I went to the library and this is my assortment for the week. I‘m going to finally finish Between Two Kingdoms (about half way), make a sweary cross stitch for my friend, and try a new recipe from Ina. Should keep me out of trouble!

These audiobooks are honestly such a comfort to me. I listened to this series during a personal rough period (health problems - my husband). Listening to them again reminds me I am a survivor.

I‘m having a lazy, post-Christmas day. Reading (and napping) with my dog close by. Good book so far!
December 27, 2024.

I‘m having a personal crisis, so this morning I decided it‘s time for round 2. I felt better after only five minutes of Kinsey. Audiobooks are great therapy. It‘s a reminder of my progress and growth too. Thank you so much, Sue Grafton and Mary Peiffer.
December 9, 2024

I like books about train trips. But this one is crazy so far….

Audiobook for my road trip. Loving it so far!
November 24, 2024

This entry has stayed with me.
November 21, 2024

Afternoon reading time under the umbrella. It‘s a beautiful day and my feet are warming in a ray of sunshine. I live for these days!
October 20, 2024

Latest reads. Really liked the cozy mystery genre and A Quiet Life was delightful. Assistant to the Villian was fun but SUCH a tease.

Starting this book in a hotel. Weekend getaway for a family birthday party!
October 6, 2024

Dinner & reading. Sloppy Joe made with lentils and topped with pickled red onion & cabbage. Ginger peach sparkling water was a winner.
September 15, 2024

Wow! This was a dense read. It took me a while to get used to the main character‘s voice. The author‘s writing style is like a heavily annotated autobiography. But towards the end, things started to click and I went back to put the pieces together. It was all there and I missed most of it.
Brilliant!
September 7, 2024

This book is wordy - it took me awhile to get accustomed to the author‘s pace - but I‘m into it now!

August 20, 2024

I‘ve started dating my posts because I like to go back and look at my past posts, a digital reading scrapbook. Anyone else like the dates?

Coffee date with myself and my book. Reading my way through all of Emily St. John Mandel‘s books. She is in my top five all time favorite authors. 🩷
August 9, 2024

Soaking up the last day of July. I wish summer could last a little longer!
July 31, 2024

Five stars. Loved it!

This book is about a young author and her famous father. It is also about a marriage, and about being a wife and mother. It‘s also a story within a story.

Set in New York City and a house in the Hamptons, the story moves between present day daughter and father narratives and past mother narrative. Thrown in is one of their novels. It works so well. And I loved the ending - not tidy, but hopeful.

July 25, 2024

Breakfast with my book.

Book and lunch. I feel so blessed to have some alone time this week. My husband has a work conference and I got to come along to enjoy the hotel. Today‘s agenda includes fancy girl lunch and a massage.

July 17, 2024

I finished this second book of Chamber‘s series by the pool in Laguna Beach. I‘m glad it wasn‘t crowded because the ending made me cry happy tears. The duet of Pepper‘s and Sidra‘s stories of survival and adaptation were so interesting and compelling to me. Chambers explores the hard questions about existence with such an open hand. It is beautiful to read.

The Ranch at Laguna Beach is fantastic! Especially if your husband has a work trip…

Morning reading with coffee. My “go away I‘m reading” mug has been used so much that the words faded away.

Summer reading 🩷☀️📚

This novel, inspired by the real diaries of midwife Martha Ballard, is such good reading. I couldn‘t put it down.

Six books from the library is a lot for even me, but they will be closed on July 4 for the holiday….

Aahhh such a great summer book! Hilderbrand‘s Nantucket books are the best summer reads and this one is excellent! Ticked all the boxes for me.

Oh boy was this book a twisty ride! I felt very mentally unstable as I tried to figure out what was real and what was not what it seemed. It kept me doubting reality right up to the end.

5 books behind schedule for the year‘s reading goal.
Thankful for summer and the time to catch up!

Currently reading at the beach ☀️⛱️🌊

June 28, 2024

I read this book on the plane ride home after five days in Hawaii. The trip was great! This book was creepy. I‘m still not sure if I liked it. It kept me entertained on a five hour flight so that‘s good!

I read this in one day. The story really pulled me in and I loved the religious themes of silence and forgiveness.

I read this one on the plane to Hawaii. So good! I am such a fan of Stradal‘s books!

The second library stack of summer! 🩷☀️📚

Anyone else having troubles with Litsy? I had to delete the app and reinstall it because nothing was working. Now it‘s ok - thankfully!!!

Another winner from Emily Henry! This one was so fun and now I want to go to Michigan for a girls trip!

First reads of summer! I enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea - it is like Harry Potter mixed with The Umbrella Academy. Delightful!

reading and knitting

Current reads. ❤️📚

And so my 2023 ends with finishing this mystery that was very twisty and full of interesting characters and dark secrets. Interesting and more than a little depressing.

I went to the library today because Christmas is next week and I don‘t want to run out of reading material. And yes, I have three unread books by my bed and four on my kindle. But this stack? It makes me very happy and having lots of reading options calms my brain. I spend a lot of time making sure my brain is calm and my soul is content. Anyone else? What is your favorite coping skill? Books, knitting, and music are my top three.

“William‘s parents‘ grief had shaped him, like a glacier moving silently through a valley.”

This book is hauntingly beautiful and also heartbreaking. I love it.

I loved this book.
Sam and Sadie are friends and partners in creating a video game. Their friendship was built on a shared love of video games and creating other worlds. From the references to 1980s gaming to theory behind virtual worlds to Southern California locations, I loved all of it. I laughed, I cried, I texted my sister to see if she remembered Leisure Suit Larry. (She did.)
Photo = current knitting project

Delightful!!! I never want it to end.

My friends and I did a little local bookstore tour in Long Beach (California). We had a blast!

Just started this book and already hooked! I‘m really feeling the October & Halloween vibes this year. 🎃🖤👻🧡

What a blessing - a new Kate Morton book, a cuddly dog, and nothing else to do.

I started this series in November, 2022, during a time of personal crisis. I quickly switched to listening to the audiobooks, and enjoyed listening to the adventures of private investigator Kinsey while walking or doing a puzzle. Ten months later, I am happy and sad to finish the series. Kinsey was a friend to me when I needed a fictional companion and I will miss her.

Summer evenings, relaxing with a book.

Current reads. 21 days left until I go back to work. Soaking up as much summertime as each day can hold! #teachersoflitsy

I did it!!!
Another great story from Emily Henry. It wasn‘t my favorite of hers, but it checked all the boxes. And now I want to go to Maine!

Slow summer mornings unwind with coffee and reading on the back patio. I am loving this travel memoir! Anyone travel alone? Where did you go?

Last summer I tagged along with my husband on a business trip. During the day, I was on my own in Austin, Texas. It was a great time!

I‘m finally reading this book. I have mixed feelings so far, at about 20 pages in. My sandwich was amazing!

Reading and ice cream in the shade on a sunny summer day.