TheBookishRaptor, Author at Melissa M Allen

Hope Early, food blogger and amateur sleuth, is deep into recipes, remodeling, relationship challenges, and a murder. A Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder (sixth in series) I began this book with much hope – for a new series to binge and anxiously wait for the next installment, to become so attached to the characters that I’m constantly wondering what will happen next in their imaginary world. And … while this is a light and fun read, it didn’t hit the right note for me. I’m pretty good at believing the fantastical, but some of the setups in the mystery, the conversations, and the character development fell into the unbelievable category. Such as – why Hope seems to always be the one to apologize (for everyone’s behavior) or would a grown man be that self-absorbed and childlike (Drew)? (Maybe I’m lucky with the people I know.) There is a lot of “telling” in the writing, rather than showing through the action and conversations. The pieces of the mystery do fit together, albeit a bit clunky with a not too-surprising conclusion. I do wonder if I began with book one, would I have a different opinion? I will be testing that theory out! Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book. Find Debra Sennefelder here. #ACorpseattheWitchingHour #NetGalley

Have things been piling up – internally or externally? Looking to finally tackle the clutter? Want a few new tips on organizing? No matter your thoughts on sparking joy, there is something inside Marie Kondo’s books for everyone. Just like most things in life, moderation is key. And Ms. Kondo understands that, too. Spark Joy by Marie Kondo [Library, Hardcover, 2016] The Life-changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo [Library, Paperback, 2017] Joy at Work by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein [Library, Hardcover, 2020] Of course, we have all heard of how Ms. Kondo has “given up on tidying” (hello, 3 kids). But if you think about it, she’s re-imagined what your “ideal lifestyle” looks like right now. Isn’t that what it is all about? Doing what fits, at the time? How do you organize all of your things (or your time spent on things) in the best possible way for you? Plus, even prior to kids, Ms. Kondo understood that it is always more about emotions than the things themselves. Taking the time to visualize what you want out of your personal or professional space and arranging it to fit your ideal lifestyle. Then you can keep the momentum going when you do get discouraged or leave the guilt of not cleaning behind. In all the books, she outlines a clear process for tackling all areas of your closet, living spaces, and mementos (Spark Joy and The Life-changing Manga of Tidying Up), as well as workspaces (Joy at Work) that takes things in stages. Yes, when you are working on one area, it is important (and helpful in the long run) to do EVERYTHING in that area at once. But you aren’t doing EVERY area all at once. For me, the biggest ah-ha moment comes with the folding techniques. Oh, how nicely things can be folded! It’s not hard, might take a couple more steps (depending on what you already do), but it is so satisfying. I did like the ease of learning through a story in The Life-changing Manga of Tidying Up and read that book completely. For the other two, I didn’t read the books in chapter order. I would go to a section that I was working on (socks, personal care items, closet) to get the details, then complete my tidy-up process. I’d recommend starting with The Life-changing Manga of Tidying Up to ease into it this new lifestyle idea and add the other two books as you want to take your efforts further. Remember – it will be a journey. You won’t be done in one day. [To be honest, I still have a few items to take care of on the “work” side of things. Digital clean-up is hard!] Don’t forget – your ideal lifestyle, and what you want to focus on, will adjust as you grow and change. #konmari #mariekondo #sparkjoy #konmarimethod

Author: TheBookishRaptor

Food & Mystery? What Could Go Wrong?

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