Tag Archives: audiobooks

The Monday Check-In ~ 1/5/2026

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

Happy New Year! It’s the first Monday of 2026… which means it’s time to return to a normal routine after a few quieter weeks.

While I worked part of last week, I also enjoyed a few days off, with plenty of reading time, family time, and time to be free and unscheduled!

Sigh. It’s hard to think about going back to the daily grind.

Year-end wrap-up and looking forward:

I share my usual batch of end-of-year and beginning-of-year posts, including:

What did I read during the last week?

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench: I loved this audiobook! It was a wonderful listen, and it also inspired me to plan to read some new-to-me Shakespeare plays in the coming year. My review is here.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher: Such a beautiful, heart-warming novel! My review is here.

Puzzle time!

A couple of weeks ago, I started a puzzle created from a family photo, which was really fun… until I got all the faces and interesting bits done, and was left with hundreds of pieces that were just grass and leaves. I tried to power through, until our kitty managed to pull the whole thing off my puzzle table. Annoying… but it also gave me an excuse for calling it a day!

Moving on, I pulled out a puzzle I bought a while ago but hadn’t unboxed, and had a wonderful time with it. I loved the colors and design, as well as the quality of the pieces. This time around, I took defensive measures to keep the kitty away!

Ravensburger: Riverside Town **
**Amazon affiliate link: Links to purchase site; I may earn a small commission at no cost to you

Pop culture & TV:

I finished Pluribus, and really liked it! Can’t wait to see where the story goes whenever a new season drops.

After that, I started Shrinking. I haven’t gotten very far, but I like what I’ve seen.

I also watched a movie that left me with very mixed feelings — All of You on AppleTV. It’s well acted and the stars have great chemistry — but (spoiler alert!) a large part of the plot includes cheating, which I did not expect and which I would typically not choose to watch.

Fresh Catch:

A batch of new books this week:

I’ve now officially used up all gift cards and credits! I treated myself to the Harper Muse Classic edition of Sense and Sensibility, leaving me with just one more Jane Austen novel to add to the collection down the road. I couldn’t resist the gorgeous hardcover of The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty — fingers crossed that I’ll love the story as much as I love the cover design! Inspired by the Judi Dench audiobook that I finished last week, I ordered copies of two Shakespeare plays that I’ve never read and that I look forward to exploring.

Two library holds came in over the weekend, and while I was there, I grabbed two graphic novels that caught my eye. I’m happy with my library haul!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman: I borrowed this book from the library after reading this article on what to read after finishing Pluribus. Totally an impulse borrow, and I’m really curious to see how it all works out.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover: Thanks to days of never-ending rain, I haven’t been able to get out for my usual walks, which means I haven’t had nearly enough time for audiobooks. I like this one so far, and hope to make good progress this week during my daily commutes.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments — starting back up this week after a holiday break!

  • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 29%. Coming up this week: Chapters 11 & 12.
  • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books starts up again this week, as we begin The Return of the King. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 62%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 12/29/2025

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

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My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

The clock is ticking… it’s almost 2026! I have no plans for New Years, other than enjoying a day off from work and doing whatever I end up feeling like.

It’s been a good week, with family time and a few fun get-togethers with different groups of people. I’ve enjoyed the relaxed vibe of this end-of-year time — just wish it could last longer!

Blog posts:

I shared some thoughts on audiobooks, and what I think could make them better. Check it out here — I’d love to hear what you think! Also new this week: the first of my traditional year-in-review posts, this one about my series reading in 2025.

What did I read during the last week?

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children, #11) by Seanan McGuire: Another terrific addition to a great series. My review is here.

A Damsel in Distress by P .G. Wodehouse: A delightfully silly story. My review is here.

3 Days 9 Months 27 Years by John Scalzi: An excellent short story with a twisty approach to time travel.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis: My book group pick for December — finished just under the wire! I couldn’t put it down. Review to follow later in the week.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 2 of The Morning Show! Geez, that series is all over the place. Some characters are just so messy… and the pandemic is still recent enough that watching it on TV isn’t exactly entertainment. Still, I’m interested enough to keep going and see what happens next.

Meanwhile, I’ve watched 5 episodes of Pluribus. It’s so weird, and so hard not to binge straight through!

Fresh Catch:

Three new books this week:

I treated myself to copies of an Austen-related book and the Judi Dench book that’s my current audio listen, and received an early copy of the new Wayward Children book from the publisher.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher: This book was recommended by an author whose books I love, and it feels like the right time of year to give it a try! I’ve only just started, but hope to have quite a bit of reading time this week to sit and enjoy it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench: I’ve had limited listening time this past week, but that’s okay — I’m really savoring this audiobook. It’s Judi Dench in conversation about the various Shakespeare roles she’s played throughout her career. Wonderful.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

  • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 29%. Taking a break this week — we’ll pick up our group read again next week.
  • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: Coming soon! My book group will be continuing our LOTR reading journey starting early January.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Audiobooks: The highs and lows… and the change I most want to see!

Posted in The Reading Life by
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As an avid audiobook fan, I spend a good chunk of hours every week plugged in and listening. And I love it! Mostly.

The audiobook experience can be highly rewarding, but I have a few pet peeves that I’d love to see audiobook producers address.

Without further ado, here’s a guide to what I love about audiobooks… and what I think needs to change:

THE HIGHS:

  • Being able to listen on the go: I listen to audiobooks on my daily commute and on my weekend walks. It’s a wonderful way to fit in more reading time.
  • Terrific narrators: Not all narrators are equally talented, but there’s something amazing about finding a new favorite. A great narrator brings the story to life, embodying the characters’ voices, keeping the story moving, and providing emotion and movement to the narration.
  • New ways to enjoy rereads: I find myself going to the audiobook versions of books I want to reread, such as when I want to reread the previous book in a series before a new book comes out. It’s a great refresher, doesn’t eat into my print reading time devoted to new books, and often gives me a new perspective on books I’ve already read.
  • Keeping up with reading commitments: I’m always overloaded with books to read, and among those are my commitment books — especially, books for my book group, which has monthly picks as well as longer-term group reads. I tend to end up with the audio version of at least several of our monthly picks. This helps keep me on track, while also (like the previous bullet point) keeping me from feeling like I’m diverting attention from one of the many other books I want to be reading

THE LOWS:

  • Names: It can be tough to pick up unusual names just from the audio. I’ve had several experiences where I only realized I was “seeing” a character’s name wrong after looking at the print synopsis. I try to be careful to vet name and place spellings against a print edition before posting reviews, but sometimes one will slip through the cracks.
  • Details: When a lot of characters are introduced at once, or key information is shared in a detailed way, it can be tricky to keep track when I only have the audiobook. For example, one really enjoyable summer romance from this past year included a large family gathering, and it was practically impossible to sort out which children and spouses belonged to which of the characters. Sure, it was explained when they were introduced, but that’s a lot to keep track of while listening, without a visual reference.

MY MAJOR PET PEEVE ABOUT AUDIOBOOKS — AUDIOBOOK PUBLISHERS, I’M BEGGING YOU TO FIX THIS!

Breaking this one out from the lists above because it’s such a biggie for me! It is incredibly frustrating that audiobooks tend not to include certain vital pieces from the print editions.

First, the author notes: I’ve very rarely experienced audiobooks where these are included. And yet, author notes can add so much to the overall reading experience. If an author is sharing background on why they wrote the book, historical resources, inspiration, etc, I want to hear it!

Second, other extras: I’d like it if the “About the Author” info were also included in the audiobook. In terms of acknowledgments, maybe that would be less engaging to listen to, but I’d still like the option. Some print editions include extras like a Q&A with the author, and I’d want that too!

Third, visual references: I’ve listened to a couple of audiobooks that had downloadable materials available as well, such as the maps or photos that accompany a print edition. This seems to be rarely done, yet feels essential to me, and should be standard for all audiobooks.

My imperfect solution to some of these issues is to try to borrow a hard copy or e-edition of the book at the same time I’m borrowing the audiobook, but that’s not always possible. Library wait times for different editions don’t generally sync up. I’ve learned that for non-fiction books, where visual materials are more often included, it makes sense to wait and try to borrow both print and audio at the same time. For fiction, I find it makes less of a difference in terms of enjoying the content, although there’s still the issue of missing out on the notes and other extras.

So, why don’t audiobooks include these items?

I’ve found a few discussions on Reddit and elsewhere that include some reasons that may apply. Many of these come down to cost: Production costs and process are dependent on the length of the book. Anything beyond the actual book content adds expense and work.

It’s also mentioned in several posts that listeners in general don’t want the extras — but I wonder how true that is (I WANT THEM), and how that’s determined.

I’ve also seen comments that it may be an author’s choice. Again, I wonder whether this is always the case, or if different publishers/platforms have a definite approach for all audiobooks that they produce.

    As a big fan of audiobooks (yes, I’m totally hooked and wouldn’t make it through daily drives without them), I can safely say that I’ll continue listening to audiobooks no matter what. But — the experience would be greatly improved (in my humble opinion) if audiobook productions included at least some of the extras, or made them available as free downloads.

    What do you think? Is there anything you have in mind that could improve your audiobook experiences?

    The Monday Check-In ~ 12/22/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

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    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    Welp, that’s another Hanukkah come and gone! It’s always a bit weird when Hanukkah finishes before Christmas. We’re done with our holiday, and everyone else is still building up the excitement for theirs! In any case… wishing all who celebrate a very merry Christmas!

    This past week was pretty fun, with a few Hanukkah get-togethers with family and friends, plus a work lunch with my team that was great.

    I haven’t done a jigsaw puzzle in many months — but one of my Hanukkah presents was a puzzle of a photo from my daughter’s wedding, and I decided to start it over the weekend.

    It’s kind of hilarious to put people’s faces together. So far, there are just two issues: 1) There are a LOT of trees and a TON of grass in the picture, and 2) our cat really likes hanging out on the puzzle table and trying to swipe pieces when my back is turned. He’s giving me an annoyed face right now because I took back the bits he was playing with. So… wish me luck!

    What did I read during the last week?

    Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher: Really enjoyable folk/fantasy tale with an amazing desert setting. My review is here.

    Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Absolutely gorgeous story. My review is here.

    The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: Lovely epistolary novel. My review is here.

    Pop culture & TV:

    Very underwhelmed by the Survivor finale, and by season 49 as a whole. Why do I keep watching? I do think I’ll stick with it for season 50, coming in February, which will be bringing back a bunch of fan favorite players — but unless they really do something to change up the format, I may be done after that.

    And now, it’s back to The Morning Show! I’ve started season 2, which so far is set during early 2020 with the pandemic unfolding in the background. I’ll be interested to see where the story arc goes this season.

    Besides that, I have my eye on a few other series on Netflix and AppleTV… and still need to make time for the 2nd Lord of the Rings movie!

    Fresh Catch:

    One new book!

    I stumbled across this book while looking up something else Austen-related, and I couldn’t resist! There’s an entry for every day — I’m looking forward to making this book a daily habit in 2026.

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children, #11) by Seanan McGuire: It’s great to return to the world of the Wayward Children series! I’m almost done — can’t wait to see how it turns out.

    Now playing via audiobook:

    Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench: I haven’t gotten very far, but this audiobook is delightful! It’s basically Judi Dench in conversation about the various Shakespeare roles she’s played throughout her career. It’s entertaining and also teaching me so much!

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments:

    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 24%. Coming up this week: Chapter 10 (and then we’re taking a small break until after the new year).
    • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: Coming soon! My book group will be continuing our LOTR reading journey starting early January.

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1

    The Monday Check-In ~ 12/15/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

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    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    Happy Hanukkah! We celebrated the first night last night with friends and family (and latkes!), and I have a few more Hanukkah events and small gatherings coming up this week.

    Wishing joy and light to all who celebrate. Hanukkah is a time for finding light in dark times… something we really need right now.

    What did I read during the last week?

    The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage: I loved this book! This was a spur-of-the-moment library borrow that worked out perfectly for me. My review is here.

    Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: The 3rd in a series of Austen retellings, and it’s a delight! Here’s hoping the authors will continue with the remaining Austen novels. My review is here.

    Kirkyards and Kindness (A Rip Through Time, #4.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A warm-hearted novella set in the world of a favorite series. My review is here.

    The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman, illustrated by Maurice Sendak: I borrowed this book from the library in order to finish up one of my 2025 reading challenges. How weird to realize that I’ve never read the original story, despite having seen the ballet umpteen-million times! Now that I’ve read the book, I can see why. It’s such an odd tale, and I don’t think my kids would have enjoyed it at all as a read-aloud. This edition has Maurice Sendak’s illustrations, which are always wonderful.

    Blog posts:

    Beyond the usual book reviews and weekly/monthly posts, I also shared two discussion posts — one about whether reviewers have any obligation to research the books they review, and the other about Goodreads’s new approach to pre-publication reviews. If you’re interested, please check out the posts and share your thoughts!

    Pop culture & TV:

    I finished season 2 of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. Sweet and kind and funny, and what a great cast!

    I’m on the fence about what to start next. I could dive into season 2 of The Morning Show or start one of the other AppleTV shows that I’ve had my eye on — but there are also a bunch of series on Netflix to catch up on as well. Meanwhile, I’m just waiting for my son to commit to a day to watch The Two Towers with me!

    Fresh Catch:

    No new books this week… and it seems like pre-holiday deals have already ended, by and large. I notice that a few of the books I’d been keeping an eye on as potential treats have higher prices now than they did at the beginning of the month!

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher: I haven’t made a ton of progress yet, but I like what I’ve read so far!

    Now playing via audiobook:

    Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Before this audiobook, I’d only read this author’s Aunties and Vera Wong books — and this one is completely different from those! I’m about halfway through this terrific story, and I’m loving it so far.

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments:

    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 16%. Coming up this week: Chapters 8 and 9.
    • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: Coming soon! My book group will be continuing our LOTR reading journey starting early January.

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1

    The Monday Check-In ~ 12/8/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

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    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    It’s been… a week. Work has been busy, and my free time for reading and relaxing seems to constantly get gobbled up by errands and other commitments. I’m looking forward to a slower second half of the month… and Hanukkah, starting this coming Sunday evening!

    What did I read during the last week?

    Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: Highly recommended. See my review, here. Also included in the same review, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman. Funny and heartwarming, this is a charming book that gave me a big boost just when I needed it.

    The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s latest project, finished after three months! It’s been a wonderful experience rereading this book and engaging in thoughtful discussions of each chapter. We’ll be starting The Return of the King in January.

    And finishing up the excellent Rockton series:

    The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: The final Rockton novel! Just as fantastic as I’d expected. My review is here.

    Dead Letter Days (Rockton, #7.5; Haven’s Rock, #0.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A follow-up novella bridging the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of Haven’s Rock. Loved it! My review is here.

    Pop culture & TV:

    I finished the first season of The Morning Show on AppleTV, and I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. The season was a bit uneven, but there are some true powerhouse performances throughout.

    Meanwhile, I’ve started season two of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. So much fun!

    Fresh Catch:

    I won a giveaway from Simon & Schuster via Little Free Library! The theme was banned books, and these two lovely books arrived this week. They’re going into my LFL, of course (although I may hijack the Christina Lauren book and read it first). The picture book is adorable! I’ll be curious to see how quickly these two get snapped up.

    I also treated myself, thanks to a gift card:

    I’m a big fan of my daily dose of New York Times games, and the puzzle book looks perfect for me. I couldn’t resist getting a copy of the graphic novel version of The Parable of the Talents, even though I still haven’t read my edition of The Parable of the Sower graphic novel. I’ll aim to read both in the coming year!

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage: This newest pick for Reese’s Book Club just happened to be available at the library for an instant borrow, so I grabbed it. So many contemporary royal-focused books are romances, but this one isn’t (at least, not as of what I’ve read so far). It’s very good, and I’m glad I decided to try it.

    Now playing via audiobook:

    Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: I really enjoyed the previous two books in this Austen-inspired romance series, so I couldn’t resist when the library had this newest available to borrow. This one is a retelling of Persuasion, and it’s great so far! I’m very close to the end already — can’t wait to see how it comes together.

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments:

    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 10%. Coming up this week: Chapters 6 and 7.
    • The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffman (illustrated by Maurice Sendak): I’m reading this to wrap up a challenge, and since it’s a chapter book, I’m taking my time and reading just one or two chapters per day. It’s funny to realize that I’ve never actually read the story, after a lifetime of going to Nutcracker performances!

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1

    The Monday Check-In ~ 12/1/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

    cooltext1850356879

    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    Last week was lovely! First and foremost, it’s always a treat when my daughter comes to town! We had a very nice Thanksgiving celebration, small and cozy, and squeezed in all sorts of other togetherness too… including a Cirque du Soleil show, seeing Wicked: For Good, and joining friends for a morning dance session in the park to kick off Thanksgiving day.

    What did I read during the last week?

    The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: What a delight! I’ll definitely want to continue this series. My review is here.

    My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My most recent Classics Club Spin book! I’m so happy to have finally read this Australian classic. My review is here.

    Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: This non-fiction audiobook was fascinating! I’ll try to post a review later this week.

    Pop culture & TV:

    Dancing with the Stars is done for the season, and the couple I was rooting for (Robert Irwin and Witney Carson) won! I really enjoyed the finale, especially the freestyle round. I was very interested to read an explanation of how audience votes and judges’ scores are combined — this actually makes me feel a little bit better about the process!

    My daughter and I ended up watching the Netflix movie version of The Thursday Murder Club over the weekend. It was… okay. Really good cast, but it felt like a smoothed out, sugar-coated version of the story from the book. Not bad entertainment… but the book is so much better!

    Fresh Catch:

    I received a gift card a couple of months ago as a birthday present, and decided to treat myself to two hardcovers! The edition of Northanger Abbey is especially lovely, with cut-outs on the cover.

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: Back to Rockton to finish out the series before the end of the year! I’ve been loving this series so far, and I’m happy to be starting the final book (so I can dive into the spin-off Haven’s Rock series in the new year).

    Now playing via audiobook:

    Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman: Starting today! It’s a very short audiobook (about 3 hours), so I should be finished pretty quickly.

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

    • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 60%. We’ll be finishing The Two Towers this week, and will take a break for the month of December before starting The Return of the King in January.
    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 7%. Coming up this week: Chapters 4 and 5.

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1

    The Monday Check-In ~ 11/24/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

    cooltext1850356879

    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    It’s Thanksgiving week! I am especially thankful to have my daughter in town for the week. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to a few days off, time with family, and time to chill.

    Last week was busy (as always), but the weekend was pretty peaceful, and the sun returned! I got to dance outdoors and go for a nice long walk at the beach, and I needed both.

    What did I read during the last week?

    The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters: My book group’s pick for November. Powerful and absorbing. My review is here.

    The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer: A 3-star read. My review is here.

    Pop culture & TV:

    I rewatched the first Wicked movie… so now I’m ready to go check out Wicked: For Good this week!

    The Dancing with the Stars finale is this week! The couple I absolutely did not want to see win got eliminated last week (whew!), and I do really enjoy everyone who’s left. This is who I’m rooting for:

    Although I’m really fond of this pair too:

    Fresh Catch:

    One new book this week:

    My daughter was recently in Japan, and brought me back this amazing edition of John Scalzi’s The Kaiju Preservation Society! Isn’t this a great gift?

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: Finally! After hearing so many raves about this series, I decide it was time to try the books for myself. I’ve read about 60% so far, and I’m really liking it!

    Now playing via audiobook:

    Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: I’ve just barely started, but this book is already fascinating.

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

    • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 59%. (Note — we’ll be finished with The Two Towers next week, and then will take a break for the month of December before starting The Return of the King in January).
    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s newest classic! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 5%. Coming up this week: Chapter 3.
    • My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My current Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I still have time… but I’d better get moving!

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1

    The Monday Check-In ~ 11/17/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

    cooltext1850356879

    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    The rain has returned to Northern California! How’s that for drama? I know, we definitely need rain… but does it have to come on the weekend, just when I have time to get outside?

    It’s been an okay week, busy with work and other commitments — but I did squeeze in some good reading and family time over the weekend, so all is well.

    What did I read during the last week?

    Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky: Excellent! Such a fascinating premise. I can’t wait to read more of this series. My review is here.

    Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman: An okay, not great early book from an author whose books I usually love. My review is here.

    Goblins & Greatcoats by Travis Baldree: A short story set in the world of this author’s fantasy books. It was pretty entertaining, and from what I’ve heard, a character introduced here is featured in the new release Brigands & Breadknives, which I hope to start soon.

    A Stranger in Town (Rockton, #6) by Kelley Armstrong: I’ve been loving this series, and the 6th books is just as good as I’d expected! My review is here.

    Pop culture & TV:

    I’ll stop my weekly rants and raves about Dancing with the Stars… other than to share this video of my favorite dance from the past week.

    My son and I finally managed to catch up on The Amazing Race, and I’ve made a teeny bit of progress with The Morning Show. My TV time has been pretty limited this week, and when I do have time, it’s always a dilemma of choosing between watching screens and reading a book.

    Fresh Catch:

    One new book this week:

    A very nice hardcover edition of Constituent Service by John Scalzi, originally released as an Audible Original (which I enjoyed very much). I’m delighted to get this hard copy, just released from Subterranean Press.

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters: My book group book for November… and I’m actually starting more than a week before the deadline!

    Now playing via audiobook:

    The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer: Really entertaining so far!

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

    • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 57%.
    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: Although I only recently treated myself to an audio reread of this book, I’m about to start it yet again! This time, I’ll be reading Northanger Abbey with my book group as our newest classic read. We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, starting today. Coming up this week: Chapters 1 and 2.
    • My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I still have time… but I’d better get moving!

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1

    The Monday Check-In ~ 11/10/2025

    Posted in The Monday Check-In by

    cooltext1850356879

    My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

    Life.

    Once again, the week just flew by! Work has been intense and busy… ’nuff said about that.

    Outside of work, I managed to fit in some good outdoor time on our surprisingly sunny November days this week. A couple of walks, some outdoor dancing — just what I needed!

    What did I read during the last week?

    Villette by Charlotte Bronte: This was a group read with my book group, and all I can say is — thank goodness that’s over with! Such a frustrating book, although it had its more interesting moments.

    Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: A really fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice! My review is here.

    Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix: Wow! Fantastic horror with a lot to say, and utterly compelling storytelling. My review is here.

    Pop culture & TV:

    I know I’ve mentioned before that I watch Dancing with the Stars, partially because it reminds me of my dad, but also just because I do enjoy watching dance performances. It can be really fun to see people with little to no dance experience learn and grow from episode to episode. That said, this season is making me especially annoyed. There’s a clear favorite to win (Whitney, dancing with awesome pro Mark) who get top scores every week… but – but – BUT she is someone who has a competitive dance background and was a dance major in college. How is that fair against people who either literally never danced before or had some sort of injury that affected their ability to dance or any of the other (much more compelling) backstories of other contestants? It feels rigged… plus I can’t stand how heavily audience voting counts, making the results pretty much a popularity contest from week to week.

    Argh. So why, you may ask, do I keep watching? Easy — the dancing can be so much fun! I like many of the so-called “stars” this season, and the pros are always amazing. But if Whitney and Mark win, I may start throwing things!

    Other than that, I’ve been casting around for a new show to try, and just started The Morning Show over the weekend. It’s good! I know I’m a few years behind — I’m excited to see what all the buzz is about.

    Fresh Catch:

    I received an Amazon gift card last week, and treated myself to these three books:

    I’ve already read The Everlasting (review), and loved it so much that I needed my own copy. Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is the 4th (final?) book in the Tomes & Tea series, and since I have the other three, I thought I should round out the collection. I was really on the fence about The Rose Field, but I’ve decided to bite the bullet and read it (after I do a re-read of The Secret Commonwealth).

    All in all, I’m happy to have all three of these to add to my shelves!

    What will I be reading during the coming week?

    Currently in my hands:

    Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky: This is a BIG book, and it requires a lot of concentration, so I haven’t made quite as much progress as I’d hoped. (I realized that I can’t stay up late reading in bed with this book, because my tired brain doesn’t absorb it well enough!) I’m fascinated by what I’ve read so far, and I’m happy that I’m finally reading this book after planning to get to it for years now.

    Now playing via audiobook:

    Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman: After reading My Friends last month (amazing!), I decided to try to catch up on this author’s earlier books that I hadn’t read yet. I’ve gotten about halfway through this audiobook, and I’m finding it sweet so far.

    Ongoing reads:

    My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

    • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 55%.
    • My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I still have time.

    What will you be reading this week?

    So many books, so little time…

    boy1