The Birthplace of the First Alphabet!

 

Without the alphabet, we wouldn't have a written language, nor books to read. I found this short video about the birthplace of the alphabet fascinating.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

I've had plenty of book and reading mentors over my lifetime, BUT my mother has been the biggest influence as to me becoming the book reader I am today. 

My mom is not an avid reader of books. In fact, she can't seem to still still long enough to read full length books written for adults. She reads plenty of newspaper and magazine articles, no problem though!!

As a toddler and small child, my mom read children's books to me. This is where I learned to love books and stories. Thank you, mom, for the gift and love of reading books.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

At the start of this month, I was given a strong recommendation to read Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy from a former college professor of mine with whom I'm still in touch with decades after I graduated from college. It just so happens that my former college professor, Bill, is also an avid reader, like myself. We discuss the books we read with each other when we speak periodically on the phone. 

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy happens to be one of Bill's favorite reads this year. With that kind of recommendation, how could I resist reading this novel? I should also add that we have similar taste when it comes to reading books. So, I had no doubt that I'd enjoy reading this novel.

I immediately downloaded the unabridged audio version of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy to my iPad and began listening to it cold... Meaning that I didn't even bother learning what the book was about before I began reading it. I simply wanted to be surprised by the storyline and plot development as it unfolded over time. 

All I can say is that Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is magnificent!! In fact, I think it may be my favorite novel read in 2025... The Seas by Samantha Hunt and Pet by Akwaeke Emezi are very close runner ups for favorite novels read this year... And, I haven't even mentioned my favorite nonfiction books read this year!!

Okay, so where to begin? The very first chapter for Wild Dark Shore, which is very short, grabs your attention in a big way! I wanted to know what the heck was going on after reading the first chapter and where this novel was leading readers.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy has so much going for it. The writing is wonderful! I loved the characters, along with the character and plot development for this novel. The pacing was great for this novel. 

Additionally, there are so many layers to Wild Dark Shore. I loved the amount of depth there is to this novel. It touches upon climate change, nature, family dynamics, love, and isolation. There's plenty of mystery, intrigue, and enough plot twists and turns leaving you wanting to read more. In other words, it's a real page turner. 

I'd say that Wild Dark Shore falls equally into both the climate fiction and the thriller/mystery genres. I am not going into the plot synopsis here in my review. Read the publisher's summary below if you want to know more.

Also, if you're into audiobooks, then I highly recommend the audio version for Wild Dark Shore as it is read by multiple narrators and they do a terrific job.

Below is the publisher's summary for Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy from Chirps's website:

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.

Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.

But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late―and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

I am giving Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading! 

Merry Christmas!!

 

Wishing you the very best this holiday season has to offer! Have a happy, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful 2026. May you also be blessed with plenty of delightful books to read in the new year. I am looking forward to reading your book reviews in 2026. Did you receive any books for Christmas this year?

Happy Jolabokaflod - AKA Christmas Book Flood!

 

Jolabokaflod is my kind of bookish tradition I'd love have with my family... Sadly, most of my family members are not book readers like me. 

So what is Jolabokaflod? According to Google, it "is a beloved Icelandic Christmas tradition where new books are released in the fall, exchanged as gifts on Christmas Eve, and then spent the evening reading, often with hot chocolate and treats, stemming from WWII when paper was plentiful despite other shortages."

Do you participate in Jolabokaflod? Let me know if you do in the comment section below.

Alta Journal -California Cook Club - Lisa See

 

I love attending virtual author events! I've attended several of the monthly California Book Club virtual events over the years. I've really enjoyed attending these live events from the comfort of my own home. The authors selected for each month's California Book Club are phenomenal!

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, Lisa See was featured for December 2025. She discussed her book On Gold Mountain and about her family's history.

Great episode! I've added the video footage from the event for you to watch if interested!

Inside Agatha Christie’s Favorite Hotel That Inspired Her Books - on the Today Show

 

I fell in love with Agatha Christie's novels when I was a teenager. I've have continued to read many of her books over the years. Christie's novels have a special place in my heart.

I came across this video clip on YouTube. It discusses Agatha Christie's favorite hotel, which inspired some of her novels! This hotel even hosts murder mystery parties, which is pretty nifty too.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Here's my list of top ten bookish things I want Santa Claus to bring me for Christmas this year:

1. Ivory Chapters - Subscription box!!

2. Your Paper Quest ~ A Book Subscription Box That Supports Indie Authors!

3. NovelTeas - Loose leaf literature, punny tea for book lovers!

4. Book Embosser or bookplates

5. Gift Certificate to Amazon, Chirp, World of Books, AbeBooks, or my favorite indie bookstore

6. Bookcrossing supplies

7. Bookcrossing wings

8. Magnetic bookmarks

9. Bookish themed scented candle

10. Letters by Lanternlight - Cozy mysteries through letters! 

Which things made your wishlist this year?

Bookworms Don't Sleep! Largest 24/7 Bookstore in Southeast Asia!

 

Here's another bookstore to add as a place to visit! This place looks amazing.

Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill

 

Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill is my 80th read for 2025 and the 2nd book I've read by Napoleon Hill. I actually listened to the unabridged, annotated audio version of this book, which is really well read by several narrators.

I had reservations about reading Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill after reading Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters last year in July. Napoleon Hill appears to be a popular self-help/personal growth writer from last century and his book, Think And Grow Rich, seems to be a classic... So, I had decided to acquire two of his books I'd found on sale via the Chirp Audiobook website. 

After reading, Napoleon Hill's Path to Purpose: 7 Steps to Living a Life that Matters, I wasn't sure that it completely resonated with me. Plus, after doing some research online about Napoleon Hill's life online, I discovered on Wikipedia that:

"Hill is a controversial figure. Accused of fraud, modern historians also doubt many of his claims, such as that he met Andrew Carnegie and that he was an attorney."

Needless to say, the above quote from Wikipedia has somewhat soured my views regarding Napoleon Hill, himself, and what he has shared inside his books. It left me wondering if Hill was just a huckster.

This month, I did decide to listen to Outwitting The Devil mainly due to the fact that I paid money to obtain this audiobook before I learned about Hill's past. Also, Outwitting The Devil is a relatively short at roughly six hours in listening length. Also, the subject matter of this book had me curious about its content. 

Outwitting The Devil is definitely better than the first book I read by Napoleon Hill last year. I enjoyed the two main narrators and the third narrator who came in periodically to read the annotated segments written by the editor of this book.

Essentially, Napoleon Hill presents his seven principles of good to help us reach our personal goals and achieve success. He does this by having an imaginary conversation with the Devil himself. We learn how the Devil uses the forces of fear, anger, lust, jealousy, procrastination, and so on to keep us from succeeding in life. 

Indoctrination from schools and churches seems to be big talking points in Hill's book. This indoctrination keeps us from succeeding in life. Thinking freely, defining are own path, and strictly adhering to our life's purpose seems to be the goal in overcoming obstacles in life.

This is just a few of the highlights of Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill. There's more to this book. Interesting presentation of ideas for sure are provided with Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill. Overall it's a middle of the road read for me. I do think it has some ideas that are still applicable for our life and times today.

Below is the publisher's summary for Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill on Amazon's website:

Bestselling author Napoleon Hill reveals the seven principles of good that allow us to triumph over obstacles . . . and find success.

Using his legendary ability to get to the root of human potential, Napoleon Hill digs deep to reveal how fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy prevent us from realizing our personal goals. This long-suppressed parable, once considered too controversial to publish, was written by Hill in 1938 following the publication of his classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. Annotated and edited for a contemporary audience by Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Three Feet from Gold coauthor Sharon Lechter, this book--now available in paper--is profound, powerful, resonant, and rich with insight.

I am giving Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!