Show Us Your Books November 2021

October was a good solid reading month. Nothing blew me away, but I was completely entertained by everything I read.

Four Stars

Where The Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass - I absolutely loved this retelling of Jane Austen‘s Persuasion set in Tobago. It was a perfect mix of homage to a classic and modern themes. The narrator was excellent as well.

State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny - This was an enjoyable mystery/thriller with all sorts of twists and turns. There were several times when the fact that it was written by Hillary Clinton with all her inside knowledge took me out of the story, but overall I enjoyed the ride. I LOVED the cameos from Three Pines (Louise Penny’s mystery series.)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - From what I‘ve heard about this book I was nervous I wouldn‘t like it, but the story really worked for me. I think if I said more it would spoil it, but I do recommend this one.

Three Stars

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict - This book was good. You think it‘s one thing and then you get to the end and realize it‘s something else. Recommend.

Faithful Place by Tana French - This was my favorite of the series so far. The characters were so flawed but you could relate to them.

A Star For Mrs. Blake by April Smith - Historical fiction about the gold star mothers who went to see their sons‘ graves in France between the world wars. Likable characters living a subject I didn’t know much about.

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Life According to Steph

October 2021 Show Us Your Books

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September was a great reading month. I read not one but two five star books, got back into the swing of train reading, and devoured the new Louise Penny. So, so satisfying.

Five Stars

The Only Plane In The Sky by Garrett M. Graff - On Sep. 11 I was living just a few miles from the Pentagon and my husband was working at the US Capitol. In the end nothing happened to us personally, but the day was so chaotic and scary that I’ve avoided reading about it since. I decided this year I was ready for it so listened to this audiobook. It was really hard to re-live that day, but in a way really healing to hear everything laid out in chronological order.

We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker - I absolutely loved this book. Parts of it were so grim, but the characters melted my heart. READ THIS BOOK.

Four Stars

The Guide by Peter Heller - Peter Heller is a must read for me. I loved The River and I loved its follow up The Guide just as much. Poor Jack maybe he should pursue indoor hobbies.

Abigail Adams by Woody Holton - I had a hard time getting into this but ended up really loving it. Abigail Adams was so interesting- part time feminist icon part time mother in law from hell, this book showed all sides. Given the times I was fascinated by the description of John Adams‘ smallpox inoculation and his subsequent confinement. I really recommend this one.

The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny - Another good one from Louise Penny. Set in a post pandemic world someone is using lessons and statistics from the pandemic to forward evil ideas, and Canada is starting to listen.

Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews - This was messed up in the best possible way. Two morally corrupt women take their talents to Morocco and craziness ensues. You have to be in the right mood for something like this which I totally was over Labor Day weekend.

Bride of the Sea by Eman Quotah - I liked this book. Operation Desert Storm from the Saudi perspective was not something I had read about before, and Muneer was the first Arabic man I‘ve read about who believed in restrictions against women but who wasn‘t portrayed as a villain. I wish the author had gone more into the motivations of Saeedah, and the ending was a little bumpy. Overall a good read, and I hope there will be more by this author.

Three Stars

Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan by Erika Fatland - This was between a pick and a so-so. I really loved the first half but towards the end she stopped talking about the logistics of traveling in Central Asia and more about the politics and I lost some interest. Overall though it was an interesting introduction to several countries I knew nearly nothing about.

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman - I don‘t always love magical realism, but the characters in this one grew on me and I liked it more than I expected to.

Life According to Steph

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Food And Lit: Guatemala

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September was Guatemala month for Food And Lit. If you’re looking to read a book about recent Guatemalan history you must read Caminar. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, it’s a middle grade novel told in verse. I read it and then began a campaign to get my son to read it.

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Guatemala is known for its coffee and chocolate so of course I had to treat myself. I also made Kak’ik for dinner one night. Really good!

Next month we’re in Zambia!

September 2021 Show Us Your Books

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August was a really good reading month. It helped that I had a week off, and that my family likes to listen to audiobooks in the car.

The other thing that helped? Both of my kids went back to in person school 5 days a week. They went two days each (not the same two days) for about 3 months last year, but now they’re both back at the same time. I have so many mixed feelings about this whole thing, but am also feeling pieces of my brain shift back together that haven’t been fully functional since March 2020. Fingers crossed they stay safe, and they have a semi-normal year. Luckily we live in a city that embraces vaccinations, mask wearing, and social distancing. That’s not a silver bullet I know, but it does make me feel a little less guilty about being happy about completing thoughts, reading on the train, and being able to finish a cup of coffee before it gets cold. Let’s just say I can’t wait to read the book about how caregivers (mostly women) were abandoned and forced to figure things out on their own during the pandemic.

Anyway, back to August reading.

Five Stars

Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary - These books are just wonderful, and the perfect length for audiobooking in the car. Somehow this is the first time my whole family has listened to one together and we all loved it. These are read by Stockard Channing aka Mrs. Bartlett from West Wing.

Four Stars

Chasing The Thrill by Daniel Barbarisi - Right book at the right time- I picked a book about a modern day treasure hunt that took place in some of the same areas we drove through on our trip last month. It would have been good anyway, but that was the icing on the cake. My 13 year old, my husband, and I all recommend this.

The Arsonists' City by Hala Alyan - This was a good family drama set at various times in Syria, Lebanon, and America. It would have been great if not for all the backstory.

Already Toast by Kate Washington - I thought this book was excellent. It was brutally honest and relatable. A really important read. (See rant above. This isn’t quite what I was looking for, but it was close.)

Long Bright River by Liz Moore - An tale of the opioid crisis with elements of a mystery and thriller thrown in. This book was fabulous.

Three Stars

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth - Even though I kind of knew what was going on in this twisty book I was excited to keep reading to see just how it would happen.

Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman - A dark but entertaining book about college admissions from the point of view of parents with kids in an elite Washington high school. I read this for a work book club, and we had plenty to discuss!

The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene - Another World War Two book, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I never connected with the main character, but I liked the story.

Life According to Steph

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Food And Lit: Pakistan

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August’s Food And Lit country was Pakistan. There were a ton of books I wanted to read (and will get to some day.) Finally I settled on Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal on audiobook. It’s a modern Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan. I thought the restraints and rules of Pakistani society really worked in a comparison to Jane Austen’s time. The narrator was great too!

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For food I had a little bit of trouble, but luckily Unmarriageable helped me out- the family loved tomato rice, so I made that. I had never spent so much time making rice, but it was oh so worth it. Delicious. I happily ate leftovers all week long.

This month we’re on to Guatemala. Yum!

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August 2021 Show Us Your Books

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July was a month of decent but not great books. I’m hoping that this month will give me a knock my socks off, wow oh wow, amazing summer read. Fingers crossed.

Four Star Reads

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin - This book was so well written. I loved how Baldwin showed us things with words rather than telling us. The story itself was really sad. I can’t believe we haven’t fixed this yet.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler - I really liked this novelization of Zelda Fitzgerald’s house. It was more sympathetic than other books I’ve read about her, and it gave a whole other side to the story.

Way Out There by J.R. Harris - Loved the memories of a lifetime of backcountry backpacking. Really loved that he works in market research (as do I.) Recommend if you like armchair hiking.

A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles - This was my 4th time trying to read this, and I even thought about bailing again. Then I got to the end, and wow, I want to read it again.

Three Stars

The Sisters Weiss by Naomi Ragen - I enjoyed this novel about Ultra Orthodox sisters growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950’s and the turns their lives took.

Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer - A true adventure story about a horse race across Mongolia. I’ll forgive the author a little immaturity and weirdness since she was only 18 at the time.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane - This was a really sad book, but it was told with empathy. Good on audio.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - I don’t usually read romance, but it’s summer so I gave this a try. Happy to say I thought it was super cute, and I will read more by this author.

Life According to Steph

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I Haven't Read A Book In Two Years, What Should I Read Next?

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I was looking at my analytics the other day, and I was thrilled to see that someone had found me by searching the phrase I Haven't Read A Book In Two Years, What Should I Read Next? Searcher, I hope you found an answer!

Ever since then I was imagining having a conversation with this person over a cup of tea trying to talk them into a stack of my favorite books. Would I send them home with Devotions by Mary Oliver since short approachable poetry might lend a sense of accomplishment or with something that they could immerse themselves in like Stephen King’s 11/22/63? Or maybe something more popular like The Martian by Andy Weir or A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman would be better.

The possibilities are almost endless. What would you recommend?

Show Us Your Books July 2021

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Is anyone else reading more now than ever because you know your quarantine time is coming to an end? It looks like my office is opening back up in the fall and the kids will be going back to school, and I am appreciating my cocoon time in a way that I couldn’t before when it seemed like I would be trapped here forever. I don’t know. Life is strange. Anyway, June was another very prolific reading month, and the pools opened so I got to go back to my favorite hobby- poolside reading. My son asked me if I get a pool pass just so I’ll have a nice place to read. PRETTY MUCH.

Four Star Reads

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - Grief through Shakespeare‘s wife‘s eyes. This was an incredible book.

The Gunslinger by Stephen King - One of my goals this summer is to re-read the first three books of the Dark Tower series. I just finished the first and this is one of those books that‘s better the second time through because you know what happens with the rest of the series. “Go then. There are other worlds than these.”

Backpack by Emily Barr - Tansy decides to take a year off after the death of her mother to backpack in Asia. Everything is great until a serial killer starts killing people who look like her, and leaving them with her belongings.

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline - Compelling historical fiction about women sent to Australia as convicts.

No One's Home by D. M. Pulley - A great summer ghost story with a satisfying ending. Recommend. (Right now this is free on Kindle for Prime members if you’re interested.)

All Adults Here by Emma Straub - I liked this family saga more than I thought I would. Straub somehow made the characters likable even as they messed up over and over.

Three Star Reads

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry - I liked this romance meets armchair travel. Perfect summer fun.

The Cookbook Club by Beth Harbison - This wasn‘t earth shattering groundbreaking Literature, but it was a nice happy story I read in a day.

Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu - This murder mystery set in Singapore was a ton of fun. I can‘t wait to read the rest of the series.

One Life by Megan Rapino - I picked this audiobook because my daughter is really getting into soccer and I wanted to understand it better. I still don‘t understand what offsides is, but I liked Megan.

Life According to Steph

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2021 Best Reads So Far

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2021 has been an interesting reading year. There’s still a half of year for things to go crazy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up reading more this year than I ever have before. I’ve even enjoyed a healthy stack of chunksters. I’m not sure if this is me settling into a post-Covid world or if my efforts to move away from my phone are working. Probably a combination of both.

So far I’ve rated 8 of my 114 reads as 5 stars. Five were new to me, and 3 were re-reads. I’m sharing them here in no particular order. I can’t wait to see which of these end up on my best reads list at the end of the year.

5-Star Reads That Are New To Me

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil I absolutely loved this book of nature essays and accompanying illustrations. Loved it. I read a library copy, and now I need my own copy so I can flag and highlight.

I put off reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee forever, and I can’t figure out why. I absolutely loved this chunky story about a Korean family in Japan. It was everything I want in a book: sweeping, multi-generational, wistful, and touching.

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese - This was such a beautiful book. It was a chunkster - 23 hours on audio - but there’s not a second of it I would cut out. In Ethiopia Marion and Shiva Stone are the twins of a mother who died in childbirth and a father who ran away. They are adopted by hospital staff and come of age surrounded by medicine.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson This memoir in verse was amazing. What took me so long to read a book by Jacqueline Woodson? (This was also the book I read while I was waiting for my second vaccine side effects to go away, so I will always remember it fondly for that.)

Gone Crazy In Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia - When I found out I would be driving from Cleveland to DC with my kiddos I knew I had to have this audiobook to get me through. We all love this series about three sisters just trying to grow up. This is the third and final (for now?) book in the series, and I think it was the best. You can tell kids what it was like for African Americans in the 60’s but these books show in a way that is humorous and engaging for them, and powerful and sobering for adults. I can’t recommend these books enough no matter what your age.

5 Star Re-Reads That Held Up

Emma by Jane Austen - I love the small town and all of the CHARACTERS in this book. I really feel like this is Jane Austen at her best. I remain #TeamEmma

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng This book has so much: WWII from a non Western perspective, gardening, tea, grief, forgiveness, and so much more. It starts in the highlands of Malaysia where former war prisoner Yun Ling approaches Japanese gardener Arimoto to help her create a garden in memory of her sister who didn‘t survive the war. It‘s a beautiful book and I highly recommend it.

The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi - Two women separated by 100 years in Afghanistan. This book will punch you in the gut. It’s long, but I could have kept reading for another 200 pages.

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Book Recommendations For Visiting The National Parks This Summer

Arches National Park Stock Image

Arches National Park Stock Image

Like so many other Americans I plan on visiting a National Park or two this summer. We have an incredible array right here in our area, and I might even take advantage of my vaccination status and fly somewhere.

If you’re visiting the parks this summer and reading up ahead of your trip here are some books I recommend.

The Best Books About National Parks

Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell - Between the Civil War and the government’s creation of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park lives were lived in Cataloochee, a town in the mountains of North Carolina. The book begins with gunshots. In the chapters that follow we go back and learn the story of Ezra Banks, and the years of hard work and darkness that brought the shots on. This book is everything I love in a novel. It’s a slow build of a multi-generational classic.

The Road To Paradise by Karen Barnett - I love a book about mountains, and when you combine mountains with historical romance you really can't go wrong. Margie went to Mt. Rainer both to indulge her love of nature, and to escape her shady ex-fiance. Of course there's a hunky ranger on the mountain. I'm telling you; it's everything good for a cozy day of reading.

A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson - This thriller was fast paced from the beginning, and then 3/4 of the way through something totally bonkers happens. I really loved it.

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery - Grandma Gatewood hiked the Appalachian Trail in her late 60's. Part of the time she couldn't see due to broken glasses, and she kept going any way. I don't even go to the bathroom in the middle of the night if I can't find my glasses. Plus her equipment was lacking. She hiked from Georgia to Maine with little more than some food, a shower curtain, an umbrella, and a pair of Keds on her feet. Her amazing athletic accomplishments don't even account for the serious abuse she had to overcome before she hit the trail.

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Show Us Your Books May 2021

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May was an excellent reading month for me- three five star books, a Hemingway binge, and tons of solid reads about all sorts of things. I usually only talk about the highlights here, but this month I’m just going to list them all.

Five Star Reads

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil I absolutely loved this book of nature essays and accompanying illustrations. Loved it. I read a library copy, and now I need my own copy so I can flag and highlight.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson This memoir in verse was amazing. What took me so long to read a book by Jacqueline Woodson? (This was also the book I read while I was waiting for my second vaccine side effects to go away, so I will always remember it fondly for that.)

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng This book has so much: WWII from a non Western perspective, gardening, tea, grief, forgiveness, and so much more. It starts in the highlands of Malaysia where former war prisoner Yun Ling approaches Japanese gardener Arimoto to help her create a garden in memory of her sister who didn‘t survive the war. It‘s a beautiful book and I highly recommend it.

Four Stars

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway I didn‘t think I liked Hemingway, but I checked this out of the library after watching his PBS special and it‘s quite good, actually.

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner This was a roller coaster of a story that had me guessing wrong all the way through.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer I‘ve read this several times, but this was my first time on audio. Other than scandalizing myself during morning car pool after an unfortunate timing of the f word it was just as great as in print. Even though I know what happens I‘m on the edge of my seat every time.

Eat The Buddha by Barbara Demick I have always been aware of the issues in Tibet, but until I read this modern history I had never understood them. This was a fascinating book. I recommend it.

Three Stars

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner This was a good light read, but wasn‘t total fluff. It reminded me a lot of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi This was a pleasant audiobook set in 1950‘s India. Likable characters with a pleasing ending. I enjoyed it.

Buttermilk Graffiti by Edward Lee I enjoyed this travelogue from a chef who went around the country eating all sorts of delicious food. I did audio but want to find a print copy as a reference for random road trips.

The Lobster Kings Alexi Zentner The characters in this book kind of drove me nuts, but I‘m glad I finished it. It‘s part King Lear and part sea monsters, and is set on an island that sometimes belongs to Canada and sometimes to the US. It has a very unique sense of place.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain I had to re-read this after reading A Movable Feast. I think I‘m now officially obsessed with 1920‘s Paris.

Life According to Steph

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Summer Reading Plans

It’s summer reading season!

It’s summer reading season!

I am so excited for summer reading. There’s nothing I love more than reading a book outside on a hot summer afternoon. Of course, me being me, I already have stacks and stacks of books picked out to read. I don’t really gravitate to the the new best sellers. Instead I like to re-read, concentrate on the back list titles I have at home, and dip my toes in a little bit of romance- something i don’t usually read the rest of the year.

A Few Titles From My (Very Long) Summer Reading List:

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Show Us Your Books April 2021

Unread books…

Unread books…

April was a prolific reading month for me, but I ended up with a lot of dark titles. I’m hoping for lighter reads in May. Here are my stats:


Beginning TBR: 852 Ending TBR: 839
20 books read in total, 8 audio 12 print
#AuthorAMonth2021 1 book
#ReadingAsia2021 3 countries: Nepal, Israel, Palestine
#FoodAndLit Isreal 1 book read, much pita bread eating
#BookspinBingo 1 real bingo, 2 if you count bails
#ChunksterChallenge 65% done with Les Miserables

(Hashtags are from Litsy.)

Favorite of The Month

Salvage The Bones by Jesmyn Ward - The content of this book was heartbreaking and hard to read, but that doesn‘t stop it from being a masterpiece. Wow. I will hold this family in my heart for a long time.


Memorable Memoirs

Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson - Interesting insight into what it takes to become a master chef.

After The Wind by Lou Kasischke - There have been so many books about the 1996 Everest disaster, but I‘ll never get tired of them. This one is a worthwhile addition to my collection.

The Honey Bus by Meredith May - I have mixed feelings about this one. The writing was beautiful, and the parts about bees were fascinating. However the parts about her childhood were frustrating and hard to read. Also I felt like she totally absolved her father. It was the times I guess.

Non-Fiction That Left My Brain Spinning (In A Good Way)

A World Without Email by Cal Newport - A World Without Email is a catchy title, but I feel like the real take away here is to figure out what‘s sucking up your time. If that‘s email then you should figure out a way to make it less painful. If you‘re good at your job you can get away with doing what it takes to control your time. Poor Cal Newport. I feel like some of this will already be dated in a post Covid workplace.

The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan - A history of Israel and Palestine from the 1940‘s on with vignettes of the lives of Bashir and Dalia throughout. This book gave me a lot to think about.

Shakespeare In A Divided America by James Shapiro - This book explored Shakespeare as a canary in a coal mine for American politics. I loved it as an audiobook, and plan on buying a paper copy so I can underline.

Fabulous Fiction

She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore - This book was sad and depressing so I can‘t say I liked it, but it was so well written it is a pick. I have so much to think about after reading this book, and I will definitely be reading more about the history of Liberia. I ended this book with a similar feeling to the one I had when I read Salvage The Bones even though the subject matter was much different.

Murder At Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd - This was a fun retelling of Mansfield Park as a murder mystery. It worked since the characters in Mansfield Park weren‘t particularly likable. Shepherd could do what she wanted without ruining the memories of any beloved characters.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - A really good book that tells some of the stories from the Book of Genesis from a woman‘s perspective. I’m probably the last one on Earth to read this, but I’m including it anyway.

Life According to Steph

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Show Us Your Books March 2021

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I can’t believe it’s mid-April already. I know I say this every year, but this year really is going uncomfortably fast. That said I’ve weirdly been staying on task with my reading goals and lists. I always spend so much time in December coming up with goals, lists of books I’ll read each month, and signing up for challenges. I last until about halfway through January until I forget all about it. This year I’ve appreciated the time my past self has put into finding these books for me and have been sticking to my schedule. Will it last? Who knows.

Best of the Best In March

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese - This was such a beautiful book. It was a chunkster - 23 hours on audio - but there’s not a second of it I would cut out. In Ethiopia Marion and Shiva Stone are the twins of a mother who died in childbirth and a father who ran away. They are adopted by hospital staff and come of age surrounded by medicine.

What The Heck Just Happened?

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - Eventually I’m going to need to read this one again because I got to the end and it totally wasn’t about what I thought it was. But that was the beauty of it. I’m still not even sure what happened. Rose Baker’s job as a typist at the city precinct takes a turn when the mysterious and beautiful Odalie comes on board.

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier - March must have been my month for unresolved endings because this was another book that left me with more questions than answers at the end. Philip’s uncle has died in Rome shortly after marrying the mysterious Cousin Rachel. Was it just bad luck, or something more…

Three More Good Books I Recommend You Read

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters - This one had so many of the themes I loved: motherhood, found families, and the role of women. It deserves the hype.

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty - My reading friend at work has been telling me to read this fantasy trilogy for years, and I’m so glad I finally did. I can’t wait to read the rest.

A Woman In The Polar Night by Christiane Ritter - The fascinating account of a woman who spent a year in the Arctic just before WWII. I really enjoy this type of memoir.

Life According to Steph

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March Reading Stats

Mabry Mill

Mabry Mill

March was a great reading month. We had a few days that were perfect for reading outside, plenty of audiogardening, and a short road trip that supported my reading habits. I noticed I was quick to bail on books that didn’t grab me right away. I have mixed feelings about bailing on books, but overall I do think it allows me to read more books that I like.

Total Read: 17 books read - 6 audio and 11 print. As I mentioned I bailed on five others.

TBR: Started at 849 and ended at 852. Could I have really added 26 books to my TBR? I guess so. I really need a month off to read.

Challenges: Reading Asia -1 (Nepal), Food and Lit - 1 (Ethiopia), Bookspin Bingo - 5 Bingos!, Reading Canada - 1, Chunkster Challenge - 52% done with Les Miserables

April should mean warmer weather for gardening and reading outside, but it also means spring sports for the kids so we’ll see. I have some good books planned for the month, so that should keep me motivated!

Walking Wednesday

Spring is really here now. I love how this time of year every time you go out the landscape has changed drastically. Flowers that weren’t out of the ground the day before are suddenly half a foot tall and in full bloom. Glorious.

Here’s what I’ve been looking at while walking:

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And here’s what I’ve been listening to:

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