Year 2, Day 41 : The Midnight Library

Chatting Books Online Year 2 , Day 41. Today's recommended book is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

I can't remember ever before reading contemporary fiction that contains a better layman's explanation of Schrodinger's Cat than I found in this book as it attempted to explain quantum physics , or really much contemporary fiction that attempts to explain quantum physics at all for that matter. (Perhaps we have The Big Bang theory to thank for bringing physics discussions into pop culture ). But in this book I found both wrapped up in a novel I could not put down. I mean, read over 100 pages a day when you know you should be doing other things kind of not put down.

At the basis of this book is the story of Nora Seed, a woman with a lot of promise in life but not much success at the moment who in her despair decides to end her own life . Sounds depressing I know, but we quickly discover that instead of immediately dying she finds herself in an in-between place (enter the need to understand parallel universes) where she is able to un-do regrets and try on other lives. Imagine if every possible permutation of decisions in your life were written into an endless number of books of your "life" and contained in a library for you to discover.

The author , Matt Haig, does a fantastic job of writing a character of such depth that we can really understand her in times of both despair and joy as she tries to figure it all out .

This book was recently a Good Morning America Book Club pick and I can see why, I really enjoyed it.

This book is currently available in hardcover. It is 288 pages and sells for $26 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you..

Year 2 , Day 40 : Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Chatting Books Online Year 2 , Day 40 .

Today’s recommended book is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , parts 1 & 2 by J K Rowling .

When this first came out back in 2017 I did not know how feel about it . I love the Harry Potter series but after 7 books it was done , and I sort of feel leave well enough alone - for wizards sake don’t go on too long and jump the proverbial shark (or dragon in a wizarding world) . And because Ms. Rowling had stated there would be no more books in the series it was actually the script from a play she wrote for the London stage and I did not know how the feel of the series would translate if you were reading it as a play . But then I read it because , let’s face it , I had to ... and I was right back in the wizarding world as if I had never left it SBA I was catching up with friends I had not seen in years !

In this play the story takes place 19 years after book 7 closes. Harry is married , has 3 children and works at the Ministry of Magic . I will tell you Ron and Hermione are in the book as well but I won’t tell you anymore than that - you will need to dive into the Potterverse and read it for yourself !

We currently carry this book version of the play in paperback , it is 336 pages and sells for $12.99 a copy . Oh and it is Accelerated Reader level 3.9 and worth 6.0 points for those interested in such things !

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you.

Year 2, Day 40: The Week in Review April 19-25, 2021.

Chatting Books Online Year 2, Day 39. The Week in Review April 19-25, 2021.

Thanks for joining us again this week as we sent out new book recommendations into universe.

This week we recommended a new novel about the migrant experience and the meaning of family with Infinite Country.

Tuesday brought a timely favorite for graduates with Oh, The Places You'll Go !

We then got all sophisticated with The Superior Person's Book of Words where we learned some absolutely useful and yet totally pretentious sounding words to add to our vocabulary.

We laughed our way to sleep with the board book Good Night, Stinky Face.

Then we wrapped up the week with a long time favorite Miss nelson is Missing.

If you missed any of these reviews and want to read what I had to say about them you can see all of our Chatting Books Online picks by visiting our website at: http://www.conundrumbooks.com/chatting-books-online .

We still (and always will going forward) offer shipping if you cannot make it to the store. Or just stop by the shop during or normal hours . See you soon !

Year 2, Day 39: Miss Nelson is Missing

Chatting Books Online Year 2 Day 38. Today's recommended book is " Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard.

Miss Nelson is the nicest teacher at the school. Unfortunately , the students take advantage of her quiet nature and run rampant in her classroom. Then one day Miss Nelson does not come to school but instead a very strict, somewhat unattractive, very demanding substitute teacher Miss Viola Swamp takes over. Well, the children start behaving but of course they also now appreciate the kindness of Miss Nelson - who of course is still missing - Or Is She ?

This hardcover favorite is 32 pages long and currently sells for $ 17.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you.

Year 2 , Day 38: Good Night, Stinky Face

Chatting Books Online Year 2 Day 37. Today's recommended book is : Good Night , Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt.

In this adorable board book a little boy is supposed to be going to sleep. But he tells his momma he cannot sleep in his bed because he hears the faucet dripping and what if, what if , what if. What if the faucet floods the whole bedroom - his mother answers that would be ok because he didn't take a bath anyway he could just take one in bed. What if it flooded so much he got washed right out the window - mom has an adventurous answer for that too. And then there are crickets, and flying, and islands , and on and on and on until he finally is laughing and happy but still wants to sleep in Mom's bed instead. Who wishes him Good night, stinky face and puts him to bed.

This precious little board book about making a fun adventure out of every possibility currently sells for $6.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you.

Year 2 , Day 37: The Superior Person's Complete Book of Words

Chatting Books Online Year 2 Day 36. Today's recommended book is : The Superior person's Complete Book of Words by Peter Bowler.

Billed as :Nothing Short of a brief dictionary for those who aspire to linguistic snobbery" by The St Petersburg Times this book is exactly that.

Flip to any page and read the first definition your eyes land on... for instance, page 57 starts with : Didaper: n. One who disappears and then pops up again . from "dive' and "dapper" (a variation of "dipper"). specifically applied to the dabchick , a small freshwater diving bird. Or, perhaps, a teenager between mealtimes.

Or how about page 176 : Obliquity. n. A deviation. "Tried any new obliquities this week, simon?".

I mean those are words worth knowing, am I right? And will certainly make you the most interesting. or most pretentious (or both) , person at a dinner party !

So that is what the book is, just a delightful collection of off beat words and definitions . There are some you will know (Impeccable , really? That made it and Conundrum did not?) , and plenty you won't but might be able to guess based on root derivation , and some you will be completely clueless about and seriously wonder if they made them up. But any way you cut it certainly it is over 1000 off-beat very highfautin (which is in there and that IS the proper spelling) definitions for you to use to impress your friends.

This paperback volume is 290 ages and currently sells for $24.95 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you.

Year 2, Day 36 : Buster

Chatting Books Online Year 2 Day 36. Today's recommended book is : Buster by Caleb Zane Huett.

Caleb Zane Huett is the same guy (a former bookseller from Georgia) who wrote the hysterically funny middle grade Christmas book "Top Elf" (my description to you was " The land of the misfit toys meets The Hunger Games) . Well , now Caleb has brought us "Buster" about a rescue dog whose job it is to help his little boy human , Tonio, with his anxiety . We find this extra special because as many of you know we have a rescue dog named Buster who you have probably met at the shop over the years and in a fun turn of events I am his emotional support animal to help with HIS anxiety.

Anyway, in his attempts to help Tonio overcome his debilitating anxiety Buster breaks Dog Law by allowing his human to know that he is really very smart (like PhD kinda smart), as are most dogs. They talk to each other, build stuff and even use computers when we are not looking - but they are never supposed to let us know they are smart - all that running in circles and drinking from toilets stuff is just for show to throw us off the scent!

Find out what happens when Buster gets sent to Dog court. The book is perfect for people 8-12 years old (though, much like Top Elf, I enjoyed it as well) . It is currently available in hardcover, is 302 pages and sells for $16.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you.

Year 2, Day 35 : Oh, The Places You'll Go !

Chatting Books Online Year 2 Day 35. With the end of the school year just around the corner today's recommended book is : Oh, the Places You'll Go ! by Dr. Seuss.

We all know this book as the inspirational book so often given at graduations to encourage newly minted graduates to launch on their way, or used by enterprising Moms to collect notes from teachers each year from kindergarten to high school graduation and then gifting the book to the child at graduation. But when is the last time you sat down and read it through yourself? It had been a while for me , can't even really remember actually reading it - but I did today - and I LOVE it. Here's why. The book does not paint an evrybody gets a trophy picture of life. Sure it tells the kid they can be a success, they can even be famous , and probably will , but it also points out that along the way they will undoubtedly also fail, lose their way and maybe even be lonely. They might even be tempted to wait around for someone or something to fix everything for them. But (and here's the best part) it tells them not to wait, not to give up but to pull themselves up and keep going !!!!!

Life is not a success only journey As the good Dr. says: "Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don't. Because , sometimes, you won't." Truer words have never been written and we owe it to the next generation to be sure they understand this truth. But with pulling yourself up and trying again and they can be a sucess : "(98 and 1/4 percent guaranteed.)"

So read the book yourself again soon. I think we could all benefit from reading this during different seasons of our lives. I know I sure did today.

And do you know what today is?

"Today is your day!

Your Mountain is Waiting.

So...get on your way!"

(to the bookstore that is, to buy this book!)

We carry this book in hardcover, currently selling for $18.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy come see us at the shop during business hours or you can call or message me to have a copy shipped to you.