On My Nightstand January 19, 2025

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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.

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Show Us Your Books January 2025

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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!

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On My Nightstand January 11, 2025

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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.

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Walking Wednesday January 8, 2025

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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.

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On My Nightstand January 4, 2025

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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.

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My January TBR

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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

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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

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

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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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