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.
Not much new to report! It was a hectic workweek, but a lovely weekend. Books, walks, and family time… all good!
What did I read during the last week?
The Postcard by Anne Berest: A powerful, important book. I’m so glad my book group chose it for our discussion this month. My review is here.
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel: A startling premise is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of this lovely, engaging, and thought-provoking novel. Highly recommended! My review is here.
The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Susan Patterson and James Patterson: I stumbled across this book while looking for a new audiobook on Libby… and since I needed a “book about a book club” for a reading challenge, I decided to give it a try. A nice bookish escape. My review is here.
First Test: Protector of the Small (graphic novel) by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Devin Grayson and Becca Farrow: I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while now, and found myself in the mood for a quick trip to Tortall this week! I’m glad I read it, although it left me wishing there was a follow-up available, and also in the mood to think about rereading one of the Tortall series from start to finish.
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage: I’m glad I finally read this absorbing book, about a Cherokee woman’s quest to become an astronaut while learning about herself and her family. Not sure yet if I’ll be writing a full review, but I did find it very interesting.
Pop culture & TV:
I watched My Brilliant Career on Netflix, and loved it! With just six episodes, it’s a quick binge, and so well done. The show is an adaptation of the Australian classic by Miles Franklin (which was one of my Classics Club Spin books earlier in the year). Don’t miss it!
And having finished that series, I finally jumped on the bandwagon (very, very late) and watched… Heated Rivalry. I would have sworn that a hockey romance would hold zero interest for me, but I’m forced to admit that I was wrong! I was hooked right away, and loved the characters. I still don’t think I’d be interested in the books… but feel free to try to convince me otherwise.
Fresh Catch:
One new book this week:
I bought this lovely edition of The Time Traveler’s Wife, and I’m looking forward to getting the matching edition of the upcoming sequel in October.
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
I haven’t quite decided what to start next, since I just finished a book late Sunday. As of now, I’m leaning toward one of the remaining books from my summer TBR:
- The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
- Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
- This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
We’ll see — it’s possible my mood will take me toward something else entirely.
Now playing via audiobook:
My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows: I’m always happy to return to the world of the Jane/Mary books. This book focuses on Mary Shelley and Ada Lovelace — with a bit of magic thrown in. I just started this audiobook over the weekend and haven’t gotten very far yet… but so far, it’s a lot of fun.
Ongoing reads:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 76%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 1 and 2.
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier: My spin book! Here’s my post about the results. This is my 2nd spin in a row to land on a du Maurier book… and I’m very happy about it. The due date is October 4th… which means I probably won’t start just yet, so I’ll leave it here as a reminder until I’m ready to dive in.
What will you be reading this week?
So many books, so little time…
Bookshelf Fantasies 
You’ve convinced me to watch My Brilliant Career, I keep seeing trailers pop up and I’ve been curious. Glad you had a lovely weekend!
I hope you like My Brilliant Career! Even though I read it fairly recently, the show made me think I might need to read it again and see if I feel any differently about certain book scenes.
You’ve reminded me that I want to read The Postcard. I bought it in its original French for a relative (back when international shipping wasn’t a nightmare), but I’ll have to read it in the translated edition haha.
Reading it in French sounds very impressive! But either way, it’s worthy checking out. Hope you have a great week!
I hear ya, last week was brutal work wise. FIRST TEST HAS A GRAPHIC NOVEL?! I am buying immediately! I love that series so much. Have you read Alana’s series? It’s not as good, but I enjoyed it.
I loved the Alanna series too! (And it also has a graphic novel!) My daughter was obsessed with Tamora Pierce’s books growing up, and during the pandemic, I ended up binge-listening to all of the Tortall audiobooks… and loved them!
I’m planning to watch My Brilliant Career soon.
That edition of The Time Traveler’s Wife is stunning!
Thanks for sharing your week, happy reading!
I’d love to hear what you think of My Brilliant Career!! I hope you have a great week!
That’s a pretty edition of The Time Traveler’s Wife. As it’s one of my all-time favourite books, I’m kind of hoping someone somewhere might do a special edition boxset of the duology for the release of Life Out of Order…
That’s a nice idea! I splurged and bought a signed edition from Barnes & Noble, and will likely do the same if they have signed copies available of the new book.
Wow that edition of The Time Traveller’s Wife is gorgeous 😍 have you read it before? Also as it sounds like you’ve read most, or possibly all, of the Tortall books I was wondering if there’s a noticeable different between the first and second series in terms of writing style? Im curious as I tried to read the first book in the world earlier this year but struggled to get into it as it was more simply written than I’d expected – a fact that admittedly wasn’t exactly helped by the fact that I’d read two especially richly written fantasy novels before that. I did read that the first series started out as one book for adults but was majorly condensed and edited to work as a younger series instead. So I just wondered if the style changes after that first one or not? Although I’m still planning to give that one a try again anyway.
You’re also ahead of me with Heated Rivalry as I’m still in the camp of ‘a hockey romance won’t work for me’ 😂 I probably will watch it eventually though. Mostly because an author whose fantasy title I loved mostly writes hockey romance ones so I’m reluctantly curious about the genre.
Yes, I’ve read The Time Traveler’s Wife — several times! But it’s been many years, and I’d ideally want to do a re-read before the new book comes out in October. Re Tortall – I feel like they fall somewhere between middle grade and YA, more complex than middle grade, but tamer than most of today’s YA fantasy books. I haven’t picked the books back up in a while, but as I recall, the tone is pretty consistent throughout. That said, as the characters age through each series, the writing/plotting grows with them, if that make sense.
Oh, I was definitely not interested in a hockey romance! But the characters drew me in right away… and for me, that’s the draw — the personalities, their challenges, their chemistry. I honestly couldn’t care less about hockey!
I hope you enjoy the reread if you manage to fit it in 🥰 thanks for the information about Tortall. I don’t read much MG but I’m not opposed to it, I just never seem to get around to picking it up. Hopefully as I get invested with the characters it’ll grip me more. I’m going to give it another try sometime but after a romance read rather than high fantasy. Hopefully that way the shift won’t affect me again.
Glad to hear it won you over so beautifully. Characters really do make or break a lot of things.
Oh my giddy aunt, look at that version of The Time Traveler’s Wife, it’s so beautiful. I loved that book and really should read it again.
Lynn 😀
It’s so pretty! I need to do a re-read — I vowed to myself that I’d read it again before the new book comes out, but the clock is ticking and I don’t know how I’ll manage!