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, but then I had a lot of time to myself over the weekend to regroup and relax. I did a bit of organizing, neatened up my Little Free Library (and discarded a few books that were in absolutely tatters and had been taking up space for too long already), and even treated myself to a pretty manicure!

My son is away for a few days, and his aloof kitty-cat is suddenly glued to my side. He usually just spies from the hallway to keep tab on the humans, but now that I’m his only companion, he’s even watching TV with me!

(I do think he’ll ditch me as soon as my son gets back… but it’s nice while it lasts!)

Good neighbor shout-out:

When I went out for a walk yesterday before meeting up with a friend, I stuck my ID and a credit card in a pocket… and later discovered that pocket didn’t close securely, and my items were gone. I went out again to retrace my steps, had no luck, and then came home to find that someone had slid my ID and card under my front door. Thank you, anonymous kind neighbor!!

Elsewhere on the blog:

I shared a post over the weekend about cleaning up my ARC obligations and TBR lists. Anyone else feeling bogged down by reading commitments?

What did I read during the last week?

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher: Terrific fairy tale retelling with a bit of a horror bite. Highly recommended! My review is here.

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady and The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander: I wrote a two-fer post comparing these two battling bookshop books! Check it out, here.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: It was kind of fun to listen to this audiobook and revisit the Twilight story again after all these years… although the farther along I got, the harder it was to ignore the ridiculousness of it all. Still entertaining, though.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill: A fast-paced thriller that doesn’t quite work, although it’s still an engaging read. My review is here.

The Last Wizards’ Ball (Gunnie Rose, #6) by Charlaine Harris: A satisfying wrap-up to a terrific six-book series. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Outlander excitement! The first two episodes of the new Outlander prequel/spin-off series dropped this week, and I loved them! Check out the trailer for Blood of My Blood:

Beyond that, I’ve been continuing my Ted Lasso binge, and have just one episode left before I finish season 3. It makes me kind of sad to think I’ll be out of episodes… but I guess I’ll just have to join the crowd and wait for season 4!

I managed to catch up on all but one episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty, season 3 (on Prime Video). I’m basically hate-watching at this point (this is NOT a good show), but I think I’ll continue to the end, mainly because I’ve read the books and want to see if the show ending matches the book ending.

And then… not sure what I’ll start next, but I’m leaning heavily toward Chief of War (more AppleTV+).

Meanwhile, I’ve fallen down a Youtube rabbit hole and have been watching every video clip I can find from the recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl (starring Cynthia Erivo as Jesus, Adam Lambert as Judas, and Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene). Here’s one clip — but if you’re a fan, it’s well worth the time to go look for more!

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

Dear Lord Akeldaa & Parasolverse Ephemera by Gail Carriger: A lovely hardcover edition from Subterranean Press, filled with all sorts of extras and goodies related to the Parasolverse!

Other than that… Amazon was offering triple Kindle reward points for two days this week, so I treated myself to the next few Rockton e-books from my wishlist. (But I’m forcing myself to hold off before starting the next one… there are so many other books in my queue!)

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell: I picked up a copy of this book on a whim several months ago, and I’m just now getting around to reading it. It’s SO weird… but oddly good!

Next up:

The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley: My book group’s pick for August — and we’ll be chatting with the author later this month! I always love her books… excited to start this one.

Now playing via audiobook:

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My summer Classics Club Spin book! I’m getting close to the deadline, so it’s about time that I started this book.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 36%. Up next: Chapters 17 and 18.
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s shared reading journey, starting next week!

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 August! My summer travels are already over, but I’m trying to still squeeze in some outdoor time and appreciate the (slightly) slower pace at work while so many other people are taking time off. The fall rush is not far away!

A cuteness update: The kitty found a favorite new hang-out. We think he just likes to be able to look down on all of us puny humans.

What did I read during the last week?

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill: A fast-paced thriller that doesn’t quite deliver, but still makes for a fast, engaging read. Review to follow.

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman: Loved this audiobook! Which wasn’t a surprise — I also really enjoyed the previous two by this author. My review is here.

Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar: I had high hopes for this book about a trio of Syrian Jewish sisters in a tight-knit Brooklyn community… but sadly, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. My review is here.

This Fallen Prey (Rockton, #3) by Kelley Armstrong: This series continue to be excellent! It’s going to be hard to make myself take breaks and read other books, rather than continuing straight through. My review is here.

The Last Wizards’ Ball (Gunnie Rose, #6) by Charlaine Harris: Finished during my Sunday walk — review to follow later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

Still exploring (and bingeing) with my free trial of AppleTV+! I’ve now finished season 2 of Ted Lasso — still loving it! I’m going to catch up on a few other things*, then dive straight into season 3.

*… such as The Summer I Turned Pretty, season 3 (on Prime Video) — although based on watching one episode so far, I’m not sure I actually care enough to finish the series.

Since my book group recently finished Fellowship of the Ring, I took time this past week to watch the movie… probably my 4th or 5th time, but it’s always glorious.

Fresh Catch:

No new physical books this week… but there were a few great price drops on Kindle that I couldn’t resist, including Fredrik Backman’s newest. (Still available for $1.99, I believe, so go grab it if you’re interested!)

Retail therapy — (non-bookish) product placement time!

Over the weekend, I posted photos (and purchase links) for cute UV hoodies and other outdoor protective wear. I’m loving my new butterflies-and-flowers top!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher: This twisted/alternate version of the Snow White story is off to a great start!

Now playing via audiobook:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Don’t mock me! After driving through the town of Forks on my recent road trip, I was reminded of how all-absorbing this series was way back when, and thought it might be fun to revisit it. We’ll see… I’m just starting it today.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 31%. Up next: Chapters 15 and 16.
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My new Classics Club spin book! I’m putting it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it this summer — the target date to finish this spin challenge is August 24th. This week’s update: Still haven’t started this one! I need to get moving…
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s shared reading journey, starting up in two weeks.

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.

This past week was focused on catching up — it was my first week back after two weeks away from work… and let’s just say, it was a lot!

Apart from that, it was good to be back home, get a little time each evening to chill (and read), and spend time with family. Unfortunately, we’re having a very typical San Francisco July — grey skies and drizzle every day! Nothing can keep me down, though. I’m still squeezing in as much outdoor time as I can, even if that means getting cold and damp.

What did I read during the last week?

A Darkness Absolute (Rockton, #2) by Kelley Armstrong: I finished this while away the previous week, but just posted my review, here. I love this series! Can’t wait to keep going.

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst: This book is sweet and cozy, but light on actual plot. I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped to. My review is here.

The Auctioneer by Joan Samson: A 1970s horror classic — no gore, but filled with terrible dread that builds and builds. My review is here.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien: Ta-da! My book group’s reading journey through Fellowship wrapped up last week! It was such a treat reading and discussing this book with the group. We’ll be starting The Two Towers in mid-August.

Pop culture & TV:

I’m loving my free trial of AppleTV+! I was skeptical about Ted Lasso — could it really be worth all that buzz? And why would I — someone who really has no interest in sports — even care? Well, I stand corrected. I care! I binged season 1 of Ted Lasso this past week and immediately started season 2.

My son and I also watched the first episode of Murderbot, and it was… okay. We’re very much on the fence about continuing. After Ted Lasso, I think I’ll try Severance next, and meanwhile have some non-Apple catching up to do, including The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Gilded Age.

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

A gently used copy of a super cute little book that’s a great gift for booklovers!

As for e-books… I simply couldn’t resist when I saw price drops for Georgette Heyer books, and added a whole bunch more to my Kindle library. Now to find time to read them…

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill: My book group book for July. And yes, I’m late! I made a lot of progress over the weekend, and hope to finish today or tomorrow.

Next up — I haven’t quite decided, but it’s between an ARC, the next in a series, or a recent Kindle addition:

Now playing via audiobook:

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman: I just need one more hour-long walk — hopefuly today! — and I’ll be done! Watch for my review later this week.

Next up — the final book in a series that’s been terrific so far:

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments (current and coming up):

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 23%. Up next: Chapters 13 and 14.
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My new Classics Club spin book! I’m putting it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it this summer — the target date to finish this spin challenge is August 24th. This week’s update: Still haven’t started this one! I need to get moving…
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s shared reading journey, coming up in August.

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’m back! My husband and I just returned from a two-week, 2500-mile road trip — from home in San Francisco, through Oregon and Washington to Vancouver, Victoria, the Olympic Peninsula, and back home again. It was fantastic — I’ll aim to share more about it later in the week, once I have a chance to catch my breath.

Meanwhile… I’m home, catching up on laundry and household odds and ends, acclimating to being back in the fog, and getting ready to dive back into the usual workweek routines.

But hey! Let’s talk about the important stuff… like what I read and listened to while I was away.

What did I read during the last (two) weeks?

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston: This story of a songwriter and a former boy band bad-boy who somehow mind-meld and create a song together — while falling in love — just did not work for me. I liked the setting (a charming Outer Banks island) and the main character’s family dynamics, but the love story was a dud. The mind-to-mind connection was awkward, and I know we’re supposed to accept that it’s a special magical gift, but I didn’t buy it, and didn’t buy the two of them as a couple. I loved this author’s previous contemporary romances, but this one did not live up to expectations. Consider this my mini-review! I’d give it 2.5 stars.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Powerful historical fiction focused on women astronauts in the 1980s space shuttle era. Highly recommended! My review is here.

Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong: I was ready to get back to this series, but decided I needed a refresher before continuing, so… I re-read book #1, City of the Lost (here’s my review from last year) and then raced my way through book #2, A Darkness Absolute. Looks for my review of book #2 later this week — it was terrific!

In terms of audio…

My husband is not an audiobook listener, but he said he’d give it a try for the road trip. It was not a particularly successful experiment — he mainly dozed off every time we started listening! After a while, he told me to go ahead and listen as much as I wanted, and he read his own book on his Kindle, and we both ended up happy! Still, I kept it to a minimum (we mostly just chatted, enjoyed the scenery, and listened to random music). Here’s what I did listen to during our trip:

Mercy Thompson: Moon Called (Graphic Audio) by Patricia Briggs: I adore the Mercy Thompson series, and I’d been curious about the graphic audio version, which present the story with a full cast and sound effects. It’s abridged from the original, and some of the sound effects (panting whenever a character runs, lots of snarling from the werewolves) could be a bit over the top. Overall, it was a fun listen, although it could be hard to tell what was going on during action sequences. I enjoyed this as a way to revisit the story, but would absolute recommend reading the full book or listening to the unabridged audiobook if you’re checking out Moon Called for the first time. Listening to this book (the first in the Mercy Thompson series) made me want to keep going — but probably not with the graphic audio versions.

The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian: This short story (1 hour, 16 minutes) is a tense, suspenseful tale that’s completely engaging, and it absolutely held my attention and kept me guessing. Which isn’t really a surprise — this author is a favorite, and his thrillers are always excellent.

Pop culture & TV:

Nothing! We never turned on a TV during our trip. I’ve only been back one day, and so far, the only viewing I’ve done is a re-watch of the pilot episode of Black Sails. I loved the series back when it aired (2014 – 2017). My son has decided to watch it, and I may join him, so I thought going back to the beginning would be a good idea.

I had to replace my iPhone last month, and the new phone came with an offer for three free months of AppleTV+… so I just signed up, and I’m getting my watching queue in order. So far, I know I want to check out Ted Lasso, Severance, Murderbot, and possibly Shrinking and The Buccaneers. Any other recommendations?

Blogging collaboration:

While I was away, Carol at Reading Ladies Book Club published her annual summer reading collaboration, which I was delighted to participate in. Check it out here!

Fresh Catch:

A few orders I’d placed earlier arrived this week. What fun to come home and get to enjoy a bit of unboxing!

While passing through Portland, I absolutely had to stop by Powell’s (fulfilling a bookish bucket list dream!), and treated myself to a paperback copy of Green Rider, which is the first book in a series I want to start this year.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst: I’m at about 35%. I really enjoyed the first book in this series (The Spellshop), but this book hasn’t quite grabbed me yet. I’m holding out hope that it’ll pick up in the 2nd half.

Now playing via audiobook:

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman: This author’s previous two books were a lot of fun, and I’m happy to be starting this new one!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s shared reading journey, two chapters per week. We’ll be finishing this week! Progress: 93%. This week’s chapters: Fellowship, Book 2, Chapters 9 and 10.
• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 20%. Up next: Chapters 11 and 12.
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My new Classics Club spin book! I’m putting it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it this summer — the target date to finish this spin challenge is August 24th

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.

After a great weekend — dancing, outdoor time, and getting to spend time with a book group friend visiting the area — I’m gearing up for a busy few days at work (yay for four-day workweeks!) and then a road trip. I’ll be mainly offline for the next two weeks while doing some family traveling, but the trip itself should be fairly low-key, so I may pop by here and there.

Still, after Friday, don’t expect to see many (or possibly, any) new posts from me for a while!

What did I read during the last week?

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: The only book I reviewed this week! It’s a good one, with a story within a story. My review is here.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab: Finished late Sunday, and loved it! Review to follow in the next few days.

Pop culture & TV:

I watched the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale this past week. Not every season of the series was great, but taken as a whole, I have to say that bringing Margaret Atwood’s vision to life and expanding the story in the way the Hulu version did is really an amazing achievement. Overall, the series was excellent and thought-provoking, and I thought this final season was incredibly well-done. I’m glad I came back to it and finished!

After that, I turned to the new season of The Bear, even though season 3 was not especially enjoyable. So far, season 4 seems better — I still have about half to go.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week! I really haven’t bought physical books in a while… and my bookshelves are thanking me. I need to do a bit more culling and donating before I add any more new books to my shelves.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston: I’m just getting started. This is my final ARC from June, and I’m trying to get as caught up as possible before diving into my stack of pending July books!

Next up: I’m trying to make a (very) loose plan for what I hope to read while on my trip for the next couple of weeks. Top choices at the moment are:

Totally subject to change, of course — we’ll see where my mood takes me in the moment, and also, how much reading time I actually end up with!

Now playing via audiobook:

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady: I’ve loved everything by this author duo so far, but I’m not entirely sold on this audiobook yet. I’m racing the clock to finish — I’m trying to wrap it all up by Thursday, because after that I’ll be in the car with my husband every day, and I just don’t think he’ll be into my audiobooks!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s shared reading journey, two chapters per week. Progress: 66%. Up next: Fellowship, Book 2, Chapters 3 and 4.
• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 9%. Up next: Chapters 5 and 6.
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My new Classics Club spin book! I’m putting it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it this summer.

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.

This past week felt a bit calmer, and also gave me more time to relax. My team at work had a “wellness day” outing that included a picnic and hanging out in a beautiful park, which we all really needed. Plus, a day off for Juneteenth and a weekend without too many plans both provided time to chill, read, walk, see a few friends, and just feel like the days had a bit less pressure.

Looking for suggestions!

My husband and I have a road trip coming up next month, and I’m looking for ideas for what we might enjoy listening to together. I’m an audiobook fanatic, but he is not. However, he’s enjoyed radio plays in the past, and is open to the idea of trying audiobooks for bits and pieces of the trip. I was thinking of possibilities like one of Stephen Fry’s Greek mythology books, or a BBC full-cast presentation. I think anything with multiple narrators, and preferably sound effects or music, might appeal to him. He doesn’t particularly enjoy sci-fi or fantasy, so that rules out a lot of what I’ve come across. If you have any brilliant ideas, please let me know!

What did I read during the last week?

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown: Highly recommended! I finished reading it late last week — here’s my review.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson: This second-chance love story set at sea just wasn’t my cup of tea. My review is here.

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner: On the other hand, I adored this terrific story about former rock star sisters with a complicated relationship. Excellent audiobook! My review is here.

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick: I did not read the synopsis carefully enough, and went into this book with incorrect expectations, which may at least partially explain why it felt like a letdown. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I went to an actual movie theater (!!) and saw a terrific movie, The Life of Chuck, which is an adaptation of a Stephen King story from his If It Bleeds collection. I loved the story back when I read it, and I thought the movie version was excellent. (Reviews are very mixed — and I’ll echo the recommendation from several of the movie’s actors: This is a movie best seen knowing nothing at all about it!).

Still, no harm in checking out the trailer, which doesn’t actually give much away:

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab: I’m skipping right past a couple of ARCs on my to-read list to get to this book, because I just want to!

Now playing via audiobook:

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: It’s always special when an author I enjoy has an audiobook narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators (Julia Whelan). I’m really liking this one so far. I’m at about 30%, and should finish by next weekend.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s shared reading journey, two chapters per week. Progress: 54%. Up next: We’re starting book 2 of Fellowship, Chapters 1 and 2.
• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 4%. Up next: Chapters 3 and 4.
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My new Classics Club spin book! I’m putting it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it this summer.

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 an intense week of catching up, following being away for two weeks. As my husband likes to remind me, is it really a vacation if all the work from the time away is still waiting for you when you get back? Sigh…

Meanwhile, we had some decent weather over the weekend, and I’m trying to get back into my routine of long weekend walks and reading outdoors!

Little Free Library updates:

When I got back from vacation, my LFL was kind of overflowing, with lots of books shoved in any which way — including some interesting looking fiction and non-fiction, but also ESL textbooks, random picture books, and a few how-to guides that looked really obsolete. I started neatening up, but didn’t get very far… and then a few days ago, I discovered that sometime overnight someone came by, removed a lot of extraneous, battered books, and left the rest looking neat and tidy!

On the other hand… I have a cute little bookmark holder that I keep stocked with free bookmarks that I’ve picked up at bookstores and other places. I added a whole bunch earlier in the week… and Friday morning when I went to straighten up the LFL, I saw that ALL of the bookmarks (about 20, I think) had disappeared overnight. I have mixed feelings: They’re there to take, so that’s fine — but still, why would someone take them all at once? That doesn’t feel particularly neighborly or in the spirit of things. Makes me feel less inclined to offer bookmarks if people are going to grab them all and not leave any for other folks.

What did I read during the last week?

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison: A surprise treat! I didn’t know what to expect from this Sliding Doors-esque novel, but ended really enjoying it. My review is here.

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown: Finished late Sunday. Terrific thriller! Review to follow later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

Apart from a few random YouTube clips and short videos, I really haven’t watched anything this week. For whatever reason, I’ve been more in the mood to sit and read at night rather than turning on the TV or seeing what’s streaming.

I did enjoy the Hamilton 10th anniversary performance at the Tonys:

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson: After an intense thriller, something light seems like the right choice for my next read! I’ll be starting this one later today — I have a good feeling about it, since I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous books.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennnifer Weiner: This audiobook is on the longer side (15+ hours), and I’m approaching the 75% mark. Totally loving this listen!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s newest reading journey, two chapters per week. Progress: 43%. Up next: Chapters 11 and 12. (So happy that we finally got to Aragorn’s introduction this past week!)
• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: New book group classic read, starting this week!
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: My new Classics Club spin book! I’m putting it here as a reminder to myself to make time for it this summer.

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’m back! I was away for the past two weeks — partially for vacation time in Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park, but mainly for my daughter’s wedding!

The wedding was beautiful, and so perfectly suited to my daughter and her husband! It was down to earth and full of love, and simply wonderful. Plus, it gave me the chance to see family and friends from far away, which was a lovely bonus.

It’s hard to get back to real life and the daily routine!

What did I read during the last week?

Once I got home (and finished unpacking), I posted a wrap-up of everything I read and listened to over the past few weeks. I finished a long-term book group book (Mansfield Park), read a few novels, and listened to a lot of audio shorts! My wrap-up post is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Not a thing! I haven’t watched any TV or movies for the past two weeks! I’m sure I have a lot of catching up to do.

Fresh Catch:

I made a total impulse buy at a Boulder bookstore! I wandered in just to browse, and the cover of this book caught my eye right away. I’d never heard of it before, but it sounds great, and I couldn’t resist.

The table centerpieces at the wedding were piles of books tied with twine, which guests could then take home at the end of the night. I grabbed this one — so pretty!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison: I needed something light for the plane ride home, and this was a great choice! I’m about halfway through. Very enjoyable.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennnifer Weiner: My library hold just came in! I’m excited to be starting this audiobook — I always enjoy this author’s stories and characters.

Ongoing reads:

One longer-term reading commitment right now (but another will be starting next week!):

• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s newest reading journey, two chapters per week. (I missed a bit while I was away — struggling to catch up!) Progress: 36%. Up next: Chapters 9 and 10.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…