Much of the week has been spent in medical facilities. Thankfully, I can report that Dad is making significant progress and doing much better than anyone ever expected. My physical read of the week was finished early while sitting in an ICU waiting room waiting for a procedure to be finished. The audiobook I finished while trying to calm my mind at the end of long days. It’s amazing the power of books to help us navigate troublesome times.
What I Finished This Week
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. The second volume of The Empyrean series left me feeling a little lacking. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Violet and Xaden grow. However, the entire rebellion felt forced and very contrived. I remember finishing Fourth Wing looking forward to continuing the story. Now that I’ve read Iron Flame, I’m finding myself asking “Really?” I don’t know if I will read Onyx Storm or not. 3.5 stars.
Our Secret Summer by R.S. Grey. Isabel is an American socialite who is spending the summer in Ibiza in honor of her twin sister who recently passed away. While in Spain, Isabel decides to complete the bucket list that the two girls made together for their summer adventure. At the top of the list was to fall in love with a handsome Spaniard. Enter Cristiano, a successful entrepreneur and all-around playboy. R.S. Grey’s novel was full of fun and wit. It’s also rather spicy…..you have been warned! Overall, a great read for me in this current season of life. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom (p. 203 of 388). I was looking for historical fiction that included something that might be seen at the beach on the cover for one of my reading prompts. After another failed attempt, I stumbled on The House of Hidden Letters and cannot put it down! The novel is told in split time lines. Set on a small Greek island, Skye is one of the winners of a lottery where the prize is a hilltop home costing 1 Euro. Despite the fact that the home is in shambles, having remained unoccupied since the Second World War, it is the perfect way for Skye to escape her abusive husband. During the course of renovations, Skye discovers a series of love letters hidden in the fireplace flue. As other discoveries are made at nearby homes, a story of the occupation of the island during the war emerges. I’m absolutely adoring Broom’s characters and enthralled with the challenges that both of our heroines are facing — in the 1940s and the present day.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey (1:28 of 9:58). Audiobooks are proving to be a good fit for me right now, so I got started on another one on Sunday afternoon while resting on the couch. Georgie has no respect from her family. Since she did not follow in the family business of house flipping (opting to be a party clown instead), she is not taken seriously. Travis has returned to town after his professional baseball career came to an end as a result of injury. What did not end for him, however, was his tainted image. Georgie and Travis decide to enter into a fake relationship in order to earn the respect of others. I’m still early in the reading of this one, but I have high hopes based upon my previous experiences with the works of Tessa Bailey.
This week was always going to be about travel and reading. Things did not go as planned however. On Saturday morning, I boarded flights to spend the rest of the summer in Honolulu to do some teaching and community relations. While over the Pacific, I received a text message from my brother informing me that my dad had suffered a stroke and was to undergo immediate emergency surgery. By the time I landed, the surgery was over and had been declared a success. There were still several obstacles to overcome.
I headed to housing and that’s when it hit me — all of the stress, uncertainty, and the tears. I called my dean (still sorry about the late call — blasted time zones!) and expressed how I was feeling. Thankfully, everyone involved was incredibly supportive and I was told to get back to Arkansas post haste and not worry about anything else. Just 7 hours after landing on the island, I was back in the air and retracing my steps in a roundabout way.
Books were my constant companion this week. For that, I am extremely grateful.
What I Finished This Week
Protected by the Biker by Logan Chance. When the summer reading challenge appeared from The 52 Book Club, I was intrigued and immediately wanted to start reading. My first prompt for this summer reading game was a book with a four-word title in the romance genre. Since I had some travel coming up later in the week, I didn’t want to start another physical book that would add to my baggage. So I checked out what had recently been added to my Kindle as free purchases. That’s where I found Protected by the Biker. The only thing I can positively say about this one is that it was short, didn’t cost me anything, and introduced me to a new author. At less than 80 pages in length, there was no time to really develop the story line fully. It felt more like an outline for a potential story rather than something fully developed. 2 stars.
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page. What an outstanding book! It had me laughing, reflecting, and crying — sometimes without even turning a page. Tilly and Joe are a perfect love story. Living in London, they are setting out on their new life together. Then tragedy strikes. Joe is diagnosed with cancer and passes away. Tilly is left alone to grieve, survive, and somehow continue living. Six months after Joe’s death, Tilly receives a rather strange call from the local bookstore — they have a book ready for her to pick up; the book was ordered by her husband, Joe. When she hesitantly arrives in the shop to accept the gift, she learns that Joe has actually gifted her with a year of books — one book each month. What follows is one of the best stories I have encountered in a very long time. Join Tilly as she rediscovers her love of reading, boldly accepts challenges and embarks on exciting adventures — all inspired by the books that Joe gifted her. This was my first experience with Libby Page’s work, but it will certainly not be my last! Her writing is effortless and full of emotion. I’m definitely a new fan. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (p. 763 of 886). Lots of time on an airplane this weekend meant that I got a lot of this book read. I really thought I would have another finish before posting today, but my body decided it needed sleep far worse than mental stimulation. As always, Yarros delivers another great read. This installment feels a little more mature than Fourth Wing, especially the relationship between Xaden and Violet. As I get close to the end, I’m ready for the story to come to a major pausing point so I can get out of the realm of fantasy for a few days.
Our Secret Summer by R.S. Grey (6:57 of 10:11). After the death of her twin sister, Isabella decides to head to Ibiza as her sister had planned and complete her bucket list of activities. The list includes everything from swimming in the ocean, cliff diving, going skinny dipping, and falling in love with a sexy Spanish man. Charmingly written and full of personality and warmth, Our Secret Summer has been a very enjoyable read far.
With the first real week of summer vacation here, I have had tons of time to read — and I’ve taken advantage of every available moment. It has been so nice to spend quiet time on the couch in the Geriatric Ward while the patients are at work with my nose in a book. Nothing on the television. No noisy neighbors’ voices seeping through the apartment walls. Just me and the gentle rustling of the page. I’ve gotten a little spoiled to the stillness in just a few days to the point that I have found myself getting irritated when my peaceful reading times are interrupted. Oh, to have no distractions! (A guy can dream, can’t he?)
It also has meant that I’ve had a couple of books running at the same time. Thankfully, the story lines are all very different, so there is no chance of getting confused as I jump from story to story.
What I Finished This Week
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. What a great book! I anticipated reading about a road trip. While there is travel, the novel is really about a quartet of unlikely friends who are attempting to tie up loose ends in their personal stories and find the freedom to proceed into the next chapter of their life. Some act with integrity and strong values; some are looking for an easy pass at any cost. Filled with heart and amazing story telling, this novel has convinced me to add more of Towles’ works to my TBR. 5 stars.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I feel like a traitor saying this….but this book really did not resonate with me at all. I know it is revered by many and consider a major work that tells a loving story of the trials of Chinese-American immigrants. I want to have loved this book so badly. Instead, I’ll just settle for saying that I completed it. Perhaps the issue was that I read it as an audiobook. Perhaps I am not in a place to connect with characters searching for meaning as they reflect on their mothers’ lives. Whatever the reason, this was not a hit for me at all. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (p. 381 of 886). Coming back to the Empyrean series was a lot less challenging than I feared. While I had forgotten some of the finer details from the first book, Yarros writes in such a way that you are quickly pulled back in and reminded of the important relationships and events you have already encountered. The spice level in this installment feels a bit higher (I just read the scene between Xanos and Violet in the shower……). Honestly, I’m all in for this adventure story. Who would have guessed that I would enjoy a little fantasy in my reading life?
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (p. 21 of 407). I received this book earlier this spring in a shipment from The Book of the Month club. I was drawn to it because of the cover and the title honestly. Now that I’ve actually read the first few pages, I’m completely hooked! A husband selects 12 books for his wife after receiving a terminal diagnosis. The woman, who has long been an avid reader, found herself unable to read at all as she faced the uncertainty of her husband’s illness. Now that he is gone, he is attempting to restore the joy of reading — and of living — to her through the pages of these books that reminded him of her. Anyone else preparing for the flood of tears ahead?
May 2026 in Review
Another month has come and gone. I’m happy with my reading progress this month. I’ve encountered some great reads and made some new friends on the page along the way.
Books read in May: 8 (up 3 from April)
Pages read in May: 1,855 (down 281 from April)
Highest rated book:The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – 5 stars
Lowest rated book:Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline L. Tobin – 2.75 stars
The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress
In May, I finished up the April mini-challenge and completed the entire May mini just under the wire. Really enjoyed the pivot of the May challenge as I needed to read from different decades for each prompt.
The main 2026 challenge, however, is a different story. Putting so much focus on completing the mini-challenges as they appear has distracted me from the main challenge. With only 14 of the 52 prompts completed, I’m not feeling great about where I am as we approach the halfway point of the year. (When I look at my overall reading stats for the year, having read 35 books in 5 months is much better to my ears!)
The summer challenge is coming out in a few weeks and I am really excited to see what the “beach reads” prompts will be all about. I’m also finding it difficult to get excited about some of the prompts in the 2026 main challenge. In many ways, they are feeling so random that I’m not excited about the words inside their pages. So I’m wondering if I need to skip the summer challenge and put my attention on the main for a few months so I can make some progress there instead. Both of my current reads will fit one of the prompts that I’m missing, so that’s something. I think I need to sketch out a reading plan for myself to see what I’m going to need to do to complete the challenge by December 31.
Happy Memorial Day! I am writing in a hotel near the Austin airport early on Monday morning. Later this afternoon, I’ll finish my time with the 2026 State Solo & Ensemble contest and begin the trek to Arkansas. It’s been an okay week with lots of reading and the start of a summer challenge that had honestly slipped my mind. I’ll tell you more about “Big Book Summer” later in this post and the books that I have tentatively lined up for the challenge.
But first, let’s get to the reading!
What I Finished This Week
That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn. I didn’t expect to enjoy this romance as much as I did. Truthfully, it was an audio selection that was made quickly as I was driving back to Plainview from Dallas. I anticipated it being more “noise” than an enthralling listen. I’m very glad that I was wrong. As I shared in last week’s post, the story centers around Griffin and Ren. Griffin is a widower still mourning the loss of his young wife just two years ago. Just before the tragedy, Griffin and his brothers were in New Orleans when they were cursed by a fortune teller. Griffin has lived with his guilt ever since that fateful trip and blames himself for his wife’s death. Out of fear, he refuses to allow anyone else to get close to him because they may also be hurt by the curse. Everything begins to change when he meets Ren, however. This young math teacher finds ways to break down Griffin’s walls and feelings develop. Just as Griffin begins to think that a relationship might be possible, Ren is injured. This is a beautiful story about daring to love, the sacrifices we make to keep others safe, and risking it all for the sake of love. 4.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (p. 348 of 576). I cannot tell you how many times I have pulled this novel off of the shelf to begin reading only to put it back in its spot. It always felt too big….too complex….too much for where I was at the moment. This week, I decided I needed to just bite the bullet and dive in. School is out of session and I had a little more time to settle in for a story that would require more brain power to process. I quickly discovered that Towles is an outstanding writer who weaves an intricate story in such a way that it is very easy to follow while also creating characters with depth. The story centers around Emmett, a young man returning to his Nebraska farm after serving time in a correctional institution for a “crime” that was actually an accident that ultimately led to another boy’s death. Emmett is now responsible for his younger brother, Billy, after the death of their father. Since the family farm is going into foreclosure and Emmett is not welcomed in the small community any longer, he and Billy decide to take the Lincoln Highway west to California in search of a new life — and hopefully a place to belong. Things do not go as planned for the young duo, and they find themselves on a massive adventure across the United States as they encounter a host of colorful characters. In case you can’t tell, I’m really enjoying this read at the moment.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (0:11 of 9:05). I finished an audio book on Saturday and still have a long drive ahead of me on Monday and Tuesday. I can’t believe that I have never read this classic novel, so this seemed like the perfect time to correct that situation. I’m not very far into the novel yet, but I’m planning to make a large dent in it during this first drive.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (p. 27 of 886). I wanted to start a “big book” in a digital format as well over the holiday weekend. I have a physical copy of the novel in the floor of my apartment, so I anticipated reading this book in the fall. When I discovered that it was also included in my Kindle Unlimited subscription, I decided to start it as well. It has been a minute since I read the first book in the series, so it is taking me a second to remember what was happening at the cliffhanger ending. Fantasy is not a normal genre for me, but I did enjoy my time in The Fourth Wing. I’m looking forward to returning to the story again.
Big Books of Summer Planning
Once again this year, I plan to participate in Sue Jackson’s Big Books of Summer reading challenge. The concept is simple — read big books this summer. You set how many you want to read — just one this summer….or one a month…..or something else. For the purposes of this challenge, Sue defines a “big book” as having at least 400 pages. The challenge runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
I have to admit that I had forgotten about the challenge until I saw Sue’s announcement video, so I haven’t done a ton of planning. But things have a way of working out because the book I began this week was a big book! I’m choosing to include it in my summer reading goals even though I started it before May 22.
Here are a few of the books that are on my radar as possible Big Book reads for this summer:
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (576 pages)
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (623 pages)
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (870 pages)
The Godfather by Mario Puzo (595 pages)
Obviously, I’m reading the Towles novel this summer. I had already planned to dive into Mario Puzo’s classic since it is needed for the prompt of the novel that inspired the top grossing movie of the year that I was born. This will be my third summer completing the challenge and it has become a bit of a tradition to read one of the Outlander novels — and Voyager is the third in the series. I may try to find another big book to read as an audio book this summer as well. As always, we will just have to see what the summer has in store for my reading adventure.
Some weeks are just hard. There are things beyond my control that I cannot change that negatively impact me. I want to scream. I want to bang heads together and tell people to get their sh*t together! I might have jokingly suggested a mob with pitchforks, torches, and daggers storm the “castle.”
When weeks like this arrive, reading becomes really hard. At the end of the day, my brain is exhausted. I just want to curl up in a ball and do something numbing and mindless. This week has been a testament to the power of personal habit as my reading streak has continued without interruption. While I’m not incredibly happy with the number of pages read this week, I know that I have to give myself grace and celebrate that I made progress.
Here’s hoping that a new week brings better results.
What I Finished This Week
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. For some reason, I had been avoiding this novel based on Greek mythology. I expected a story filled with vengeful gods and constant battles. While those elements were present, that is not what this story is about. At its heart, it is a love story of Achilles and Patroclus without all of the graphic passages you would find in a modern MM romance. (Yes, the story features two men in love.) Achilles is the son of a goddess and destined to be the greatest warrior the world has ever known. Patroclus is the son of a king who has been exiled simply because he is a constant disappointment to his father. The boys become friends right away. Bound by friendship, the two find themselves fighting on behalf of Agamemnon to rescue Helen from the walled city of Troy. Miller does an excellent job looking at issues such as duty, loyalty, destiny, and greed in this modern retelling of a classic story. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich (p. 125 of 439). My attention was pulled away from my non-fiction this week while I dreamed about Ancient Greece. Still, I have enjoyed progressing through this book. Did you know that Christmas time was a prime time for slaves to attempt escape? With the added days off to celebrate the holiday and the colder temperatures, it was more likely that they could get further away from their master before their absence was noticed and more easily cross natural boundaries when the creeks and rivers were frozen. As I am moving into the second section of the book, I am starting to learn more about individual slaves who were passengers on the Underground Railroad as well as those that served as conductors. Fascinating stuff!
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (p. 190 of 661). This week, I explored the relationship between the Trask brothers and watched as Adam and Cathy set out to make their new life in California. Adam dreams of a lush Garden of Eden; Cathy simply wants to escape. She has already proven that she will do anything necessary to be free of a man and has attempted to rid herself of the child she now carries. My only complaint about this novel at the moment is that I’m not enjoying it as an ebook, but I don’t want to purchase another paperback copy. I think my well-loved copy is in Arkansas at the moment. C’est la vie!
Easter weekend always signifies to me that Spring is finally here! Even if there is still a chill in the air, there is something about all of the bright colors and joyful images in the parks as families enjoy time outside that reminds me that it is a season of rebirth, renewal, and life. For the past several years, I have celebrated Easter in an unusual way. School is on break from Good Friday to Easter Monday, so I take the chance to slip out of town and rest. Typically, I will splurge on a nice hotel room with a large window and comfortable seating. Then I settle in for the weekend and pamper myself.
This year’s Easter vacation looked a little different than most. I went out of town and got a great room, but I rarely left it. Instead of going to the museum or catching a baseball game, I stayed close by and allowed myself to meditate, rest, and breathe. Some would consider this a waste of money because I could have done all of those things in my apartment. To me, it was the perfect investment and a needed change of scenery.
What I Finished This Week
Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford. I did not expect this novel to move me as it did! This story is going to stay with me for a very long time AND it influenced a personal research project. I love when fiction goes beyond a mere story and causes you to think deeply about big issues from our past and present. Chariot on the Mountain is the story of Kitty, a house slave who is beloved by her master. Upon his untimely death, his widow Mary has control of his property. To honor her husband’s dying wish, Mary decides to free Kitty. When Mary’s nephew makes a claim against his uncle’s will, it becomes evident that Kitty must leave immediately. Kitty, her three young children, and Mary set out for Pennsylvania along the path of the Underground Railroad. The party arrives safely to freedom, but when a free black man betrays Kitty’s trust, she is caught and returned to bondage at the hands of the violent nephew. In a final act of rebellion, Kitty sues her captor and proclaims herself to be a free person. Chariot on the Mountain is based largely on historical record and is a fascinating novel. While I “knew” about the Underground Railroad through childhood education in Arkansas, Ford’s novel made the circumstances, danger, and moral questions come to life. This will certainly be one of the contenders for the best book of the year for me. 5 stars.
The Leaving by Tara Altebrando. YA mystery is rarely my jam. Since I needed another mystery to complete the March mini-challenge, I decided to pick up this book on a whim. The premise is quite interesting. Six kindergarten students are taken from school on the first day of class. Their disappearance is completely unexplained and there are no clues leading to their recovery. Fast-forward 11 years…..when five of the students return to their small community. The only problem? They have no recollection of where they have been or anything that has happened during “The Leaving.” I used this novel to fulfill case #28 – a character wrongly accused — and that is probably the only reason that I didn’t DNF this book. Was it really that bad? No…but this month’s challenge has affirmed for me why mystery is not a favorite genre for me. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (p. 82 of 661). I’m returning to this American classic this month while participating in the Active Mind Book Club. While I have previously read the novel, I remember very little about it. I am enjoying the start of the story, but I must admit that I am finding it difficult to engage with the characters at this point. I seem to remember that it took me a bit to get invested in the character’s lives before too, but once I was in the story, it was hard to put down. I’m hoping for a similar experience with this re-reading.
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich (p. 63 of 439). As I was finishing my reading of Chariot on the Mountain this week, I stumbled upon a YouTube video that referred to “personal curriculum.” I was intrigued by the idea and set out to discover more. Essentially, it is a personal education for a specified length of time on a topic that interests you without the pressure of grades. The goal is simply to learn more. When I first encountered the idea, the vlogger spoke about the power of following your curiosity instead of a set “curriculum plan.” I liked the idea of selecting a topic and learning what you can. A quick question to ChatGPT about best sources to learn more about the Underground Railroad led me to this book. (I’ll share more about my early experiences with “personal curriculum” later this week on my personal blog, Livin’ Life.
Bound for Canaan is an expansive look at the journey of slaves to freedom and the challenges that it brought about. Right now, my focus is on the earliest days of the idea in Philadelphia as abolitionists and Quakers joined forces to protect the African-Americans in their community. While largely fueled by religious fervor, the Underground Railroad was also an expression of the political fight in the young nation’s legislature that would ultimately lead to civil war. My reading of non-fiction is typically slower than fiction, but I am thoroughly enjoying exploring this important aspect of American history.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (p. 29 of 369). I brought a stack of books with me for my holiday weekend getaway because I anticipated needing to start a new book for the main reading challenge. I have heard so many readers complain about the first prompt of the challenge — a book set in an ancient civilization — and decided that I needed to start my selection for this prompt in case I needed to pivot. A contemporary retelling of the myth of Achilles and Patroclus in their pursuit of a kidnapped Helen, Miller’s novel is proving to be fast-paced and quite approachable so far. I am very thankful for the many English teachers I have encountered that made mythology less daunting; it is certainly aiding in my current reading.
March in Review
March was a busy month in my world. Opera rehearsals, a trip to Arkansas, and opera tour dominated my life. Somehow, I managed to maintain a steady diet of reading for the month. That’s surprising to me as well! I’m also surprised to see that my top rated book of the month was one of the mysteries I read…..that just shows you how much I didn’t like the other books I read this month. I’m looking forward to getting back to some of my normal selections in April. Anyway, here are the stats for March.
Books read in March: 6 books (even with February)
Pages read in March: 2,296 (up 170 pages from February)
Highest rated book:The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood – 4.75 stars
2026 Reading Challenge Progress – The 52 Book Club
I have been feeling as though I’m behind on the main challenge with all of my attention going to the mini-challenges each month. I have only completed 10 prompts so far (although I have read 24 books so far this year). I’m a purist….normally one book for each prompt across all the challenges. However, when I saw a memory pop up in my feed this week, I noticed that I’m right on pace with last year; I had only read 9 books for the main prompt by the beginning of April. So here I am, taking a deep breath, enjoying my reading and not worrying about how quickly I finish the challenge. My only goal is to actually finish it.
Since I spent nearly half of my reading time this month completing the March mini-challenge (those blasted mysteries!), here’s the graphic showing what I’ve completed there as well. I have to admit that these were a fun departure from my normal reading patterns, but I’m ready to read in my lane for a bit now.
Upcoming Plans
April has another mini-challenge, so I have to get those going. I also need to read a book that has been turned into an Oscar-nominated film and one that has been nominated for the Women’s Prize for another challenge. (I am thinking that I may double dip on the Oscar-nominated story since I also need to read The Godfather for The 52 Book Club Challenge.) As always, I have big plans, but we will just have to see what I accomplish. All I know for sure is that I’ll continue to press my nose into a book daily and see what I can learn about myself, my world, and my fellow man.
Last week was spent in Midland, Texas. I was there with Opera of the Plains performing Little Red Riding Hood for elementary students in the Midland/Odessa area. Eleven performances in six days! With approximately 1,500 students in our audiences, the tour was an immense success. It was also very exhausting!
Clearly, the performance schedule impacted my reading life. I managed to continue to progress through my reads, but I’m hoping that this week will see a return to a regular schedule now that rehearsals and performances are over.
What I Finished This Week
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy. I’ve long been intimidated by Russian literature. There’s something about seeing the names that I am uncertain how to pronounce that sends my mind reeling. Combine that with a land that I cannot imagine, a culture with which I am not familiar, and a vast history that I know little about and you have a formula for a challenging read. When I think of Tolstoy, my mind immediately goes to War and Peace and Anna Karenina. After plowing through Karenina last summer, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this current read, but I was up for the challenge. Resurrection is a beautiful story of redemption, love, and sacrifice against the background of an unjust prison system in 19th century Russia. The novel was not perfect and seems as though it might have benefited from additional editing. However, I found the juxtaposition of Christian theology, western philosophy, and Russian heritage an interesting blend. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford (p. 112 of 285). Last fall, I selected a new shelf in the Unger Memorial Library to read my way through. The latest novel that I am enjoying from that project is Chariot on the Mountain. It is a historical novel set against the background of the Underground Railroad. Kitty is a slave whose master, Samuel, has died and left all of his property to his wife, Mary. Samuel’s dying wish is that his daughter Kitty and her children be set free. Thus begins the unconventional journey of Kitty and Mary to freedom in Pennsylvania. The novel is fascinating and its short chapters make it easy to jump in and out of during a busy season.
The Leaving by Tara Altebrando (p. 122 of 425). For my final read for the March mini-challenge, I have selected a YA mystery. On the first full day of kindergarten, six students mysteriously disappeared from a quaint Florida community. The event — now referred to as “The Leaving” — has been attributed to everything from alien abduction to kidnapping by a horrifying predator. Eleven years later, five of the students mysteriously return with only the clothes on their back and individual maps to their homes. They have no memory of what happened or where they have been. This is a riveting tale that alternates character perspective and challenges the imagination as readers try to discover where the sixth student is and what really happened.
Last week was a most relaxing week. I got to spend much of the week curled up on my parents’ couch with my nose in a book. How could I ask for anything more? Between naps, I managed to get some reading done to continue moving me closer to my monthly goals.
What I Finished This Week
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden. There are few things better than a good historical novel! I really enjoyed this book about the work of Marion Crawford, governess for Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. I found the anecdotes from the girls’ childhood charming. Marion’s work during the horrors of World War II and the Blitz were invigorating and courageous. However, I found the end of the novel rushed and rather unsatisfying. While we know that Marion was essentially shunned by the Royal Family after the publication of her memoir The Little Princesses, Marion’s failed marriage, her feelings about the early days of Elizabeth’s reign, the birth of Prince Charles, and other events until her death in the 1980s would have been fascinating to explore further. I understand that this was essentially beyond the scope of the novel, but the simple mention of these events left this reader wanting more. 4 stars.
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood. Continuing to make my way through the March mini-challenge, I read this charming mystery to fulfill case #12: features an amateur sleuth. In the small British town of Marlow, nestled on the banks of the Thames, the serenity has been crushed through a series of unexplained murders. While the police are frantically trying to solve the cases despite being understaffed, Judith is invested in discovering the killer of her friend. Is Judith an investigator? Not at all — she is a 70-year-old creator of crossword puzzles. Through her investigations, Judith teams up with a local dog walker and the wife of a minister to arrive at the truth. This was a fast-paced, witty read that I enjoyed immensely. 4.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy (p. 462 of 573). I am continuing to make my way slowly through the novel. Maslova and the other prisoners have begun the journey to Siberia. Nekhlyudov serves as Tolstoy’s eyes as the group mercilessly progresses from the prison to the train station in blazing heat. Questions about the morality of the punishment and the harshness of the conditions are at the heart of the conversation. I’m in the final section of the novel now and should have a huge finish before the end of the month.
As the title of today’s post suggests, I flew home to Arkansas to spend a few days with my parents over Spring Break. Since I would be leaving on Thursday afternoon, the first part of the week was incredibly hectic to try to get things done before I left. While I managed to meet my minimum reading goal each day, the bulk of my reading this week happened in the air on Thursday. Here’s what I managed to get done.
What I Finished This Week
Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany. It’s no secret that I am not the biggest fan of mysteries. When the March mini-challenge appeared, I decided I could give it a try and commit to reading three mysteries. First up was the one that I selected for Case #6: a cozy mystery. This seemed like an unoffensive kind of mystery to start with — no blood, no obvious violence. Gemma, the owner of a Sherlock Holmes bookstore, is accused of murder in the quiet tourist town. I was pleasantly surprised throughout much of the book and enjoyed the characters. Then, out of nowhere, came the revelation that the murderer was actually a minor character that suddenly had a motive and the ability to kill. That’s what I hate about most of these mysteries. It’s not that I don’t like the suspense; I hate the solutions that seemingly come out of left field when it is time to bring the novel to a close. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden (p. 274 of 420). This is an absolutely wonderful book that I cannot put down! This historical novel tells the story of Marion, a young Scottish student teacher who is hired to become the governess of two very important British girls — Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Marion’s effects to expose the Royals to normal activities such as riding the Underground, taking a bus, and shopping at Woolworth’s are both charming and heartwarming. The poignant looks at major historical events from the rise of Hitler, the spread of Communism, and the abdication of King Edward VIII to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, are insightful and illuminating. The novel is based largely in historical fact and is a fascinating read.
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy (p. 320 of 573). As Tolstoy’s novel has moved into part two, the focus has shifted to issues of land ownership and the plight of the Russian peasants. Nekhlyudov’s moral transformation continues as he attempts to rescue the many who have been wronged by society and his actions. This is a remarkable novel. I am wondering why it has been so overshadowed by the two larger novels. Resurrection is very approachable and much less daunting than either War and Peace or Anna Karenina.
Life was surprisingly calm this week. Half of the cast of the children’s opera were out of town on a choir tour. That meant we didn’t have rehearsal. While that was stressful on one hand, it was a most welcome rest that I embraced gladly. Evenings at home, leisure time to lose myself in the pages of a book. Even though I only have one finish this week, I am very pleased with where things stand at the moment.
What I Finished This Week
An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough. I read this book to fulfill the prompt of a book written by an Australian author. What I found was a dark exploration of mental illness and the medical professionals who care for them. Honour is an army nurse who has been assigned to oversee Ward X, a psychiatric ward for soldiers experiencing distress in the waning days of World War II. The patients’ problems range from manic depression and excessive anger to homosexuality and perversion. When Michael arrives in Ward X, everything begins to change. A handsome man, Michael catches the attention of Honour and becomes a trusted confidant of the other patients. As patients vie for their nurse’s attention, situations escalate and tragedy strikes the ward. McCullough looks at unhealthy obsessions in both the sick and their caregivers. Although dated now, it is a loving look at mental health in the early 1980s. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany (p. 104 of 308). When the mini-challenge for March dropped, I knew I was going to be in trouble. This month’s challenge is all about mysteries — a genre that I typically don’t read. I don’t really know why either. I normally enjoy puzzles and a level of suspense in my reading. Mysteries just aren’t where it is for me. Since the challenge allows me to choose three prompts from a list of 50, I figured that I should at least give it a chance again and see what I could discover. I’m starting with a “cozy mystery” — Elementary, She Read. Here’s the basic premise of the book. A woman hides a priceless magazine in a Sherlock Holmes tribute bookstore. When the owner decides to track her down and return the forgotten item, she discovers that the woman is now dead. Yup….it’s that simple at this point. There are lots of questions about who would want the magazine so badly to kill for it and if our heroine is in danger now. Not high literature, but definitely something to keep me reading when I’m tired and just want to escape for a bit.
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy (p. 157 of 573). This novel is about as far away from Elementary as I could possibly get! The final story written by the Russian novelist, Resurrection follows a woman who has been sentenced to Siberia for a crime she did not commit. Since she is a prostitute, the judicial system assumes the worst. Among the men on the jury is the wealthy aristocrat that she fell in love with as a teen….and has never fully gotten over. I’m reading this with the Active Mind Book Club. So far, I’m staying on pace with the reading schedule. I’m enjoying taking this one a little slower than usual as we explore ideas about justice, redemption, the role of women, and the sanctity of marriage.
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden (p. 63 of 420). As soon as I read the summary of this novel, I was hooked! I was just looking for the right time to dive into it. This week, I decided to start reading a little of it and now I just want to read more. Essentially, it is the story of the woman who became the personal tutor and governess for Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth. I’m still really early in this one, but I’m looking forward to diving in this week and seeing where this story will take me.
Reading for Me 