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

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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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Walking Wednesday October 16, 2024

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I am loving all the October sights on my walks. It’s mostly dark when I’m out now, but every once in a while they let me out during the day.

This week I’m listening to See Something by Carol J Perry for my book club. It’s a cozy mystery that takes place in Salem, MA. Yay for seasonal reads!

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On My Nightstand September 28, 2024

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cozy cat time

It’s Saturday night and I am attempting to stay up for the premier of the 50th season of Saturday Night Live. The odds aren’t good, but we’ll see.

We’re all feeling better and it’s already time to start figuring out winter sports. But first it’s the best reading month of the year- October! I just love to curl up with spooky stories or atmospheric mysteries this time of year.

Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Week

“You know she would make a splendid Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
— The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen

cat after the sun came out today

On My Nightsand This Week

Kindle- Vanished by Wil Hylton - I just started this book tonight and so far I’m fascinated. It’s about finding wreckage from WWII in Palau.

Audio- Pacific by Simon Winchester - This one’s interesting too. It’s all about the nations surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

Paper- Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent - Still working on this one! I should finish before the end of the weekend. I’m enjoying it and am glad there’s a couple more in the series.

reading by the fire

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Walking Wednesday September 25, 2024

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There are definite signs of fall on my walks now. I love the change of seasons. It makes walks so much more interesting. There are a few Halloween decorations out now, but they should be out in full force starting next weekend.

I’ve been listening to You Like It Darker by Stephen King. Very atmospheric for my dark fall walks!

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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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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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My October Bucket List

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The #Scarathlon2022 challenge on Litsy had us create an October Bucket List. I loved the idea and went a step further to create an October Reading Bucket List!

2022 October Reading Bucket List

  • Read by the fire pit

  • Read while drinking a pumpkin spice latte in a bakery or cafe

  • Read while eating pie

  • Listen to an audiobook while raking

  • Read on the front porch while drinking something warm

  • Read a graphic novel

  • Read a mystery all in one day

  • Listen to an audiobook while on a left peeping walk

  • Read while wearing a sweater

  • Read while eating candy

  • Listen to an audiobook while doing a craft

  • Read while drinking a seasonal cocktail

  • Read while wearing fuzzy socks

I can hardly wait for this weekend and all things October!

The Trouble With Theme Reading

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This month I’ve been taking part in a reading challenge on Litsy. The goal is to earn points for my team by reading as many books about Halloween and dark and twisty mysteries as I can. It’s been fun, and I’ve met some great people, but boy am I tired of unreliable narrators and psychopaths. There are still 8 days left in October, and I’m not sure I’m going to make it to the finish line.

This isn’t a job, and my team will win nothing but bragging rights, but also I live in fear of letting people down. That said, if I read any more about murder I might never read again. (My solution- re-read the Baby-Sitters’ Club. Not a super good use of my time.)

Does anyone else have these problems reading on theme? Right now I can’t wait for it to be November so I can curl up with something cozy.