Final (I think) January stat post. I love all of Storygraph‘s features.

Thanks to @CSeydel and @Catsandbooks for posting brackets for 2025. Since each will pit a different book one against another I decided to do both and see what happens.

#BookspinBingo #January

15 books and 4 Bingos although I have split #HashtagBrigades Lark Rise to Candleford into its three separate book publications rather than counting the trilogy as one unit to get there.

@TheAromaofBooks

#ISpyBingo #January

Not too bad for my first time. Using StoryGraph to keep track of which books had which prompts. 20/25 with 3 bingos. Hope to clear the board in February.

@TheAromaofBooks

#LiteraryCrew

Chapter a day reading seems to be working for me right now. I‘ve broken down the tagged book into one or two daily chapters to see if I‘m more successful with my second attempt of reading Vilette. Thought I‘d share my plan in case others want to try that approach.

@Librarybelle

#WeeklyFavorite

Really loved the tagged book. Phoebe has decided her life is sh*t and there is nothing left to live for. As her plans get waylaid she is given a chance to find her true self. Great book!

@Read4life

#TBRTarot

Final finish for January. Set in Leavenworth WA during winter ski season. It is always feels like being home when I settle into this series. I needed that.

Minor pet peeve rant: Ellie this sentence is so unnecessary. “Little did I know our safe village might not end up being that space.” You write cozy murder mysteries. We KNOW your otherwise idyllic town is Not a safe space. There have been 6 murders to date. 😂

@CBee

#JanuaryChallengeWrapUp

My first time participating in #WickedWords :
1) Revelation pg. 4 - 3) The Girl From the Grand Hotel pg. 308 - 2) The Mysterious Affair at Styles pg. 178 - 4) Revelation pg. 9 - 5) TGFTGH pg. 18. @AsYouWish

#Roll100 2 out of 5 @PuddleJumper

#ReadYourKindle 1 out of 4 @CBee

Chapter a day reading is really working for me right now. Lots of starts and stops trying to fit my mood.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jov8AdRTXdVkXs2Xt38Jm?si=94rpu7QBQRW2cSzwlV1J...

1 - 5 Litsy and Pippin

The link is to the Resistance playlist I compiled on Spotify. I know not everyone has it and I‘d be happy to create a word document and email it so you can add to your platform‘s playlist. I‘m also happy to add to this one. Thanks to everyone for your contributions. If I forget you in my tag list I‘m sorry! 🩷❤️🩷

#ThreeListThursday

18 seems to be my sweet spot.

Favorites:

Tagged
Homegoing
Kindred

TBR:

A Fine Balance
The God of Small Things
Kafka on the Shore

Least favorite:

Housekeeping (unpopular opinion)

@dabbe

#ReadYourKindle #February

@CBee

#Roll100 #BOTMEdition

@PuddleJumper

#Roll100 #NonfictionEdition

@PuddleJumper

#BookspinBingo.

Keeping the same plan for February. Loosy goosy seems to be working.

@TheAromaofBooks

#TuesdayTunes

My positive action today is building a resistance playlist because music always helps. Hit me with your favorites, as many as you got.

https://youtu.be/OIT0ucf_gys?si=5kBZiNOsZWHljNJ2

Link is to The Killers Land of the Free video. Not an easy watch but important.

@TieDyeDude

Sorry, I know this should not be a political space but please see Oregon senator Ron Wyden‘s post about Medicaid, etc. I was going to get rid of Meta because MZ but maybe I need to keep it as a place to express my anger. I promise to stay away from politics here in the future.

#MentalHealthMonday

I was doing pretty good yesterday. We had a family dinner Sunday night to celebrate hubby‘s birthday and that good feeling lasted until I saw reports of ICE being in our town and the next one over. These were citizen posts and vitriol that came out was disturbing. I haven‘t found any concrete info to verify validity yet.

This morning woke up to mass firings at my husband‘s company. The manufacture metals and EM & Space X ⬇️

#BookReport

The tagged book is a light pick. I loved most of this book but there is a part that didn‘t move the story forward that I didn‘t think was needed and the ending was weak. There are some good nuggets in The Things You Can See.

#WeeklyForecast

I‘ve just started Black Woods and it‘s getting a bit weird. Also just started Wintering. Loving Wedding People. Sense & Sensibility is lovely as always.

#WeeklyFavorites

A lovely listen with nuggets on ways to live a more joyful life. Loved it.

@Read4life

#5JoysFriday

1) Mariann Edgar Budde. If she can speak out as she did so can we.
2) The clips of Josh Johnson‘s comedy is a light in the darkness
3) Miranda‘s book was a lovely listen
4) Pippin all the time
5) All the little pieces of resistance that bolster and invigorate

Side note: I‘m going to be deactivating/deleting all Meta accounts. I don‘t know how much I‘ll be on BlueSky but I have the same handle there.

@DebinHawaii

#ThreeListThursday

Not too many for me. I didn‘t click the Phillip Roth book. I read a few waaaaay back in the day but have no memory if it was one I‘d read. I have read all the Atwood listed but none of the Morrison which I need to rectify. I was shocked to see the tagged book on this list. A book I liked but didn‘t love. I‘m curious why it‘s on an AP list.

Faves:

All the Light We Cannot See
The Color Purple
East of Eden

@dabbe

#WeirdWordWednesday

Sorry for the language but this is definitely a word. I‘m feeling it every day.

@CBee

Image from IG

It is obvious that the author fully researched the time and places of Philadelphia‘s life. Unfortunately, for me, too little actual evidence remains to build a true picture of her subject. She has conjured an appealing portrait of Philadelphia and those of her acquaintance but there‘s not enough substance in my opinion to feel I now know about Jane Austen‘s Remarkable Aunt.

#NetGalley #Arc

#MentalHealthMonday

I‘m not turning on my TV today. I have done a few chores while listening to the tagged book. It is a good reminder about finding joy, the importance of play and being out in nature among other things. We have sunshine today so will take Pippin out for a walk in a bit and then a cup of tea while reading. Chili and cornbread for dinner.

@Kerrbearlib Thank you for this especially today! 💙🩵💙

#MLKDay

Kalen Allen (@thekalenallen) posted this on Instagram. Thought some of you might need this as much as I did and do. ✊🏼

In memory of @sharread I will be listening to the tagged book. She had the first one of the Murderbot series on her TBR. I think she would have liked it.

#sharreadathon #LitsyLove #RIP

#BookReport

Finished Girl in a Pink Dress 5 🌟. Keeping upon group reads. DNF‘d Hester, it‘s me not the book.

#WeeklyForecast

Just started The Fury, meh so far. Love being back with the Dashwoods in Sense & Sensibility. About half way through Miranda‘s memoir about living with chronic illness. Enjoying it! I loved her character in Call the Midwife and laughed so hard I cried when watching her sitcom. Next up audio will be The Wedding People.

#WeeklyFavorite

Fairly short but great read. Audio was good.

@Read4life

#NetGalley #ARC

I finished this cozy mystery on December 31 and forgot to post my review. Edie has suffered a lot of loss in her life and as a result has closed herself off to most people. When a murderer draws her in to his plans she tries to protect her police inspector nephew and figure the puzzle out on her own. I enjoyed this quite a bit even though the MC is hard to like.

It is grey and cold here. Love Fridays to remind me of all the good things.

1) A warm house and a lap full of puppy.
2) Sunday dinner at Mongolian grill with both my kids.
3) A stop at B & N where some books found a new home.
4) Hubby descaled my Kuerig. Since he doesn‘t drink coffee it‘s a labor of love and maybe self preservation. 😂
5) In a bit of a slump but staying on task with daily reading with groups and journaling.

Thanks Deb!

I LOVED this book! My first 5 🌟 read of 2025. Thank you Allissa @LapReader for putting this on your #AuldLangSpine list. I might never have heard about it otherwise. Thanks @CarolynM and @LeeRHarry for letting me know it‘s not to be missed. Quiet Francis reflects back on her life as a first year art student who falls for her charismatic art teacher.

Thanks for the giveaway opportunity @wanderinglynn Hope your birthday is filled with delight 🎂

The tagged book has lots of great reviews and is one I‘m looking forward to reading.

#49bdaygiveaway

#WeeklyForecast

I‘ve managed to keep up with all my daily reading so far. Lark Rise isn‘t what I thought it would be. Glad it‘s a chapter a day only. Loving all the other buddy reads.

Just started the Connolly (my first of his) so far I like where I think it‘s going. Also not too far into Girl in a Pink Dress but liking it. Still need to start The Fox Wife.

#WeeklyFavorite

Couldn‘t put it down.

@Read4life

The 4th in the Matthew Shardlake series and my favorite so far. I intended to only read the January section but was drawn in and couldn‘t stop. I have lots of thoughts and hope I can remember them when time to discuss. 4.5 🌟. @dabbe

#BookedinTime #TheTudors @Cuilin

#5JoysFriday

1) Pippin‘s leg is healed!
2) We‘ve had a few afternoons of blue sky and sunshine this week, almost Spring like. And a beautiful sunset.
3) NetGalley approved me for the new Donoghue 🎉
4) Lunch and a new to me quilt store with my friend on Tuesday
5) Grocery order is in for pick up so I can have a coffee & stitching date this afternoon with another friend.

Share your joy! Taking the time to reflect on my week is 🥰

A nice addition to Molly‘s story as she navigates her relationship with Juan Manuel and her job at the Regency Grand Hotel. 3 🌟

#NetGalley

Book 2/175

I really liked this short audio book and the messages portrayed. I think it would be an excellent book for a family to read together. I‘m rarely a fan of short stories but these worked for me. Read for #LiteraryCrew discussion 1/20. #52Bookclub25 #MultipleNarratorsAudiobook 3 squares #JanuaryISpy

@Read4life @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks

Thank you Kerri! So excited for the book and chocolates. I may be having a piece now with my morning coffee. Yum! @Kshakal

Thank you @bookish_wookish for hosting this swap. ❤️

#WeeklyForecast

I have missed posting a weekly forecast so decided to start again with the new year. Hoping it helps keep me on track a bit with so many things going on.

#12DaysofChristmas

Tagged was my favorite of December. Highly recommend this fun holiday read.

@Andrew65

#ChristieCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

It‘s been a while since I‘ve read Agatha and this first outing has reminded me how much I loved her books.

#52BookClub25 #TitleStartswithM
#192025 #1920
#ISpyBingo 8 squares

@Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks

#ReadYourKindle

I‘ll definitely be reading the tagged book as it works for #AuthorAMonth as well.

Thanks @CBee

2024 #BookSpinWrap Up

Not my best year but 21 out of 24 and 34 bingos isn‘t too bad.

Thanks to @TheAromaofBooks for continuing to host one of my favorite challenges. 🩵💙🩵

#5JoysFriday

1) Pippin wasn‘t fazed by the fireworks!
2) My son with my niece‘s dog Asoka
3) My dad shared his diary entry of the day I was born yesterday.
4) Started my journaling journey on the first.
5) Litsy always! 💙🩵💙

@DebinHawaii

Some final 2024 stats for challenges.

#AtoZ : missed X and Y.

#AuldLangSpine: 8 read with a few more I hope to get tackle this year

#Booked in Time: 5 out of 12 is not great. Hope to do better this year.

#ReadYourKindle: 28 read which is great. We won‘t talk about how many took their place.

#SeriesLove24 86! Finished a couple, caught up on a couple and made progress/started others.

Thanks to all the hosts for the work they do!

#12DaysofChristmas

I really enjoyed this novel of when Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan collided.

@Andrew65

My final #WeeklyFavorites for 2024.

Fourth Wing and the tagged book were both a great way to wrap up a reading year.

@Read4life

#12DaysofChristmas

Another good book I might have missed out on if not for Litsy. This one was a #SundayBuddyRead with @TheBookHippie

@Andrew65

Thanks for a FANTASTIC #Wintergames @StayCurious @LiseWorks #TeamXmasChaCha and team #HolidayBookDragons.