George Washington meets Travels With Charley meets the life and times of Nathaniel Philbrick. I enjoyed learning about all 3. I also learned a few things about Alexandria, the town where I‘ve lived for 20 years or so. I thought the reflections at the end were great and hopeful. Washington, Steinbeck, and Philbrick all had similar experiences when it came to everyday people. #USPresidents26

It‘s only Jan. 6. Not too late to restart this.

I listened to two interesting podcasts about George Washington this morning that I wanted to share with the group.

The George Washington Story You Haven't Heard (Adam Grant with Ken Burns) https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rethinking-the-george-washington-story-you...

Presidential: George Washington https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/podcasts/presidential/

#USPresidents2026

#MiddleGradeMonday

My favorite 2025 Middle Grade read. I loved the 1980‘s time period and how the author handled this complicated family.

🎶Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition🎶

Grateful for a bit of reading time before the grind begins!

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo Miss you @Andrew65 hope you‘re well

This may have been my favorite of 2025, but that might also be recency bias.

Daisy says if I sit on her kindle she can‘t go back to the office #catsoflitsy

I‘ve read this twice before and I still love this book of short stories, essays, and recipes. It‘s just very soothing at such a busy time of year.

This book had a lot going on, but it was a pleasant enough read. I liked the premise of the food network competition.

#JaneAustenThenAndNow (only a month late)

I‘m beyond exhausted tonight for some unknown reason, so I‘m starting my #hyggehour a little early. I actually got quite a bit of reading in today so I‘m going to catch up on reviews and journaling (again I read for 5 hours today. WHY am I so tired???)

I read a lot of good books in November but Blob is the one is the one that stuck with me the most. #12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

#26for26 day…whatever this is. Two more readathon days left. It‘s indoor field hockey season again so I spent time with my kindle between games. Also started my George Washington book this morning. I may just put my two December books aside if I haven‘t made any progress by Monday. I just don‘t find myself reaching for them.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

At the very end of October my slump was finally broken with this excellent witch story.

My first read of 2026.

I liked this, but found it a little depressing knowing the games would still be going on when Hamitch was a grown man. Very hopeless. Well written hopelessness though.

Fell asleep before I could post last night. I got some reading done but spent the evening finishing Stranger Things (hence the red sky pic from a few days ago.) Thanks for hosting @LiseWorks even though I didn‘t finish any books I was inspired to make a lot of progress.

My first #BookspinBingo board for 2026. I‘m working to regain my attention span and motivation this year.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) Joyful to leave 2025 in the past. Optimistic for 2026.
2) A 6 day weekend with quality time to visit with my parents and play many, many games and take long walks
3) Watched fireworks from my porch in my pjs at midnight
4) New phone with a new camera - big difference between 8 and 17!
5) Rode the Ferris wheel at National Harbor- something I‘ve wanted to do for years

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

September is not a month I would like to revisit, but I did like this middle grade book set in 1980‘s Delaware.

Day 3 #Welcome2026Readathon / Day 1 #26For26

Haven‘t finished any books yet, but added another to my stack of books in progress 🤷‍♀️

@Blerdgal_Fenix Keia I love this so much. Such a pretty presentation. And you did a great job because I was just looking at this book earlier today.

Everyone check out Keia‘s Blind Date With A Book shop!

www.etsy.com/shop/quillsandteacups

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

August and September were not good months for me personally, and it shows in my reading because I didn‘t rate anything above 4 stars. Reading about dinosaurs with #Naturalitsy was a good distraction though so this is my pick from August.

If you think, from this prelude, that anything like a romance is preparing for you, reader, you never were more mistaken. Do you expect passion, and stimulus, and melodrama? Calm your expectations; reduce them to a lowly standard.

You can‘t scare me Brontë! #HashtagBrigade #WeveSeenItAll #BoringKindleCover @BarkingMadRead

My StoryGraph wrap up is here! My reading was all over the place in 2025. Hopefully I can devote more time to quiet reading in 2026.

Day 2 - Since I like to party I decided to spend my reading time this morning deep cleaning my fridge instead of catching up on reading. I did start the audiobook for Sunrise on the Reaping though. #Welcome2026Readathon

Happy New Year! I have so appreciated you all this year, but did you have to post so many good books in your year end round ups? How will I ever read them all???

My first and last reads from 2025. Two books from ToB lists.

I think I finally have my #BookSpinBingo list together for January. I‘ll tag the titles in the comments.

I had a good reading month in December, but pretty much switched from my TBR to mood reads halfway through the month. Basically I‘ve been living off cookies and novels for two weeks. Looking forward to getting back to normal in 2026. At least I did read my book spin and double spin.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

Another perfect summer read that takes me back to long nights on my porch in July. This book was written in the 90‘s but sadly it talks about a lot of the things we still struggle with now. I‘d like to listen to it on audio someday because I could hear the voices very strongly as I read.

An excellent audiobook, and a great choice for last read of the year. I loved all of the letters and the book reference. I will probably listen to this again before #WinterCampLitsy

#ToB26 long list (and though I love it I forgive them for not putting it on the short list.)

@hooked_on_books @barbarabb @chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes @chaoticmissadventures @bkclubcare @deblovestoread @merelybookish @ChaoticMissAdventures

In no particular order, my top 12 from 2025 ( assuming I don‘t finish any more today.)

Day 1 of #Welcome2026Readathon went well despite having to work. It helped that there were only two of us in and I had plenty of audiobook time. Hoping tomorrow is the same.

Picture is “The Awakening” at National Harbor.

Gah, I need to know what happens and my headphones are down to 20%! Come on little guys just get me to the end and then you can charge!

Ramona really was a little brat in this one huh? These audiobooks read by Stockard Channing are balm to my soul. #192025 1955 @Librarybelle

Good morning! Back to work for me today, but I did take advantage of the slower pace of late December to read some ghost stories and noir from the December holidays. Hoping to finish these two books before midnight tomorrow.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

For me this was a perfect summer read. I can feel the warmth of my front porch in June just thinking about it.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

Novels in verse aren‘t my norm, but I read this for #RiseUpReads and ended up loving it.

Just finished an epic game of train dominoes with my parents and kids in which I did not come in last for once. Now I‘m settling in to read and drink mint tea. I don‘t go back to work until Tuesday so I‘m nice and relaxed tonight. #hyggehour

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

This was just a fun book. Plus I always give bonus points to books about non political people living in and around Washington, DC.

Low pick. This series is either starting to jump the shark or Louise Penny has her finger on the pulse of what is going to happen between the US and Canada. Who knows these days. Either way this was not the hopeful cozy mystery I was looking for and it took me a long time to read. Also one nitpick- I can‘t believe so many educated people including a librarian wouldn‘t know the story line to Animal Farm.

My favorite read from March and perhaps my favorite from the year was Beautyland. #12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

It brings me joy to listen to this audiobook around Christmas. I just love the thought of the whole world watching something amazing. I prefer the audiobook for this one because the ending has recordings from the mission including the astronauts reading from Genesis on Christmas Day.

I‘m kicking off the day with leftover soup for breakfast and still reading the latest Louise Penny. It‘s my daughter‘s 15th so I can‘t read for long, but hopefully I‘ll get a few chapters in.

Look what my husband‘s aunt gave me. Yes the one who always interrupts me to say “Do you actually like reading? Isn‘t it boring?” I feel so seen. Also a few bookish gifts from friends. No books from my immediate family because they actually have to live with me and my hoard 🤣

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) this bowl of candy has been making me smile. The foil looks so festive and reminds me of childhood
2) indoor fockey season in full swing. I love this sport so much if my daughter ever quits I will still go to the games.
3) pics of uncles doing uncle stuff on FB
4) driving around to see the lights with the huz
5) beautiful sunset last night

Bonus: my Litsy friends. How would I survive without you?

Anyone in for a New Year‘s Readathon?

Join me for #26in26 - the aim is to read 26 hours, 26 chapters, 26 pages, whatever works for you!

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

A modern classic that was so scarily predictive of the present. A re-read for me.

One last piece of cake before I put on my stretchy pants and retire to the couch with my mystery. The chocolate almond cake I made from Julia Child‘s book was amazing even if I couldn‘t get it out of the pan.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

My favorite from January- this book surprised me (in a good way.)

Have a great day everyone. We are packing up the car since the in laws decided to host after my husband laid down the law 😂 Fine by me!