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 finished my holiday shopping! Whew. Some items will be shipping across the country, and a whole bunch will be delivered here for when we have our family celebrations. I’m so glad to be done!

Meanwhile… earlier in the year, my daughter gifted me a scratch-off book poster, and I finally got it dry-mounted and put up on a wall. Here’s the before:

And here’s after I starting scratching:

It’s so cute!

A little tragedy for the Little Free Library:

Heavy rain and wind gusted in over the weekend, resulting in a mini-disaster…

My LFL blew over during the night! Fortunately, the library box itself isn’t damaged, but I woke up in the morning to see quite a mess out in front of my house. The bookmark holder was in the street and all the paper bookmarks were strewn across the sidewalk, soaking wet. The books themselves didn’t fare very well. Some books were completely saturated — it was painful to throw them in the recycling bin, but they just weren’t salvageable. Still, more than half of the books stayed inside the LFL when it toppled and just ended up damp, so I think they’ll be more or less fine once they dry out.

After debating whether to keep the LFL inside the garage for the rest of the rainy season, we decided to move it back outside, try to strengthen the supports around the post, and keep an eye on the weather for future storms! We’ll be more diligent about moving it under a shelter if the forecast looks iffy going forward… but meanwhile, it’s back out there and full of books.

What did I read during the last week?

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne: Dark and disturbing. My review is here.

Two holiday audio shorts: Booked for the Holidays by Liz Maverick and The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan. Check out my quick take, here.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall: Interesting concepts, but I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped to. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Well, that’s all for Yellowstone! I loved the first several seasons, but this last half-season leading up to Sunday’s series finale was uneven, to see the least. Still, the finale tied up all the story threads, and gave most characters a satisfying send off.

Survivor season 47 will be wrapping up this week. It’s not been great — anyone I was rooting for is already out, the final four are not particularly exciting, and unless something truly shocking happens, it’s easy to see who the winner will be. Yawn.

Fresh Catch:

I enjoyed this middle grade novel so much that I decided I needed a copy of my own, and was able to find a hardcover in nice condition on Ebay.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong: I’ve been wanting to read Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series, and I’ve finally started! I’m hooked, and can’t wait to see where the story goes. I have a feeling I’ll be speeding my way through the whole series.

Now playing via audiobook:

Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot: More Hanukkah romance! I’m about halfway through, and it’s a lot of fun.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s newest classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 9%. Coming up this week: Chapters 5 and 6.

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.

We’re having surprisingly sunny weather for early December, and it’s been glorious getting some outdoor time. There was that tsunami warning earlier in the week… no tsunami actually occurred, but it was certainly startling to get the VERY URGENT alert on my phone!

Somehow, I ended up super busy over the weekend, with errands and odd jobs around the house and a nice get-together with friends. I don’t regret any of it! But it does mean that a book I thought I’d finish in a day or two has been severely neglected…

What did I read during the last week?

The Return by Rachel Harrison: Deliciously creepy. My review is here.

The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady: Really enjoyable story of sisters breaking out of their comfort zones. My review is here.

The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain: A terrific new Regency romance. My review is here.

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell: A warm, lovely middle grade novel. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I saw Wicked this week! I had plans to see it a couple of weeks ago, but the person I was going with got sick — and we finally managed to find a new date that worked for us both. Overall, I really liked it… except it’s too long and drags a bit from time to time. Still, the musical numbers are great, and I’m glad I saw it!

On Netflix, I started watching A Man on the Inside, and it’s so much fun! Ted Danson is charming, and it’s a quick watch (just eight 30-minute episodes). I’ve watched four so far, and hope to finish today or tomorrow.

Fresh Catch:

My Black Friday gifts to myself arrived this week:

A lovely hardcover edition of Weyward, and the Puffin in Bloom edition of Sense and Sensibility. They’re both so pretty!

Little Free Library updates:

We had several people stop by and drop off various paperbacks this week — it’s nice to see the little library looking a bit fuller!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne: It took me a while to get into this book, probably because I was only able to read in little bits and pieces for the first few days after I started it — but once I really dug into it over the weekend, it started zooming by! As of writing this post late Sunday, I’m close to the end, and can’t wait to see how it turns out!

I haven’t quite decided what to tackle next, but I think it will be one of these three:

Now playing via audiobook:

The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan: What a treat! A new holiday story from Jenny Colgan! It’s very short, so I should be finished later today.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s newest classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 4%. Coming up this week: Chapters 3 and 4.

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.

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! And just like that… it’s December! I made it through the long weekend without indulging in TOO much online shopping. Couldn’t resist a new tunnel for our kitty, though…

We had a small family gathering for Thanksgiving — just six of us — and it was really nice, then saw friends over the weekend, and had time to relax and unwind a bit too.

And now, back to the grind… and a busy upcoming week at work.

What did I read during the last week?

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: Just as charming as everyone says! My review is here.

Coming Home by Brittney Griner: Powerful, must-read memoir. My review is here.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi: Sweet and heart-warming. My review is here.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston: Fun romance involving an avid reader who stumbles into her favorite fictional town. My review is here.

The Return by Rachel Harrison: SO creepy. Review to follow, later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

Another new episode of Outlander! These once-per-week shows just kill me… This season is very good so far, but I wish I could binge it all at once. As for the newest episode — man, this show is covering a lot of ground! So much happens in this 2nd episode. I’m so curious to see how far through the books they’ll be by the end of the season.

In other TV viewing, I finished A Body That Works on Netflix, an Israeli series about surrogacy. Lots of soapy drama, but some really strong episodes too.

And as cheesy as it can be, Dancing with the Stars was actually a lot of fun this season. I was happy with the top two finishers, and overall, really enjoyed following the show week after week.

Fresh Catch:

I gave in to temptation and ordered a few books on sale for Black Friday… but have to wait a week for them to arrive!

Little Free Library updates:

One new book showed up this week — The Color of Water by James McBride — plus I added a few more old paperbacks from my shelves.

Some of the books currently in my LFL have been there for weeks now. I’m always curious to see which books gets taken and which just stay and stay.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain: This author’s Regency romances are such fun! I’m happy to be starting her newest, due for release next week.

After that, I’ll be back to working my way through the stack of books that I meant to read earlier in the year. Top priority at the moment:

Now playing via audiobook:

The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady: I’m really close to the end! Enjoying it a lot — this author was new to me this year, and now I’m caught up!

Ongoing reads:

Starting this week! My book group’s newest classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Beginning today, we’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. I’m happy for the chance to reread this classic!

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 (almost) Thanksgiving! It feels like the holiday has stretched to include the entire week in recent years. I’m still working this week, but it feels like a lot of people have already checked out. I’m looking forward to days off at the end of the week, and spending the holiday with family!

We had major rainstorms this past week, so my usual outdoor activities were mostly cancelled. I made up for it with family chill time, plus lots of reading.

What did I read during the last week?

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman: A quirky, funny short story. My review is here.

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: My Classics Club Spin book — loved it! My review is here.

Weyward by Emilia Hart: A 5-star read! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Outlander is back! After a Droughtlander of more than a year, the 2nd half of season 7 has started. The first of the new episodes dropped on Friday, and I loved it.

I started a new (to me) Israeli series on Netflix, A Body That Works. I’m about halfway through, and I’m enjoying it… although my overall impression is going to depend on how they resolve certain elements. As of the midpoint, I’d say it’s worth checking out.

Fresh Catch:

I didn’t buy any books this week!

Little Free Library updates:

This week in my Little Free Library:

One ratty old instruction manual was added… but the four or five terrific paperbacks someone dropped off last week all seem to have found new homes! (I’m getting a kick out of seeing what comes and goes each week… and which books seem to stay and stay and stay)

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: This book keeps coming up as a should-really-read book for me, and I decided to finally make it happen. (It helps that my library branch had a copy on the shelf when I stopped by over the weekend).

Once I finish, I’ll be starting one of these — all of which have been high on my reading pile for a while now:

I’m not quite sure which one I’ll start first, but I’m excited to finally have time for any or all of them!

Now playing via audiobook:

Coming Home by Brittney Griner: I’m so close to the end! I think I need another half-hour or so of listening time to wrap this up. I’ll share my thoughts later in the week — very powerful and moving memoir.

Next, I plan to go for a lighter listen, most likely this one:

I recently finished the audio version of this author duo’s first novel and really liked it, so I’m up for more.

Ongoing reads:

Coming soon! My book group’s newest classic read will be Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re starting in early December, and will be reading and discussing two chapters per week. This will be a reread for me, and I’m looking forward to it.

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.

I had a super busy day on Saturday, starting with an early-morning book group Zoom with an author, then a mid-day outdoor dance session, and then even more dancing in the evening! Luckily, I had an unstructured Sunday to just chill, go for a walk, read, and do lots of nothing.

What did I read during the last week?

Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse: What fun! My book group’s classic read wrapped up this past week. This book is silly and adorable, and I look forward to reading more of the Jeeves books.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See: Excellent historical fiction — 5 stars! My review is here.

The Beach Trap by Ali Brady: Really enjoyable audiobook about long-lost half-sisters getting a second chance to build a relationship. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I was at a bit of loose ends, and decided to watch a movie I’d been meaning to get to — Damsel (Netflix). It was… okay. A bit too much time devoted to Millie Bobby Brown running around in a cave in increasingly shredded clothing, but overall, entertaining enough.

Fresh Catch:

I didn’t buy any books this week!

Little Free Library updates:

I thought it might be fun to share updates on books people leave in my Little Free Library.

New this week:

• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (funny, since I just finished reading my own copy last week)
• A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
• The Circle by Dave Eggers
• The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
• To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
• Strider by Beverly Cleary

Looks like someone must have been offloading their literary fiction! And it’s sweet to see a children’s classic in the mix as well. A few unwanted books showed up that I’ve already removed, including a couple of super flimsy guides to real estate deals. Why leave those in a LFL???

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: My current Classics Club Spin book!

Now playing via audiobook:

Coming Home by Brittney Griner: I’ve been waiting for my library hold for this audiobook for months now, and it’s finally available! I started it yesterday — it’s really personal and powerful to listen to.

Ongoing reads:

None right now! My book group’s next classic read starts early December — and meanwhile, it’s kind of nice to have no “obligation” books to worry about.

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 can I say about last week? Words fail me. Locally, I’m fairly pleased with our election results, especially a proposition about turning an oceanside roadway into a park. (Want to know what I’m talking about? Check out this article — I voted yes!!)

Other than that… it hasn’t actually been a terrible week. Busy at work, nice family time, and some beautiful sunny days!

What did I read during the last week?

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: FINISHED! After two different reading attempts years ago ended in DNFs, I was determined to finally make it all the way through this book, and I did it! I’m still digesting, to be honest. I can’t say I loved the reading experience, but I can see why this is considered such a huge literary achievement. I’m glad to have seen it through, but don’t feel up for writing an actual review. Still… it’s done!!

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune: I loved this story of former teen sweethearts reuniting years later as adults. Touching and nostalgic, and very engaging. My review is here.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong: Sweet, cozy fantasy — a light and delicious read. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Season 2 of The Diplomat was fantastic! Both season are available on Netflix. Terrific plot, dialogue, and acting — not that amazing acting is a surprise, with Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell in the lead roles.

Next up: The final season of Yellowstone — the first episode of the new/last season just dropped! It’s a little odd picking up the story again after almost two years… but it pulled me right back in, and I’m dying to see where the season goes.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See: My book group’s pick for November — and for once, I’m getting an early start! I’m only a few chapters in, but it’s great so far.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Beach Trap by Ali Brady: After reading my first Ali Brady book a couple of months ago, I jumped at the chance to borrow this audiobook when I randomly saw it marked as available on the Libby app! I’ve listened to about 10% so far, and it’s good!

Coming soon:

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: My newest Classics Club Spin book! The deadline to finish is December 18th, and since this is a relatively short book, I may hold off another week or two before starting.

Ongoing reads:

Just one at the moment, and it’s almost done:

• Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse: My book group’s classic read — one chapter to go! Progress: 96%. Coming up this week: Chapter 23.

We’ll be starting our next group classic read in early December.

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.

This is going to be an anxiety-filled week for sure. So I’ll just share these words of wisdom from author Mary Doria Russell, always appropriate this time of year:

Bookish goodies:

Orbit Books is offering an awesome giveaway this month — enter here!

And in other bookish/reading news… I reached my Goodreads challenge goal for the year (reading a bunch of super-skinny books helped!)…

… so I decided to raise my goal and see how it goes:

Still two more months left in 2024 — plenty of time for even more books!

What did I read during the last week?

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison: Excellent vampire fiction! My review is here.

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: My 4th time reading this October gem! My original review, from the first time I read it, is here. (And yes, it’s still awesome the 4th time around)

The Art of Leaving: A Memoir by Ayelet Tsabari: I read this author’s first novel, Songs for the Broken Hearted, a few months ago, and was eager to read the memoir she published several years earlier. My review is here.

Schemes & Scandals (A Rip Through Time, #3.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A delightful novella set in the world of a favorite series. My review is here.

Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin: An engaging romance between a reluctant book store owner and a bestselling romance writer. Sweet and fun. My review is here.

In between longer books, I also enjoyed a bunch of slim, beautiful, gift-worthy books:

You can read my thoughts on these books here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished the newest season of Heartstopper! Loved it, of course. And now, we wait for the 4th and final season.

Next up, I’m eager to start season 2 of The Diplomat!

Fresh Catch:

New hardcover editions of Travis Baldree’s terrific cozy fantasies!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: This books is my white whale! I’ve read half of it — twice — at two different times in my life, and for different reasons, never finished. I’m determined to read it all this time!

Now playing via audiobook:

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune: My library hold for this audiobook came through right at the exact time I needed a new book to listen to! I just started on Sunday and have only listened to about 10% at this point, but so far, I like it!

Coming soon:

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: My newest Classics Club Spin book! The deadline to finish is December 18th, and since this is a relatively short book, I may hold off another week or two before starting.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments — but just one at the moment! A couple of other group reads will be starting later this month.

• Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse: My book group’s classic read! So much fun. Progress: 84%. Coming up this week: Chapters 21 and 22.

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.

Not too much to report! Busy workweek, but I did manage to squeeze in a dinner out with a friend passing through town, and even grabbed some good outdoors time thanks to a gorgeous sunshiney day over the weekend.

What did I read during the last week?

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman: Finished reading last week, but just posted a review, here.

Return to Valetto by Dominic Smith: My book group’s October read. I liked the book, and really enjoyed our book group discussion with the author. My review is here.

Lil’s Bus Trip by Judy Leigh: Such a sweet, enjoyable audiobook. My review is here.

Damn Rebel Bitches: The Women of the ’45 by Maggie Craig: Over at Outlander Book Club, we finished our group read of this fascinating history book! It’s an excellent resource for getting a different, unusual view of the women involved in the Jacobite rebellions. We have a chat scheduled with the author next month, and it should be terrific.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison: Finished late Sunday. So good! Review to follow later this week.

In other reading:

I read a really creepy short story after seeing it on a list via Reactor (here). The October Game by Ray Bradbury is weird and disturbing… perfect for the lead-up to Halloween! Originally published in 1948 in Weird Tales, it seems to be available for free reading online through a variety of sources. I found a PDF version here. (I also ended up reading the Seanan McGuire story on the list — good and spooky!)

Pop culture & TV:

I binge-watched Nobody Wants This on Netflix this week, and loved it! Now we wait for season 2…

Other than that, I’ve been catching up on my half-hour comedies that have just started new seasons (Ghosts, What We Do in the Shadows, Abbott Elementary) — always a good time.

Fresh Catch:

Two slim but lovely hardcovers arrived this week:

So excited for both of these!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Schemes & Scandals (A Rip Through Time, #3.5) by Kelley Armstrong: A new novella set in the world of a terrific timeslip series. Really good so far!

Now playing via audiobook:

In New York earlier this fall, I stopped by The Strand bookstore and picked up a “blind date with a book” on a whim… and it ended up being Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin. The packaging is so adorable that I’m hesitant to take it apart — but meanwhile, the library had the audiobook available as an instant borrow, so I thought I’d give it a whirl!

Coming soon:

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: My newest Classics Club Spin book! The deadline to finish is December 18th, and since this is a relatively short book, I may hold off another week or two before starting.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse: My book group’s classic read! So much fun. Progress: 77%. Coming up this week: Chapters 19 and 20.
• A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: My annual October tradition. The book has a chapter per day for each day of the month. Progress: 81%

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…