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@readwithmikey

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🕺 Buddy reader ☕ Coffee drinker
⛪ Hope believer 😺 Kitty cat feeder
📚 Probably reading 10 books at once

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Hello, world! Four years to the day and 360 posts on, a full circle, I'm still Mikey, a math teacher (yes, math) who still adores the power of the written word.

Thankful for books and thankful for you, now and always.

Mikey by @readwithmikey

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14

10 months ago

💛REVIEW: The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff💛

It is an impossibility to review a book that has been everywhere but that still captures each heart anew.

To be honest, I read this months ago. I don't recall every thread of the plot, but I know I cherished the tapestry. Perhaps what is ephemeral can also be permanent.

It is so easy to rail against a liminal space, but perhaps that's because I haven't chosen to light the candle, to understand the dance of sun and shadows a bit more clearly. They are light and dark; they shimmer like gossamer, swirl like an inky expanse.

But I remember the feeling. And I remember loving this book.

There is little to say that has not already been said, and while I sit on the edges of the soiree like a wallflower, I know there are other books to read, other volumes to devour, a steady drumbeat to move me forward.

But as I linger with this one, I love the hope that it brought me. And I hope that hope will infuse other tomes on the horizon.

No, the road isn't easy. The road is sinusoidal and gnarled, and paint isn't perfect when it splatters. But perhaps we can cherish the canvas anyway.

Thank you, Sarah, for making something so wonderful that has touched so many lives and resonated with so many. You are doing good work, and I exhort you not only to keep it up but to take time for yourself to discover all the bright moments that glimmer around us, in all their perseverance and wonder.

#thebrightyears #sarahdamoff #bookofthemonth #botm #bookstagram by @readwithmikey

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24

a year ago

💐Springtime Reading!💐

Thanks to all the tagged publishers for the gifted copies - and to some authors whose work I can't wait to encounter!

It's a busy time of year right now preparing my students for their finals, but I've still had some time to read!

Don't worry, though - the TBR is growing thrice as fast as books I'm reading, so I still have endless towers of tomes around me! And I'm fine with that!

This is a hybrid of some great book mail I've gotten lately and my latest bookstore run. I've been wanting to read "Stay True" for a while now, and I look forward to exploring another Otsuka. Brendan Slocumb's amalgamation of music and the written word is equally fantastic.

Per book mail, I've been hearing great things about "Dream State" and am intrigued about "Big Chief" and "Heartwood"! I've actually already read the delightful "Raising Hare" and think of those leverets every time I see our hares nearby.

And maybe I'll read both "This Strange Eventful History" and "Stone Yard Devotional" before this year's booker list is revealed. No promises, though, haha.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful May full of books and beauty in all its forms. Until next time!

Mikey

#bookmail #bookstacks #bookstagram #bookstagramit #staytrue #thewrenthewren #raisinghare #stoneyarddevotional #pilesofbooks #somanybookssolittletime #avidreader #totalbooknerd #bookcommunity #dohashtagsevenwork #whateverimusingthemstill by @readwithmikey

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10

a year ago

📚Happy Pub Day to "The Road to Tender Hearts"!📚

I am an oddball. You don't have to tell me. I know.

So, basically, I would be right at home within the pages of an Annie Hartnett novel.

But to just focus on the quirky, as delightful as it is, might miss the undeniable truth that Annie's prose, like Annie herself, bursts through with radiant joy and profound compassion.

"The world is weird," her books announce. "Get used to it. But don't abandon hope."

I have gotten to know her over the years after I picked up "Rabbit Cake" in a used bookstore. Come on, look at that cover. How could I not?

"You have no idea," the book could have told me.

"Unlikely Animals" came out later that year, and I was transfixed. Here was a book telling me that I was as messy as I was supposed to be and that. was. okay.

This morning, on the pub day of her third novel, I read the first 20% or so. I want to devour the pages, but I want to savor them also. It is a world entirely her own but a world meant for you and me.

I already know I'm going to cherish "The Road to Tender Hearts" the way I cherish her whimsical, steady friendship: an expansive solace, like my beloved Ginger Cat meowing for her crunchies.

Annie, thank you for you. The world is a brighter place because of your incredible brain, and I am so thankful I get to experience your wonderful words.

#gnarledgilmoregirls (Annie knows.)

#theroadtotenderhearts #anniehartnett #happypubday #bookstagram #bookstagramit #avidreader #totalbooknerd #bookcommunity #contemporaryfiction #allthefiction #allthebooks #yaybooks #dohashtagsevenwork #whateverheresanotherone by @readwithmikey

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15

a year ago

I contain multitudes.

(A bit cheesy, but it'll do for now.)

When you walk into my humble space, you will find a kind of certain wonder, one that is fading a bit in the modern, frenetic era.

Maybe you've felt it. There's whimsy tucked here and there, a bit of awe in quiet moments, a book cover intriguing you, or the vibrant smell of coffee (Mikey insisted I mention the coffee.)

I've watched thousands amble through my doors, and I love them all, but I do have to confess I have a soft spot for the younger ones. You know the beeps and the boops. About 2/3 of 11-year-olds now have their own smartphones. The percent of young teenagers who love to read has declined from 35% to 15% over the past 40 years. (Yes, you're reading this on technology. I know what irony is. I almost majored in it.)

So when I see members of the newer generations still gravitating toward me, still realizing books matter, I get a little teary-eyed, okay? That's allowed.

I get it. I know I'm not always the most alluring edifice. The world is loud, quick, disposable. And it's far easier to tap a button than wander an aisle.

But just step inside my beautiful, simple, hallowed walls.

I can show you what stillness looks like, what the power of discovery does for all of us. (I might not offer you what "Customers Also Bought," but I digress.)

Yes, I am just bricks and mortar. But I still know what it means to be human.

Today, on Indie Bookstore Day, I’m especially grateful for those who remember me, especially in a universe that can feel monolithic. Also, here is a stack of books Mikey bought last year on this day, since last year, he posted a stack he bought the previous year still. (Oh, Mikey.)

But to all of you who believe that the stories I hold do matter, thank you. You remind me that it isn't just about the algorithm and the clicks but that my small spaces can hold big dreams.

So come in. Stay a while. Find something unexpected.

Find joy once again. It's been waiting for you.

(No push notifications either. Well, my cat Scribbles might beg for crunchies - I can't prevent that.)

(Thanks, @allieinink, for your lovely "Once for Yes" which inspired this vignette!) by @readwithmikey

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20

a year ago

🧡Mikey's April Hopefuls!🧡

Hello hello!

April is finally here, and I'm already planning my books for the month!

Here's what we have on my agenda:

Always Only You
Practice Makes Perfect
Remedial Rocket Science
In a New York Minute
Love Lettering

Funny Story
Once Upon a Prince
Our Stop
Love and Other Great Expectations
So That Happened

Which do you recommend I start with first? My tropes are grumpy-grumpy, friends to friends, no-burn, and forced unproximity (they can't be near each other at any given time).

Happy April 1!

Mikey

(I actually did read "Funny Story" last year and a few of these look genuinely sweet - no joke!) by @readwithmikey

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26

2 years ago

📚Quarter 1 Favorites📚

There they are! A nice mix of middle grade, family sagas, new releases, and backlist books.

Let me know what you're reading! Hope all is well!

Mikey by @readwithmikey

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21

2 years ago

📚BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Red Clay - Charles B. Fancher📚

Thank you, partners @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for the copy! Published February 4, 2025.

So two people I treasure dearly, @naesreadingnook and @ambershelf, really loved this "sweeping, multigenerational saga." I mean, sign me up right now - that's one of my ultimate pieces of kryptonite.

While I always try to go in without spoilers, I do know this also centers on the Civil War and Reconstruction, and I look forward to the sacred honor of spending time with a family, learning and listening along the way.

I had a chance to be a part of a book tour and eagerly took it because I know this is a novel I will sink into and savor. I'm totally looking for novels like that, especially as the weather gets a bit warmer and I can sit outside, catch some rays, take my iced coffee, and treasure the prose of a wonderful book.

I hope you all are having a great end to February!

May all your reads be wonderful,

Mikey

#redclaybook #charlesbfancher #charlesfancher #historicalfiction #historicalfictionbooks #bibliolifestyle #bookstagram #bookstagramit #avidreader #totalbooknerd #allthebooks #keeponreading by @readwithmikey

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4

2 years ago

📫Book Mail Stack!📫

Thank you to tagged publishers for the gifted copies!

It's funny how January trudged on like a sloth pouring molasses, yet February's zipping in and out like Ginger Cat when I pour her some crunchies.

That's about the extent of my writing ability at the moment, haha.

Pretty busy month so far, but I'm super-excited to have these books to get to down the line! See any I should elevate or any other solid reads to add to my never-ending TBR? Let me know!

I hope you're having a great month!

Until next time,

Mikey

#bookmail #bookstagram #bookstagramit #avidreader #totalbooknerd #bookcommunity #literaryfiction #contemporaryfiction #allthefiction #bookstack #wowbooks #yaybooks #pointlesshashtags by @readwithmikey

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7

2 years ago

⚾How Can You Not be Romantic About Baseball?⚾

Hello, my dearest sport.

I need to find a way to explain my passion for you. Perhaps the sounds and sights could tell the story: dawn peering over the stands, the smell of new-mown grass, the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd.

You know who you are. You are the greatest sport ever created in the history of the universe.

To say I fell in love with you from a young age would not be accurate, and there should be some verisimilitude here. I ignored you, even as a young one in the '90s, more wide-eyed over chili dogs and the ice cream in the plastic hat. But food and baseball are a beautiful pairing, I suppose, and it is a game that activates all the senses.

In '03, I saw my Chicago Cubs we don't talk about that. The next year, I saw the Red Sox break their nearly century-long dry spell, and I felt, "We could be next." The year after that, the White Sox won the World Series, and - as part of the Wrigley faithful - I do long for a day to see my South Siders rise from the ashes. I want you to be good. It is good when you are good.

College came and went, but a decade later, I glimpsed that slow roller to third over to first and, in a tough play, the Chicago Cubs prevailed over their 108-year drought in one of the greatest games ever played (sorry, Guardians fans). I avow that I did not climb on the bandwagon, as there is a picture of me in Cubs regalia when I was a baby. I'm not showing you it, but I promise it exists.

Since then, I have watched almost every regular-season game, but I do diverge on a point with my late grandfather, the reason we are Cubs fans to this day. When he was asked if he would watch the World Series, he would quip, "Why? Cubs aren't in it." But I do have other teams I can appreciate and root for: Giants, Mariners, Orioles, Phillies, and Reds come to mind. There are probably others.

You probably have your team as well. Please let me know! I need to know who else to root for, even though the Cubs will be 2025 World Series champions. (You heard it here first.)

Thank you, baseball, for all the memories of yesteryear and all the excitement of tomorrow.

Mikey by @readwithmikey

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9

2 years ago

💟February Hopefuls💟

Q: What's on your February list? What books, upcoming or backlist, should be on my radar?

So here's a pile of books. You know what to do, bookstagram, ooh and aah over it!

I had a pretty strong start to January and hope to have this continue into the new year! Some highlights:

🔹Kristin is doing an Ishiguro read-along, and my goal is to read all of his books (already 3/9) by the year's end! There's something about his writing that has captivated me every time I've picked it up.

🔹In the first time in nearly 3.5 years, we had an exact tie on "Book of Destiny," and I'm not choosing between what I think will be two elite works in "Babylon" and "Marriage."

🔹I've been seeing "McCrays" get a lot of love so far, and I also liked the previous work I read of hers! I also can't remember what I chose for this month's #BOTM whatsoever!

🔹I have a goal to read two nonfiction works a month: I did achieve this in January and hope to continue with "Just Mercy" and "The Road Back to You" this month. Also...

🔹...is it baseball season yet? That, and the extra sunlight, is what I like about the spring and summer the most (I actually don't mind when it's cold outside!).

Let me know what I should prioritize, and here's to another amazing month of bookish joy up ahead.

Until next time, happy reading!

Mikey

#februaryhopefuls #songbirds #justmercy #allthelonelypeople #theberrypickers #ishiguro #howtosaybabylon #whathappenedtothemccrays #anamericanmarriage #amazingreads #bookishjoy #avidreader #totalbooknerd #bookstagramit #whyamistillusinghashtags by @readwithmikey

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52

2 years ago

🌳Happy Pub Week to "Good Dirt"!🌳

Q: Have you read any of Wilkerson's works yet? Put either, or both, on your TBR if not!

When I was reading Charmaine Wilkerson's amazing sophomore novel "Good Dirt" (and another epic cover!), I was struck by a particular theme. As I read the author's notes, I realized that this novel started with the exact same question:

"I wondered about the ways in which a personal tragedy could shape a person's identity - especially when their trauma had been played out in the public eye."

This is the story of our protagonist, the reflective Ebony "Ebby" Freeman. Though she is a character on the page, I do believe there is some level of transcendence off the page and into the world. So I hope, Ebby, that I saw you for you during this book - not just as somewhat impacted by your past plastered on the headlines but that I saw you for Ebby.

Wilkerson is such a tender, empathetic writer. This was so clear in both her novels, where she approaches a gamut of issues with the careful, compassionate hand of someone who doesn't flinch away from what needs to be said but does so with love. She has such a caring eye, that of a journalist (her former profession, as I learned!), as she explores family, history, and identity.

Also, this book - like "Black Cake" - centers not only on the sinewy bonds of family but also on a tangible object (a jar, this time, instead of a recipe). I think there is something to be said about that: heirlooms preserve and uphold familial traditions, keep our previous generations alive with us, and become blazing emblems of resilence and fortitude.

(Wilkerson cited "All That She Carried," a nonfiction book on my TBR that traces a single object through multiple lineages, and I look forward to reading that down the line!)

Indeed, Wilkerson has written another wonderful book, one I hope you will have the privilege of savoring and enjoying the way I did.

Until next time, happy reading!

Mikey

#gooddirt #charmainewilkerson #bookofthemonth #botm #bookstagram #bookstagramit #familysagas #literaryfiction #contemporaryfiction #allthefiction #avidreader #totalbooknerd #heylookmorehashtags #stopreadingthese #goreadabook by @readwithmikey

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18

2 years ago