Girl, same.

(Hugs to anyone else who‘s missing someone this Christmas ❤️❤️❤️)

Finally made it through the 1920s for #192025. I think the tagged book was definitely my favorite (but I also really liked Lady Chatterly…🌶️🌶️🌶️)

I absolutely hated the first 3/4 of this. Part of the problem was that I looked up July‘s Instagram before I started reading, and could not separate the author, who I found to be a self-indulgent exhibitionist, from her main character. However, it was very well-written (although it dragged in parts), and the stuff about aging resonated with me.

When I first read this, I gave it 5 stars. Age & wisdom have bumped it down to 3; it‘s not nearly as funny as I remember. Maybe it‘s because I‘ve seen the movie too many times, where the mom is redeemed just a little, I felt ZERO sympathy for the Mrs. X in the book. My heart breaks for that little boy (& the dog). I hope he gets a happy ending in the sequel
And this line hit like a punch in the gut. I have felt exactly that way in my own career.

I found out today that I had access to the paid version of Canva through work. *HAD*, as in past tense, because the contract expired or some sh*t. Oh, well, I guess it‘s good that I don‘t know what I‘m missing.

Last Bingo board of the year! I know I say this every month, but December 2024 REALLY is the month I get a Bingo. 😂

#BookspinBingo

My last #Bookspin list for the year!!!

This is a pretty sad interpretation of a Canadian poutine (frozen French fries, instant gravy, and mozzarella because I couldn‘t find cheese curds ANYWHERE). But I‘d definitely be interested in trying the real thing if I ever make it to Canada. 🇨🇦 #FoodandLit

Ugh, rich white men 🙄

That‘s it. That‘s the review.

This was my #Bookspin for November

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by!

#Roll100

#BookspinBingo November 2024!

Just under the wire…
I think the tagged book seems fitting for the end of Daylight Savings Time this weekend. Very much looking forward to that extra hour. #bookspin #doublespin

I really thought I had posted this already, but I guess I was about as good at posting in October as I was at reading. Since I finished a big, fat zero books during my favorite month (and because I‘m feeling super into sugar skulls right now - check out my Paint & Sip creation from last Saturday!), I‘m sticking with a spooky/Dia de los Muertos theme for November. Thanksgiving is just gonna have to wait. #Roll100

Watching Jeopardy from a few weeks ago, and I learned that this gentleman is the husband of Bonnie Garmus, who wrote Lessons in Chemistry. I may owe her an apology for saying that her characters didn‘t seem realistic. I can DEFINITELY picture this guy asking someone to pass the sodium chloride. 😜

October has been SCARY busy, but not in the fun way I'd prefer. It's been way too work-y and family emergency-y, and not enough spooky books and movies. And it feels like every time I do open a book, my eyes want to close. Hopefully I'll be able to find some time to squeeze it in. #BookspinBingo

Finally have some time to get my #Bookspin list done. Only a week late, NBD.

#CasttheDie

Better late than never, right?
#Castthedie

Two of my October #Roll100 picks are pretty perfect for Halloween.

This book is giving me both the heebies AND the jeebies. Setting it aside for a couple of hours to watch a less creepy movie (Poltergeist). 👻

I‘ve already finished one book in September. Which is one more than I finished in August. So, I‘ve got that going for me. In my defense, today was my first day off work since July 28th. Here‘s to a much better month of reading (and relaxing). #BookspinBingo

For no reason whatsoever, I chose an Italian cooking theme for this month‘s #Bookspin.

I‘ve been wanting to read August‘s #Bookspin for a long, long time (and it gives me an excuse to reread Jane Eyre ❤️).

My #Doublespin is yet another short story collection in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Forgot to post my August #Roll100 picks. I had already read 29, so I subbed it for my next #192025 read.

@PuddleJumper - I know you picked the red dice because of how hot it‘s been. I hope putting them in the pool helps cool things off a bit! 😎

I really resisted the urge to do a Halloween-themed Bingo board (because, as we all know, Halloween starts July 5th). But as many spooky books as there are on my list…it might have been appropriate.

#BookspinBingo

My July wrap-up. I started out 🔥… but quickly fizzled 💨

#BookspinBingo

I‘m not sure if I want summer to end, or if I just want school to start so that my apartment complex pool won‘t be full of a bunch of kids all day.

I‘m not sure how much reading I‘ll get done in August, since I don‘t have a day off all month (I think my boss at second job hates me 😕). But as usual, I‘ll give it the old Back-to-School try.

#Bookspin

Look, I found the perfect place to live!

(If only it wasn‘t WAAAY above my price range 😩)

Between Ned, Nat, Nan, Dan, Dick, Dolly, Demi, Daisy, it was was really a challenge to keep up with all the characters.

Fortunately, I have practice. On one side of my family we have a Jerrie, Mary, Terry, Sherrie, Shari, and Shelley.

I missed the #CampLitsy discussion of this one, because I really struggled to get through it. For a book subtitled “A Novel of Food and Murder” (two of my favorite subjects), I was SO bored. It may be partially my fault for expecting more of a murder mystery, suspense aspect, so I was disappointed when that wasn‘t there. And the food descriptions were redundant and felt forced. Overall not a fan. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I still can‘t get over A Farewell to Arms featuring so prominently on my shark-themed #Bookspin lists. 🤣 I‘ve been laughing about that all day. I hope my sick sense of humor isn‘t offensive to anyone. I blame working with desensitized firefighters.
Anyway…here‘s my very extra #BookspinBingo board.

My #Roll100 is another short story collection that includes another Sookie Stackhouse story. My #DoubleSpin is my June #FoodandLit pick (oops 🤷🏻‍♀️).

I updated all the books on this list that I have finished, and, well, if this was baseball, my 0.357 batting average would be considered excellent. Book reading is measured the same as baseball stats, right?

July‘s #Roll100 picks look like an emotional roller coaster.

Dying over A Farewell to Arms being listed right over the fin. I swear I didn‘t plan that 😂.

Is anyone else excited for Shark Week? 🦈

#Bookspin #Doublespin

The best laid plans of something, something (the tagged book is under the strawberry).

Actually probably the closest I‘ve been to getting a Bingo. And I DID complete my #Bookspin and #Doublespin this month!
#BookspinBingo

My dinner tonight is very multi-cultural: Tuscan Vegetables, Cajun Potatoes, and, for #FoodandLit - baked Icelandic Cod.
I wish I could tell you that the fish was the best part of this meal, but that would be as much of a lie as if I told you I was anywhere close to finishing my June book selection. 🫣

I‘m in this quote and I don‘t like it. 🤣

This was my second Cleeton book, but definitely won‘t be my last. I love the way she uses historical events as a backdrop to individual stories - I‘ve actually learned quite a bit from her.
Made Spanish Fideua for #FoodandLit #Spain. It was okay, but I think I‘ll definitely be asking Santa for a paella pan for Christmas.

And my #BookspinBingo board!

My #Bookspin is the first book for #CampLitsy, and my #Doublespin is tagged.

June #Bookspin.

I‘m really in need of a book-cation, ‘cuz I‘m tired of seeing the same books on my Bookspin list month after month. 🤣

Not exactly “beach reads,” but that‘s okay, since the closest I‘ll be getting to the beach this summer is Shark Week.

#Roll100

What‘s the rule? Match your purse to your pants and your book to your big dumb cup?

This was a soft pick for me. The story was engaging, but it sometimes felt like Elizabeth Zott was a caricature of a smart person - like a hot, sad, female version of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. I just felt like she was unrealistically obtuse. I loved Mad and Six-Thirty, though.

And my #BookspinBingo…

May #Bookspin. Lots of playing catch-up.

#LaterPost for April‘s #FoodAndLit #Venezuela. Carne Mechada is a family favorite, but this was not my family‘s recipe. It probably would have been better if I had made some arepas and platanos, but I was too lazy. I may have to hit up my fave Venezuelan restaurant to get my fix. I‘m also struggling to get into this book.

For the most part, this book is kinda boring and annoying. But, UGH!, this line got me. This is literally all I‘m looking for. 😭

This quote wasn‘t actually in this book (and in fact may not have even been written by Dorothy Parker at all), but it‘s attributed to her, and one of my favorite lines about one of my favorite drinks. I love a Dirty Bombay Sapphire Martini with blue cheese stuffed olives. 🍸
There were a TON of short stories in this compilation. Some were funny, some were sad, many were forgettable, and a few were problematic. But overall I enjoyed it.

#BookspinBingo for April!

April‘s #Bookspin is one of my #FoodAndLit #Venezuela picks, and my #Doublespin is one I‘ve been trying to get to FOREVER.

The year is still young, but it‘s going to take something reeeeeaaaaalllllllyyyyy special to unseat Hello Beautiful for my favorite of the year. I think it‘s the best book I‘ve read since A Little Life.
(I didn‘t finish a single book in all of February…hence the X).