#5JoysFriday on Sunday

It‘s been a week. Between the insane politics, moving, & waiting for J‘s international health cert (which finally arrived on Friday), my stress levels have been high. Thank goodness for this guy 🐈‍⬛. He‘s been just the bestest kitten—adapting to hotel life, going through airport security, and now waiting in the United Lounge for our flight, he‘s doing so well and while nervous, is hanging in there.

This was too fun! 😂❤️

Type “literally my character” in the Pinterest search.

Thanks @dabbe for the idea!

If you think these firings won‘t affect you, you haven‘t been paying attention.

A friend who was fired today from the Dept. of Energy worked on projects with money appropriated by Congress. Projects that create American jobs, strengthen our country by improving the nation's electric grid, & advance industrial technologies that reduce pollution & keep us competitive with manufacturing abroad.

And this is just 1 person, 1 story.

Despite this being horror, I was mostly bored. It started with a few promising scenes, but it quickly fell flat because (1) the writing did nothing to build any kind of creepy/horror atmosphere & (2) the MC consistently said/thought stupid things. But the biggest issue I had with this book is that there really no plot. They see some weird things, make inappropriate jokes, & yet nothing really happens.

But it‘s now #OffMyShelf 🎉

#mentalhealthmonday

1. Stressed, more stressed, & tired
2. Music, audiobooks, rereading faves, cutting out nearly all social media
3. Nutrition & its effect on mental health, thinking errors, music/art, relaxation techniques

While he provides a compelling case for de jure housing segregation, I found it was buried through the dry recitation of facts within a somewhat repetitive argument. Instead of a fact filled data dump, more analysis of the impacts of these policies & actions would have made this a more compelling read. As it is, it would have been better as a long-form essay than a book. But despite that, it‘s still worth reading.

#OffMyShelf for nonfiction

The new Eve Dallas book! 🎉 No. 60 & a kickass installment where we get to learn more about Summerset & the Urban Wars.

The back of the book has all the titles & inside the dust jacket is a spot the picture to find all the animals.

#sundayfunday

So many (depending on what “classic” includes). But I am trying to read more classics. I read 3 in Jan—Ward No. 6, Don Quixote, & Brave New World.

Next up, probably in March, will be the tagged.

New to me author #OffMyShelf

The tagged was almost painful to read. Overhyped, boring, and disappointing. No character development, no world building, & not really a cozy fantasy. I skimmed most of it & still@knew exactly what was happening.

It‘s off my shelf & onto my PangoBooks bookshop.

But at least this book did finally get me my first #2025OffMyShelf bingo!

I‘m not going to get another book finished, so I‘m calling it. It‘s been a month between polar vortexes and political insanity, and I escaped hard into books!

Final tally is 41 + 7 DNFs
🎧 25 audio
📚 14 physical
💻 9 e-books

And 12 were for #2025OffMyShelf 🎉

I break it down on my blog, wanderinglynn.com

One last book done for January!

I appreciate WCW for basically inventing the casual American style of poetry & that his subject matter centered on everyday circumstances of life and the lives of common people. However, WCW is not my favorite poet. While I like some of his poetry, I also don't care for most of it & my rating reflects this. The great thing about poetry is that there‘s something for everyone.

#OffMyShelf for poetry prompt

It‘s been a super stressful & tragic week here in DC. But I have kept my eyes open for the little joys.

1. Jasper got neutered this week & he was sooo stoned when I picked him up.
2. Jasper escaping out of not 1 but 2 collars. He ended up playing with the soft one. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
3. Books! I‘ve looked at my monthly stats today & I‘ve done some solid reading 📚
4. Friends ❤️
5. Finally finding a vet that can do the health certificate.

“When, from 2014 to 2016, riots in places like Ferguson, Baltimore, Milwaukee, or Charlotte captured our attention, most of us thought we knew how these segregated neighborhoods, with their crime, violence, anger, and poverty came to be.”

#firstlinefriday

Banned book #OffMyShelf

While I appreciate this book for its literary importance and for its themes/concepts, I did not find this book interesting or easy to read due to the execution & presentation. Plus, the Fordism got a bit cheesy. "Oh Ford!"

So, I am glad I finally read it, but I think there are better classics that speak to the same or similar themes and concepts that Huxley presents.

#2025OffMyShelf

Love Pippa Grant‘s books. Fletcher is adorable & Goldie is fun. Plus, Jason Clarke is the perfect narrator for Fletcher.

Soft pick. I haven‘t seen the emotion picture, so I did feel like I was missing something. But I stuck with it and get the gist of this world. However, I'd probably recommend watching the video first because I think it would have helped me understand this world better.

That being said, I mostly enjoyed it, although I liked some more than others

#OffMyShelf for written by a celebrity 🎉
And so close to a bingo!

#sundayfunday

I have a lot of comfort reads. Different ones for different needs. But many of them are romances because who doesn‘t need a HEA, especially when real life is not going so happily.

All of Abby Jimenez‘s books are on my comfort read list. But the tagged is probably my fave. Maybe because it was the first Jimenez I read. And because I love seeing how Sloan & Jason‘s relationship grows & how they overcome their obstacles.

So, so bad. He could have stopped with why her analysis of the profiles was off. She‘s an idiot because who thinks that because a man is in real estate that “he knows commitment” or that because a man is a brewer that “he knows chemistry.” Like terrible middle school valentine cards.

The only reason I didn‘t DNF was the narration by Andi Arndt & Jacob Morgan. Even that was a stretch because this story was *that* bad. So glad this was a freebie.

#OffMyShelf for short stories; anthology, or essays

I‘m really wishing I had taken a Russian literature class in college. I absolutely loved this short story collection. An incredible writer, Chekhov definitely transcends time. I can see why he‘s considered one of the greatest short story writers.

So this book is off my TBR shelf, but I‘m definitely keeping it & will revisit these stories often.

#2025OffMyShelf

Jasper apparently doesn‘t appreciate Russian literature.

#catsoflitsy

#NaturaLitsy #midwintersolace

I have many comfort reads—different ones for different comfort needs. The tagged is one (especially the audio version read by Steve West 🥰), along with their Kate Daniels series.

Other comfort reads include anything by Abby Jimenez, Kristen Callihan‘s VIP series, Dirty Secret by Mira Lyn Kelly, David Eddings‘s Belgariad & Mallorean series, Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, Pride & Prejudice, & HHGTTG

#firstlinefriday

“In the hospital yard there stands a small lodge surrounded by a perfect forest of burdocks, nettles, and wild hemp.”

#5JoysFriday

This has been a tough week with a lot of uncertainty.
1. A hot toddy and my favorite candle
2. I created a new bingo board for my #OffMyShelf reading challenge
3. This cat makes me laugh 😹
4. Finally got confirmation this morning that my move is still on 🎉
5. This cat loves to snuggle ❤️

A fun article from Atlas Obscura

“The writer Rabelais invented fake book titles that were bawdy send-ups of the French establishment in the early 16th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, servants‘ passages in wealthy households were often hidden by “jib doors,” bookshelves built directly into walls, and some of the more humorous-minded would put fake titles on the fake books.“

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/imaginary-books-nyc

I‘ve been so motivated with my #2025OffMyShelf challenge, I created a part 2!

These prompts are a bit broader to allow for a variety of interpretations.

I‘ve also put the Part 2 Reading Challenge on Story Graph. The links for SG as well as a jpg or pdf version of the bingo board are on my blog: http://wanderinglynn.com/2025/01/23/2025-off-my-shelf-reading-challenge-part-2/

#2025OffMyShelf2 #OffMyShelf2

“But people have grown better,” observed the bailiff.
“In what way?”
“Cleverer.”
“Cleverer, maybe, that‘s true, young man; but what‘s the use of that? What earthly good is cleverness to people on the brink of ruin? One can perish without cleverness. What‘s the good of cleverness to a huntsman if there is no game?”

From The Pipe. Written in 1887. Still relevant (or even more so) in 2025.

Book 2 in the love letters series (and there seems to be just the 2 books). Nathan might have edged out Maddox for book boyfriend. This is a beautiful story of childhood friends meeting as adults and finding love.

But, this book has dark underlying themes, including child abuse (verbal & physical), parental death, negative self-talk and suicidal thoughts—there is a content warning at the beginning of the book. So not a story for everyone.

#two4tuesday on Wednesday

1. Hm, several things, but mostly the political BS.

2. Tagged + the movie Office Space

I love a good second chance romance and Maddox & Hannah's story did not disappoint, even though 15 years is a long time. But they also got to know each other again as adults, which was lovely. Yes, the miscommunication went on a bit, but then they did have a grown up conversation, which I think showed the transition from hurt college students to adults.

Bonus, this story is performed by two amazing narrators, Andi Arndt & Jacob Morgan.

A book that‘s been on my shelf for over 5 years is now #OffMyShelf 🎉

While I thought the pacing was inconsistent between the various time periods, I did enjoy this story. And now I want to go to Provence. 🇫🇷

#weekendreads

I started On Democracy this morning—seemed like an appropriate weekend to read it.

I‘m about halfway through Carousel (#OffMyShelf a book that‘s been on my shelves for 5yrs or more), and should finish it this afternoon.

And I plan to read at least one story in Ward No. 6 (#OffMyShelf essays or short stories).

Major mixed feelings, which I explain (or maybe rant) in my review on SG. But basically while I started out not liking Charlie & feeling sympathy for Emma, by the end, I was all team Charlie but thought Emma was too self-centered.

And even though I knew, KNEW where Center was taking the Charlie storyline, it was still emotional whiplash.

So this might be a soft pick for me but major mixed feelings.

Thanks to everyone who entered my #49bdgiveaway
I wish I could send everyone a book. 📚 And I wish you all a great reading year.

I decided to draw 3 names & the winners are:

@CrowCAH
@Butterfinger
@Scochrane26

🎉🥳

Please email me your mailing address - lynn@wanderinglynn.com

Don Quixote is #OffMyShelf for the chunkster prompt 🎉 I pushed through to finished the last 200 pages today.

While I appreciate this novel's historical literary significance, I found I lost steam with the continuous monotony of the ludicrous conduct.

It‘s my first #chunksterchallenge2025 book 🎉

#5JoysFriday

1. It‘s my birthday week ♑️ & I love a good giveaway
2. My Italian visa arrived super fast & on my birthday #birthdaymagic
3. @PuddleJumper is hosting a Robin Hobb bookclub ❤️📚
4. I‘ve deleted all my Meta accounts including IG. 🎉 I‘m on Bluesky as wanderinglynn - https://bsky.app/profile/wanderinglynn.bsky.social - and BSky will soon be launching Flashes, a photo sharing site.
5. This kitten. He‘s the bestest. 💜🐱

🎉 ~24 hours left to enter! 🎉

To enter, repost this and tag one book on your wish list. Tag me & use the #49bdaygiveaway

Open internationally. Closes at 2000 EST on Friday, January 17. I‘ll draw a name and send the winner the book they tagged.

“And sin . . . is when you treat people like things.”

“When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they‘re getting worried that they won‘t like the truth.”

Terry Pratchett 💜💜💜

#two4tuesday

1. I actually love to watch it snow. ❄️
2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Thanks for the tag @dabbe

After reading the Vulture article that came out yesterday on an author who was one of my top faves, I‘ve been scrolling social media reading others‘ thoughts.

Then I wrote down my own thoughts along with a list of fave fantasy/scifi authors/books: http://wanderinglynn.com/2025/01/14/processing-difficult-thoughts-or-in-the-alte...

Too many thoughts. Which is why I have the photo of Jasper.

It‘s my birthday and I want to share the fun. 🥳 So I‘m sharing the love with a birthday giveaway!

To enter, repost this and tag one book on your wish list. Tag me & use the #49bdaygiveaway

Open internationally. Closes at 2000 EST on Friday, January 17. I‘ll draw a name and send the winner the book they tagged.

Happy #hyggehour 🕗

📖 starting the tagged, which fits the #OffMyShelf prompt of on my shelf for over 5 years.
🫖 drinking cinnamon orange black tea from the Spice & Tea Exchange
🕯️enjoying my Capricorn Bergamot Boss candle from Whiskey River Soap Co.
🐱with Jasper supervising
🐦‍⬛ and my The Raven blanket
🎧 listening to an indie mix playlist
🐚 wishing I was someplace warm & tropical

Another book #OffMyShelf 🎉

I didn‘t know who she was before reading this. Sadly, I just didn‘t enjoy the writing. I thought the way she phrased things & her use of metaphors, well, the best way to describe it that it feels like you have to know her personally to get how she talks. I found chapters/stories to be disconnected.

Overall, this story was not my cup of tea, but others might find it meaningful and relatable.

#sundayfunday

After 2 DFNs, the tagged was my first completed book on Jan. 1. It‘s book 1 in the Walsh sibling series.

I‘d recommend this for readers who enjoy romances where both MCs have a bit of baggage & in the case of the MMC, an abusive childhood. That being said, there are several trigger warnings for this series, so it‘s not for everyone.

Not my cup of tea. While this was an original idea for a mystery novel, it was a bit of a slog to get through. Given that there's really no mystery (Tey was pretty upfront on finding Richard III not guilty), the book has no action. It's really an academic discussion about one king's history and reputation.

Another book #OffMyShelf 🎉 Plus, I‘m making excellent progress on my chunkster & have read at least 100 pages every day this month.

#OffMyShelf for published in the last 2 years prompt

I struggle to understand the hype. Maybe it‘s that I can't relate to Margo since she is 19yo single mom, college dropout. But the main issues are:
(1) I was bored. I skimmed a good portion & never lost the story because it never went anywhere. The synopsis is the *entire* story.
(2) with the title, I expected a more realistic book. But here, all the plot lines wrapped up too neatly positive.

#5JoysFriday

It‘s been a cold & snowy week. I was very happy my boss suspended the core days & let us telework all week. And this guy 👆🏻 kept me entertained the entire time.

“You are about to begin reading a new book, and to be honest you are a little tense.”

#firstlinefriday

I‘m almost halfway. I have mixed feelings so far as I have some concerns with the messaging and the switching between 1st POV and 3rd (sometimes on the same page) feels gimmicky. So I‘ll probably rate it as meh, and I think it‘s been overhyped.

#TLT 44/100

Not sure how the BBC came up with this list as it seems a bit random. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Some are too recent for my childhood. Some I didn‘t read until I was an adult.

Some faves: The Little Prince, Alice‘s Adventures in Wonderland, Charlotte‘s Web, Mary Poppins, The Snowy Day

Some faves not on the list: The Tale of Desperaux, Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Julie and the Wolves, Ramona Quimby Age 8

#two4tuesday

1. Yes
2. Pick a romance book—they‘re all about second chances. 😉❤️🥰

For the 2nd chance prompt on the #OffMyShelf challenge.

I first started the tagged in Oct. The premise was intriguing & the beginning showed promise. However, as the story progressed, I lost interest & found that I was forcing myself to read, so I put it aside.

I came back to this book today & only got 2 chapters further than last time. I simply am not enjoying this. Too many things I disliked.

Now it‘s off my shelf & on my Pango shelf!