She Reads With Cats
Navigation
  • Home
  • Book Reviews
  • Words & Quotes
    • Quotes
    • Words
  • Favorite Books
  • Great Writers
  • About Janelle
  • Meet the Cats
  • Home
  • Book Reviews
  • Words & Quotes
    • Quotes
    • Words
  • Favorite Books
  • Great Writers
  • About Janelle
  • Meet the Cats
Home Read. Review. Repeat. Genres Non-Fiction History

Category Archive

Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “History”

Review: BARRACOON by Zora Neale Hurston

Janelle June 15, 2018 Advance Copy, Biography, Book Reviews, From Publisher, Harper Books, Harper Books Ambassador, History, Non-Fiction Leave a Comment

Thank you so much to Harper Books for my free copy – all opinions are my own.  Book Description:  A major literary event: a newly published work from the author of the American classic Their Eyes Were Watching God, with a foreword from Pulitzer …

Read More

Book Mail: THE LIBRARY: A CATALOGUE OF WONDERS by Stuart Kells

Janelle April 11, 2018 Advance Copy, Book Mail, Counterpoint Press, From Publisher, History, Non-Fiction 1 Comment

This book is packed full of fascinating information about the history of libraries all over the world! Thank you so much to Counterpoint Press for sending this free copy!  SYNOPSIS:  “If you think you know what a library is, this …

Read More

Quote of the Week

Instagram

✨ THRILLER THURSDAY ✨ @randomhouse #prhpartner ✨ THRILLER THURSDAY ✨ @randomhouse #prhpartner Where are all my @carolinekepnes fans? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Her books are always so thrilling and fun! I am really looking forward to more time with Joe. Also, I’m desperate to watch another season, so I need to read YOU LOVE ME quick! Have you read this series?! 🔖# thrillerthursday #thrillerbooks #read #thrillerreads #bookstagram #booklover #bookish #bookinstagram #typewriter #bookinstagram #youloveme #book #carolinekepnes #randomhouse #joegoldberg #bookblogger #bibliophile #igreads #bookstafam #fictionlover #amreading #badassbookbabes #currentlyreading #shereadswithcats
✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ ( tagged publishers #partner ✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ ( tagged publishers #partner ) Happy Mother’s Day! We are spending the day with my parents, most likely eating and drinking something delicious. Most of the day we’ll stick around the house because of our PUP-zilla Stella, but it will be nice to eat at an actual restaurant. And of course, all four of us are #vaxxedtothemax ✨ What did you do today? Or what are you reading this week?!
✨ I MET DAVID DUCHOVNY ✨ Last Saturday, May 1 ✨ I MET DAVID DUCHOVNY ✨ Last Saturday, May 1st @ 1230pm I spoke with @davidduchovny for approximately 20 minutes. I mean, what can I possibly do next? My life is done, it’s over #micdrop Okay, in all seriousness, he’s a genuinely nice person. Cool as a cucumber and super easy to talk to. I was, of course, the nervous laughing, babbling nerd you see before you on this account, but I’m fine with it. The first thing he said was something like... “that’s intimidating” (referring to my bookshelf background) and asked if it was real. I said yes and he casually said “so you’re a reader” (insert YES + my nerdy laugh). I told him how much I love all four books, especially #BuckyFuckingDent and #TrulyLikeLightning . We discussed the politics in the book and the relevance it had to the story. I told him I reluctantly read his books and listened to his music, but *sigh of relief* it turned out to be a good thing. He introduced me to his music crew as they were all sitting in a studio together for the first time since the pandemic. I brought up what vinyl I own for no other reason than because I tend to babble. Their new album comes out on August 20 or so and I said “right by my birthday” and he said “mine too”. They might tour this fall and you bet your ass I’ll be there! We discussed our beloved pets (obvi 💁🏼‍♀️). I brought up that Stella is a large German Shepherd/Lab mix puppy and she desperately needs a training class. He said training is a-ok because he rescued @brick_duchovny already full grown and he doesn’t “mind shit” (I geekishly laughed). Then he actually looked at my Stella Insta post *swoon* I gave him an accidental 360 degree tour of my library + bar while I snapped a photo. I told him I appreciate his way with words, i.e. stories and lyrics. He said he hopes to see me at a concert and I said thank you for taking the time to talk with me. All I can say is it was really awesome. Funny thing is much I prepared, as I wrote extensive notes, bothered friends, and searched my brain for details of his newest novel, but I didn’t need any of it. He’s super chill. I’m still pinching myself. Maybe someday I will get to interview #DavidDuchovny on IG Live ;)
Thank you so much @avidreaderpress for this stella Thank you so much @avidreaderpress for this stellar package #partner ✨ When this amazingness arrived on my doorstep, I nearly lost my mind! OMG that tote! My kitten-heart exploded! #Falling by @tj_author: You just boarded a flight to New York. There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight. #Animal by @lisadtaddeo: Joan has spent a lifetime enduring the cruelties of men. But when one of them commits a shocking act of violence in front of her, she flees New York City in search of Alice, the only person alive who can help her make sense of her past. In the sweltering hills above Los Angeles, Joan unravels the horrific event she witnessed as a child—that has haunted her every waking moment—while forging the power to finally strike back. #InfiniteCountry by @patricia__engel: Talia is being held at a correctional facility for adolescent girls in the forested mountains of Colombia after committing an impulsive act of violence that may or may not have been warranted. She urgently needs to get out and get back home to Bogotá, where her father and a plane ticket to the United States are waiting for her. If she misses her flight, she might also miss her chance to finally be reunited with her family in the north. #LeonoraIntheMorningLight by @michaelacarterbooks: Leonora and Max embark on remarkable journeys together and apart, the full story of their tumultuous and passionate love affair unfolds, spanning time and borders as they seek to reunite and reclaim their creative power in a world shattered by war. When their paths cross with Peggy Guggenheim, an art collector and socialite working to help artists escape to America, nothing will be the same. ✨ Which #book tickles your fancy? ✨
You must be KITTEN me! Mia and Jules are thick as You must be KITTEN me! Mia and Jules are thick as thieves. They have definitely bonded for life. Unfortunately, they have to be separated for seven days, mainly for Mia to recover, and they are so upset. I walk down the hall and hear their sad meow kitty chorus from separate bedrooms. I love these cute little faces 🐱🐱 I just finished SORROWLAND and it’s amazing. I am #currentlyreading GREAT CIRCLE and HOUR OF THE WITCH. What are you reading?
DAVID DUCHOVNY TIME Today is the day I talk to #D DAVID DUCHOVNY TIME Today is the day I talk to #DavidDuchovny via Zoom. Since this was planned my Abby died and I adopted a giant puppy and two tiny kittens. Life definitely has a way of surprising you. Let’s hope I can remember how to speak when he appears on my laptop screen. I’m scrrrrrrrd. #TrulyLikeLightning is a fantastic novel about a stuntman named Bronson Powers who starts his family on land he inherited on Joshua Tree. He practices the Mormon religion as it was when Joseph Smith was alive. He has three wives and ten children without any influence from the outside world. Pretty early on, his world gets turned upside down when three of his children have to be put into the mainstream school system. It’s a wonderful novel written in true Duchovny fashion. The story has several layers, interesting characters, sharp dialogue, and the ending really ties the room together. As you can see, Stella and I loved it! Pictured above is a #throwback Stella photo when she was just a little puppy. Now, she’s a 17 week old, 45 pound PUP-zilla ⚡️⚡️ What are you up to this weekend?! @davidduchovny #novel #bookreview #booksbooksbooks #puppyoftheday #puppylove #bookish #fictionlover #bookstagram #read #booknerd #booklover #lovebooks #bookaddict #puppiesofinstagram #instabooks #bookinstagram #bookblogger #bibliophile #bookstacks #fictionfan #igreads #bookcoverlover #readingtime #bookstafan #readingissexy #readingislife #shereadswithcats @brick_duchovny 🐶
✨ TRUE CRIME ✨ The first #truecrime book I ev ✨ TRUE CRIME ✨ The first #truecrime book I ever read was Ann Rule’s SMALL SACRIFICES. I remember being so fascinated by the fact that a mother could commit such a crime. Her daughter was incredibly brave to testify against her mom and as the key witness that put her away for life. This horrific case started my forever obsession with all things true crime. I was eight years old when I “borrowed” my mom’s book and took the plunge. This, of course, was the gateway into the world of serial killers. Yep, you might have guessed it, my next book was Ann Rule’s STRANGER BESIDE ME. My favorite true crime #bookclub is @spookishmommy’s, too cool for school, book club #bookishtruecrime and now she has a group on @goodreads! It’s so nice to chat with friends about all things true crime. On another note, is there a true crime documentary you can recommend? Or any documentary? I love to learn 💀✨
✨ INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY ✨ Today is #independent ✨ INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY ✨ Today is #independentbookstoreday which is the perfect way to remind us to #shopindie ✨✨ As you can see, I love to buy books! And because I live far away, I purchase books from various #independentbookstores ✨ Also, I always have a physical book, @amazonkindle, and I listen to audiobooks. My number one recommendation for #audiobooks is @librofm. They support the independent #bookstore of your choice and their service is nothing short of amazing #linkinbio ✨✨ So, what was the last #book you purchased from an indie store?! I preordered THE HAUNTING OF ALMA FIELDING by Kate Summerscale and VERSION ZERO by David Yoon ✨
✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you to the tagged publish ✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you to the tagged publishers for the free books) I cannot believe I haven’t posted this week until now. I think this is a record for me. I miss you guys!!! It’s just been busy busy busy. Family stuff combined with 3 baby animals, time to myself is limited. Luckily, I’m still reading, but posting captions and reviews fell by the wayside. I need to get back in the swing of things! I’ve read MIRRORLAND, CRYING IN H MART, and NEAR THE BONE...which one should I read next?! ✨
✨ NEW PROFILE PIC ✨ Happy weekend all! I woke ✨ NEW PROFILE PIC ✨ Happy weekend all! I woke up today to a bunch of messages about an account posing as me. The account is shereadswithcats_ and it is NOT me. There is an underscore at the end which is super suspect 🙄 If you have any time, please report this imposter to Instagram as they have blocked me 😲 Anyway, my previous profile pic was taken at my old house, so I thought it was time for a change 🥰 What are you up to this weekend? I’m eating pizza, watching true crime documentaries, and reading. Have you seen John Wayne Gacy: The Devil In Disguise? He’s the worst 😳 #newprofilepic #bookstagram #shereadswithcats #nirvana #urbanoutfitters #bookshelf #bookshelves #library #currentlyreading #amreading #booksbooksbooks #lovebooks #booklove #bookish #bookishlife #bookishfriendsunite #ssdgm #murderino #read #bookcommunity #photooftheday #shelfie
✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you to the tagged publish ✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you to the tagged publishers for the free books) I thought today was Friday all day. April has been such a strange month, but hey, that’s life. Mia and Jules are growing so fast, but nowhere near as quickly as our pup Stella. She’s PUP-zilla. The kittens and the pup have been spending about an hour each evening together, but Stella needs more training. They are definitely becoming best buds. I just finished up ALL’S WELL by Mona Awad and really enjoyed it. It comes out this August so be sure to put it on your summer reading list. And I just picked up @claymcleod’s WHISPER DOWN THE LANE - I can’t wait to see where it goes. Are any of these books on your TBR?! ✨
‼️GIVEAWAY CLOSED‼️ FLASH GIVEAWAY ✨ (th ‼️GIVEAWAY CLOSED‼️ FLASH GIVEAWAY ✨ (thank you so much @delreybooks for the free books) Hey all! I received an extra copy of MALICE by Heather Walter and I would love to gift it to one of you! I just finished MALICE and I absolutely loved it. Full review to come, but if you love fairytale retellings, especially Sleeping Beauty, then you definitely need this book. See below for rules to enter ✨ 1. Like and save this post ✨ 2. Please follow me, @shereadswithcats 3. In the comments, tag two friends and tell me your favorite fairytale ✨ 4. Please share this post in your Instagram stories for 24 hours and be sure to tag me International. Not affiliated with Instagram. Must be 18 years or older. Winner will be chosen on April 15. Good luck ✨ #malice #heatherwalter #delreybooks #bookstagram #bookgiveaway #fairytale #book #lovebooks #booksofig #igreads #giveawaycontest #shereadswithcats
✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨ HOWLS FROM HELL is a beast of ✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨ HOWLS FROM HELL is a beast of an anthology (get it?) with many brand-new-to-me authors. It’s a given that I would be drawn to the gorgeous cover art and the forward written by Grady Hendrix, but after reading it I realize it’s spectacular in its own right. There are a total of sixteen stories, none of them alike. Each story gave me a new horror experience, but the one thing they all have in common is they are addictive. @howl_society stands for Horror-Obsessed Writing and Literature Society. It’s a community of horror readers and writers on Discord who read books monthly and have discussions about all things horror. It’s also inclusive because guess what?...it’s 100% free. Sounds pretty fantastic, right? The forward by Grady Hendrix encompasses why I love horror so perfectly. His words gave me all the horror warm and fuzzies and left me ready to begin. I haven’t read an anthology recently that doesn’t have a single bad apple.m, but every one of these little gems shines. Reading, I went through all sorts of reactions: I gasped, I winced, I laughed, and I immediately looked up more books by authors I didn’t even know were out there. The first story A CASUAL ENCOUNTER by Quinn Fern is wicked fun. It is the perfect amuse-bouche for your horror palette and I left it with a wink and a smile. From this 5 star story, I hit one after the other. No joke, I rate every one of these 5 stars. I’ll give you a few teasers below: Shane Hawk’s SHE’S TAKEN AWAY is perfectly executed. It’s written as a transcript of a doctor-patient session where the patient discusses her likely evil twin. There is not a single sinister word wasted. SUSPENDED BY LIGHT by Alex Wolfgang thoroughly impressed me. I love a good “lost footage” story and in this one a student starts watching old film reels when things get real creepy. I’m not sure if this makes me weird, but the story IT GETS IN YOUR EYES by Joseph Andre Thomas made me chuckle. I couldn’t read it fast enough. Reading the thoughts of our narrator was suspenseful but there is some great sarcasm that I much appreciated. The ending is everything. I cannot recommend HOWLS FROM HELL enough. It’s a stellar collection.
@aniaahlborn is one of my favorite authors, so I a @aniaahlborn is one of my favorite authors, so I am honored to #review her latest creation, DARK ACROSS THE BAY. It’s only available through Earthling Publications as a deluxe hardcover, but it is worth every bit of the $50 price tag. @joshmalerman writes the introduction and he starts off with a grand segue into how, in the hands of Ania Ahlborn, family dynamics are not always as they seem. Not even close, as by the end, and in Malerman’s own words, Ania gives us readers a bird’s eye view of “who got what they deserved, who got screwed, and who made it out alive.” I think he nails it. “Or maybe Felix had never been there at all, Leo thought. Maybe you made him up as you slipped into madness. Maybe that’s why you keep smelling that scent...the one nobody else seems to smell.” The title alone, Dark Across the Bay, has an ominous feel to it. As I opened the book and read the first chapter, all I read was fear, and all I visioned was blood. I was immediately hooked. I don’t want to spoil the experience by revealing too much of the plot, so I’ll be brief. Poppy and Ezra Parrish decide to go on a family vacation with their teenage daughter, Lark, and her brother, Leo, who recently graduated high school. Taking place on a remote island off the coastal town of Raven’s Head, the setting is as thick as the fog, and the isolation is palpable. The view of the water’s edge is breathtaking, but the vacation house itself is eerie and claustrophobic. It has too many hallways, tiny nooks, random doors, and the kitschy decor runs rampant. The chapters switch perspectives with each family member, where each chapter reads like a piece to a puzzle. It starts off slow with a tiny clue here and a tiny bit of information there, and then midway in the story amps up drastically. And in true Ania Ahlborn fashion, there are twists right up to the very end. Just when I thought it was over, she impressed me one last time, and I smiled on that last page. It’s difficult to categorize DARK ACROSS THE BAY as a single genre, as some chapters read as a whodunnit, some as a thriller, and some as horror, but mark my words, you most certainly need to read this book.
✨ SUNDAY FUNDAY ✨ (thank you @novelsuspects an ✨ SUNDAY FUNDAY ✨ (thank you @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for my free copy) I have recently become a @harlancoben fan thanks to @suspensethrill and @beautyandthebook. They have read everything as far as I can tell, and what I’ve read I’ve really enjoyed. My husband is a fan too! Needless to say, I’m super excited to dive into #WIN because #HarlanCoben brings on all the thrills and chills! Also, have you all watched his series, THE STRANGER, SAFE, and THE FIVE on @netflix? Holy cow, they are so fantastic! #novelsuspectinsiders What are you up to today? Reading or watching anything good?!! ✨
✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you so much to the tagged ✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you so much to the tagged publishers for the free books) Is there anything better than getting books in the mail? Here is a batch of beloved hardcovers from some lovely publishers. Check out my Insta stories to see each book one by one. I love hardcovers for their beauty, but I don’t mind reading any format. What’s your favorite medium? Hardcover? Paperback? Kindle? Audiobook? ✨
✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ Happy Easter, all 🐇 We br ✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ Happy Easter, all 🐇 We brought Stella over to her grandparents’ and she is having a blast. We are about to have some BBQ and whatnot. And, by golly, I’m enjoying my first Grolsch of the year! How is your day going? What are you up to this fine day?! Thank you so much @twodollarradio for this copy of NIGHT ROOMS by @ginagail. I love a good essay collection and I’m super excited for this. Check out this amazing synopsis 💋🚬 “NIGHT ROOMS is a poetic, intimate collection of personal essays that weaves together fragmented images from horror films and cultural tropes to meditate on anxiety and depression, suicide, body image, identity, grief, and survival. Whether competing in shopping mall beauty pageants, reflecting on childhood monsters and ballet lessons, or recounting dark cultural ephemera while facing grief and authenticity in the digital age, Gina Nutt’s shifting style echoes the sub-genres that Night Rooms highlights―spirit-haunted slow burns, possession tales, slashers, and revenge films with a feminist bent. Refracting life through the lens of horror films, NIGHT ROOMS masterfully leaps between reality and movies, past and present―because the “final girl’s” story is ultimately a survival story told another way.”
✨ KING PHOTO CHALLENGE ✨ My lovely friends Ka ✨ KING PHOTO CHALLENGE ✨ My lovely friends Kallie @pageandparlorbooks and Nina @the_wandering_reader tagged me for the #SlayItLikeKing challenge and I finally took the photos! YAY ME! ON WRITING by #StephenKing is one of my favorite #nonfiction books! And, if you know me at all, then you know I just had to find a first edition hardcover 😆 Also, did you notice SK and I have the same taste in leather jackets? Slay 💅🏻 What is you favorite #memoir or nonfiction book?!
✨ ALMOST #CATURDAY ✨ I finished HOWLS FROM HE ✨ ALMOST #CATURDAY ✨ I finished HOWLS FROM HELL: A Horror Anthology, a few days ago and I just devoured it. My review to come soon, but just know it’s entertaining as hell. Also, GRADY HENDRIX, aka @paperbacksfromhell, wrote the forward and I loved it so. He ruffles all of my nostalgia feathers💀 This was the best photo I could get out of Mia and Jules, but it’s super cute. I tried getting this book pic with Stella, but she wasn’t having it - maybe for the review post. Do you enjoy anthologies? Special thanks to @night_worms and @howl_society for my free copy.
✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you to the tagged publish ✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ (thank you to the tagged publishers for the free books) I really hate Wednesdays 🤣 For some reason, it’s a negative day for me. Do you have a specific day of week you can’t stand? Check out all these amazing books! So far, I’ve read HOWLS FROM HELL and HOUSE OF HALLOW (ahem, both 5⭐️s)! And I just started reading WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, which is keeping my attention. Which book would you read next?!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Professional Reader

Recent Comments

  • Janelle on Gorgeous Book Mail from Little Brown: CIRCE by Madeline Miller
  • Wendy on Gorgeous Book Mail from Little Brown: CIRCE by Madeline Miller
  • Sara Strand on Blog Tour: LAST SUMMER by Kerry Lonsdale
  • Kerry Lonsdale, author of LAST SUMMER, on tour July 2019 | TLC Book Tours on Blog Tour: LAST SUMMER by Kerry Lonsdale
  • Suzy Krause, author of VALENCIA AND VALENTINE, on tour June 2019 | TLC Book Tours on Blog Tour & Review: VALENCIA AND VALENTINE by Suzy Krause

Recent Posts

  • Book Review: DARK ACROSS THE BAY by Ania Ahlborn
  • Cover Reveal: ALMOST RUTH by Tyler Jones
  • Review: THE BRIGHT LANDS by John Fram
  • Review: THE GOLDEN CAGE by Camilla Läckberg
  • Review: SAVING RUBY KING by Catherine Adel West