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.

Silly me… This is my 2nd try at creating this post. The first time, I mistakenly ended up editing an existing post rather than copying the template and starting a new one. Sigh. Let’s try this again.

Here goes…

Happy holidays! I am completely thrilled to have a week off with nothing planned other than organizing bookshelves, seeing a movie or two, walking every day the sun is shining, and of course, lots ‘o reading.

I’m hoping this will be me by the end of the week:

What did I read during the last week?

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: Amazing for plenty of reasons — but especially because some chapters are narrated by an octopus! My review is here.

Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca: This 4th installment in the author’s RenFaire-centered series is just as much romantic fun as expected. My review is here.

Persuasion by Jane Austen: My book group’s read of Persuasion wrapped up this past week. This was my 3rd or 4th time reading this book… and I loved it all over again.

Pop culture & TV:

I just finished season 5 of The Crown, and it left me feeling very uneasy. The Diana years are still too recent to really feel like history, and the dramatization of her unhappiness feels perhaps too real and disturbing.

Puzzles of the week:

A holiday-themed puzzle this week:

SO much snow and sky! Still quite fun, though.

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

A gift from a friend who knew just what to get me!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I’m somewhere around 80%, and I’m really enjoying it (after a somewhat slow start).

Now playing via audiobook:

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers: Book two in the Wayfarers series. I haven’t gotten very far yet, but I’m really glad to have started.

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 at about 60% at this point.
• 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’ve been holding off on starting it… but I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it!
• An Immense World by Ed Yong: Another bookish holiday gift! I don’t typically pick up non-fiction, but this does sound interesting, and I so appreciate when someone gives me a book. I’m going to keep this one on my nightstand and read it in little bits.

So many books, so little time…