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 hope everyone who celebrated had a lovely Christmas!

I have this week off from work, and with no travel plans, I’m looking forward to long days of reading, doing odds and ends around the house, sleeping in, doing some TV binges, and — if the weather gods cooperate — getting out for some nice long walks. I guess that’s what passes for excitement these days!

What did I read during the last week?

Pop culture & TV:

So much TV! I’m watching a bunch of shows airing their current seasons (The Expanse, Claws, Yellowstone, Yellowjackets), I’m about halfway through the new season of The Witcher, and I’ve just started Wheel of Time. Nice to know I’ll never run out of options for what to watch!

Puzzle time:

I finally got back to jigsaw puzzles! This one was lots of fun:

It’s called Jane Austen’s Book Club, and the women here are supposed to be Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Virginia Woolf, Zora Neale Hurston, and George Eliot. The puzzle is by Eeboo (a woman-owned company), and I have a few more of theirs to tackle next.

Fresh Catch:

I had an Amazon gift card, so I treated myself to this special, beautiful book:

It arrived sealed in plastic wrap, and I’m almost afraid to touch it! It’s so pretty. I’d been planning to do a LOTR re-read in 2022, and this will definitely keep me motivated!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Dava Shastri’s Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti: Ooh, I really like this novel! I am *this close* to finishing… should have a review up shortly.

Next up will be:

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord: Looks like a fun book for the end of the year.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer: Too many rainy days this past week = not enough days to get out for walks = not enough time spent listening to audiobooks! I’m enjoying this fun Hanukkah romance, but just haven’t had time to finish yet. Soon, I hope!

Ongoing reads:

None at the moment! After a few weeks of will-she-won’t-she pondering, I’ve decided to say good-bye to Doctor Zhivago. I made it through about 35%, and just couldn’t sustain my interest. In fairness, I suspect this had more to do with the pace than with the book itself. My book group has been reading this in small chunks, twice per week, for months now, and I was never able to feel a sense of continuity… and I suppose I could have gone ahead at my own speed, but after falling behind the group schedule, I couldn’t motivate myself to pick up the book again.

Maybe I’ll just watch the movie instead?

So many books, so little time…