The Monday Check-In ~ 11/13/2023

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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 quite a week, lots of ups and downs… but hey, let’s focus on the good stuff! We had beautiful weather over the weekend (which meant lots of outdoor time), dinner with friends whom we hadn’t seen in several months, an evening out with my husband, and fun kitty play time!

This little guy spent about 10 minutes last night pouncing on wrinkles on a blanket and obsessively chasing his own tail. Cuteness galore.

What did I read during the last week?

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan: Steamy, light romance set in a cursed Scottish castle — how fun is that? My review is here.

The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn: The follow-up to The Salt Path, which I loved. While beautifully written, The Wild Silence just didn’t hold my attention the way the first book did. Lots of lovely moments, but for me, it was a struggle to get through.

Heartsong by TJ Klune: Oh, it’s probably been a minute since I last mentioned how much I love this series! I read book #3 this week, and (of course) loved it. My thoughts are here.

Pop culture & TV:

I haven’t really gotten into anything new yet — still watching Survivor and The Amazing Race, and enjoying them both. Plus, the new season of The Gilded Age has started, although I get frustrated by shows that air one episode per week — too used to binge-watching at this point, I suppose.

Fresh Catch:

A few new books this week, including fancy editions of the Fourth Wing books:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Brothersong by TJ Klune: For about thirty seconds, I planned on waiting until January-ish to start the 4th (and final) book in the Green Creek series. But who was I kidding? I have no will power when it comes to these books.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Takedown by Lily Chu: Really enjoying this audiobook! I should be finished today or tomorrow.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

  • Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! Coming up this week: Chapters 14 and 15 (of 49). Progress: 26%.
  • Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 15%.
  • Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell: My Classics Club Spin book for fall! I’m reading this one via Serial Reader (which provides daily 10-15 minute reading installments). I’m on track to finish by the December deadline. Progress: 24%.
  • 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered by Sadie Hartmann: Shout-out to Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy, whose review alerted me to this awesome paperback guide to reading horror. I just got a copy from the library, and I’m enjoying picking it up here and there and reading little sections at a time.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 11/6/2023

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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 workweek, but I managed to connect with a good friend for dinner one night — our first in-person get-together in almost a year!

Meanwhile, I seem to find endless amusement trying to guess what my son’s kitty-cat will do next.

What’s on your mind, Benji?

What did I read during the last week?

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree: A huggable cozy fantasy. My review is here.

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: Another October has now passed, and with it, another re-read of this terrific, funny, non-scary horror mash-up. So much fun — see my review from when I first read it two years ago.

The Last Unicorn (graphic novel) by Peter S. Beagle: Having read the original novel a few weeks ago, I decided to read the graphic novel version as well, and I’m glad I did. The artwork is beautiful and adds another way to appreciate this lovely fairy tale.

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden: How could a full-cast recording of a new Buffyverse story not be amazing? What a treat. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I watched season two of Our Flag Means Death this past week — it was terrific.

I think I need to find a new binge-worthy show… but meanwhile, I’m watching Survivor and The Amazing Race, and somehow got sucked into watching bits and pieces of the current season of Dancing with the Stars, really just because Alyson Hannigan is on it and I looooove Willow.

Fresh Catch:

I bought hard copies of two books I’ve read as ebooks, because I needed them for my shelves!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan: This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, with a cursed Scottish castle as backdrop. So far, so good!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Takedown by Lily Chu: I’m excited to be starting this audiobook — I’ve really loved the previous two by this author.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

  • Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! Coming up this week: Chapters 12 and 13 (of 49). Progress: 23%.
  • Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 13%.
  • The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn: I was really enthusiastic when I started this memoir last week. The Wild Silence is the author’s follow-up to her first book, The Salt Path, which I loved. Unfortunately, this one has been such slow going that I realized I needed a break. I don’t want to give it up entirely, but I think I need to stop trying to read straight through and just read chapters here and there when the mood strikes. Progress: 66%.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 10/30/2023

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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. After some time away, I had a huge amount to catch up on in my work life, and it was intense. Maybe because of that, I had a hard time truly relaxing enough in the evening to be able to settle in and read for big chunks of time. Looking forward to a less stressful week (fingers crossed)…

On the home front, I had an awful scare — I was chased by a dinosaur!

I mean, a super cute dinosaur… but still! Ooooh, terrifying.

What did I read during the last week?

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall: A super fluffy grumpy/sunshine romance that’s totally silly and a nice distraction from the real world. My review is here.

Me by Elton John: I finished this excellent audiobook right at the end of last week, and just posted my review, here.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children, #9) by Seanan McGuire: I couldn’t hold off — I needed to read this ARC, even though the book won’t be released until January! My review is here.

Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman: A now-and-then story about a former popstar getting her big chance at a comeback. My review is here.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree: This prequel to Legends & Lattes was so much fun. Review to follow later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

After finishing Elton John’s memoir, I couldn’t wait to finally watch the movie Rocketman… and loved it. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend checking it out!

Other than that, I’m still watching the current season of Survivor (kinda boring this time around) and The Amazing Race. Plus, the new season of The Gilded Age has just started, and somehow I missed the fact that season 2 of Our Flag Means Death already aired… so I’ll definitely have plenty to keep me busy.

Fresh Catch:

I treated myself to this very pretty illustrated book:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn: This memoir is the author’s follow-up to The Salt Path, which I loved. Just getting started, but I’m really interested to find out what happened next in these people’s lives.

Now playing via audiobook:

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden: A Buffy story! With members of the original cast as narrators!!! I’m over-the-moon excited to be starting this audiobook.

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

  • Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! Coming up this week: Chapters 10 and 11 (of 49). Progress: 19%.
  • Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 10%.
  • A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: An annual tradition! There’s a chapter for each day of the month. Even on my 3rd time through, it’s so much fun. Just two more days to go! Progress: 87%.

Still to come:

My next Classics Club Spin book will be Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, and I’m pretty happy about it. Given everything else I have going on, I’ll wait until the beginning of November to dive in.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 10/23/2023

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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 spent the last 10 days on the East Coast for a family get-together and then some visiting time, and it was great. Lots of reconnecting with people I haven’t seen in a while, plus a few days of playing tourist, driving around, and seeing sites I never actually visited while I lived in the area.

I even went to the Bronx Zoo, which was awesome — can’t believe I grew up less than an hour away and had never, ever been there!

What did I read during the last week?

I did manage to read on and off during the week, especially on the plane and during random bits of down time. Here’s what I’ve read since my last Monday update (two weeks ago):

Starter Villain by John Scalzi: Funny and fabulous. My review is here.

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan: Just as delicious as you’d expect. My review is here.

The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen: The follow-up to Lavender House is terrific. My review is here.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: It took a while to get into, but eventually I ended up enjoying this fantasy (although I still say it’s way overhyped). My review is here.

Me by Elton John: I finished this audiobook on my drive to the airport yesterday, and loved it. Will share some thoughts later in the week.

Pop culture & TV:

Since I’ve mostly been away, I haven’t watched much of anything besides new episodes of Survivor and The Amazing Race. Now that I’m back, I’ll have to find something new to binge!

Fresh Catch:

I bought a pretty coffee table book while visiting:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall: Such silly fun. I thought I’d finish this book on the plane, but fell asleep instead! I should finish today or tomorrow.

Now playing via audiobook:

Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman: I’m just getting started, but this seems like fun (and yes, as a Buffy fan, I was totally drawn to this book in the first place because of the title). (To be clear, this has no connection to Buffy at all…)

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

  • Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! Coming up this week: Chapters 8 and 9 (of 49). Progress: 15%.
  • Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 7%.
  • A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: An annual tradition! There’s a chapter for each day of the month. Even on my 3rd time through, it’s so much fun. Progress: 55%.

Still to come:

My next Classics Club Spin book will be Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, and I’m pretty happy about it. Given everything else I have going on, I’ll wait until the beginning of November to dive in.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 10/9/2023

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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 workweek was even crazier than usual (ugh), and even in my non-work hours, I felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day for everything I needed to get done. Maybe as a result, I barely read some days, or didn’t find time to pick up a book until bedtime, and ended up with over-tired reading — which meant that by the next morning, I didn’t remember what I’d read anyway.

(Also… two of my ongoing reads — see the bottom of this post — have VERY long chapters, and those got in the way of having time for other books. Sigh… being a reader is HARD.)

Blogging.

A programming note… I’m heading out of town for a family gathering at the end of the week, and will be away most of the following week as well. I don’t expect to be posting at all while I’m gone — but we’ll see.

What did I read during the last week?

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary: Sweet, light grumpy/sunshine romance. My review is here.

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub: So much fun! I’ll never think of Lydia quite the same way again. My review is here.

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan: Finished late Sunday. Bookish love + holiday joy = such a feel-good read! Review to follow in the next few days.

Pop culture & TV:

Little bits of everything this week: Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Sex Education. I finished Sex Education just last night, and while the season was very uneven, it got stronger by the end and had a pretty satisfying wrap-up, all in all.

Puzzle of the week:

After about a month without puzzles, I’m back! This one was gorgeous:

Fresh Catch:

With a couple of special offers, how could I resist treating myself to two beautiful new books?

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen: The follow-up to last year’s excellent Lavender House. Just getting started!

Now playing via audiobook:

Starter Villain by John Scalzi: I love Scalzi’s books, and with Wil Wheaton as narrator, the audiobooks are always a treat. This book is so much fun — loving it so far!

Ongoing reads:

My current longer-term reads:

  • Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! We just started last week. Coming up this week: Chapters 4 and 5 (of 49).
  • Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 2%.
  • A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: An annual tradition! There’s a chapter for each day of the month. Even on my 3rd time through, it’s so much fun. Progress: 12%.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 10/2/2023

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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 tough to go back to work after a week away… but on the bright side, I work with an amazing team, and they decorated my office while I was away. Balloons everywhere! It was super cute and made my first day really special.

What did I read during the last week?

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano: Beautiful and emotional. My review is here.

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser: Pleasant, quick read. My review is here.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle: Considered a modern classic fantasy tale, and I’m so glad to have finally read it!

Pop culture & TV:

Survivor is back! I still love this show, even when the people are ridiculous and awful. Season 45 (!!) started this past week — so much fun.

Also, for the very first time, my family decided to give The Amazing Race a try… and we really like it!

I’m slowly starting season 4 of Sex Education… and is it just me, or is this season even cringier than previous seasons? Maybe I’ve just forgotten how truly uncomfortable (yet funny) this show can be.

Fresh Catch:

Oooh, got an ARC in the mail! The publication date isn’t until January, but I don’t think I’ll be able to hold off until then.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub: This witchy retelling of Pride and Prejudice is oodles of fun! I’m at about 60%, hope to finish in the next day or so.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary: I had a bit of a rocky start due to not getting along with the narrators for a while, but now I’ve gotten more used to them and I’m starting to really enjoy the story.

Ongoing reads:

Oh dear, I may be in over my head! Here are the longer-term reads I have going on at the moment:

  • Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! We just started last week. Coming up this week: Chapters 2 and 3 (of 49).
  • Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s new classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week, starting today! New participants are welcome — let me know if you’re interested.
  • A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: An annual tradition! This will be my 3rd time through — there’s a chapter for each day of the month, and it’s a delight.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 9/25/2023

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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’m back! My husband and I spent a lovely, relaxing six days in Hawaii this past week. We celebrated my birthday, took a bunch of walks, and basically did not much besides floating in the water, enjoying the gorgeous views, and reading on the beach. Blissful.

Sigh… I have one more day off, and then it’s back to the salt mines!

Blogging.

Here’s a lesson I keep learning over and over: If you want a ton of views, post about something on Netflix. My post about season five of Virgin River last week hit my all-time high number of views for a single day: 19,981! That’s insane.

It looks like overall, Virgin River and Bridgerton posts get more views than just about anything else… which amuses me, since I tend to write about TV only occasionally. Hey, I’m a book blogger! (Sadly, book review posts get a fraction of the views, but I still love ’em.)

What did I read during the last week?

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons: I posted a review of this excellent book right before I left on vacation last week. Check it out here.

Lost in the Moment and Found (Wayward Children, #8) by Seanan McGuire: Finished my re-read just before leaving on my trip, and loved it once again!

And here’s what I read while I was away:

  • The Measure by Nikki Erlick
  • Marry Me By Midnight by Felicia Grossman (DNF)
  • Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  • The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

I’ll post some reviews later this week!

Pop culture & TV:

I didn’t watch any TV or movies this week! Honestly, it was pretty nice to take a break from everything but books.

Fresh Catch:

I won a Goodreads giveaway! The book arrived while I was away:

Also, my preorder of this hardcover new release arrived as well (although I think I’m going to listen to the audiobook):

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano: I read most of this novel on the plane yesterday, and hope to finish today or tomorrow.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary: I plan to start this audiobook tomorrow, as soon as it lands in my Audible library.

Ongoing reads:

I have two ongoing reading commitments at the moment:

  • Outlander Book Club is starting a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) this week. We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info.
  • The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle: I started this fantasy novel while on vacation — my used paperback edition got a little wet and sandy on the beach, but made it home mostly intact! I don’t seem to want to read this one straight through, so I’m picking it up here and there to read a chapter at a time. I’ll probably wrap up later this week or next.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 9/18/2023

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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 birthday is coming up this week, and while we usually don’t make a big fuss, this year my husband and I are actually getting away for a few days. I’m excited — it’s been almost a year since I’ve done any real traveling — but still need to pack, organize, and (most importantly) figure out which books to bring!

A blogging note: I’m not bringing a laptop, and I’m not planning to be online much. I already have tomorrow’s TTT post ready to go, but after that, I don’t anticipate posting until next week’s Monday post.

What did I read during the last week?

Dreambound by Dan Frey: Terrific, twisty fantasy tale. My review is here.

Auggie & Me by R. J. Palacio: A collection of three stories related to the world of Wonder, each focusing on a different friend or classmate of Auggie’s. A nice supplemental read after finishing Wonder.

Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea: A YA timeslip story very much along the lines of movies like 13 Going on 30. Nothing special. My review is here.

All the Dead Shall Weep (Gunnie Rose, #5) by Charlaine Harris: The newest book in a terrific series set in an alternate history US. My review is here.

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons: Fabulous reinterpretation of the story of Romeo and Juliet. It’s not what you expect! Review to follow (probably next week).

Pop culture & TV:

I finished my Virgin River (season 5) binge. It’s as corny and predictable as ever… and I just can’t stop watching! I wrote up some thoughts, here.

Fresh Catch:

My daughter is amazing (as I’m sure I’ve already established!). She sent me perfect-for-me birthday gifts this week:

The gifts are: A Jane Austen-themed puzzle book (awesome!) and a set of three literary teas (which came with a set of bookmarks too). I’m looking forward to tea and puzzles when I get back from my trip!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick: My book group’s pick for September. Just getting started, but I’m intrigued already!

Now playing via audiobook:

Lost in the Moment and Found (Wayward Children, #8) by Seanan McGuire: I read this book when it came out earlier in the year, but I always enjoy the audiobooks as well (and needed something on the shorter side that I could finish before leaving on my trip).

Ongoing reads:

None at the moment!

My book group has two long-term reading projects (one a classic, one Outlander-related) starting late September/early October, but right now, we have a bit of a break — which is fine! It gives me more time to catch up on the thousands of other books I want to read.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 9/11/2023

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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 workweek… not much to say about that! I feel like I didn’t have much down time, although I did manage to squeeze in some reading and got outdoors a bit, and even got my laundry done… gotta see the positive whenever possible!

What did I read during the last week?

The Innocent Sleep (October Daye, #18) by Seanan McGuire: Have I mentioned lately how much I love this series? Of course I have! My review of this upcoming new release is here.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio: I’m very late to the party, but after reading this author’s graphic novel White Bird, I finally picked up a copy of Wonder, and loved it. I’m hoping to get a chance to watch the movie this week.

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner: I loved this story, and the main character is terrific! My review is here.

Over at my book group, we finished our group read of Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. Such an entertaining, quirky read! I’m going to try to find time to check out the movie version this week.

Pop culture & TV:

I made no progress with The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem (season 2 – Netflix) this week. I’m really enjoying the show, but got distracted by too many other things.

Virgin River is back! I’ve watched about half of the new season (season 5) so far. Oh, it’s just as corny and weirdly-paced as ever, but I can’t stop watching!

Fresh Catch:

I realized that I just haven’t been buying physical books much lately. I tend to read almost exclusively on my Kindle, since it’s portable and I always have it handy (either the device itself or my mobile app). So, no new hardcover or paperback books this week, although I did add a few more ebooks to my collection:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Dreambound by Dan Frey: I actually finished this book late Sunday. So good! I really couldn’t put it down. Review to follow later this week.

Now playing via audiobook:

All the Dead Shall Weep (Gunnie Rose, #5) by Charlaine Harris: I got hooked on this series earlier in the year, and I’m so excited to be starting this new release.

Ongoing reads:

None at the moment!

My book group has two long-term reading projects (one a classic, one Outlander-related) starting late September/early October, but right now, we have a bit of a break — which is fine! It gives me more time to catch up on the thousands of other books I want to read.

So many books, so little time…

boy1

The Monday Check-In ~ 9/4/2023

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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 Labor Day! How did it get to be September already?

And why is my three-day weekend already almost over?

What did I read during the last week?

Books read earlier; reviews posted this past week:

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Whalefall by Daniel Krause
Sleep No More (October Daye, #17) by Seanan McGuire (and let me just say for the millionth time that I love this series!!

Books I read this past week:

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman: A short story that feels more like a teaser for a full novel. It was a quick, enjoyable read, but I wished there had been more to it.

White Bird by R. J. Palacio: Powerful middle-grade graphic novel. My review is here.

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo: Just didn’t live up to my high expectations. My review is here.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood: An okay read. My review is here.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo: After finishing With the Fire on High, I needed more by this author! Books written in verse don’t usually appeal to me, but this story of sisters, loss, and connection is powerful and beautifully written — I’m glad I finally read it.

Pop culture & TV:

My husband and I started season 2 of The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem (Netflix) this week. He’s not a binge-watcher, so this may take a while… but I’m still happy to be watching.

I finally remembered that I’d been meaning to get back to Good Omens, and since it had been so long, I decided to start over from the beginning. I’ve just finished season 1, and plan to start season 2 this week.

I also watched a silly romance on Netflix — Love, Again, which features a lot of Celine Dion music (and Celine herself), an improbably plot, and Sam Heughan of Outlander (which, yes, is 100% why I watched it). Not a bad way to pass an evening with nothing else demanding my attention.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Innocent Sleep (October Daye, #18) by Seanan McGuire: I’ve held off as long as I could! The next book in the series releases in October (appropriate!), but I needed it NOW.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner: I’ve really enjoyed the last few books I’ve read (or listened to) by this author, so I was excited to start her newest. I’m currently at about 50%, and really loving it!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

Only one at the moment, and the end is in sight!

  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: This has been my book group’s discussion book since June, and our last chapter is this week!

We’ll have two long-term reading projects (one a classic, one Outlander-related) starting late September/early October, but meanwhile, maybe I’ll figure out some other books to place on the ongoing list.

So many books, so little time…

boy1