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 pretty calm week chez moi. Work, family time… really and truly, nothing out of the ordinary. And yet, somehow it felt jam-packed and like I barely had time to relax.

Still, I must have squeezed in some reading time, since this happened at the end of the week:

What did I read during the last week?

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Pop culture & TV:

Man, do I love Yellowstone! Yes, it’s got its flaws, but I just can’t look away from this tale of power and family loyalty in Montana. I finished my binge and now I’m all caught up… which means waiting for new episodes to air each week. Sigh. (I posted about my Yellowstone binge here.)

In other TV news, my son and I are enjoying Hawkeye, and I’m thrilled that the new (and final) season of The Expanse is airing!

Fresh Catch:

Even more new books this week, although somehow I managed to keep my purchases to a respectable minimum:

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What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley: I bought this book right when it was released in October (I even sprang for a signed copy!), but haven’t settled down to read it until now. I’m excited! I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author, and I have no doubt that this will be another great read.

Now playing via audiobook:

Gwendy’s Magic Feather by Richard Chizmar: This is the 2nd Gwendy book (the first was co-authored by Chizmar and Stephen King), and since the 3rd is being released in 2022, I thought I should catch up! Gwendy’s Magic Feather is narrated by Sons of Anarchy star Maggie Siff, and she’s wonderful. (My review of the first book, Gwendy’s Button Box, is here.)

Ongoing reads:

Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. I am several weeks behind, but since our reading schedule has a two-week break built in for the end of December, I’m trying hard to find time (and motivation) to catch up.

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.

Hard to believe that Hanukkah has already come and gone. Today is officially the last day, which means we’ve already lit the last set of candles, and it’s time to start packing away the menorahs and decorations until next year. We had some fun family gatherings and delicious latkes… and now it’s onward to the rest of December.

Reading plans for December:

I’ve come up with an unofficial, let’s-see-how-it-goes plan to try to clear my backlog of ARCs during the rest of December. I don’t think I’ll get to them all, but my goal is to read three ARCs that I was especially interested in, and then use audiobooks from the library to listen to the books whose ARCs I didn’t get to earlier in the year.

I’d like to be able to start 2022 feeling caught up on my “obligation” reading! My intention for 2022 is to focus on reading books from my shelves and reading according to my moods, rather than by commitment or to get through ARCs. We’ll see how it goes…

What did I read during the last week?

My biggest accomplishment was finishing this huge book:

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (book #9 in the Outlander series) by Diana Gabaldon: It took me almost two weeks, but I finally made my way to the end of this 960-page book. So many thoughts… but it’s going to take me a while to digest. I’m thrilled to have read it of course — but hate the thought of waiting years to see what happens next!

Also read (listened to) this past week:

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Pop culture & TV:

I’ve gotten totally hooked on Yellowstone. I powered through seasons 1 and 2 over the past week and a half, and I’m just now diving into season 3. I can’t seem to look away, especially whenever Kevin Costner is on screen — he’s just magnetic.

Fresh Catch:

More new books! A couple from a visit to a used book store, plus a few other treats:

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What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

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I haven’t quite decided what I feel like reading next, now that I’ve finished my Outlander book… but it’ll be one of these two.

Now playing via audiobook:

If the Fates Allow by Rainbow Rowell: This short story will be a quick listen, but I’m looking forward to it! And once I finish, I’ll be starting…

Perfect Timing by Owen Nicholls, which also sound like it’ll be light and fun.

Ongoing reads:

Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. I am now a good 3 or 4 weeks behind the group, but plan to catch up this month.

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.

What a week — Thanksgiving and then Hanukkah! We had a lovely, small gathering for Thanksgiving, and had another little family gathering for the 1st night of Hanukkah last night.

My daughter was home for the week (she leaves this afternoon), and it was wonderful… although the time sped by so fast it made my head spin.

Among other fun events, we did a family theater outing over the weekend to see the touring production of My Fair Lady… it was “loverly”!

Back to regular life this week…

What did I read during the last week?

I finished two audiobooks, and loved them both:

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Pop culture & TV:

Family streaming time! We watched half of Jungle Cruise and thought it was incredibly dumb; then watched Red Notice the next night and had fun with it. Apparently, the theme of our viewing this week was Dwayne Johnson — not a bad theme!

Fresh Catch:

Besides the long-awaited book currently in my hands, my other new books this week were:

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What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Aaaaah! It’s the 9th book in the Outlander series! I started it last Tuesday, as soon as it arrived, and I’m still only at 35%. Between the holiday week and the length of the book (990 pages!!), this is going to take a while.

Now playing via audiobook:

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens: I needed a light listen this week, and this one was available for immediate download from the library. Cute so far!

Ongoing reads:

Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. I’m falling seriously behind the group at this point… hoping to catch up over the winter holiday break.

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 daughter is home for the week, and you won’t find a happier mama! I’m thrilled that she’ll be here for Thanksgiving and the first night of Hanukkah, and even though I have to work a couple of days this week, I’m so excited to have time to spend together.

What did I read during the last week?

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Pop culture & TV:

I ventured out to the movie theater to see Belfast, and I’m so happy I did. It’s a beautiful movie, and can I help it that I especially loved seeing Caitriona Balfe (star of Outlander) in it? I really hope the cast and the movie get some Oscar love.

Fresh Catch:

At the risk of proving once and for all how obsessed I am… the only new book on my mind right now is this one, coming Tuesday:

And yeah, I did also pre-order the Kindle edition so I can dive in right at midnight on Monday!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell: I’ve been intending to read this sci-fi book since it came out earlier this year. I’m glad I’m finally starting it! I’ve read about 25% so far, and I’m really liking it… but I’m going to have to pause in the middle once my copy of BEES arrives.

Now playing via audiobook:

That Summer by Jennifer Weinter: I’ve listened to about 50% so far, and while I have guesses about where the story is going, there’s a hidden agenda here that has me really intrigued. The narrator is Sutton Foster, and she’s wonderful.

Ongoing reads:

Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. I’m about two reading segments behind the group, but we have a couple of weeks off over the holidays, so I’ll catch up then, if not sooner. This book is way more complicated than I expected, but I’m finding it worth the effort when I have time to focus.

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.

San Francisco weather enjoys playing games with us, I’m sure of it! This week, we had summer in November — gorgeous blue skies, temperatures in the 70s, absolutely lovely! And I’m not complaining in the slightest. I got to enjoy some terrific walks by the beach and had time here and there to sit out on my back porch, basking in the sun with a good book. Bliss!

What did I read during the last week?

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Pop culture & TV:

I know I’m a few years behind on this one, but I just started watching season 1 of Yellowstone over the weekend… and based on just the first few episodes, I can say: This is good, y’all. I’m definitely going to keep watching!

Fresh Catch:

Well… I went a little crazy with the book buying this week. Curse you, Amazon’s 3-for-2 sale!! Here’s a look at what I bought (or see my post here for a look at all the book covers).

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Donut Fall In Love by Jackie Lau: I’m going to stick to light, upbeat reads this week. I’ve just started this one, but it’s suiting my mood — I mean, a rom-com with baked goods? How could this go wrong?

Now playing via audiobook:

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser: I’m about 60% of the way through this charming, thoughtful audiobook about a 40-something year old woman starting over after her marriage falls apart. And really, what could be better than a story set in a Scottish bookshop?

Ongoing reads:

• Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, #8 in the Outlander series: THE FINAL WEEK. My book group has been reading five chapters per week since May, and we finish this Friday… just in time for the release of the new book next week!

• Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. Yikes, I’m on the verge of falling seriously behind. I have a couple of chapters I need to power through to catch back up to the group.

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 got boosted! I’m happy that I got my booster shot, but lost about two days to mild side effects. Kind of sucky at the time (aches, chills, fever), but it’s for the greater good, so what’s two days?

On the bright side, spending two days in bed and/or cuddled up under cozy blankets drinking tea gave me extra time to read.

What did I read during the last week?

Pop culture & TV:

As a fan of (most of) The Vampire Diaries, I perked up when I saw a movie starring Nina Dobrev pop on on Netflix. So yeah, I watched it, and it was… not good. But hey, maybe I’m just a grinch who doesn’t enjoy Christmas-themed love stories! (No, that’s probably not it, but I’m trying to give this movie the benefit of the doubt.)

I did finish Only Murders in the Building this week, and loved it. I also got out of the house to go see Dune in IMAX (my 2nd viewing, but first in an actual movie theater), and loved being able to see it full-scale and with an amazing sound system.

Fresh Catch:

I wasn’t going to buy any books this week… and then I discovered that the special 25th anniversary edition of Drums of Autumn was just released! Obviously, I couldn’t resist.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman: I haven’t gotten all that far yet, but so far, I’m intrigued by this dark story about magical families sending representatives to fight to the death in a tournament that determines who controls magic. At least, that’s what I think the story is about — I’m only about three chapters in, and it’s not completely clear to me! Basically, Hunger Games with magic… maybe?

Now playing via audiobook:

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean: This is a really sweet, fun twist on the “I’m actually a princess!” trope — Japanese-American high school student Izumi discovers that she’s the secret illegitimate daughter of the Crown Prince of Japan, and is suddenly swept up in a whirlwind of court manners and royal luxury as she meets her father for the first time and must learn what it means to be part of his family. I’ve listened to about 40%, and I’m really enjoying it.

Ongoing reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a speed-re-read of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, #8 in the Outlander series. We’re reading and discussing 5 chapters per week. This week: Chapters 136- 140. Two weeks to go… just in time for the release of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.

• Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. I’m keeping up… barely.

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 November! I didn’t do anything for Halloween (except candy… yum), and now I’m ready to start thinking about Thanksgiving. Although I did get out of my house over the weekend to hear a friend’s band play at an outdoor venue in my neighborhood, and it was a lot of fun! Look at me, actually being social!

Blogging and reading

I’m making a big push to winnow down my pending/unread NetGalley ARCs before the end of the calendar year. I won’t get through them all, but I’m hoping to make a big dent. For 2022, I’m keeping requests to a minimum (trying to keep to books that I’d read with or without ARC access). I want to get back to reading whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like, without worrying about keeping up with commitment books and planning around release dates. Wish me luck!

What did I read during the last week?

Pop culture & TV:

The season finale of What We Do in the Shadows dropped this week… and for a silly vampire comedy, I have to say this season has been pretty brilliant! Here’s a thoughtful write-up via Vulture (full of spoilers, so don’t read if you’re not caught up).

Here’s a peek at a favorite episode from this season:

Other than that, I’ve been catching up on a few shows I fell behind on, and started Only Murders in the Building, which is cute (and as of episode 3, features one of my favorite cameo/guest spots of the year).

And despite having watched Dune already last week from the comfort of my couch, I’m trying to find a time to go see the IMAX version with a friend, hopefully this coming week.

Fresh Catch:

I treated myself to more books this week — a new paperback release, a couple more paperbacks of books I’ve already read on Kindle, and the newest MinaLima Harry Potter edition:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow: After the last book I finished, I need something on the more upbeat side to cleanse my brain. I’m hoping this fairy tale retelling novella will do the trick.

Now playing via audiobook:

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca: I wish I’d had more time to listen during the past week! This is a really fun series, and I’m enjoying this book (#3) so much, especially now that I’ve gotten to the part where the characters are back at the annual Ren Faire.

Ongoing reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a speed-re-read of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, #8 in the Outlander series. We’re reading and discussing 5 chapters per week. This week: Chapters 131- 135. Three weeks to go!

• Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. Plugging away… this is definitely a challenging book.

So many books, so little time…

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

A really busy workweek and lots of rain meant that my reading and audiobook time were both limited in different ways. Sometimes being a grown-up is hard! At least I had downtime over the weekend to curl up with a cozy blanket, my slippers, and a good book!

Blog updates:

I finally did a much needed (and much delayed) clean-up of my Book Blog Meme Directory page. I went through all the memes listed, tested all the links, and deleted all the listings that either had a dead link or linked to a site that had discontinued its memes. So, if you happen to take a look, you’ll see there are a lot fewer listed, but the ones there should be live and ongoing.

If you happen to notice anything outdated or know of a great meme that I’m missing, please let me know!

What did I read during the last week?

Pop culture & TV:

I finally got through Squid Game… so weird and creepy, so hard to look away from! My kiddo and I watched Dune over the weekend, and I thought it was pretty fabulous! We watched it streaming on HBO Max, and while I love the comfort of my couch, I do think this is a movie that needs to be viewed on the big screen. Which means I’ll probably see it again, once I convince myself to venture out…

Seeing the movie also reminds me that I’ve been intending to re-read the book for a year now, and still haven’t gotten to it. It’s been decades (yes, really) since I originally read Dune, and while some elements are unforgettable, a lot of the details became fuzzy for me over the years. Maybe I’ll bookmark this one as a winter vacation read!

Fresh Catch:

Thanks to some Amazon deals this week, I ended up splurging on a handful of new books:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

All the Feels by Olivia Dade: The follow-up to Spoiler Alert, which I really loved. Off to a good start!

Now playing via audiobook:

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca: I’ve been waiting for this one! Even though I’ve had the e-ARC for a while now, I wanted to wait for the audiobook, since that’s how I experienced the first two books in this fun series. I’m so glad it’s here!

Ongoing reads:

• Outlander Book Club is doing a speed-re-read of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, #8 in the Outlander series. We’re reading and discussing 5 chapters per week. This week: Chapters 126- 130. Only a few weeks left!

• Doctor Zhivago is our group classic read, two chapters per week. Plugging away… this is definitely a challenging book.

• It’s October, and that means it’s time for A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny! The book is organized into chapters corresponding to each day of the month, and I’ve been really diligent about reading them on their correct days… which means this is the final week! Last time I tried this book, I stopped at about 70%, mostly because I got busy and it felt overwhelming to keep up. This time, I’m seeing it through, and really enjoying it.

So many books, so little time…