Hungry Hungry Wyrm's Book Club: May's Bonus Discussion and June's Theme

May's Bonus Gathering: The Blue Moon

Welcome back, friends.

Before we dive in, I owe you a small apology for this post arriving a bit later than planned.

I spent part of the evening waiting up for the Blue Moon, hoping to capture a good photograph. The moon itself was beautiful, even if the clouds insisted on drifting in front of it every few minutes. My phone camera, unfortunately, was far less impressed by the view than I was, so the photos don't quite do it justice.

While I was waiting, though, I found myself distracted by something unexpected: the little solar lights around my garden. I see them through the window all the time as I walk past in the evenings, but for some reason I'd never really stopped to sit among them after dark. Watching them glow among the plants felt a bit magical. Nighttime gardening may become my newest hobby.

But enough about moons and gardens. Let's talk books.

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A Gentle Spoiler Warning

As always, this is a book club discussion. That means there may be spoilers for the books discussed below.

If you'd prefer to avoid those for now, feel free to skip ahead to next month's theme and come back after you've finished your reading.

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May's Bonus Theme: Once in a Blue Moon

For our special Blue Moon gathering, we explored stories of rare events, second chances, unlikely discoveries, and moments that only seem to happen once in a lifetime.

My pick was The Finding by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson. I, once again, was able to enjoy the read while traveling and cuddled by furry friends (and the less furry variety of friends, as well)!

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What felt most "once in a blue moon" about this story?

The most obvious answer is also the biggest one. A dragon discovers a human infant.

Humans have been believed extinct for centuries, making the discovery almost impossible to imagine.

Though as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that some characters may have expected—or at least hoped—for such an event due to a mysterious prophecy that we still know very little about.

Still, for everyone involved, it is a moment that changes everything.

How do the characters react when faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

One thing I found particularly interesting was how differently the characters responded.

The couple who ultimately raise Jahrra immediately recognize the significance of what has happened. Their emotions are described as a mixture of:

"joy and anticipation, their fear and apprehension, their hopes and dreams."

I loved that the story acknowledged how complicated extraordinary moments can feel.

We often imagine once-in-a-lifetime experiences as purely exciting. In reality, they can be thrilling and terrifying all at once. They can bring hope, uncertainty, excitement, fear, and responsibility together in one tangled bundle.

The adults in this story understand that immediately.

Jaax, on the other hand, sees the situation very differently. For him, the discovery feels more like a task to complete than a miracle to celebrate.

And I think that's true in life, too. Sometimes we don't recognize our extraordinary moments while we're living them.

Were there any relationships that surprised you?

Absolutely.

I went into this book expecting the relationship between Jaax and Jahrra to feel somewhat like a mentor and student relationship. Maybe even something resembling a favorite uncle watching over a child from afar.

That is not what happened.

At least not yet.

Jahrra carries a great deal of resentment toward Jaax. In her mind, many of the losses she has experienced—including the deaths of her parents—can be traced back to his inability to arrive in time.

Meanwhile, Jaax seems committed to his responsibilities and travels above any claim he might have on raising her himself. He leaves her in Hroombra's care and appears only occasionally over the years.

It's a relationship full of disappointment, frustration, distance, and unmet expectations.

Which makes it one of the most interesting parts of the story. I'm curious to see where it goes from here.

A Favorite Quote

This line felt especially fitting for our theme:

"Many of the things you wish against turn out to be the best things that ever happen to you."

A lovely reminder that life's detours aren't always mistakes.

Sometimes they're exactly where we're meant to end up.

Final Thoughts

There was one other discovery waiting for me as I read this book. Apparently it's a series.

In hindsight, the cover made that fairly obvious. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that detail when I first picked it up.

So now I suppose I have no choice but to visit another bookstore and hunt down the rest of the books.

A terrible burden, truly.

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Other Blue Moon Reads

In an attempt to fully commit to the theme, I also borrowed an entire stack of books with Blue Moon right in the title:

• Once in a Blue Moon by Sharon Sala

• Once in a Blue Moon by Kristan Higgins

• Once in a Blue Moon Lodge by Lorna Landvik

• Once in a Blue Moon by Delilah Devlin

• Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis

• Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge

• Once in a Blue Moon by Simon R. Green

  
  

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to these reads, yet. My month was swallowed by helping friends, family adventures, and getting the garden growing.

I started one of them, but not far enough to offer any meaningful thoughts here.

The books aren't going anywhere, though, and I fully intend to return to them.

If you've read any of these titles, please leave a comment and tell us what you thought!

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My Own Once in a Blue Moon Experience

When I thought about rare experiences that changed the course of my life, one immediately came to mind.

Solo international travel.

I suppose it can't truly be called "once in a lifetime" since I've done it more than once now. But it certainly feels like a "once in a blue moon" sort of experience.

During college, I traveled from the United States to Australia for a study abroad program. My best friend went too, but we often followed our own schedules, made our own friends, and explored independently. It was wonderful having someone familiar nearby when needed, while still learning how to navigate a new country on my own.

That trip started something. It sparked the travel bug.

It made me realize how many places I'd been making excuses not to visit.

So last year I did it again and spent more than two months traveling through Ireland and Scotland. Friends and family joined me at different points, but much of the journey was solo.

Carrying all of my bags from place to place was considerably less magical than the photographs suggest. But the experience itself was incredible.

For someone who moved frequently throughout life, "home" has often felt like something just out of reach. Somewhere among the winding roads, old bookstores, rainy streets, and quiet mornings overseas, I found a version of that feeling.

And I hope to return someday.

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Looking Ahead: June's Strawberry Micromoon

Our next gathering will be 29 June 2026 beneath the Strawberry Micromoon.

This moon is a little unusual. Arriving just days after the summer solstice and near its apogee, it will appear smaller than normal and hang unusually low on the horizon.

For June, I'd like to celebrate one of my favorite subjects:

Books About Books

I recently added several new titles to my shelves and am eager to begin exploring them.

My newest additions include:

• The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

• The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

• The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson

• The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

• Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

And apparently this fascination has been growing for quite some time because my shelves are already overflowing with:

• Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

• The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes

• Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

• The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

• The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan (bought in the bookshop that it was written about!)

• The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

• The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

• The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood

• The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C. J. Archer

• The Bookwanderers by Anna James

• The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

• The Secret Chapter by Genevieve Cogman

• The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

I'm excited to step into worlds where books are more than paper and ink. Where they live and breathe. Where they preserve memories, unlock magic, connect strangers, ease loneliness, and change lives.

Questions to Help You Choose

• Do you want a story centered on a library, bookstore, archive, or book club?

• Are you looking for a cozy read or something with mystery and adventure?

• Do you want books to be magical objects, or simply powerful companions?

• What book first taught you that stories can change lives?

And perhaps most importantly:

Do you have a favorite book about books?

One that captures the magic of reading itself?

One that reminds you why stories matter?

I'd love to hear your recommendations.

Until next time...

The tea is steeping, the garden is growing, and the book hoard awaits.

The Wyrm