Tag Archives: book group books

The Monday Check-In ~ 3/30/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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.

After a very busy workweek, I took time over the weekend to relax, exercise, and do not much at all! Well, that’s not entirely accurate — I did spend some time organizing and getting ready to travel. My extended family is meeting on the east coast this coming week to celebrate Passover together, and I can’t wait to see everyone!

I’ll be away for the remainder of the week starting tomorrow, and expect to mainly be off-line until the weekend. I’m busy planning what to read on the plane (let’s focus on the important things!) and what to pack for a few days of cold, rainy weather.

Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

What did I read during the last week?

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman: I finished this sweet audiobook last week, and just posted a review, here.

Nobody’s Baby by Olivia Waite: This novella is the 2nd in a really fun space/detective novella series. My review is here.

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens: An uneven story, although the audiobook narration kept me entertained. My review is here.

Everybody’s Favorite Guy by Katherine Center: Cute short story by a favorite author. (Looks like it’s currently free as a Prime reading choice.)

Butterfly Effects (Incryptids, #15 by Seanan McGuire: That’s right, it’s book #15 in this series! I finished this book late on Sunday — look for my review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

I’m trying to decide if I feel like downloading something to watch on the plane — or to devote my six hours of flight time to reading. What a choice! For downloads, I’m considering watching the first episodes of either Bad Monkey or For All Mankind… unless something else catches my eye between now and then.

I managed to finish the newest season of Virgin River early last week. It was… okay. I enjoy the characters, even when the drama is over the top and the romance is beyond corny. The cliffhanger ending is more annoying than suspenseful. I have full faith that everyone will be okay!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week… but I found out via email that I won not one, but two Goodreads giveaways! I’m looking forward to my copies of both books.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) by Richard Osman: I’m just starting today — right in time for my flight tomorrow! A nice long plane ride feels like the perfect opportunity to enjoy the next book in this entertaining series.

Now playing via audiobook:

I don’t really have time to start something before my trip, and I probably won’t do any audiobook listening before I get back next weekend. I haven’t really settled on what I’ll listen to next, but I’m leaning toward one of these:

Ongoing reads:

As of this moment, I’m down to just one long-term reading commitment:

  • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books continues, and the end is in sight. Three chapters left!

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 3/23/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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 was my husband’s birthday over the weekend, and we had two birthday dinners to celebrate! First, I took him out to one of our favorite little French restaurants for a fancy-ish romantic dinner, and then two nights later, we did a group outing with our local adult kids and a few friends at a yummy Burmese restaurant, where we basically ate everything in sight. We finished off with an amazing cake that I somehow managed to sneak in without my husband noticing. All in all, lots of fun (and great food) celebrating a fantastic human!

In pop culture / entertainment news, it was a sad week for Buffy fans. First, Hulu pulled the plug on the eagerly anticipated Buffy reboot. Second, and more heartbreaking, actor Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander throughout the seven seasons of Buffy, passed away over the weekend at age 54. I never knew this before, but a quick Google search reveals that Nicholas Brendon appeared in 143 of the 144 Buffy episodes (only absent from one episode in season 7, ” Conversations with Dead People”).

On a happier note, Nathan Fillion announced the return of Firefly as an animated series featuring the original cast, which is exciting… although it’s not a done deal yet. Fingers crossed that it really happens!

What did I read during the last week?

One & Only by Maureen Goo: An entertaining audiobook with some terrific family elements, even if I didn’t love the love triangle. My review is here.

Mania by Lionel Shriver: One of the oddest books I’ve ever read! Great material for a book group discussion, even though I can’t say I actually loved this book. My review is here.

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle: This author’s books can be hit-or-miss for me; this one falls in the hit category! My review is here.

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman: This sweet audiobook was a lovely listen. Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

Project Hail Mary! I went to an early screening at the beginning of the week, and really enjoyed it. It was interesting seeing it with my son, who hasn’t read the book and only knew what to expect from the movie trailers. He really liked it too, and we both thought it was very well done.

Outlander‘s final season continues to be solid and strong. And I love this season’s version of theme song as sung by Annie Lennox!

I’m slowly making my way through the newest season of Virgin River — I just haven’t had time for an outright binge. I have two episodes left in what’s been an okay season so far.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week… but I did get a nice little surprise in the mail. A while back, I entered a giveaway through Lisa See’s website, and while I didn’t win the grand prize, apparently I was one of 100 runner-up winners! Here’s what I got:

Can’t wait for her new book, Daughters of the Sun and Moon, to be released in June!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Nobody’s Baby (Dorothy Gentleman, #2) by Olivia Waite: My library hold for this novella came in really quickly! Just started last night. I liked the first novella in this series a lot, and this follow-up is off to a good start.

Now playing via audiobook:

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens: I just finished a different audiobook by this author a few weeks ago, and when I saw this one available at the library, I couldn’t resist. Just getting started.

Ongoing reads:

As of this moment, I’m down to just one long-term reading commitment:

  • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books continues, and the end is in sight. Four chapters left!

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

Book Review: Mania by Lionel Shriver

Posted in Book Reviews by

Title: Mania
Author: Lionel Shriver
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication date: April 9, 2024
Length: 388 pages
Genre: Dystopian / alternative reality
Source: Library
Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

What if calling someone stupid was illegal? In a reality not too distant from our own, where the so-called Mental Parity Movement has taken hold, the worst thing you can call someone is ‘stupid’.

Everyone is equally clever, and discrimination based on intelligence is ‘the last great civil rights fight’.

Exams and grades are all discarded, and smart phones are rebranded. Children are expelled for saying the S-word and encouraged to report parents for using it. You don’t need a qualification to be a doctor.

Best friends since adolescence, Pearson and Emory find themselves on opposing sides of this new culture war. Radio personality Emory – who has built her career riding the tide of popular thought – makes increasingly hard-line statements while, for her part, Pearson believes the whole thing is ludicrous.

As their friendship fractures, Pearson’s determination to cling onto the ‘old, bigoted way of thinking’ begins to endanger her job, her safety and even her family.

Lionel Shriver turns her piercing gaze on the policing of opinion and intellect, and imagines a world in which intellectual meritocracy is heresy. Hilarious, deadpan, scathing and at times frighteningly plausible, MANIA will delight the many fans of her fiction and journalism alike.

Mania has got to be one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. This depiction of an alternate reality where Mental Parity is the new normal imagines a society where variation in intelligence is considered a myth. All are equally capable. All are equally intelligent. Some people may just process differently.

As narrated by main character Pearson Converse, what starts as a ridiculous idea — the idea that mental parity is the “last great civil rights fight” — takes over the country and much of the world. From a fringe cultural phenomenon, mental parity (MP) becomes a strident, powerful force for overturning everything from school (grades are eliminated, because all children are equally intelligent) to university admissions (strictly lottery based, because all are equally qualified) to employment opportunities, parenting, and all manner of social discourse.

Pearson, an English instructor at what was once considered a high-prestige liberal arts college, finds her hands increasingly tied as her surly students practically dare her to step out of line so they can report her to an MPC (Mental Parity Champion).

Even language becomes strictly policed. Words used to denote levels of intelligence are grossly offensive — stupid and dumb being prime examples — but over time, even words used in other contexts are stricken because they could possibly denote judgment that defies the concepts of mental parity. Can’t talk about the deep end of a swimming pool, because “deep” has a nasty association with the myth that some people are “deeper” than others — so let’s just refer to the end of the pool with more water. Also ruled out are words like dull or sharp, even in the context of kitchen knives, or brilliant as in the stars in the sky, or profound… as in deep… as in… oops, never mind.

As time passes and adherence to MP becomes absolute, Pearson finds herself increasingly on the outs with her former best friend Emory, someone with whom she was once aligned on just about everything. Now, Emory seems to have traded in her personal belief system in order to bolster her broadcast career, becoming a star commentator on CNN by offering high profile opinion pieces on the evils of those who oppose MP. Meanwhile, Pearson’s family life is increasingly at risk, as stepping a toe out of line brings down the wrath of Child Protective Services and puts her job (and financial survival) in danger.

Mania is clearly satirical, but what exactly is the author satirizing? At times, the MP world seems to be aligned with MAGA viewpoints denigrating academics and intellectuals as out-of-touch elitists, and the total undermining of scientific rigor mirrors some views of the MAHA movement. And yet, the hyperfocus on policing word choice and sanding away the edges of anything that ever might possibly offend anyone can also speak to what some see as the excesses of “wokeness”. The point, I think, is to show the damage of any sort of extremism taking over rational society — and as we see in Mania, bouncing from one extreme to another as the pendulum of societal norms swings to correct itself poses fresh set of dangers too.

I puzzled over the language in Mania. Pearson’s narration of her life is full of overstuffed sentences and pretentious, convoluted wording. I often had to stop to parse out what a particular sentence might mean. Not having read anything by this author previously, I was left to wonder: Is this delivery typical of this author, or is this meant to show how Pearson holds herself apart and embraces her intellectual superiority even while trying to survive in a world where the use of big words is derided as “brain-vain” or “smartist”? Yet Pearson repeats throughout the book that even while she’s adamantly opposed to MP and its concepts, she herself isn’t all that smart. And so, I remain a bit baffled by the character’s delivery of her life story.

A few examples:

To my embarrassment, here I am relating picayune points of philological fascism—the death of the “dumbbell”—while, out in the rest of the world, events of more considerable moment were afoot.

Emory’s ducking-below-the-parapet strategy had much to recommend it. We could keep our heads down, shuffling the world in camouflage like soldiers wearing dun in the desert, duly observing every new linguistic prohibition and suppressing perceptions of our species once prevailing, now retrograde, the better not to stand out.

Needless to say, heroin users were no longer “dope fiends,” although if you were an opioid addict, surely having your perspicacity traduced was the least of your problems.

The author weaves our own world into the story, warping people and events to suit this strange alternate reality. Obama is president… but only for one term. His brand of intellectualism is a huge turn-off — prime example of being brain-vain! — but his VP, Biden — with his lost trains of thought and awkward public speeches — is a perfect MP president. He’s just as intelligent as everyone else! Because everyone is just as intelligent as everyone else!

Even later, political standards become yet more entrenched in MP:

It’s now taken as a given that for any candidate to be seriously considered for either major party’s presidential nomination next year, he or she will necessarily be badly educated, uninformed, poorly spoken, crass, oblivious to the rest of the world, unattractive and preferably fat, unsolicitous of advice from the more experienced, suspicious of expertise, inclined to violate constitutional due process if only from perfect ignorance of the Constitution, self-regarding without justification, and boastful about what once would have been perceived as his or her shortcomings. We blithely assume that whoever is elected president will surround him- or herself with mediocrities or worse and purposefully appoint a cabinet whose leading credentials are having no credentials.

Hmm. Does that ring any bells?

My ratings graphic only allows full and half stars; otherwise, I would have rated Mania at 3.25. It’s better than a 3-star read, which to me is a “meh”, but I can’t bring myself to go all the way to 3.5, which would imply that it succeeds much more than I feel is accurate. Despite the weirdness of so much of the story, Mania still pulled me in. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. I just can’t say that I loved it.

I recommend Mania as a thought experiment and as a very different sort of reading experience. There’s a lot to chew on, despite being so totally outside the scope of believability. Mania is commentary on all sorts of societal woes, dressed up as the story of a woman’s struggle to hold onto the truth even if it costs her everything.

Mania was my book group’s pick for March, and I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone else thought of it. Despite its strangeness, this book is probably a great one for kicking off a lively discussion!

Interested in learning more? Here’s a round-up of reviews:
New York Times
The Guardian
NPR
Kirkus
The Times (UK)

Purchase links: Amazon – Audible audiobook – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

The Monday Check-In ~ 3/16/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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.

Some weekend plans fell through… but that’s okay! We had gorgeous weather, and a lack of plans gave me time to enjoy the blue skies, nice breezes by the beach, and warm sunshine on my back porch.

What did I read during the last week?

Version 1.0.0

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page: Such a beautiful story! My review is here.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: My Classics Club Spin book! I’m so glad to have gotten a push to finally read this delightful book. My review is here.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser: A spur-of-the-moment library borrow that ended up being a terrific choice! This Cinderella retelling is a powerful look at a mother’s love and sacrifices for her daughters. My review is here.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s classic read! I ended our leisurely read through this Jane Austen novel so much. Always a pleasure to share a good book with such a great bunch of readers!

Words of the Week:

I noticed this week how many new-to-me words I came across in the various books I was reading, and thought I’d share a few fun ones here:

  • rhodomontade: vain, empty, and boastful speech or bluster
  • myrmidon: a follower or subordinate of a powerful person, typically one who is unscrupulous or carries out orders unquestioningly.
  • jongleur: a medieval itinerant entertainer proficient in juggling, acrobatics, music, and storytelling
  • fontange: a tall head-dress worn in the 17th and 18th centuries
  • austringer: a person who keeps, trains, and flies short-winged hawks for hunting
  • marmoreal: made of or likened to marble
Queen Mary, 1690, wearing a fontange – https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/fontange/

Pop culture & TV:

I’m enjoying the new (and final) season of Outlander… it’s terrific to be back at Fraser’s Ridge with all these beloved characters!

I’m also loving Shrinking (no big surprise!), and have started the new season of Virgin River, but haven’t had enough viewing time to make it past the first few episodes.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Mania by Lionel Shriver: My book group book for March. Such a strange beginning! I’m only at about 10%… withholding judgment for now.

Now playing via audiobook:

One & Only by Maureen Goo: I ran out of listening time — I’d hoped to finish over the weekend! I’m really enjoying this audiobook, and have about an hour or so to go.

Ongoing reads:

As of this moment, I’m down to just one long-term reading commitment:

  • The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books continues, and the end is in sight. Five chapters left!

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 3/9/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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 was a busy week, with an absolutely gorgeous weekend as a reward! Blue skies, warm weather… just delightful! I squeezed in some long walks and outdoor reading time, and really, what more could I need?

Just for fun:

… and …

What did I read during the last week?

Version 1.0.0

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute: A 20th century classic. I loved it! My review is here.

First Sign of Danger (Haven’s Rock, #4) by Kelley Armstrong: This series continues to be amazing! I’m just sad that there’s only going to be one more book. But meanwhile, this newest installment was excellent. My review is here.

A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell, #10) by Deanna Raybourn: Always a treat to get a new book in this delightfully snarky mystery series. My review is here.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page: Lovely audiobook. Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished Bridgerton season 4 early in the week. All in all, I thought it was pretty great!

The most exciting TV news for me — Outlander is back! The 8th and final season started over the weekend. I watched the first episode of the season last night. It’s so great to be back in that world once again, although it’s sad to think that this is the last season… and I’m also really curious to see how they’ll wrap it all up, considering that the book series hasn’t ended yet.

Fresh Catch:


One new book this week — signed by the author, and with a sheet of stickers included!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: It’s about time for me to settle down and start my current Classics Club Spin book. I’ve been meaning to read this book for years now, so it’s great to have an actual deadline as motivation.

Now playing via audiobook:

One & Only by Maureen Goo: I’ve only just started, but it seems like this will be a good one!

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: 90%. Coming up this week: Chapters 29 & 30.
  • 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): 78%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 3/2/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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.

My husband and I got away for a quick weekend escape to Mendocino, about three hours up the California coast from where we live. It’s a beautiful location, and we enjoyed the coastal views, cute towns, and laid back vibes.

What did I read during the last week?

Where The Girls Were by Kate Schatz: Powerful historical fiction. My review is here.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens: Fun, upbeat audiobook! My review is here.

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute: My book group’s pick for February. I’ll be sharing my thoughts a bit later in the week — stay tuned.

Puzzle of the week:

It actually took me about two weeks…

The puzzle is by Cobble Hill, has so many pretty details, and is good, sturdy quality. You can find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OGhFPo

As usual, the kitty supervised my work and kept the box safe.

Pop culture & TV:

After being away for the weekend, I managed to squeeze in the first two episodes of the 2nd half of the new Bridgerton season on Sunday (season 4, episodes 5 and 6). Can’t wait to watch the remaining two!

Fresh Catch:

No new physical books this week… but I did grab a few ebooks with price drops. Who can resist?

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

First Sign of Danger (Haven’s Rock, #4) by Kelley Armstrong: The newest Haven’s Rock book! I picked it up over the weekend, and read about half all in one sitting. It’s just as good as I’d expected… although it makes me sad to think I’ll be all caught up after this one!

Now playing via audiobook:

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page: I started this audiobook Sunday afternoon, and although I haven’t gotten very far, I’m loving it already.

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: 84%. Coming up this week: Chapters 27 & 28.
  • 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): 77%.
  • I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m really happy with this spin result. Leaving it here as a reminder to start it in the next few weeks.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 2/23/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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 weekend was busy, in all sorts of awesome ways.

On Friday, we had a family dinner out at a new-to-me restaurant that had a great ambience and delicious food. (House-made churros for dessert – yum!). Saturday, we started with the bar mitzvah of the son of a very dear friend, then had a really fun dance event that evening. And yesterday, the weather finally cleared and I was able to squeeze in some reading on the back porch plus an outdoor dance session.

What did I read during the last week?

Cold as Hell (Haven’s Rock, #3) by Kelley Armstrong: Terrific addition to a favorite series! Each book is just so good. My review is here.

Where The Girls Were by Kate Schatz: Powerful historical fiction set in 1968 San Francisco. Stay tuned — I’ll be sharing a review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 4 of The Morning Show this past week, which means I’m all caught up. This past season was bananas! Not exactly believable… but still, I’ll be back for more whenever a new season is ready.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week, but I finally decided to upgrade from my wired headphones. After a bunch of research, I decided on the Shokz OpenFit 2 earbuds. I’ve only had them for a day at this point, but my first outing with them, listening to an audiobook, was a good experience. I just need to adjust to the various controls. I’d been looking for earbuds that sit over/outside the ear, and so far, I like the fit.

Find on Amazon: https://amzn.to/46PBEkK

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute: My book group’s book for February! I read this book a long, long time ago, and I’m happy to have a reason to revisit it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens: It’s been a mostly rainy week… which really limited my audiobook time, since I tend to do most of my listening while out for long walks. I still have a few more hours to go with this audiobook. Really fun so far!

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: 77%. Coming up this week: Chapters 25 & 26.
  • 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): 75%.
  • I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m really happy with this spin result. Leaving it here as a reminder to start it in the next few weeks.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 2/16/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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.

Long weekend! It’s so nice to get the extra day to read, relax, putter around, and do whatever I feel like!

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t entirely cooperate. Why does it have to rain on my days off? I felt a little deprived of my usual outdoor weekend fun, but managed to stay busy and entertained anyway.

Bookish bits & bobs:

I know AI is a hot topic, and I tend to avoid “real world” issues on my blog for the most part… but I found this New York Times article — about a so-called author who pumps out hundreds of books per year using AI — particularly disturbing.

On the other hand, John Scalzi’s recent blog post about AI is a nice palate cleanser!

And on a different topic — the blog bots are more intense than ever! I had a day this past week with (supposedly) over 4,000 views. That’s insane. And there’s no discernible pattern or reason for these weird spikes.

Onward…

What did I read during the last week?

I started the week with two different books that just didn’t work particularly well for me: Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean and Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. I wrote a two-fer post, here, with my thoughts.

Fortunately, I had a much better time with…

An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3) by Julia Quinn: A reread for me via audiobook, while I wait for the 2nd half of the Netflix season to become available. So much fun!

Also read:

Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans: Such a lovely book! I enjoyed taking my time and savoring this unique approach to Jane Austen’s life and literature. Highly recommended for Austen fans!

Pop culture & TV:

I finished the 3rd season of The Morning Show this past week. I wasn’t sure I’d be into it… and it totally sucked me in. I’d planned to hold off on starting season 4, but after the super dramatic events at the end of season 3, I’m not sure I can wait!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Cold as Hell (Haven’s Rock, #3) by Kelley Armstrong: After reading a couple of books this week that I didn’t especially enjoy, I decided a reading mood reset was needed! So, I headed back to a series I know I love — and as expected, I’m hooked.

Now playing via audiobook:

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens: Just started over the weekend! So far, so good, and it seems like this will be lots of fun.

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: 70%. Coming up this week: Chapters 23 & 24.
  • 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): 73%.
  • I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m really happy with this spin result. Leaving it here as a reminder to start it in the next few weeks.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 2/9/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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.

My husband and I celebrated our 28th anniversary this weekend! We had a lovely dinner at a favorite restaurant, where they went out of their way to make it special.

I was going to start a new puzzle this week… but that would mean putting away the old one, which would mean disturbing a very important member of the household.

I’ll take any excuse to share a kitty photo!

Bookish bits & bobs:

I finished a challenge this week!

If you’d like to hear more about it, check out my post. I ended up enjoying this challenge so much that I’ve decided to start another one for 2026, with a little more of a low-key vibe. Instead of making it a decade-by-decade challenge, my 2026 challenge will be purely a numbers game — I’m challenging myself to read 15 (or more) books published in the 20th century. I’ve got more than enough on my TBR, and I’m hoping this challenge will continue providing me with that extra bit of motivation to actually pick up these books and read them!

In affiliate/discount news, Libro.fm is now offering an annual plan, with big discounts on access to audiobooks. For a limited time, they’re offering a bonus credit for people who sign up. Check it out, here. (And good news — Libro.fm purchases support your local bookstores!)

And for a general blogging update — the bots strike again! For no apparent reason, this blog had 2,440 views last Wednesday! Believe me, that is many, MANY times more than the norm. I have no idea why there was this strange spike in views on that particular days… just chalk it up to another day of online weirdness.

What did I read during the last week?

The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock, #2) by Kelley Armstrong: I love this fictional world so much! My review is here.

The Lark by E. Nesbit: Absolutely delightful! My review is here.

The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club, #3) by Richard Osman: Such fun! Watch for my review later in the week.

Pop culture & TV:

I went to an actual movie theater last week! My son finally convinced me to go see the lastest Avatar movie with him. It was… an Avatar movie. We enjoyed it, but it was just what you’d expect it to be. Long movie, good visuals, big battle scenes.

TV-wise, I haven’t picked up anything new — just watching a bit more of The Morning Show (season 3) and waiting each week for new episodes of Shrinking and All Creatures Great and Small.

Fresh Catch:

One new book!

Note: The kitty snuck into this photo too!

I’d been wanting a copy of my own ever since borrowing this book from the library and loving it — and happened to find a good deal at just the right time.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean: Just getting started — I’ve really enjoyed other books by this author, so I have high hopes for this one!

I’ve also started a new library book:

Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans: I keep wanting to call this a graphic novel… but it’s an unconventional biography in graphic novel style. I’m taking a slow reading approach to this book, reading one small section at a time. Really entertaining so far, with great illustrations.

Now playing via audiobook:

An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgertons, #3) by Julia Quinn: Yes, I read this book during my original Bridgertons binge a few years ago! But with a month to wait in between halves of the latest Netflix season, it felt like a good time to revisit the story.

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: 61%. Coming up this week: Chapters 21 & 22.
  • 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): 71%.
  • I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m really happy with this spin result. Leaving it here as a reminder to start it in the next few weeks.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 2/2/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by

cooltext1850356879

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.

I’ve had a busy yet mostly uneventful week! Work, work, work… but at least my household bounced back from our various sniffles of the week before. It was a nice cheery weekend with good enough weather to be outdoors — so really, what more could I ask for?

Bits & bobs from the universe of books:

Sharing a few things that caught my eye this week…

First, a really exciting announcement:

Author Audrey Niffenegger’s follow-up to The Time Traveler’s Wife will be published this fall! This book will focus on Alba, Henry and Clare’s daughter. It sounds amazing! For more, check out this Guardian article or view info via the publisher.

On another bookish note, I enjoyed this article via Reactor about feeling guilty (or not) about our TBR piles. I particularly loved this little parenthetical aside, which makes me feel infinitely better about my Kindle library:

(A small caveat: I am not talking about ebooks, because those don’t exist unless I’m reading them. Out of sight, out of mind. I used to feel bad about this, and avoided buying them, but that’s silly. As Delilah S. Dawson pointed out on Bluesky just yesterday, “If you buy an e-book while it’s on sale, you never have to read it. If you have $2 to spare & want to help that particular author, you can just chuck the book into the oubliette of your TBR.” They still sold a book! No one ever has to know what you did with it.)

Wow! To me, that feels so empowering. Like, okay, I bought a whole bunch of ebooks because they had price drops… and then I used to feel bad about not reading them, but now I can reframe these purchases as supporting authors! That’s fantastic.

Finally, maybe everyone but me is already aware of this… but I stumbled across romance.io this week, and while I don’t need yet another site for tracking my reading, this is the only site I’ve found so far that has a ratings scale related to steaminess. As someone who’s picky about how much steam/spice I want in my reading (mild is okay, open door/extreme closeup is not!), this could really save me a lot of irritation and grumpiness down the road!

What did I read during the last week?

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon: My book group’s January pick. Captivating historical fiction about a real-life heroine of WWII. My review is here.

Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra: A sweet contemporary romance inspired by Anne of Green Gables. My review is here.

The Names by Florence Knapp: I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book. I’m so glad I gave it a try. Really a great read. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Bridgerton is back! But… Netflix’s decision to release the new 4th season in two parts is really annoying. I already binged all four available episodes… and it feels like such a letdown to have to wait a month for the second half of the season. Arrrgh. Still, I did enjoy the episodes that I saw! There’s a nice Upstairs, Downstairs feel to the storytelling that hasn’t been a focus in previous seasons, and I do like the way the central romance is unfolding so far.

Also great: Violet’s garden is blooming! (IYKYK) And Penelope in a pirate costume is everything:

Over on AppleTV, the first episode of Shrinking season 3 dropped, and it’s great. I have a hard time with one-episode-per-week schedules, though — bingeing has ruined me for weekly TV.

And I finally watched Kpop Demon Hunters! It was really good! Although I’ll have this song in my head on a loop now…

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Boy Who Cried Bear (Haven’s Rock, #2) by Kelley Armstrong: Back to Haven’s Rock! This series is so good. I couldn’t wait any longer!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Lark by E. Nesbit: I decided to read/listen to The Lark as part of my 20th Century Decades Challenge, and I’m so glad I did! I’m really liking it so far.

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: 55%. Coming up this week: Chapters 19 & 20.
  • 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): 70%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1