Dee Reads

🥚Only 4 More Days🥚   The Texas Book Festival 2026 Obviously, I have taken some liberty with spelling.  Many years ago I worked for a company that packed eggs and they had an enormous wardrobe of t-shirts that played on the word egg.  I've reprised that habit now and again.  I see my son shaking his head in dismay, but I persist.  On day seven of the countdown I shared the link to the festival master schedule.  Today, I wanted to give you a look at Dee Reads' personal choices.  Every year my brother and I put our heads together to find a way to par down the many sessions into something we can manage in two days.  Here you go: Saturday, 11/14 10:00 AM, "Where Worlds Burn", YA HQ tent 11:15 AM, George Packer on "The Emergency", The Contemporary Austin-Jones Center 12:15 PM, Colson Whitehead about "Cool Machine", First Baptist Church 1:30 PM, "Forever Young-Exploring the Burden of Immorality in Fiction", Capitol Ext Rm E2.012 2:15 PM, ...

COUNTING DOWN  TBF 2026   With only five days remaining until the start of the Texas Book Festival 2026, Dee Reads is looking back at previous festivals and waxing a bit poetic about some of the great reads discovered there.  Nothing measures up to  hearing an author speak about, and take questions from an audience eager to learn about their work.  Dee Reads has had the enviable opportunity to attend the TBF four times and am happy to share with you some of the great reads discussed in Austin.   Nelson DeMille was a featured ticketed author at my very first Texas Book Festival in November 2022.  He was as entertaining a verbal storyteller as an author.  What particularly impressed me was the way in which he spoke about his son, Alex DeMille , and their partnership in what is now a three-book series featuring Army CID Agents Scott Brody and Maggie Taylor.  The pride in what they accomplished together was evident that day.   Shelley ...

  DEE READS Counting Down to the TBF Six (6) Days Yes, that's me, Dianna (Dee Reads) at the Texas Book Festival 2025.  Just taking a coffee break.    And - yes, I'll be at the TBF 2026 for the fifth consecutive year.  I hope to see you there!                                             That's my brother and sometimes contributor to Dee Reads, Jay.  He's sporting the ever-popular Dee Reads tote bag.  He'll be joining me for the TBF 2026.  And, yes, he is an Air Force veteran.  Notice the hat?  We both happen to be vets.  I just don't have a hat head.  LOL!                                                      For a great time, join us at th...

Explore 2026 Schedule here . We are 7 days away from the annual Texas Book Festival.   Dee Reads will be there. Will You?

Buying Books? Are you like me?  Always looking to beg, borrow, or buy more books! Notice I didn't say steal, LOL?  If so, you know there are literally hundreds of places; websites, social media, public libraries and "old school" bookstores to get new reads.  One of my favorites, happens to be Half Price Books.  Are you familiar with Half Price?  If you are from Texas you've likely seen one in passing, if not actually visited there.  But . . . did you know that the largest Half Price Books  in Texas is located in Dallas?  I've known this and longed to visit for a couple of years.  My son, and recent contributor to the blog, Cody made that happen for me.     Last month I visited Wichita Falls, TX where Cody lives. This, too, was a long-planned and awaited trip.  We had four days worth of activities including; working out, seeing Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at COSM, Dallas , visiting a small local bookstore and Hal...

  Her Last  Breath by  Taylor Adams One in a while, too few and far between for me, a book comes along that makes you want to "slam it down on the bar and say 'give me another' ".🍺  A book, such as this, never fails to make me gasp when the shocking surprise is unveiled.  Of that ilk for me, was The Silent Patient  by Alex Michaelides.  It's been almost eight years since I turned those pages like a tornado, and was shocked into an audible gasp when the curtain was raised on the stunning ending.  Her Last Breath  is more compellingly readable, more gasp-worthy, and surely one of my favorites of 2026.  Unlike Michaelides was at the time,  Taylor Adams isn't a first-time author.  Her Last Breath is his most recent release, published in February 2026, with several other books on his list dating back to 2014. I've read several of them, beginning with No Exit .  What a wild ride that was, or should I say what a wild stall?!...

AUTHOR INTERVIEW MJ Stringer In February of 2025, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing local bookstore owner,  Sherrele Goloversic.  Sherrele owns and operates a small, independent bookstore, The Book Reader's Venue , located in Humble, Texas.  Sherrele's shop  is a cozy corner, and she is the perfect welcoming host.  Please take a few minutes to check out our conversation and her bookstore.  One of the perks of my time with Sherrele, was her mention of local romance author, MJ Stringer, as a possible interview candidate.  It took us quite a while, nearly two years 🥹, but we finally got together for a sit down. As it turns out, I owe Sherrele a big "thank you".  MJ was a great interviewee; open, candid, and generous with her time.  Beyond that, she is a kindred spirit who enjoys the reading and writing experience as much as I do.  Thank you to MJ Stringer for the gift of her time.   MJ Stringer-      ...

Preface                                  If you've been following the blog, you know that I sometimes have a guest contributor.  My brother, Jay, has often chimed in when asked and I find that helpful in many ways.  One of which, is the different perspective of his thoughts, reduced to words, even on the same book or subject can be so very unique.   Differing points of view, and being open to them, is what makes the world go 'round.  In my small place in the world, it keeps the blog from becoming stagnant and hopefully more representative of what you readers think and want to hear about.  In order to stretch that arm of the blog a few inches more, this week's guest is my son, Cody, who is also a reader.  Occasionally, he will read the blog pre-publication or one of my book reviews and then comment with some pretty astute observations that almost hadn't o...

Jay Reviews/Dee Writes an Essay If you're a follower, or even an occasional reader of Dee Reads , you'll know that my brother, Jay, is a guest contributor.  He's always got something to say 😜.  Seriously, he tends to have ideas and opinions that lend a new perspective and a fresh voice to the blog.  So credit, where credit is due, Jay suggested I might want to review some essays.  Of course, I was glad to accept his review as the first entry.   One Long River of Song  by Brian Doyle, Reviewed by Jay Mueller                                                                                                                 ...