On My Nightstand September 21, 2024

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reading with a cat

This week passed by in a haze of ginger ale and vicks vap-o-rub. Me and both kids were sick with various maladies. We’re all on the mend now, but this weekend has been busy catching up with what we missed when we slept last week. I knew when the kids went back to school this was bound to happen.

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“With rifles twirling and hands slapping stocks in unison, it was a picture to warm and drill instructor’s heart, if drill instructors had hearts.”
— Micronesian Blues by Bryan Vila

My Nancy drew collection

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen - This has been living on my kindle for a while. I decided to pick it up this week because I need a book set in Rhode Island for my challenges. It’s a great ode to gothic novels from the past, and perfect reading for this time of year.

Audio- You Like It Darker by Stephen King - I am loving these short stories so far.

Paper- Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent - Never got to this last week. I’ll start tomorrow.

full moon

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Walking Wednesday September 18, 2024

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We’re down and out with back to school ick, but before that I was getting some walks in. I’m feeling a little better today and am hoping to get at least a half mile in. It’s always something!

I am looking forward to getting back to my audio book, Vanished by Joseph Finder. There are a lot of books named Vaisnhed. This is not the one I meant to download, but I am enjoying it just the same!

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On My Nightstand September 15, 2024

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a tuxedo cat peers over the top of a nancy drew book- this cat ignored me all day until this moment

I’m waiting for the Solstice on the 22nd to fully declare it full on Spooky Season, but I’m starting to let my Halloween stuff creep into my every day life. Yesterday my daughter and I went thrifting and we bought a few things for the upcoming weeks. Maybe also I am safe to start buying some candy to keep and give out to trick or treaters, but only the things we don’t really like. The good stuff will be bought as late as possible.

My September reading is going well. I’ve been enjoying all of my Reading Around The World books. I am also finally watching through The Gilmore Girls (official last woman on Earth to do so I think.)

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“Why is everything banana colored?”
— The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen

thrifted glass pumpkin

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane - Taking a break from my reading challenges for a bit because the change in weather made me in the mood for some Lehane.

Audio- You Again? by Nick Spalding - I picked this only because I knew it was set in the Maldives, but it’s actually been a lot of fun. It’s kind of romanceish, and full of shenanigans. I found it on Everand, but it’s also included on Kindle Unlimited at the moment.

Paper- Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent - I’m about to start this mystery set in the Solomon Islands tonight, and really looking forward to it.

Cat naps

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Show Us Your Books September 2024

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August was a slowish reading month for me. I’m not sure why other than getting used to a new school schedule with the kids and working more than normal. Actually now that I say that out loud it totally makes sense. Never mind.

Anyway, here is the best of what I did manage to read.

Four Star Books:

Walking to Samarkand and Winds of The Steppe by Bernard Ollivier - I really enjoyed the last two books in the trilogy of Olliver’s epic walk of the Silk Road. It made me sad though that this is probably a trip I could never take as a woman. (I read the first book, Out of Istanbul, back in July.) At the time of this writing these were all included in my audible membership although I listened to them on Everand.

Pay Dirt by Sara Paretsky - I’ve been reading this series for about 30 years now and it’s still going strong. In this one VI is in Kansas trying to track down a missing soccer player. Chaos ensues.

Pirate Queens by Rebecca Alexandra Simon - The life of a woman pirate was something I never knew I was interested in until I read this book!This was a short book well worth the time.

My Specific Awe And Wonder by Reuben Jackson - I feel so lucky that I got this slim book of poetry from LibraryThing and the publisher. Reuben Jackson’s poems about Vermont were spectacular, and I loved that he gave a section of his book to his friend Kelly Donaldson.

Reuben passed away in February so the last part of the book is drafts and transcribed voicemails. As a non-poet it's fascinating to see his process for creating his art.

Thanks for reading!

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On My Nightstand September 7, 2024

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September skies

I didn’t join in last weekend because I decided to take a screen break. Three full days without looking at a laptop did my brain some good!

This weekend it’s back to normal with work and a big yard project. The weather is perfect and I’m hoping I’ll get some good audiobooks in.

Have a great week!

Quote of the week:

“Management everywhere!”
— Bear by Julia Phillips

On My Nightstand This Week:

Kindle - Micronesian Blues by Brian Vila - Reading this for a challenge, but the memoir of a 1970’s police officer in Micronesia is pretty interesting.

Audiobook - Sunburn by Laura Lippman - A friend recommended Lippman this year, and I’m loving her books on audio.

Print - 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer - For a book club. This book is extremely well written, but I’m still not at a place where I want to read about Sep. 11. The memories are still too close. I’ll be glad when I’m done.

so many cat toys

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Walking Wednesday September 4, 2024

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I am seeing signs of fall everywhere! I’m not usually one to celebrate the end of summer, but the heat this year has been so miserable I say bring on the pumpkin spice. I’ll be the one dressed like a Gilmore Girl taking walks in my neighborhood listening to audiobooks.

This week I’m listening to Sunburn by Laura Lippman. Her books are great on audio.

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Walking Wednesday August 28, 2024

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The weather has been amazing lately, so getting my steps in has not been an issue. Also one night this week I was going to bed and saw I had exactly 11,111 steps. I don’t know why but that made me really happy. I am always amused by the little things.

I’m going to start listening to Jimmy Buffet’s A Salty Piece of Land this week. One last summer book I guess.

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September 2024 TBR

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August Beginning TBR: 416
August Ending TBR: 416

(This is two months in a row that my TBR count has stayed the same despite reading 10+ books.)

Books read in August as of 8/25: 10

Reading USA progress: 34/51

Reading Canada progress: 3/13

Reading The Americas progress: 24/46

Reading Africa progress: 31/53

Reading Asia progress: 35/45

Reading Oceania progress: 7/15

Reading Europe progress: 7/51

For several years now I have been working on reading a book set in each country on Earth. Also I set a yearly goal to read a book set in every US state (plus DC) and every Canadian province.

I spent the summer chasing the new releases and reading what I wanted. But now it’s back to school time and I’m getting serious about working towards my reading goals. I’m hoping that aside from finishing my Reading USA and Reading Canada challenges before the end of the year I can also finish Reading Asia and Reading Oceania. I’ve found some great titles for September so I’m really looking forward to my reading this month!

My September TBR:

1) 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer (work book club)

2) Tales From The Torrid Zone by Alexander Frater (Reading Oceania Fiji)

3) Micronesian Blues by Bryan Vila and Cynthia Morris (Reading Oceania Micronesia)

4) Pacific by Simon Winchester (Reading Oceania Tuvalu)

5) Vanished by Wil Hylton (Reading Oceania Palau)

6) Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (Reading Oceania Papua New Guinea)

7) Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent (Reading Oceania Solomon Islands)

8) A Tortise for the Queen of Tonga by Julia Whitty (Reading Oceania Tonga)

9) Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins (Reading USA state TBD)

10) The Daughters of Block Island by Crista Carmen (Reading USA Rhode Island)

11) Sunburn by Laura Lippman (Reading USA Delaware)

12) Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie (Reading USA Kentucky)

13) Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe (Reading USA South Carolina)

14) Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew (Reading Asia Brunei)

15) Central Asia by Adeeb Khalid (Reading Asia Tajikistan)

16) You Again? by Nick Spalding (Reading Asia Maldives)

17) The Meeting Point by Lucy Caldwell (Reading Asia Bahrain)

18) The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng (Food And Lit Litsy challenge Malaysia)

19) Author A Month challenge on Litsy- something by TJ Klune

20) The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen (Chapter a day buddy read on Litsy)

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On My Nightstand August 24, 2024

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lets go freshmen!

We’re fully back to school now and sports are on every day. That means a lot of outside time for me, but also creating a schedule and sticking to it. Due to all that I’m exhausted, but in a good way. I’ve been mostly working from home this summer so we’ll see what heading back to the office does to all of this careful planning come September.

Reading wise I had been in a bit of a slump at the beginning of the month, but I can feel myself coming back now. I finished 3 books this week, and I’m hoping to do the same next week. I think I just had to give up on some of the books I wasn’t enjoying.

Quote of the week:

“Similarity of opinion is not always—I think not often—needed for fullness and perfection of love.”
— Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell

On My Nightstand This Week:

Kindle - Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell - I’m reading this a chapter a day with a group on Litsy. It’s good so far! (And free on Kindle if you’re interested.)

Audiobook - Winds of the Steppe by Bernard Ollivier - This is the last of 3 books in Ollivier’s series about walking The Silk Road. They’re fascinating.

Print - An Unforgiving Place by Claire Kells - This is a fun series about law enforcement officers in the National Parks. This one takes place in Alaska.

It’s a standoff

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Walking Wednesday August 21, 2024

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The good news about changing schedules is that I usually get to walk in different places. (Yes every time I have to go somewhere I am thinking is there a place for me to walk or read?)

This week I’m listening to A Requiem For A Mouse by Miranda James. I can’t believe I’ve read so much of this series. They’re good palate cleansers.

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On My Nightstand August 18, 2024

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almost full moon

I know it’s gotten boring and people say this every month, but where did this month go? I can’t believe we’re more than halfway through August. Of all the fast months this year this has been the fastest.

We’re volunteering this morning, and then we’re going to see a movie for my birthday in the afternoon. School starts tomorrow, and the first field hockey games are Tuesday and Thursday. In between all that I plan on finding as much time as I can to read on my porch in between watching the moon and listening to baseball.

Quote of the week:

“It pays to do your best work even when you think there’s no point.”
— Pay Dirt by Sara Paretsky

On My Nightstand This Week:

Kindle - Pay Dirt by Sara Paretsky- This is the book I needed right now. I’ve been reading this series since I was in high school, and I love it. I was so excited when the e-book of the latest one came from the library, and I started it as soon as I could.

Audiobook - The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan - This was another very anticipated summer read for me, and so far it is not disappointing me.

Print - Tales From The Torrid Zone by Alexander Frater - I should probably give up on this one soon, but for now it’s what I’m reading when I’m sitting in my car.

Reading in the yard

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Walking Wednesday August 14, 2024

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After the heat of July feeling like one long day it’s nice to wake up to something different most days in August so far. That said I can probably stop taking pictures of the clouds now.

I’m about to start listening to The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters for a book club. This is a new to me author so it could go either way!

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Show Us Your Books July 2024

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July was a great reading month for me. We were away for a week, and then my kids went to Ohio for a week. All of that added up to some quality reading time.

Here are the best of the best:

Five Stars:

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - Whew, what a ride!

An excellent summer read about a brother and a sister who disappear from camp 12 years apart. I loved it- couldn’t stop reading.

My Own Country by Abraham Verghese - Verghese wrote two of my favorite works of fiction so I had to read his memoir about his time as an infectious disease specialist in Johnson City, TN during the early days of the AIDS crisis. His perspective as an immigrant was really unique, and I thought and the stories of his patients were very touching. This was another Verghese five star read for me.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver - This was a re-read for me, but it hit much differently in my 40’s than it did in my 30’s. I loved the three stories of women breaking the mold in Appalachia and how they came together at the end. I forgot how funny this book was too. Truly some laugh out loud moments.

Four Stars:

The Suspect by Alexander Kent - I heard about this book a year or two ago and I bought it the same day, but it took to Paris Olympics to actually pull it from my TBR.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It wasn’t just about Jewell although he certainly features, but also about the reporters and FBI who investigated.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali - I loved this book about two young women growing up in Tehran. A really good read about friendship and life under a totalitarian regime.

Thanks for reading!

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On My Nightstand August 10, 2024

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Clouds after debby

Hurricane Debby swept through here yesterday. It was a scary day with tornado and flash flood alerts going off. Luckily the damage here wasn’t too bad, and we got some much needed rain. I have to take the kids to get some back to school stuff this morning, but as soon as we get home I’m throwing on an audiobook and pulling every weed I see while the ground is soft. The things that make you happy in your 40’s!

I thought I was in a reading slump, but it turns out I just didn’t like what I was reading very much. So I bailed on a bunch of books last week and now I’m back on track. Whew!

Quote of the week:

“Rich people, thought Judy- she thought this the, and she thinks it now- generally become most enraged when they sense they’re about to be held accountable for their wrongs.”
— God of the Woods by Liz Moore

tropical downpours while reading the torrid zone

On My Nightstand This Week:

Kindle - Bear by Julia Phillips - I have peopley things to do this weekend, but really all I want to do is hide somewhere and read this book. At 17% it’s so good!

Audiobook - Walking to Samarkand by Bernard Ollivier - I am really enjoying this trilogy of travel memoirs about Ollivier’s walk along the Silk Road between 1999-2002.

Print - Tales From The Torrid Zone by Alexander Frater - Still reading this one bit by bit while I wait for field hockey practice to end. It’s perfect for dipping in and out of.

fresh figs from my tree

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August 2024 TBR

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On My Nightstand August 4, 2024

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national gallery of art

I worked this week, but I spent a few of the evenings visiting the local sights since my kids are out of town. They don’t love going to art museums or zoos with me, so I just go when they’re gone. Now the kids are back and we’re getting ready for fall sports next week. Summers never last as long as I think they will!

I also spent some time going through my reading plans for the rest of the year. I read quite a few new releases and ARCs this year which has been fun. However I am really behind in my reading goals. So I planned a way so that I can at least finish my Reading Oceania and Reading The USA challenges.

Quote of the week:

“I started doing several different breathing exercises at once that all canceled each other out.”
— All Fours by Miranda July

national botanical garden

On My Nightstand This Week:

Kindle - The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg - An ARC for a historical fiction book coming out in October.

Audiobook - The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty - I bought myself a paper copy of this last year for my birthday, but I realized I just find them much more enjoyable on audio. So I switched to audio but kept my copy of the beautiful book for my shelf.

Print - Tales From The Torrid Zone by Alexander Frater - This one will be with me for a while. I’m enjoying the travel memoir that takes place in various tropical countries, but it’s not something I can curl up with and read for hours.

the national zoo

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Walking Wednesday July 31, 2024

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Now that it’s “only” in the 90’s I’ve been trying to branch out more. This week I visited a nearby park that is known for its boardwalks. It’s so dry, but I still saw a lot of critters.

I’ve been listening to the second to last Cat In The Stacks Book - Hiss Me Deadly by Miranda James. What will I do for a palate cleanser when this series is over?

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On My Nightstand July 28, 2024

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Waking up late today because I stayed up way too late last night watching the Olympics. This will be my life until mid-August. I can’t get enough!

I’ve been reading a lot too, and trying to finish up my July goals. I’m behind this month since we have been on the go so much, and my concentration has been terrible when I do get a minute. Oh well. It’s a hobby not a job. (Talking to myself here.)

Quote of the week:

““Guess what that old family named the house,” he said. “Give me a minute. I’m thinking,” said Delphine, seriously. And then she said: “Manderly.””
— The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

On My Nightstand This Week:

Kindle - Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells - An impulse read- I love books set in National Parks, and have been looking for something similar to Alice Henderson’s series.

Audiobook - The Suspect by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen - Listened to a bunch of things before the one thing I really wanted to listen to. This week!

Print - The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes - For a book club. I hope it’s a good one! I have a love/hate relationship with “required reading.”

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