So last night the branch of my pub library discussed THT. I was well prepared because since August I binged-watched all 3 seasons of the series, read the graphic novel, and then read the original just in time to read The Testaments along with the audiobook. My lib made this Claire Daines reading available to me. I had to go there. It‘s been years since I‘ve listened to an audiobook via CD and surround sound rather than phone. It was great!

I suspended my library hold until I could give this story my full attention. It is beautifully written and Ta-Nehisi Coates paints the emotional abuse of slavery into a masterpiece that I believe will be read for years to come.

Next up on the eeny-meeny-miney-moe of my physical #NFNov reads is this little beauty. I loved how this was written - alternating chapters between a father and his grown son reflecting on the same or similar events. I‘m a fan of both Bill and Willie Geist. As I read, I couldn‘t help but think of what a treasure (grandfather/father) this published book will be for Willie‘s children when grown.

I like this book quite a bit and why I didn‘t love it is really my problem. I‘m discovering this about myself inside fiction wrapped in fascinating history to which I know little... I‘m often less engaged in the love interests of the characters than I am in those characters negotiating the history to which I am reading. So my minor disappointment was more about me than the quality of the book.

Week6 #BFCr4
I loved this round - working toward a Fitbit-free day was a success, and I earned a free Saturday for 6 consecutive weeks by reaching my goal by Friday night, walking over 233 miles and finishing 29 books.

Fitness weekly Goal 35 miles: 40.03 miles/93,455 steps.
Book total goal of 27 books with the priority of 18:9 (2:1) library:personally owned. I finished at 29, 19:11.

Thank you @Wanderinglynn. Card is on the way!

I‘m randomly picking older #NFNov books from my shelves in between library drops, and I‘m so glad I eeny-meeny-miney-moed this title. I really enjoyed reading Nora‘s take on life and aging. I was even entertained by her thoughts on what is now dated technology - email. I sure wish she was still walking in this world with us.

I‘m grateful for authors who research history and teach us a truth using fiction because, well, sometimes I can‘t handle the full truth in all its messy we-did-this, we-do-this reality. Fiction is often the initial step for me to learn more. ...At times I wanted more character development of Elwood and Turner, but it may have been deliberate to leave us wanting more - and research for ourselves this horrible truth.

My final 3x3 grid completed for #BFCr4. 4.5 and above falls in my A range and it‘s a big success when I have a 5* in my grid. The tagged book is so important. I‘m so grateful for the persistence of Ronan Farrow.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Having read Bear Town a couple months ago, I wanted to anticipate this book for a while. Although I preferred the storyline in the first book, It was still nice to curl up with these much loved characters to read their lives continue. ...I wouldn‘t recommend this book to those who haven‘t read the first because the character development in the original is so important to the sequel.

Oh the thrill of thrifting a book, reading it, and loving it. The relationship of Eleanor and Park is beautiful- I hope Rainbow Rowell continues their journey. While reading, I never once gave thought to the story as YA, and that‘s my favorite kind of YA to read.

#NamasteNovember Day9 #SpinePoem2
Lean in, Love Warrior.
This is Where I Leave You.

@Eggs

And since it‘s #NFNov I finally read the tagged after 6 years on my TBR. The information remains meaningful - even though the author (and come to think of it, me too) has a life now she couldn‘t have anticipated then. Come to think of it, Glennon Doyle has had significant life changes since she authored her book, as well!

Week5 @wanderinglynn #BFCr4
Here,s a unique privacy fence I walk past. The flowers change with the seasons. I don‘t know why I‘m obsessed with the two missing gourds.

Fitness Goal 35 miles per week with incentive of Fitbit-Free Saturdays: 40.03 miles/93,455 steps.
Book goal is now 27 books with the priority of 18:9 (2:1) library:personally owned. I‘m at 17:8.

I couldn‘t resist participating in the #BigLibraryRead because it‘s just such a great idea. It definitely had a YA feel and can lead to important discussion. I‘d recommend it for fans of The Hate You Give. It‘s a quick read so character development isn‘t as thorough as THUG. However, it‘s meaningful to read two girls of different ethnicity move together through a traumatic event where each brings to it their own perspectives.

I‘m giving this a pick because it is thorough in capturing how part-time minimum wage work sans benefits is not a living wage - especially for a parent raising a child with little family support. (And as a Western Montana girl myself, I get the Missoula thing!) ...But there‘s a miss for me in a memoir when the author lacks any introspection and onus to their current life situation. #NFNov

I‘m hard on HF particularly when it‘s YA. I want an interesting, well-researched stetting, characters fitting seamlessly in the history and not encumbered with events too many to realistically endure. I want characters created with the mindset and mores of the day vice the book‘s publishing date. ...I took issue with a couple things here, but overall it‘s a pick.

This is a quick #NFNov pick to read in the week where darkens rises an hour earlier providing more time to hunker down with a cuddly blanket, warm socks, a hot drink, and candles. That‘s my newfound Hyyge approach to this time change thing ;)

#TIL It‘s said Hygge is to Denmark what Freedom is to America. Hey Denmark, I just read Catch and Kill and I‘m awaiting She Said and Blowout... Please hang tight to your Hygge!

I thought I knew this story but reading it hurts my soul. I am careful to ever apply the word shame. But the corrupt actions of the powerful and the depths we are willing to go to protect the men (it is men in this story) holding that power is shameful. #TIL In this world, right now, investigative journalists and whistle blowers are my heroes and my North Star.

#NFNov

I liked the historical setting in this story and I was content with how the journeys resolved for the three main characters, But my journey in this book couldn‘t find a way out of so-so status. I found the dialogue corney, and the cliff-hanging pivots from one POV to another made me want to skip pages to stay with the current storyline.

Second 3x3 grid completed for #BFCr4. 4.5 and above falls in my A range and the tagged 5* toppled my Top6Reads of 2019.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

#NamasteNovember Day3 #SpinePoem1

Once upon a more enchanted time when breath becomes air - under the banner of heaven, cage of stars, into thin air... I let you go, Teacher Man.

Gone with the wind.

Watch me disappear, Evvie Drake starts over.

I met my reading goal so I‘ll up it by another grid of 9 books. I barely met my fitness goal but it was an unseasonably cold, snow-touched Halloween so look at the candy I‘m left with. I fear I will dip-in and void my hard-earned Fitbit-free Saturday ;(

Fitness Goal 35 miles per week with incentive of Fitbit-Free Saturdays: 36.7 miles/85,682 steps.
Book goal is now 27 books with priority of 18:9 (2:1) library:personally owned. I‘m at 13:6

What a treat! I can only hope that when I‘m in my 80s I have the grace and humility to look back at the people and events of my adulting life with the wisdom exampled by Julie Andrews.

Here‘s my October wrap up. I forgot to include the first two cards in my September pic but I liked my font for Bear Town so I sneaked them in here. Currently I have my card collection sorted by my assigned stars but maybe I should brush up on the dewey decimal system from my work-study college years stacking books at the library!

#OctoberWrapup #Spooktober @Eggs
#Wrapup

#Spooktober Day29 #Graveyard
@Eggs

I‘ve had this set of books for nearly 25 years. You might be able to see that the pages are separating from the cover from its many reads. ... Years ago I saw Walter Wick at a children‘s book tour, and it was fascinating to see how the photos were taken.

I loved this story so much that my #Top6Reads for 2019 needs adjusting. Based on Litsy input I experienced the Tom Hanks narration. This sibling relationship is beautifully written, and I completely understand how a house, the good and the bad of it, is a living breathing member of a family. ...You know how judges on singing competitions describe a vocalist by their ability to sing a phone book? Well, Tom Hanks can narrate a phone book!

Oohhhh, if you could put hot chocolate, a warm cookie, fuzzy socks, and a cozy blanket in a book, this would be it. It‘s a wonderful cast of customers at Nightingale Books. ...I would recommend this for anyone who loved the setting for the Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

I‘ve read On Writing, but this is my first Stephen King fiction. It was so good. When I put it down, I thought about it until I could pick it up again. I even woke up thinking about it! I seldom remember my dreams but what I know for sure is that I couldn‘t have dreamed anything better than this.

Week3 @wanderinglynn
#BFCr4 er‘s audiowalk at your own peri! I fear #scareathlon and #screamathon have conspired to set dragons upon us. I‘m calling a Fitbit-free Saturday for me!

Fitness Goal 35 miles per week: 39.04 miles/91,087 steps.
Book goal is 18 books with the priority of 12:6 (2:1) library:personally owned. I‘m at 9:5.
#BFCr4 goal change: From 5 MPD(ay) to 35 MPW(eek) with an incentive be Fitbit free on Day7.

1. I‘ve lost track of how often I‘ve recommended this book this year.
2. Yes. It‘s a meditation thing on taking time for myself and it‘s nice to crawl into a made bed.
3. Sometimes if there‘s leftovers
4. 8
5. Thank you @JanuarieTimewalker13 I‘m honored to be among your Litten friends! I‘ll tag @Bookzombie because she lives in my happy place!
@howjessreads #Friyayintro

Did I choose this Grisham because Friday night high school football goes with October? Yes I did. Did I take this pic so I could sneak in this super cute purse gifted to me by a sister? Yes I did!

I learned of Ms Rowell in Sep so my anticipation for Wayward Son was brief. As the drive across America began I couldn‘t wait to read how Nebraska would be addressed. To quote Willa Cather: An interesting thing about Nebraska is that it is all day Nebraska. It‘s even better when Simon, Baz, and Penelope check out a Ren Fen!

My IRL peeps know nothing of Rainbow. I was relieved to see this display since I‘m a mere 2 hours from the Neb border!

Oh my gosh, these five fabulous queer eye men are the embodiment of goodness and light. Even when they individually let us in on darker moments they teach us how to love and forgive our own messy selves. I hear them speak and I just want to step out into the universe and love people a little more. ...And gosh it would be awesome to hang out with JVN and talk my favorite 90s figure skaters!

Nuri and Afra are fictional characters fleeing Syria in search of safety, freedom, and hope but they are written with incredible beauty and relevance. Their journey gives emotion and humanity to so many anonymous faces. It reminds us we share external experiences but how we internally receive that experience is unique. ...This is a book to sit with and absorb the writing on each page.

This was my first Riley Sager book and I was all in. I opted out of watching two back-to-back movies Because neither seemed more interesting than reading Jules to the end - of which I didn‘t see coming!

-I live in Kansas City. Previously San Antonio. Born and raised in Western Montana. Three distinct weather experiences!
-I‘m old! But I identify as maybe 45 :)
-I‘m surrounded by so many book thrifting opportunities that it‘s become my favorite hobby. And I have an awesome public e-library.
-widow, but it‘s been a while. I‘ve become quite content at doing this life on my own.
-she/her
-first name, last initial.
#GettingToKnowYou @JoScho

First 3x3 grid completed #BFCr4. Two at 4.5*=A-, two at 4.75 A, and a 5*=A+ that I‘m still thinking about the perspectives presented

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Good thing I earned myself a Fitbit-free Saturday because look what‘s happening to dog walkers in my neighborhood!

Fitness Goal 35 miles per week: Met at 38.59 miles/90k steps.
Book Goal 18 total with 1 physically owned per 2 library loans: I‘m at 9 read with 4 coming from my shelves!

#BFCr4 Week2 @wanderinglynn

So it looks like another October will pass without my having read Dracula. But I love this newfound vampire, Baz. ...Thank you Littens for introducing me to the world of Rainbow Rowell - I would have never known her work without you!

This book is so darn cute and one of our Halloween treasures.

Day17 #Pumpkins #ScreamathonPhotoChallenge
@4thHouseOnTheLeft

Well, it may take a lot of October‘s for me to get to the bottom of my thrifted Grisham collection, but I‘m down for it. Including legal thrillers into the books I read has been fun and this one is an easy read. I seem to appreciate all my stories better if I mix up my genres.

This book is so wonderfully wacky and weird - and literal. I‘m not sure if I‘d call it 30 short stories so much as 30 parables. Maybe self-help. Maybe Cecelia‘s Fairy Tales for Grown-ass Women. ... I recommend this as a book savored over days one story at a time

Although I‘m awaiting my library loan of The Institute, this is the only Stephen King book I‘ve actually read. Yesterday, I was so excited to thrift a copy for my 5-star shelf of favorite books. I read this book 2 years ago - I‘m not a writer, but it absolutely changed the way I read.

Working down my Grisham‘s, and this was a good story-driven book. And timely, since it allows me to give a shout out to the intestinal fortitude of whistler-blowers!

I picked this one because the cover matched the month, and I finished it just in time for the Day14 #OrangeAndBlack #ScreamathonPhotoChallenge !

@4thhouseontheleft

This book is so interesting. It‘s a well written character-study that pulled me in from the very beginning, and the ending will have me thinking about the three main characters for a long time.

Check in time! #BFCr4 Week1
@wanderinglynn

This round I changed my goal from 5 miles a day to 35 miles per week (40 max) with an incentive be Fitbit free on Day7. I hit 35 miles so it‘s a free day!

My book goal is 18 books with the priority of 12:6 (2:1) library:personally owned. So far I‘m at 4:1!

And oh just yeah, it‘s blowup yard decor season for my walking view entertainment!

Day12 #Blanket #FallIsBooked @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@originalcyn620

In Oct ‘97 favorite book of my 5, but my 7 thought the lovely illustrations were disproportionate and it freaked him out. And then! The elementary art teacher requested a meeting - please don‘t stifle your son. His proof - a perfectly proportionate construction-paper bat which to my eye looked pretty much like the 60+ other bats. But we heeded well this sage advice!

There is nothing about my current life in which I‘m the intended audience here, but my self-imposed reading for the RW Bookclub made this an October requirement.
...It was interesting to read in retrospect, and recall times where I was convinced I was the single busiest woman in the world. ...I felt this advice paints family life as a drudgery to endure. I wish I could tell my young-mom self that those moments now are the best I ever had.

Yesterday, I listened to the full-cast audiobook, and it is laugh laugh-out-loud entertaining. Realizing it was a Wednesday, I even changed into a pink sweater for the third act! If you are a fan of the movie, Mean Girls, treat yourself to this Shakespearean remix. ...I was thinking I should push it forward in favor of more Octoberish reads, but look at this cover!

#Spooktober Day10 #Witches @Eggs

When I was little my dad gifted me a year subscription of picture books - delivered via mail once a month. It was the best thing ever and I still have 8 of them. So this 1966 edition of an old witch is a treasure!

Bee books seem right for October because I love hot apple cider - and honey bees want what I have in hand.

I‘m always down for that eat-pray-love search to reset one‘s life when its trajectory goes askew. Impacting that life via humanitarian mission could have been a fascinating story. But the constant overly described appearance and attire of the secondary characters threw this story off kilter for me.