What are you reading on this lovely Sunday evening? ☀️🤓

I've been studying epistemology in my class this semester and I've been looking for books to help me understand it better. I added this book to my ThriftBooks cart two days ago, and then I surreptitiously found it at the library book sale yesterday! It's annotated and I'm enjoying not only reading Russell's writings, but also the scribblings of the previous owner who was also trying to make sense of it all.

This was a lovely little book about how gardens (both real and those depicted in art) shape one's life. I have about a quarter acre of land that is an absolute mess right now, and it was nice to read stories about people with beautiful gardens who also struggled to find their green thumb. I made pinterest boards and added lots of suggestions to my TBR that I can refer back to as I begin my work this spring!

I picked this book up at the library sale this morning. I've been hoping to find some inspiration to get started on my yard this year. 🌸☀️

Ugh, BookTok has failed me again. This one was just too slow-paced and shallow for my liking. The idea is great, just not executed well at all. Why am I getting the perspective of a 12 year old who understands nothing when there are hundreds of thousands of women who literally transformed into mythical beasts?? They just disappeared and I don't get to know more about them?? It read more like chick lit than fantasy. 😬

Alternating between giving belly rubs and holding my book. Every time I remove my hand to turn the page, I'm met with little grumbles of protest.

Mars Bars turns 3 years old today! I can't imagine life without her, and sometimes I'm sure the reason we moved to Nebraska was to be in the right place at the right time when she needed adopting. She's just been the most perfect addition to the family you could imagine.

Book and dinner: I threw a few handfuls of spinach into my usual red sauce with turkey pasta, and it turned out so good!

I'm almost done with book one in the Farseer trilogy. I definitely liked the Liveship trilogy better because of the pacing & POVs, but this is still a great read.

Okay, I finished Babel and I have some mixed feelings. I loved the dark academia vibes of 1830s Oxford and I felt like the topics of anticolonialism, racism, sexism, and classism were handled well. I just don't think this book needed to be a fantasy. The magic elements are cool, but they feel forced in some respects. I almost wish it had just been a dark historical thriller.
I'm going to add some more thoughts in comments with the spoiler tag.

My book haul just came in the mail! I think I'm going to read this new translation of The Iliad next. 🤔

I just got the news that I have another snow day tomorrow! Friday will *likely* be my only work day this week. I'm very much so appreciating the extra time to read and get stuff done around the house and work the shop.

P.s. notice the Corgi ears?

She showed up twenty minutes early with a full face of make up, bleach blonde hair, and heels on. I showed up five minutes early with mascara, a hoodie, and my natural hair in a claw clip.

I told her to stop panicking about every moment and trust her instincts. I told her we're married to the guy we started dating at 16 and we're ridiculously happy. I reminded her that being her true self will never be the wrong choice.

@Texreader 🤍🤍

My sweet little reading buddy 🥺

Started this one & so far, I love it! I'm realizing that fantasy *has* to be told in the 3rd person for me to enjoy it. I was happy to see that this one is.

Cozied up & ready for bedtime stories 🐶

#BookandBreakfast of banana pancakes & bacon on this fine snow day! I read the first chapter of Assassin's Apprentice before bed last night and it very well be my favorite first chapter I've ever read. I got immediately sucked in and I cannot wait to read more about Fitz.

I have a snow day tomorrow! 4 to 6 inches are supposed to accumulate over night. I'm SO looking forward to a bonus day off this week so I can curl up with a book and finally recover from this bug. 🤧📚🤍

I had to share some emails I got from students earlier today. For context, I teach 8th graders. 😂 The poor kids, I had to take 3 sick days and they had a different sub each day.

Going on sick day number 🖐🤧. I've taken 3 days off from work so I feel like I have to go in tomorrow even though I could probably use a few more days in my couch cocoon. This suuuucks. Thankfully the book is pretty cute.

I'm basically reading the Realm of the Elderlings series in Star Wars order. I breezed through books 4, 5, & 6, and now I'm going back to 1, 2, & 3! I LOVED The Liveship Traders, but I feel like I would've loved Ship of Destiny *that* much more if I'd gotten the references to the elderling cities. Oh no, is that an excuse to go back and re-read it?! Darn!

Aaand I'm laid up in bed with a flare up that feels like the flu, so I'm diving right into this cozy little fantasy. 💜

Just read this is one sitting! It was a very quick read for being kind of slow paced? My husband has been recommending it to me since it came out but it just never sounded like something I'd vibe with. That said, I enjoyed the mystery and how it all came together at the end. It's one I'll definitely think about for a while.

Wow! 3 books put me at 10% of my annual reading goal. I opted for a page goal this time so I'd feel less trepidation when picking up my chunkier books, and for some reason this is motivating for me.

Diving into this one tonight 🤓

Blacked out at the book sale today 🤪📚 📚

Kind of a random book haul today, but I feel like I hit the jackpot with these finds! I especially love finding stories from my childhood that I loved. My mom used to subscribe to indie children's book publishers who would mail us books every month and I also had a lot of hand-me-down books from my sister, so finding any of those titles again is super fun. 🤍

Has anyone found their way over to Substack yet? I'm still figuring out how it works, but I made my first post! I plan on treating it like a book blog with longer form content. I'll follow anyone back who finds me over there. 🤗

https://open.substack.com/pub/rachelrencher?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&...

The magic in this trilogy is god tier. The story is fast-paced & the multiple POVs are used skillfully to keep the pace quick and build the world. The political turmoil makes me wonder if the author is clairvoyant. Also, there are the coolest fucking dragons ever written. I could go on and on. Read this trilogy.

"Put that book down and scritch me or I'll shove my snoot in your book. You've been reading for 7 hours straight, mom. ?" -Winston, probably

I know there's still so many Brandon Sanderson books that I need to get, but I finally got them all organized on one shelf! They're not in reading order...don't @ me. 😂
I thought snow days were supposed to be restful but so far today I recaulked my bath/shower, rearranged ALL my bookshelves that have been double stacked and messy AF for almost 2 years now, hired a carpenter for some work that's been needing done, and cleaned house. 🤪

One of the things that I love most about this book is the naming of the characters. There are names suited very well to the fantasy genre like Althea, Keffria, Malta, Grag, Wintrow, and Brashen to name a few. Then there's Kyle. And yes, Kyle sucks as a person. He's the absolute worst. His name stands out among the rest like a sore thumb and I think it's by design maybe? Idk, but I think it's hilarious.

The world building in this series is insane. I'm enjoying every second of it. 🐉⛵️🏴‍☠️🩸

Today's book haul! I guess I was really feeling the nonfiction titles this time. 📚

Ooooh my first book of 2025 was a GOOD one! I'm diving right into book two. 🏴‍☠️

I rearranged my living room and it's sooo cozy now 🥰

My birthday present to Lucas for his 31st birthday next week 🎉 If you haven't seen this author's work, check it out.

Bilbo has a little writing desk 🥺

Merry Christmas!! Lucas and I will be spending the next few days watching the LotR movies & putting together Rivendell. 😍

I'm officially on winter break! I went to the 8th grade teacher secret Santa party last night, I finished grades this morning, and now I'm DONE for two weeks! Time to dive into a new series. 🤓

Today's book haul! 📚

Listening to this ✨️mahvelous✨️ audiobook while I work the bookshop today. 📚🤍

This is the only acceptable amount of whipped cream to put on pumpkin pie, end of discussion. 🥧

Happy Saturday ? Thank you for all the birthday wishes last week! I turned 29 and celebrated with a trip to the bookstore and one too many espresso martinis. ?Our house is cleared out from all the festivities and Thanksgiving guests, and I can say we successfully hosted for the first time! Now I'm ready to cozy up with an interesting new book while all the dishes still "soak". ?

Brandon Sanderson is an author that will continue to surprise me. The world building in this book was so incredibly well done that I cannot stop thinking about it and picturing it from every angle in my brain. I want to go visit Design's noodle shop, just once, and peer out on the hion lines while eavesdropping on the painters. Ugh, I loved this so so much. 💙💖

Cozy Sunday getting some work done. Corgi is supervising. Coffee needs a refill. Dreaming about what it would be like to work for the Library of Congress as all this tedium in metadata and subject analysis is proving to be quite enjoyable for me.

Went thrifting 🤍📚

Looking forward to this one #iykyk

My mood read rotation for the rest of the weekend 📚

Trying to find a space for relaxation in the midst of all the chaos I'm feeling. 🤍

Cozy bedtime reading 🥱 😴

This book was so cute. It was exactly what I needed for cozy, warm, fall vibes. 🤎