Category Archives: Books

A 2 Z – 2026 – Letter M – Books

Posted on by
Status
ghostmmnc's avatar

A 2 Z – 2026 – Letter M – Books

***

My letter M in blue, a green background and multi-colored dots

***

By the way…those naughty chickens are back on the job today! Take a look… Five little toy chicks sitting on a wrapped box looking all innocent (haha)

IMG_2500

“We’re Back!” “Did You Miss Us?”

Mystery Box Chickens are Back!

***

Today I have a couple of book reviews. Both these I’ve read more than once and like them a lot.

***

“The Maze Runner”, by James Dashner is the start of a riveting novel series.  I found these in the Young Adult section of the book store. In the notes at the front of the book it says it is Science Fiction.

The main character, Thomas, wakes up in a strange world, and has no recollection of who he is or how he got to this place. There are other teens here, who have no clue, either, but they help him find his way around. They are all trying to escape the maze, which is outside their fortress.

Thomas becomes a runner. His job is to run through the mazes, and document what he finds. Along the way there are horrible creatures trying to kill him.

There is so much going on in this book, it’s hard to say much, without giving away the way it turns out. It does keep you turning the pages, and then wanting the next book in the series, each one building to the final conclusion.

This book was made into a movie, which I did see. It was very good, and stayed pretty true to the book.

(Book cover shows title and author on a blurry green and brown background)

***

***

***

“Morning Glory,” By Gloria Ann Hawker, is her true account of being involved and abducted by aliens.

Living in Albuquerque New Mexico, she began to experience strange events in her life. Documenting it all, she came to realize she was dealing with the manipulations of alien beings.

Then, the government became interested in her case, and she was subjected to their manipulations, too, which were just as horrible.

I got to meet Ms Hawker in person, and have a short conversation with her. This was in Roswell New Mexico. She was there as a speaker, and she had a book signing on the day we were there. She signed my copy of her book (photo) which reads, ‘One day the truth of this phenomena will be known – Gloria’.

I do believe there are aliens here, and I sincerely believe Ms Hawker knows it, too.

(Book cover shows title and author, and some blue and pink flowers (morning glories) and an alien face coming out of the middle of the center one)

(the first title page of the book “Morning Glory – Diary of an Alien Abductee”,  by Gloria Ann Hawker. She signed it here)

***

***

The Mystery Box chickens have a quote for you.

I do believe something magical can happen when you read a book ~ J. K. Rowling

Mystery Box Chickens will be back on Friday with letter N.

 

***

A little poem about the Mystery Box Chickens

***

Hip hip hooray, and rock-a-doodle doo

The Mystery Box Chickens are here for you

Bringing you essays, silly or strange

Topics are varied, an A to Z range

Once a year they fly the coop

Join them here to get the scoop

Every day in April they open a box

These chickens rock, so set your clocks

Get ready with snacks or a nice cup

See ya tomorrow for the next one up

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2018 & 2026 BS

Apr6

A 2 Z – 2026 – Titles Start With E

Posted on by
Standard

A 2 Z – 2026 – Titles Start With E

***

purple background with colored dots and large letter E in red

***

***

Here are a couple of books I’ve read and liked, and the titles start with letter E.

***

“Evil Angels”, by John Bryson, is the true account of Lindy Chamberlain’s story and trial. She is the woman who proclaimed, “A dingo stole my baby!’

On holiday at a popular camping area in Australia, her tiny baby went missing. She swore a dingo dog came into the camp, and took off with the infant. Instead, however, she was sentenced and put on trial for the crime.

Did a dingo really steal her baby, or did Lindy commit the crime? If you like tense courtroom drama, with actual transcripts of the trial,  this is a good one.

This was made into a movie in 1988, starring Meryl Streep, and Sam Neill. I saw the movie, too, and it is very good.

***

***

***

“Ender’s Game”, by Orson Scott Card, is the beginning of the Sci/Fy series of books that is set in a future world, and it is about to be destroyed. Ender, among other youths, are chosen to train for battle, by becoming proficient at simulated computer games.

It’s a very good series, as you complete reading this first one, you want to continue with the next books, to see what happens.

This was made into a movie in 2013, starring, Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, and Ben Kingsley. I haven’t seen this movie.

***

***

Book Quote, presented by the Mystery Box Chickens (several are standing around a bright red wrapped box (one is sitting on it) and the quote says:

A book is a dream you hold in your hand ~ Neil Gaiman

Mystery Box Chickens

Join us again tomorrow, when the MB Chickens reveal what’s in the mystery box. The letter will be F.

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2018 & 2026 BS

Oct11

SOCS x 2

Posted on by
Standard

SOCS x 2

For Linda’s challenge:

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Oct. 11, 2025

 

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “at the beginning.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. Enjoy!

***

When I have a book, especially a new one, I don’t just jump in at the beginning. It’s easier with a physical  book,  not a digital one, but I still do things sort of the same. First I’ll read the front cover, then if there is a book cover flap, I’ll read that, then the back cover. I’ll then go to the title page, and all those other pages up front, the dedication, copyright information, any table of contents, preface, introductions, and anything else. I’ll even fan the pages to see how it smells. (can’t do this with an ebook) Then I find the first page. Oh wait. If there are photos in a non fiction book, I’ll look at all of those, then go to the first page. Now I am at the beginning. 🙂

🌷🌷🌷

And here is the one from last week which I forgot to post even though I had it ready.

For Linda’s challenge:

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Oct. 4, 2025

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “joke.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

***

Today is not a joke … it really is Saturday. That’s not funny, though. Mostly jokes should be funny I think. Except for a lot of them that I hear, I don’t get the joke. So that means I don’t laugh, and then someone has to explain the joke part to  me, which takes all the fun out of it.

I also can’t remember a  joke for more than a few minutes/seconds after hearing it. Probably because they aren’t funny to  me. Now isn’t that funny?

My husband loves jokes. He has a whole bunch of joke books. He likes to find a couple to tell to the people at the grocery store (everyone knows him there). He’ll tell it to me, and I’m, ‘okay, that’s pretty good.’ But ask me five minutes later what was that joke and I’ll have no idea.

I could go look up a joke to put on here, but it would take me awhile to find one that might be funny. So instead I’ll just say Happy Saturday! and that is no joke. 🙂

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2025 BS

Oct9

Odd Poem October

Posted on by
Standard

Odd Poem October

***

***

BREAKING ALL SOULS – (FIRST WORDS)

IMG_3130 IMG_3131

This one is from 2015, when I thought I’d try something a little different.  I’ve done a few more since then.  … I’ve seen similar, but haven’t tried doing it before. What I did, was take a bunch of books that I have stacked up, take a photo, and try to make some kind of poem out of the first word or two from the titles of them. This is what I came up with. 🙂 It was pretty interesting, and fun to do. I’ll probably try it again sometime.

***

BREAKING ALL SOULS

The original haunted American desert has gone wild

Breaking all souls into ashes, where

I am a stranger, a sleeping holy ghost

You don’t hold the reckless midnight storm, the biting lover, the darker shades…

I’ll kiss the memory

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2016 & 2025 BS

***

Aug29

August Authors – Haunted Houses – Various Authors

Posted on by
Standard

August Authors – Haunted Houses – Various Authors

For Bee’s Challenge:

Author August – Kurt Tucholski & Divine Comedy

Bee says:

This month I challenge you to share one of your favourite authors every day. As an additional challenge also share a song that connects in some way with that author.

***

As I mostly do, I’m featuring a favorite book instead of author. To me, favorite author means I get all their books and wish for more. If I like one book by an author, that doesn’t make them a favorite author, though the book might be.

***

***

Another kind of books I like to read are true stories of haunted houses. The people relate their experiences in the houses they live in and all the problems and frightening happenings, and how they deal with them.

These kind interest me because of my own true ghost stories, and my grandma’s house was haunted.

Here are three that are pretty spooky!

***

***

“The Intruders”, by Pat Montandon, is the author’s true story of the experiences she had in her San Francisco house. From the time she moved in, until the time she left, two years later, she was bombarded by unexplained fires, thefts, a persistent chill throughout the house, and more, including the death of a close friend. Finally, she had psychic investigators, and an exorcist to come help. They concluded there were supernatural forces at work in the house.

This is maybe the first book I ever read on this subject. I checked it out of the library, many years ago, and kept on checking it out to read again. I did finally find a copy of it to buy.

Here is a link to her bio, which is really interesting.  Besides writing several books, and being a television personality, she still advocates for women and children, has met with world leaders, has been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize, and many other awards and honors.  …https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Montandon

***

***

***

***

“In a Dark Place”, by Ray Garton, Al Snedeker, Carmen Snedeker, Ed Warren, and Lorraine Warren, is a true account of a haunting.

The Warrens, who are prominent demonologists, investigates the Snedekers claims of their house being haunted. What they found out was much worse.

Moving house is always stressful, but then the Snedeker’s teenage son came right out and said to his mother, “Mom, we have to leave this house. There’s something evil here.”

The family found out just how true that statement was. Over the next few months, they were subjected to emotional, mental, and physical attacks in that house.

The Warren’s have chronicled their story in this book.

***

***

***

***

“Graves End”, by Elaine Mercado, is her true story of living in a haunted house. This took place in Brooklyn, New York, and they are still living in the house, today.

If you like ghost stories, especially if they are a true account of a paranormal experience, this is a good one.

The author and her family finally had help from parapsychologist, Dr. Hans Holzer, and medium, Marisa Anderson. They eventually found out what was causing all the spooky things that happened to them and the house.

***

***

***

And to lighten it up a little, here’s a fun song about a haunted house.

***

“Haunted House 1964” –  ‘Jumpin’ Gene Simmons’ did this cover of the 1958 John Fuller recording of the song. It was his only top 40 hit record.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumpin%27_Gene_Simmons

Note: Gene Simmons (of KISS) took his name in honor of this singer.

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2025 BS

Aug26

August Authors – Jacqueline Susann & John Steinbeck – Poodles

Posted on by
Standard

August Authors – Jacqueline Susann & John Steinbeck – Poodles

For Bee’s Challenge:

Author August – Patricia Cornwell – Boston

***

Bee says:

This month I challenge you to share one of your favourite authors every day. As an additional challenge also share a song that connects in some way with that author.

***

As I mostly do, I’m featuring a favorite book instead of author. To me, favorite author means I get all their books and wish for more. If I like one book by an author, that doesn’t make them a favorite author, though the book might be.

***

I just noticed a couple of things. First, today is International Dog Day! Funny I’d already planned these books for today and I didn’t even know it was a special day. Another thing I noticed, both authors have the same initials. Just saw that! JS & JS 🙂 and … they both had black poodle dogs!

***

I am featuring this author because I’ve read most all of her books. It was a long time ago,  but I do remember how much I liked them.

***

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Susann

Jacqueline Susann was an American novelist and actress. Her novel Valley of the Dolls is one of the best-selling books in publishing history. Wikipedia

***

Jacqueline Susann’s Books in Order 

    1. Every Night, Josephine!: (1963)
    2. Valley of the Dolls: (1966)
    3. The Love Machine: (1969)
  • Once is Not Enough: (1973)
  • Dolores: (1976)
***
I’ve had this  book a long time and have read it quite a few times. It is really good. It tells of her life with her little dog.
Book cover of, “Every Night, Josephine”, by Jacqueline Susann. It is pink, with title in yellow writing, and shows her black poodle dog, which is wearing a black and white leopard print cape and hat.
Here is a short blurb about the book:
AI Overview

Every Night, Josephine! is a 1963 memoir by Jacqueline Susann, the best-selling author of Valley of the Dolls, detailing her relationship with her pampered poodle, Josephine. The book chronicles Josephine’s antics and appearances in popular culture, including TV commercials and encounters with celebrities, all while charming Susann’s formerly dog-hating husband. The memoir is a witty and entertaining account of life with her poodle, offering fans a lighter, yet characteristically Susann, look into her life.

***
***
Here’s another book I read many times, many years ago. … I also have read other of his books.
***
Blurb from the Wiki article:
Travels with Charley: In Search of America[1] is a 1962 travelogue written by American author John Steinbeck. It depicts a 1960 road trip around the United States made by Steinbeck, in the company of his standard poodle Charley. Steinbeck wrote that he was moved by a desire to see his country because he made his living writing about it. He wrote of having many questions going into his journey, the main one being “What are Americans like today?” However, he found that he had concerns about much of the “new America” he saw.
***
And some more of his books I’ve read:
Title and year published:
Tortilla Flat 1935
Grapes of Wrath 1939
 Cannery Row 1945
The Pearl 1947
All of these are good books to read.
***
***
And now for the music! Yay! Here’s a couple of neat songs about dogs … NOT SAD ONES 🙂
Except for some reason I can’t get the video on this here preview page, but the link will take you to the songs. 🙂
***
Jimmy Buffett, “Like My Dog”
***
***
***
“I’m Gonna Buy Me a Dog”, by the Monkees
***
***
***
Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️
© 2025 BS

Aug25

August Authors – Tragic True Stories – Various Authors

Posted on by
Standard

August Authors – Tragic True Stories – Various Authors

For Bee’s  challenge:

Author August – Virginia Woolf & Tori Amos

***

Bee says:

This month I challenge you to share one of your favourite authors every day. As an additional challenge also share a song that connects in some way with that author.

***

As I mostly do, I’m featuring a favorite book instead of author. To me, favorite author means I get all their books and wish for more. If I like one book by an author, that doesn’t make them a favorite author, though the book might be.

***

I’ve mentioned that I like true survival stories, and stories of disasters of all kinds. Why I don’t know. May be because I myself survived an F5 tornado and that made me interested in other survival stories.

Here are three unforgettable ones.

***

“I Touch The Future”, by Robert T. Hohler, is the story of Christa McAuliffe. She was the first teacher in space. She was a teacher, and trained to become an astronaut to be the first teacher to teach from space. What a wonderful dream. But that dream turned into a nightmare on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up in the sky right after lift off. This is her story.

  • I Touch the Future: The Story of Christa McAuliffe

***

***

This one I read years ago.

AI Overview

“Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors,” by Piers Paul Read, recounts the harrowing true story of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes Mountains in 1972. The book details the survivors’ 72-day struggle against freezing temperatures, starvation, and the elements, ultimately leading them to resort to cannibalism to survive. The narrative culminates in the miraculous rescue of 16 survivors after two brave young men hiked through the mountains for help. 

  • Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

***

* This next one I read a long time ago, too. The author, Juliane Koepcke, tells of her survival of a plane crash. The plane she and her mother were on was hit by lightning in December of 1971, and exploded. She fell about 2 miles down from the sky still strapped into her seat. She was alive and  injured, but managed to spend 11 days walking through the Amazon jungle before she found help.

  • When I Fell from the Sky: The True Story of One Woman’s Miraculous Survival
When I Fell From The Sky: The True Story of One Woman's Miraculous Survival - Koepcke, Juliane
***

Here is a song that is made to sound like a victim of a plane crash is relating how it feels to him. It is by the Bloodrock band, and the title is “D.O.A.”  I actually have this record in my old 45 rpm records. I will say it is pretty disturbing so will say listen with caution.

warning disturbing imagery in lyrics, and sounds of sirens. 

***

This is a little video about the record by  Bloodrock and tells of how this song was banned from radio, especially a longer version. Interesting to know about this one.

***

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2025 BS

Aug22

August Authors – Karen McManus – One Of Us Is Lying (series)

Posted on by
Standard

August Authors – Karen McManus – One Of Us Is Lying (series)

***

For Bee’s Challenge:

Author August – Hilde Domin & Sting

***

Bee says:

This month I challenge you to share one of your favourite authors every day. As an additional challenge also share a song that connects in some way with that author.

***

As I mostly do, I’m featuring a favorite book instead of author. To me, favorite author means I get all their books and wish for more. If I like one book by an author, that doesn’t make them a favorite author, though the book might be.

***

Today I feature this author, Karen McManus.

I’ve read three of her books … “One Of Us Is Lying”, “One Of Us Is Next”, and “Nothing More To Tell”. My daughter gave them to me. They are pretty good. It follows several school students to find out who killed another student who was about to reveal personal secrets about the others in a gossip app.  Each of them tell in their own words what happened.  Of course as the title says, “One Of Us Is Lying”. I added a link that tells about each of her books (below). It’s been awhile since I read these, so might be time to read them again to find out what happened. 🙂

***

Karen M. McManus is an American author of young adult fiction. She is most known for her first novel, One of Us Is Lying, which spent more than five years on The New York Times Best Seller list, as well as its sequels One of Us Is Next and One of Us Is Back, and the stand-alone novel Two Can Keep a Secret. Wikipedia
Born: 1969 (age 56 years), Boston, MA
Education: Northeastern University, College of the Holy Cross
Genre: Young adult, mystery
Notable works: > One of Us Is Lying (2017); One of Us Is Next (2020); Nothing More To Tell (2022)

***

Here are the books in this link, and it tells about each one:

https://www.karenmcmanus.com/books

***

Ms McManus says in this article, that she was inspired by a song to write a novel about something similar. Shades of the movie and song from “The Breakfast Club”… “Don’t You Forget About Me”, by Simple Minds. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen-new-releases/one-us-lying-author-karen-mcmanus-song-weird-commute-inspired-book/

Song and scenes from a favorite movie of ours, and we’ve watched it many times.

“The Breakfast Club … Don’t You Forget About Me

***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2025 BS

Aug19

August Authors – Various Authors – UFO Books

Posted on by
Standard

August Authors – Various Authors – UFO Books

For Bee’s Challenge:

Author August: WH Auden & Wet Wet Wet

***

Bee says:

This month I challenge you to share one of your favourite authors every day. As an additional challenge also share a song that connects in some way with that author.

***

As I mostly do, I’m featuring a favorite book instead of author. To me, favorite author means I get all their books and wish for more. If I like one book by an author, that doesn’t make them a favorite author, though the book might be.

***

I’ve been interested in UFOs since I was a kid, so I’ve read lots of books about this subject, by lots of different authors. One of the first I read was, “The Interrupted Journey”, by Barney and Betty Hill. Some of the other authors I’ve read their books, are by Whitley Streiber, Bud Hopkins, Dana Redfield, John Mack, and Gloria Hawker. I even met Ms Hawker in person one time when we attended the Roswell New Mexico UFO festival. She was there signing her book, which I bought. The photo of the book and the signed page is below.

***
***

***

***

***

Book by Gloria Hawker called Morning Glory, Diary of an Alien Abductee. (pink flower with alien face in the middle, and surrounded by more flowers of blue & some green leaves)

***

Title page of book I bought and got signed by the author. She wrote: “One day the truth of this phenomena will be known” Gloria

***

***

A couple of  books  by Dana Redfield…

Summoned: Encounters With Alien Intelligence 1571741267 Book Cover

Summoned: Encounters With Alien Intelligence

Dana Redfield

The Et-Human Link 1571742050 Book Cover

***

Just a few books on the subject of UFOs that I have and read.

Confirmation by Whitley Strieber, Intruders, by Bud Hopkins, The Gulf Breeze Sightings, by Ed & Frances Walters, Abduction, by John Mack, Abducted, by Debbie Jordan and Kathy Mitchell, & The ET Human Link, by Dana Redfield.

***
***
Aug15

August Authors – Pittacus Lore – I Am Number 4 (series)

Posted on by
Standard

August Authors – Pittacus Lore – I Am Number 4 (series)

Author August – J. R. R. Tolkien

***

Bee says:

This month I challenge you to share one of your favourite authors every day. As an additional challenge also share a song that connects in some way with that author.

***

As I mostly do, I’m featuring a favorite book instead of author. To me, favorite author means I get all their books and wish for more. If I like one book by an author, that doesn’t make them a favorite author, though the book might be.

***

***

These books are a series which I’ve read several times, and are good each time. The wiki article describes each one.

Basically, it starts out with a teen boy and his guardian who are on Earth, after escaping their planet that is being taken over by bad guys. They have to keep their identity a secret so they won’t be followed and killed. They have legacy powers, they shouldn’t reveal to anyone either, but … the main character and his friends from school ultimately have to fight the bad guys.

Hard to explain, but the wiki article has a short look at each book. They are really good, hard to put down once you get started reading them. 🙂

From Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorien_Legacies

***

 
I Am Number Four
The Power of Six
The Rise of Nine
The Fall of Five
The Revenge of Seven
The Fate of Ten
United as One
Generation One
Fugitive Six
Return To Zero
Author Pittacus Lore (James Frey and Jobie Hughes)
Country United States
Language English
Genre Young adult, science fiction
Publisher HarperCollins
Published August 2010–June 2016
Media type print/digital (hardcover and paperback)
Followed by Lorien Legacies Reborn

Lorien Legacies is a series of young adult science fiction books, written by James Frey,[1] Jobie Hughes, and formerly, Greg Boose, under the collective pseudonym Pittacus Lore.

***

I think this song goes well with these books.

***

From a Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_(song)

This week’s tune is a song about inner strength and finding the power within ourselves during dark and challenging times.

***

This has always been a favorite song of mine.

“Titanium”, David Guetta ft. Sia

***

You shout it loud, but I can’t hear a word you sayI’m talking loud, not saying muchI’m criticized, but all your bullets ricochetYou shoot me down, but I get up
I’m bulletproof, nothing to loseFire away, fire awayRicochet, you take your aimFire away, fire away
You shoot me down, but I won’t fallI am titaniumYou shoot me down, but I won’t fallI am titanium
I am titanium
Cut me down, but it’s you who’ll have further to fallGhost town and haunted loveRaise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bonesI’m talking loud, not saying much
I’m bulletproof, nothing to loseFire away, fire awayRicochet, you take your aimFire away, fire away
You shoot me down, but I won’t fallI am titaniumYou shoot me down, but I won’t fallI am titanium
I am titanium
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Giorgio Tuinfort / David Guetta / Sia Furler / Nick Van De Wall
Titanium lyrics © What A Publishing Limited, Afrojack Publishing, Emi Music Publishing Ltd, Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited
***
***

Thanks for visiting! Peace ☮️

© 2024 & 2025  BS