Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Oct 20

Back in Arkansas (October 20, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Any time I have a bit of time off from work, I head back to the comfort of my parents’ home in eastern Arkansas. The house is the only home that I have ever known. (Yes, I know that my family lived in another house in town when I was born….but I don’t recall anything from the first 3 months of life!) While the three bedrooms have undergone changes over the years and my piano has moved locations several times, very little has been altered. Going home is always a treat as it means I get to relax, enjoy home cooked meals, and feel more connected to my Arkansas roots than any other time.

Fall Break is now in the rearview mirror, but the time of rest at home was much needed. I ran a few errands that were on my to-do list, got a little practicing done (though not enough!), and slept. In the process, I also managed to do quite a bit of reading.

What I Finished This Week

Moby Dick by Herman Melville. There’s no nice way to say this — I hated this book. I loathed it. I absolutely detested Moby Dick! Does that make my feelings regarding the novel about the white whale clear enough? Truly, I thought that the final five chapters showed moments of absolute genius. However, that doesn’t make the other 500 pages worthy of another read. Melville should have made this a short story….even a novella….and would have had a much more effective piece of writing. I read it. I survived it. I’ll never read it again and I will now be able to defend my statement that I think Moby Dick is highly overrated. 1.75 stars.

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden. Such a fun read that was fast and filled with suspense. Told in two timelines, the story focuses on Sydney and Tom. Sydney has had bad luck dating the men of New York City, but seems to have finally met the man of her dreams in a doctor who came to her rescue after an attack. Tom was a high school student fascinated with blood who was suspected of a string of murders among the student body. When Sydney and Tom’s paths finally cross, is Sydney in real danger of being another victim of the psychopathic killer? Thankfully, despite the subject matter, McFadden manages to keep the reader engaged without relying on copious amounts of blood and gore on the pages. (I’m a wimp when it comes to reading graphically violent material.) This one is sure to keep you guessing until the end! 5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The 24th Hour by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (p. 257 of 359). It’s been a while since I returned to the world of the Women’s Murder Club series. Honestly, I had forgotten that there were books in the series that I hadn’t gotten around to reading. This one features two cases for the women and their husbands. A rape victim suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and hospital facing a cyber attack that threatens to compromise patient records — potentially causing death of the most at-risk patients — unless their financial demands are met. This is a fast moving ebook that is also a nice change of pace from some of the other stories that I’ve read recently. Sometimes, predictability is relaxing.

The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett (p. 152 of 357). Parsifal the magician has died. Left behind is his wife-in-name-only, Sabine. Now Sabine must deal with the grief of Parsifal’s mother and sisters that she never knew existed. This is proving to be a neat look at the reasons we leave and the definitions of family and love — all through the lens of a broken son after his death.

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Oct 13

Curling Up (October 13, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It has been an odd week for me. After getting back from a much needed weekend away, I returned to my real life only to find that my motivation was still on vacation. I wasn’t resting well. I still didn’t want to interact with people. I didn’t feel well emotionally or physically. The only thing I wanted to do was curl up somewhere under a blanket with a good book and read.

Well, I sort of wanted to read. The book that I finished this week was a joy to get through. The American classic that I am continuing to plow through was just that — a chore. Any other book, I would probably set aside. Because of the novel’s place in history, I feel as though I just need to push through to the end so I can say that I have read it and to see if I can figure out why it holds such a stable place in the literary canon.

What I Finished This Week

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. This book had been sitting in my TBR for quite some time. I selected it because I needed a cover font in a primary color. I was encouraged when I noticed a sticker on the cover declaring it the 2023 Book of the Year by the readers of The Book of the Month Club. What I discovered was a laugh out loud novel about two hurting people who find their way to each other. Jacob and Briana are both ER doctors. Jacob suffers from debilitating anxiety and is dealing with the heartbreak of a failed relationship. To make matters worse, Jacob’s ex is about to marry his brother. Briana’s divorce is about to be finalized and her brother is getting sicker with each passing day as he waits for a kidney transplant. The two enter an agreement to be “fake dates” to get Jacob through the awkward wedding season and end up falling in love, but both are too frightened because of past hurt to admit their feelings to the other. At times heartbreaking, this novel was an emotional roller coaster that left me rooting for true love to win out. The perfect story for me for the moment. 5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 420 of 552). This week has been a trudge through Melville’s writing. Lots of detailed descriptions of the various parts of a sperm whale’s anatomy mingled with a few interactions with other boats, warning the crew of the dangers of encounters with Moby Dick. I was getting so discouraged this week that I asked ChatGPT if the novel got better after chapter 79! I had to chuckle at the AI response: “Oh, the Moby Dick question!” I’ve charted out my daily reading goals to the end of the novel and if I can stay the course, I should be done with this one later this week. Perhaps when I reach the end I will understand why this is considered an American classic, because right now, I’m wondering why people (myself included) continue to read this horrible book.

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (p. 102 of 359). I cannot keep my nose out of this book at the moment! This is my first McFadden novel, but her work has been on my TBR for some time. The novel is written on duel timelines and the reader doesn’t yet know exactly how they are going to connect. Sydney is a single woman in her 30s living in NYC. Like most contemporary singles, Sydney is using online dating to find her perfect match. When her best friend, Bonnie, is brutally murdered in her apartment, Sydney questions the safety of her dating choices…especially after having an uncomfortable encounter in the days leading up to Bonnie’s death. This story is set against the story of Tom, a high school student living in an abusive home who is fascinated with blood, especially as it flows through the neck of the girl he is currently dating. McFadden’s novel is not overly graphic (at least, not so far), but there is definitely a high level of tension and suspense. I planned to stretch this book throughout the week to keep a moderate reading pace, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I really need to know what happens next!

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Oct 6

Looking for an Escape (October 6, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Happy Monday, dear readers! If you have been anything like me, I thought September was never going to end. With the month starting with Labor Day, it felt as though there were no breaks in sight and life just kept getting busier and busier with each passing day.

Last week was one for the record books as the calendar turned to October. It seemed that everything that could possibly go wrong DID go wrong. By the end of the week, I was desperate for an escape. Since I was already planning to be out of the office on Friday, I decided to take advantage of it and head over to Oklahoma City for a few days. I unplugged from work and spent a lot of time resting, relaxing, and recharging. Of course, that always means plenty of reading for me as you will see in this week’s post.

What I Finished This Week

Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart. This was a really fun read that was a nice diversion from the Melville novel that I’m slowly working my way through. What begins as an unexplained murder and a contempt charge when Frannie Hardy won’t reveal what she knows before the grand jury quickly turns on its head and keeps the reader guessing. Whether you are drawn into the conversation by the damage gasoline additives do to the environment or whether it is right for a parent to “kidnap” young children to protect them from an abusive caregiver, Lescroart masterfully weaves all of these issues — and more — into a seamless novel that will keep you guessing until the conclusion. This was my first experience with Lescroart’s work….but I don’t think it will be my last. 4.5 stars.

The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelace. I am not a fan of reading poetry. It’s too much work. Either I find myself trying to extrapolate meaning from just a few words or I am getting lost in the text because of the meter employed by the poet. When I saw that one of this year’s prompts was a story told in verse, I was not looking forward to the task. I had planned to read Paradise Lost by Milton since I did enjoy my experience with the work in the Great Books Colloquium at Pepperdine. When I tried to dive into the poem, I found it to be exhausting. After trying a few contemporary works that were suggested on Good Reads, I was beginning to worry that I would need to read a book by Dr. Seuss to check this prompt off of my list! While in a bookstore in Oklahoma City this weekend, I stumbled across Lovelace’s work. In The Mermaid’s Voice, the author presents a retelling of a classic fairytale that is interwoven with details of her personal experiences as a survivor of domestic violence. Since my sister was victimized by a Monster for several years, I came to The Mermaid’s Voice with a rather unique perspective. I found the poetry insightful, powerful, relatable, and (ultimately) hopeful. I would be interested to hear the responses to The Mermaid’s Voice of those who have survived the horrors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. 3.5 stars.

People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young. I adored this audiobook! The love story of Milo and Prue is nothing if not complicated. Milo runs from relationships because he is perpetually running from memories of disappointing his parents and the resulting abuse. Prue has shut herself off from the possibility of finding love because she must care for her mother who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The two ultimately find their way to each other and their chemistry is off the charts! (Read: spicy!) As they come to admit to themselves that they are actually falling in love, a horrible secret threatens to destroy the trust they have built in each other. Beautifully performed by Victoria Connolly and Brandon Francis, this was the perfect selection for me to complete the prompt of an audiobook with multiple narrators. While driving to and from Oklahoma City this weekend, I laughed and cried while rooting for love and maturity to ultimately win out. 5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 203 of 552). I have continued my slow-paced reading of this American classic. Typically, I’m trying to plow throughout about 30 to 40 pages each day. By the end of the week, I hit a major snag since I found myself wading through descriptions of various types of whales and finally getting the Pequod out to sea. I’m getting a bit discouraged with this one since I’m a little over a third of the way through the novel and it feels as though nothing is happening. Here’s hoping that there is some action ahead in the narrative of the white whale.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (p. 37 of 387). Since I finished so many books this weekend, I needed to start something else to keep me moving. Yours Truly was the 2023 Book of the Year from the Book of the Month Club, so it seemed like an appropriate pick. Here’s the early premise as I can see it. Briana is a doctor who is up for a promotion to Chief of the ER. Only she learns that her supervisor has decided to delay his retirement (and her promotion) for a few months so the staff can meet the new hot-shot doctor who is starting today….and might be a candidate for Chief. Enter Jacob, the new doctor. On the outside, it appears he has it all together. In reality, he suffers from debilitating anxiety and has had a horrible first day at the new job. Can it get any worse? Yep…Jacob sticks his foot in his mouth when speaking about a young patient in need of a kidney transplant. The patient is Briana’s younger brother. Despite some of the heavy topics, the book has a lightness so far that is making for a fun read. I’m hoping that continues as I make my way through this story this week.

September in Review

September felt like an absolute whirlwind of a month. Lots of activities at home and in the office meant that I didn’t have as much time to devote to reading this month. Still, I managed to stay in my routine of reading daily. That resulted in at least one book each week — which is my actual goal. After the massive reading month that August was, September felt like a bit of a slog though. Here’s a look at what I accomplished this month.

  • Books read in September: 5 books (down from 11 in August)
    • 4 print
    • 1 ebook
  • Pages read in September: 2,246 pages (down from 4,014 in August).
  • Highest rated book: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (2.75 stars)

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Sep 29

Making Discoveries (September 29, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s always fun to make new discoveries. This week, while reading a blog about economical ways to support a book addiction — let’s just admit that most voracious readers have a problem that we refer to as our “book collection” — I expected to just be encouraged to visit the library frequently and to embrace ebooks. What I actually discovered was a recommendation for a website called Paperback Swap. The premise is actually pretty simple. You list books with which you are willing to part and list them on the website; you are responsible for the postage, but there are no additional fees. For each book you send, you can request another book from a member. It’s been a fun motivation to peruse my bookshelves with a critical eye and re-discover some books I had forgotten about while also selecting a handful to send to a new home. So far, I have sent out two paperbacks and have a biography of soprano Marian Anderson on the way.

While searching my shelves for books to list on the website, I also found a few editions of the classic that I have begun reading this week. While I am enjoying reading primarily from an edition without footnotes and textual interruptions, it is nice to have those resources at hand when I get completely lost along the way. So I’m finally sitting down to read of Ishmael, Queequeg, and Ahab rather than dreading my journey along the open waves with them.

This week features one finish and three current reads. (I know, I know….my “one at a time” approach was very short lived….but it is going to keep me from getting completely overwhelmed by the classic American novel….at least, that’s my hope!)

What I Finished This Week

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover. After a couple of heavy reads last week, I was in the mood for something lighthearted. Something that would make me smile. O’Clover’s funny romance was a great fit for me this week. Louisa (called Lou by her friends) has been dating her musician boyfriend for nearly six years. His hit song “Purple Girl” is all about her and they live in Lou’s dream home outside of Denver. She has everything she could ever hope for….until she learns that the boyfriend has been cheating while on tour. Refusing to leave her home, but unable to pay the rent on her own, she decides to convert it into a bed-and-breakfast. Only problem? She has to convince the handsome veterinarian, Henry, who is now her landlord. Henry’s past begins to trouble him when he learns that Lou plans to target heartsick people who need to heal after a breakup when publicizing the Inn. The Heartbreak Hotel features a lovely cast of characters while exploring issues of self-confidence and family relations. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 81 of 552). I have never read this classic novel. I have started it several times and never found a rhythm to complete it. While planning for this year’s reading challenge, a young man who I respect greatly told me that I was missing out by not reading this novel. He went on to tell me that it was the greatest book ever written in his opinion. I decided that was enough of an endorsement to put Melville’s tale about the great whale on my TBR once again. My plan is to move through the book at a rather slow pace and couple it with contemporary works to see if that helps me find a better rhythm.

Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart (p. 101 of 439). Since Night Over Water by Ken Follett just wasn’t the right fit for me at the moment, I went on a search through my bookshelves for another novel with a title that begins with the letter N for the reading challenge. I picked up this novel randomly on a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Lescroart’s legal thrillers have been recommended to me many times, but I’ve never actually read one of them. This seems like the perfect opportunity to be introduced to the author and his famous character, Dismas Hardy. Here’s what I know about the story so far. Dismas’ wife, Frannie, was having coffee with Ron Beaumont on the morning of his wife’s murder (confusing and convoluted, right?) and is Ron’s alibi in the police investigation. When Frannie is called before the grand jury, she decides to keep a crushing secret that Ron shared with her in confidence rather than answer the court’s inquiries. When Frannie insults the judge, things become explosive and Frannie finds herself in jail for 4 days! That’s when Dismas discovers that Ron has emptied his condo and made a run for it with his two young children. This is a fast-paced, fun legal thriller that keeps the reader constantly on the edge of their seat as they try to decide what really happened and who is in the wrong.

People Watching by Hannah Bond-Young (2:09 of 10:21). I’m including this book in this week’s reading because technically I have started the book. I have some travel coming up later this week and one of my prompts for the reading challenge is an audiobook with multiple narrators. Two narrators and a beautiful cover were all the incentive I needed to download the book. I did a little listening at the end of the week to make sure I would connect with the story, but I plan for this to accompany me while I’m driving this week. This is the story of Milo and Prue. Milo is a down-on-his-luck artist, returning to his childhood hometown to assist his brother in launching his new business. Prue is caring for her mother, a retired art teacher struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. So far, it is the perfect blend of romance, humor, and tenderness. This is definitely a book I am going to enjoy!

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Feb 17

San Antonio Adventures (February 17, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

After our last visit, I made a whirlwind trip to San Antonio to represent Wayland at the Texas Music Educators’ Convention. With an attendance approaching 30,000, it should not be surprising that the convention center was buzzing with activity all week long. Long hours on the exhibit floor and lots of conversations with friends, colleagues, and prospective students meant that my reading was severely diminished this week.

Sadly, Friday was such a busy day (and also my birthday) that I failed to read a single page. Sigh. My streak of 54 consecutive days of reading a minimum of 20 pages has come to an end. I wasn’t too surprised. The last full day of TMEA is always a marathon with exhibits opening at 9am and we work straight through until we close the alumni reception around 11pm. Oh well, time to get to work on a new reading streak!

What I Finished This Week

Reset by Dan Heath. While driving to central Texas, I was able to finish this audiobook. I found many of the ideas presented in this book about changing the direction of your business when resistance is present very interesting and helpful. I anticipate that I will obtain a hard copy of the book in the future so I can review the material and reflect on it. 3 stars.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I finished this American novel in the quiet of a San Antonio hotel before all of the craziness of the week began. I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I found the examination of the life of a black woman in Georgia and Florida in the early 20th century to be engaging. While I was extremely surprised by the book’s ending, I found myself reflecting on the content for several days after finishing my reading. I selected this book as part of the “Happy Lunar New Year” mini-challenge; the prompt was “features a wise character.” 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton (p. 68 of 339) I knew that reading at TMEA would be challenging, so I wanted to read a fluff piece. As you can see, I didn’t get very far, but I am enjoying the book thus far. The basic premise is quite funny as well. An older woman’s family heirloom necklace was stolen from a museum. After the police could not retrieve it, she hired a private investigator to find it and return it. Thankfully, the PI was successful. Only problem — he returned a replica to the woman and is making for the hills with the valuable jewels. Fueled by their anger, a group of women devise a plan to steal the necklace from the thief and return it to its rightful owner.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (1:51 of 11:23). After a very loud week in San Antonio, I was looking forward to enjoying a bit of quiet on the drive home. After letting my ears recover for several hours, I was finally ready to begin a new audiobook. Since I didn’t plan for the drive, I selected a book already in my library. So far it is proving to be very humorous and makes fun of the typical “Hallmark romance” novels that so often make their way to my bookshelf.

That’s it for now. Even though I’m not traveling this week, things look as though they are going to be quite busy after all. Here’s hoping that I continue to make some progress in my reading pursuits this week.

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Feb 10

Rehearsals Have Returned (February 10, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Now that February is here, my time is no longer my own. Rehearsals for the children’s opera are in full swing. State music conferences are happening in the coming weeks. Recruitment is in full swing and it is also contest season in Texas. That means I’m spending a lot more time on the piano bench and fighting to find time to read each day. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — it’s just a seasonal change for the next few months.

Traditionally, the spring semester has always been a difficult time for me to maintain an active reading life style. In the past, I would get frustrated that I wasn’t making progress and simply give up as I watched my goals pass by unmet. This year, I’m taking a more realistic approach. My daily goal is to read 20 pages….so far, so good there. That smaller goal means that I may not read a book or two every week. I’m okay with that. As long as I am constantly making forward progress, then I am still on my way to achieving my goal of reading 52 books in 2025.

What I Finished This Week

Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong. For the first time in 2025, I have only read one book this week. I have to admit that I am a little sad about that, but I am deciding to focus on the progress instead of the lack of movement. This book fulfilled Prompt #1 in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge: A Pun in the Title.

Finding Mr. Write is a 2024 rom-com that had a lot to say about the publishing industry. Daphne is an author who has not been able to get her apocalyptic zombie novel published. On a whim, she adjusts her cover letter — focusing on the survival skills in the novel — and uses a man’s name instead of her own. In that moment, Daphne’s alter ego, Zane Remington, is born. To Daphne’s surprise (or perhaps, her frustration) Zane’s novel is published and climbs to the top of the best-seller list! Now, Daphne must find an actor to portray Zane in public appearances on the much anticipated book tour. Instead of finding an actor, Daphne hires Chris Stanton, a handsome accountant in need of extra cash. What follows is a charming story of role play, romance, and fun.

Unlike several of my previous reads, Finding Mr. Write spent more time exploring mutual attraction before the two characters finally begin to fall in love. While there are a few scenes that would be classified as “open door” as the book nears the end, the overall spice level of the book is very low. Overall, this was a very enjoyable, funny read for me. 4.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Reset by Dan Heath (1:32 of 6:17). Self-help books tend to be a challenge for me to read on audio. Reset has proven to be no different. As the week has been busy, I have found myself reverting to driving in silence. I have a longer drive coming up on Tuesday, so I anticipate getting this book finished and hopefully starting something new.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (p. 172 of 227). It is no surprise to me that I struggle reading literary books on my Kindle. There’s just something in my psyche that associates ebooks with fluff reading. I thought about driving to Barnes and Noble and picking up a copy of this book to add to my library, but I was tired and opted for the ease of reading the ebook. I’m intentionally delaying starting another novel until I can plow through the rest of this classic. I love the characters, but the dialect is forcing me to slow my reading pace to make sure I comprehend the material.

What’s Ahead?

I will spend most of the week in San Antonio attending the Texas Music Educators’ Conference. With some 10,000 participants from all over the state, this is a great time to speak with potential students while vision casting and dreaming with my colleagues. That also means that I won’t get a lot of reading done this week. (I find it difficult to read if other people are around.) So my goal for the week will be to read something rather light on my Kindle this week — Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton.

There’s a plan in place. Now we will just have to see if I reach the goal when we chat again next Monday….

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Feb 3

The Long January is Over (February 3, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Was it just me or did it feel as though January started about 3 months ago? Maybe that explains why it has been such a good month for my reading life. This week saw a 5 star read and a classic American novel that I’ve always avoided finally making its way into my reading stack — although I don’t know why I was frightened now that I’ve started reading it.

What I Finished This Week

The Princess Bride by William Golden. This book was my final book for my January goals for The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge. I was using it to fulfill the “Adventure story” challenge (prompt #38). Having seen bits and pieces of the movie based on the novel, I found myself visualizing many of the key scenes of the book and smiling along the way. However, I also found myself confused and just ready for the book to end. The final 100 pages of the novel were especially unsatisfying to me. I don’t think I’ve ever said this before — but watch the movie and just skip the book. 2.75 stars.

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner. I’m not going to bore you with a plot synopsis because that suggests that I somewhat recommend the book. While it had some cute moments and I thought that having a character that might be on the spectrum as a leading man in a romance was interesting, this book isn’t going to be a good fit for most readers. It was my end of the month audiobook, so I listened through to the end. 2 stars.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover. I cannot sing this novel’s praises enough! What an absolutely incredible book! Reminders of Him had been stashed in my Kindle library for quite a while, but I never got around to picking it up. Now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Although it is only early February, I anticipate this novel will contend for the best book of 2025.

What’s the book about, you ask? Kenna has served 5 years in prison for the death of her boyfriend, Scotty. It was actually a car accident. But Kenna was driving the car….and she left Scotty alone. At the time of the accident and through the trial, Kenna didn’t know that she was pregnant. Once she gave birth early in her sentence, the pre-mature child was taken from her immediately to be raised by Scotty’s parents. Now that Kenna has been released, she returns to the scene of the crime in the hopes of obtaining forgiveness and connecting with the daughter she has never met. Although I haven’t read many of Hoover’s novels, I have enjoyed all that I have experienced so far. Reminders of Him had me laughing and sobbing as I explored ideas of grief, forgiveness, and loss with an amazingly lovable cast of characters. 5 stars!

What I’m Currently Reading

Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong (p. 72 of 357). February is here and it is time to begin reading more books to fulfill prompts of the 2025 challenge. I borrowed this book from my local library to read for the “Pun in the Title” challenge (prompt #1). I’m not very far into the book, but I’m finding it really cute so far.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (p. 43 of 227). As though the 2025 challenge wasn’t going to keep me busy enough, I found myself sucked into the February mini challenge too! This Lunar New Year challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore some authors I’ve not read before. For the prompt “features a wise character,” I’m finally going to read this 1937 American novel and I’ve already fallen in love with the rhythm of the language and the story itself.

Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working by Dan Heath (1:12 of 6:17). I wanted to take a brief foray into self-help audiobooks. As soon as I read the description of Reset, I knew that it was a book that would be beneficial. I’m hoping to pick up some tips to help correct some broken systems in my personal and professional life.

January Stats

It’s time to look at the numbers. I’m actually very pleased with the reading that I got done in the first month of 2025.

  • Books read this month: 12
  • Highest rated: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated: Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (2 stars)

February is going to bring some unique challenges with it — specifically 2 trips and opera rehearsals beginning — but I’m hopeful that I will be able to maintain my process and make continued progress to my goal for 2025.

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Jun 25

#13: Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck (William Souder)

by kennithfreeman

After a long wait, I finally read a book over the summer break! I’m thrilled to say that the drought is over and I am once again enjoying my time with my nose in a book. What got me back into the grove? This amazing biography of American author, John Steinbeck.

Mad at the World is not a dry biography at all. Souder examines Steinbeck’s life and world in a conversational manner set against riveting explorations of world events. It is so important that we never forget that artists — authors, composers, painters — are never creating their works in a vacuum. The impact of their surroundings and world events cannot be ignored. Souder did an excellent job of merging the two sides of this complex reality that left this reader wanting even more.

Souder’s biography is not just about Steinbeck’s life and relationships. Souder examines each of the author’s works, providing a brief synopsis of the overall plot without disclosing too many spoilers. I have read many of Steinbeck’s works over the years, but it was nice to have an introduction to some of the lesser known works as well. I’ve added a few of them to my TBR as a result of reading this work. I especially found the discussions between Steinbeck and the staff of Viking Publishing quite interesting.

A fascinating read that has me thinking about future reading projects. I especially found myself interested in learning more about the presidencies of Hoover and FDR. I’ve considered beginning to read biographies of the 20th century men who have held this highest political office. Obviously, the other potential project is reading more biographies of major American authors. While this definitely intrigues me, I can’t come up with a way to put a measurable outline on the project. I need to know where the “end” is going to be in order to declare the project completed.

What’s next on the agenda? I’m moving back into fiction for a bit. I’ve picked up a paperback that grabbed my attention this spring and am now fully engrossed in After the End by Clare Mackintosh. I’ll let you know how it goes!

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