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…

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…

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?

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

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…

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?

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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!

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…

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…

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…