Books, Screens, and In-Betweens

Hello everyone. I hope you are all doing well! As for me, I am a bit of a mess at times but I am managing. I even read books last week! Two very wildly different books, but I am a mood reader so maybe that makes sense for right now, that I needed two crazy different reads.

Books:

The Smallest of Joys by Diane Shiffer: I found a lot of peace in this read. It is definitely a book to be read in bits and spurts, not cover to cover. I read it mainly in the mornings while drinking my coffee and underlined and marked passages throughout the whole book. It will be interesting to read again maybe in a year or so from now, to see what calls to me then. For now though, it was like a peaceful read during a time of such huge emotions.

We Already Dug the Grave by Emma C. Wells was wild. It is a Southern Gothic thriller and it was riveting. Nothing peaceful in these pages, that is for sure. I needed something that just grabbed me and this did the trick. I will post reviews later this week.

As for this week, I am not sure what I will end up reading. I do have plans to read Gladys Taber, this time Stillmeadow Calendar, as I love her Stillmeadow books.

Screens:

We started our Kevin Bacon Movie Binge this past weekend, and of course we started with the “classic” Tremors. It was just the silly campy movie we needed. It pays homage to the creature features of the 1950s, with giant monsters that live under the ground that can sense movement on the surface. And the cast is such a throwback too! Besides Kevin Bacon, this 1990 movie boasts a cast consisting of Reba McEntire, Michael Gross (both occupying roles you would never expect which makes it even better), Fred Ward (yep Remo Williams!), and the little girl from Jurassic Park. This is obviously where she sharpened those screaming skills!

In-Betweens:

On Saturday, a new bookstore near us opened its door, holding their grand opening, so of course we had to go and check it out.

They are off to a bit of a rough start. They had a power outage the day of the grand opening, and the store was so dark and black inside; I had to use my cell phone flashlight to read some of the book titles, especially in the children’s area. They don’t seem to have all of their stock in yet so they had a lot of empty shelves still as well. However, I am pulling for them! They have some good ideas. They want to turn the store into a third place, somewhere people can take a seat in front of the fire and read, where families can play board games, or just drink some coffee and play chess with a friend. Hopefully things come together for them, the community can use some additional third places.

And that is it from me! I wish you all peace and love today, and in your upcoming week.

27 thoughts on “Books, Screens, and In-Betweens

  1. Aw, that sounds like the bookstore has some great plans. I was so sad to stop by ours this spring (prob. end of April/start of May as we were heading off on vacation) to find that they had gone out of business. It was such a darling shop and I just loved it. I remember watching Tremors back in the day but it isn’t one I’ve thought of rewatching. I had forgotten Reba was even in it!

    1. That makes me sad too! I always used to dream of having my own little bookstore. I guess all readers do though, don’t we? Lol.

      Do you remember it always being on television back in the day? Like on USA or TNT, constantly? Lol.

  2. Oh, you know I’m going to have to read the southern gothic one! I think it’s so cool how Diane Schaffer turned that whole schtick of hers into a money making gig. We have a bookstore in town, but I don’t let myself go into it…no room for a bookcase…yet! I hope yours soon gets going well.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    1. It was really good!

      She has such good energy. I would not want to dress vintage like that, but I do like some of her home decor, just so cozy.

      And ooo!! That is awesome. However, I get it. When I told Billy yesterday about our huge haul from the library free book giveaway he was like “Oh good, just what we needed, more books.” Lol. He was half-joking, I am sure.

    1. I want it to succeed as well. It would be such a great place for the community.

      Oh I do as well!! My husband was watching a TikTok this morning and they were using the song “I need a hero” and I was like “what are you doing, watching Footloose?” Lol

  3. joyweesemoll's avatar joyweesemoll

    I like the idea of reading books with opposite moods when feelings are untethered. Best wishes for the new bookstore. That will be lovely for you, if it works out.

  4. sending you the hugest hug because feeling like a mess is far too relatable some days, but I love that you are leaning into whatever books bring comfort or excitement right now. Starting a Kevin Bacon binge with Tremors is elite weekend behavior. Reba and those massive graboids are pure gold! That new bookstore had quite an adventure for its grand opening with the power outage and flashlight reading, but sitting by a fire with coffee and board games will definitely make it the ultimate third place once they get fully up and running. I hope this week treats you gently and brings you plenty of cozy reading time. http://www.melodyjacob.com

  5. Rachel @Waves of Fiction's avatar Rachel @Waves of Fiction

    Tremors was such fun! I love Stir of Echoes with Kevin Bacon! A great super-natural thriller! Oh, I hope that bookstore survives. It sounds like such a great idea. Have a wonderful week, Erin!

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