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’s been… a week. Work has been busy, and my free time for reading and relaxing seems to constantly get gobbled up by errands and other commitments. I’m looking forward to a slower second half of the month… and Hanukkah, starting this coming Sunday evening!

What did I read during the last week?

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: Highly recommended. See my review, here. Also included in the same review, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman. Funny and heartwarming, this is a charming book that gave me a big boost just when I needed it.

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s latest project, finished after three months! It’s been a wonderful experience rereading this book and engaging in thoughtful discussions of each chapter. We’ll be starting The Return of the King in January.

And finishing up the excellent Rockton series:

The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: The final Rockton novel! Just as fantastic as I’d expected. My review is here.

Dead Letter Days (Rockton, #7.5; Haven’s Rock, #0.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A follow-up novella bridging the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of Haven’s Rock. Loved it! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished the first season of The Morning Show on AppleTV, and I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. The season was a bit uneven, but there are some true powerhouse performances throughout.

Meanwhile, I’ve started season two of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. So much fun!

Fresh Catch:

I won a giveaway from Simon & Schuster via Little Free Library! The theme was banned books, and these two lovely books arrived this week. They’re going into my LFL, of course (although I may hijack the Christina Lauren book and read it first). The picture book is adorable! I’ll be curious to see how quickly these two get snapped up.

I also treated myself, thanks to a gift card:

I’m a big fan of my daily dose of New York Times games, and the puzzle book looks perfect for me. I couldn’t resist getting a copy of the graphic novel version of The Parable of the Talents, even though I still haven’t read my edition of The Parable of the Sower graphic novel. I’ll aim to read both in the coming year!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage: This newest pick for Reese’s Book Club just happened to be available at the library for an instant borrow, so I grabbed it. So many contemporary royal-focused books are romances, but this one isn’t (at least, not as of what I’ve read so far). It’s very good, and I’m glad I decided to try it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: I really enjoyed the previous two books in this Austen-inspired romance series, so I couldn’t resist when the library had this newest available to borrow. This one is a retelling of Persuasion, and it’s great so far! I’m very close to the end already — can’t wait to see how it comes together.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 10%. Coming up this week: Chapters 6 and 7.
• The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffman (illustrated by Maurice Sendak): I’m reading this to wrap up a challenge, and since it’s a chapter book, I’m taking my time and reading just one or two chapters per day. It’s funny to realize that I’ve never actually read the story, after a lifetime of going to Nutcracker performances!

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…