Coffee Blog

What’s Brewing: My week over coffee.

Writing Sparkle

Welcome to the fortieth book review of fifty-three. As you know, I used to provide freelance book reviews to several review companies. It was a great experience that introduced me to new authors and their wonderful books. Each week this year, I’m opening my Weekend Coffee shares with a link to a review I’ve provided. Reviews are three stars or higher. The genres range from picture books to fiction and nonfiction titles.

The Zen of Joy (Let’s connect on Goodreads to share reviews: My Account.)
The author is Kenji Sora
Published in May 2025
Independently Published
Available in eBook, Hardcover, and Paperback (137 pages)
Zen Philosophy in Religion | Humanism (Books) | Zen

“The Zen of Joy” by Kenji Sora is a cute, simple read. Kenji has created a series of thirty Zen stories as gentle reminders to stop overthinking. These reminders include wisdom, like the fact that disruption isn’t always bad. You can find my full review on Goodreads.

Happy Thanksgiving!

If we were having coffee, I would share that my birthday is on Monday, so we are doing some birthday things this weekend. For example, I picked our Friday night movie. We are going to watch “The End of Oak Street.” On Sunday we are going out for a family lunch, and our Thanksgiving dinner is finger-food themed this year. I’m secretly hoping that my family is going to gift me a new book. Stay tuned . . .

If we were having coffee, I’d say October feels packed with appointments, book events, family gatherings, home construction, and seasonal prep. On top of that, there is Thanksgiving, my birthday, my wedding anniversary, and my favorite Halloween. Mention of Halloween reminds me. I started a Halloween countdown puzzle. I haven’t shared a puzzle update in months because I’m still battling my way through the 3000-piece puzzle, which is filled with false fits. Although that false-fit puzzle isn’t finished I couldn’t resist starting this countdown one.

That’s my coffee news for the week. If we were having coffee, I would remind you that Natalie (our Weekend Coffee Share host) is on a blog break. Drop your coffee share link in the comments so I can join for a virtual coffee this weekend and catch up on your coffee news.

By Shari Marshall (2026)

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Published by Writing Sparkle

16 thoughts on “What’s Brewing: My week over coffee.”

  2. Happy early Birthday! I hope you get everything your heart desires and so much more!

    I love your little puzzles! I don’t blame you for needing a little respite and fulfilment while working away on that 3000 piecer!

    Hope you have a lovely weekend, Shari!

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    1. Hi Melissa.

      The 3000-piecer has been a challenge. I’ve learned a few things about my process for completing a puzzle that large, so I will put those learnings into practice when I try another one. Don’t tell, but I have a 3000-piece Harry Potter puzzle waiting.

      Happy Saturday. Thank you for the birthday wishes.

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      Reply

    1. I am enjoying it. This particular puzzle comes together as one big image when all the boxes are opened. There are others that offer an individual puzzle in each box. I like that it will be one image in the end. The puzzle pieces have numbers on the back, so when the puzzle gets dismantled, the pieces can return to the corresponding box for next year. If your wife likes puzzling, it would make a nice gift.

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