After a sick week I’m getting back in the swing of things. I’m looking forward to taking a night walk soon and peeping on my neighbor’s Halloween decorations.
I’ve been trying the classic detective novel The Moonstone this week. It’s a long one!
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Happy October! I’ve been sick all week, but I’m trying to regroup today for the best reading month of the year!
Have a great week!
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James -- I’ve never read anything by this author, and this seemed like a good place to start!
Four Leaf Cleaver by Maddie Day -- Not really seasonal, but I needed a book set in Indiana, and scribd had this one. It’s pretty good.
My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite -- Food and Lit is Nigeria this month. Time to finally read this one. I started last night and am already halfway through.
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
It took the arrival of Tropical Storm Ophelia, but it finally feels like fall. Right on time since the Autumnal Equinox was September 23. That brought about one of my favorite traditions- Reading This Was Our Pact- a graphic novel set on the Equinox. It was so cozy reading under a blanket with the rain and the wind howling outside. It’s hard to believe I couldn’t go outside without melting at the beginning of this month.
Have a great week!
“We forgive the faults of those we love so often, so deeply, that we sometimes convince ourselves the faults do not exist. The rest of the world is not so easily persuaded.”
Graduates In Wonderland by Jessica Pan -- I haven’t started this yet, but am hoping to get through it for a book club.
What Happens In Dubai by Sophie Gravia -- I had this lurking on my Kindle and I figured it was worth a try for the setting.
The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny -- I have been wanting to read this for YEARS. Now is the time!
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
Fall weather is back and I have the step count to show it. It’s so nice to walk outside and not feel like the air is trying to kill you. Not something I take for granted these days!
This week I’m just finishing up The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams.
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This week passed in such a blur I couldn’t tell you what I’ve done. I just know all my food and gas are gone. I’m sure my kids had something to do with that.
Have a great week!
“Sometimes the universe throws you a rope.”
Holly by Stephen King -- I’ve been reading this all week and loving it, but am still only about 65% in. I hope I can finish this weekend. I NEED to know what happens!
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor -- I’m reading this for #AuthorAMonth on Litsy. I always look forward to trying a new to me author.
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley -- This is part two of a MG WWII series. I loved the first one.
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
August was not the greatest reading month for me. I was getting used to a new schedule and distracted. Looking back though I did have some good reads including some really memorable memoirs.
Here’s the best of the best from August.
Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver - Talk about managing expectations- this book blew mine out of the water. Even if you’re like me and haven’t seen Minnie Driver since Good Will Hunting you really should read this book, and go audio if you can. It was really, really good.
Mud Rocks Blazes by Heather "Anish" Anderson -- I usually really enjoy armchair hiking books and this one about setting the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail was no exception. It was surprising that Anderson could complete such a goal while doubting herself the entire time. Just goes to show!
Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond -- I have a feeling this book is only going to be read by people that already agree with Desmond, but I did appreciate the message.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros -- I didn‘t love love this like so many others, but I did like it. The twist at the end (there‘s a book two you know there‘s going to be a twist) was not what I expected.
Dispatches From Pluto by Richard Grant -- An interesting book about a couple who fled New York City to seek a simpler life in the Mississippi Delta. It wasn‘t that simple after all, and I found Grant‘s treatment of the issues in the area to be nuanced. I wish there was an update.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld -- I didn’t love this book like I did some of her others, but it was a good enough read during a vacation. It’s interesting to see how authors are starting to work the pandemic into their books.
The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller -- Another plague book. I was saying “huh??” through a lot of this, but liked it well enough in the end.
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This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.
Good morning! We had thunderstorms yesterday and overnight. Finally we got some rain! I’m really looking forward to getting some fall veggies into my garden over the next couple of days. Soccer games start this week as well, so its busy, but fun busy.
Have a great week!
“How unfortunate for public morals that being unladylike feels so...exciting.”
Holly by Stephen King -- I have been waiting for this for a long time, and now that it’s here I am loving it! I’m about 30% in.
Deadly Quiet City by Murong Xuecun -- I just started this book, but so far it’s fascinating. It’s a first hand look at early 2020 in Wuhan, China.
Bette and Joan by Shaun Considine -- This audiobook about the feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis is so fun. I loved this a few years ago when it first came out, so it was time for a re-listen.
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
I’m hoping this is the last really hot week in a summer of really hot weeks. Walking has been pretty miserable, and everything is looking kind of dead. Thank goodness for audiobooks!
This week I’ve been switching between Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine and Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. Both are really good in different ways!
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“At funerals, people lie about the past. At weddings, they lie about the future.”
Every Summer After by Carly Fortune -- I just barely started this one last week and then got distracted. I have high hopes for this week.
The Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien -- This series is so fun.
Saturday Night At The Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- We once stumbled upon a supper club in Wisconsin where we ate and then watched a water skiing show as the sun set. I’m hoping this book brings back those vibes.
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
Another week of walks by the soccer field! I also started going back to the gym some mornings, but there’s nothing worth taking pictures of there.
My listen this week is Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii. It’s a bit out of my comfort zone, but I like that it’s written by six different authors.
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August wasn’t a great reading month for me. I had a few changes in schedule, and the weather was just terrible. All of that just left me super distracted and spending way too much time on social media. I’m hoping for better things in September.
Total TBR: 332
September Reading Focus: Reading USA, Reading Asia, catch up on ARCs, and read some of the many library books I have checked out
20 Books I Want To Read In September:
1) Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine
2) Fatal Fried Rice by Vivien Chien
3) Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
4) Litsy Postal Markup bookclub book
5) Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
7) The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
10) Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill
11) What Happens in Dubai by Sophie Gravia
12) The Murder of Mr Wickham by Claudia Gray
13) Passage To India by E.M. Forrester
14) The Butterfly Effect by Rachel McKenny
15) Momentous Events In The Life Of A Cactus by Dusti Bowling
16) ARC
17) Deadly Quiet City by Murong Xuecon
18) The Bill of Obligations by Richard Haass
19) ARC
20) The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams
My most anticipated read is Holly by far!
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As of tomorrow I’ll have two kids back in school. Hooray! Love those kids, but teen and tween summers are a lot of work! There are so many cool camps for elementary school kids, but it seems like once they get to middle school the city just says raise yourself now.
I didn’t get much reading done last week, but I did spend some time pulling out books to read in October. I can’t wait for spooky reading season.
Have a great week everyone.
“If Lenore had been a country, I would have married North Korea...”
A Day of Fire by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Vicky Alvear -- I’m reading this for a challenge, and I’m enjoying the different but related stories written by six authors set in the day or so before the Pompeii volcano explosion.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune -- This came in from the library this morning, and I thought it looked like the perfect last week of unofficial summer read.
A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain -- This is for a book club, and I must admit as a vegetarian I am a little worried about many descriptions of eating strange meat. I’ll give it a try though.
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
School is back in session, and a lot of my walks are now taking place during various sports practices. As the kids get older the practices get later, and that works so much better for my schedule. Who are the people available to drive across town to drop their kids at soccer at 4 pm on a random weekday?
I’ve been listening to Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. This book gets a lot of hype, but it’s a little long for my tastes. Grateful that my library had it on audio so I wasn’t tempted to buy it.
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August 20th? How did that happen? As hot as it is, it’s starting to be noticeable that fall is coming. It’s not even light any more when I leave for work in the morning. I for one can’t wait!
Aside from reading this week I’ve been watching TV and listening to podcasts. I watched the entire season of Is It Cake Too, and loved it all. I also listened to the entire season of Serial: The Retrievals. If you’re interested in drug addiction rehabilitation or women’s health care issues I highly recommend it.
Have a great week everyone.
“Life teaches us beautiful lessons. Why not a haircut?”
The Nix by Nathan Hill -- I’ve had this on my shelf for a long time. I kept putting it off because it’s long, but I promised myself I would read it this summer. Summer’s almost over so the time is now!
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros -- I’m giving into the hype! Just started this on audio.
Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant -- Another book I’ve been looking at for a while. I’m really looking forward to this memoir from a couple who moved to Mississippi.
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
It’s still as hot an humid as ever here, but there have been signs of fall on my walks. Bring on the sweater weather. I’m over this summer that seems to want to kill us all.
When walking I’ve been listening to A Bad Day For Sunshine by Darynda Jones. I love starting a new series!
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What a whirlwind July was! There was a lot of good, some bad, and some outright chaos. I’ve never taken two vacations in one month before, but I’m really glad I had that time away to temper real life which was honestly kind of like running in a hamster wheel.
And reading, there was a lot of reading! I read 22 books in July. Considering I also drove about 2000 miles, spent time with both sides of the family, and worked more hours than ever I’m happy with that! Thank goodness for long summer nights and audiobooks right?
Here are the highlights:
Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah -- It’s been a long time since I’ve loved a book like I’ve loved this one. Jo is recovering from the death of her mother and her own illness while doing grad work in rural Illinois. It all seems simple until a little girl claiming to be an alien shows up. (Note: This is free with Kindle Unlimited at the time of this writing.)
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley -- Great on audio. The main character is a teenager who is flawed, but cares deeply about her community. I really loved that about this book.
A Room With A View by E.M. Forster -- Yes another classic that I thought would be boring but was actually really entertaining.
Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H -- This memoir was great. It was such a unique take on life and faith. I highly recommend it.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang -- Another book that really made me think. It was perfect for the Litsy reading group I discussed it with. Bonus points for being a book set in DC that wasn’t about politics. (People live here!)
Breathless by Amy McCulloch -- This book about a woman hiking in the Himalayas while a killer is on the loose was a great way to pass the time.
Looking Up by Matthew Cappucci -- Enjoyed this quick read about storm chasing (although I have mixed feelings about storm chasing as a hobby.)
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell -- Whew. What a ride! I loved it. Great ending.
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This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.
I’ve been on summer vacation for two weeks, and I am ready to be back to normal! Love to travel; love to come home even more.
I can’t wait to share my reading with you all again, and to see what you’ve been up to. I hope everyone is having a decent summer, and is safe from all the storms, heat, and fires.
Have a great week everyone. Can’t wait to catch up!
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton -- I still love this book, and re-read it every few years.
Pompeii by Robert Harris -- I’m having a hard time getting into this one, but I love volcanoes so I’ll keep trying.
Mud Rocks Blazes by Heather Anderson -- I’m mentally gearing up for fall hiking!
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
I read 19 books in June. Four of them were re-reads, which is always fun. A lot of people don’t like to re-read, but to me it’s like visiting old friends. Besides that reading is just better when I’m sitting on the porch with a glass of wine and baseball on the radio.
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu - In 1938 Meilin and Renshu had to flee their home in China. For years they searched for some place to grow roots and finally found it in Taiwan. Eventually they each found stability- Meilin in Taiwan and Renshu in the states. Neither really ever felt safe though until they learned to confront the past. This book was heartbreaking, but in the very best way. You all should read it.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese - This audiobook was 31 hours long, and I wish it could have gone for another 31 hours. I loved it so much. It all came together beautifully and I loved the characters. Five stars.
Foster by Claire Keegan - This was a great short story, but I wish I knew more about the families (family?) involved.
The Not-Quite States of America - I read this for a book club, and I wasn’t sure what to expect due to mixed reviews. I ended up enjoying it though I thought some parts were needlessly padded with background information. It seems that this one is better to read than listen from the reviews.
Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid - Yet another book I would have never heard about if not for Litsy challenges! This short book has a lot to say about growing up, the expectations we put on kids, and mother/daughter relationships.
Untangled by Lisa Damour, Ph.D. - This book was excellent. Highly recommend for anyone with a daughter 12 or older.
Our Stories Carried Us Here (Anthology) - A powerful and moving graphic novel anthology about the refugee experience. I‘m going to pass this on to the library at our school’s international academy.
Exiles by Jane Harper - I thought I had figured out the mystery halfway through and I was annoyed that Falk was taking so long to catch up. Then it turned out it was someone I hadn’t suspected at all and I loved the ending.
The Last Word by Taylor Adams - I loved the premise of this book- deranged author goes after lone woman who gave him a one star review on Goodreads. However it seemed to take forever for anything to happen. It was entertaining enough to listen over a busy weekend full of chores though so I’m giving it 3 stars.
Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith - Part memoir part history of Fell-Running- aka running up and down mountains in Britain usually in terrible weather. I enjoyed the parts about the author’s pursuits, but wasn‘t as engaged in the historical parts.
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This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.
Holidays lead to out of the ordinary walking routes! I’ve been having a great time reminding myself of local attractions including the National Mall and early morning baseball games.
For audiobooks I’ve been alternating between The Outsider by Stephen King and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.
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I think this week might actually be a normal week- 5 days of work, no holidays, no appointments. I love holidays and travel but it will be nice to get back into a normal routine for a bit.
Weather here has been wild, and that has been cutting down on my walking and gardening time. Sometimes it has rained so hard I can’t even sit on my covered porch without my library book getting wet.
I can’t believe it’s almost mid-July. Summer is going too fast. I have a few weeks of reading other’s posts to catch up on, so I look forward to “seeing” you all this week.
Have a great week everyone.
“He has taught his daughter how to ride a bike, how to swim.
Isn’t each of these a victory in itself?”
As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann - I bought this on kindle for a reading challenge, but I’ve heard it’s pretty intense. We’ll see how that goes. I feel no shame in not finishing books if I’m not enjoying them.
The Outsider by Stephen King - Classic Stephen King summer reading. I’m still re-reading for when Holly comes out in September.
Breathless by Amy McCulloch - I read a lot of books that take place in the Himalayas. Some are better done than others. So far so good with this one.
I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab - My daughter and I picked this as a book we could both read while she’s away at camp. She omes back on Saturday so I need to get a move on!
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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.
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