Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Nov 24

Impatient Reader Alert (November 24, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

As the chill in the air grew more demanding this week, my desire to fight the chill with a good book in my hands became more intense this week. I couldn’t stand that I wasn’t spending enough time in the car to really make progress on my audiobook just as the story was pulling at my heart strings. Thankfully, I searched the library database before buying the ebook because I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. There was also a bit of excitement to finish these reads because I was ready to dive into the ones planned for this week. Something else needs to be done? Probably not going to happen right now because I would rather lose myself in the pages of a novel.

What I Finished This Week

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. This was a fun, fast-paced novel that featured a stereotypical enemies-to-lovers trope. Lucy and Josh are both assistants to the CEOs after their publishing company merged. The two are mortal enemies, constantly looking for ways to embarrass the other. Things have spiraled out of control so much that HR has become involved on numerous situations. When a restructuring is announced with a new position — a sure promotion for one of them — matters escalate! Do they really hate each other though? Or are they refusing to accept that they are attracted to each other? Thorne’s novel is very funny throughout and takes a poignant turn at the end as Josh is forced to deal with some demons from his past at a family wedding. All in all, I enjoyed the experience of reading this book even if it wasn’t of the highest quality (but skip the movie adaptation). 3.5 stars.

Pachinko by Min Jim Lee. I got frustrated this week that I was getting to spend so little time with this amazing story since I was reading it as an audiobook in my car. You can’t imagine how relieved I was to find that my local library had a copy of the book available. I cannot sing the praises of Pachinko enough! This is an absolutely beautiful book. It tells the story of a woman, Sunja, who emigrated to Japan from Korea with her new husband in order to give birth to her illegitimate son away from the judgmental eyes of her countrymen. What follows is a family saga unlike anything I have read, spanning 3 generations. With unexpected plot twists, Lee lovingly looks at the plight of the displaced Koreans and the racism they encountered. I read this book to fulfill one of the prompts for the January 2025 mini-challenge from The 52 Book Club. This is an example of why I so enjoy the reading challenge; I would have never picked up this novel on my own since the title did not mean anything to me. Thankfully, what I discovered is an exceptional author whose other works are now on my TBR and an amazing story that has changed my perspective. 5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Among Friends by Hal Ebbott (p. 117 of 309). This book was a random selection for me from The Book of the Month Club. I selected it because I liked the cover art and it is a debut novel by this author. I always enjoy giving new writer’s an opportunity to become part of my circle of friends. So far, I’m having a mixed reaction to the book. Portions of it are really well written and incredibly vivid. However, I’m finding that the characters lack depth, making it challenging to differentiate between them as the point of view shifts. Because it is a fast read, I’m willing to see it through to the end. I don’t think Ebbott is going to make a very good impression on his audience or the critics.

Upcoming Plans….

On Tuesday evening, I will travel to my parents’ home for Thanksgiving Break. I hope that means I will have plenty of time to read in the airports, on the flights, and at home. So I plan to finish the November 2025 mini-challenge and make some progress on the April 2025 challenge this week. Here’s what that will look like.

  • “Let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding” (April 2025): Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall.
  • Related to the word “perspicacious” (November 2025): Among Friends by Hal Ebbott
  • A series that’s not finished yet (November 2025): Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros – Book 2 of the Empyrean series

At least, that’s the plan. But plans have a way of changing, don’t they? I’m headed to the library on Monday morning to return Pachinko, so browsing the shelves seems like something that simply must happen. Who knows what I might pick up to read while I’m there?

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Nov 17

Eye Problems (November 17, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Reading was a challenge this week. At the beginning of the week, I was so tired that I just wanted to crawl in bed as soon as I got home from work. I managed to meet my minimum goal each day, but that was about it. As the end of the week drew near, I was getting back into my reading routine. That’s when an irritating stye decided to arrive on my left eyelid. It isn’t horribly painful, but my eyes become tired more quickly at the moment. So, I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but I’m happy with the end results.

What I Finished This Week

Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline. Set in Sicily (a nation with an active volcano), Loyalty is about a series of kidnappings that plague the small village. The police do nothing to solve the crimes. One man, a lawyer who was almost a priest, searches for the missing children. Against this backdrop, the plot also focuses on the first Mafia family in Sicily, gaining their power as they protect the island nation’s lemon harvest. If this description sounds confusing to you, then you understand exactly how I felt about Scottoline’s novel. While I have greatly enjoyed her previous works that I have read, Loyalty was convoluted and unnecessarily difficult to follow. With no less than 5 plots running parallel throughout the novel, Scottoline attempts to portray the various classes found on Sicily. The problem is that the stories do not converge until the final 100 pages of the book. By that point, I was simply ready for this novel to be over so I could start the next one. 2.75 stars.

What I DNF’d This Week

Grant by Ron Chernow. I managed to read another 50 pages of this brick this week and found the life of soon-to-be President Grant fascinating. With over 800 pages remaining of this biography, I simply could not commit to finishing the book. Other reads were calling to me and this one just felt like homework instead of something that I was enjoying. Too many books, too little time!

What I’m Currently Reading

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (9:31 of 17:49). This week brought me just over halfway through this marvelous audiobook. Most of this week’s reading was set in Japan in the years leading up to the American bombing at the end of World War II. The story focused heavily on Christian persecution, the role of women, and the importance of the extended family. This is a massive story that spans decades. While it is longer than I would typically read in an audio format, the narration is exceptional and I find myself completely drawn into the story.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (p. 64 of 363). There’s nothing quite like starting a new book on Monday morning to start the new week. The title basically sums up the story as I know it so far. Lucy and Joshua are co-workers now that the two publishing companies merged. Both were executive assistants to the CEO. The merge was not peaceful at all, so there are co-CEOs and two executive assistants sitting across from each other. Complaints have been made to HR by both Lucy and Joshua. Now the company is undergoing a major restructuring and both Joshua and Lucy are up for the job. Let the competition and the hatred begin. I selected this to fulfill the prompt in the November mini-challenge of a book set in an office.

Drumroll, Please!

With this week’s completion of Loyalty, I have successfully completed the main 2025 reading challenge of The 52 Book Club! Let the celebration begin! I have long had a goal of reading 52 books in a single calendar year, but always fell short and didn’t think it was an obtainable goal for me. Actually, Loyalty is my 70th book of 2025. I don’t know that this will be the normal pace for me from now on, but I do know that I have really enjoyed reading for the prompts provided. Just because I think it is a thing of beauty that I want to see again, here is the completed graphic of my 2025 reading challenge.

What’s the Plan for the Rest of 2025?

The 52 Book Club also extended several mini-challenges over the course of the year. I didn’t do a lot of reading towards those challenges because I thought I would struggle to complete the main challenge. Now I will see what I can do toward those other challenges. With 6 1/2 weeks remaining in the year, let’s see what I can knock out of those. First up is a fluff piece for one of the November mini-challenge prompts — a book set in an office.

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Nov 10

Wordless Week in Waco (November 10, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

This has been a busy week! Most of my time was devoted to the student auditions of Texoma NATS held at Baylor University in Waco. That meant lots of rehearsals and playing for singers to compete in a massive competition and not a lot of reading time. By the time I got home each day, my eyes were rather tired and I didn’t want to hear another sound — so that meant audiobooks were out of the question. Still, I managed to finish one of my reads somehow. I’ll take progress any way I can get it!

What I Finished This Week

One Day in December by Josie Silver. Needing to read a book set in Winter to meet my penultimate prompt of the 2025 challenge, I decided on this novel. Laurie first sees Jack on a cold winter day while riding a bus, but their paths do not immediately cross. Was it love at first sight? It appears so and Laurie searches for him for over a year. When she finally finds him, things do not go as she had hoped because her best friend has introduced Jack as the love of her life. Over the course of a decade, Jack and Laurie remain in each other’s spheres of influence….but the timing never seems right. Laurie marries another man. Jack is in several relationships as he searches for purpose in his career after a near fatal accident. Through heartbreak, divorce, family crises, and personal growth, Jack and Laurie ultimately find their way to each other. Silver builds a charming story where true love wins out while asking lots of questions about if we should settle for our “almost perfect” person in hopes that true love will ultimately grow. This novel didn’t feel as though it was formulaic although it did end as this reader expected (and hoped). 3.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Grant by Ron Chernow (p. 82 of 959). This book had the least progress this week. With students in my car, I didn’t want to listen to much on audio during the drive. During a busy week, this was also not the text that I turned to at the end of a long day. I managed to get through a single chapter this week in order to make a little progress. I intend to push this book back into my reading routine this week and see if I can make some significant progress toward my big book for Nonfiction November.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2:36 of 17:49). Since I’m getting close to completing the main portion of the 2025 reading challenge, I decided it was time to start working on some of the mini-challenges. First up is the conclusion of the January challenge — all associated with the celebration of Lunar New Year. I only need one more book to complete this mini-challenge: a book set in a country that celebrates Lunar New Year. Pachinko seemed like a great fit and has proven to be an enjoyable read so far. Set in Japan, it is the story of a Korean immigrant family that begins when a young woman becomes pregnant by a powerful Korean man. Rather than facing the imminent shunning, Sunja accepts the offer to marry a gentle, sickly minister on his way to Japan. A National Book Award finalist, Pachinko is enthralling and deeply engaging. I’m excited to resume my listening routine this week and see how the story continues to progress.

2026 Reading Challenge Planning

The wait is over! The 52 Book Club dropped the prompts for the 2026 reading challenge this week. My social media feeds are filled with readers who are planning their new challenge while many of us are still in the process of completing the 2025 challenge. With a busy week in Waco, I have perused the prompts but not given much thought to the new books. I’m excited to explore The Godfather in the coming year as well as finally taking a look at works like Dune and The Song of Achilles. Beyond that, I’m really focusing on completing the main challenge before I dive into intense planning for 2026. If anyone wants to join me in the new reading challenge that starts on January 1, 2026, check out the link above and start your planning!

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Nov 3

Fall is in the Air (November 3, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

As the calendar began to turn another page, the weather decided to change as well. There is no doubt that we are now in the heart of Fall in Texas. With the cooler temperatures and earlier darkness (thank you, Daylight Savings Time), I was in the mood for warm and cozy reads. Two of this week’s finishes definitely fit that bill.

What I Finished This Week

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. I have overlooked this novel for many years. I wish I could provide a good explanation of why this was the case. I think it might have been an association with the trailer for the film adaptation. I also think that I was convinced that a novel about a woman in her kitchen in Mexico could not be interesting to me. Whatever the reason for avoiding the novel, I had no idea what I was missing! This is a beautiful tale of complicated love, difficult familial relationships, and the power of food. The magical realism that is widely prevalent in Latin literature was incredibly effective in Esquivel’s tale. I never found myself thinking about how unrealistic the events were; somehow, the magic was woven seamlessly into the fabric of the land and people. I anticipate that this will be a novel that I will want to revisit soon. 4 stars.

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia. The cover of this book alone caught my attention as I made a quick selection of an audiobook last week. It just looks as though it is going to be a cozy read….and it was! I found myself looking for excuses to spend more time in my car just so I could listen. (Yes, I eventually curled up in my recliner with a blanket over my legs, put in my earbuds, and listened in my reading spot.) Michelle is recently divorced and needs some time to evaluate her life. So she decides to spend a few months in Vermont and manage the family bed-and-breakfast after her mother’s unexpected passing. With her dog Rocket along for the ride, Michelle meets the handsome neighbor, Cliff, and his two daughters. What starts as an uncomfortable interaction quickly grows to attraction. We watch as both of the divorcees struggle with their emotional baggage while trying to come to terms with how they feel about each other. If It Makes You Happy was a charming read that had me laughing and crying as I became more invested with this cast of characters. 4.5 stars.

Burnout, Who? by Chloe Grant. As November approached, I decided that I wanted to participate in Nonfiction November. My plan is not to read nonfiction exclusively, but to at least read a couple of books this month that are out of my comfort zone and that are not directly related to my profession. Since I have also come to terms with the harsh truth that I am dealing with a bit of personal burnout, Grant’s book seemed like an appropriate choice for the moment. Burnout, Who? is not a deep dive into the condition that plagues countless perfectionists as well as those who struggle maintaining personal boundaries. Rather, the book offers practical advice for getting out of the situation that saps your energy without going to the extreme measure of resigning or changing careers. Grant provided some good tips that I plan to employ in the coming weeks, but I also found the book very repetitive and a bit too superficial. 2.5 stars.

What I DNF’d This Week

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I gave it a good try for a few days, but I just couldn’t do the magical realism right now. The writing was good. The prose was absolutely beautiful. I didn’t connect with the story and had no pull to the book’s pages. Rather than fight during an incredibly busy season of my life, I decided to make a quick decision to DNF the novel and make another selection.

What I’m Currently Reading

Grant by Ron Chernow (p. 49 of 959). Once I decided to participate in Nonfiction November, I also decided to select something that could fit the September mini-challenge over on The 52 Book Club. The challenge is simple — pick your biggest read of the year and beat it. I decided to interpret “biggest” as the book with the most pages. The biggest book of 2025 thus far has been Anna Karenina coming in at 864 pages. Chernow’s biography of U.S. Grant is written in a gentle prose that has been fairly easy to read thus far and doesn’t spend too much time diving into tangents along the way. The focus remains firmly on President Grant. In the little that I have read, I feel I have a good understanding of Grant’s personality and the ways that his upbringing influenced the man that he would become. I’m reading this book on my Kindle as a loan from my local library, making it easy to read a few pages while I’m waiting for a student or standing in line. With upcoming travel later this week, I hope to make some significant progress in this biography when I’m between auditions.

One Day in December by Josie Silver (p. 28 of 392). I just started this one on Sunday evening, so I’m not far at all. Earlier that afternoon, I went to my local Barnes and Noble looking for books to fulfill the last two prompts of the 2025 challenge — a book set in Winter and one set in a country with an active volcano. One Day in December is the Winter selection. Laurie stares out the window of a public bus on a cold winter evening just before the holidays begin. She notices a handsome man sitting at the bookshop, reading a book. She wills him to step onto the crowded bus at the very moment that their eyes meet. Sadly, the bus pulls away just as the mysterious stranger approaches the door and Laurie is left alone. This begins a search through the bars and crowded spaces of London as Laurie looks for her “bus stop guy.” Is it a sappy premise? Absolutely! However, it is a Reese’s Book Club selection, so I’m hoping that it will ultimately morph into something other than just a holiday romance. Either way, I’ll be one step closer to the end of the 2025 challenge!

October in Review

October was a month full of travel. It featured a weekend getaway to Oklahoma City and a few days in the Geriatric Ward with my parents. I traveled to “almost Kansas” Texas for a performance (plus the 6 hours in the car) and survived a NASM site visit at the end of the month. On top of all of that, there was a LOT of baseball to follow as the postseason got going and demanded my attention. Despite all of that activity, I still had a very successful month of reading.

  • Books read in October: 8 (up 3 from September)
    • 6 print
    • 1 ebook
    • 1 audiobook
  • Pages read in October: 3,454 pages (up 1,208 pages from September)
  • Highest rated books: People Watching by Hannah Banham-Young; Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez; and The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden – 5 stars.
  • Lowest rated book: Moby Dick by Herman Melville – 1.75 stars.

2025 Reading Challenge – The 52 Book Club

It is no secret that I have been actively participating in the 2025 challenge from The 52 Book Club this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and have had a lot of fun discovering new authors while also revisiting some old favorites. As November begins, I am in a really good place with this year’s challenge. I only have 2 prompts remaining in the main challenge. (Books have been purchased for both prompts and are sitting in my reading pile as I type this post.) As soon as I get that goal met, I’ll turn my attention to the many mini-challenges that have appeared throughout the year. I doubt I’m able to complete all of those as well by year’s end, but I should be able to make a fairly good dent in them.

Because it is November, those of us participating in the challenge are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the 2026 challenge that will come at any time this month. Part of the fun is guessing when the new announcement will drop on social media. If you have any questions about the reading challenge, I’d be happy to share my experience or you can check it out for yourself by visiting the52book.club and look under the challenges tab.

It has been a lot of fun creating a graphic representation of the books I have read for each of the prompts this year. I’ll be sharing it again in a few weeks when I fill in the final two books, but here is where it stands at the moment.

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Oct 27

On the Road Again (October 27, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Another week has come and gone. This one has been a little different as I have spent more than my fair share of time on the road. A quick trip to Canyon to participate in Opera of the Plains’ Death by Aria event on Tuesday evening was a lot of fun. Thursday’s drive to Perryton, Texas was long, but a great time to take a few deep breaths and clear my mind. As the weekend came around, I found myself taking a few trips down to Lubbock to take care of some errands.

And the driving is not quite over. Next week, I’ll head to Waco for a few days of playing. There’s still a lot that needs to be done in preparation for that trip, but I think I’ll get it all done. (At least, that’s what I keep telling myself!)

What has that meant for my reading? Just the inclusion of an audio book into my reading routine. Also means that I’m being more selective in what I’m reading at the moment as the end of the 2025 challenge is in sight.

What I Finished This Week

The 24th Hour by James Patterson. It was time to return to the familiar world of the Women’s Murder Club. What can I say? I enjoy the predictability of these books from time to time. It’s also nice to know that there is a series that I have almost read in its entirety. While 24th Hour did continue along the regular plot scheme, the inclusion of a long awaited wedding for a couple of the characters was a nice addition. There was nothing earth shattering in the reading, but it was still a very pleasurable experience. 3.75 stars.

The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett. This was my first experience with one of Ann Patchett’s novels (although I had tried to read Bel Canto with no success). I enjoyed the story and really liked how the story unfolded by revealing bits of truth, allowing the complex plot to slowly unravel for the reader. I read this to fulfill the prompt of a book that features a magician. Although Parsifal the Magician dies before the novel opens, he is very present throughout the book through reflection and appearances in dreams. I feel compelled to offer a warning — if you are triggered by reading about domestic violence, this is not a good book for you. While the topic is handled with respect and great sensitivity, it is a major plot point that reappears throughout. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia (5:55 of 13:47). This week required a long drive to the very northern part of the Texas panhandle. With about 6 hours scheduled on the road, I decided this was the perfect time to start an audiobook. The first plan was to read Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher to fit the prompt of a book set in winter. However, I found the audiobook’s narrator difficult because of her accent and voice timbre. The story also progressed very slowly. I knew this was not going to be a good book for me. That “wasted” a three hour drive. Before heading back home, I decided to give Julie Olivia’s book a chance. The premise is pretty expected. After her mother’s sudden death, Michelle heads to a small town to take care of the bed-and-breakfast for a few months. Her new nextdoor neighbor is the single dad that runs the local bakery. Michelle’s opinion of the handsome baker moves from annoyance to lust fairly quickly. It’s an easy read that is appropriate for the cooling autumn weather around here.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (54 of 448). This novel has been on my shelf ever since it was selected for Oprah’s Bookclub in January, 2004. Winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize for literature, the novel served as an introduction to many mainstream readers to magical realism. Throughout the year’s challenge, I have constantly delayed reading something that includes Latin American history because of my unfamiliarity with the topic. I didn’t know what era of history I would like to explore in a fictional work. I decided that I simply needed to take the plunge this week and start reading the book. Here goes…..

Upcoming Plans

I’ve decided to participate in “Nonfiction November” this year. That’s going to be a real challenge for me as I don’t generally read nonfiction in my leisure reading. I’ve not made any definitive plans at this point, but I have made some decisions. I don’t plan to read anything related to my work — so no music biographies or books about educational issues. My early thoughts is that I’ll read two nonfiction books in November. One will probably be of a spiritual nature; the other is still being considered. I’ve considered reading a Presidential biography, but I’ve also thought about some kind of self-help book. I just don’t know where I want to go yet. The only thing that is certain is that I’ll share the details throughout the month of November with you here on Reading for Me.

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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!

2025 Reading Challenge American author audio classic romance Series The 52 Book Club thriller

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May 12

Can I Start Vacation Already? (May 12, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s the second week of May and I am still in school. Really? It feels as though this semester started two years ago! Good grief…..students and faculty are dragging our butts across the finish line and have finally made it to finals. Just a few more days before I can officially check out for a bit.

As we pushed to the end of classes, I just did not have the energy to do as much reading as I would have liked. Still, I managed to tick off two books from my reading list this week.

What I Finished This Week

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill. I thought I was never going to get to the end of this one. The stream of consciousness writing style was not a hit for me. I found the plot — a marriage falling apart — very unsettling. I decided to read this one in a digital format because I wasn’t really interested in adding it to my bookshelf. Ebooks are not a good format for me; I think the problem is that I don’t always have a sense that I am making progress in my reading. I finished the read in order to mark off another prompt of the 52 Book Challenge (stream of consciousness narrative), but I don’t want to repeat the experience. 1 star.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. I was aware of this book because of the Hollywood adaptation. If I’m honest, the film’s previews turned me off from reading the book; I just wasn’t interested. When the book popped up as a recommendation in my Audible account, I decided to take a chance. (I was also aware that the first mini-challenge for 2025 from the 52 Book Club included a prompt to read a book by an Asian author.) I struggled with this story in the beginning. I think part of my issues were associated with the accents used by the narrator to provide authenticity and I was having a bit of trouble keeping all of the names of the characters straight. But I continued to listen, I found the story to be witty, insightful, and thoughtful. All in all, I ended up enjoying the story. I wish the resolution was a little clearer. I would have liked to have gotten pulled into the story sooner. But it was a good read overall. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery: Focus, Flow, and Freedom by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 22 of 148). As the week ended, I was having lots of conversations with students about time management. As I was reflecting on what I was saying to them, I realized that my go-to time management resource was published in 2001. It’s probably time to look and see what other resources are available that might be more impactful to today’s student. While browsing my Kindle, I stumbled across this short book. It seems to consider creatives and focuses on aligning the things we devote our time to with where our values are. I’ve just started the book, but I am looking forward to spending some time in its pages this week.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 67 of 335). As the semester was winding down, it felt like the appropriate time to dive into one of the classic novels that are scheduled for this year. I have a shameful confession to make as well….I have never read one of Austen’s novels in its entirety. Somehow, I avoided Pride and Prejudice throughout my education. I was assigned Emma as an undergrad and bluffed my way through the class discussions. Now, it is time to actually tangle with this classic British novel. I selected this Austen novel because I have heard that it is her best from several sources and I already had a reliable edition on hand. I gave myself permission to move through the novel at a slower pace so I can focus on what I’m reading and not feel as though I’m working against a deadline. So far, I am finding Emma to be a delightful young woman who has a unique perspective on her society and her circumstances. I’m hoping that since things are a little slower this week, I’ll be able to relax into the story a bit more and get comfortable with the author’s writing style. I anticipate this book will accompany me on my flight to Hawaii this weekend.

2025 Reading Challenge audio classic Mini Challenge non-fiction The 52 Book Club

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May 6

Music in Amarillo (May 5, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s a rainy Tuesday morning as I write this post. I’ve found myself playing a bit of catch-up since the last half of the week was spent in Amarillo where I judged piano soloists in the Greater Southwest Music Festival. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the wonderful musicians in Amarillo, but once I got back to Plainview on Sunday afternoon, I realized just how much work there was to do to put the semester to bed!

While in Amarillo, I stayed at the Courtyard Downtown, a historic building in a revitalized part of the city. The room was so spacious and comfortable. What did that mean? Rest…..lots and lots of rest. Still, I managed to make process toward my reading goals as well.

What I Finished This Week

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. As you might recall from last week’s post, a good friend from my time at Pepperdine recommended this book to me. I quickly picked up the book and could not put it down. Without giving too much away, Haig weaves a tale that considers what might happen in the realm between death and life. In this universe, our heroine finds herself in the Midnight Library — filled with all of the various stories that her life might have taken with each choice possibility she faced. What if she had continued swimming in high school? What if she decided to follow her interest in philosophy in college? Maybe she would have found happiness if she had signed the recording deal with her brother’s band? Or maybe she just should have said yes to coffee with the shy guy. So many possibilities…..and so many different versions of her life to explore! Only one problem — she must decide which life to continue in before time begins to move forward again in the Midnight Library! Haig fashions a beautiful story that is thoughtful and filled with hope and light. 4 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (7:17 of 13:53). I continue to make my way through this story in the car. It might be time to pull out the AirPods and listen outside of the drive to get this one out of my reading rotation. I’m enjoying the story, but I’ll want something new for upcoming drives.

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (p. 114 of 177) This has turned out to be a very difficult read for me. Basically, it is all about watching a marriage and family fall apart from the mind of the betrayed wife. Written in a modified stream of consciousness style, it is challenging to keep pace with the story as other issues of survival, revenge, and mourning enter the inner dialogue. Offill’s short novel will be my focus piece for the week. I just have to get this off of my plate soon.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 26 of 335). I knew I wanted to at least start one of my May reads while away this week. Emma is one of those books that has a special place in my memory though I never actually read it. It was assigned for one of my literature classes at Pepperdine (maybe Great Books Colloquium?) and I remember enjoying the conversation a lot. But I was at a point in my life where reading Austen did not come easily and I didn’t think I had time to enter her world. I skimmed through to get the basic details and survive the reading assignments. This text wasn’t figuring into my end-of-term project, so I wrote it off. Now it’s time to actually dive into the text. I anticipate this will take a bit longer to read and that’s why I’ve decided to set aside quiet time at home to sit with this book each day. Here’s hoping that I can get through at least half of the book this week.

That’s where I am. Hope you are all enjoying your reading life right now and that you are planning some relaxing summer reading for the days and weeks ahead.

Until next Monday…..

~Kennith

2025 Reading Challenge audio classic

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Apr 28

The Beginning of the End (April 28, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Last weekend lulled me into a false sense of security and relaxation. Once I returned to the office on Tuesday, I realized just how much there was that still had to be done before the end of the term and the beginning of summer break. Stressing about a few things caused stomach issues and headaches that hindered this week’s reading. I think I’ve gotten a handle on the stress and a plan to successfully get everything done without completely losing my mind.

What I Finished This Week

If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. I cannot sing this book’s praises enough! I absolutely adored this read. What was so special about it? First of all, it was the read that got me out of a reading slump and I found myself devouring this story in just a few days. The story centers around a recent graduate from fashion school who is obsessed with shoes. As a plus-size woman, she has found it difficult to find clothing that expresses her personal fashion and doesn’t think she will be taken seriously in the industry. While flying back to Los Angeles for a few weeks to help her stepmother, she is dazzled by a charming man who seems to see the woman she is on the inside. Sadly, she fails to get his number before leaving the airport. Her stepmother is the producer of a reality dating show and our Cinderella-in-waiting ends up filling a spot that was vacated at the last minute. At the first taping, she discovers that her Prince Charming from the plane is the suitor for the season. If The Shoe Fits is a funny, witty story about love, self-esteem, and clothing. Unlike most other romances on the market these days, there is little in the book that would embarrass your grandmother. 4.5 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (6:37 of 13:53). I can tell that I am not spending as much time in the car as I was earlier this spring. Audiobooks are requiring a little more time to get through as a result. The story is enjoyable, but I have to remind myself to turn on the book when I’m driving right now because I’m not constantly interacting with the book.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (p. 134 of 288). This book was recommended to me by one of my mentors and dear friend, Bob White. When Bob recommended the book, I immediately put it on my TBR and bought it on my next visit to the bookstore. The book centers around the question of what happens in the time just before death. In Haig’s imagination, we find ourselves in a magical library filled with books that reveal how our life might have been different if we had made different choices. It is an intriguing premise that grabbed my attention from the very beginning.

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (p. 18 of 177). I decided to add an ebook to my reading rotation again now that I thought things were “slowing down.” (Yeah, right!) My plans to read this book during lunch breaks came to naught. The quasi-stream of consciousness writing is requiring more of my attention when I read than I first expected. (Why can’t a short book actually be a quick read?)

April in Review

April was a busy month and it felt as though I accomplished less in my reading life than what the numbers suggest. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised earlier today when I realized what I have accomplished this month.

  • Books read in April: 5 books (even with March’s reading)
    • 4 physical
    • 1 audio
    • 5 fiction
  • Pages read in April: 1,336 pages (down 494 pages from March)
  • Highest rated book: The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (0.5 stars)

What’s Ahead in May

I need to finish The Midnight Library and Dept. of Speculation to close out my April plans (that underwent some serious modifications this month). That is the first time in this challenge read that I have found so many books that I simply could not read. I’m not worried about that because I found substitutions pretty quickly.

May is always an exciting reading time of year for me personally. With finals week and the beginning of summer living, I get to turn my attention to a few longer works and hopefully complete more books than I have planned for the month. At the end of the month — with the arrival of Memorial Day — I’ll begin my second adventure in Big Book Summer. The idea was first started by Sue Jackson on BookByBook.Blogspot.com. It is quite simple….any book over 400 pages qualifies and you read as many BIG BOOKS as you wish. The challenge runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. I try to read one big book each month, May through September…..but I probably won’t wait until Memorial Day to dive into the first one of the summer.

What’s on the TBR this month? I’m actually rather excited about several of these!

  • The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer
  • Emma by Jane Austen
  • Lady Chatterly’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
  • Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (This is May’s Big Book coming in at a whopping 947 pages!)

I’m thinking that I might start with either the Austen or the Lawrence to knock out one of the classics early on before my brain goes completely into summer vacation mode.

2025 Reading Challenge audio classic plans romance The 52 Book Club

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