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 so nice to have a long weekend!

Blogging.

I feel like I manage to come up with a new WordPress complaint each week. Here’s my latest: I found a bunch of comments sitting in spam that are from real people who’ve actually interacted with my blog before! Why, WordPress, why? I never would have thought to check, but now that I have, I’ll keep an eye on my spam folder going forward.

(And if you happen to have left a comment at some point in the past that went unanswered, I apologize.. and also, that could be why!)

Other bookish thoughts.

I’ve started two different versions of a post about Neil Gaiman… and both times, I found the subject too depressing to finish. There’s already a ton written about him out there on the internet, and I don’t think I have anything particularly different to add.

What really started me thinking about the subject, though, was seeing his books on my shelves and realizing I don’t want to see them there any longer… and there really are quite a few. For now, I’m listing a bunch on my Pango seller page, putting a couple of the rattier editions in my Little Free Library (in fact, one got snatched up within an hour of my leaving it there), and may just stick the rest (I can’t quite bring myself to part with Stardust… ) in a closet for now.

Anyone else struggling with what to do with their Neil Gaiman books?

What did I read during the last week?

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: Fascinating, fast read — and finished in time for my book group chat later this week. My review is here.

Equal Rites (Discworld, #3) by Terry Prachett: Really enjoyable audiobook! I’d read this book previously a few years ago; my original review is here.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan: This was such a fun read. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I don’t always keep up with Oscar-nominated movies, but I’ve been curious about certain movies getting a lot of buzz. This week, I checked out Anora — and I’ve gotta say, I was impressed! So far, of the best picture nominees, I’ve seen Anora, Wicked, and The Substance. I’m still planning to watch Dune: Part 2 — but beyond that, none are especially calling to me right now. Any recommendations?

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week, and I’m already enjoying it!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde, #3) by Heather Fawcett: I’m about halfway through, and after a bit of a slow start, it’s really good!

Next up:

I’m trying to stay on top of all of my pending ARCs for upcoming new releases. My next read will probably be one of these:

Now playing via audiobook:

Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6) by Terry Pratchett: I’m continuing with the audiobooks for the Witches books within the Discworld series. It’s a blast! Great narration, lots of fun.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 38%. Up next: Chapters 20 and 21.

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 27th anniversary over the weekend! We treated ourselves to a lovely dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, and they added a nice touch to our dessert:

Blogging.

In new WordPress weirdness, the ability to copy an old post and save it as a new one seems to be working… but for some random reason, the menu choice is now “duplicate” instead of “copy”, and it took me a minute to realize it (before just thinking that the ability to copy was entirely gone). Why, WordPress, why? I don’t understand the need to change something that’s already fine.

Around the blogosphere:

I enjoyed a discussion on the Pages Unbound blog about reading challenges. It’s interesting to see so many opinions on the topic!

What did I read during the last week?

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Posted a review from my previous week’s reading. 5 stars! My review is here.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler: Short, sharp fiction by a masterful writer. My review is here.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell: Excellent middle grade fantasy adventure. My review is here.

Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey: Atmospheric story with a gorgeous Alaska setting. Parts left me baffled, but it’s a reading experience I can’t stop thinking about. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I really haven’t watched much this past week, other than new episodes of Ghosts and Abbott Elementary. Too busy reading, I guess…

Fresh Catch:

My lovely hardcover edition of The Bones Beneath My Skin arrived. It’s so pretty!

My Little Free Library has seen quite a bit of action this past week, despite the awful rainy weather day after day. Lots of new additions, lots of books taken that had been there a while. I don’t typically take books from the LFL for my own collection… but I made an exception when a copy of a Carley Fortune book showed up over the weekend!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: My book group book for February! It grabbed my attention right from the first page, and it’s been hard to put it down. I’m close to the end — should finish up today.

Next up:

Either a book for a reading challenge, or one of my two remaining ARCs for February new releases:

Now playing via audiobook:

Equal Rites (Discworld, #3) by Terry Pratchett: I’ve had very mixed results with my forays into Discworld thus far, but I decided to give the witch books another try, after seeing strong recommendations for the audiobooks. The narrator is Indira Varma, and she’s fantastic! I’ve listened to about half so far, and it’s lots of fun.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 34%. Up next: Chapters 18 and 19.

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.

A much mellower week… I was still busy with work, but I also had some good down-time over the weekend. It was gray and rainy, so I couldn’t get out much… but being stuck in the house with cups of tea, cozy socks, and good books was not bad at all.

Blogging.

I hesitate to say anything — don’t want to jinx it! — but the WordPress glitch that wouldn’t save new posts correctly seems to be fixed. I’m proceeding with cautious optimism. I’ve noticed that awkward workarounds haven’t been needed this past week. Maybe it’s actually fine now??

What did I read during the last week?

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: My book group’s January book. I enjoyed it, although not as much as some of this author’s other books. My review is here.

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley: Last week’s audiobook. It was a very engaging listen with a unique premise. The ending was a bit unsatisfying, but otherwise, I really liked it. My review is here.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Twisty, complicated, excellent read! Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

I gobbled up season 2 of XO Kitty on Netflix — just as cute and silly as the first season, and so much fun. Netflix hasn’t confirmed a season 3 yet… but they can’t really just end things that way, can they?

Fresh Catch:

I’m listening to this as an audiobook, but a quick peek at the library showed me that the physical book is filled with amazing illustrations, so I decided to treat myself to a hardcover copy of my own. It’s really fun to follow along and look at this edition while listening to the audio.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I finished The God of the Woods late Sunday, and while I haven’t picked up my next book yet, it’ll likely be one of these three:

• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
• Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
• Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

I have ARCs for these three February new releases, and I’m excited to read them all!

Now playing via audiobook:

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell: Not only is this a terrific middle-grade fantasy/adventure, but the audiobook is narrated by Samuel West (Siegfried from All Creatures Great and Small), and he’s amazing!

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 31%. Up next: Chapters 16 and 17.

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 whirlwind of a week, with a particularly busy weekend — but busy for good reasons, which was nice! Dinner with friends at our house one night, barbecue at other friends’ house (at the end of a long, winding road through the woods) another day. Not much time to read, but other than than, a really great few days!

What did I read during the last week?

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: Another terrific audiobook from an author who was new to me just last year… and now I’ve read all her books! My review is here.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune: A 5-star read! Loved every moment. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished watching Deadloch on Prime… and if you haven’t seen it yet, definitely check it out! Just eight episodes, really entertaining and clever and funny. And apparently, there’s a season 2 on the way!

Fresh Catch:

I ordered hardcover editions of two books I’d already read and loved, and they both arrived this week!

I reached out via Kelley Armstrong’s website to see if there were any resources for getting signed books, and her assistant very kindly responded to say that there weren’t, but that she’d send me a couple of signed book plates, which also arrived this week! (And she threw in some bookmarks too — very sweet!)

The timing was perfect… and this makes me happy:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: My book group’s pick for January. As usual, I’m behind schedule. Our discussion is later this week.

Now playing via audiobook:

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley: I have another day or two’s worth of listening left, and I’m really enjoying it.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 27%. Up next: Chapters 14 and 15.

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.

Hurray for long weekends! I’m so happy to have an extra day off — even if I am going to spend it running around on errands and taking care of the odds and ends I otherwise never seem to have time for.

This past week has been mostly work and projects at home, although I did get out to dance a few times, which always makes me happy.

In kitty news… Benji is ridiculously obsessed with this little bird toy, and we’re all ridiculously obsessed with watching him.

Goodreads and Kindle.

Will these sites never stop giving me (and all of us) headaches? Kindle now syncs with Goodreads challenges… but it doesn’t actually work correctly. When I finish reading a Kindle book, my Kindle marks it as read, and now adds it to my Goodreads challenge automatically — but meanwhile, it also gets added via Goodreads when I update the book there. This means that each book I finish ends up counted twice, and then I have to go back into the challenge and delete the duplicates.

Not the end of the world, but it’s annoying, and only started with the latest so-called improvement to Kindle functionality. Argh.

Blogging.

For those who chimed in last week about the WordPress bug causing copied posts to not save correctly… still not fixed. Even as I’m typing this post, I can see that the post title has already reverted itself back to the previous title.

Bookish love.

Stumbling across this meme made me unreasonable happy this week.

What did I read during the last week?

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft: My first 5-star read of 2025! My review is here.

My Rosebud Boy by Rainbow Rowell: This is kind of like an AU fanfic… except it’s written by the author! This alternate-world story about Simon and Baz is sweet and romantic and lovely. Note: It was originally published in 2022 as part of a special limited offer, and has been next to impossible to track down. Someone shared a link to a PDF version with me, so I thought I’d pass it along: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dedpN_lSzLdP_K9PwZEjl215gNM9_hyN/view. (I’m wondering how legit it is to share the link, but since the book isn’t available for sale anywhere, it’s not depriving anyone of the income.)

Pop culture & TV:

Welp, that’s a wrap on season 7 of Outlander! The finale was well-done in many ways, yet the episode ends with a head-scratcher of a cliffhanger. Why, Outlander, why?

Has anyone else watched Deadloch (Prime Video)? I’ve watched three of the six episodes so far — really enjoyable. Check out the trailer!

On a lighter note, All Creatures Great and Small is back for a new season, and it’s just the bit of cheer and sweetness I needed!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune: Loving it so far! I’d hoped to make more progress over the weekend, but life got busy. I should find time to finish either today or tomorrow.

Next up:

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: My book group’s pick for January. As usual, I’m behind schedule! Our discussion is later this week.

Now playing via audiobook:

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: I’ve loved every one of this author’s audiobooks, and this book is no exception. Getting close to the end!

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 24%. Up next: Chapters 12 and 13.

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 return to busy-ness — work is back at full swing, and I’ve had lots of little errands and projects keeping me on the run outside of work. Thankfully, we had clear blue skies over the weekend, so I was able to enjoy a couple of long walks and some outdoor reading time. (Give me a comfy chair on the back porch, a big iced coffee, and a good book, and I’m a very happy camper.)

Reading habits.

Speaking of my reading life, I shared my annual post about series I plan (or hope) to read in 2025. You can check it out here — I’d love to hear reactions and recommendations!

Also, just a general observation: I’ve been realizing that I tend to read books in the romance genre via audiobook, much more so than any other genre. I guess I like light, upbeats listens, and save heavier topics or more complicated reading for print? This isn’t an absolute rule or anything, just a pattern I’ve noticed. (How about you? Do you gravitate toward certain formats for certain genres?)

Blogging.

A new weird bug has popped up for me in WordPress these past few weeks. To start a new post, I typically copy an existing post, then edit the title and go from there. As of about two weeks ago, after I edit the title and hit save, the post title reverts to the original title, although the post itself is saved as a new draft. I find that I have to exit the post and use the Quick Edit option to get the title to stick. The body of the post saves just fine; it’s just the title that refuses to stick. Anyone else experiencing this?

Little Free Library update.

Awwwww. I went out for a walk yesterday, and when I got back, I saw that my LFL was filled with new books — a whole slew of kids’ books, including a bunch of Raina Telgemeier books! It made me happy.

What did I read during the last week?

The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood: Finished at the end of last week. Really good! My review is here.

The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler: Like a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form — sweet, predictable, cozy, guaranteed happy ending. (And yes, I enjoyed it!) My review is here.

The Apology by Jimin Han: My book group’s most recent discussion book — parts of the story really fascinated me, and then I lost interest during the second half. Still, there was a lot to discuss, and overall I’m glad I read it.

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava: A rom-com notable for its indigenous representation, but the office romance elements made me cringe. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I watched The Substance this past week. Whoa… so gross and disturbing, but also weird and bizarre and fascinating. I totally get all the buzz about Demi Moore — she’s phenomenal in this movie! It’s super gory (I watched certain scenes while peeking through my fingers), and definitely not for anyone squeamish, but it certainly had an impact. It’s been days, and I’m still thinking about it.

Fresh Catch:

My pretty new hardcover edition of Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear arrived this week! This is the 10th book in the Wayward Children series, and it’s a great one! I reviewed it earlier this month; see my thoughts here.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft: How could I resist a disco-themed vampire book?

Now playing via audiobook:

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: I’m planning to start this audiobook today! I loved the last two books by this author, and can’t wait to dive in.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 20%. Up next: Chapters 10 and 11.

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 the new year… so it’s back to work for most of us. Sigh… the holiday feeling had to end eventually! I hope everyone had a festive New Year celebration and found time to relax, enjoy, and read over the holidays!

At my house, we had out-of-town guests, including my daughter and her fiancé, and local friends threw them a shower while they were here. So lovely to have happy reasons to gather and celebrate!

Celebrating Hanukkah with our extended family was really terrific, with multiple days and nights of candles, singing, gifts, and games.

Little Free Library update:

My husband decided that my LFL wouldn’t stand up to another storm like the last one we had, and so he dug a hole, poured cement, and made my little library a whole lot more stable! It’s now back in business, and I’ve been happy to see more books coming and going.

Someone actually took the big, fat readers’ encyclopedia for Shakespeare and some acting-lesson books! (Although no one has grabbed the Insurance Law book that showed up recently… wonder why?) Meanwhile, I’m still weeding through some boxes of books that I had stored away, and I’ll be using them to restock over the coming weeks.

It’s so nice to have my LFL back!

What did I read during the last week?

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst: Sweet cozy fantasy. See below for the review link!

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune: My last book of 2024! I wrote a two-fer review post for this book plus The Spellshop; read it here.

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (Wayward Children, #10) by Seanan McGuire: A brilliant addition to the ongoing Wayward Children series — I just loved this one. My review is here.

The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood: Finished late Sunday; review to follow. This was a good one!

Pop culture & TV:

With so much going on, I’ve barely had time for TV — which is fine! I’ve been keeping up with new Outlander episodes, but that’s about it. This week’s was a doozy, and there’s just one more to go!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Apology by Jimin Han: My book group discussion of this book is later this week, and I’m late getting started! I’m hoping to finish in time for our get-together.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler: My listening time has been pretty limited lately, but I finally made progress over the weekend. This holiday romance is tugging at my heartstrings! I should be able to listen to the last few chapters by mid-week.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. We’re starting back up this week after a break for the holidays. Progress: 15%. Up next: Chapters 8 and 9.

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 Hanukkah! The holiday got off to a great start, with family time, menorah lighting, and a cutthroat dreidel competition. It’s been a blast… and the nice thing about an eight-day holiday is — it’s not over yet!

What did I read during the last week?

Between the holiday and family get-togethers, I didn’t actually get much time to read at all. Here’s what I finished this past week:

Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot: Delightful Hanukkah-themed romance. My review is here.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley: This book won the Goodreads Choice Award for science fiction, but I found it a letdown. My review is here.

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune: Another terrific audiobook by Carley Fortune! Finished late Sunday; review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

Virgin River season 6 was actually fun! Yes, it’s exactly what you’d expect… but I’ve come to love the small town vibe, and the wedding felt like a huge payoff after all these seasons.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week. And based on my look back at my book buying during 2024, I really don’t need to buy any more books for a long, long time…

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst: I’m enjoying this cozy fantasy tale, but my reading time has been really scattered. Hoping to finish today or tomorrow!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler: My library hold finally came in! I’ll be starting this audiobook today (if I can squeeze in any listening time).

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s newest classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week (except over the holidays). Progress: 15%. Currently on hold; resuming out group read on January 6th.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…