Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be the Classics Club’s spin #44, and my 16th time participating!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 17th May we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 5th July, 2026.
We’ll check in on the 5th July to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 17th May 2026.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 5th July.
I’ve become hooked on exploring 20th century fiction, so that’s how I’ve focused my list. Where will the spin take me this time? We’ll find out in a few days!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on May 17th to reveal my spin result!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is May Flowers, with the prompt: This is a companion to the April Showers topic from last month. Interpret however you’d like: books with flowers on the cover, colorful covers, books set in springtime, books where flowers/plants are a common theme, titles with flower names in them, characters named after flowers, covers that are as pretty as flowers, books featuring gardens, etc.
I did a version of this TTT topic just two years ago, featuring books with flower names in the titles… so rather than repeating myself, I thought I’d take a different approach. This time around, my top 10 are books where flowers or gardens are a plot element.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney
The Lark by E. Nesbit
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukayama
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Mandy by Julie Andres Edwards
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Digging In by Loretta Nyhan
Have you read any books that fit my topic? What books make you think of May flowers?
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
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.
I had a very nice Mother’s Day! Phone calls and flowers from the adult kids who don’t live nearby, a bit of outdoor dancing in the afternoon, and then dinner at a great restaurant with my husband and son in the evening. I hope all the moms out there enjoyed their days!
Bookish odds and ends:
I came across two exciting books announcement and cover reveals, both for books scheduled for release in January 2027:
A Song of Sugar Sparrows (Wayward Children, #12) by Seanan McGuire: Some books in this series are better than others, but overall, I love this fantasy series and its cast of characters. This upcoming release focuses on one of the fantasy worlds I’m less interested in… but I’ll still be reading it!
The Stars Look Like Home by TJ Klune: I don’t even need to know what this book is about to know that it’ll be a must-read for me! How cute is that cover?
What did I read during the last week?
The Body by Stephen King: Brilliant coming of age tale, in a new audiobook version. My review is here.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones: I felt frustrated that this book — which has so many rave reviews — just didn’t work for me. My quick take is here.
Pop culture & TV:
Outlander (the TV version) is about to end! The series finale airs this coming Friday. I’ve mainly loved the show, although this most recent season has been uneven, with a few wildly weird storytelling and plot choices. The show has had to wrap up a story based on a book series that isn’t done yet. (Yes, the books are better, obviously!) Overall, though, I’m grateful that we’ve had eight seasons with these marvelous characters, and I’m sad to see it all coming to a close.
Beyond that, I’ve been sticking with Margo’s Got Money Troubles on AppleTV. I’m enjoying it, but I question some of the choices that diverge from the overall tone and content of the book.
I’ve also started watching Widow’s Bay. It hasn’t entirely sucked me in quite yet, but it’s clever and has a great cast, so I’ll keep going.
Fresh Catch:
This ARC arrived by mail this week! I’ve read one book by this author previously (A History of Wild Places), and I’m really looking forward to starting this upcoming new release.
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
An Ordinary Sort of Evil (A Rip Through Time, #5)by Kelley Armstrong: This is such a great series, and I’m really enjoying this new installment. I should finish today or tomorrow.
Now playing via audiobook:
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune: I’d so happy to be listening to this new book by a favorite author!
Ongoing reads:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s newest classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 15%. Coming up this week: Chapters 9 and 10.
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare: I’ll be seeing this play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer, and decided to read it before I see it! I’m taking it in small pieces, just a scene or two every few days. Progress so far: About to start Act IV.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a shopping post! I try to keep my spending within reasonable limits… and yet, I just can’t resist when it comes to gorgeous books and puzzles!
Jigsaw puzzles may not be for everyone… but if you have someone in your life who loves puzzles, here are a few that I’ve loved recently and highly recommend.
I’m a picky puzzler: I look for engaging, lively designs. I prefer lots of color and details. Monochromes, too much background, an overabundance of sky/trees/mountains — none of these really appeal to me. Of course, it’s all down to individual taste, but I gravitate toward colorful illustration, and pretty much never pick up something photo-based or with abstract designs.
Beyond that, I look for reliable, high quality puzzle makers. I want that satisfying snap when the pieces fit perfectly together. Pieces that seem like they could fit in more than one place are deal-breakers for me. I also want good materials, nothing flimsy or that peels apart.
My go-to reliable puzzle companies are Ravensburger and Eeboo. Ravensburger probably needs no explanation; for those unfamiliar, Eeboo is a woman-owned company that supports and highlights artists, and offers gorgeous, one-of-a-kind designs.
I’ve also done quite a few of the Laurence King literary-themed puzzles, such as The World of Jane Austen, The World of Frankenstein, and many more. Great designs, perfect for book lovers, nice level of detail, and very good quality pieces! I also tend to enjoy Cobble Hill puzzles, and have done White Mountain puzzles as well (although their piece shapes and images don’t always appeal to me from an aesthetic point of view).
I do branch out… with caution. As I said, I’m picky — so before I try a new-to-me puzzle company, I scour the reviews and look for deal-breaking comments.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Here are some favorites — puzzles I’ve enjoyed recently, that check all my boxes for what makes a puzzle great! (I mainly do 1000-piece puzzles… but all of these companies have a variety of piece counts to choose from).
Midnight in Barcelona, from the Cities at Midnight series by KI Puzzles. I was so drawn to the colors and artwork that I took a chance on an unknown-to-me puzzle company — and loved the result! This puzzle was intricate, really fun to assemble, and just beautiful to look at.
Paris in a Day from Eeboo — No surprise that I loved an Eeboo puzzle! This one was especially appealing, with such vibrant colors and interesting patterns.
Here are a few more Eeboo puzzles I have my eye on:
I’ve also done Cobble Hill’s seasonal gardening puzzles, which are lovely:
I’ve done a few Pomegranate puzzles from their Charlie Harper national park series, and they’ve proven to be excellent, both in terms of design and piece quality.
Rounding out this batch of great puzzles… here are a few from Ravensburger that I’ve loved recently:
I know people seem to really enjoy Gallison puzzles too. I haven’t tried any yet… but did just acquire two through a puzzle swap, and I’m eager to start them! I’m also highly tempted by a few New York Puzzle Company designs… which I may break down and buy next time I’m ready to treat myself. Like this one…
Of course, there are plenty more companies selling beautiful, high quality puzzles… and some come with quite a high price tag as well! I ended up on the mailing list for Puzzledly, which sells puzzles I haven’t found anywhere else. Some are gorgeous! Alas, the ones that have really caught my eye are above my (self-imposed) price limit, but they do have special offers and discounts from time to time, so I may indulge at some point! Here’s one that’s really calling my name:
Home of Romance – Penny Puzzles
One more thing to note…
Buying puzzles isn’t the only way to add to your collection and get nice new puzzles to enjoy! I recently found a local puzzle swap group, and have traded five of my gently-loved puzzles for five new-to-me puzzles. What a treat! You may have a puzzle swap group near you. I found mine on Facebook (thanks to a friend’s suggestion), but I’ve also seen a bunch of options via Reddit and elsewhere. Take a look! You never know what you might find.
Title: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter Author: Stephen Graham Jones Publisher: Saga Press Publication date: March 18, 2025 Length: 448 pages Genre: Horror / historical fiction Source: Library Rating:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians comes a tale of the American West, writ in blood.
This chilling historical novel is set in the nascent days of the state of Montana, following a Blackfeet Indian named Good Stab as he haunts the fields of the Blackfeet Nation looking for justice.
It begins when a diary written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall in 2012. What is unveiled is a slow massacre, a nearly forgotten chain of events that goes back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow, told in the transcribed interviews with Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar and unnaturally long life over a series of confessional visits.
This is an American Indian revenge story, captured in the vivid voices of the time, by one of the new masters of literary horror, Stephen Graham Jones.
Unpopular opinion time: This story of a vampire seeking revenge for the massacre of his people, the Blackfeet of Montana, should have been right up my alley… and yet, I had to force myself to stick with it and slog my way through to the end.
This book has an endless number of rave reviews, including from media sources and bloggers I tend to align with. And yet, it just didn’t work for me.
There’s a great premise: A newly discovered diary left behind by a Lutheran pastor in 1912 reveals a shocking set of confessions from a Blackfeet named Good Stab. Good Stab seeks out Arthur Beaucarne to share the story of his unnaturally long life, his transformation into a vampire, and the punishments he’s meted out to those he deems responsible for murdering his people.
And yet, I found myself disengaged and frustrated throughout much of the book. There are some compelling and horrifying set pieces, some very moving interludes as Good Stab recounts what’s happened to the Blackfeet and to the buffalos… and yet, the story he tells is full of names, places, and incidents that loop and cross, sometimes dropping important pieces of information into long bits of a tale so that they get more or less buried. I found it confusing to track the who and how and why of many of the developments, and ultimately ended up caring far less than I should have, with what should have been big revelations falling flat.
I’m definitely in the minority on this one. By the end, I just wanted it all to be over.
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
Finally… reveal the book!
This week’s lines are from an upcoming new horror novella:
I have thought long and hard about how I would dispose of a dead body. I have carefully weighed options such as digging, sinking, burning, hiding. It’s something I do when I can’t sleep. I used to think that everyone did this, that each person I met had a plan of their own. But the day I casually mentioned mine during lunch at work, a weird and uncomfortable silence settled over the table. So it turns out that most people listen to audio books when they can’t sleep. It’s only me who hides bodies. I find it relaxing.
So what’s the book?
Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir Release date: May 26, 2026 160 pages
Synopsis:
An Icelandic night may hide secrets and affairs – or even bodies – in this gruesomely cathartic horror thriller from the author of The Night Guest.
Unnur was living a normal, if lonely, life until a black cat showed up at her door.
When she tracks down the cat’s wayward owner, she finds a young woman just as lost and in need of help. Like a gust of cold air in a Reykjavík night, Ásta and her pet slip into Unnur’s life.
It’s unexpected, but welcome. Unnur likes the company, and she begins to rely on Ásta in turn. But like a black cat, trouble has been tailing her new friend, and Unnur is the only one there for Ásta when things take a violent turn.
The two women quickly learn: nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands.
Too creepy? Or does it sound like something you’d enjoy?
Title: The Body Author: Stephen King Narrator: Wil Wheaton Publisher: William Morrow Publication date: Originally published 1982; new audiobook edition released 2026 Print length: 192 pages Audio length: 6 hours 38 minutes Genre: Coming of age novella Source: Library Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Decades after starring in the film adaptation, Wil Wheaton narrates an all-new recording of the story that shaped a generation!
#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King’s timeless novella The Body, originally published in his 1982 collection Different Seasons and adapted into the 1986 film classic Stand by Me, now available as a stand-alone edition.
Four rambunctious young boys venture into the Maine woods in search of a boy from a nearby town who has disappeared. Gordie Lachance and his three friends set out on a quest to find the missing boy’s body along the railroad tracks. The Body is set outside King’s iconic fictional town of Castle Rock, which is the setting of many of King’s most popular books including It and The Stand, and Castle Rock, a 10-episode Hulu original series, based on King’s short stories. King’s The Body is an iconic coming of age story that explores the loneliness and isolation of young adulthood.
And from an earlier edition of the book:
It’s 1960 in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. Ray Brower, a boy from a nearby town, has disappeared, and twelve-year-old Gordie Lachance and his three friends set out on a quest to find his body along the railroad tracks. During the course of their journey, Gordie, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio come to terms with death and the harsh truths of growing up in a small factory town that doesn’t offer much in the way of a future.
A timeless exploration of the loneliness and isolation of young adulthood, Stephen King’s The Body is an iconic, unforgettable, coming-of-age story.
Originally published in 1982 as part of Stephen King’s Different Seasons collection, The Body is best known as the story adapted into the outstanding film Stand By Me. I consider myself a fairly well-read Stephen King fan, although I’m nowhere close to having read all (or even more than half) of his works. And yet, before this week, I’d actually never read The Body… and now that I have, I’m astounded that I’ve been missing out on it all these years.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that The Body may just be one of the most perfect examples of a coming-of-age tale. The story is clearly autobiographical in some ways, in terms of the Maine vibe of the early 1960s, the companionship among boys, the rituals and cultural signifiers, the sense of a future looming just around the corner (not to mention the more obvious fact that the narrator is a writer who writes horror stories, lives in Maine with his wife and children, etc. etc. etc.)
To go back to basics, the core story is as follows: In Castle Rock, Maine one summer day, a group of 12-year-old boys set out on an adventure. The boys are a motley crew, from a variety of unsavory or unlucky families, and even at age 12, no one really expects much of any of them, and the town itself seems like the definition of a dead end. On this summer day, they overhear some of the town “JDs” (aka, the dangerous older brothers and their assorted hoodlum friends) that they’ve found a dead body — a boy who’s been missing for a few days and is believed to be lost somewhere in the woods.
Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy are bored, thirsty for excitement, and eager to claim the title of town heroes. School is about to start, and they have nothing else going on, so they decide to beat the older boys to the body, report that they’ve found it, and basically claim a hefty dose of glory for themselves. The trek to the body is more challenging than they expected, involving miles and miles of train tracks, spots of true danger, and imagined horrors during a sleepless night in the woods.
The brilliance of The Body is in the details. The writing is beautifully evocative of the era, the dynamic of being a 12-year-old boy, the mix of hopefulness and hopelessness that pervades their lives, and the absolute devotion that childhood best friends share for brief moments in time. I felt immersed in Gordie’s worldview; the storytelling voice is powerful and immediate, and we feel what Gordie is feeling throughout.
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?
The Body is also funny and profane and silly — there are some gross-out moments, and the kind of insults that pass for humor among 12-year-old boys. More seriousness is always beneath the surface, or even out in the open. There’s danger from the older boys, but also the looming danger of the future hurtling toward them. What chance do any of these boys have for getting out of their small town? What kind of lives lie ahead? Gordie narrates this tale from a future vantage point, at once enjoying the sweetness of nostalgia while also letting us know that in some ways, these summer days were the best days of their lives, and that they were followed by sorrow and loss and a variety of big and small disappointments.
Wil Wheaton is, of course, a stellar narrator. Having been one of the child stars of Stand By Me (playing Gordie), he’s the perfect choice for this new audiobook edition. His storytelling voice is humorous and inflected with emotion and amusement, and he hits the more tragic or contemplative notes just right.
Listening to The Body reminds me (as if I need reminding) just what an amazing storyteller Stephen King is. On top of telling a terrific tale, he also lets us in on the joys of being a writer and a storyteller, and without hitting us over the head, uses Gordie’s voice to show the power of language and narrative.
The Body is a fantastic story, and the audiobook is truly a special experience. Even if you’ve read the story before, it’s well worth checking out the new audio version.
As for me, I’m now dying for a re-watch of Stand By Me!
Purchase links: Amazon – Audible – Bookshop.org Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!
I didn’t see a theme posted for May, so I decided to go with one of my own. My book list for May is focused on May Flowers… books covers with at least a flower or two! With only three letters to work with, it’s a quick list to put together… although as usual, “Y” books are the hardest to find.
Here are my MAY books:
M:
Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy
A:
The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
Y:
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
Happy May! Wishing everyone a month filled with flowers!
If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Authors You Wish Were Still Writing Today, with the prompt: These could be authors who have passed away or retired/are taking a long hiatus from writing. You could also spin this and share authors who have switched to a genre you’re not interested in.
Tricky… After giving this some thought, what I’ve come up with is a wishlist of sorts. I’d love more books from all of these authors! Some authors on my list are no longer with us, and others either haven’t released anything for several years, seem to have stopped writing fiction, have retired from writing… or in one case, wrapped up a series I really wish had more books!
The Dearly Departed:
Jane Austen: Of course! Needs no explanation.
Georgette Heyer: Included with an asterisk… she was such a prolific writer that there’s a daunting list of her books that I still haven’t read. I’m in no danger of running out… but still, wouldn’t it be nice if she were still producing more?
Mary Stewart: Now, to be fair, I’ve only read one of her books! But one of my reading goals is to read many more, and I’m eager to keep exploring.
It’s Been a While:
Tamora Pierce: She hasn’t released a new book in quite some time (and at least according to chatter on Reddit, is dealing with serious health issues that make another book sound questionable). Her Tortall books are so wonderful — it would be lovely to get more stories set in that world.
Trish Doller: I loved Float Plan and the other books in the series, and I’m just hoping she’ll have another book soon! I don’t see anything listed as upcoming on Goodreads, and it’s been a few years since her last Beck Sisters book!
Robin McKinley: Author of some of my favorite fantasy and fairy tale books. As far as I can see, it’s been more than ten years since her last published book, but online chatter tells me that she’s supposedly working on a new novel. Here’s hoping!
No More Fiction?
Nicole Peeler: Nicole Peeler wrote a fantasy series that I loved, Jane True, but that wrapped up about ten years ago, and she does not appear to still be writing fiction. Jane True is a great series! More people should know about it, in my humble opinion.
Amy Stewart: It’s been about five years since Amy Stewart wrapped up her Kopp Sisters series. She’s been publishing non-fiction since then, but I do wish she’d go back to the world of the Kopp Sisters… or just write more fiction of any sort!
Wishing for more in a series:
Charlaine Harris: Yes, yes, I know she’s still writing, and I’m happy she is! But — I do wish she’d write more in the Gunnie Rose series, which has actually already ended! That’s all… just a silly little wish on my part.
Officially Retired:
Mary Doria Russell: Officially retired from writing fiction (although still very active on social media). I’ve loved her historical fiction and science fiction (The Sparrow remains an all-time favorite).
What authors do you wish had more books for you to read?
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
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 Star Wars Day… and happy May! I’m eager for a month full of sunshine and flowers… and okay, sure, maybe a little Star Wars too.
Such a nice experience over the weekend! For a few years now, I’ve been meeting up with a small group for recreational folk dancing, just for the fun of it. On Saturday, ten of us went to a local senior living facility to do a few short performances, and had a blast! The residents seemed to really enjoy it, we had a lot of fun, and we loved showing off some favorite dances.
Bookish odds and ends:
First, a meme I that made me laugh:
And… while reading the New York Times a few days ago, I was totally tickled to see this explanation of passkeys:
I definitely did not expect to see a technology column using Tamora Pierce as a point of reference!
What did I read during the last week?
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: Loved it! My review is here.
The Poisoned King (Impossible Creatures, #2) by Katherine Rundell: The 2nd book in this middle grade fantasy series is just as delightful as I’d expected. My review is here.
The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club, #5) by Richard Osman: It’s always a blast to spend time with the Thursday Murder Club! My review is here.
Pop culture & TV:
I’m really enjoying the AppleTV adaptation of Margo’s Got Money Troubles. I’m caught up with all available episodes at this point — just waiting for the next new one to drop.
I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be starting next, but I’m leaning toward Widow’s Bay.
Puzzle of the week:
Thanks to finding a local puzzle swap group, I ended up with a batch of new puzzles to enjoy, and finished one over the weekend:
Eeboo puzzles are always fun. I loved the colors and images for this one!
Fresh Catch:
One new book this week:
I read the eARC for this book last week, and loved it. I’m so happy to have a beautiful hardcover edition!
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
The Buffalo Hunter Hunterby Stephen Graham Jones: I’ve been wanting to read this book since it came out last year. I’m at about 25%, and I’m feeling myself more and more drawn into the story. I just hope this week is quiet enough to include big chunks of reading time so I can really focus on this book.
Now playing via audiobook:
The Body by Stephen King: This audiobook is a new version of the Stephen King classic, narrated by Wil Wheaton. I can’t believe I’ve never actually read this before. This new audiobook is a great listen.
Ongoing reads:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s newest classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 11%. Coming up this week: Chapters 7 and 8.
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare: I’ll be seeing this play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer, and since I’ve never read it before, I decided now’s the time! I’m trying to read just one scene per day, taking my time with it since I have a few months yet. Progress so far: About to start Act III.
Bookshelf Fantasies 