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.

Sadly, winter sniffles caught up with my household this past week — just enough to keep us housebound and force us to cancel some plans, but fortunately, not bad enough to cause any real problems!

The upside for me was lots more reading time than I might otherwise have had… although on the negative side of the scale, barely leaving the house meant that I barely listened to audiobooks, so I’m way behind where I thought I’d be.

Puzzle of the week:

Being home all week gave me extra time for puzzling — yet another silver lining! This week’s puzzle was from Cobble Hill. I loved the intricate design, and it was nice to shift to another puzzle company after doing a bunch of Ravensburger puzzles, to get to enjoy different shapes and connections.

As always, my puzzle photos are never good enough to really show how pretty they are in person… so here’s what it’s supposed to look like:

Affiliate purchase link: Amazon

This puzzle is hereby approved by our kitty. Or anyway, the puzzle box gets the stamp of approval!

What did I read during the last week?

For a Limited Time Only by Peng Shepherd: Free via Amazon’s Prime Reading program. This short fiction with a unique time travel twist packs a surprisingly powerful emotional punch. I’m so glad I read it! And now, I’m eager to try more by this author.

107 Days by Kamala Harris: I found this political memoir to be informative, but of course also quite a bittersweet experience. My review is here.

Murder at Haven’s Rock (Haven’s Rock, #1) by Kelley Armstrong: I wasn’t at all surprised to find that I loved this book! A great start to a spin-off from one of my favorite series (the Rockton books). My review is here.

The Man Who Died Twice (The Thursday Murder Club, #2) by Richard Osman: Just as much fun as the first book! I’m eager for more. My review is here.

A Jane Austen Year: Celebrating 250 Year of Jane Austen: I also thoroughly enjoyed leafing through this gorgeous coffee table book! I took a slow, leisurely approach, and loved it — find out more here.

Pop culture & TV:

I’m slowly working my way through a selection of Oscar-nominated movies and roles. This week, I watched One Battle After Another. I can see why it’s getting so much buzz! It’s action-packed and, on the surface, not something I would typically gravitate toward, but there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye, and the individual performances are terrific.

After that, I finally sat down to watch Frankenstein on Netflix. What a gorgeous production! It’s visually stunning and so well done. Honestly, Oscar Isaac was robbed by not being nominated for the best actor Oscar for this film, and same goes for a lack of a best director nomination for Guillermo del Toro.

I’m certainly not trying to watch ALL the nominated performances — there are plenty that just don’t interest me. Besides these two, I’ve also seen Sinners (which was excellent). Hamnet is high on my list of movies to watch, but I’m waiting for streaming, so it might be a while. Same for Marty Supreme. And I still need to watch KPop Demon Hunters!

How about you? Have you seen any of the other nominated movies or performances? Any you’d particularly recommend?

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon: My book group’s January pick. My library hold came in later than I’d hoped, so I’m behind… but made good progress over the weekend.

Now playing via audiobook:

Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra: I missed out on most of my usual audiobook time this past week, so I really only got to start this one a couple of days ago. I like 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: 51%. Coming up this week: Chapters 17 & 18.
• 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): 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.

Another busy week at work… but at least that was balanced by a really nice weekend, which included two opportunities to dance, a couple of nice long walks, and time to read!

With a day off today, I’ll be devoting the afternoon to watching Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on the big screen. My son and I have tickets already. 3.75 hours — here we go!

What did I read during the last week?

The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart: A terrific 1960s-era suspense novel! I’m so glad I finally read it — now I’m eager to read more by this author. My review is here.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart: Smart, snappy, fast-moving sci-fi adventure! I do wish this book had been a stand-alone rather than the start of a series — that unresolved ending will make me batty until the 2nd book is released. My review is here.

I also read two graphic novels that I picked up at the library on a whim:

Fangs was pretty charming and funny, and super quick. Sunhead was fairly “meh”, but then again, it’s very clearly aimed for young readers, and the appeal was mostly lost on me. I suppose I’m glad that I gave these both a try — and I’m also glad that they both were fast reads.

Pop culture & TV:

I’m all caught up on Shrinking! I finished season two this past week, and really enjoyed it… and now I’m eagerly awaiting the start of season 3 at the end of January.

I tend not to go to many new movies in theaters these days, and even though there are a few I’d like to see (including some of the movies getting lots of awards buzz), I mostly hold off and wait for streaming. This week, I finally watched Sinners, and was blown away. Besides the sheer entertainment value, there so much more going on beneath the surface. After watching the movie, I fell down a fascinating rabbit hole of reading articles and discussions about the movie’s themes. I think this is one that will need rewatching!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Murder at Haven’s Rock (Haven’s Rock, #1) by Kelley Armstrong: Yay! I’m starting the Haven’s Rock series, my #1 priority series to read in 2026. This series is a spin-off from the author’s Rockton series, which I loved. I started this book late Sunday, and I’m already hooked.

Now playing via audiobook:

107 Days by Kamala Harris: I’d hoped to have more listening time this week, but even so, I expect to finish within the next day or so. Really interesting audiobook, and I’m enjoying having Kamala Harris herself as the narrator.

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: 43%. Coming up this week: Chapters 15 & 16.
• 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): 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.

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

Anyway…

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

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

All in all, quite a lovely weekend.

What did I read during the last week?

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

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

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

Pop culture & TV:

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

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

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

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

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

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

Now playing via audiobook:

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

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 35%. Coming up this week: Chapters 13 & 14.
• The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books continues! Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 64%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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 New Year! It’s the first Monday of 2026… which means it’s time to return to a normal routine after a few quieter weeks.

While I worked part of last week, I also enjoyed a few days off, with plenty of reading time, family time, and time to be free and unscheduled!

Sigh. It’s hard to think about going back to the daily grind.

Year-end wrap-up and looking forward:

I share my usual batch of end-of-year and beginning-of-year posts, including:

• A salute to my unread books from 2025
• A check-in on my 2025 series reading
• My reading wrap-up for 2025
• Reading goals for 2026
• My series priorities for 2026

What did I read during the last week?

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench: I loved this audiobook! It was a wonderful listen, and it also inspired me to plan to read some new-to-me Shakespeare plays in the coming year. My review is here.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher: Such a beautiful, heart-warming novel! My review is here.

Puzzle time!

A couple of weeks ago, I started a puzzle created from a family photo, which was really fun… until I got all the faces and interesting bits done, and was left with hundreds of pieces that were just grass and leaves. I tried to power through, until our kitty managed to pull the whole thing off my puzzle table. Annoying… but it also gave me an excuse for calling it a day!

Moving on, I pulled out a puzzle I bought a while ago but hadn’t unboxed, and had a wonderful time with it. I loved the colors and design, as well as the quality of the pieces. This time around, I took defensive measures to keep the kitty away!

Ravensburger: Riverside Town **
**Amazon affiliate link: Links to purchase site; I may earn a small commission at no cost to you

Pop culture & TV:

I finished Pluribus, and really liked it! Can’t wait to see where the story goes whenever a new season drops.

After that, I started Shrinking. I haven’t gotten very far, but I like what I’ve seen.

I also watched a movie that left me with very mixed feelings — All of You on AppleTV. It’s well acted and the stars have great chemistry — but (spoiler alert!) a large part of the plot includes cheating, which I did not expect and which I would typically not choose to watch.

Fresh Catch:

A batch of new books this week:

I’ve now officially used up all gift cards and credits! I treated myself to the Harper Muse Classic edition of Sense and Sensibility, leaving me with just one more Jane Austen novel to add to the collection down the road. I couldn’t resist the gorgeous hardcover of The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty — fingers crossed that I’ll love the story as much as I love the cover design! Inspired by the Judi Dench audiobook that I finished last week, I ordered copies of two Shakespeare plays that I’ve never read and that I look forward to exploring.

Two library holds came in over the weekend, and while I was there, I grabbed two graphic novels that caught my eye. I’m happy with my library haul!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman: I borrowed this book from the library after reading this article on what to read after finishing Pluribus. Totally an impulse borrow, and I’m really curious to see how it all works out.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover: Thanks to days of never-ending rain, I haven’t been able to get out for my usual walks, which means I haven’t had nearly enough time for audiobooks. I like this one so far, and hope to make good progress this week during my daily commutes.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments — starting back up this week after a holiday break!

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s current classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 29%. Coming up this week: Chapters 11 & 12.
• The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books starts up again this week, as we begin The Return of the King. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 62%.

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.

The clock is ticking… it’s almost 2026! I have no plans for New Years, other than enjoying a day off from work and doing whatever I end up feeling like.

It’s been a good week, with family time and a few fun get-togethers with different groups of people. I’ve enjoyed the relaxed vibe of this end-of-year time — just wish it could last longer!

Blog posts:

I shared some thoughts on audiobooks, and what I think could make them better. Check it out here — I’d love to hear what you think! Also new this week: the first of my traditional year-in-review posts, this one about my series reading in 2025.

What did I read during the last week?

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children, #11) by Seanan McGuire: Another terrific addition to a great series. My review is here.

A Damsel in Distress by P .G. Wodehouse: A delightfully silly story. My review is here.

3 Days 9 Months 27 Years by John Scalzi: An excellent short story with a twisty approach to time travel.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis: My book group pick for December — finished just under the wire! I couldn’t put it down. Review to follow later in the week.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 2 of The Morning Show! Geez, that series is all over the place. Some characters are just so messy… and the pandemic is still recent enough that watching it on TV isn’t exactly entertainment. Still, I’m interested enough to keep going and see what happens next.

Meanwhile, I’ve watched 5 episodes of Pluribus. It’s so weird, and so hard not to binge straight through!

Fresh Catch:

Three new books this week:

I treated myself to copies of an Austen-related book and the Judi Dench book that’s my current audio listen, and received an early copy of the new Wayward Children book from the publisher.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher: This book was recommended by an author whose books I love, and it feels like the right time of year to give it a try! I’ve only just started, but hope to have quite a bit of reading time this week to sit and enjoy it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench: I’ve had limited listening time this past week, but that’s okay — I’m really savoring this audiobook. It’s Judi Dench in conversation about the various Shakespeare roles she’s played throughout her career. Wonderful.

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: 29%. Taking a break this week — we’ll pick up our group read again next week.
• The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: Coming soon! My book group will be continuing our LOTR reading journey starting early January.

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.

Welp, that’s another Hanukkah come and gone! It’s always a bit weird when Hanukkah finishes before Christmas. We’re done with our holiday, and everyone else is still building up the excitement for theirs! In any case… wishing all who celebrate a very merry Christmas!

This past week was pretty fun, with a few Hanukkah get-togethers with family and friends, plus a work lunch with my team that was great.

I haven’t done a jigsaw puzzle in many months — but one of my Hanukkah presents was a puzzle of a photo from my daughter’s wedding, and I decided to start it over the weekend.

It’s kind of hilarious to put people’s faces together. So far, there are just two issues: 1) There are a LOT of trees and a TON of grass in the picture, and 2) our cat really likes hanging out on the puzzle table and trying to swipe pieces when my back is turned. He’s giving me an annoyed face right now because I took back the bits he was playing with. So… wish me luck!

What did I read during the last week?

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher: Really enjoyable folk/fantasy tale with an amazing desert setting. My review is here.

Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Absolutely gorgeous story. My review is here.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: Lovely epistolary novel. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Very underwhelmed by the Survivor finale, and by season 49 as a whole. Why do I keep watching? I do think I’ll stick with it for season 50, coming in February, which will be bringing back a bunch of fan favorite players — but unless they really do something to change up the format, I may be done after that.

And now, it’s back to The Morning Show! I’ve started season 2, which so far is set during early 2020 with the pandemic unfolding in the background. I’ll be interested to see where the story arc goes this season.

Besides that, I have my eye on a few other series on Netflix and AppleTV… and still need to make time for the 2nd Lord of the Rings movie!

Fresh Catch:

One new book!

I stumbled across this book while looking up something else Austen-related, and I couldn’t resist! There’s an entry for every day — I’m looking forward to making this book a daily habit in 2026.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children, #11) by Seanan McGuire: It’s great to return to the world of the Wayward Children series! I’m almost done — can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Now playing via audiobook:

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench: I haven’t gotten very far, but this audiobook is delightful! It’s basically Judi Dench in conversation about the various Shakespeare roles she’s played throughout her career. It’s entertaining and also teaching me so much!

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: 24%. Coming up this week: Chapter 10 (and then we’re taking a small break until after the new year).
• The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: Coming soon! My book group will be continuing our LOTR reading journey starting early January.

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 Hanukkah! We celebrated the first night last night with friends and family (and latkes!), and I have a few more Hanukkah events and small gatherings coming up this week.

Wishing joy and light to all who celebrate. Hanukkah is a time for finding light in dark times… something we really need right now.

What did I read during the last week?

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage: I loved this book! This was a spur-of-the-moment library borrow that worked out perfectly for me. My review is here.

Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: The 3rd in a series of Austen retellings, and it’s a delight! Here’s hoping the authors will continue with the remaining Austen novels. My review is here.

Kirkyards and Kindness (A Rip Through Time, #4.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A warm-hearted novella set in the world of a favorite series. My review is here.

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman, illustrated by Maurice Sendak: I borrowed this book from the library in order to finish up one of my 2025 reading challenges. How weird to realize that I’ve never read the original story, despite having seen the ballet umpteen-million times! Now that I’ve read the book, I can see why. It’s such an odd tale, and I don’t think my kids would have enjoyed it at all as a read-aloud. This edition has Maurice Sendak’s illustrations, which are always wonderful.

Blog posts:

Beyond the usual book reviews and weekly/monthly posts, I also shared two discussion posts — one about whether reviewers have any obligation to research the books they review, and the other about Goodreads’s new approach to pre-publication reviews. If you’re interested, please check out the posts and share your thoughts!

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 2 of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. Sweet and kind and funny, and what a great cast!

I’m on the fence about what to start next. I could dive into season 2 of The Morning Show or start one of the other AppleTV shows that I’ve had my eye on — but there are also a bunch of series on Netflix to catch up on as well. Meanwhile, I’m just waiting for my son to commit to a day to watch The Two Towers with me!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week… and it seems like pre-holiday deals have already ended, by and large. I notice that a few of the books I’d been keeping an eye on as potential treats have higher prices now than they did at the beginning of the month!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher: I haven’t made a ton of progress yet, but I like what I’ve read so far!

Now playing via audiobook:

Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Before this audiobook, I’d only read this author’s Aunties and Vera Wong books — and this one is completely different from those! I’m about halfway through this terrific story, and I’m loving 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: 16%. Coming up this week: Chapters 8 and 9.
• The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: Coming soon! My book group will be continuing our LOTR reading journey starting early January.

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 week. Work has been busy, and my free time for reading and relaxing seems to constantly get gobbled up by errands and other commitments. I’m looking forward to a slower second half of the month… and Hanukkah, starting this coming Sunday evening!

What did I read during the last week?

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: Highly recommended. See my review, here. Also included in the same review, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman. Funny and heartwarming, this is a charming book that gave me a big boost just when I needed it.

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: My book group’s latest project, finished after three months! It’s been a wonderful experience rereading this book and engaging in thoughtful discussions of each chapter. We’ll be starting The Return of the King in January.

And finishing up the excellent Rockton series:

The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: The final Rockton novel! Just as fantastic as I’d expected. My review is here.

Dead Letter Days (Rockton, #7.5; Haven’s Rock, #0.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A follow-up novella bridging the end of the Rockton series and the beginning of Haven’s Rock. Loved it! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished the first season of The Morning Show on AppleTV, and I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. The season was a bit uneven, but there are some true powerhouse performances throughout.

Meanwhile, I’ve started season two of A Man on the Inside on Netflix. So much fun!

Fresh Catch:

I won a giveaway from Simon & Schuster via Little Free Library! The theme was banned books, and these two lovely books arrived this week. They’re going into my LFL, of course (although I may hijack the Christina Lauren book and read it first). The picture book is adorable! I’ll be curious to see how quickly these two get snapped up.

I also treated myself, thanks to a gift card:

I’m a big fan of my daily dose of New York Times games, and the puzzle book looks perfect for me. I couldn’t resist getting a copy of the graphic novel version of The Parable of the Talents, even though I still haven’t read my edition of The Parable of the Sower graphic novel. I’ll aim to read both in the coming year!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage: This newest pick for Reese’s Book Club just happened to be available at the library for an instant borrow, so I grabbed it. So many contemporary royal-focused books are romances, but this one isn’t (at least, not as of what I’ve read so far). It’s very good, and I’m glad I decided to try it.

Now playing via audiobook:

Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: I really enjoyed the previous two books in this Austen-inspired romance series, so I couldn’t resist when the library had this newest available to borrow. This one is a retelling of Persuasion, and it’s great so far! I’m very close to the end already — can’t wait to see how it comes together.

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: 10%. Coming up this week: Chapters 6 and 7.
• The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffman (illustrated by Maurice Sendak): I’m reading this to wrap up a challenge, and since it’s a chapter book, I’m taking my time and reading just one or two chapters per day. It’s funny to realize that I’ve never actually read the story, after a lifetime of going to Nutcracker performances!

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.

Last week was lovely! First and foremost, it’s always a treat when my daughter comes to town! We had a very nice Thanksgiving celebration, small and cozy, and squeezed in all sorts of other togetherness too… including a Cirque du Soleil show, seeing Wicked: For Good, and joining friends for a morning dance session in the park to kick off Thanksgiving day.

What did I read during the last week?

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: What a delight! I’ll definitely want to continue this series. My review is here.

My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My most recent Classics Club Spin book! I’m so happy to have finally read this Australian classic. My review is here.

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: This non-fiction audiobook was fascinating! I’ll try to post a review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

Dancing with the Stars is done for the season, and the couple I was rooting for (Robert Irwin and Witney Carson) won! I really enjoyed the finale, especially the freestyle round. I was very interested to read an explanation of how audience votes and judges’ scores are combined — this actually makes me feel a little bit better about the process!

My daughter and I ended up watching the Netflix movie version of The Thursday Murder Club over the weekend. It was… okay. Really good cast, but it felt like a smoothed out, sugar-coated version of the story from the book. Not bad entertainment… but the book is so much better!

Fresh Catch:

I received a gift card a couple of months ago as a birthday present, and decided to treat myself to two hardcovers! The edition of Northanger Abbey is especially lovely, with cut-outs on the cover.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton, #7) by Kelley Armstrong: Back to Rockton to finish out the series before the end of the year! I’ve been loving this series so far, and I’m happy to be starting the final book (so I can dive into the spin-off Haven’s Rock series in the new year).

Now playing via audiobook:

Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman: Starting today! It’s a very short audiobook (about 3 hours), so I should be finished pretty quickly.

Ongoing reads:

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

• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 60%. We’ll be finishing The Two Towers this week, and will take a break for the month of December before starting The Return of the King in January.
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 7%. Coming up this week: Chapters 4 and 5.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…