What would have normally been a very restful week turned a bit crazy. Last week was final’s week. Typically, I give a few exams, play a handful of juries, submit my grades, and get some work done for the next term. This time, I took care of exams, juries, and grades in a couple of days as I arranged to travel to Memphis for a family funeral. Then I jetted off on Thursday, attended the service on Friday, and cared for my parents over the weekend. Then I jumped back on a plane today to return to Texas to tie up a few loose ends. It was a good trip that I am glad I was able to take, but I’m pooped!
Even though I am feeling a little behind at the moment, I did continue to have a productive reading life. Here’s a quick look at the two books that I read this week as well as the newest audio start. (I still have to decide what physical book I’m going to pick up this week.)
What I Finished This Week
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. With lots of time on a plane traveling back to Arkansas for a few days, I was able to get through the bulk of this novel. I found myself incredibly moved by the story about the power of words to inform, challenge, manipulate, and set individual’s free. Set against the background of World War II Germany, the novel took a rather unique approach to life under the Nazi regime as Leisel and her family figured out how to survive while still standing for what they viewed as right. The relationship between a young Leisel, Papa, and Max – the Jew hiding in the family’s basement – will forever be in my heart and mind. I especially enjoyed the narration by Death himself. 4.5 stars.
Funny Story by Emily Henry. This was a really cute audio book that accompanied me along my recent drives. Miles and Daphne have both been jilted by their significant others. Whatever will they do? Share an apartment, obviously, while they lick their wounds. When they receive an invitation to the wedding of their exes, their next move is to rsvp and pose as though they are dating. Uproariously funny and poignant at the same time. Henry really knows how to tell a story. 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn (1:16 of 10:32). Griffin and his brothers are cursed by a fortune teller during a bachelor party in New Orleans. When tragedy strikes, Griffin begins to think the threat of lost love is real. Continuing to suffer with the death of his wife two years later, this volunteer firefighter responds to a 911 call from Ren, a young teacher who has just moved to the small Maine community. We can all see where this story is heading, but the humor mingled with the images of grief keep me coming back for more. It appears that this is the first book in Quinn’s “Getting Lucky” series. With a bit more driving ahead later this week, I anticipate making significant progress in this cute romance in the days ahead.
As the semester wound down, I watched students wonder how things would turn out in the end. My own footsteps faltered this week as well — literally! Around midweek, I began to find that my right foot was not behaving normally. A trip to the chiropractor revealed that I was dealing with “drop foot.” Quite simply, I wasn’t walking with a full stride. Instead, my foot was dragging a bit. It was disconcerting enough that I (briefly) considered cancelling a trip to Arlington to watch the Cubs take on the Rangers. Based on the results of the baseball games, I probably should have stayed home! At least I got some more reading done while traveling. What can I say? I have to take a win wherever I can get one.
What I Finished This Week
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D. This relatively short book started out with great potential as it explored the symbols hidden in quilts to communicate essential messages to escaping slaves. The “code” was presented to the authors by an elderly African-American woman in North Carolina who had heard the story passed through generations of her family. The opening chapters of the study were fascinating, if based more in hypothesis than fact. As the book continued into discussions of spirituals and figures in the Underground Railroad, the quality of the research floundered. This is one of those times when an author should have “quit while they were ahead.” I really wanted to enjoy this book, but was sadly disappointed. 2.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (p. 249 of 550). I have always loved stories set in the horrors of Nazi Germany. (I’m just realizing how horrifying that sentence sounds when I read it back to myself. Still, it is true.) I am moved by the resilience of people in troubling times. I find this era of history fascinating. This story is made more intriguing because of the role that the written word plays while the tale is narrated by Death himself. I’m almost halfway through the book and I have to admit that I’m loving every word.
Funny Story by Emily Henry (6:02 of 11:23). For something very different in my audio reading, I went for a romantic tale that I had downloaded a while ago and never got around to reading. Daphne had it all. She loved her job as a children’s librarian and had met the man of her dreams. The dream turned into a nightmare when he returned from his bachelor party and told Daphne that he realized he was actually in love with his (female) best friend and they were running away together. Daphne had a week to get out of the house and figure out what she was going to do. Where’s a girl to go? Obviously to the apartment of Miles, the jilted boyfriend of the other woman! When they receive an invitation to the happy couple’s wedding, Daphne and Miles decide to attend as each other’s plus one. Is it a ruse or are the two heart-broken people actually developing feelings for each other?
As I was beginning to write this post on Sunday evening, I began to experience the first wave of nausea. Getting sick is never a welcome experience, but stomach issues are the most hated for me! I spent most of the night propped up in bed to see if that would help the situation. I finally got some sleep and things are more settled, but the nausea has not passed. So this is a very “to the point” post this week. I’ll plan to return with my witty opening (in my mind, at least!) next week.
What I Finished This Week
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich. It might have taken a bit longer than a usual read for me, but I am so glad that I plowed through this one. I learned so much and really feel fulfilled and inspired. Bordewich wove together a lovely exploration of the people, places, and circumstances that fed the movement while honestly pulling back the curtain on the political, racial, and social scenes that were impacted. I never realized that the abolitionist movement gave rise to the earliest days of the women’s equality movement. I found it fascinating to see how fugitive slaves found that their liberty was still at risk once they arrived in the northern free states due to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The desperation of the escaping slaves came alive on the page and their willingness to choose death over returning to bondage was heart breaking. The fact that there were not major violent actions before those at Harper’s Ferry is unimaginable to me. As a Southerner, my public education failed to explain the complexity of the Underground Railroad. I thought it was strictly associated with Harriett Tubman! While she was an influential player, she really arrived relatively late in the movement. I will always be primarily a fiction reader, but this foray into non-fiction reminded me how fulfilling and invigorating these texts can be. 3.5 stars.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo. I love the Winter Olympics — especially figure skating. So give me a “romance” (I’m using that term loosely) set against the backdrop of competitive ice dancing and I’m all in! Kat and Heath have been skating together since they were children. Despite the odds, they made their way to the US Nationals and did quite well. While there, they caught the attention of Kat’s long time idol in the sport. The pair are invited to train with the legend and her twins — who just happen to be the favorites for gold in the upcoming Winter Games. This is a tale of intrigue, rivalry, betrayal, and corruption that was hard to put down. Definitely not a book that I would recommend missing! 4 stars.
How to Date a Prince by Hayden Stone. I wanted an easy audiobook for my recent trip to Dallas that would also fulfill prompt #41: A Guide to….. This cute romance features Auggie, the heir to the British throne, and Thomas, a successful American entrepreneur. The two find themselves on a reality show where the stakes are high. While on set, it becomes clear that not all of the British subjects adore their future king. The story explores ideas of duty, loyalty, and personal loss beautifully. The conversation between Auggie and his father as the book approaches its conclusion is a beautiful expression of advocacy and coming to terms with one’s sexuality. While there were moments that were rather cliche, I really did enjoy this read. 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D (p. 95 of 192). My exploration of the Underground Railroad continues with a study of how quilts were used to assist fugitives to find their way to freedom. I have long been fascinated by patchwork quilts and the various patterns that were common throughout the South. Tying the symbols and images to their African roots, Tobin and Dobard explain how the visuals reminded escaping slaves of important things that would lead to their success while also providing maps of unknown plantations and directions to safe spaces along the way. The book is reading a little more like a thesis than a substantial work of non-fiction, but the ideas presented are interesting to consider.
April in Review
All in all, April was another busy month in my world. That impacted the amount of reading that I was able to complete each day. I’m not thrilled with April’s results, but I still managed to read at the equivalent of at least one book a week for the month.
Books read in April: 5 (down 1 from March)
Pages read in April: 2,136 pages (down 160 pages from March)
Highest rated book:Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford – 5 stars
Lowest rated book:The Leaving by Tara Altebrando – 3 stars
2026 Reading Challenge Progress – The 52 Book Club
With the work on the April mini as well as reading the non-fiction book, my overall progress in the main challenge is a little less than I would like — completing 13 of the 52 prompts so far.
I didn’t quite finish the April mini challenge either, but I know what book is going to take care of that prompt. I plan to read it this week so I can get to work on the May mini and resume work on the main challenge.
Despite my limited progress this month, I am very pleased with my overall reading in 2026. As of this posting, I have read 29 books this year.
Upcoming Plans
This week marks the final week of classes for the Spring semester. That should mean that I’ll have more time to devote to reading for pleasure. The only thing that I know for certain is that I’m going to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak for the last of the April mini prompts. This will be a re-read for me; I first read the novel when it was published in 2005, but I don’t really remember a ton of the story. I’m looking forward to picking this one up again and diving into the pages. It appears that I enjoyed the read, giving it 4 stars at the time.
It has been a whirlwind week! Lots of activity early in the week, a trip to Dallas for the weekend, and lots of baseball to watch. It’s been a great week and I got to spend much of the weekend with my nose in a book. Still…..
What I Finished This Week
NADA! My goal was to finish reading my non-fiction book while in Dallas. I got very close, but the draw of a gentle afternoon nap, watching the birds outside my window, and deciding what new restaurant to try meant that I didn’t quite reach my goal. Oh well! I’ll get there soon and should have another finish in the coming week.
As a personal triumph, this is the first week that hasn’t seen the completion of a book since September 8, 2025! That’s 33 weeks of consistent reading. (Trust me, I counted.) This week I will reach the milestone of 300 days of reading a minimum of 20 pages per day….and I intend to run that number up much higher. So I won’t be too upset that I didn’t have a finish this week because reading is still happening every day in my little corner of the world.
What I’m Currently Reading
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich (p. 393 of 439). As I am nearing the end of this read, I am encountering familiar figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Abraham Lincoln. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my reading pace is much slower in this work than when I’m working my way through a novel. There’s just more detail and information that I need to navigate.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (p. 105 of 434). Set in the fascinating world of competitive ice dance, this novel has it all. There is first love, an abusive alcoholic guardian, dishonest judges, and competitive enemies. It’s a fun, fast-paced read. While I’m not sure whether it is loosely based on some of the accusations made around the sport in the most recent Winter Olympics, it definitely seems timely.
How to Date a Prince by Hayden Stone (6:50 of 10:41). I needed an audiobook for my drive to Dallas this week. I also needed a “How to” book for one of my reading challenge prompts. Of all the novels that popped up when I entered “How to…” this one seemed the most entertaining. A closeted gay prince has been signed up to appear in a reality television show by his father after an awkward photo appeared in the press. That’s all I know at this point in the read. There are some very funny images — the Prince’s attempt to bake ginger snaps has been my favorite scene thus far — and some poignant, heartwarming moments as he attempts to balance his personal and royal persona.
Now that I look at what I managed to accomplish this week in my reading life, I have to admit that I am surprised that I got anything done. This week, I traveled to San Antonio for an annual music conference. Typically, my days there are full of talking to potential students and teachers. That means there isn’t much time for anything else. Life had other plans this year as I spent 72 hours in my hotel room horribly sick and missed the conference entirely! During those three days, there wasn’t a lot of reading happening either. Oh….and one of those days in San Antonio was my birthday. I celebrated by enjoying a bland turkey sandwich at the end of the day that managed to sit comfortably on my stomach. C’est la vie!
What I Finished Reading This Week
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros. I knew I was a fan of Yarros’ writing from my reading of Fourth Wing last year. I had no idea that she had also written contemporary literature that wasn’t based in a fantasy world. From the very beginning of the novel, I was hooked. The story centers around Beckett and Ella. Ella is a single mother, struggling to raise her twin children and manage her business. When her brother, Mac, is killed in action a world away, Ella’s world shatters. Mac’s last request to Beckett is that he return to Colorado to help Ella. Ella and Beckett have never met in person, but they have been exchanging letters. Ella has fallen in love with the man on the other end of the conversation, but she only knows him by his call sign, Chaos. When Beckett arrives, Ella’s daughter is fighting for her life after a recent diagnosis of neuroblastoma. This is a lovely story of chosen family and true love while exploring issues such as abandonment, depression, chronic illness, and death. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby — especially as you near the end of the novel. 5 stars.
The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe. As I mentioned last week, this audiobook is part memoir and part vignettes in the style of The Rest of the Story. I found the book entertaining as I was able to slip in and out of the conversation because of the short readings. After a while, the format became mundane and I was just ready for it to come to an end. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (p. 181 of 281). Illness took me off my pace of reading this book, but I really am enjoying the epistolary style. It’s charming to read of a senior citizen making her way through retirement as she manages relationships with her children, learns of a sibling she has never met, and serves as an advocate for a child who is being bullied and has become suicidal as a result. Because of the style, it is a fast read, but each letter is written so beautifully that I find myself luxuriating in the prose. Because of the inspiration of this novel, I have renewed my membership with International Pen Friends and am awaiting my list of pen pals that should arrive in a few weeks. It’s going to be fun to start writing to people again.
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (p. 152 of 403). I selected this book because I have begun watching the Netflix series of the same name and have really enjoyed it. Additionally, I had a great time reading portions of Connelly’s Harry Bosch series. The book also seemed to be a good fit for the February “This or That” mini-challenge – “Crime” or “Punishment.” I started the ebook on Saturday evening and downloaded the audiobook for the drive back from San Antonio. I made a good start and now that I’m into the routine and the story, I’m finding this a very fast read.
We survived another week, my reading friends! It wasn’t necessarily easy or pretty, but we made it to the end. Wowzers! When February arrived, I think someone sent out a memo telling people to put ALL the tasks into a single month for me. I felt like I was constantly running a massive marathon that almost took me out. Reading was a luxury. These are the times that led me to making reading appointments in my daily to-do list. If the reminder to allot 30 minutes to read wasn’t there, I probably wouldn’t have spent time in the pages of a story while I just caught my breath. I’m thankful this level of insanity is only for a season…..but I’m ready for this season to pass (even though it is just beginning).
What I Finished This Week
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas. This was the typical story of a girl from the right side of the track falling for the bad boys. It was scandalous as she flirted and toyed with each of the brothers. However, what set this book apart from other romances was the way it dealt with issues. The discussions about suicide and depression were so lovingly handled that I found myself forgetting that this was really a romance novel. I was invested in the relationship that grew between Macon and Krisjen. 4.75 stars.
What I DNF’d This Week
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Despite my intentions and my best efforts, I had to admit to myself this week that another reading of Hugo’s classic was just not in the cards for me right now. The text required me to read really slowly. Life is too hectic at the moment to make the progress that I wanted to and reading the novel felt more like a chore than something that was bringing me joy. So I gave myself permission to shelf this read for another time. I enjoyed what I did complete and don’t regret a moment that I spent in the pages with Valjean. I’m just not in a place where finishing it is in my best interest at the moment.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe (3:30 of 7:55). I hit a bit of a road block with this book this week. While I am enjoying the short vignettes, this week my drive time was frantic as I raced to rehearsals and I needed quiet to calm my mind. So I did not make much progress here. With a couple of longer drives ahead this week, I anticipate finishing this book before my next post.
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (p. 141 of 423). When the February mini-challenge arrived from The 52 Book Club, I set out to find my first book. After starting a couple of other works, I finally settled into this beautiful story. Chaos is a member of special forces serving in a dangerous war zone. His friend, Mac, suggests that Chaos begins a pen pal relationship with Mac’s sister back in the States. When Mac is killed in action, Chaos receives the last letter from his buddy, asking him to return to Colorado and support his sister in one of the most challenging times of her life. The book took a back burner while I finished up Five Brothers this week, but I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with the story and I’m looking forward to getting back to it this week.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (p. 13 of 281). I have heard so many good things about this novel and have planned to read it for several weeks. It is a bit shorter than what I typically read, so I’m hoping to make decent progress on it while I’m in San Antonio this week. We shall see how that plan works out.
Happy Groundhog Day, readers! If Punxsutawney Phil was correct this morning, we have 6 more weeks of winter weather ahead. I have far too much to do to deal with more of this mess. But….if I were to get snowed in again, I might actually be able to get some more reading done. That wouldn’t be the worst thing ever.
After the snow weekend last week, I found myself hitting a bit of a wall in my personal reading this week. Now that I could get out of the house, I wanted to spend less time with my nose in a book and more time breathing in fresh air. So I only finished one book this week. That will probably be the trend for the next couple of months as my professional life and rehearsals fly into full swing. Let the insanity of the spring semester begin!
What I Finished This Week
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. This was such a great read despite the mixed reviews I have heard lately. It is hard to classify into a single genre. It is part suspenseful mystery, part romance, and part family drama. The novel opens with the death of a farmer and the question of whether it was an accident or murder. It is this image that the entire plot will propel the reader back to with lots of twists and turns along the way. The story centers around Beth, a farmer’s wife, and her first love from her teenage years, Gabriel. Beth and Gabriel come from two distinct worlds, yet they are drawn to each other. Beth has since married Frank and the couple mourn the death of their young son, Bobby. Beautifully written and enthralling, Broken Country is a novel that you will not soon forget. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (p. 625 of 1304). So I managed to read about 100 more pages of this huge book. I have to admit that I’m getting discouraged. Because the novel is so large, I find it very difficult to take around with me. That means I’m only reading it at home. When I’m in the recliner, there are always other things pulling my attention. It’s normally at the end of a long day and I’m not looking to be mentally challenged. I enjoyed the live chat Sunday afternoon with other members of The Active Mind Book Club, but I just don’t know that this is going to be a finish for me this month. February is too busy and I think I may just have to cut my losses. I’m not ready to make that call yet, but I’m getting close.
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas (p. 67 of 516). This week’s first new read is off to an interesting start. The title refers to the five Jaeger brothers, without parents, living together in the large house on the wrong side of the tracks. Krisjen (that’s how she spells it!) is a bit of a princess from a seemingly wealthy family. However, with her parents’ impending divorce, her mother is on a terror and trying to marry her off in order to secure the family’s financial situation. This is definitely going to be a contemporary romance featuring the bad boys. The spice level has not been through the roof at the beginning of the novel, but there are definitely indications that things may heat up very fast. If you see me blushing, you’ll know…..
The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe (0:44 of 7:55). While driving to church on Sunday morning, I decided that I needed to start a new audiobook. I have always enjoyed Mike Rowe’s storytelling and thought this selection in the style of the classic Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story would be a relaxing option to move in and out of easily. Rowe tells the unheard portions of the biographies of famous people and manages to weave in anecdotes from his personal experiences. It is proving to be an enjoyable read thus far.
January in Review
January has been a successful month for my reading life, but the return to the reality of teaching has slightly dampened the amount of time I have to devote to the written word. It was really hard to select the highest rated book of the month since I had three contenders that earned 5 stars.
Books read in January: 10 books (down 3 from December)
6 physical
4 audio
Pages read in January: 2,292 (down 2,218 from December)
Highest rated book: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford – 5 stars
Lowest rated book: The Inferno by Dante Aligheiri – 2.5 stars
2026 Reading Challenge Progress – The 52 Book Club
I’ve been reading this month for several different purposes, so not all of my reads have been for prompts on the main reading challenge. Still, I’m ending the month on track — 4 books in 4 full weeks.
Traditionally, February is a challenging month for my reading life. This year doesn’t look as though it will be much different with trips to San Antonio and Wichita happening this month as well as a rather hectic rehearsal schedule for the children’s opera. I plan to set daily goals to get through at least one novel each week to keep me on track. I’ll probably be relying on audiobooks rather heavily this month as well.
It is hard to believe that January is half over already! Where did the time go? School started back up this week (both online and brick and mortar classes). That meant I actually had to start doing my real job instead of pretending I was getting paid to read all day. But I still managed to knock out two more books this week.
What I Finished This Week
Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser. Mona experiences an unexplained episode of blindness as the novel opens. While this is a crucial story element, it wasn’t really the focus of the book. As part of her journey to mental health, Mona accompanies her grandfather every Wednesday afternoon for 52 weeks to see artistic masterpieces in the museums of Paris. Along the way, Mona becomes obsessed with her limited knowledge of her grandmother’s life. Mona’s Eyes is an exploration of beauty, maturity, personal growth, family ties, and man’s free will to choose. While I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the art, I left the novel uncertain how I wanted to respond. I’m still quite conflicted about what I have experienced and can’t decide if I’m truly ready to move on to another literary experience or not. I’m not sure if that is a sign of a great book or an abstract compilation of loosely connected ideas. 3.75 stars.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison. Lucie is a single mother raising her pre-teen daughter. Next door are her baby’s daddy and his partner. While life is good, her dating life is less than stellar. When she checks on her daughter late one evening, Lucie hears a conversation from under the covers with an adult man. Ripping back the covers, Lucie demands the cell phone be turned over and learns that her daughter has called Aiden, the host of a late night romance hotline talk show. Against her better judgment, Lucie and Aiden talk late into the night. And thus begins a fun story about self-worth, love and loss, and daring to risk in order to find love. While there were some spicy scenes, I found this romance relying more on chemistry and flirting to keep up the heat. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg (5:58 of 8:05). I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about a novel featuring wildfires after having lived through several of them while studying in Malibu in the 1990s. I decided that an audiobook was the way to go for this one so I could zone out if I needed to. The story is actually quite interesting. While fighting a wildfire, a criminal volunteer fire fighter dies due to negligence. The fire department denies any wrong doing. The fallen man’s fellow Penal Firefighters that witnessed the event know the truth and vow to take revenge. How? They plan to set fires along the wealthy coastal area and rob homes before everything burns.
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri (p. 287 of 387). I didn’t read a word of this one this week. I only have 100 pages remaining. I really just need to finish it and move on. That may just become a secondary goal for the week.
Les Miserable by Victor Hugo (p. 355 of 1304). Not a lot of progress in this one either this week. Now I really am behind my reading schedule and need to give this work some serious attention. Who knew that reading a classic novel was going to be so demanding?
Happy New Year! I hope that 2026 arrived in your corner of the world with the promises of prosperity, love, and lots of great reading ahead. As the calendar turns to January, I find myself coming to the end of a much needed break. After spending just over 3 weeks at home, it is time to begin the journey back to Texas to begin another semester of work. Since I’m not ready to return to reality, I dove deep into my reading this week.
I want to give you fair warning….this post is a bit longer than normal. In addition to this week’s finishes and what I’m currently reading, I have also included a look back at my December reading as well as a review of the year in reading.
What I Finished This Week
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand. My final book of 2025 was finished on Wednesday afternoon. Once again, I returned to the story of the Quinn family. This installment in the story was not as compelling as that in Winter Street. With Patrick in jail and Bart still missing in action, Winter Stroll focuses on how those left behind in Nantucket are dealing with their absences. I thought the story lines that focused on Mitzi, Margaret, Julie, and Barrett were really well written. Ava’s petty love triangle between two men — neither of whom are treating her very well, honestly — as well as the issues between Kevin and Isabelle as they begin their family were trite and lessened the impact of the stories about the suffering of mothers, addiction, and the impact an absent father has on children. 3 stars.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. My first finish of 2026 was a book from My Library Shelf that I thoroughly enjoyed. Written in a dual timeline, the story focuses on the growing relationship between Henry and Keiko. Henry is a 5th grade Chinese-American living in Seattle as the Second World War rages in Europe. His parents are very traditional and see everyone who is not either Chinese or Caucasian as the enemy. While attending a predominately white school, Henry meets Keiko, a Japanese-American student. Their friendship continues to grow until Keiko and her family are resettled into a Japanese internment camp, ultimately ending up in Idaho. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful story of love, acceptance, and tragedy. This story will definitely stay with me for many years to come. 5 stars.
The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble. I needed a new audiobook and randomly selected Coble’s novel in my Libby subscription. It wasn’t until completing the book that I learned that Colleen Coble is an author of Christian fiction — a genre I typically don’t enjoy. (I find that Christian fiction tends to hit you over the head with the moral of the story rather than simply letting the characters speak directly to the reader’s heart.) Claire is the daughter of a wealthy businessman who has returned to the coastal village that was the site of her abduction and return when she was four. Haunted by memories of her past that she cannot piece together, she seeks the truth of what happened during her missing year. On the coast, Claire meets Luke, a member of the Coast Guard whose mother disappeared on the same night as Claire’s abduction. Were the two events connected? Coble creates a lovely mystery that is filled with moments of hope and faith. I discovered a new author to enjoy! 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble (2:22 of 8:54). This is the second book in the Sunset Cove series. After enjoying The Inn at Ocean’s Edge so much, I decided that it only made sense to continue the story. When I found the entire series available as a single credit download on Audible, the purchase was a no-brainer since I have several long drives coming up this month. The story returns to the coastal Maine community with many of our favorite characters returning, but this time the focus is on Mallory, a single mother dealing with the guilt of past mistakes and the apparent murder of her father on his boat in the quiet town.
Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser (p. 133 of 446). I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying this read! I understand why the book has gotten so much good press and was selected as the 2025 Barnes and Noble Book of the Year as well as earning Schlesser France’s 2025 Author of the Year award. Mona is a young girl who lost her sight for a horrifying 63 minutes. Doctors are uncertain of the cause, but fear that Mona may lose her sight permanently within the next year. The family is advised to consult a child psychiarist; her beloved grandfather has a different plan for the child’s emotional health. Each week, Mona and her grandfather visit one of Paris’ great museums to intently study a single work of art before launching into a discussion about what they see there. The descriptions Schlesser provides about the masterpieces are as beautiful as the images themselves. Each chapter of the novel focuses on a different artwork, so I am slowing my progress a bit so I can find an image of the piece to examine for myself before entering into Mona’s journey. So far, it is a lovely experience.
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri (p. 250 of 387). I am continuing my descent into Hell with Dante and Virgil. I am now in the final third of the pit and encountering some of the most memorable scenes of the work. I only read a handful of cantos this week, but as the end is coming into sight, I am finding myself drawn back to the journey. I’m about to begin Canto 20 this week; there are only 34 in the entire work.
Les Misérablesby Victor Hugo (p. 204 of 1304). I hope you are ready to get a lot of updates about this brick of a book for the next few months! Hugo’s novel is the first book of 2026 in The Active Mind Book Club. If I can stay on track with the proposed reading plan, I should finish the novel the week of February 9. This week’s reading (Week 1) has been challenging and extremely slow. Not only was there a lot of detail about minor characters that I know do not play pivotal roles in the work as a whole, but I have found the new translation by Christine Donougher (for the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) to be stodgy at times. I’m hoping that improves as I get more comfortable with her rhythm and style. As I neared the end of this week’s section, things were a bit better as I encountered familiar characters including Valjean, Fantine, and Javert. I have been struck by the novel’s focus on punishment and how it is impossible for a tiger to change its stripes. I’m looking forward to getting into the revolutionary themes in the weeks ahead. Wish me luck as I continue to plow through!
December in Review
Books read in December:13 books (up 4 books from November)
5 physical
5 digital
3 audio
Pages read in December: 4,510(up 2,115 pages from November)
Highest rated book:Good Spirits by B.K. Borison – 5 stars
Lowest rated book:The Girl from the Garden by Parnaz Foroutan – 3 stars
2025 Reading By the Numbers
2025 was an outstanding reading year for me. It was by far my most productive year. What do I attribute the success to? I think there were a couple of things at play. First, just setting a realistic daily goal of 20 pages was life changing. I found myself making my way into a book most days since I wasn’t making a huge time commitment. Once I started reading, I relaxed into the activity and normally would spend about an hour in the pages of a beloved story. Second, I responded very well to the prompts provided by The 52 Book Club. My reading now had direction rather than just wandering through the stacks in search of my next read. Not every read was a great experience, but because I knew it was only one prompt, I was confident that another exceptional read was just a few days away. It also provided me a regular stack of “next reads” — I was never uncertain of what book was coming next.
Let’s look at the numbers for 2025. I crushed my goal of 52 books for the year and finished the year with 87 books read! Just so there’s no question that I was only reading tiny works, I had a grand total of 31,620 pages read. With 9 books earning 5 stars, I had a year of really good reading. (In fact, I gave 43 of the year’s books 4 stars or higher.) I tended to finish the books I started too….only 4 DNFs for 2025.
Best Book of 2025?
I’ve spent a lot of time this week thinking about the books I have read in the last 12 months. They brought me laughter and tears. They allowed me to explore new ideas and interact with characters that became friends. As I look back at the 9 books that I rated the highest — 5 stars — I have special memories from each of them. However, one book has stayed with me and I constantly find my thoughts returning to it. The best book I read in 2025 was…..
It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost gone. It feels as though I was just spending the summer break in the Geriatric Ward. I can’t believe that it is almost time to load up again and head back for the spring term and the beginning of a new year. I’m pushing through for a strong finish in the final days of 2025 in my reading life and excited about plans for the new year ahead.
What I Finished This Week
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. This finish came at the very end of Christmas Day and it was such a fun read! Maelyn Jones and her family return to the cabin every year to celebrate Christmas with Mom’s college roommate and several of Dad’s fraternity buddies. It is a highlight of the year, seeing the people that she has essentially grown up with each Christmas. One of the regulars is Andrew, a childhood friend that Maelyn has had a crush on since she knew what love was. However, she has never actually told him how she feels. In an unexpected plot twist, Maelyn is involved in an automobile accident after leaving the cabin that throws her into a time-traveling scenario. Mae now repeats her week at the cabin after making a wish to the Universe to show her what would make her truly happy. After several failed attempts, Mae finally tells Andrew how she feels and the readers watch as things finally play out. The only question is will this result in Maelyn’s happily ever after or will she be forced to relive the holiday week now that she has confessed the truth. This was a great change of pace from the normal holiday romance. 4.5 stars.
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand. For some reason, I have steered clear of many of Hilderbrand’s novels. I think it has more to do with the fact that there were so many of them on the bookstore shelf than any real feelings about the writing. Before this exploration of Winter Street, I have only read one of her works — The Hotel Nantucket — which I also enjoyed. In this first volume of the Winter Street series, we are introduced to the Quinn family. Kelley and his four children are all experiencing challenges in love and life in various ways. Patrick has gotten sucked into some unethical business practices that threaten to cost him everything. Ava is in a relationship with a man who does not appreciate her at all. Kevin is the family loser who never feels as though he can live up to the expectations of being a Quinn. Bart recently joined the Marines and is now deployed to Afghanistan. Things are no better for Kelley, who walked in to see his wife in the arms of the man hired to play Santa. Now Kelley must decide whether or not to sell the Winter Street Inn (which also serves as home for him and two of his adult children) while navigating the challenges of parenting and maybe falling in love with his ex-wife again. 4 stars.
A Very Merry Mistake by Lyra Parish. This was a really entertaining audiobook that kept me laughing out loud. Claire is the daughter of a real estate mogul that is searching for the deal that will garner her father’s approval. She travels to Merryville, Texas….a small town that celebrates Christmas all year long. As she is driving into the quaint town, her car stalls and will not start. With no phone charger and no other way to call for a rescue, she begins to walk the last 10 miles into town. When Jack, a local tree farmer, offers to give her a lift into Merryville, Claire is hesitant and defensive. After finally accepting his hospitality, fate is not on Claire’s side. Her assistant made reservations in the wrong city and there are no rooms available anywhere. Jack offers Claire the use of his couch until she can find other accommodations. This begins a story of forced proximity and country vs. city living. The attraction between the two is palpable and things get heated quickly. This was a great ending to my holiday reading experience this year. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Inferno by Dante (p. 204 of 387). My slow journey through the circles of Hell continues. I’m in no real rush to get this work read since the online chat with fellow Pepperdine alumni doesn’t occur until January 21. There’s still plenty of time.
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand (p. 92 of 260). I wasn’t ready to leave the Quinn family behind, so I’m diving into the second book in the Winter Street series. Kelley and Mitzi are still fighting and extremely nervous about Bart’s safety. Kevin is getting married. Patrick is serving his jail sentence for insider trading. Ava is confused as she has feelings for two men. In typical Hilderbrand fashion, the characters are continuing to grow and develop with each passing chapter. This will be another quick read.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (p. 96 of 285). According to my notes on Good Reads, I have read this novel once before and was not terribly fond of it. The cover is familiar to me, but I remember very little about the plot itself. What I do remember about the plot means it should be a good fit for me. I’m thinking that I probably tried to read this book during a particularly stressful time in graduate school….and that was never a formula for success. So far, I am fascinated by the story of a friendship between Kaiko, a young Japanese girl, and her Chinese schoolmate, Henry. The focus on the hardships of the Japanese-American citizens on the west coast during the War Years is fascinating and heartbreaking. I’m revisiting the work since it was housed on My Library Shelf along with several other works by Ford.
December 2025 Bingo Challenge Update
And just like that I have a blackout Bingo! I enjoyed working on the mini-challenge while patiently waiting for the 2026 challenge to kick off on January 1. Speaking of which, that brings me to….
2026 Plans
I have become obsessed with reading challenges and actually enjoying the process now that I have successfully completed my first 52 book reading challenge. Since I’ve figured out my stride and the process (I think), I’m upping the difficulty and adding additional challenges.
It should not be a surprise to know that I plan to participate in the 2026 challenge of The 52 Book Club. I’ve already started planning my reads for the year and have several options on hand so I can get a good start on January 1. I’ll try to be a little more active in completing the mini-challenges as they pop up now that I know I’ll be able to finish the main challenge, but I may have set myself up for not completing the minis since I have decided to add additional challenges to my life.
While checking out several book vloggers this year, I stumbled across the Read Good challenge hosted by @Benreadsgood on YouTube. This challenge is much smaller — only 1 book each month — with fairly general prompts that I think will be fun to connect with what I’m already reading. I was especially drawn to the challenge because of the prompts to read books nominated for the Women’s Prize as well as the Booker Prize shortlist. I also like that each prompt is associated with a specific month….cute puns guide our reading throughout the year. This is definitely a secondary challenge for me, but one that I think will be rewarding.
I am feeling drawn to classic literature again and want to read it in community without the pressure of a class. Back to the internet, where I found The Active Mind Book Club. It’s a paid community ($5/month on Patreon) that features chat and Zoom sessions to discuss the works with readers around the world. I’m going to give it a try and see how it goes. The year starts off with a reading of Les Miserables in January and February, 2026. Then we move into masterpieces like East of Eden and Madame Bovary as well as lesser known works such as Tolstoy’s Resurrection and Gaddis’ JR.
As though that isn’t enough, I’m also going to continue working my way through My Library Shelf. You may recall that I selected a new shelf in November, 2025 during a visit to the Unger Memorial Library in Plainview. In addition to my regular reading challenges, I’ll explore books shelved in the FORD-FORS section — 23 books in all. Some of these may be used to fulfill prompts for other challenges, but that isn’t the primary goal.
Am I crazy to add more reading challenges? Quite possibly. Am I going to have a blast trying to accomplish more? Absolutely! And I’ll be sure to share my progress, successes, and failures with all of you here as I begin another year of Reading for Me.
Reading for Me 