On My Nightstand December 8, 2024

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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.

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Walking Wednesday December 4, 2024

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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.

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My December TBR

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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.

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On My Nightstand November 30, 2024

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We had a great Thanksgiving, and I am making the most of my five day weekend. The only problem is I have completely lost track of what day it is. It seems as if tomorrow might be December 1st, but can that really be true?

Have a great week everyone.

“Barbara Jenkins. Relation: mother. If she lives to be ninety and I’m a solo man in this life, I’ll still write her name. Expecting her to scale Mount Whitney or charter a helicopter to come rescue me from a shipwreck. Something in me will always believe she’ll come find me.”
— Mother, Natue by Jedidiah Jenkins

On My Nightstand This Week:

On My Kindle - Between A Flock and a Hard Place by Donna Andrews - Thought this one would be about Thanksgiving. It is not. Still I hope to finish it today.

Paper Book - Pink Slime by Fernanda Trias - This is a weird little book, but I like it. It’s my first new read from the Tournament of Books long list, so starting on a high note.

Audio Book - Janesville by Amy Goldstein - The last of my Non-Fiction November reads. This one is a heart breaker.

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

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On My Nightstand November 24, 2024

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It’s already 6:30 am but it is so dark out. Why is it the time of year when I should be most productive is the darkest? Oh well, at least I get to see the sunrise every day.

I plan on listening to all the audiobooks this week while I’m cooking. It’s just the four of us this year for Thanksgiving so no pressure if I try a bunch of new recipes that don’t work out. We can just pretend it never happened.

I’ve also been on a cleaning spree, and am having fun re-connecting with my Buy Nothing group. I love when I find something random in my house that is just what someone else needs. I know some people have had Buy Nothing nightmares, but my group is great and low drama.

Have a great week everyone.

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.”
— A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde

On My Nightstand This Week:

On My Kindle - Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins - I’m almost done with this one. It’s a good read.

Paper Book - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny - Another one almost done. I’ll be sad when it’s over. I love this series.

Audio Book - Salem’s Lot by Stephen King - I just started this, but even the author’s forward had me riveted.

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

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Walking Wednesday November 20, 2024

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It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done one of these. Not because I haven’t been walking, but because it’s dark outside when I do! This is not my favorite time of year, but I keep looking for bits of light and joy the best I can.

I’ve been listening to Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice. The narrator is excellent, and I’m enjoying the book very much.

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On My Nightstand November 16, 2024

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My kid and I were running errands this morning and wow, the stores are full on Christmas. I picked up some lights for outside and they were almost gone already! I think if I would have waited for December I would have been too late. I did take a peek at Target’s buy 2 get 1 one free book sale, but didn’t see anything I wanted.

Have a great week everyone.

“Imagine a morning in late November. A coming of winter morning more than twenty years ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. A great black stove is its main feature; but there is also a big round table and a fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. Just today the fireplace commenced its seasonal roar. A woman with shorn white hair is standing at the kitchen window. She is wearing tennis shoes and a shapeless gray sweater over a summery calico dress. She is small and sprightly, like a bantam hen; but, due to a long youthful illness, her shoulders are pitifully hunched. Her face is remarkable—not unlike Lincoln’s, craggy like that, and tinted by sun and wind; but it is delicate, too, finely boned, and her eyes are sherry-colored and timid. “Oh my,” she exclaims, her breath smoking the windowpane, ‘it’s fruitcake weather!’”
— A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

On My Nightstand This Week:

On My Kindle - Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins - I bought this when it was on sale in August and I’m about to start it in November. Not a bad turn around for me!

Paper Book - The Break by Katherena Vermette - I had to put this down during the week because the short chapters from multiple points of view were hard to follow when I didn’t have big blocks of time to read. Now that it’s the weekend again I plan to dive in again because this one’s really good.

Audio Book - The Vanderbilts by Anderson Cooper - I switched from paper to audio for this one on the recommendation of another reader. I’m glad I did since Cooper reads it himself. It does add a lot to the story.

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

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Show Us Your Books November 2024

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My October reading was up and down. I hit a slump mid-month and then was on a roll at the end of the month. Here are the best of the best:

Five Stars:

Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson - I’ve been eagerly awaiting Stranger Things Season 5 so when I heard about this book I knew I had to read it- supernatural elements, mysterious disappearances, set in Indiana- I was in of course. It didn’t disappoint. Lost Man’s Lane definitely scratched my Stranger Things itch.

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin - Possibly the scariest book I’ve read this month. Whew. This one really packed a punch.

The Witch Elm by Tana French - I liked this one a lot. Messed up families, spoiled guys dealing with their privileges, unreliable narrators, atmospheric old house, buried secrets. It really worked for me.

Dracula by Bram Stoker - I never read this one because I have a deep aversion to Vampires, but I did it for a book club this month. I’m so glad I gave it a chance! An excellent October read.

Four Stars:

Carrie by Stephen King - Read this on a train to train to Hoboken, NJ. 13 year old me thought I was so badass sneaking this book from my Dad‘s shelf and reading it. I swear I managed to work my knowledge of telekinesis into every conversation for 6 months because I wanted people to know I read adult books. It’s still good (and appreciated the brevity compared to King’s later books.)

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - I’m glad I finally got around to reading Gilead. The story was different but the writing and the pace reminded me a lot of a favorite of mine- Crossing to Safety.

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow - I enjoyed this MG book about a kid living in the quiet zone of Nebraska.

Thanks for reading!

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On My Nightstand November 10, 2024

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I had a couple of days off last week so I took a screen break. I did take some time to start figuring out what I want to study through my reading next year though. I identified 52 books I want to read in order to learn more about the environment, AI, social media, and politics. I’m hoping if I stick mostly to audio books one book a week is do-able. And of course there will be plenty of cozy mysteries in between because aren’t predictable endings exactly what we need right now?

Have a great week everyone.

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”
— Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

On My Nightstand This Week:

On My Kindle - The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker - I have this ARC from Net Galley. It’s a retelling of Little Women that’s no so Jo focused. I love Jo though so not sure how much I’ll like that.

Paper Book - The Break by Katherena Vermette - This book wasn’t what I thought it would be, but I’m liking it more now that I’ve adjusted my expectations.

Audio Book - The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny - I started reading her new book, but when the characters from this book started appearing I had to pause and go back and re-read this one.

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

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My November TBR

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Walking Wednesday October 30, 2024

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The leaves on the trees definitely are saying it’s October! It’s been a great week for walking.

I’ve been listening to Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. I started this one in print, but switched to audio when I got busy at work. It’s a great book to walk to this time of year.

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On My Nightstand October 26, 2024

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someone we ran into on a walk

Can you believe it’s the last weekend before Halloween? There’s so much fall stuff I wanted to do that I didn’t get to. Excuse me while I enter a corn maze while eating a caramel apple dressed like a Gilmore Girl. I haven’t even watched The Great Pumpkin yet!

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“You can go through life and make new friends every year - every month practically - but there was never any substitute for those friendships of childhood that survive into adult years. Those are the ones in which we are bound to one another with hoops of steel.”
— The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

my neighbor’s amazing trees

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- Rocket Boys by Homer Hikam - I’m re-reading this one. It holds up!

Audio- The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith - Another re-read. We’re doing Botswana for #FoodAndLit on Litsy this month.

Paper- The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin - I needed a book set in Connecticut for my #ReadingUSA challenge so decided to finally read this short classic.

physical book stack for the rest of the year

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Walking Wednesday October 23, 2024

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I was everywhere last week. I spent two days at a conference in Hoboken, NJ (across the river from Manhattan), and then came home and was all over town looking at Halloween stuff. This is a great time of year for walking!

This week I’m listening to Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien. It’s making me hungry!

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On My Nightstand October 19, 2024

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Looking at the new york city skyline from jersey city, nj

I took the train to New Jersey Thursday for a work event, and then I came home Friday. I was going to drive, but switched to the train at the last minute. It was a little bit more complicated to get where I needed to be, but I loved having all of those hours to read.

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“There are such beings as vampires; some of us have evidence that they exist.”
— Dracula by Bram Stoker

reading on the train

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- I’m in between a few books on my kindle, but mostly reading my chapter a day of Dracula for a buddy read.

Audio- In Defense of Witches by Mona Chollet - An interesting NF account of witch hunts and their legacy today.

Paper- Best American Mystery Stories 2018 ed. by Louis Penny - Just finished Carrie, so I’m going back to this one. I really love short stories this time of year!

cat naps

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Walking Wednesday October 16, 2024

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I am loving all the October sights on my walks. It’s mostly dark when I’m out now, but every once in a while they let me out during the day.

This week I’m listening to See Something by Carol J Perry for my book club. It’s a cozy mystery that takes place in Salem, MA. Yay for seasonal reads!

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Show Us Your Books October 2024

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September was another slowish reading month for me, but it included some really good books. I’m really trying to stay off my phone but with the election coming and all of the bad storms I’m finding it really hard.

Here are the good ones from September:

Five Star Books:

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane - This was the perfect read for the start of fall reading season. The less you know going into it the better, but if you want something atmospheric and chilling this is it!

Trail of the Lost by Andrea Lankford - This book about volunteer missing persons searchers and investigators on the PCT was fascinating. It was sobering, but so descriptive it made me want to head out west and hike.

Four Star Books:

Micronesian Blues by Bryan Vila - The memoirs of a man working on starting the Micronesian police force in the late 70’s to early 80’s is kind of random but not terrible to read about.

You Like it Darker by Stephen King - Like with any short story collection some were better than others, but overall a really good read. I appreciate that King’s characters seem to be aging right along with him. It‘s nice to read about people 40-60 being haunted.

Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew - A decent read about an immigrant family in Canada. In order to learn the truth about her mother the main character travels to Brunei and Malaysia.

The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen - This started slowly, but picked up in part 2. It was a great ode to creepy gothic novels with the extra spooky setting of a mansion in Block Island, RI during the off season.

Thanks for reading!

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On My Nightstand October 12, 2024

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very faint northern lights

I am up late tonight waiting for my son to come back from his homecoming dance. Seems like just yesterday he was a freshman and now he’s a junior. Yikes. I also spent a long time today cleaning my pantry and making making soup and bread for the week. I will sleep good tonight!

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by far, than I learned anything useful from, except, of course, that some very tedious gentlemen have written books.”
— Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Soup

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- See Something by Carol J. Perry - This month’s work book club book. It’s a quick read.

Audio- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - I started this today while I was doing my kitchen work, and it was perfect!

Paper- Best American Mystery Stories 2018 ed. by Louis Penny - Still working on this one!

how i feel waiting for this kid to get home

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On My Nightstand October 6, 2024

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sunset

I am behind in everything this week, but figured I was better late than never on this post.

My thoughts are with everyone who was in the path of Hurricane Helene. I worked at the Biltmore Estate the summer I turned 21, and have visited the area most years since then. My heart breaks for the residents of the impacted areas. I understand the immediate needs for shelter and supplies, but I think soon I will be donating to the Friends of Pack Library.

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“We talk and talk and cancel out each other’s ideas until it all comes down to what it was before: that we do not agree.”
— The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen

yard work is pretty this time of year

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- The Witch Elm by Tana French - This one didn’t get the best reviews, but I’m loving it. It’s a family drama told from the point of view of an unreliable but privileged narrator. The characters are all sorts of messed up.

Audio- Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson - The premise of this book reminded me of Stranger Things When I heard about it. (Mysterious disappearances, supernatural, set in Indiana.) It’s one of my most anticipated books in October.It was a bonus that it was available on Everand!

Paper- Best American Mystery Stories 2018 ed. by Louis Penny - I love these anthologies this time of year when all I want to do is read, but my schedule is also so packed. They’re great to bring along on errands and to tournaments.

neglected gardens=volunteer pumpkins and mushrooms

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On My Nightstand September 28, 2024

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cozy cat time

It’s Saturday night and I am attempting to stay up for the premier of the 50th season of Saturday Night Live. The odds aren’t good, but we’ll see.

We’re all feeling better and it’s already time to start figuring out winter sports. But first it’s the best reading month of the year- October! I just love to curl up with spooky stories or atmospheric mysteries this time of year.

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“You know she would make a splendid Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
— The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen

cat after the sun came out today

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- Vanished by Wil Hylton - I just started this book tonight and so far I’m fascinated. It’s about finding wreckage from WWII in Palau.

Audio- Pacific by Simon Winchester - This one’s interesting too. It’s all about the nations surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

Paper- Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent - Still working on this one! I should finish before the end of the weekend. I’m enjoying it and am glad there’s a couple more in the series.

reading by the fire

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Walking Wednesday September 25, 2024

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There are definite signs of fall on my walks now. I love the change of seasons. It makes walks so much more interesting. There are a few Halloween decorations out now, but they should be out in full force starting next weekend.

I’ve been listening to You Like It Darker by Stephen King. Very atmospheric for my dark fall walks!

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