On My Nightstand February 22, 2025

/

Last week was a whirlwind. I was in Lancaster, PA with my daughter for a tournament all weekend, then we came home and I helped my son get ready for his junior retreat. In the middle of all that the dishwasher sprung a leak and our kitchen flooded. Plus they want me to work. Needless to say this is a catch up weekend including reading. I am due some couch/tea/cat time!

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week:

“You’re not cut out for a pleasant, easy life. You think too much!”
— Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Dead With The Wind by Miranda James - Another one for book club. Not the best books around, but they’re quick and easy reads.

Audiobook - Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien - This series about a noodle shop in Ohio is so fun. I realized I had skipped the 4th book so I went back before the new one comes out this spring.

In Print - Love and Death in Kathmandu by Amy Willesee and Mark Whittaker - Still making my way through this one, and hoping to finish by the end of the month. It’s a good but, but by the end of these busy days I can’t stay awake for long. Most of my daytime reading is on my kindle since I’m on the go. Getting in actual hardcover books is getting harder and harder these days.

my cat when i do find time to read a hardcover- oh were you doing something?

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

On My Nightstand February 15, 2025

/

Hi readers! I have been binge reading all sorts of short stories. I never used to be a short story person, but this year they seem to be agreeing with me.

We had snow off and on all week. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a real winter. It makes spring feel even more special when it comes don’t you think?

Quote of the Week:

“There is no end
To what a living world
Will demand of you.”
— Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Night Shift by Stephen King - These stories are intense! It’s fun though to read some of King’s early short stories and see where he starts playing with ideas for his later doorstop epics.

Audiobook - The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler - A re-read for a book club. The parallels of this book and today’s news give me the chills. This is free if you have an audible account.

In Print - Love and Death in Kathmandu by Amy Willesee and Mark Whittaker - This one started slow, but is beginning to pick up. The history of Nepal is really interesting.

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Show Us Your Books February 2025

/

I did not exactly start my reading year off with a bang, but I did manage to squeeze some good books in. Here’s the best of the best from January.

Five Star Reads:

Becoming a Matriarch by Helen Knott - A great and powerful book about dealing with grief and what we are to others.

Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa - I loved this book. I was expecting something like The Memory Police, but instead I got a coming of age story about a girl who goes to live with wealthy relatives for a year. Written in a light way even though it touches on some dark topics, this book was easy to read and perfect for cold winter mornings when you just can’t face getting up yet.

Four Star Reads:

What The Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales -
I loved this well researched audiobook. The author read it herself and you can hear the emotion in her voice when she talks about the ocean. I grew up near the coast in Massachusetts and this made me so homesick. Must get back to see the ocean soon.

Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu - This was my most anticipated Tournament Of Books title. I live in a city in Virginia with a large Ethiopian population so I thought I would learn more about my new neighbors. Haha no. That’s not at all what this was. This was a fever dream that jumped all over the place and I’m not even sure what happened to be honest. I’m not mad. Just confused. Still a pick, but don’t ask me any questions.

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden - I thought this was one thing, then it wasn’t, then it was again but in a completely different way. That probably doesn’t make sense if you haven’t read it but I don’t want to spoil it for you.

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman - This was my first read of the year, and I loved it! It seemed so true to me- working a job with very little power doing what you can to create any change at all. Highly recommend.

Walking Wednesday February 12, 2025

/

It’s getting a little lighter and a little closer to spring so I’m walking more in the daylight now. This week I treated myself to 2 hours PTO at the zoo to see the new pandas. These are new DC residents I can get behind!

For my audiobook listening I’m about to start Entitlement by Rumaan Alam. I have high hopes, but the reviews have not been great. We’ll see.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

February 2025 TBR

/

On My Nightstand February 8, 2025

/

Happy weekend all! I took a little screen break last weekend. I needed a break from headlines, so I shut down my laptop and cleaned out closets instead. This weekend I’m doing some meal prep for the busy weeks ahead, cleaning some more closets, and probably not watching the Superbowl but maybe eating snacks and watching the commercials.

We’re expecting snow this afternoon so I’m really hoping all of my chores will be done so I can hunker down with a bowl of chili and a good book.

“Is your book a good one?
Nancy inquired.

Bess made a face.
The title sounded great, but it turned out to be about medieval history.”
— The Haunted Bridge by Carolyn Keene

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Night Shift by Stephen King - At first I was going to read a short story every few days in between other things, but my mood this morning is telling me to binge them all at once. Preferably after dark. In the middle of a storm. Just before the power goes out.

Audiobook - Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - I had been reading this on paper, but I kept falling asleep so I switched to audio. I love Jane Austen and I love this book, but this time of year I’m just too tired at night.

In Print - Love and Death in Kathmandu by Amy Willesee and Mark Whittaker - I don’t know why I’m thinking this will keep me awake any more than Sense and Sensibility did, but I’m going to give it a shot since it’s for a book club.

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday January 29,2025

/

It’s a hard time of year to get outside during the day. Add to that the sub freezing weather, and walking has not been great. I wonder if there’s a way to listen to audiobooks while swimming indoors.

I started listening to The Beastie Boys Book. It’s fun!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

On My Nightstand January 25, 2025

/

last weekend’s read

I’m up early working today. It’s dark outside but at least I have my sun lamp to wake me up. January is the worst.

Quote of the Week:

“Only juvenile delinquents are still awake at eleven at night.”
— Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

What I’m Reading This Week:

Kindle: Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson - Reading this a chapter a day with a group on Litsy. I don’t love it, but I can see why it would make a good TV show.

Audiobook: Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu - This is the one I’m looking forward to the most from the 2025 Tournament of Books. Fingers crossed.

Paper: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - This week didn’t work out for reading at night. Will try again this week.

tournament reading

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday January 22, 2025

/

It’s still definitely winter, but it’s really not long until I start to see crocuses and snowdrops starting to poke up. Early spring after a short winter is a great advantage to living in Virginia!

I’m between books right now, but looking for something from the Tournament of Books short list. I want to read them all before March.

Happy Walking!

On My Nightstand January 19, 2025

/

Sunrise a few days ago

I need to get organized this week. I have sticky notes everywhere with lists of things I need to do or remember that need to be transferred to my calendar. I need to see what I committed to and figure out if I can actually get it done. I also have a stack of ARCs to read and review. There’s a lot going on in the world now and these are things I can control, you know?

Is anyone an Everand user? This new plan they have is driving me nuts. I don’t want to switch to their new system, but I also don’t like how titles are suddenly unavailable without notice. I might cancel my subscription and get more credits from libro.fm instead.

Quote of the Week:

“There were bookshelves in every room, so that a volume would be close at hand as soon as one thought of it, and children were free to read the adults’ books.”
— Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

What I’m Reading This Week:

Kindle: The Girl Without Skin by Mads Peter Nordbo - For a book club. I started yesterday between games at my daughter’s tournament and it’s a surprisingly good read for this particular book club!

Audiobook: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner - I gave up on a few books the other day before I settled in on this book about what makes happy countries happy.

Paper: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - Another project for a different book club. We’re re-reading Jane Austen’s books and some adaptations. I’m looking forward to reading this at my table at night with some tea and cookies.

tournament reading

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Show Us Your Books January 2025

/

I took a break in December so this is actually a list of 4 and 5 star reads for November and December. Although December was not a great reading month for me so this was mostly great reads from my non-fiction November reads, which was amazing. I’m happy to say January has started stronger than December.

So here they are, the best of the best from November and December 2024 (not including re-reads.)

Five Star Reads

Coming Home by Brittney Griner - This book was something. Russian prison is something I haven’t thought a lot about, but now I will never forget it. And I will always empty my bags before I travel.

Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins - I loved this memoir. Jedidiah and his mom drive from Louisiana to Oregon to retrace the route she walked in the 70’s. They have fundamentally different beliefs but their love for each other and their willingness to keep talking is inspirational and hopeful, especially at this particular moment in time.

Janesville by Amy Goldstein - This book was excellent. It was about Janesville, Wisconsin and what happened in the 5 years after the GM plant in town closed. I‘m glad I got to this one finally.

The Break by Katherena Vermette - This book was sad and covered some hard topics, but an incredibly good read. I didn’t want the story of these women to end

Four Star Reads

Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn - This was a tough read, especially now, but I wasn’t going to extend my hold after waiting for it since July. The whole book was interesting, but I preferred the parts that pertained to more modern medicine. I wish there was something about how to advocate for myself, my daughter, and my mother

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen - I loved that there was a character that had books just appear when she needed them, and the winter setting let me pretend it wasn’t 80 degrees in November.

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny - The story lines in these later books are kind of off the wall, but I still love every minute of them. This one didn‘t have as much Three Pines action as I like, but I did love revisiting some of the monks from A Beautiful Mystery. Sounds like a new one is already in the works.

Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice - I’m so happy Rice wrote this follow up to Moon of the Crusted Snow. This one wasn’t as good as the first, but it was a satisfying follow up. The audiobook had the same excellent narrator as well.

The Healer by Antti Tuomainen - I enjoyed this dystopian crime novel about a man searching for his wife in Helsinki. In the days before Christmas the world is falling apart, climate change is a done deal, and the police don’t have the resources to look for a missing woman. A quick read, perfect for holiday reading when you don‘t want to think too hard.

Happy reading everyone!

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

On My Nightstand January 11, 2025

/

Wouldn’t it be nice to be a cat napping in the sun without a care in the world these days?

We had snow all week plus President Carter’s funeral. My office (not too far from the National Cathedral) decided we would work from home another week. This Massachusetts girl got to test out her snow driving chops a few times here in Virginia and it turns out I’ve still got it. I’m not as good at shoveling snow as I used to be though. I think I pinched a nerve in my neck or something. Don’t get old if you can help it.

Quote of the Week:

“Patience! Have patience, my son,” his mother had exhorted. “Remember Job.” “Job!” scoffed the boy. “What did he know about patience? He didn’t have to wear no leather breeches.”
— Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

What I’m Reading This Week:

Kindle: The Haunted Bridge by Carolyn Keene - Starting this for a buddy read. Reading through this series you can tell some ghost writers were better than others.

Audiobook: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden - Another one from The Tournament of Books. Loving this one so far.

Paper: Becoming a Matriarch by Helen Knott - I’ve been reading this a little bit each night before bed, but I love it so at a certain point I will just finish all at once.

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday January 8, 2025

/

Whew, it’s definitely winter walking weather out there. With no holiday decorations to look at I’ve been changing my routes so that I can find new things. Pretty soon I’ll be seeing signs of spring- or at least that’s what I tell myself!

I’m listening to The Mysterious Affair at Styles for a buddy read. The discussion isn’t until the end of the month, but the library wants it back sooner than that.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

On My Nightstand January 4, 2025

/

Happy New Year! Am I the only one who loves spending time looking at my reading stats and making totally unreachable reading goals for the New Year? Ah, January. In 2025 I want to read at least one non-fiction book a week, read a book set at least partially in every state in the US and every province in Canada, and increase my reading time by decreasing my social media time. Fingers crossed!

I didn’t read as much as I hoped over the holidays, but I’m hoping now that I’m back in a good routine I can start reading more again.

Quote of the Week:

“I had discovered that learning something, no matter how complex, wasn’t hard when I had a reason to learn.”
— Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam

What I’m Reading This Week:

Kindle: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer - This is a re-read for me. It really suits this week’s weather! It adds something when you can hear the wind howling outside.

Audiobook: Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman - Loving this book I heard about through Tournament of Books Long List.

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

My January TBR

/

December Beginning TBR: 456
December Ending TBR: 466

Happy New Year! Last month was way more than I bargained for, so I had to stop doing everything that wasn’t necessary to keep me employed and my kids fed and where they’re supposed to be. I’m excited to be back journaling what I want to read and what I’ve actually read. (Totally different lists most months.)

Here’s 20 books I’m hoping to read in January:

1) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

2) The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie

3) The Haunted Bridge by Carolyn Keene

4) Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

5) Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

6) Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

7) Whose Body by Dorothy L Sayers

8) What The Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales

9) The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

10) The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lilian Jackson Brown

11) Becoming a Matriarch by Helen Knott

12) Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir

13) Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us by Joe Palca

14) Your Teenager Is Not Crazy by Jerusha Clark

15) The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy

16) Fire Weather by John Vaillant

17) There Is Nothing For You Here by Fiona Hill

18) The Book of George by Kate Greathead

19) Fix Your Fashion by Laura Strutt

20) The Girl Without Skin by Mads Peder Nordbo

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links

On My Nightstand December 8, 2024

/

I started my annual cookie making extravaganza yesterday. I froze most of the dough to bake and give out later this month, but I had to make a few for my family and the various teenagers who wander in here throughout the week.

Here are the recipes I’ve used so far if you’re looking for some new ones:

Chocolate gingerbread cookies

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chocolate_gingerbread_cookies/

Mexican hot chocolate cookies

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024782-mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies

Finnish Cardamom Cookies

https://www.food.com/recipe/finnish-cardamom-cookies-369337

Peanut Butter Blossoms

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/classic-peanut-butter-blossom-cookies/a3563f6e-96b0-443f-ae0a-53cef4be6db6

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“If we had thought far enough into the future, things might have been different. We might not have saved the monarchs, but we might have seen the world we were making and decided to make a different one.”
— Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Six Cats A Slaying By Miranda James - I’m about 40% in and there’s no mystery yet, but there are kittens so I guess I can forgive that.

Audiobook - Mission: Nutcracker by Cecilia Dominic - When I found a steampunk Nutcracker retelling on Everand I had to add it to my TBR for December right away. I had a lot of fun listening to this while I made cookies yesterday. I’ll probably finish today when I finish decorating.

Paper - A Stroke of the Pen by Terry Pratchett - This is a fun book of short stories that I’ve been dipping in and out of. Not all of them are holiday related, but some are.

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday December 4, 2024

/

Another week of walking mostly in the dark and cold. I had a goal of getting outside in daylight every day in November, but that goal didn’t go so well. I’m going to try again in December because it does really help to get a bit of the weak vitamin D this time of year.

I’m listening to an old favorite this week- Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

My December TBR

/

November Beginning TBR: 417
October Ending TBR: 456

It’s the end of the year, and my TBR has exploded. I’m not mad. The Tournament of Books long list had so many good sounding books that I had never heard of. I’m really excited to see the short list. It must be a hard job to decide!

My December reading list is super-sized as well. I decided to do one list for my regular TBR and one for holiday/winter reads. I know this is ridiculous, but it’s fun to try!

Here are 40 books I want to read in December:

The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lilian Jackson Braun

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Pearly Everlasting by Tammy Armstrong

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

Paying the Land by Joe Sacco

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng

The Mystery of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

Joy In The Morning by Betty Smith

A Stroke of the Pen by Terry Pratchett

Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe

Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall

Tortise for the Queen of Tonga by Julia Whitty

Central Asia by Adeeb Khalid

The Meeting Point by Lucy Caldwell

King of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth

Six Cats A Slayin by Miranda James

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

The Healer by Antti Tuomainen

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

The Secret of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

A Terrible Country by Keith Gessen

Below Zero by CJ Box

Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

The Mistletoe Murder by PD James

The Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

The Sphynx Who Stole Christmas by MR Diamond

Killer Christmas by Harper Lin

An (Un)Orthodox Christmas by Ana T Drew

Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn

Walking The Himalayas by Lev Wood

Mission: Nutcracker by Cecelia Dominic

Calm Christmas by Beth Kempton

Plus 4 books from the Tournament of Books list TBD

Whew, thank you very much if you stuck with me through that.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!