Favorite Popular Prince Songs (Part 1)

 

Anyone who knows me well knows I adore Prince.  I usually do some posts each April in remembrance of his passing.  Today I'm sharing the first part of my Top 10 Favorite Popular Prince songs with a few interesting tidbits about each.  I know this doesn't have anything to do with reading or books but if you take the time to read it, I hope you enjoy!

" I just can't believe all the things people say (controversy)

Am I black or white, am I straight or gay? (Controversy) "

This song came out in 1981, and it was Prince's way of addressing speculation about his gender, race, sexuality and religion.  At the time he couldn't understand why people were so curious about him.  However, I personally think he turned that curiosity into a fortune by continuing to flaunt his individuality through the years.

" I ain't got no money
I ain't like those other guys you hang around "

Released in 1979, it was eventually released Prince wrote this about a crush on pianist and singer Patrice Rushen.  

" Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like when doves cry "

This song chronicles a relationship gone wrong.  The doves crying are representative of the mourning of love lost and the grief and pain of a relationship falling apart.  It is probably one of my all-time faves if not my number one. 

"Guitars and drums on the one"

My favorite thing about this track is the composition and the music itself.  The song was also the last real song Prince released using The Revolution as his band.  It was definitely an end of an era. There are several extended versions of this song with one lasting over ten minutes.

" I don't wanna take my clothes off
But I do
Oh, I don't wanna turn nobody on
'Less it's you, oh "

Released in 2006 this song came from one of Prince's biggest comeback album releases, 3121.  There is actually no bass used in this song, similar to When Doves Cry and Kiss.  Sidenote: for the longest time 3121 was the code for our house alarm until we changed systems.  

Hope you've enjoyed this as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with you.  Look for Part II soon as well as a post featuring some of my favorite memorabilia.  

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Small Favor (Dresden Files #10)

 

It's hard to believe Stormi and I are still managing to read a Dresden Files book each month.  Even harder to believe is that we are already up to #10.  I am still enjoying the series and haven't considered quitting yet.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Storm Reads to see what Stormi thought!

 

TITLE: Small Favor (Dresden Files #10)

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher

PUBLISHER: Roc

PUBLISHING DATE: April 1, 2008

PAGES: 444   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Wizard Harry Dresden’s life finally seems to be calming down. The White Council’s war with the vampiric Red Court is easing up, no one’s tried to kill him lately, and his eager apprentice is starting to learn real magic. For once, the future looks fairly bright. 

But the past casts one hell of a long shadow. 

Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, calls in an old favor from Harry. Just one small favor he can’t refuse – one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally and strain his skills and loyalties to their very limits. 

And everything was going so well for once….

MY THOUGHTS: Well, let's get the important thing out of the way first.  Mouse wasn't in very much danger this installment so my anxiety about him (and the numerous times I would message Stormi asking, "Does Mouse die?") was much less.  

Once again Harry is in the middle of a hot mess which all started out with a fun snowball fight with his friend Michael's kids.  Soon they are being attacked by Billy Goat Gruff and his family and Harry soon learns that's just the tip of the iceberg for all the problems brewing. Marcone, the Chicago mob boss, has been kidnapped, Mab is more off her rocker than normal and is calling in a favor from Harry, and someone is after the Archive (a young child who has the power of knowing everything ever written or documented in the whole universe.  

This book was a lot of fun as normal, and I love how Butcher will pull past characters in from time to time and weave them into a new adventure.  My favorites, besides Mouse, Mister (the cat), and Harry include Thomas and Murphy.  I also enjoy how Harry now has Michael's daughter as an apprentice and is teaching her how to use her natural strengths and powers.  I will admit I wouldn't mind a book which opens with Harry being on vacation somewhere and getting some peace.  I think he has earned it.  I'm also a bit upset about Harry's new relationship interest.  I'm tempted to deduct a star just because of that but I won't be petty.

I can't praise this series enough and if I'm still interested after 10 months, Butcher is definitely doing something right.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

April Coming Attractions

 

So, I ended up reading eight of the books I featured in March's edition, plus a few additional things so overall I won't complain.  I will say that April is shaping up to be "ARC April" as I have so many I need to make time for.  Let's dive right in!

First up I have two buddy reads with Stormi, Lair (Rats 2) and Turn Coat.  I also am reading "Suffer the Children" for an online horror book club I participate in over on Facebook each month.

 

Next, I have a few arcs I want to get to.  I am currently reading Direct Descendant and it's an odd little book that I can't explain and am not sure I like but can't put down.  Now that's saying a lot of contradictory things.  

I adore Vera Wong and am really excited for the next in the series.  I've read quite a few books by the author and always enjoy them.  In fact, she is kind of an auto-read at this point. I also loved Bless Your Heart so Another Fine Mess is high priority. 

And finally, April is month of Prince's passing and if you've been around my blog any in the past, you know I am a Prince die-hard.  This is the newest book about him, and I always try to read once this month.  I also hope to do a post about my favorite Prince song, and I may even rehash an old Prince tag I created some years ago. 

Hope you stick around and see what exactly April has in store for Booker T's Farm (and spoiler alert, so far, it's bad storms and rain). 

Farm News - March 31, 2025 (A Late Edition)

 

I meant to do an update yesterday but ended up being sick all day, so I became a couch potato, reading and watching TV all day.  I had an earache which I NEVER get and while it is somewhat better today, it's still throwing me off.  I wanted to get one more update in during March so this may be a quick one.

All is good here at the Farm.  We did get storms last night, but they were pretty mild compared to some areas so I'm not complaining.  Apollo was sick last weekend and didn't show much of an interest in food.  I think he had an upset stomach, and it could have been related to allergies because as soon as I made a vet appointment, fed him a bland diet, and provided him Pepto and Benadryl, he snapped out of it.  So we didn't actually have to follow through with the appointment.  Also, last Wednesday was the two-year anniversary of Cassius' death so I think that was making my anxiety high as well.

I'm trying to cram one last book into today so hopefully tonight will provide some quality reading time. I visited a new area bookstore Saturday near my home. It's a cute shop downtown with brick walls and opens spaces and two bearded dragon mascots.  They sell a combination of new and used books and host some clubs and events.  I think the owner must be a romantasy/dark romance fan though because that was the majority of the new book releases she carried.  It's called "First Chapter" and I would definitely visit again.  

I received a few arcs I REALLY REALLY wanted this past week, so I have to share.

13 Months Haunted: Jimmy Juliano

Sister, Butcher, Sister: KD Aldyn

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping: Sangu Mandanna

Demon Summer: J.J. Buffet

That's about it.  Hope to get a Coming Attraction post and a few reviews up this coming week, as well as catch up on some blog hopping.

Thanks for visiting Booker T's Farm!

Feed Your TBR - Matchmaking for Psychopaths

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

July 17, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: Alexandra grew up hungry. Hungry for food, hungry for safety, hungry for love. Which is why she's worked so hard to have it a beautiful home, a gorgeous doctor boyfriend, and an ambitious job matching individuals with... unconventional emotional responses. Sure, her clients may sit somewhere on the psychopathy scale. But they're not the dangerous, murderous kind. They're doctors, lawyers, teachers, and everyone deserves love.

And that's exactly what Alex thinks she's found. Love. So she's floored when she arrives to her dinner with her boyfriend, expecting a ring in a little box, and instead finding her best friend sat at the table with him. They have news. They're together now. And apparently her birthday dinner is the best time to share the news.

Suddenly, Alex's world implodes. She has lost the two people in the world closest to her, her only support. She's utterly alone, her future in pieces. So when she unexpectedly bumps into a client, Rebecca, and Rebecca seems to want to be friends, it feels like a lifeline.

But then Alex's now ex turns up dead, then more people around her seem to be dropping like flies. And she can't help but wonder if this new friendship is a match made in hell.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I still need to read this author's previous book, Love Letters to a Serial Killer, but this one sounds so interesting I just had to add this one.  The cover is what immediately caught my attention but once I read the synopsis, I was sold.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

I Knew I Was Done With Winter!

 

TITLE: Our Winter Monster

AUTHOR: Dennis Mahoney

PUBLISHER: Hell's Hundred

PUBLISHING DATE: January 28, 2025

PAGES: 304    

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: For the last year, Holly and Brian have been out of sync. Neither can forget what happened that one winter evening; neither can forgive what’s happened since. Tonight, Holly and Brian race toward Pinebuck, New York, trying to outrun a blizzard on their way to the ski village getaway they hope will save their relationship. But soon they lose control of the car—and then of themselves. 

Now Sheriff Kendra Book is getting calls about a couple in trouble—along with reports of a brutal and mysterious creature rampaging through town, leaving a trail of crushed cars, wrecked buildings, and mangled bodies in the snow. 

To Kendra, who lost another couple to the snow just seven weeks ago, the danger feels personal. But not as personal as it feels to Holly and Brian, who are starting to see the past, the present, and themselves in a monstrous new light . . .

MY THOUGHTS:  I absolutely love winter horror.  Which is kind of ironic because I really only enjoy winter from Thanksgiving to New Year's.  But give me a winter-themed horror book and it will quickly move up the ranks of the good old TBR.  

Our Winter Monster tells the story of Brian and Holly.  They have both been through a very traumatic incident when has created a huge rift in their relationship. Hoping to move past it, the set out to a small ski village, hoping they can beat an impending blizzard.  Guess what?  They can't.  They end up getting stranded and separated and what goes on from there is one action-packed, destruction-filled, gore-filled night.  And for the most part, I loved every minute of it.

The formatting of the book really lends itself to the author's tale.  The entire book takes place in less that 24 hours with only a few well-placed flashbacks showing what led Holly and Brian to this crossroads in their life.  The chapters are also relatively short which helps lead to the urgency in the tale.  We meet quite a few townspeople along the way who add quite a bit to the story and explained some of the struggles the sheriff, Kendra Book, has experienced which makes her more determined than ever to figure out and stop the monster terrifying her town.  Oh Kendra, if it was only that easy.

If you love winter horror, I can't recommend this one enough.  My only complaint is that there is somewhat of an open ending.  Yet even though I am not a fan of this formula, it did really work with this book, and I hope more people decide to pick it up!  Definitely want to read more from this author.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Did I Do That???

 

TITLE: Growing Up Urkel

AUTHOR: Jaleel White

PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster

PUBLISHING DATE: November 19, 2024

PAGES:    

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: An incisive and insightful memoir by one of the most beloved icons of nineties television Jaleel White, the actor who portrayed Steve Urkel on the hit sitcom Family Matters.

At the tender age of twelve, Jaleel White auditioned for the role of Steve Urkel, the socially inept genius, who was in love with his next-door neighbor, Laura. Though Steve Urkel was intended to be in only one episode, Jaleel’s indelible performance catapulted Urkel into the pantheon of American pop culture. But success can cost as much as it pays. After nine years on the popular sitcom Family Matters, Jaleel is twenty-one, a UCLA undergrad, and adjusting to a world and industry that sees him as the nasally nerd in high water pants, suspenders, and coke bottle glasses.

MY THOUGHTS: When I am in the mood for non-fiction, I tend to gravitate toward subjects related to pop culture or of course, animals.  So, when I saw this one available on Libby, my interest was piqued.  I have watched some Family Matters in syndication and have always found Urkel to be such a polarizing character when looking at more modern shows currently on TV and streaming.

Jaleel White is not your typical childhood actor.  His parents were very grounded and kept him in check.  Even when working and making extreme amounts of money, his allowance consisted of $300.00 when he needed something because that was the amount his mother was comfortable drawing out at once.  In addition, it wasn't until he entered college that he bought his first new car.  Up until that part, he drove his dad's hand-me-down.  His parents' main reason for encouraging and supporting his son's acting career was so he would have the money needed to obtain a good high school education.

White also experienced some problems once Family Matters ended.  It was hard to leave Urkel behind as the character was so uniquely portrayed and was really not allowed show a lot of character growth over the year.  White did have a few other series afterwards but they were on smaller networks and I will admit to know very little about them.

Finally, I respect what White did with this book.  He has a young daughter and referenced her only a few times and included only one picture with her.  He was never really in a long-term relationship with the mother and chose to air very little of their interactions with the book itself.  Also, there was a character named Judy,  the youngest daughter, on Family Matters who just disappeared and was never mentioned again after four seasons.  I'm always a little shocked when shows do that but after reading this book, at least now I know what happened.  

If you like memoirs and want to read about a childhood actor who didn't fall into the pitfalls many others did, this book is a good reference on how to make sure that doesn't happen.  Plus, it's just plain interesting for those of us just out-and-out curious.  

MY RATING: 5 PAWS 

(Rating this for Goodreads purposes.  However, I chose not to rate the lives of famous people or public figures as I believe it is not my position to question or support their choices or beliefs.