We can usually count on early September to be gorgeous here in the DC area. My fitbit is happy that I’ve been taking advantage and getting outside.
I’m about to start Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones on my next walk. I’ve heard good things!
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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!
“Management everywhere!”
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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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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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.
“Similarity of opinion is not always—I think not often—needed for fullness and perfection of love.”
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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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.
“It pays to do your best work even when you think there’s no point.”
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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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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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!
“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.”
tropical downpours while reading the torrid zone
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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Once again I’ve been battling the weather on my walks, but what can you do in August?
I’m still listening to The Empire of Gold. It’s a long one!
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It’s been so hot here I’ve had to resort to taking 2-3 short walks a day instead of one long one. Everything is so dry. We need some rain soon! I read this morning that it’s been a month and that sounds about right.
I just started listening to Margo’s Got Money Troubles. This was one of my most anticipated summer reads so I’m really looking forward to it. I hope it lives up to expectations!
started station eleven last week along with my usual cookies and tea.
I had planned on sleeping as late as I wanted before an 11 am soccer game today, but a weird thunderstorm upset my cats. One got so scared she kicked a book onto my head and now I have bruise. I’m just glad it wasn’t bleeding because what if I had to go to the ER for stitches? A cat kicking a book onto my head is totally believable for anyone who knows me, but I would not want to tell that story to a doctor.
Anyway now I’m up catching up on my blogging and letter writing. The ever changing weather has now decided to be sunny, and I hope it lasts for soccer.
Have a great week!
“Chairs are bad for you anyway...”
On Kindle - The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - I want to finish this series, but felt like I needed to go back and refresh my memory on the first book. (I bought this when it was on sale a few months back, but now I see it’s free on Kindle Unlimited.)
On Paper - The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel - I’m re-reading some of my favorite books by this author this month for the Author A Month challenge on Litsy. It’s been great sitting on my porch, listening to the foxes, and getting lost in this world (again.)
On Audio- Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield - Another re-read for me. I love the nostalgia.
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It was a weird walking week- we had floods and some nice days in between. I’m slowly getting stronger and increasing my step counts day by day. We’re supposed to get snow next week so we’ll see what that will do to my walking.
I finished The Covenant of Water earlier this week, and now I’ve moved on the Oceana by Ted Danson. (Yes, that Ted Danson.)
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Yes, some of my steps have been at the mall this week. But I did also get in quite a few outside walks despite the cold. I don’t remember it ever getting this cold in November here. I’m hoping that means we’ll get some snow this winter.
I’ve been listening to Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively this week. It’s the third time I’ve tried with this one, and I think it’s finally going to stick. I’ve really liked her other books, so I’m determined to finish this one at some point.
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The time change really cut into my desire to walk last week. I got out a bit on Sunday, and did my normal Monday long walk, but didn’t do much beyond that. This week I need to wake up and walk.
I somehow got Iron Flame from the library on release day, so I’ll be listening to that this week so the next person in line can get it.
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It’s winter here now! That’s not to say it won’t be summer again by Christmas. While it lasts I’m loving taking out my cozy walking gear.
I started a non-fiction book about Greenland today. It’s a little dry but the descriptions of the landscape are fitting my vibe. It’s called The Ice At The End Of The World.
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It’s getting darker and darker when I walk, meaning I don’t have as many pictures. Check out the creepy friend I made on the metro the other morning though. Not exactly what you want to see when it’s 5:30 am and dark. I would love to know the story behind that thing.
I’ve been listening to another cozy - Clammed Up by Barbara Ross. If what you listen to while you’re exercising leads you to eat blueberry pie is that a problem?
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Walks around the soccer field continue! Nights are darker and I’m enjoying bringing my colder weather gear out.
I’m about to finish listening to the cozy Leave No Scone Unturned. I’m flying through the cozies this month. Tis the season! (This was free on audible.)
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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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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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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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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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