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.

Back to work this past week… and it was a full-steam-ahead sort of experience. Everyone was back, my inbox was inundated, and it was all just sort of non-stop. Sigh… feeling nostalgic already for the slower pace of the holiday break.

Anyway…

My book group zoomed on Saturday with author Fiona Davis. She was interesting and gracious, and we had such a good time.

We had friends over for dinner Saturday evening, and on Sunday, I danced with a small group in a local park, then treated myself to a nice manicure at a new-to-me nail spa!

All in all, quite a lovely weekend.

What did I read during the last week?

I feel like I just haven’t had much reading time — but that’s at least partially due to the fact that my two ongoing book group reads have started up again. I finished one print book and one audiobook this week:

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman: This was an impulse borrow from the library, and I’m glad I decided to read it! An absolute page-turner. My review is here.

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover: I couldn’t quite work up the motivation to write a review of this romance audiobook. I enjoyed parts of it (especially the setting in Estes Park, Colorado — one of my favorite destinations!), but the characters’ backstories ended up feeling overly muddled, and the 3rd act break-up was entirely predictable. My rating is 3.25 stars.

Pop culture & TV:

I’ve been continuing Shrinking, and I’m now about halfway through season 2. It’s really good! In a way, I’m glad that I’m late to the party with this show, since a new season will be dropping at the end of January, and that means I won’t have long to wait.

I watched the new Netflix movie People We Meet on Vacation (adapted from the Emily Henry novel of the same title). It was… okay. Some cute elements, but missing the spark of the novel. My daughter and I were discussing why these adaptations of romance novels that we love never seem to really work. Her theory is that the screen versions miss the characters’ internal reflections and experiences, so that the focus is very much surface level. I think she’s probably right — what do you think?

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

I’ve been looking for a nice edition of Moby Dick for years now, ever since reading it via Serial Reader. I couldn’t resist the gorgeous blue/green colors on this cover!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart: I’m trying to wrap up the 20th century decades challenge that I started for myself on StoryGraph last year. One of my remaining decades is the 1960s, and this 1961 novel fits! Plus, I’ve had a couple of Mary Stewart books on my TBR for a while now. I’ve read about 25% so far, and I like it!

Now playing via audiobook:

107 Days by Kamala Harris: My library hold finally came in! I’m just getting started, and what I’ve heard so far is very compelling..

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: 35%. Coming up this week: Chapters 13 & 14.
• The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books continues! Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 64%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…