Walking Wednesday January 24, 2024

Even though we had snow TWICE last week there are small signs of spring starting to appear. It’s the good part about living in Virginia. Even when it’s so cold the outside hurts your face the second you step outside spring is never far away.

I’ve been plowing through the audiobooks this month. Right now I’m listening to We’ve Got You Covered. I try to listen to a book that will help me at work each month and this is my January pick. So far it’s interesting.

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Walking Wednesday January 3, 2024 (I'm back!)

After about a month of recovering from covid and flu I’m back to walking! I’m pretty weak so I had to cut my step totals back, but the important thing is I’m outside moving most days. I even saw some spring bulbs coming up. I guess the bulbs didn’t get the memo that it might snow this weekend!

I started listening to The Covenant of Water again. I just love this book so much.

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January (and 2024) Reading Goals

December beginning TBR: 367

December ending TBR: 376

I feel like I hit a good reading stride in November and December, and I’m excited to carry that forward into 2024. I just need my kids to go back to school first. (Is it just me or have kids not been in school since October?)

I joined a few challenges on Litsy for 2024, and I have my usual goals of reading a book set in each state and Canadian province, as well as trying to read books I already own or on my LibraryThing TBR.

Litsy geographic challenges

I started some of these a few years ago, but they’re too big for me to finish in a year. I just keep them going!

Reading Oceania 2024

Reading The Americas 2023

Reading Africa 2022

Reading Asia 2021

Other Litsy Challenges:

192025 - Read a book published each year between 1920 and 2025

Litsy Tournament of Books 2024 - Litsy’s member voted version of the Tournament of Books short list

Food and Lit - My favorite- pick a book and a recipe from a different country each month

Author A Month - Read at least one book from a member voted author each month

Hashtag Brigade - Reading through the classics a chapter a day

And now my January reading list where I attempt to work on each of these goals and challenges bit by bit:

Brothers Karamazov (a chapter a day between Jan 1 and whenever in March we finish)

Ultra Processed People

Author A Month - something by Jane Austen

His Only Wife

When in Vanuatu

Random physical library book that comes in on hold

The Covenant of Water

High

The Glass Universe

Oceana

The African Queen

In Extremis

Main Street

Sea Wife

We’ve Got You Covered

Mobility

Any ARC

Henry Huggins

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On My Nightstand December 24, 2023

It’s here! I hope everyone who is celebrating Christmas is able to relax a bit.

Sit down and read a book!

Quote of the week:

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

— A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

On My Nightstand:

Audiobook: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry - I’m about halfway through but not into this one yet. So many people rave about it, but I’m just blah. Maybe I will change my mind.

Kindle: The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Still working on this one. I love it, but just haven’t been making the time.

Physical Book: Prey by Michael Crichton - I thought I had read all of his books, but then I found this!

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

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On My Nightstand December 16, 2023

I am just wrapping up my annual cookie baking extravaganza. I didn’t make as many this year as I usually do because of an intervention from certain family members, but I did get to spend a late night in the kitchen listening to audiobooks. Now I’m sampling my wares and washing them down with some mulled wine. Life is good.

Next week I’m hoping to get some time to finalize my 2024 goals. I have so many ideas! First and foremost though I need to read some of the books I already own. (Are you even a bookworm if you don’t make this vow every year?)

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the week:

“The world was hers for the reading.”

— A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

On My Nightstand:

Audiobook: An Unfortunate Christmas Murder by Hannah Hendy - The British lunch ladies who solve crimes in these books crack me up. They’re fun to listen to as I go about my December madness.

Kindle: The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden - I read this when it first came out and have wanted to read the rest of the trilogy since. I needed to re-read this one before I got started though as I don’t remember much.

Physical Book: The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell - Magical realism isn’t always my thing, but this book is working for me.

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

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Walking Wednesday November 29, 2023

Yes, some of my steps have been at the mall this week. But I did also get in quite a few outside walks despite the cold. I don’t remember it ever getting this cold in November here. I’m hoping that means we’ll get some snow this winter.

I’ve been listening to Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively this week. It’s the third time I’ve tried with this one, and I think it’s finally going to stick. I’ve really liked her other books, so I’m determined to finish this one at some point.

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Food and Lit: Greece

Last month I fell in love with beef stew. Beef Stifado is going on my regular cooking list for the rest of my life. Honestly, it’s been a long winter, but if it stays just a little longer the silver lining would be another chance to make this delicious stew. It was so tender and flavorful. I might need to make some more tonight. Delicious. I love #FoodAndLit

I read Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. This was a good book, but probably not the best window into Greek culture. Sometimes it the lit that wows you and sometimes it’s the food. You never know.

Next month we eat and read from Cuba!

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Show Us Your Books January 2022

Happy new reading year. This year has started with more chaos for me, but I also have a ton of optimism about this coming year. Don’t ask me why. I just feel like we’ve been through this for two years now, and we’re going to start getting good at it eventually. I hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year filled with great reads.

Four Star Reads

We Never Asked For Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh - This is the second Diffenbaugh book I‘ve read and I really like what she does with her characters. I read this story about a struggling family in Washington state all in one day.

Seek You by Kristen Radtke - An examination of what loneliness looks like in America told through graphic format. A fitting to read for this time of year.

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett - The perfect antidote to a week that felt like a month. Queen Elizabeth solves crimes with grace and perfect etiquette.

Dear America by Jose Antonio Vargas - This book is an excellent and personal look at immigration issues in the US. I‘m really glad I read it.

Three Stars

Tomorrow Will Be Better by Betty Smith - My last book of 2021 had a very fitting title. A melancholy book about a young woman trying to make her way in Brooklyn. It‘s very well written but kind of a bummer.

Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger - This book from the Cork O‘Connor mystery series is a wild ride that starts with a murder on New Year‘s Eve. Another good addition to a series I really like.

Brick Lane by Monica Ali - I enjoyed this book about Bangladeshi immigrants in London. It had some rough spots to be sure, but overall a good internal novel if you like that sort of thing (and I do.)

Road Out Of Winter by Alison Stine - This chilling dystopian novel was perfect for early morning reading while huddled under a blanket. How would you survive if winter never ended?

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

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January 2018 Audiobooks

So far, this has been a great winter for reading. Unfortunately I spent a majority of my audiobook time this month listening to Under a Pole Star, a long book that I thought would be about polar exploration in the early 1900's, but ended up being about a weird love affair. Anyway, here are the books I liked:

I thought Caroline by Sarah Miller was an excellent addition to the Little House books. I loved the way it made Ma seem a little more human and mad at Pa without changing her character. Genius. If you read these books as an adult, and shook your head at Ma the whole time, this book is a must read.

I re-listened to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe around Christmas time. This is a good story, and has so much good snow in it.

We couldn't help ourselves. We finished listening to book 7 in the car, and went to the library the next day and checked book 1 right out again. We love these audiobooks for the car.

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