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’m back! I spent just over a week on a lovely family trip to Roatan Island, Honduras. A group of eleven of us gathered to celebrate my husband’s birthday. Such a treat to spend time with our adult children and their partners! We all stayed together at a beautiful AirBnb, and enjoyed sun, snorkeling, gorgeous views, and of course, great company.

A few photo highlights:

Plus, my personal bucket list item — I got to hold a sloth!!

Blogging etc.

I’ve spent the weekend trying to catch up a bit. I know I missed seeing a lot of great posts from around the blogosphere… but will try my best to get back in the swing of things in the coming week.

What did I read during the last week since my last Monday Check-in post?

I wrote a wrap-up post of the four books I finished while I was away — view it here. The books I read:

• The Bookseller of Inverness by S. G. MacLean
• Camp by L. C. Rosen
• The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain
• The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbottson

Finished since returning home:

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian: A crime thriller with a Princess Diana impersonator as its lead character — definitely a unique premise! My review is here.

The Good, The Bad, and The Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Silliness abounds in this final book in the Aunties series. My review is here.

In Mercy, Rain by Seanan McGuire: A short story (30-ish pages, so I wouldn’t even call it a novella) set in the world of the Wayward Children series — specifically, revisiting the world of Down Among the Sticks and Bones (my favorite). Interesting, but not essential.

Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L. C. Rosen: After reading Camp, I just had to pick up the one remaining book that I hadn’t yet read by this talented author. I’m so glad I did! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I’ve just been trying to catch up on my usual weekly shows from the last two weeks (Survivor, The Amazing Race, Abbott Elementary). But, I did watch what I thought would be a totally dumb movie to pass the time on the plane, and ended up really liking it!

Now, would I have enjoyed it as much if I wasn’t sitting on an airplane? Who knows?!! Just good, silly fun.

Fresh Catch:

No new books… but I have a few coming later this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I finished a book late Sunday (one of the many shown above), and haven’t quite decided what to start next. It’ll most likely be one of these…

Now playing via audiobook:

Studies at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan: The 4th and final book in the School by the Sea series. I always love this author’s books (which are especially fun via audio), and I’m excited to see how she ties up all the various characters’ story arcs.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 75%.
• The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper: I’ve decided to continue this series, but haven’t felt truly absorbed by this one (book #2) just yet. I think I’ll take it slowly and read it in between other things. Progress: 23%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

A busy week, with gorgeous weather showing up just in time for the weekend! We had friends over for brunch, and we took our overstuffed selves out for a great walk by the beach. Good company, great views… such a nice day.

Blogging etc.

I’ll be offline for about 10 days starting tomorrow, as we’ll be busy with some family events and visits. I may pop by here and there, but I don’t actually expect to do any blogging, posting, or visiting of other sites for the time being.

What did I read during the last week?

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain: A terrifically entertaining Regency story of women’s empowerment (and yes, romance). My review is here.

A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstong: This audiobook was a reread for me, but enough time had passed that I didn’t remember a ton of the details. It was still great the 2nd time around! My review from my first read is here.

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon: We’ve reached the end! My book group has been reading and discussing this book for the past six months, and we’ve finally gotten to the end of our journey. Such a great experience sharing this reread with everyone! We haven’t quite decided what our next big Outlander-related group read will be.

Disappearance of a Scribe (Eye of Isis, #2) by Dana Stabenow: An absorbing mystery set in Cleopatra’s Alexandria. My review is here.

Ballgowns & Butterflies (A Stitch in Time, #1.5) by Kelley Armstrong: After enjoying the audiobook for A Stitch in Time, I couldn’t resist listening to this novella as well, which takes place a few months after the first novel. A sweet holiday-themed treat.

Pop culture & TV:

I made it through the end of Fellow Travelers! All in all, an excellent series. There’s a time jump that I wasn’t expecting that kicks in as of the sixth episode and it took me a beat or two to adjust, but that’s okay. Fabulous acting and storytelling all the way through.

I’m curious: Has anyone read the book this series was adapted from? I’m really curious about how it compares and whether it’s worth reading.

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week — a paperback that I first heard about via The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Bookseller of Inverness by S. G. MacLean: My book group’s pick for March. Just getting started.

Now playing via audiobook:

I don’t think I’m going to have much audiobook time this coming week, but if I do, I’ll probably squeeze in one (or both) of these novellas.

Ongoing reads:

Now that we’ve wrapped up Dragonfly in Amber, my book group has just one longer-term read in the works right now:

• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 68%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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 actually got dressed up and went out one night! As opposed to my typical evenings with leggings, tea, books, and Netflix. My workplace had its big annual fundraising gala this week. I worked for part of it — my job was “greeter”, which meant basically standing around saying “welcome!” as people arrived. After that, I was able to hang out with my coworkers, enjoy the food and ambiance, and do some serious people watching.

One night out every once in a while is plenty for me. I do love my cozy evenings at home!

What did I read during the last week?

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle: A fast but not entirely satisfying read. My review is here.

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising, #1) by Susan Cooper: I enjoyed this middle grade fantasy/adventure tale, and may eventually read further in the series. My review is here.

Alaska Traveler by Dana Stabenow: An enjoyable collection of the author’s travel columns, providing quick little slice-of-life experiences from all across Alaska.

A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell, #9) by Deanna Raybourn: A new installment in the ongoing Veronica Speedwell series is always a treat. My review is here.

Puzzle of the week:

A fun one from Ravensburger, with lots of cute little details:

Pop culture & TV:

Somehow I ended up with not a lot of viewing time this week. Other than new weekly episodes of shows like Survivor and Ghosts, I didn’t indulge much.

I’d hoped to binge my way through the rest of Fellow Travelers, but only managed to fit in a few more episodes. Three left! It’s excellent — can’t wait to see how it ends… but I also don’t want it to end.

Fresh Catch:

Two new books this week — a book I’d preordered ages ago (Holly Black), and a lovely hardcover edition of a novella that I’d had my eye on:

I’ll need to do a reread of the The Stolen Heir before I start The Prisoner’s Throne, since the details are — shall we say — murky, but I’m looking forward to revisiting this world.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain: Just getting started. I wasn’t entirely sure that I was in the mood for Regency romance right now, but I also wasn’t looking for anything too heavy. We’ll see how it goes!

Now playing via audiobook:

A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstong: I actually read this book a few years ago, but there are several more connected books in the series, and I decided to revisit this one before continuing with the others. It’s a lovely timeslip story, and I’m really enjoying the audio version.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2), reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 48 and 49 (of 49). Progress: 94%. Final week!
• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 66%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

How did it get to be March already? Wasn’t it just New Year’s Day a minute ago?

It’s been a busy week (the usual refrain), but I had some time for fun over the weekend, including dinner with friends and an extra opportunity to dance. (I’ve gotten into international folkdancing recently, and I’m loving it!)

What did I read during the last week?

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon: Silly small-town shenanigans — a very entertaining audiobook. My review is here.

Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire: The 13th book in the Incryptids series. Definitely not a place to jump in, but anyone who’s been reading the series will not be disappointed. My review is here.

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner: Another audiobook — the story held my attention, but I never quite managed to suspend my disbelief. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

All of a sudden, there’s so much to watch! Network series are back, including Ghosts, Abbott Elementary, and a new season of Survivor. All of which are making me happy.

Also…

Rick and Michonne are back on my TV screen! I was a devoted Walking Dead fan for many seasons, but finally gave it up after my two favorite characters departed the show. I never did end up watching the last two (or so) seasons. But now, Rick and Michonne are back in a limited series, The Ones Who Live, and I’m thrilled. I’ve only seen one episode so far (a 2nd just dropped), but I can’t even express how great it is to see these characters (and actors) once again.

My husband and I watched the first episode of the new Shogun, and it was intense and impressive. I’m sure we’ll continue.

I finally started Fellow Travelers, and I’m hooked. The acting is terrific, and the storyline (so far) is very intense. I’ve watched three of the eight episodes, and can’t wait to keep going.

Fresh Catch:

I treated myself to a signed copy of The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden, and it arrived this week. I loved the book, and I’m so happy to have this beautiful edition for my shelves.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle: Interesting premise, and it’s going quickly so far. I haven’t made a ton of progress yet, but I’m definitely hooked.

Now playing via audiobook:

Alaska Traveler by Dana Stabenow: I’ve read a few of the pieces in this collection before, but when I saw that my library had the audiobook available, I couldn’t resist! Dana Stabenow is such a great writer, and she has terrific stories to tell.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2), reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 46 and 47 (of 49). Progress: 89%. Second to last week!
• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 62%.
• Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising, #1) by Susan Cooper: I borrowed this audiobook from the library, and realized after listening to the first few chapters that I wasn’t absorbing it at all. Not sure if it was the narrator or something else, but in any case, I switched over to the ebook version and started again from the beginning. I’ll be dipping in and out of this book in between other books, but should wrap it up pretty quickly.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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 quiet week, but that’s okay! We had beautiful weather over the weekend, so my husband and I decided to go out and explore a hiking trail we’d never tried before. It was fairly short (2.5 miles), but with some nice changes in terrain and pretty views. Afterward, we headed to wander around a cute nearby town, and finished with dinner overlooking the beach and with a great view of the sunset. It was so nice to break out of the usual weekend routine of errands, household projects, and laundry!

What did I read during the last week?

On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton: Terrific historical fiction set in San Francisco’s Fillmore District during the 1950s. My review is here.

A Night to Remember by Walter Lord: A powerful work of narrative non-fiction about the Titanic tragedy. My review is here.

Also, I read another story from Amazon’s Improbable Meet-Cute collection:

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren: A cute story about a misdirected email leading to a 10-year friendship and more. I really enjoyed it.

Pop culture & TV:

I ended up watching quite an assortment this week…

I finished the One Day series on Netflix. I was a little skeptical at first, but within the space of the very first episode, I really fell for the characters and the pace. This is a limited series — 14 half-hour episodes, and the story is done. The casting is very strong, and this is a much better adaptation than the 2011 movie.

Meanwhile, a group of us at work got together for a lunchtime viewing of Stamped From the Beginning (also on Netflix). Highly recommended.

Then, over the weekend, my husband and I ended up watching Eternal Memory, a very moving documentary (which we later discovered is nominated for an Oscar). Another one that I strongly recommend.

Fresh Catch:

I won a Goodreads giveaway! I got the notification yesterday — I’m looking forward to reading this, although it’s listed on Goodreads as #2 in a series and I haven’t read the first. (I’m guessing, based on the synopses for both books, that it’s only a loose connection… we shall see.)

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Aftermarket Afterlife (Incryptids, #13) by Seanan McGuire: It’s always a treat when a new book in this series comes out!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon: I’m *this close* to the end! This has been a light, fun listen.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2), reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 44 and 45 (of 49). Progress: 84%.
• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 59%.
• Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi: After watching the Netflix adaptation, I decided I should take the time to read the book. I’m pretty terrible at reading serious non-fiction, so I’m a bit on the fence about whether to commit. For now, I’m going to aim to read a couple of chapters per week — we’ll see how it goes. So far, I’ve only read the two prefaces and the introduction.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

Happy Presidents Day!

It’s so nice to get a day off… even when it’s rainy (for the 3rd day in a row) and I have nothing much planned. Sounds like a great excuse for curling up with a cozy throw blanket and a good book!

And while it was raining yesterday, I ended up goofing around with AI image generation, which gave me lots of weird results based on my prompts… but here’s one I ended up liking:

What did I read during the last week?

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden: Beautifully written and absolutely haunting. My review is here.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez: A captivating contemporary romance that blends humor with more serious issues. My review is here.

Death of an Eye by Dana Stabenow: I love the Kate Shugak series by this author, and was so happy to finally read the first in her Egyptian mystery series. My book group will be discussing this book in the coming week — can’t wait to hear what everyone else thought of it. My review is here.

Also, two shorter reads this past week:

Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez: Part of the free Improbable Meet-Cute collection available via Amazon this month. A sweet, funny short story that helped me past my book hangover after I finished Yours Truly.

Jane by Aline Brosh McKenna: A contemporary graphic novel that retells the Jane Eyre story. The author was one of the writers/creators of a favorite show, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend — although based on that, I think I expected at least a smidge of humor. (There isn’t any, really). Still it’s an interesting take on the classic story. I picked it up on a whim while at the library, and finished it in one sitting.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 2 of The Bear! One episode in particular has Emmy-winner written all over it, but really, the entire series is just so good. Can’t wait for season 3!

I also started watching One Day on Netflix. I was hesitant — I read the book back when it came out, then saw the 2011 movie version. Do we really need another adaptation? I’m happy to report that based on the handful of episodes I’ve seen so far, the answer is yes — yes, we do need this limited series version. Well worth checking out!

Fresh Catch:

I treated the family to this beautiful new cookbook:

And before you ask — no, I don’t cook (at all!), but my husband does, and in any case, there are some gorgeous pictures in this cookbook, so I’m enjoying looking through it.

Puzzle of the week:

My son and his girlfriend were working on this Lego set last week:

… and that reminded me that I had a puzzle I hadn’t gotten around to tackling yet. And since it rained all day on Saturday, I had time to obsess over it and ended up doing a marathon puzzling session, finishing it in one day. So satisfying!

My lighting for photos leaves a lot to be desired, but trust me — it’s so pretty in person!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton: I’m reading this for a book group discussion at work, and really like it so far.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon: Good, light, silly fun.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2), reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 42 and 43 (of 49). Progress: 81%.
• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 56%. We’ve finally made it past the halfway point!
• A Night to Remember by Walter Lord: My new Classics Club Spin book! I haven’t started it yet — I’m listing it here as a placeholder for now. The target date for this spin is March 3rd, so there’s still plenty of time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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 anniversary last week! 26 years married, 31 years together… still going strong. Since the actual date of our anniversary was midweek, I took a day off from work, and we headed out for a beautiful walk along the bay, then had lunch at a new spot that just opened nearby. On Friday night, we did a fancier celebration (fancy for us — basically, an event where I wore something other than jeans and even put on a hint of mascara!) — we had dinner at a favorite restaurant downtown, and enjoyed every bite.

Besides that…

Everyone in my city was basically glued to their TVs yesterday for the Super Bowl… and since I don’t care about sports (although, yes, I wish the 49ers had won), I took advantage of my “me time” to go get a massage. Ahhhh… bliss.

What did I read during the last week?

The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond: I powered through to the end, but can’t say I enjoyed it. My review is here.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry: It’s really sad to listen to this memoir so soon after Matthew Perry’s death, but I admire his courage in sharing so much of his story. My thoughts are here.

Pop culture & TV:

I’ve been busy catching up on some series and doing random bits of other watching. I posted a wrap-up, here.

Fresh Catch:

My local bookstore sent out this cute collection to sponsors:

Puzzle of the week:

I always love these literary-themed puzzles from Laurence King! The World of King Arthur was pretty tricky and lots of fun.

BUT — there’s a piece missing! Only a fellow puzzle-lover can truly understand the suffering caused by not being able to place the final piece.

Update: Right before hitting “publish” on this post… I found the missing piece! All is well with the world.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden: I’m close to the end, and I’m loving it! After a couple of less than stellar recent reads in the past few weeks, it’s wonderful reading something that’s so captivating and well-written.

Now playing via audiobook:

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez: I really enjoyed my first audiobook by this author, and I’m excited to be listening to another one! I’m at about 40%, and it’s great so far.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2), reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 40 and 41 (of 49). Progress: 76%.
• Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 49%.
• A Night to Remember by Walter Lord: My new Classics Club Spin book! I haven’t started it yet — I’m listing it here as a placeholder for now. The target date for this spin is March 3rd, so there’s still plenty of time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…