Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

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

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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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Apr 21

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail (April 21, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I hope you all enjoyed a restful Easter weekend. I escaped Plainview for the a few days and visited Austin. It was a needed time of rest for my body and a chance to reflect on my reading. I made a couple of important discoveries along the way.

What I Finished This Week

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. For such a short book, I thought I was never going to get finished with this one! I suppose it was a mistake to try to read a genre I am not naturally drawn to while dealing with the exhaustion of the opera. It was a stretch on most days to read my self-imposed goal of 20 pages. When Easter break started on Friday, I sat in my reading chair with the determination that I was going to plow through this novel before hitting the road. I got it done, but can’t say that I enjoyed the experience. 0.5 stars.

What I Am Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (1:48 of 13:53) I didn’t make much progress in my audiobook this week. With only one trip to Canyon this week, I was really banking on making some headway here while driving to Austin for Easter. What can I say? There was a Cubs game on the radio and that required I listen…..and it was a GOOD game too! I think once I get to the introduction of the young woman to her boyfriend’s Chinese family that I will be more inclined to listen at other times and not just in the car.

If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (p. 156 of 292). This is exactly the book I needed to get me out of my current reading slump! Imagine a retelling of Cinderella that includes a plus-size shoe designer who finds her way onto a dating show (a la The Bachelor). It’s funny and the reality TV aspect has me rolling! It’s also nice to see a leading female character who doesn’t look like Barbie! This will do nicely for the prompt of a fairy tale retelling.

What I Removed From My TBR

Once in Austin, it was time to begin my next read. I had brought both books since they were part of my March and April reading plans. As I started to read, I realized that both books had some baggage that I was not equipped to deal with at the moment. Once There Were Wolves was the first book to be chopped. The novel opens with a relatively gruesome scene that I simply could not get past. (Those who know me well know that I have an extremely weak stomach.) This was my second attempt to get this novel going and it was clear that I wasn’t getting through the first chapter. Now, I’m on the look out for another piece of climate fiction.

Then came the realization that Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister was getting connected to my previous reading of Wicked by the same author. As much as I adore the musical, the novel was a real sludge for me to get through. Since I was already in a bit of a reading slump, I wasn’t ready to struggle through another tough read so soon after And Then There Were None. A trip to the bookstore led to the discovery of If The Shoe Fits, making me very comfortable to leave Confessions behind for this year.

2025 Reading Challenge audio mystery romance The 52 Book Club

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Apr 14

A Week in Midland (April 14, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Opera Week 2025 has come to an end. It was a successful production, but I am very glad that it is now in the rear view mirror. With such a busy schedule, I was happy to actually do a little reading each day. My brain and body were generally too tired between performances to focus for very long though. I made progress, but nothing substantial.

What I Finished This Week

Not a thing. I hate it, but it was how the week went. I’m trying not to get discouraged that I am falling behind my schedule a bit. Instead, I’m looking forward to having some free time coming up this weekend to hopefully make some headway and get back onto my reading schedule.

What I Am Currently Reading

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (p. 131 of 247). I learned something else about myself this week. Mysteries require my full attention and energy level to make a dent. This one doesn’t really feel like a mystery. I am just watching character’s mysteriously die off and I’m wondering who will be the next victim instead of who is the killer. I really need to plow through this book this week or I’m afraid I’m going to get lost in the weeds on this one.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (1:12 of 13:53). Since I was traveling with others in my car this week, I didn’t try to listen to my book until returning home. I’m only 6 chapters in, but the new premises are much more entertaining than what I thought I was in for in chapter 1. I’m actually looking forward to continuing this read a bit more this week.

That’s all there is to tell this week. Easter weekend is coming up and I am hoping that I will get some reading done while I’m away enjoying a little R&R.

2025 Reading Challenge audio mystery The 52 Book Club

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Apr 7

Blowing Snow in April (April 7, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Despite a busy week, I found myself with several books that I just couldn’t put down! Then a little snow on Saturday meant that I got to spend a little extra time in my reading chair finishing up a book between watching baseball games.

What I Finished This Week

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. I absolutely adored this book! As you can tell by my finished reading this week, I am fascinated with the stories surrounding World War II. It’s not so much the war as it is the determination and perseverance of the European people in the face of such challenges. Martin tells a charming story of Grace, a young woman who arrives in the city just ahead of the Blitzkreig. Not having a letter of recommendation for work, the only job she can secure is in a dusty, dilapidated bookshop. While working there, she is introduced to the power of story and her life is transformed. Grace volunteers with the RAF and witnesses some of the worst attacks the German bombers can bring. The Last Bookshop in London is a story of love, endurance, survival, and the power of books to transport our mind. I’m looking forward to reading another of Martin’s historical fictions this summer. 4.75 stars

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey. With the end of opera rehearsals this week, I also finished this audio book. The third book in the Big Shots series, this one was perhaps the most thought provoking. Sieg, a professional hockey player, is scheduled to have dinner with his estranged father to meet the woman he plans to marry. Dreading the meal, Sieg makes a stop where he is charmed by the lovely Chloe. After what can only be described as “love at first sight,” Sieg’s world comes crashing down at dinner when he learns that his father plans to marry Chloe’s mother! How is it possible that the love of his life is about to become his step-sister? Bailey once again provides a story that is engaging and entertaining. Be warned…the spice level is high! 4 stars

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I have to admit that this novel has caught my eye repeatedly when browsing in the bookstore. I think I steered clear because I expected the text to be simply too dark. I could not put this book down once I started. Yes, the details of life in the camp were disturbing and sorrowful. However, the love and hope that permeates each page lifts the story significantly. 4.5 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (00:29 of 13:53). When one audio ends, another begins. I’ve heard good things about the movie, so I decided to take a look at the book finally. It is also a way to knock out another of the Lunar New Year mini challenge books. I’ve only listened to the first chapter. I enjoyed it, but I have to listen very carefully because of the reader’s accent.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (p. 22 of 247). Mysteries are rarely high on my list of reading selections, but I find myself needing to read another for the 2025 Reading Challenge. I’m still meeting all of the characters and appreciate that Christie said of this novel that it was the most challenging to write. I’m looking forward to experiencing some fine writing even though it is not a genre I typically enjoy.

2025 Reading Challenge audio historical Mini Challenge mystery romance The 52 Book Club

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Mar 31

Back to the Grind (March 31, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Last week was a whirlwind. From the second I landed back in Amarillo after a much needed Spring Break in Arkansas, it felt as though everything needed immediate attention. As a result, I didn’t post an update here. So….this week’s post will reflect two weeks’ worth of reading. That doesn’t mean it will be a robust post because….yeah…..life has been busy!

What I Finished

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I have heard all of the praise for this 1908 children’s classic. It is certainly a charming concept. A red-haired orphan is taken in by an unlikely pair where she grows into her own and realizes her potential as a student. I struggled with this one. I don’t know if it was because of the feeling that each chapter was more of a stand-alone vignette than actually propelling the overall story ahead or that I just found the writing dated. I finished, but I won’t be returning to Green Gables any time soon. 2.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin (p. 201 of 314). Once I got back to Plainview and finished reading Anne of Green Gables, I needed something much different. I made a change to my plans and picked up the other book scheduled for March and put Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister back on the shelf. I’m really enjoying this tale of survival that includes the protagonist developing a love for reading against the backdrop of World War II London. It’s a fast moving read and really dynamic historical fiction. This book will fulfill prompt #28 (A Crossover) of The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey (6:11 of 9:14). With the return of driving to opera rehearsals, I needed to start another audiobook. Since I have enjoyed Tessa Bailey’s other stories in the series, I decided to keep going. The topic is a little more risqué and can be uncomfortable for some readers. The jury is still out on how I feel about this one, but I have to give Bailey credit — I’m still listening and plan to finish the story.

March in Review

As anticipated, my reading numbers have gone down in the month of March. Still, I am already nearly halfway to my goal of reading 52 books in 2025….so I’m not that upset about not meeting my complete goal for the month. Here’s what I accomplished in March, 2025.

  • Books read in March: 5 (down 2 from February)
    • 2 audio
    • 3 physical books
    • 5 fiction
  • Pages read in March: 1,830 (down 231 pages from February)
  • Highest rated: Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (2.0 stars)

What’s Ahead in April

I still need to tie up a few loose ends from my March reading plan. I’m definitely finishing The Last Bookshop in London this week. That will just leave Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister to round out March’s reading. However, I have a sneaky suspicion that I may push this novel back into the summer. Since the children’s opera I am currently playing is a retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, I really don’t think this is the best time to read a retelling of another classic tale.

Here’s what is planned for April. I’m really excited about a few of these….and there are a few that are causing me a moment of pause.

  • Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
  • Paradise Lost by John Milton
  • Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  • Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill
  • The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Next Monday is the beginning of opera week. It may take me a day or two to get my post written, but I promise that you will hear how things are going as I continue Reading for Me.

Until next time,

Kennith

2025 Reading Challenge audio Children’s literature historical romance Series The 52 Book Club

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Mar 17

The One with All the Wind (March 17, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

This has been a week for the record books. Lots of activity at school with auditions and mid-term exams….resuming rehearsals for the children’s opera….a wild wind storm that nearly blew us away….and preparations for Spring Break travel. In all of that, I got to finish an audiobook this week and finally finished the last of my February reads once my feet were on the ground in Arkansas. Just a few more weeks of the really busy season of the semester. At this point, I’m just trying to stay in the routine of reading something each day and keeping some forward progress.

What I Finished This Week

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey. I absolutely loved this rom-com! It was a fun read that also pulled at the heart strings. Burgess is a single father and a professional hockey player. He needs some help with his precocious 12-year-old daughter. That’s where Tallulah comes in. A graduate student, she is always looking for an inexpensive living arrangement and extra income; the job as Lissa’s au pair — a glorified nanny —- fits the bill perfectly. Complications arise as Tallulah and Burgess develop romantic feelings for each other….and Lissa finds out! Bailey does a tremendous job of exploring the dynamics of non-traditional families while also exploring topics such as May-December relationships and forced retirement. While this was a bit more graphic than the previous Tessa Bailey novel I read, I still found myself really enjoying the writing and fell in love with these characters. 4 stars.

Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah. I think Kristin Hannah is one of the rising stars of contemporary fiction today. With recent favorite reads such as The Women, True Colors, and The Great Alone, I was pleased to find an early novel that would fit one of my reading challenge prompts. I used this for prompt #10: author’s last name is also a first name (but you could also use it because it has a moon on the cover – prompt #12). As I’ve already mentioned, this book was a little different from Hannah’s other books that I have read. The story opens with a young woman being brought to an asylum after a tremendous injury to her head. Ian, a retired doctor, cares for the residents of the coastal Maine facility and reluctantly takes in the injured woman. Since she is unable to recall her name, Ian begins to call her Selena. Over the course of her recovery, Selena discovers that the asylum’s residents are not all insane; instead, many of them suffer from past trauma that they have not learned to deal with. Not surprisingly, Ian and Selena fall in love. Everything seems to be perfect until Elliot arrives, claiming to be Selena’s husband. Out of honor and loyalty, Selena returns to her former life with Elliot although she has no memory of it. What we find there is shocking! When Elliot is injured, Selena decides to bring her husband back to Ian, the only man who can possibly save his life. This is a beautiful story that has many similarities to the Frankenstein narrative while exploring definitions of marriage, family, the God-complex, and selfless love. As much as I enjoyed the story, I felt that the novel suffered because it was one of Hannah’s first attempts as a novelist; her immaturity shows. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (p. 144 of 373). I find it very hard to believe that I have never read this classic children’s book. So far, I am finding Anne’s imagination intoxicating and I have fallen in love with this character’s wit, verve, and boldness. Originally, I had planned to read this for prompt # 6- set in Spring, but I really think that I’m going to use it for prompt #2 – a character with red hair.

What’s Ahead in March?

Now that we are halfway through March, I wanted to take a moment to remind us all of what I still need to read this month to get back on track with my reading plan since April’s schedule is also quite full. Two books remain for the month.

  • Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. This book is currently sitting on the table in Arkansas. I should finish Green Gables in the next day or so and will dive right into this novel. The writing doesn’t look dense on the page, so I’m hoping that I can move through it fairly quickly while on Spring Break.
  • The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. I hope to start this one shortly after returning to Plainview next week to finish out the month strong.

I’ll be back next Monday to let you know how things turned out!

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Mar 10

Opera Gala, Migraine, and Time Change (March 10, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

The week started out lovely and full of promise. By the weekend, however, I was ready to see the week in the rearview mirror and move forward to something new. The week started out with a lovely piano recital here on campus and culminated with an exceptional Opera Gala supporting Opera of the Plains. (If you are interested in contributing to a worthy cause, click the link above. Even the smallest contribution helps us as we strive to introduce children to this amazing art form.) Once the gala was over, it was time to get back to work in rehearsals for OotP’s upcoming children’s opera.

After a productive rehearsal on Saturday morning, I drove home through snow and sleet. Apparently, I was stressed while I was driving — and when combined with the drop in temperature — that was the perfect recipe for a migraine. It was a bad one too! Reading or listening was not an option for the rest of the day.

Then the time change arrived on Sunday and threw off my entire inner clock. I was extremely tired all day Sunday and then didn’t sleep that evening. This was not the ending to the week that I had hoped would greet me.

Needless to say, I got minimal reading done this week. But I did manage to knock out one of my books for my March goals (even if I am still working my way through the last book for February.)

What I Finished This Week

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. Having spent a lot of time working in children’s ministry over the years, I have been very aware of the Series of Unfortunate Events books. Somehow, I’ve never read one of the books. There was just something about a story that focused on the awful circumstances that plagued three children that simply did not appeal to me. Now that I have actually read the first book in the series, I can firmly say that my instincts were correct. There was nothing redeeming about this book and I found myself just ready to get to the end. I won’t be reading more of Snicket’s stories. I read this book to complete prompt #25 in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge — breaks the fourth wall. 2 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (7:50 of 12:33). Now that I find myself traveling about 6 hours each week for rehearsals and lessons, I am making progress in my audio selections more easily than my physical reading. Once again, this rom-com is compelling and the characters are extremely loveable. I am finding myself rooting for Burgess, an aging hockey player and single father, to find love with his daughter’s live-in nanny. Really cute story and funny!

Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah (p. 194 of 374). As you can see, I didn’t make a lot of progress in this paperback this week — only reading 80 pages this week. I think the cause was that I knew I had already missed my self-imposed deadline for completing this work (end of February) and I wanted to make sure everything else got on track. I’m not overly concerned. I’m reading another work of children’s literature this week for my March goal and Spring Break is coming up. The flight and layovers should allow me plenty of time to get this book read and out of my TBR pile.

2025 Reading Challenge audio Children’s literature The 52 Book Club

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Mar 3

Good Books and the Open Road (March 2, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

The open road is a great place to get some reading done — by audiobook, that is. This week, I traveled to Wichita and was accompanied by one of the novels that I needed to complete to reach my February goal for The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge.

My goal was to finish a paperback as well while in the recruiting booth and in my hotel. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Well…not really sadly. I was too busy in the booth talking to high school students to get much reading done. By the time I got back to the hotel each night, I collapsed in the bed.

Even though I didn’t reach the goal of completing four books this week, I’m very pleased with where I am at the moment.

What I Finished This Week

Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton. I read this book to fulfill prompt #5 of the challenge – plot includes a heist. In the first half of the book, I struggled to get into the story. A priceless necklace was stolen from a museum, recovered by a hired private investigator, and returned to its rightful owner. Only problem? The returned necklace was a forgery and the true piece of jewelry is about to hit the black market. That is until the victim begins to tell three other women about her experience. This unlikeliest of quartets work together to track the jewels, find the thief, and steal the necklace back. As the plot brought all of the involved characters together and the chase intensified, so did my reading pace. Still, the ending could not redeem the slowness of the book’s beginning. 2.75 stars.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry. This was such a fun audio read! A literary agent teams up with a cranky book editor to push through the latest novel written by the agent’s most challenging client. As the unlikely pair begin to work on the novel, they discover that they have many things in common. Sparks ignite and the fun begins. Even though the enemies-to-lovers trope is overdone, I still found this book funny and quite enjoyable. 4 stars.

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey. This book fulfilled prompt #34 of the challenge – direction in the title. I had intended to read the paperback, but I am so glad that I opted for the audiobook. Josephine has been the #1 fan of professional golfer Wells Whitaker through all the ups and downs of his career. When Wells quits in the middle of a tournament and insults Josephine in the process, the golfer manages to lose his last remaining fan. No one could be more surprised than Josephine when Wells asks her to serve as his caddie as he attempts to return to the tour. Filled with lots of sarcasm, insults, and witty repartee, this book was a perfect fit for me. One of my favorite Rom-coms that I have read in a very long time. 5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah (p. 114 of 374). I have grown to love Kristin Hannah’s books almost as much as those of Jodi Picoult. When I needed a book with a moon on the cover for the reading challenge, I decided this was the perfect time to slip back and read one of the author’s earlier works. Published 30 years ago in 1995, this work is proving to be very different from Hannah’s current output. Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying the book very much. It just has a different flair that I wasn’t expecting.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (00:36 of 12:33). I learned this week that Fangirl Down was the first book in the Big Shots series. I added this audiobook to my library figuring that I would read it later. As I was driving back to Plainview yesterday, I found myself with many miles to go after finishing my latest read….so I just dove in. I’m not very far into the plot at all, but already know a little bit about the main characters since they were first introduced to the reader in the previous book in the series.

February in Review

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t include at least a few stats at the end of the month to keep myself accountable and to see my progress.

  • Books read in February: 7
    • 3 audiobooks
    • 3 ebooks
    • 1 physical book
      • 6 fiction
      • 1 non-fiction
  • Pages read in February: 2,061
  • Highest Rated: Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
  • Lowest Rated: Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton

2025 Reading Challenge audio ebook romance The 52 Book Club

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