My first book recorded in my new reading journal, Anne Bogel‘s My Reading Life. I bought this as a Kindle Daily Deal in 2014 after hearing so much good buzz about it and finally read it when my book club chose it as a bonus pick. Lucky me, the sequel just came out in June. Unlike those who read and loved this when it first came out, I didn‘t have to wait 8 long years. So happy to be able to stay in this world a bit longer.

It‘s been a long time since I‘ve had a one ⭐️ read. So this wins something from me 😂 and the cover is pretty. Oh, and it was a quick (albeit painful) read. But the contents-just no. Using the same character and place names does not a retelling make. And for me, even putting that aspect aside, it just wasn‘t a good book/story. Plenty of people loved it tho‘ so it will do just fine despite my opinion. Reader, I hated it. 🤷🏻‍♀️👎🏻

Playing Unread Book Bingo and finally getting to this 2019 BOTM pick. Hoping to get a few of my personal backlist into “have read” status this week.

It took me awhile to get into this one. Long past Nancy Pearl‘s Rule of 50. And had I not read and loved Deacon King Kong first, this might have been a DNF. But I stuck with it and now I‘m IN. Looking forward to the Showtime adaptation on 10/4.

Are you Readathoning this weekend? I‘m trying to get through my stack of unread BOTM selections and the Reverse Readathon gave me the perfect opportunity to hit this one from my 6/19 box. Reading poolside on a hot August day is working with this book just fine. So is the Spotify playlist created from the chapter titles, each a popular song from the novel‘s time period.

NOT what I expected going in, but really good. My full review is on Insta. Too wordy for Litsy (and unusually wordy for me 🙃) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCuvpDgPLR/

Current reads. Coincidentally all nonfiction. Also reading The Madwoman and the Roomba.

Such a fun BOOK! I am halfway through and it loving this one so far. Deceptively easy and breezy. This one has TEETH. And is EXACTLY how I like my books. 🤞🏻that the second half is as good as the first.

Readathon in full swing and the Hour 2 prompt is Genuine. That word fits most of the books in this screenshot from my Kindle app but especially applies to my current read. Samantha Irby‘s collection of essays is the very definition of the word. I have her new collection on deck for when I finish this one. Are you Readathoning today? #deweys24hourreadathon #readathon #Deweysreadathon #Deweys.

This has been in the TBR for a looonnng time-since BEA Chicago in 2016 (!!) and I just haven‘t read it yet. It felt like a good one for these days of sheltering in place. My reading has definitely takes a hit with all that‘s going on, but I‘m really hoping to lose myself in this one.

I am definitely an overthinker. About just about everything. So I‘m really looking forward to this book-I can say I didn‘t think twice about buying the flowers at Costco 🌸 🌺 🌸

I put a library hold for this back in July. Once it came out, I listened to the conversations surrounding it and decided to go ahead & read it for myself. I really liked it. I am happy to be able to participate in the conversation. I‘m also glad that I‘ve already read authors like Yuri Herrera, Jennifer Clement, & Luis Alberto Urrera. For me, the really important conversation this book sparked is about the issues in the publishing industry.

Happy New Year, Litsy friends! Starting the new year with a classic. Franny was my last read of 2019. Zooey and I are starting the new year/decade together. And I learned that today is J.D. Salinger‘s birthday so I‘m especially digging that bit of bookish serendipity. For a number of reasons, 2019 was a slow and off reading year for me. Hoping to pick it up for 2020. Happy reading, friends!

I know there are many who reread this classic every Christmas. For me, it‘s my first time, after a few starts and stops as a young reader. I‘m really enjoying it so far and looking forward to the movie. Reviewer Richard Roeper called it one if the best movies of the year.

This book is spectacular and the audio is a real treat. The intro and epilogue are read by Sir Elton himself and the rest by actor Taron Egerton, who portrayed him in Rocketman. One of the biggest music superstars in the world, EJ comes across as humble and appreciative of those who helped him achieve such extraordinary success. I‘m also reading this on the page so I didn‘t miss a single word. Truly one if the best memoirs I‘ve ever read 💯🌟👏🏻

I‘ve been reading reading lots of non-fiction lately; honestly not intentionally although it has worked well with Non-Fiction November. This seemed like a fun choice to get back into fiction books. A bit of book serendipity in that the last fiction book I read was Ann Patchett‘s The Dutch House and this book is dedicated, in part, to Ann Patchett.

First cup of coffee and first book of the weekend. And it just happens to be Readathon Weekend! I won‘t be able to get in 24 hours but every minute that isn‘t committed to something else (like my daughter‘s Homecoming festivities (school didn‘t get the memo that this is a bad weekend for me 🤣)) will be spent reading. Are you participating in @DeweysReadathon ?

I chose this as a BOTM selection back on 2017. Finally getting to it as it was chosen for a book club read. So good!

This was my follow-up read to Hill House. I loved reading about SJ raising kids in rural Vermont in the 40s and 50s. I was surprised by how relatable I found it, raising my own kids 60 years later and in a new century-and of course, some things are very different-10 days in the hospital after a normal uncomplicated birth?! (And the reason, per SJ, why some opted for baby #3- all that uninterrupted rest! 😂) I ordered the sequel, Raising Demons.

Happy October, Litsy friends! 💀 🎃 👻 🍂

Chicago has a new bookstore! The sister team behind Volumes in Wicker Park just opened this beautiful new spot on the Magnificent Mile. Whether you live here or you‘re just visiting, add this one to your list. There‘s no cafe in the store itself but right next door is a fabulous food court with all kinds of eats and drinks. One floor up is the cozy Bar & Book spot when you can settle in with your new books. Pro-tip: validated parking $7 after 5.

I‘m almost halfway through and not getting all the love for this one. It‘s disjointed in a way that doesn‘t really work, it‘s written in way that comes across to me as self conscious and not as clever as it thinks it is. Many readers I respect loved it but I‘m close to making this a DNF.

THIS is why I read. Unflipping believable. All the stars 🌟 ⭐️ ✨ all the ❤️ 💕 💗 Notes: I think this would fab on audio...lyrical, poetic..BUT...there‘s a visual aspect to this book, much like Lincoln In The Bardo. So if you do this on audio (and I might as a reread) take a look at the physical presentation. This reminded me a lot of The Bone Clocks and Slade House. Sad that this didn‘t make the Man Booker shortlist.

This week‘s NYT By the Book interview is with the legendary Patti Smith. I LOVE Yuri Herrera and love that she talks about Kingdom Cons, which she read and loved, and the blurbed book, that she is taking on tour with her. I am going to see her next week-ah, how I wish we could discuss these books together! https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/books/review/patti-smith...

The first time I read this little book, I posted about a contemporaneous experience with serendipity, which Amy loved as much as I do. I‘m listening to the audio now (which is wonderful) and got to this part. Not 20 minutes before, I read an article about the 25th anniversary of Shawshank 😮 Image from the PDF that accompanies the audiobook.

I read this on paper and loved it but listening to her read these words, written entirely before she was diagnosed with the ovarian cancer that would take her life at 51, is something else. If you haven‘t read her Modern Love column, You May Want to Marry My Husband, you should. But have the Kleenex ready before you start. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/style/modern-love-you-ma...

I loved Grief is the Thing With Feathers so I have high hopes for this one, long-listed for the Man Booker this year. Many tiny books made it home with me from the library today. I should be able to read them all three weeks. Puzzle and ornament shown here for @RaimeyGallant ❤️

Current read.

Finally getting to this one, which I bought as an Audible Daily Deal years ago, because my bookstore started a non-fiction bookclub and its the August pick. I read (and loved) From Here to Eternity, and this is great so far as well. I love her narration. Just learned she has a new one coming out next month, which I‘ll tag below. I‘m already on the library hold list for it. I just love the way she writes about death and its aftermath 💀

I picked up this puzzle on Independent Bookstore Day; it felt fitting to start piecing it together on National Book Lovers Day. I‘m finding it very helpful that I am familiar with every book and author in the puzzle. I‘ve read 13 of the 23 books illustrated. I think it will be a fun challenge to read the rest. Bonus-the puzzle comes with a frameable print of the finished product. Really had a great night working on this with my dh and daughter.

Lots going on this weekend (a burger for breakfast gives an idea of the kind of night I had (late night Lollapalooza after-show)) so I‘m going to get only one book finished for the #reversereadathon. So far, I‘m liking this book much more than I thought it would. For some reason I thought I‘d hate it and was avoiding it like the plague but book club got me to finally pick it up. @DeweysReadathon

This place has a READING CABIN??!!!! I am SOOOOO in!!!!

A book set in an east coast beach town felt uber appropriate for reading while on vacation in an east coast beach town (I‘m about 150 miles straight south of where this book takes place). I haven‘t read historical fiction in awhile and so far I‘m really enjoying this story. Coincidentally, this is my third St Martin Press book in a row. 🏖

This seems to be the book of summer. I think it will go down quick but probably not quick enough to finish before book club tomorrow night 🤷🏻‍♀️🙃

I loved the Springsteen book from this great series of kids‘ books. Fresh off of a Stones‘ show a couple of weeks ago, it feels like the perfect time to read this one. This cover is fantastic 😂😍

I still get giddy like a kid on Christmas morning when I receive an ARC, but I hate to admit I have a pretty bad track record for reading them prior to their pub date. I took this one with on a weekend getaway (I always bring at least one print book on vacay, even though the Kindle is fully stocked) and I‘m really enjoying it so far. Definitely some debut author vibes but overall I‘m having a good time at the Chelmsford Arms in NYC.

I downloaded this after finishing Normal People, which didn‘t blow me away. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ s for that one, which was long listed for the Man Booker. I‘m not loving this one, her debut, either but I do like it more so far than Normal People. And it‘s yet another book in my no-fly reading zone-things happening to teenagers/young adults. I‘m really on a tear with those, my usual avoid-at-all-costs books 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

After taking a several month break, I ordered three books from #BOTM this month. Starting this one now for a book club on Tuesday.

I love Jim Crace‘s writing so I snagged these two today while I was at the Printer‘s Row Lit Fest in Chicago. The hardcover is a really cool looking Franklin Library edition of two of James Cain‘s most famous novellas (so really two books for the price of one 🙃). I stayed under budget and stayed dry, too-the called for rain held off during my visit.

This book was just what I needed. A fun easy reading palate cleanser (that I may or may not have downloaded during legal education seminar 🤷🏻‍♀️) I started it yesterday and it went down quick. I love that the last chapter is dated the same day I finished the book. Bookish serendipity at its finest. Looking forward to the sequel, coming out in July.

I‘m very much a Libra, weighing options ad nauseum & sometimes deciding to just not decide 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 I have *4* credits because I‘m a chronic skipper. I just can‘t make up my mind! I went all out this month & ordered 3 😛 The blurbed book because I missed my Overdrive hold 😑 and it‘s the June pick for one of my books clubs, Elin H‘s new one for an upcoming beach vacay and The Golden Hour because I love historical fiction. What did you pick? #BOTM

Taking advantage of some beautiful outdoor reading weather, which we haven‘t had much of in Chicago this spring ☹️ Feeling very meta sipping this Dragon Drink while reading about the Targaryens and their dragons 🔥🐉 👑

I wasn‘t ready to leave this world behind when the series ended last week, so I picked up volume one of the 2-part Targaryens in Westeros history. I love the way GRRM just takes me into this world with his writing. The illustrations are gorgeous. And, along with the tale, definitely give context to things that happened in this last season 🔥 🐉

Spent this Mother‘s Day moving our daughter to her summer dorm. Found a couple of snippets to down time to read a few of these fun and funny essays. Bless my heart.

Cinco de Mayo vibes. 📚🍷🇲🇽

This was the last book I picked up at BEA 2016. I HAD to have it and I COULDN‘T WAIT to read it. Fast forward to 2019 and I still haven‘t read it 🙄 But I did hear the delightful and charming author speak tonight about this book, (and his first, The Rules of Civility) his inspirations and writing process. This book is going to be adapted into a multi-episode television show with Kenneth Branagh as the Count. I‘d better get to it!

Indie Bookstore Day 2019 is in the books! Christmas in April indeed for book lovers. And in Chicago, we had a winter wonderland to go with that vibe. @seebiscan and I hit 11 stores together, and then I went on to four more. Because....why not? New books, used books, classics, books about books, bookish stuff-I brought home a little of everything. Did you do Independent Bookstore Day?

Good morning, Litsy! Full immersion game on for this one. Hardback at home ✅ Full cast audiobook (Jennifer Beal! Benjamin Bratt!) ✅ Kindle edition for on-the-go reading ✅ Daisy Jones & The Six Spotify playlist downloaded ✅ #botm #bookandcoffee #morningreading

Morning reading. Trying to make substantial progress before book club tonight. Pulled me right in-this is one I never would have picked up on my own. Yay for book clubs! #morningreading #bookandcoffee #bookclub @seebiscan

Hey, Litsy, who else is readathoning today? For a number of reasons, I‘ve had a terrible last few weeks of (not) reading. I started these back in December and still haven‘t finished them. My big goal today is to finally get these marked as read. #deweysreadathon