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 was another busy workweek, but I did manage to finally get to a theater to see Wakanda Forever (loved it!), and had some good quality family time too. Unfortunately, my hopes for nice long walks on the beach over this past weekend were ruined by heavy rain storms both days… I mean, we do need the water, but couldn’t it have fallen on a weekday instead?

What did I read during the last week?

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers: A terrific sci-fi space adventure. Can’t wait to start the next in the series! My review is here.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: I really like this one! Romance, but also sweet and touching moments about family and loss. My review is here.

Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell: A nice collection of new and previously published short stories, all in a really pretty hardcover edition. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Who else is excited for the upcoming Daisy Jones & The Six series? A quick trailer and some photos were released this past week, and… wow. Just can’t wait!

I’m also super excited for the Kindred series to start this week. All eight episode drop this Tuesday on Hulu. I loved the book so much — I just hope the adaptation can do it justice.

Fresh Catch:

Two new books this week!

I’ll probably listen to the audiobook for Well Traveled, since that’s what I’ve done for all the earlier books in the series — but I’m still happy to have a paperback for my shelves! And I suppose I should probably read Gilded at long last, now that I have the sequel.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev: I’ve enjoyed so many of this author’s book, so I was excited to see this new release offered free on Kindle last month!

Now playing via audiobook:

All the Murmuring Bones by A. G. Slatter: My listening time was pretty limited this past week, so I haven’t made as much progress as I’d hoped… but I’m really enjoying the mood and the narration of this audiobook.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. We’re past the halfway point!
• Persuasion by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. I’ve read this several times already, but I’m always up for another go! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week, and have just two weeks to go.
• Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North: Ha, this is so silly. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure approach to Shakespeare. I’ve been picking it up at random and following the different paths. Just a bit of light-weight entertainment to keep on hand.
• O Pioneers! by Willa Cather: This is my newest Classics Club Spin book! The target date to finish is at the end of January, so I probably won’t start this one just yet… but I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it!

So many books, so little time…