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…

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 Thanksgiving week! I am especially thankful to have my daughter in town for the week. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to a few days off, time with family, and time to chill.

Last week was busy (as always), but the weekend was pretty peaceful, and the sun returned! I got to dance outdoors and go for a nice long walk at the beach, and I needed both.

What did I read during the last week?

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters: My book group’s pick for November. Powerful and absorbing. My review is here.

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer: A 3-star read. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I rewatched the first Wicked movie… so now I’m ready to go check out Wicked: For Good this week!

The Dancing with the Stars finale is this week! The couple I absolutely did not want to see win got eliminated last week (whew!), and I do really enjoy everyone who’s left. This is who I’m rooting for:

Although I’m really fond of this pair too:

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

My daughter was recently in Japan, and brought me back this amazing edition of John Scalzi’s The Kaiju Preservation Society! Isn’t this a great gift?

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: Finally! After hearing so many raves about this series, I decide it was time to try the books for myself. I’ve read about 60% so far, and I’m really liking it!

Now playing via audiobook:

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green: I’ve just barely started, but this book is already fascinating.

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): 59%. (Note — we’ll be finished with The Two Towers next week, and then will take a break for the month of December before starting The Return of the King in January).
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: My book group’s newest classic! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 5%. Coming up this week: Chapter 3.
• My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My current Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I still have time… but I’d better get moving!

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 rain has returned to Northern California! How’s that for drama? I know, we definitely need rain… but does it have to come on the weekend, just when I have time to get outside?

It’s been an okay week, busy with work and other commitments — but I did squeeze in some good reading and family time over the weekend, so all is well.

What did I read during the last week?

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky: Excellent! Such a fascinating premise. I can’t wait to read more of this series. My review is here.

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman: An okay, not great early book from an author whose books I usually love. My review is here.

Goblins & Greatcoats by Travis Baldree: A short story set in the world of this author’s fantasy books. It was pretty entertaining, and from what I’ve heard, a character introduced here is featured in the new release Brigands & Breadknives, which I hope to start soon.

A Stranger in Town (Rockton, #6) by Kelley Armstrong: I’ve been loving this series, and the 6th books is just as good as I’d expected! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I’ll stop my weekly rants and raves about Dancing with the Stars… other than to share this video of my favorite dance from the past week.

My son and I finally managed to catch up on The Amazing Race, and I’ve made a teeny bit of progress with The Morning Show. My TV time has been pretty limited this week, and when I do have time, it’s always a dilemma of choosing between watching screens and reading a book.

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

A very nice hardcover edition of Constituent Service by John Scalzi, originally released as an Audible Original (which I enjoyed very much). I’m delighted to get this hard copy, just released from Subterranean Press.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters: My book group book for November… and I’m actually starting more than a week before the deadline!

Now playing via audiobook:

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer: Really entertaining so far!

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): 57%.
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: Although I only recently treated myself to an audio reread of this book, I’m about to start it yet again! This time, I’ll be reading Northanger Abbey with my book group as our newest classic read. We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, starting today. Coming up this week: Chapters 1 and 2.
• My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I still have time… but I’d better get moving!

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.

Once again, the week just flew by! Work has been intense and busy… ’nuff said about that.

Outside of work, I managed to fit in some good outdoor time on our surprisingly sunny November days this week. A couple of walks, some outdoor dancing — just what I needed!

What did I read during the last week?

Villette by Charlotte Bronte: This was a group read with my book group, and all I can say is — thank goodness that’s over with! Such a frustrating book, although it had its more interesting moments.

Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: A really fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice! My review is here.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix: Wow! Fantastic horror with a lot to say, and utterly compelling storytelling. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I know I’ve mentioned before that I watch Dancing with the Stars, partially because it reminds me of my dad, but also just because I do enjoy watching dance performances. It can be really fun to see people with little to no dance experience learn and grow from episode to episode. That said, this season is making me especially annoyed. There’s a clear favorite to win (Whitney, dancing with awesome pro Mark) who get top scores every week… but – but – BUT she is someone who has a competitive dance background and was a dance major in college. How is that fair against people who either literally never danced before or had some sort of injury that affected their ability to dance or any of the other (much more compelling) backstories of other contestants? It feels rigged… plus I can’t stand how heavily audience voting counts, making the results pretty much a popularity contest from week to week.

Argh. So why, you may ask, do I keep watching? Easy — the dancing can be so much fun! I like many of the so-called “stars” this season, and the pros are always amazing. But if Whitney and Mark win, I may start throwing things!

Other than that, I’ve been casting around for a new show to try, and just started The Morning Show over the weekend. It’s good! I know I’m a few years behind — I’m excited to see what all the buzz is about.

Fresh Catch:

I received an Amazon gift card last week, and treated myself to these three books:

I’ve already read The Everlasting (review), and loved it so much that I needed my own copy. Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is the 4th (final?) book in the Tomes & Tea series, and since I have the other three, I thought I should round out the collection. I was really on the fence about The Rose Field, but I’ve decided to bite the bullet and read it (after I do a re-read of The Secret Commonwealth).

All in all, I’m happy to have all three of these to add to my shelves!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky: This is a BIG book, and it requires a lot of concentration, so I haven’t made quite as much progress as I’d hoped. (I realized that I can’t stay up late reading in bed with this book, because my tired brain doesn’t absorb it well enough!) I’m fascinated by what I’ve read so far, and I’m happy that I’m finally reading this book after planning to get to it for years now.

Now playing via audiobook:

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman: After reading My Friends last month (amazing!), I decided to try to catch up on this author’s earlier books that I hadn’t read yet. I’ve gotten about halfway through this audiobook, and I’m finding it sweet so far.

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): 55%.
• My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I still have time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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

Life.

How did it get to be November already???

This has really been a challenging reading week for me! I finished an excellent book (5 stars!) and am in the middle of another that I’m really enjoying… but it just feels that every bit of reading time I have is squished in between other commitments. I’m just aching for hours of uninterrupted time to curl up with a cozy blanket, a cup of tea, and my Kindle!

But other than that… it was a good week! My husband, son, and I went out for a yummy early dinner on Halloween, and then my husband and I wandered around a neighborhood with awesome Halloween decorations for a while, just enjoying the houses and the kids and the overall vibe.

And here’s a random item that made me laugh this week, which felt timely since I’m now just slightly past the mid-point of a group LOTR read:

What did I read during the last week?

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow: As I was about to start reading The Everlasting, I stumbled across a Reddit thread suggesting reading this short story first. According to an Instagram post by the author:

(if the copy sounds a little like THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT, it’s bc i wrote that story after outlining this book, as a kind of road test. they don’t quite echo, but they rhyme).

I enjoyed the story, and I definitely saw the “echoes” in The Everlasting… but there’s enough of a difference to make each one its own special thing.

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow: Absolutely loved this novel! I gave it 5 stars. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I just finished season 2 of Nobody Wants This. I liked it, but not as much as season 1. But, I think that’s often the case with second seasons. In any case, assuming there will actually be a season 3 (it hasn’t been confirmed yet, as far as I could tell), I’ll be watching!

Fresh Catch:

No new books… But, a vendor I deal with at work sent me an Amazon gift card as a thank you gift, and I’m trying to decide how to spend it! I don’t treat myself to hardcovers all that often any more, but I think now may be the time.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix: I’m really enjoying this book… and I’m frustrated that I haven’t gotten further along (or finished by now). Ugh, the agony of not having enough reading time!

Now playing via audiobook:

Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: Same situation as above… just not enough time to finish this audiobook this week! But, I think I only need one more day. This is a very fun Pride and Prejudice retelling!

Ongoing reads:

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

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 97%. Up next: Chapters 41 and 42. Final week!!
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 53%.
• My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself — I’ll likely start it in November. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I do have plenty of time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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

Life.

Another busy week! But we did fit in a very nice dinner with friends, and I got to dance a bit over the weekend. I feel like I barely had time to read, though… not enough hours in the day!

Bookish thoughts:

I’m curious whether anyone has read or is planning to read The Rose Field by Philip Pullman. I loved the His Dark Materials trilogy, and I’ve read the two books previously published in the follow-up trilogy, The Book of Dust. But… it’s been about six years since the 2nd book, The Secret Commonwealth, came out, and I don’t remember many of the details, so I think I’d need to reread it. Plus, The Rose Field is almost 700 pages! Sigh. I hate to leave the final book in this world unread… but I’m also not excited about the commitment it would take to read it.

Thoughts?

What did I read during the last week?

Cinder House by Freya Marske: Terrific Cinderella retelling! My review is here.

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan: A sweet, bookish-themed Christmas adventure in the Scottish Highlands. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

New seasons of great Netflix shows! I finished season two of The Diplomat last night… and it was fantastic. But what an ending!! How are we supposed to wait however long it takes for a new season?

Up next: I hope to start the new season of Nobody Wants This this coming week.

Fresh Catch:

One new book!

I read the e-ARC of this book last week (review), but I’d had the hardcover preordered well in advance, and I’m happy to have my very own copy!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow: I had a really hard time getting into this story (possibly because I didn’t have quite enough uninterrupted reading time this week to build up any sort of momentum) — but now that I’ve gotten farther along, I’m finding myself hooked! Now, if only I could just read straight through until I finish…

Now playing via audiobook:

Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding: I’m back for more Austen-inspired fun! This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is the author duo’s follow-up to Emma of 83rd Street, which I really enjoyed.

Ongoing reads:

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

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 93%. Up next: Chapters 39 and 40.
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 52%.
• My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself — I’ll likely start it in November. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I do have plenty of time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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

Life.

What a fun week! I attended two special events. First, a book talk: John Scalzi in conversation with Kim Stanley Robinson — amazing! The conversation was funny and flew by too fast, and I got two books signed!

Second, I went to see the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: 10ish Year Reunion Concert.

Such a blast! Obviously, you’d need to be a fan of the TV series to enjoy this show… but I was, and I did! The cast sang some of their greatest hits, danced, told stories, and put on quite a spectacle. It was amazing! Here’s one of the songs they performed on stage:

Okay, maybe one more…

And now, back to books…

What did I read during the last week?

Drama by Raina Telgemeier: I read this graphic novel for a banned book reading challenge, and liked it a lot.

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong: Sweet, light cozy fantasy. My review is here.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman: Five stars! My review is here.

Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs: Such a fun treat for fans of the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Oh my gods… season 2 of Schmigadoon made me so happy! I finished it last night, and loved all the musical theater references, from Pippin to Hair to Jesus Christ Superstar and more. So much fun — I just wish there were more than two seasons.

Fresh Catch:

Exciting new books!

At the book event, I bought a copy of John Scalzi’s newest novel and got it signed:

I won a Goodreads giveaway a couple of weeks ago, and the book arrived this week:

Last but not least: A gorgeous new edition of a favorite book, The Wicked King (#2 in the Folk of the Air series). In case you can’t tell, the book has a velvety finish and is just so beautiful!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Cinder House by Freya Marske: I’m about halfway through this novella, and I’m really enjoying it so far.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan: This novel is a follow-up to last year’s novella, The Christmas Book Hunt. Jenny Colgan’s books are always a treat, and with a focus on rare books and a crumbling Scottish manor as the setting, this one promises to be lots of fun.

Ongoing reads:

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

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 86%. Up next: Chapters 37 and 38.
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 49%.
• My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin: My newest Classics Club Spin book! I’m leaving it here as a reminder to myself — I’ll likely start it in November. The goal is to complete our spin books by December 21st, so I do have plenty of time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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

Life.

Busy, busy, busy! I was on the go all week, between work and various errands and tasks that needed my attention. I did get out for a nice dinner with a friend, and it was fabulous to take time to catch up.

We had gorgeous weather over the weekend… perfect for long walks and reading outside.

What did I read during the last week?

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White: Loved this Dracula retelling! My review is here.

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong: Terrific stand-alone horror from a favorite author. My review is here.

The Summer War by Naomi Novik: A fairy tale novella with a great premise and main character — but the story as a whole left me wishing for more. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

AppleTV+ continues to provide excellent viewing! I finished watching The Studio, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Over the weekend, I started Schmigadoon — it’s making my inner musical theater very happy.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong: Started yesterday, and it’s cute so far.

Now playing via audiobook:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman: I started this audiobook last week, and have about 25% left. The story is just so good, and the narrator is terrific.

Ongoing reads:

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

• Villette by Charlotte Brontë: Group classic read, two chapters per week. Progress: 80%. Up next: Chapters 35 and 36.
• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another book group read, continuing our LOTR adventure. Progress (relative to the entire LOTR opus): 48%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…