Favorite book of December was The Witchy Guide to Magical Innkeeping. I loved this book for inclusion & displaying an Autistic person not as broken or quirky but as the unique person they are. I love the way the author brings people together to form their own found families in these stories. That people that might not have a biological family that provides a healthy relationship but their friendships form the family they need. #12Booksof2025

Update on my daughter. She had a colonoscopy & endoscopy a few weeks ago for possible IBD. The good news is she does not have IBD or celiac. We found out she has lactose intolerance. She apparently produces a very low level of the lactose enzyme. Which has been causing nausea & stomach pain for the last 2-3 years. We started her on a lactose free diet & have seen a reduction in her symptoms. The only other result from her biopsy is low level

My favorite book of November was The Lilac People (although this would tie for Jeff Hiller‘s book Actress of a Certain Age). I always feel like I‘m over the countless WWII stories. Then you find one that discusses a piece of history I knew nothing about. This fictional story portrays the life of a transgender couple before & after WWII living in Germany. The story is loosely based on real accounts. #12Booksof2025

Since a bunch of people are posting, I‘m on Storygraph too. Although I just started using it about halfway through last year (trying to transition away from GR). Still need to mess around with it. I do love the graphing. Feel free to send a request

Favorite book (I finished) in October was The Woman They Could Not Silence. It‘s not a short book & took a few months. It‘s NF that doesn‘t read like NF. It‘s well written & thoroughly researched. Fascinating & frustrating read about early mental health/institutions, how women were treated when they spoke their mind, the treatment of married women in the early US.

My favorite book of September was Night Flyer. Ever since we moved to MD last year I have been wanting to learn more about Harriet Tubman. This book is more about her knowledge & use of the environment while she was moving people through the Underground Railroad. #12Booksof2025

Finished in 2025, one of those bpoks that could be so helpful & a lifeline to someone that is having the same questions & concerns but not sure where to turn to. The reason why books are so vital & access to all is necessary. If a book like this can help one person feel less alone that‘s the point. It doesn‘t have to be my experience for me to understand it matters to someone else.

Finished in 2025, I was interested to learn more about Yoko‘s life. She faced endless racism & misogyny when she became connected to John Lennon. After John‘s death she faced years of death threats towards her & her son. She is always seen as the person that broke up the Beatles but the group was already falling apart before her. She is the one that encouraged John to finish making Abby Road. It was interesting to learn about her life prior to

My favorite book of August was Spell Freedom. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the establishment of early voting rights, particularly in the South. I finished reading this book after a trip to Charleston & going to the African American History museum there. #12Booksof2025

I think this is a resolution we can all agree with (even if we aren‘t into keeping resolutions). More reading & less banning plus buying more banned books.

Two shy of my goal of 100, still a decent reading year. I‘m going to go with a goal of 100 books again for 2026 but hope to surpass it. I have some chunksters I want to get through this year. I also have a lot of books on my shelves that I need to get through. Which I think I‘m going to utilize audiobooks more to get through some of those books. Looking forward to another great year of books.

#top25of2025 part 2 in no order. I‘d have a hard time picking my favorite of the year because I learned something new/different with each book. I gravitate more towards NF to learn more about others people‘s stories & histories.

#top25of2025 I divided it up between fiction & NF. These were my favorite fiction books of the year. I generally read more NF & I read some good fiction but these were my standouts for the year.

Low pick, quick, easy, mindless read. Like most romance novels follows the same pattern. Some of the behaviors of the main characters were a little irritating.

I read this a few months ago but forgot to review. I listened to it over audio (highly recommend). It was such a fun book & loved Pooley‘s premise behind the book.

My favorite book of July was Words for My Comrades. I was a teenager in the 90s & like most at that time listened to Tupac. Learning more about his upbringing & his mom gave me a deeper understanding of who he was & his music. #12Booksof2025

#wdncw We don‘t go out & do anything for NYE: my husband hates crowds, Autistic child. We generally hang out & watch Anderson & Andy get drunk on tv. But I‘m down for screaming at midnight too.

My favorite book for June was King (I finished it in June). It‘s a chunkster between 600-700 pages. But well worth the read. Definitely learned a lot about King‘s life & what our government was doing to him behind the scenes. #12Booksof2025

Top book of May was Men Who Hate Women. It was not an easy read but one that is necessary. As a mom of a young man, teenage son, & a young daughter this book filled me with a next level anxiety about what is out there on social media. #12Booksof2025

My favorite book of April is Greta & Valdin. I listened to it over audio, definitely recommend. I loved this book so much I need to buy a copy for my shelves. #12Booksof2025

Favorite book of March is Invisible Women. One of those books that is informative but also infuriating that women are still an afterthought in society. #12booksof2025

The Message was my favorite book of February (although Between the World and Me could easily tie). I‘m also a fan of Ta-Nehisi Coates‘ work, in general. #12Booksof2025

My husband & I didn‘t exchange gifts since we decided we‘d rather use that money to take a mini vacation (sans kids). Although I did order myself 2 books I‘ve really wanted to read.

My favorite book of January was the tagged book. It was a really hard choice since I also loved James & Brittney Griner‘s book.
#12booksof2025

On Monday my youngest had to go in for a colonoscopy & endoscopy for GI to determine what‘s been going on with her. She‘s had stomach pain & nausea for over 2 years. She‘s had recently developed some concerning symptoms which prompted the procedures. Thankful all was clear, no damage & no inflammation. We have to wait for the biopsy results to see if that gives us any answers. She‘s doing ok & recovering.

#wdncw I still have gifts to wrap. I still have to pack (we are going to NC for the weekend to see family). I bought my mom slippers & a neck wrap that she could warm up in the microwave only to realize she got rid of her microwave (not sure why but after my dad passed away she got rid of it). I didn‘t get anything for my sisters. So I‘m doing great on the present part for my family. I got my MIL a bird feeder that has a solar camera (from Costco)

The airing of grievances should also last till the end of this year…because it‘s been a year.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve to all!

I don‘t know why I haven‘t done it with my kids yet but I finally have decided to introduce them to Jolabokaflod. Now that they are older & slowly transitioning away from excessive Christmas I think it‘ll have more meaning to them. Minecraft is a manga book for the 16 year old. He‘s not a big physical book reader (better with audio). The youngest has been reading Pax with her class book club. Bird book for the oldest. Lies my Teacher Told Me is

Small but impactful story. I listened on audio.

The 10 year old rated this one 👍👍. I love Tiffany McDaniel‘s adult books, so I was excited when she wrote a kid‘s book. It‘s about witches, wizards, magical hats & creatures. I loved that Tolden had a little dragon that hung on his ear to whisper what people were saying (creative way to address hearing disability). “I suppose because books make you feel magical. That‘s why some people are frightened of books. That‘s why some people even try to

This one was ok, liked the longer books better. I listened to it over audio which was ok but I didn‘t really care for the added sound effects (jingle bells ringing between chapters, a door creaking open for the opening of an advent calendar). I just felt they were unnecessary. Still a fun holiday themed Ernest Cunningham story.

Finished in November. Can‘t remember many details but it was a light, fun read. I think I saw other posts on Litsy about the series. Which I‘m always looking for something fun to read at night (I try to read NF during the day & any reading at night I try to keep to fiction). If you‘re a fan of the Evie Dunmore series this pretty similar.

Fun, quick, mindless read. Read in October & sadly forget anything significant from the book. It served its purpose of reading something light at night & not doomscrolling. Reminded me of the Evie Dunmore series.

#wdncw holiday edition. My 10 year old has not changed her mind but has not said what she wants from Santa yet. I asked her again tonight & she said, “I‘m not sure.” She‘s at the age where she‘s questioning the whole Santa thing but I don‘t think she‘s ready to admit it. Although tonight I almost said something about things being ordered & shipped on time. She‘s also at that in between age where she doesn‘t want dolls but not old enough to want

This is a low pick for me. I listened to it over audio. I liked learning more about Hatshepsut. Really liked the list of books the author gave for additional reading. Otherwise it was an ok story. To me it felt like a bunch of improbable circumstances all centering around the characters to try & make them all connected.

Oliver & I finally remembered to bring #holidaycardswap cards on our walk today. Ok, I finally remembered. I guess I shouldn‘t expect a puppy to remind me to mail them out.

My son said that URI has had an increased police presence on campus today (he was in the library this morning). The university decided to cancel exams in person. Students could do their finals online or see what their professor had decided. The university felt that they needed to protect student & faculty mental & physical health right now. Unfortunately the do not even have a person in custody (they released their person on interest, which he was

#mondaymood 10 days till Christmas, still not ready. 1 week till my daughter has her colonoscopy & endoscopy, which will hopefully give us some answers. My oldest has been texting me about what‘s been happening at URI all morning. I‘m ready to crawl under the covers & hide until the month is over. It‘s been a month. I also hate making dinner this time of the year. It‘s not healthy to eat cereal or Mac & cheese every night, right?

A cold & snowy night (-2 degrees with the wind) calls for homemade bread & vegetarian lentil stew for dinner. There might be a homemade chocolate chip cookie consumed soon while reading.

My son goes to the University of Rhode Island. He was studying at the library yesterday. He said that they announced overhead what was happening at Brown (Brown is about an hour north of Kingston). They also received messages & updates from the university. He went back to his dorm room since he felt safer there. He texted me to let me know what was happening. It‘s unfortunately another needless tragedy. I‘m hoping his generation will be the ones

We got a few inches of snow last night. Oliver is in love. He‘s been running around on the back porch eating the snow. He thinks he‘s a husky & can sit outside all day. He‘s currently sulking because I won‘t let him back outside (he was already outside playing with the kids too).

#wdncw Holiday edition. When in doubt add a dinosaur because let‘s be honest gingerbread houses never stay up. About 2 weeks till Christmas & I‘m no where near ready. Luckily we had already planned to do less this Christmas.

It was snowing this morning (we didn‘t get much). On the right is the 10 year old complaining that she has to go to school & can‘t go outside to play. On the left is Oliver as nosy Ned. He likes to watch everyone outside.

#wdncw when we say we don‘t overly love the Yuletide season. I like certain things about the holidays: lights, my holiday records, holiday movies. But I‘m so over all the work the holidays involve. I really haven‘t even figured out what I‘m getting anyone for Christmas. There has been so much going on with one kid getting a colonoscopy right before Christmas, one coming home from college in 2 weeks (plus applying to grad school & being a joyous

@Deblovestoread I‘m excited about your recommendations for #AuldLangSpine. I have only read one on your list- King, which was excellent. The Correspondent & Things in Nature Merely Grow were on my radar but haven‘t gotten to them this year. Now time to track down some books.

I am very critical of stories that include autistic characters…but so far this author has captured what it‘s like to be a caregiver of an Autistic child. “Poesy couldn‘t fathom an obstacle like personal safety...there is a thing I want so I will go get that thing.” “Posey is not trying to be difficult or defiant, nobody else seems to see it that way.” Others saying- she has peculiar habits, you coddle her, that child has no idea how to behave

In some good science news…one of my husband‘s close friend from grad school just had a huge publication in Nature Neuroscience recently. He‘s a researcher at the University of Kentucky focusing on Alzheimer‘s. It‘s pretty exciting to see. My husband said it‘s still years away from being used in humans but it‘s a huge development. After all the hurt that has been done in science this last year it makes me happy to see a friend have great success

#wdncw or any day of the week when we say F this man. The hurt that he is doing to so many is unconscionable. Not to mention the harm that he is doing to Autistic individuals & their families. For the millionth time vaccines do not cause Autism. He is continuing to sow distrust between the public & the scientific/medical community. I will never forgive all the people that voted to confirm this man & let him do what he‘s doing. As a 3rd baby died

A heartbreaking & emotional. There are 4 different stories from different time points in history. Each girl has a doll that helps them through traumatic times in their lives. “There is no true healing without remembering.” “Agony is a dreadful companion but at least it keeps her sharp, keeps her from surrendering to oblivion, where there‘s no memory of the time before pain.”