ocean. Cove and her team are to investigate the wreckage of the unsinkable ship, the SS Arcadia. But with limited oxygen and limited time, their simple mission becomes a fight. They have to survive whatever is lurking in the watery shadows. I can imagine the claustrophobia and panic Ms. Coates will traumatize me with and I love it. I'm all in for this story.
The Haunting of Ashburn House A classic haunted house scenario, but with Ms. Coates driving the story it will be a good one. Adrienne inherits the old Ashburn House and thinks things will start looking up. But then things start to happen. Things move, messages are in the walls and the forest holds a grave and a secret. Now Adrienne has to survive what's in the house. Darcy Coates has many more books out there. And if what I have read so far is any indication, I will be reading many of them.

The world is nearly perfect. There is no disease, poverty, or war. There's not even natural death. But with a growing population death must still happen. Enter the scythes. They are the only ones sanctioned to end a life. Death by Sycthe is the only way to stay dead. Neal Shusterman's trilogy Arc of a Scythe follows Citra and Rowan as they navigate the world. In Scythe , Citra and Rowan are apprentice Scythes and must master the art of gleaning, or ending a life. As they navigate their apprenticeships they learn what's behind the curtain of the Scythe world. What there learn, is that not all Scythes are honorable or serve the greater good. The Thunderhead is the benevolent AI that runs the world. It is incapable of malice or of breaking its own rules. It provides the citizens with everything they need. But it can't save them from the Scythes. The Thunderhead can't interfere with Scythe's affairs, no matter how much it may want to. It sees the corruption infecting the world, but because it is within the ranks of the Scythdom it can't do anything about it. It can only hope that Citra, now Scythe Anastasia, and Rowan, the unofficial rogue Scythe righting wrongs, can stop the infection from spreading. The Toll is the leader of the Tonists. Not his idea. All Greyson Tolliver wanted was to serve the Thunderhead as a Nimbus agent. The Thunderhead had other plans. Greyson did what the Thunderhead wanted and found himself the religious figurehead of a group of people whose symbol is a tuning fork and who follow the Great Resonance. Again, not his idea. The Arc of a Scythe trilogy weaves through years of scheming and death in a futuristic tale of loyalty, love, and honor. The first book was the best of the three, but they all had their merit. Scythe was a fast read, but The Thunderhead and The Toll slowed a little. Not in a bad way, but they focused more on political scheming than the first book did.

People have busy lives. Writers are no exception. Writers don't always have time to study their craft by reading. Good alternatives are podcasts. You can listen whenever or wherever you are. Here are four podcasts that have become my go-to for learning tips and tricks. You'll learn the best writing advice and you won't have to crack a book. 1. Start With This Start With This is hosted by Welcome to Nightvale creators Jeffery Cranor and Joseph Fink. It's a show that focuses on creating art. Mr. Cranor and Mr. Fink take you through ideas and processes to spark creativity. They often do their own writing, but this podcast makes you the writer. At the end of every episode, you get two short assignments. Something to create and something to consume. Every episode is a creative writing class. 2. Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Hosted by Mignon Fogarty, the Grammar Girl podcast is a five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Mz. Fogarty gives you grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips to make your writing better. She also gives you the history behind words and phrases and how they came to be. If the podcast isn't enough and you have the time, I would also recommend that you check out the book Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing . It's everything you could ever want or hope for in a grammar book. It's easy to read and understand and offers clarification and advice on all things grammar. Check out her website, https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl/ . It's filled with fun stuff too. 3. diyMFA Radio Gabriela Pereira hosts diyMFA Radio . She is the author of DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community and offers advice on writing, reading, and building your community. This podcast gives you tips to spark your creativity and gives advice from industry professionals. Learn from the best with Mz. Pereira as she gives you the tricks of the trade. Check out her book and her website: https://diymfa.com/ 4. The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt The Creative Writers Toolbelt gives practical advice to Creative writers. Hosted by Andrew Chamberlain, each episode gives a technique of creative writing with examples. Mr. Chamberlain explores the story, style, character, and writing process. He shows you how to use sensory words, sparse descriptions, and dialogue to make your writing more compelling. You can apply what you learn after every lesson. When you want to study the craft of writing but life gets too hectic, these podcasts can help. Anytime, anywhere, learn the tricks of the trade from the best.

Howl's Moving Castle , by Diana Wynne Jones, is a fantasy filled with magic, action, humor, and horror. The world Ms. Jones has created is filled with everything a fantasy lover wants. Three books make the world of Wizard Howl. Howl's Moving Castle is the first. It follows Sophie Hatter. She is the oldest of three girls, and as such, she's nothing special. Her life is not destined for anything other than making hats at her family's business. When her father dies, her stepmother ships her sisters off. One to apprentice for a witch, and the other to become a baker's apprentice. They are expected to have great lives with handsome suitors lining up. Sophie is expected to stay behind and make hats. That's what she does until a witch walks into the shop and puts a spell on Sophie, seemingly for no other reason than she can. Sophie is now cursed. But, she decides to make the best of it and sets out on an adventure that the oldest daughters never get. She finds the Wizard Howl and his moving castle. She makes herself at home in the castle to the irritation of Howl. She makes friends with a fire demon named Calcifer, and she paves her own way through cursed scarecrows, bumbling apprentices, and the mystery of disappearing wizards and princes, and angry witches. It's a fun and fast-paced read. Castle in the Air is the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle . This story follows a modest carpet merchant named Abdullah. He's a disappointment to his father and his father's first wife's family. When his father died, he left Abdullah with enough to sell carpets from a small booth at the Bazaar. Abdullah sells carpets and dreams. He dreams of a life where he is a long-lost prince and of a princess he is to marry. He's content with his dreams until a stranger sells him a magic carpet. Then his dreams start to come true and the princess is all too real. A jinn complicates matters by kidnapping the princess of Abdullah's dreams and now he has to save her. With the help of a flying carpet, a genie, an old mercenary, dogs, and cats, Abdullah must find a way to save the Princess, Flower in the Night. Add in a couple of confusing prophecies and Castle in the Air is a fun ride. The House of Many Ways is book three in the World of Howl. Charmain Baker is a baker's daughter who would rather read than anything else. Charmain is tasked with watching her Great Uncle's house and she thought she'd get uninterrupted time to read. Instead, her great Uncle is a wizard and his house bends time and space. She maneuvers the house while dealing with Peter, the uncoordinated wannabe apprentice, and Waif, the small dog that is more than she seems. Charmain is targeted by a magical monster called a Lubbock after she begins helping the King look for something called an Elfgift. The King calls on Sophie, a powerful sorceress, and her friend Calcifer. The Wizard Howl is not far behind. Wherever Sophie is, he's usually lurking around complicating things for the pure joy of doing so. It's fun and filled with books, mysteries, monsters, little blue men called Kobolds, and magical tantrums. The World of Howl books are colorful mischievous adventures that both children and adults will enjoy.

Do you like John Wick? Do you appreciate the stylized nonstop action? John Wick 4 is currently killing it with over $350 million at the box office. Keanu Reeves has proven himself many times over that he's one of the greatest action stars of the time. The fourth film continues John's journey with stylized fight scenes, and death by large numbers. It has moments where it's like watching a third-person shooter game, and moments where you feel like you're in the action and just got shot in the face. It's a fun ride. In honor of John Wick's success, here are four graphic novels that you should read if you're a fan. BRZRKR Vol. 1 BRZRKR is Keanu Reeves's writing debut along with co-writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney. It tells the story of an immortal man, only known as B. B was born as a weapon 80,000 years ago and is compelled to kill. His only desire is to be mortal, and his only chance to get it is through the U.S. government. In exchange, he goes on missions that only his brand of violence can handle. If you love watching John Wick, this is the perfect graphic novel to follow up with. Its action is on par with everything Mr. Reeves does. The artwork is amazing and the story keeps you reading and wanting the next 11 volumes in the series. Good Boy Good Boy , written by Garret Gunn and Christina Blanch is John Wick if the dog were the assassin out for revenge. It tells the story of Flint Sparks a German shepherd who settled into a quiet retirement with his human companion Jon, only to have Jon brutally murdered. Now Flint is out for blood. He goes on a rampage of revenge. He's a good boy and the bad guys killed the wrong human. Batman: Under the Red Hood Written by Judd Winick Batman: Under the Red Hood , is an action-packed story filled with violence and revenge. Jason Todd, Robin number two, is brutally murdered by The Joker but is then resurrected. Years later, he has taken the persona of The Red Hood and returned to Gotham. He dishes out the kind of violent justice that his mentor Batman has tried to discourage. Batman has to stop him, but The Red Hood is not having it. The Red Hood is taking on Gotham's criminal world, and he's winning. His new philosophy: you can't stop crime, but you can control it. X Omnibus Vol. 1. Crime rules the city of Arcadia. Even the police are criminals. But soon the criminals are haunted by what the papers call "The X-Killer." He is a judge, jury, and executioner to anyone who crosses the line. "Cross the line once, you'll receive a warning. Cross it twice, and X will mark the spot....where they'll find your body." By Dark Horse Comics, X is a fast-paced joy ride filled with quick action and a no-mercy brand of vigilantism. It's perfect for anyone who roots for the killers. After watching John Wick, if you don't want the action to end pick up any of these graphic novels and enjoy.

Just to keep everything equal, as a companion to 8 Non-fiction Books About Bada$$ Women on My TBR List , it's time to show some love to the men on my TBR list. Here are five non-fiction books on my TBR list of the awesome men of the world in no particular order. As You Wish , by Cary Elwes Ok, so this one isn't just about Cary Elwes, it's about his memories on the set of the classic The Princess Bride. If you haven't watched this movie your parents have failed you and you need to remedy the situation, and if you have seen it and didn't like it we can't be friends. Either way, this book is one that deserves some attention and one I am excited to crack open. Taste: My Life Through Food , by Stanley Tucci First, who doesn't like Stanley Tucci? Trick question, everyone likes Stanley Tucci and if you say otherwise, again, we cannot be friends. This is his life story and the food behind it. His time in Westchester, New York, his time around the dinner table, and the memories, good and bad, that often surrounded a meal. With his humor, I imagine this will be a fun read. Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama , by Bob Odenkirk As a fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul , it's only natural for Bob Odenkirk's memoir to make the list. Bob, for years, was that guy I would see grace my screen and I'd go, "Hey, it's Bob!" He never disappoints and I'm excited to read his thoughts on the matter. Also, he's diversified his resume so much that I'm convinced there is nothing he can't pull off. When I picked this book up, I realized I've been a fan of Mr. Odenkirk's longer than I knew. Did you know he wrote the Motivational Speaker skit on Saturday Night Live! with Chris Farley? Yeah, I didn't until I picked this book up. That skit is hilarious and as awesome as Chris Farley was, some love should be given to the man behind the writing. All About Me! , by Mel Brooks Mel Brooks. That's it, 'nuff said. Ok, maybe a little more can be said...This is Mel Brooks' autobiography. He wrote it, it'll be amazing. Read it. In case you need more prodding I'll write a few more words: Robin Hood Men in Tights , Young Frankenstein , History of the World , The Producers (both versions), Spaceballs , High Anxiety , and Blazing Saddles . There, that's enough. Read it. Something Like an Autobiography , by Akira Kurosawa Akira Kurosawa is one of the best directors in film history. His movies are still taught in film classes worldwide. He's the man behind Seven Samurai, Forbidden Kingdom, Roshomon, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, High and Low, Only the Bad Sleep Well , and many, many more. His films inspired the Magnificent Seven and other directors like George Lucas. This book is more about his philosophy on good filmmaking, from the script to directing actors, and the need for directors to immerse themselves in everything literature. If you're a film buff, this is one that might be fun to dive into. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West , by Blaine Harden On a more serious note, this is the story of the only known person to have been born in a North Korean prison camp who escaped, Shin Dong-Hyuk, who is currently a human rights activist. This is a look into North Korea through the lens of Mr. Shin's story. He witnessed horrible things, but still found a way out. I imagine this will be a powerful story. Honorable Mentions: Voice Lessons , by Rob Paulsen No longer on my TBR list, but it deserves a mention. I read and listened to this book. It's amazing and as I've said before, Rob Paulsen is a powerful voice talent and I grew up listening to him in pretty much everything I watched. Read my review here: Voice Lessons - Voice of My Childhood .

To Be Read lists. They're awesome and overwhelming at the same time. They give the excitement of new reads to look forward to, then anxiety because how the hell are you ever going to find time to read all of them....no?...Just me?...ok. Anyway, I compiled TBR lists of varying topics and genres. The topic of badass women is just the first topic. More will happen. All of these are historical biographies or memoirs of women past and present that I thought would be fun to read. Here they are, in no particular order. Mrs. Sherlock Holmes , by Brad Ricca This is the story of Mrs. Grace Humiston an attorney who turned to crime fighting in early 20th century New York. She graduated from NYU law and set up a law firm in a low-income part of town. She defended those who needed her in court and solved crimes on the side. She was nicknamed Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, she apparently wore only black and became the first female U.S. District Attorney. This seems like a crazy fun read, especially for true crime fans. Agent Sonya , by Ben Macintyre The true story of Ursula Burton, code-named "Sonya". Burton was a Russian spy with a picturesque unassuming life. No one would have guessed she was wanted by the Japanese, the Chinese, the Nazis, MI5, MI6, and the FBI. A spy thriller about a real spy. A high-ranking one at that. Should be interesting. The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice , by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon In 2014 a rebellion took place in a small Syrian town called Kobani. The rebels are an army of Kurdish women who squared off with ISIS to protect their town and the rights of women everywhere. Through hours of interviews, author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon put it all together to give us the story of the women who frightened terrorists. Yours Cruelly, Elvira , by Cassandra Peterson On a lighter note, it's a freakin' biography of Mistress of the Dark, Elvira. Who doesn't love Elvira? Written by the legend herself, this is bound to be a fun and interesting peek into the life of Cassandra Peterson and her daringly gothic alter ego, Elvira. What's not to love? Delicacy: A Memoir About Cake and Death , by Katy Wix A memoir said to be beautiful, heartwrenching, and funny, by comedian and actress Katy Wix. Katy Wix is hilarious and anything she does is bound to be good. If you don't believe me watch BBC's Ghosts . She plays Mary and she's awesome. NIGHT WITCHES: The Soviet Female Pilots Who Terrified the German Army, by History Titans A short read of only 66 pages, tells about the female bomber pilots who scared the bejeezus out of the German army. They would fly their second-hand, often prone to malfunction, bomber planes over the German army in Soviet Russia. They would fly as close as they could, turn off their engines so they didn't make noise, and then drop bombs on unsuspecting German soldiers. They were so terrifying that the Germans started calling them the Night Witches. Madame de Pmpadour: Mistress of France , by Christine Pevitt Algrant A historical account of the life and times of Madame de Pompadour the mistress of King Louis XV. She rose up out of seemingly nowhere in 18th-century France to become a person of influence. This book discusses her childhood, her training, and her life before and after finally settling in as one of the most famous and powerful mistresses in history. Call the Midwife , by Jennifer Worth The memoir the hit show was inspired by, tells the true story of the East End of London in the 1950s and the midwives who delivered pretty much every baby there for years. Specifically, it's told by Jennifer Worth one of the midwives based in a convent. It tells the stories of her career in the East End and sheds light on the poor conditions of the area. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but you get the idea. The world is filled with stories of women and their power from various walks of life past and present. You just need to look for them.

Marcellus is a remarkably bright creature. He is a Giant Pacific Octopus who lives in the Sowell Bay aquarium. He likes to escape his enclosure at night and explore or eat a few fellow sea dwellers in the other tanks. He gets away with it because Tova, the elderly cleaning lady, doesn't see the harm in granting him a little bit of freedom. Marcellus sees things people often overlook. He watches lives pass in front of his tank every day and has become an expert in the way things work. His fondness for Tova inspires him to help her find closure in her life, even if it's the last thing he does. Tova likes to keep herself busy. Ever since her son's mysterious death thirty years ago and then the death of her husband by cancer, she has done anything she can to stay moving. She visits friends for coffee, shops at the local market, and she cleans the aquarium most nights, all while forming a bond with Marcellus. Cameron is a thirty-year-old Californian that never seems to catch a break. Mostly his fault. He tries, but can't seem to get it together long enough for anything good to happen. On a mission to find his long-lost father, he crosses paths with Tova and Marcellus. Remarkably Bright Creatures , by Shelby Van Pelt, is a simple yet lovely read. The lives of her characters are accurate to the point you will recognize someone similar to them in your own life. This is a cozy book about life, death, and everything in between. It's fantastic for anyone who just wants a simple heartfelt story.

November began the Holiday season. Well, technically the Holiday season started with Halloween, but close enough. What better way to kick off the time of big meals and stretchy pants than to read? After gorging until you need maternity pants for your food baby what else are you going to do? Sure, you can watch TV, I do that too, but that's only if you can roll your way to the couch and then have the energy to look for the remote that seems always to have legs when no one is looking. But, if you are a book lover, there's usually a paperback within reach. More within reach than the remote anyway. Here are the 3 books I finished in November: Book Lovers , by Emily Henry Book Lovers is a romantic comedy with all the romantic comedy tropes. Nora Stephens is a lifelong New Yorker and a cut-throat literary agent who sees herself as the villainess rather than the heroine who gets the guy. Charlie Lastra is a brooding book editor who has to return to his small hometown from New York to help his family. Nora and Charlie get off on the wrong foot from the start. Two years later, and because Nora would do anything for her sister Libby, Nora and Charlie cross paths in Charlie's hometown. What ensues is filled with sarcasm and humor. It's a fun easy read for anyone who wants something a little more light-hearted. The Wolf Den , by Elodie Harper The Wolf Den is a drama set in the ancient streets of Pompeii before Mt. Visuvious had an opinion and blew its top. The story follows a group of slave women who work as prostitutes in the local brothel. It addresses the ups and downs of what these women do to survive. Amara seeks freedom from the brothel but has to be clever about it. Her master is not the kind of man to cross. Rather than running away and risking getting caught she bides her time and maneuvers the social scene of Pompeii as best as a lowly whore can. It's an excellent read. It shows the harsh life slaves had, and it shows what descent people had to do in order to survive. For anyone who likes historical fiction with a harsh human face. Diary of a Murderer, by Young-Ha Kim Diary of a Murderer is a collection of short stories written by Young-Ha Kim. The first story follows a serial killer with dementia. He struggles to remember his name, but still remembers every detail of his kill. It's written as journal entries so we get an up close and personal look at how the killer's mind deteriorates. To make matters more interesting, murders start up in his neighborhood again, and his daughter starts seeing a man that he instantly recognizes as a killer like him. Now to save his daughter, he has to kill the killer before he forgets everything. Other stories include a lost child and the impact on his parents' lives, a love affair between childhood friends with a twist, and a twisted erotic tale of a writer on a cerebral roller coaster. It's fun and twisted in a good way. Three fun read on different parts of the spectrum. Something fun for everyone while they digest for the next two to three months.