On My Nightstand December 24, 2023

It’s here! I hope everyone who is celebrating Christmas is able to relax a bit.

Sit down and read a book!

Quote of the week:

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

— A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

On My Nightstand:

Audiobook: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry - I’m about halfway through but not into this one yet. So many people rave about it, but I’m just blah. Maybe I will change my mind.

Kindle: The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Still working on this one. I love it, but just haven’t been making the time.

Physical Book: Prey by Michael Crichton - I thought I had read all of his books, but then I found this!

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

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On My Nightstand December 16, 2023

I am just wrapping up my annual cookie baking extravaganza. I didn’t make as many this year as I usually do because of an intervention from certain family members, but I did get to spend a late night in the kitchen listening to audiobooks. Now I’m sampling my wares and washing them down with some mulled wine. Life is good.

Next week I’m hoping to get some time to finalize my 2024 goals. I have so many ideas! First and foremost though I need to read some of the books I already own. (Are you even a bookworm if you don’t make this vow every year?)

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the week:

“The world was hers for the reading.”

— A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

On My Nightstand:

Audiobook: An Unfortunate Christmas Murder by Hannah Hendy - The British lunch ladies who solve crimes in these books crack me up. They’re fun to listen to as I go about my December madness.

Kindle: The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden - I read this when it first came out and have wanted to read the rest of the trilogy since. I needed to re-read this one before I got started though as I don’t remember much.

Physical Book: The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell - Magical realism isn’t always my thing, but this book is working for me.

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

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

On My Nightstand December 3, 2023

Well this was supposed to be a really busy weekend filled with holiday fun, but then I got Covid. I’ve been hiding from the world in my basement for a couple of days now sending emails backing out of all of the commitments I made. It’s sad to miss out on things, but at least I could see fireworks last night from my porch. I am scheduled to give two presentations next week at work, and I’m really hope I’m up for that because I’ve been preparing for months and I want them done.

Quote of the Week

“I’ve always imagined paradise as something like a library.”

— March by Geraldine Brooks

What I’m Reading This Week

On Kindle- March by Geraldine Brooks
This is Little Women told by Mr. March, one of my least favorite men in classic literature. So far this book is well written, but I still don’t like Mr. March.

On Audio- Homecoming by Kate Morton
For the Author A Month challenge on Litsy. Her books are hit or miss for me. I hope this is a hit!

Physical Book- Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
I had been trying to cook through this book earlier this year but got distracted. I was excited when a bookclub I’m in picked it for their December read.

Have a great week!

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Show Us Your Books January 2021

Goofball cats

December feels like a million years ago, but here are my favorite books from the month of December 2020.

Best of the Month

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — I loved this book. I stayed up half the night and read it just to see what happened. I thought it would be a fluffy December romance, but it turned out to be about friendship and the cost of perfection.

Five Star Christmas Reads

Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson -- I absolutely loved this book of short stories, recipes, and essays. It’s really hard to explain, but it’s worth reading.

How The Light Gets In by Louise Penny -- My favorite book from my favorite series. It takes place around Christmas time, which adds to my annual December re-read.

Four More Worth Reading

Two Old Women by Velma Wallis -- I read about this thanks to the Show Us Your Books link up! This is the Alaskan legend of how two elder women survived after they were abandoned by their people. Old ladies for the win- you should read this one!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo -- I feel like I’m the last person on Earth to have read this, but I’ll add to the chorus that it was really good.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan -- A wonderful memoir about motherhood and life in the 90’s. I read this before, but it’s totally different now that my kids are a little older.

Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon -- Based on the true story of Nancy Wake aka WWII‘s Socialite Spy. I really enjoyed this book, and was inspired by Nancy. I‘ll have to add more by Ariel Lawhon to my TBR.

Linked to: Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit

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Road Trip Audiobooks For Kids 8-12 and the Grownups Driving The Car

I brought my two kids on an epic East Coast road trip last week, and as the only driver I really wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for audiobooks. The problem with family road trips though is you have to be selective about the books you pick. Here are several that have been acceptable for all the kids ages 8-42 in my family.

Leave recommendations for our next trip in the comments section!

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January 2018 Audiobooks

So far, this has been a great winter for reading. Unfortunately I spent a majority of my audiobook time this month listening to Under a Pole Star, a long book that I thought would be about polar exploration in the early 1900's, but ended up being about a weird love affair. Anyway, here are the books I liked:

I thought Caroline by Sarah Miller was an excellent addition to the Little House books. I loved the way it made Ma seem a little more human and mad at Pa without changing her character. Genius. If you read these books as an adult, and shook your head at Ma the whole time, this book is a must read.

I re-listened to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe around Christmas time. This is a good story, and has so much good snow in it.

We couldn't help ourselves. We finished listening to book 7 in the car, and went to the library the next day and checked book 1 right out again. We love these audiobooks for the car.

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December 2016 audiobooks

I have been tearing through audio books this month. It must be all of the cookie baking and laundry. It's really a great way to decompress after so many social gatherings. Manual labor and great voices telling me stories, it's good for the soul.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - I listened to the version read by Jim Dale and just loved it. I've seen the movie thousands of times, but this is the first time I've read the book.

I'm still binge listening to the Gamache mysteries. This month it was A Fatal Grace  and A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. I'm starting to like Peter about as much as I like Matthew from the Cormoran Strike books. That said, I'm so glad I stuck with these.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead was a fun 1970's coming of age story with a little time travel thrown in. It's a middle grade book that I listened to in the car with the kids, but I think I liked it better than they did.

And of course, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling for the 500th or so time. Harry kind of drives me nuts in this one with all of his teenage angst, but still, I liked being in Hogwarts. I'm waiting impatiently for Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows to come in through Overdrive.

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Harry Potter season

For me this time of year is Harry Potter season. Most nights find me staying up late listening to the audio book versions and making cookies.

I still have to finish listening to It, and I have the next Inspector Gamache mystery in my playlist. However I know that soon though the spirit of the season will take over, and I'll need to listen to The Half Blood Prince. It wouldn't feel right not to.

Do you have certain books that you read or listen to at certain times of the year?

P.S. I brought the kids to see Fantastic Beasts this weekend and we loved it! It was funny and cute with a hint of scary. I never really liked the Harry Potter movies, but since I wasn't comparing this one to a book I was able to relax and enjoy it.

November Quick Lit

Reading in a tent, just a few short weeks ago.

Each month I link with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit as a way to talk about the books I liked, but didn't review.

For three quarters of the year I am a very mindful, list driven reader. This time of year I use reading as a form of self-care, and pick up whatever feels good. This is what has felt good lately.

I really enjoyed Opening Belle by Maureen Sherry. It's about a woman working on Wall Street in 2008. I have never made $500k a year, or had anyone grab my butt at work, but other than that this book reflected my experience more than any other working mom book I've read. I loved the tangent at the end that seemed to say the financial crisis would have never been so bad if a few more women had been in leadership positions.

I'm getting ready to host a family Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, and Immoveable Feast by John Baxter really got me in the mood. It's about a family's Christmas feast in Paris, and the background of each of the courses. If you really love putting together huge dinners, and sourcing each ingredient, read this book.

My son and I are reading through this series by Lauren Tarshis, and we both love it. We started with I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980, and quickly followed that with I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic. My son claims to "hate reading" but he begs me for one more chapter each night for like five chapters. (I can't wait until I can hand him Into Thin Air!)

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs wasn't the best book I've ever read, and I don't think I'd seek out anything else from this series, BUT when I needed something simple to read on a dark night it fit the bill. It's a classic bad boy meets good girl and she makes him believe in Christmas and fall in love type story.

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[REVIEW] The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall

This has been a rough couple of weeks in the way that normal weeks can be rough. No emergencies, but grinding, persistent nonsense that has been wearing me down. There was nothing I needed more than a Saturday afternoon on the couch with a pleasant romance to fill my tanks enough to face another week.

I was so glad when The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall arrived in my mail box. Rose and Joel, two members of the Amish faith, both feel that they have no choice but to marry after Joel's wife dies. Joel has no one to care for his three small children while he keeps his business alive, and Rose can see no other way to get away from her abusive family. They form a practical partnership, but eventually individually decide they want more. The only problem is the series of mishaps and misunderstandings that keeps them apart. That this all plays out on the days before Christmas makes for a delicious and heartwarming tale that soothes all your mental aches.

Note: The book was provided in exchange for a honest review from Blogging For Books.

Quick Lit January 2016

Each month I link with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit as a way to talk about the books I liked, but didn't review.

3/4 through The Nightingale I would have said it was good, but not great. But the ending, wow. I am talking a miss your kid's school bus level of gripping. Great feminist message at the end too.

The Bassoon King is surprisingly deep. Not just another celebrity memoir. Give it a try if you've been holding off.

Two of the books I read last month were in an effort to find new Christmas stories. Both A Christmas Escape and A Christmas Blizzard gave me what I was looking for: short, entertaining novels with an uncomplicated story. (Disclosure: I got A Christmas Escape from the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program.)

Kitchens of The Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal was my first read of 2016. I've been on the library holds list for this one since the summer, and it was worth the wait. It's hard to describe. It's hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time, and has you cheering for bad decisions. Plus, it includes recipes.

(Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!)

My Three Favorite Christmas Scenes From Kid Lit

Children's literature has shaped the way I want to celebrate Christmas as an adult. I love the simple pleasures and uncomplicated joy in the little things. Here are my three favorites.

In Little Women the March girls know they are in for a sparse Christmas, but still find it in their hearts to give their breakfast to a local family who has nothing. Later that day their elderly neighbor is so touched by their act that he sends over ice cream and bon bons for the girls and their friends.

There are two Christmas scenes in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Both are very well written, but the one that I love involves main character Francie and her brother Neeley and a gigantic Christmas tree. In their neighborhood there was a custom that trees that were unsold by Christmas Eve were free - if you could catch them when the burly tree seller guy threw them at you. Francie and Neeley try for, and catch, the biggest tree. It's a great story that shows how in a harsh world, you can still find joy.

All of the Little House books have some pretty good Christmas scenes, but my favorite is when Pa gets lost in a blizzard in On the Banks of Plum Creek. He has to hole up in a snow cave, and the only thing he has to keep him alive is the girls' Christmas candy. Pa eventually realizes he's just feet from home, and they are reunited in time for Christmas. Some things are better than candy!

If you love these stories as much as I do:

I've searched for great Christmas novels in the realm of adult literature, but haven't found a ton. Why is that? Two that I did enjoy are:

Do you have any suggestions for me? My TBR is lacking in holiday spirit.

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