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 went back to the office this week — big milestone in my post-COVID days! It actually felt pretty good to be back, although by each mid-afternoon, I was craving naptime.

And here’s this week’s moment of cuteness with our little houseguest Benji:

What did I read during the last week?

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano: Sad, powerful, impossible to put down. My review is here.

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw: A fun little foray into drama! I really enjoyed reading this play (which is the basis for My Fair Lady) — and it was interesting to see how the story here is different from the story in the musical.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray: Clever concept, but my attention wavered quite a bit. My review is here.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: I think I’ve found my new favorite by this author duo! My review is here.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center: Fascinating, funny romance with a unique premise. My review is here.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher: This Sleeping Beauty retelling is a fast but totally engaging read. Review to come later this week!

Pop culture & TV:

Loving the new season of Outlander! We’re two episodes into Season 7, and the show is absolutely delivering. I love how they’re wrapping up dangling plotlines from previous seasons and propelling the story forward. This week’s episode covered a lot of ground, but also had incredibly powerful character moments.

I’m still making my way through Manifest over on Netflix. There are a LOT of episodes! I’m about halfway through season 2 at this point. I roll my eyes a lot… but I also want to see where the story goes, so I’m sticking with it.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

Puzzle of the week:

I just started this one yesterday — it’s going to take a while.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Longshadow (Regency Faerie Tales, #3) by Olivia Atwater: This e-book was available to borrow from the library right when I needed a new book. I enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy, so why not got ahead and finish?

Now playing via audiobook:

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon: Another spur-of-the-moment library find! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and since #2 was downloadable right when I was ready for a new listen, I grabbed it. I’m at about 35% — really good so far!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 138 and 139 (of 155).
• Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: My book group’s new classic read — we’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. We’re off to a good start!
• The Tempest by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition): I saw a stage version of The Tempest last year, but have never read it. I thought it might be fun to give the “no fear” edition a try. I’m enjoying reading the original text, then comparing it to the “plain English” version on the facing page. This week, I read Acts I and II.

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.

Getting better, bit by bit! After a couple of weeks of lingering COVID symptoms, I’m feeling mostly better at this point — I still get tired pretty easily, and my tastebuds aren’t quite functioning normally, but overall, so much better! I finally started getting out of the house, and honestly, that feels like a milestone!

I worked from home last week, but this week, I’ll be heading back to the office. Real life, here I come!

What did I read during the last week?

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman: My book group’s pick for June. Wonderful historical fiction. My review is here.

Lion’s Legacy by L. C. Rosen: Really fun YA adventure with positive messages. My review is here.

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano: Couldn’t put this one down once I started. Review to follow.

The Expert System’s Brother and The Expert System’s Champion by Adrian Tchaikovsky: A terrific sci-fi novella duology. My thoughts are here.

Pop culture & TV:

I was so sad to hear of the passing of Treat Williams this week. I’ve loved him in so many roles (Everwood was a stand-out), but his portrayal of Berger in Hair will always be my favorite.

In other pop culture moments…

Outlander is back! Season 7 began this weekend, and it’s going to be so good! I’m glad that the show skipped past certain book elements that dragged on for a long, long time and got the story moving forward. This season should be great! It’s supposed to be 16 episodes in total, although these will be split into two halves. No matter — I’m just thrilled that it’s back!

Also, while I love the original version of theme song, I also love that it changes every season. This season’s version is sung by Sinéad O’Connor! Check it out:

As for other viewing — I finished season four of Never Have I Ever (Netflix), and thought the show did a really good job wrapping up the various characters’ storylines. I was floundering a bit trying to find something else to dive into, so I decided to give Manifest a try. I’ve only watched a few episodes so far, but the premise is definitely interesting!

Fresh Catch:

Oh dear… I completely gave in to my obsession with the Green Creek series by TJ Klune and bought all four books on Kindle:

Puzzle of the week:

My third Charley Harper puzzle. I love how many hidden details there are to find that aren’t obvious at the start (like the adorable little bear cub, an owl, and a snake).

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I’m bouncing between two books right now:

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw: I picked up a paperback edition of this play earlier in the year, after seeing a production of My Fair Lady at a local theater. Just yesterday, I randomly took the book off my shelf and read Act I! I think I’ll read this in small pieces throughout the week.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray: I’ve had this in my Kindle library for a few months already, and decided to give it a try. I’ve only read the first chapter so far, but it looks like it will be fun.

Now playing via audiobook:

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: I’ve barely had time to listen, but now that I’m feeling better again and able to get back to long walks, I hope to make lots of progress.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 136 and 137 (of 155).
• Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: Starting today! My book group’s new classic read — we’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week, ending late summer. Interesting in joining in? Just let me know!
• The Tempest by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition): I saw a stage version of The Tempest last year, but have never read it. I thought it might be fun to give the “no fear” edition a try.

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.

On the mend…

Four COVID cases later, my entire household is starting to feel better. I felt close to normal on Friday, then went back downhill on Saturday and Sunday… but I know it’s a slow process, and I’m trying to be patient, get lots of rest, and drink as much tea as possible! I’d planned to go back to my regular work schedule as of today (Monday) — remotely, of course — but that’s looking kind of iffy at this point.

In cuteness news…

We have a new house guest!

Meet Benji! (Formally known as Benji Bean, in case you’re ever looking to be introduced). My son and his girlfriend adopted Benji about a week and a half ago, right as we all started getting sick… so instead of moving back to her place as planned, Benji is staying here until everyone is healthy and ready to be out in the world again.

Look at that adorableness! I’m not hating it.

What did I read during the last week?

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris: Read the previous week, but just posted a review, here.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon: Positive contemporary romance with a strong emphasis on women’s friendship. My review is here.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley: Amazing road trip adventure! My review is here.

Wolfsong (Green Creek, #1) by TJ Klune: There are no words for how much I loved this book. I think I’ll be under its spell for quite a while. My review is here.

Ten Thousand Stitches (Regency Faerie Tales, #2): Another fun faerie story. Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

Has anyone watched With Love on Prime Video? Somehow it escaped my notice until now, but it’s such a fun, heartwarming series. There are now two seasons (eleven episodes total), focusing on the members of a large Mexican-American family and their ups and downs. It’s funny, romantic, and totally engaging. I hope there’s more to come! (Although I also hope they ditch the love triangle that’s been dragging on… so annoying!)

Fresh Catch:

One new physical review books, plus once again I succumbed to the temptation of adding to my (overwhelmingly huge) Kindle library:

Puzzle of the week:

Really pretty one this week, and it went very quickly too!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman: My book group’s pick for June. Just getting started.

Now playing via audiobook:

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: The library happened to have a copy available for download right when I was ready for something new. Looking forward to it!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

With a new group classic read starting next week, I’ll have two ongoing reads to keep me busy:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 134 and 135 (of 155).
• Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons: We’re starting our group read next week, two chapters per week. Sounds like it will be great!

So many books, so little time…

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

Life.

It was not a good week last week…

I guess you could call it the domino effect of COVID. My husband returned from an overseas trip and was experiencing his usual jetlag… until we realized it wasn’t just jetlag. We had an emergency room visit due to COVID complications, but he’s now on the mend, thank goodness. Two days later, my son tested positive, and then over the weekend, it was my turn.

Amazingly, neither my son nor I had had COVID before — but admittedly, we were pretty lax about wearing masks and keeping our distance around the house.

In any case, after a miserable few days, we’re all bouncing back. On the plus side, my head has cleared enough for me to be able to start reading again!

What did I read during the last week?

The Serpent in Heaven (Gunnie Rose, #4) by Charlaine Harris: Such a great series! My review is here.

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn & Shonda Rhimes: A lovely read. My review is here.

The Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stevenson: A memoir in graphic novel format, by the author of Nimona. I enjoyed it.

Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales, #1) by Olivia Atwater: Really enjoyable tale with unusual characters. My review is here.

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris: Review to follow.

And… one DNF:

Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling: I quit at 20%. Grim and confusing — and when I realized I just didn’t care enough to keep going, I felt relieved to put it down.

Pop culture & TV:

Due to the craziness of this week, I did very little streaming of any sort — but prior to all that, I finally got around to watching Downton Abbey: A New Era. Meh. It was basically a family reunion in search of a plot. Nice to see all the familiar faces again, but that’s about it.

Fresh Catch:

No new physical books this week, but I did pick up a few books from my wishlist thanks to Kindle deals:

Puzzle of the week:

This one was a lot trickier than I expected… although I worked on it while I had COVID, so that’s maybe a factor…

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon: I really needed something upbeat this week, and this seems to be a great choice.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley: I got through about 75% of this audiobook before I got sick, and haven’t gotten back to it yet. I’ve been loving it so far! Looking forward to finishing up in the next few days.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

Until our next group classic read starts, I’m down to just one ongoing book at the moment:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 132 and 133 (of 155).

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.

After two weeks of solitude, people are back at my house! It’s nice to hear other people bustling around once again. (Of course, I did do quite a bit of reading and TV watching while I had the house to myself, but I still prefer it when my family is home.)

What did I read during the last week?

The Woman Beyond the Sea by Sarit Yishai-Levi: A novel about family secrets and trauma that carry down through three generations. My review is here.

The Russian Cage (Gunnie Rose, #3) by Charlaine Harris: I’m loving this series! My review is here.

Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein: My books group’s pick for May. I really enjoyed this classic sci-fi adventure! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I went out to another movie! This time, I saw Guardians of the Galaxy, vol. 3 — and found myself pretty unengaged most of the time. The novelty has worn off, I guess, and the movie seemed to drag on forever. Maybe I’m just done with Marvel at this point?

For streaming this week, I watching XO Kitty on Netflix, which was quick, light, and cute. It’s the story of the little sister from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, now a high school junior who impetuously decides to study abroad in Korea for the year (mainly so she can be with her long-distance boyfriend). It was very entertaining, and it actually went in some directions that I didn’t anticipate!

Also this week, I watched the Survivor (season 44) finale, and definitely had thoughts. You can check out my reaction, here.

Fresh Catch:

I bought used copies of my book group’s next two classic reads:

We’ll be starting Cold Comfort Farm in June, and will likely start Daniel Deronda sometime in early fall.

Puzzle of the week:

I’m back on a roll with doing puzzles! This was a fun, bright 1,000-piece puzzle from Eeboo — and I jammed through it about a day.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes: I’m so excited to start this book!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Serpent in Heaven (Gunnie Rose, #4) by Charlaine Harris: How could I resist? After this book, I’ll be caught up with the series until the new book comes out in the fall.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

Until our next group classic read starts, I’m down to just one ongoing book at the moment:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 130 and 131 (of 155).

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 quiet week chez moi, while some family members are away. I’ve been reading, watching TV, and doing puzzles to my heart’s content — but it’s still weird to have so much QUIET in my house.

What did I read during the last week?

The Poisoner’s Ring (A Rip through Time, #2) by Kelley Armstrong: Such a great read! There’s so much to love in this series about a detective misplaced in time. My review is here.

A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: This was my book group’s classic read, which we read in small increments per week over the past several months. I suppose I’m glad to have read it, but can’t say that I loved the story or the characters.

Happy Place by Emily Henry: This book, on the other hand! Loved it. I listened to the audiobook, and it was wonderful. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 2 of Sweet Tooth (Netflix) — I had my doubts early on about whether to stick with it, but ultimately, it had a satisfying season wrap-up. One more final season to go… but not until 2024.

I finally watched M3GAN, which was creepy and ridiculous — if you like horror, it’s not a terrible way to pass a couple of hours!

And then over this past weekend, I actually ventured out to a movie theater to see Fast X. If you’ve watched the Fast & Furious movies up to this point, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect… and you won’t want to miss it.

Book & author event:

Julia Quinn! Queen Charlotte!

A local bookstore hosted author Julia Quinn for a Q&A and book signing, and it was so much fun! The talk was really interesting, there were yummy samples of Bridgerton/Queen Charlotte-themed teas, and I got my book signed!

Fresh Catch:

Besides my shiny new copy of Queen Charlotte?

No new physical books, but a whole bunch of e-ARCs came my way this week:

Puzzle of the week:

Puzzles are back! I haven’t started a puzzle in almost two months… but this week, I finally opened up a new one, then got obsessed and finished it in two days. This is yet another wonderful literary-themed puzzle from Laurence King Puzzles. It was hard and challenging, and I loved it!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Woman Beyond the Sea by Sarit Yishai-Levi: The new novel by the author of The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. As of writing this post, I’m at about 80%, so I hope to wrap up today or tomorrow.

Next up: My book group’s pick for May — a throwback science fiction book, which is definitely a departure for us, and I’m really looking forward to it!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Russian Cage (Gunnie Rose, #3) by Charlaine Harris: Back to the Gunnie Rose series! These books are so much fun.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

Since our group classic week just ended, I’m down to just one ongoing read at the moment! (My book group’s next classic read will be starting sometime in June… but it’s nice to have a bit of a break right now.)

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 128 and 129 (of 155).

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 hope all the moms out there had a special Mother’s Day! Mine was great — my son and I spent the afternoon playing mini-golf. Very silly, very fun.

Other than that…

Things are very quiet chez moi this week, since some family members are away briefly — leaving me with much more time on my own than I usually have. What to do with all this solitude? I mean, the answer is obvious, right?

Books, books, books, gimme more books…

What did I read during the last week?

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli: Sweet, positive YA. My review is here.

Advika and the Hollywood Wives by Kirthana Ramisetti: Let’s just say I had issues with this book. My review is here.

A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose, #2) by Charlaine Harris: I’m enjoying this series way more than I expected to! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Queen Charlotte stole my heart! I loved it. Such a beautiful story, and such a great cast. I think this one will need a rewatch at some point, maybe while waiting for season 3 of Bridgerton.

On a dark note: For anyone watching Yellowjackets (which is so disturbing!), did you catch that the phone number for the wellness retreat was shown? If you want to hear something unsettling, you can call the number (607.478.1033) and see what happens.

Fresh Catch:

A few more new ebooks this week — an ARC and some Kindle price drops:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Poisoner’s Ring (A Rip through Time, #2) by Kelley Armstrong: I’m loving this time-traveling detective series! The first book, A Rip Through Time, was loads of fun, and #2 is a great follow-up. Hoping to finish in the next day or two.

Now playing via audiobook:

Happy Place by Emily Henry: I still have a lot to go, but I really like this!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 126 and 127 (of 155).
• A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: My book group’s current classic read, also two chapters per week. We’re down to the last three chapters! I’m glad to be wrapping things 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.

Not much new! Lots of running around, a couple of sunny days with time to get outdoors, and a nice family dinner. Nothing to complain about!

What did I read during the last week?

Off the Map by Trish Doller: A sweet, adventurous romance that made me yearn for a good long road trip! My review is here.

Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan: Interesting, pleasant, not overly exciting novel about family members all getting fresh starts. My review is here.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli: I haven’t been reading much YA recently, but when this ARC came up, I had to give it a try. Really sweet, and I’m so glad I read it! I finished late Sunday, so I’ll share a review later in the coming week.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished The Diplomat on Netflix — and overall, I loved it! Lots of plot twists, an amazing cast… I’m so glad season 2 has already been announced.

I also started Jewish Matchmaking (Netflix) this week. It’s from the same producers as Indian Matchmaking, which is such a fun guilty pleasure. I was very hesitant about Jewish Matchmaking, afraid it would play into Jewish stereotypes and make me cringe, but after watching a few episodes, I really like it! Overall, there’s a respectful tone toward Jewish traditions and practices, and while some of the matchmaker’s clients are kind of awful, the show itself is really enjoyable to watch. (And I’m totally laughing at myself, because other than these shows, I have never ever watched a dating reality show.)

Next up: Queen Charlotte!

Fresh Catch:

I bought a travel book to plan a summer vacation (for some reason, I really prefer physical copies of travel guides over ebooks). I also grabbed a free book via Prime Reading and a book from my wish list that had a Kindle price drop this week:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Advika and the Hollywood Wives by Kirthana Ramisetti: I loved this author’s first novel (Dava Shastri’s Last Day), so I jumped at the chance to read her new book. I’m just getting started — high hopes that I’ll love this one too!

Now playing via audiobook:

A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose, #2) by Charlaine Harris: The library happened to have this audiobook available for an instant borrow right when I was ready for something new to start. I really liked the first book in the series (An Easy Death), so I’m happy to jump back in and continue the series.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 124 and 125 (of 155).
• A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: My book group’s current classic read, also two chapters per week. We’re down to the last five chapters! I’ve been enjoying it… but I’m also ready to be done.

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 May already? 2023 feels like it’s happening at double-speed.

It’s been a busy workweek, but we did find time to relax and enjoy over the weekend, including a great dinner with friends we hadn’t seen in a while. Plus, the usual array of running errands, odds & ends around the house, a good long walk, and even a dash to the library.

What did I read during the last week?

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel: Such gorgeous writing. My review is here.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher: Magical fun… plus cookies! My review is here.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune: A Pinocchio retelling that didn’t quite deliver for me. My review is here.

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe: Honest, funny memoir told in graphic novel form — I picked this up for a reading challenge, and I’m so glad I did!

Pop culture & TV:

I started The Diplomat on Netflix — has anyone else watched this? So far, I’ve only seen 2 of the 8 episodes, and I think I like it, although the overall plot seems pretty muddled at times. Here’s the trailer:

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarjan: Just getting started, but I have a good feeling about this one!

Now playing via audiobook:

Off the Map by Trish Doller: I was having a hard time deciding what to listen to next, then remembered I still had the 3rd book in this series to read. So far, it seems like a flirty, romantic adventure. And I always appreciate a good travel story!

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of BEES, reading and discussing two chapters per week. Coming up this week: Chapters 122 and 123 (of 155).
• A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: My book group’s current classic read, also two chapters per week. Just a few more weeks to go!

So many books, so little time…