Stages of my pandemic reading:

1. hopeful stories with happy endings; everything works out in the end

2. Realistic stories that make me confront the struggles people face and the realities of the world we live in

3. Stories from the past; classics and historical fiction; stories about people who lived through things and their stories remain to make us better

4. Current stage: Give me all the fantasy; I don‘t like this world. Give me another.

I finished Conviction on audio today while sewing some baby gifts for my niece. It was a pretty solid thriller with an interesting premise.

My niece is having a baby girl in September, but they moved the baby shower to July. So, I‘m having to make quick work of the blanket I‘m making for her. Really enjoying this book on audio!

Magpie Murders started out slow for me, but now I can‘t stop listening. It makes great company as I cook tonight.

I‘ve had The Overstory on my list for ages and finally started reading it. I‘m such a dendrophile. The first chapter reminded me of a favorite tree of mine, one that I photograph in every season. It‘s beautiful in all of them.

I had to take a break from reading the tagged book after the Fenton chapter. The combo of Houston‘s stories about her dog and her optimistic celebration of earth wrecked me. After that chapter I had to go give my girls some hugs and a long walk (after I dried the tears). ❤️❤️

It was a lovely day for a walk and a fun audiobook.

All this cuteness is distracting me from my book.

I‘ve been rereading this childhood favorite. It still holds up. And it reminds me how grateful I am that there are those who can lead us into fairyland.

Early signs of spring, a warm, breezy walk, and a lighthearted audiobook: just what I needed this afternoon.

This was my first Attica Locke, and it won‘t be my last. In Bluebird, Bluebird, she creates dynamic, flawed characters firmly rooted in the places that create them, whether they like it or not. It‘s a story about race and love and hate and family. And our human desire to come home again even when it‘s against our better judgment.

My reward for finishing annual review materials today. I‘m so excited for this one! #buffy4ever #butanyaistherealhero

I haven‘t been able to decide what book I want to read next. I keep picking books up only to put them back down. But, I needed to read something on this rainy day, so I‘m rereading one of my favorites, this time In the beautiful, illustrated edition.

“She was a story, not an epilogue.”

My reading companion would rather I play with her, so she‘s going to stare at me until I cave.

Last day of teaching for the semester (grading begins next week). Fall colors and crisp air on our walk today. A new audiobook. And takeout for dinner. Not a bad day at all.

Spending today baking goodies for tomorrow and listening to an audiobook. I really love the Charlotte Holmes series. So fun!

Finally got a copy! Just in time for thanksgiving break.

My husband finally joined Litsy! Everyone give him a warm Litsy welcome. I‘ve been telling him how wonderful and encouraging and supportive our community is 😊 #LitsyWelcomeWagon

I really want to finish this book today. It‘s getting so good! But these pretty troublemakers are making it difficult to read this afternoon. 😊❤️

Help, fellow Littens! I finished Rules of Magic this morning. It was fabulous story and a perfect fall listen. I want something else to listen to for the fall season, but can‘t decide. What should I listen to next?

Louise Penny totally gets it. Dogs are the best. We really don‘t deserve them.

This series just gets better and better. I admire Louise Penny‘s ability to capture emotion, human nature, and wrap it in a mystery that drives you through the story. This book had three mysteries at its heart, and the intricate weaving took my breath away.

I got a cute little cart as an early birthday gift. I‘m still trying to decide how and in which room I want to use it, but my library books and a few TBR books have already found their new home. ❤️

#HelloThursday Fall Edition

1. Fall
2. Pumpkin pancakes
3. Corn maze
4. Once and loved it!! I wish I lived somewhere that allowed me to go picking every year. (I need to move).
5. It depends. I love pumpkin things, but not in coffee.

Since I‘m spending some time with the tagged book this afternoon, I had to use this wonderful mug @LikelyLibrarian made for me. Love it so much! ❤️

Finished listening to this while crocheting. It‘s a charming little book that reads like a love letter to books and the reading life.

Listening to this on #hoopla while trying to get my house in order. Two German shepherds make a lot of mess!

Today, we are finishing up installing our kitchen floor. These are planks entirely cut, sanded, painted, prepped and installed by me and my husband. We are so proud of them! And so ready to be done with them 😜 I‘m getting some audiobook time as we work and am loving this book so far.

I‘ve been sick today, so I curled up with one of my reading buddies and read this book. I‘ve been hearing a lot about it, especially since the release of the Netflix film. It was perfect for today when I had trouble focusing on anything too deep. It‘s a cute story, but I was honestly underwhelmed. It could have been a much shorter book, and The characters felt a bit static.

Finished this book this morning, keeping my tradition of reading a Ruth Ware novel the weekend before school starts. And , it was also the book that completed my reading challenge 😊

We ended the day by attending Salman Rushdie‘s lecture. Great day!

And Nicola Yoon! (Who is as just as sweet and charming as her books).

Loved meeting Angie Thomas!

Yesterday, I went to the Mississippi Book Festival with @LikelyLibrarian we saw some great authors and only got rained on a little 😊

I‘m reading my second Patchett novel this year and plan on visiting her back list. I don‘t know why I never really read her work before, except the cover blurbs never sounded interesting to me. All of her blurbs should just say, “this book will make you care about topics and people that you never thought much about before. Trust me. “

I‘m transitioning Mina to a twice a day feeding schedule (instead of three) since I‘ll be returning to work soon. She‘s not happy about skipping lunch. As I sit here and read, she keeps banging her dish on the floor and growling. 😂

This never happens to me. I finished a book today, and one of my holds came in early. Yay! Perfect timing.

I‘ve tried to read this one a couple of times and bailed after a few pages. This time, it sucked me in right away. 🤷‍♀️ Jemisin is skillful writer who throws you in the deep end and structures the novel in a way that makes you realize that our lives aren‘t linear. They are layers upon layers. You have to be willing to let the rich and complicated world building unfold in this one. But, it‘s not difficult to care about the dynamic characters.

My little one has has kept me busy, so I haven‘t been able to read much. But, I just started The Fifth Season. I‘ve wanted to read it for so long. It definitely throws you in the deep end from the start, but the writing is beautiful and the characters interesting. P.S. look how big Mina has gotten already! 🐾🐶❤️

I really enjoyed Final Girls, so I was excited about this new book by Riley Sager. I have a thing for summer camp stories, and this one seemed right up my alley. It was fun and at times page turnery, but it felt too long and outlandish at times. The characterization also needed some work. Still a pretty fun read and a great book to follow some heavier reads lately.

I lost the email addresses for my fellow #lmpbc Group C members (from last round), so this is the only thing I knew to do. I haven‘t received my book back yet. Has anyone heard from @aroc ? I noticed that she hasn‘t been on in a couple of weeks, but I never saw that she received or read the book. Not sure what to do 🤷‍♀️ @suvata @abbsinwonderland @BookwormAHN I enjoyed the book club and would love to see what everyone thought about the book.

I picked up a hold at the library yesterday and saw this book was available, too. I‘ve been wanting to read it. I‘m really enjoying it so far. It‘s a lovely cover, too. 💕

This is a pick. Kind of. It kept me turning the pages and was exactly what I needed to get out of a reading slump. The book also makes you think about grief, tragedy, redemption, and bravery. But, there were quite a few plot holes, the characters felt a little too flat/stereotypical. And the ending was much too tidy. But, yes to challenging the hero worship of football in the south.

Sorry I‘ve been absent from Litsy this week. I had forgotten how much work new puppies are 😊 Last weekend I finished New World Rising for #lmpbc (and will get it in the mail soon @abbsinwonderland ). Since then, I started and put down several books until I landed on the tagged book. Its short chapters make it perfect for reading during puppy naps.

I haven‘t done much reading this weekend because we welcomed home our new puppy, Mina! She‘s precious ( but I may have forgotten how much work new puppies are 😂😍🐾

I‘m spending the day reviewing possible choices for a common read with our students in the fall. These are some we are considering. Exciting!

Finished working for the day, so I‘m settling in for some afternoon reading and coffee. I‘m halfway through this #LMPBC pick. I love how many notes are in it now 😊 @abbsinwonderland @aroc @BookwormAHN

@LikelyLibrarian shared the link to this quiz and of course I had to take it. http://childrenofbloodandbone.com