A Study in Scarlet Women

Even my rough treatment of this book can't diminish how gorgeous this cover is!

Several months ago, I listened to an interview with Leah and Bea Koch on the Smart Podcast, Trashy Books podcast.  If you haven't listened to this podcast yet, stop what you are doing and go listen.  It's fantastic. 

I'll wait.

Leah and Bea own an independent bookstore in Los Angeles called The Ripped Bodice.  It's on my bucket list to visit but in the meantime, I can order from them online and pretend to give Fitzwilliam Waffles snuggles.  He has an Instagram account-check it out.

While browsing their signed  books section I stumbled across Sherry Thomas' book, A Study in Scarlet Women.  It's a gender-flipped Sherlock Holmes retelling.  I had to have it.  

This book was everything that I was hoping it would be.  Charlotte Holmes has no desire to marry, but instead wants to become the Headmistress of a school and live her life on her own.  As one can imagine, these plans did not sit well with her parents.  Charlotte's plans for independence lead to a family scandal, a string of mysterious murders, and an interesting new friendship.  

I really loved this book.  The characters were so well developed and the story flowed so well that I was able to finish it only two nights.  At one point, I had to stop and pick up something else just so I wouldn't have to end the book so soon.  Book 2 in this series, A Conspiracy in Belgravia,  is available now.    

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince has the most gorgeous cover!

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

When Jude was only seven years old, she witnessed the brutal murder of her parents.  It is only after this that she learns her older sister is not human and that the world of Faeries exists.  

This books was so good.  Finish in one sitting good.  

There was a time where the very words "Young Adult" meant a book was an automatic no.  Then, I became a Librarian.  I have since learned the error of my ways and Young Adult is fun.  It's even more fun when you mix magic, faeries, tough young women, and teenage hormones.  

Jude is strong and intelligent.  Faeries are spoiled and look down on humans.  Jude's journey through the royal court and the intricacies of behavior and expectations was both a coming of age story and one of determination to leave oppression.   

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what Holly Black comes up with next.

The Book of Unknown Americans

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez was part of the 2017 Illinois Reads event.  It was on my list to read before the November event...and it just now made it to the top of the pile. 

I wish I had read this sooner.  

This book follows the lives of families who came to the United States to create a better future for themselves.  We meet Alma and Arturo.  Parents of a daughter who suffers a traumatic brain injury as a teenager and needs specialized schooling.  We also meet Mayor, a young man who sees beyond Maribel's struggles to the amazing person beneath.  There stories are interwoven with the other families who live in the same apartment complex.  The book takes you through many facets of their lives, each family struggling with everyday problems that makes their story as relatable as the next.  

Grab tissues for the ending.  You'll need them.  

Blackberry oatmeal

My Fat Farm is a small operation.  I have two dozen chickens and a dozen or so ducks.  Since we are small, our feed is bought in 50lb bags that the nice young men at our local farm supply store try to put in my cart for me.  They don't then carry it to the car, load it, drive it home, unload it, and dump it in to my bins.  So no, they don't put it in my cart.  

More times than not, I forget to buy feed.  This is only stressful for me.  The critters don't mind at all.  My forgetfulness means they get a hot breakfast of blackberry oatmeal.  

Spoiled.  Maybe. 

A little bit about Chick Picks

It's not chick lit.  I just like farm puns.  I also happen to be a Children's Librarian.  This amazing dream job gives me access to all of the very best children's literature.  In the past three years, I have had the joy of discovering some really great children's books and I will be sharing some of my finds here.  

Weekly Reads

One of the perks of being the Librarian is having access to titles on their publishing date.  Holly Black's newest title, The Cruel Prince, has been getting A LOT of buzz and I could not wait for this to come out.  One of the downsides of being the Librarian is sometimes that book that you've been waiting months for is already hold for a Patron and you have to be nice and let them have it first.