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.

This past week, my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary! We were pretty low-key on our actual anniversary day, since it was mid-week (and who wants to go out for a romantic dinner on a Tuesday?) (Sorry, was that insensitive to Tuesdays?)

Flowers, cards, a home-made cake (notice our mad decorating skills)… and a special gift. You know it’s true love when someone (my husband) makes extensions to raise the heigh of your (my) puzzle table after hearing me complain about getting back pain from leaning over to finish my jigsaw puzzles. Is that sweet or what?

On a more traditionally romantic note, we did go out for a lovely dinner at a favorite restaurant on Friday. Lots of fun, lots of laughs, and great food and drinks!

An assortment of anniversary pix:

And now, back to books!

What did I read during the last week?

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth: Powerful novella retelling the classic story of Antigone with a dystopian twist. My review is here.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers: Terrific wrap-up to a wonderful series. My review is here.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black: A return to the world of the Folk of the Air trilogy. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I have two episodes left of the Prime Video series A League of Their Own. It’s good! And The Last of Us continues to blow me away, week after week.

I’m quitting two shows that are just plain terrible: The Mayfair Witches and Wolf Pack. The 2nd one was billed as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s return to TV — but she was only in each of the two episode I watched for about 5 minutes, and the show is just too awful to stick with. Sorry, SMG!

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week! I read Spelunking Through Hell when it was released last year, but held off on buying a physical copy of my own until it came out in paperback this month. Can’t wait for the next book in the series, due out in March!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel: I received this book as a gift from a visiting friend, and I’m so glad to finally be starting it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I loved this book when I first read it (review), and I’m excited to be listening to the 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. Coming up this week: Chapters 100 and 101 (of 155).
• A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: My book group’s new classic read, also two chapters per week.

So many books, so little time…