I delayed writing this week’s post because I kept thinking that I had plenty of time to write….and I wanted to read! Monday arrived and the day was packed with everything EXCEPT writing. So here’s my weekly update a day later than usual…but I’m very pleased with the results. Here’s what I managed to get done in a very full week!
What I Finished This Week
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson. This audiobook was a nice change of pace. Centering around a group of friends who are navigating the trials of adult life as they deal with marriage, love, and raising children, The Shampoo Effect begins like any other contemporary novel. When a novel loosely based on the lives and secrets of the friend group hits the market, their world is completely rocked as what they assumed was hidden comes to light — and must be addressed! Such a delightful read full of humor. 4 stars.
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham. Now that the fall has finally arrived (for today, at least), it seemed like a great time to read this book that has been in my TBR pile for nearly a year. The Academy is a story about a group of high school students at an elite boarding school. In addition to the usual sources of teen angst, the students — and faculty — find themselves navigating the nightmare of a social media site known as “Zip Zap” that has the sole purpose of exposing secrets. No one is safe and the rumors are flying! This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year and highly recommended. 5 stars.
What I DNF’d This Week
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading of the classic novel. I was captivated by the plot and found Jane to be an engaging heroine. Why the DNF then? I found myself struggling to find time to devote to the novel. This is not a book that I wanted to read in bits and spurts; it deserves the time needed to savor the language and engage with the raised issues. This is not a “Absolutely not!” shelving; instead, this is just a “see you later” DNFing.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (p. 28 of 323).The Silent Patient got a last minute start before today’s post, but I am so glad that I did. It’s a fascinating premise! The story is told by a criminal psychotherapist who is working with Alicia, an artist who has been convicted of murdering her husband by shooting him in the face five times. After that event, Alicia has never spoken another word. This book is beautifully written and has pulled me in from the very beginning. I’m looking forward to getting this one read this week.
It feels as though I have been chasing my own tail all week long! I could not get it together and never felt as though I was making any progress toward my goals. I’m really thankful for one finish this week…..even if it wasn’t my favorite read ever.
What I Finished This Week
The Summer of 66 by Dan Wheatcroft. Wheatcroft’s short novel is a political thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War and the World Cup. Sadly, the characters are not thoroughly developed and the plot is rather convoluted. It was not a pleasant reading experience at all. There’s a reason that this book is only published in digital format. 2.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (pp. 141 of 453). While I didn’t get as much reading done this week as I had hoped, I am still thoroughly enjoying this novel. Jane has now moved into the home of Rochester and is caring for Adele. Right now, I don’t love Rochester at all and can’t imagine that Jane will develop feelings for him. Not surprisingly, it takes me a bit longer to read Jane Eyre. I am hoping to get back on schedule this week and do a little catch up.
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (64% of 9:58). This book is my first foray into audiobooks on Spotify. That explains why my calculation of completion looks a little different. The Shampoo Effect tells the story of friends who have known each other for years as they face the challenges of love and marriage. At the heart of the story is Van, an environmental scientist, who has fathered a child by his high school girlfriend. There’s only one problem: Van has fallen in love with Caroline, an aspiring writer who has recently moved into the small town. Van struggles to find balance between being a father to his newborn and being a boyfriend to Caroline. At first, the constantly changing perspectives were challenging and unnatural for me. Now that I am familiar with the characters, I’m finding this to be a very engaging read.
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (p. 43 of 413). Just a small start on this week’s new book, but I have been intending to read it for a while. Now that the fall semester is fully up and running, it seems like the perfect time to read a story set in an elite boarding school in New England. Traditionally, I always enjoy Hilderbrand’s writing, so I’m looking forward to this read.
Happy Labor Day to those in the US! Sadly, this signals the end of summer as we enter the full schedule of fall. School is back in session, performances are beginning to mount, and (hopefully) the weather will begin to cool. Labor Day also brings the end of Big Book Summer….and I got my last big book finished just in time! Look for a special section below to summarize the books I read for this fun annual event.
What I Finished This Week
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. I really struggled with this book. The story centers around four women who travel to Italy and spend the month of April in a castle. While they are there, we learn much about their lives back in England, their struggles in relationships, and their dreams for the future. Typically, this should have been an excellent read for me. I think the problem with this experience was the fact that I read an audiobook with a narrator whose accent made listening difficult. Because I was listening while walking around the indoor track, I struggled to become fully engaged in the slow-moving plot. 2 stars.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. The third book in the Outlander series, Voyager reunited Claire and Jaime. Much of this volume focuses on Jaime’s two children as well as his difficult relationship with his sister. When his nephew Ian decides to follow Jaime on an adventure, the young man is captured by pirates. Jaime and Claire seek to rescue him. Their efforts lead them to the Caribbean islands and all of the magic and sorcery found there. While I adore the characters in the series, the large amount of scenes occurring on boats was a struggle for me. I also found the reading rather slow to plow through. 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Summer of 66 by Dan Wheatcroft (p. 64 of 265). With the beginning of September, another mini-challenge appeared from The 52 Book Club. That’s just not what I needed to happen so early in the month, but I was immediately engaged and began to look for titles to fit the prompts. The Summer of 66 is proving to be an engaging novel so far. A British police detective is reassigned to work with the stats department. In reality, he is working with a offshoot of MI5 to investigate a case that has led to the suicide of multiple investigators in rapid succession. This has been a nice change of pace from the sweeping saga that Voyager was. I’m also enjoying that it is a much quicker read and not as long!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (p. 54 of 453). I have never read any novel by the Bronte sisters. I have started a couple of them, only to find them boring and too challenging. Somehow, it seems that I had a wrong impression of what Jane Eyre was all about. I don’t really know what I thought the book was about, but I certainly was not expecting to read about a young orphan girl who was mistreated by her benefactress before being sent away to boarding school. I suppose I was anticipating something more in the vein of Pride and Prejudice. I have really enjoyed the book so far and I am finding this edition to be very approachable.
Big Book Summer 2026
For the last 3 summers, I have participated in Big Book Summer. Hosted by Sue Jackson, it is a celebration of big books and the stories that we love that take over 400 pages to tell. Running from Memorial Day to Labor Day each summer, it coincides nicely with the break in my teaching schedule. As you know, this summer was full of twists and turns in my world. Still, I wanted to participate and am pleased with my accomplishments. Here’s the complete list of the Big Books I finished in Summer 2026.
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (407 pages) – 5 stars
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (886 pages) – 3.5 stars
The Godfather by Mario Puzo (448 pages) – 4.75 stars
Reckless at Heart by Zoe York (602 pages) – 3.75 stars
PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly (418 pages) – 4 stars
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (870 pages) – 3.75 stars
Six big books this summer, totaling 3,631 pages…..I’ll take that for the win!
August in Review
August was not a good month for my reading life. I struggled as I prepared to leave the Geriatric Ward and make my way back to my life. As exhaustion set in, I was struggling to meet my daily goal of reading at least 20 pages. Since that streak continued through this challenging month, I’m going to take that as a win. But it means that I have a lot of reading to do in the coming months to meet my 2026 goals and finish the main challenge.
Books I read in August: 4(down 8 from July)
2 print
1 audio
1 ebook
Pages read in August:1,408 pages(down 1,446 from July)
Highest rated book: The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (4.75 stars)
Lowest rated book: Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (3 stars)
The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress
Since August was not a productive reading month for me, there is little progress to see here. It turns out that I have completed 31 of the 52 prompts. That means there are 21 prompts remaining — so I need to add 5 or 6 books each month if I hope to finish the challenge by December. It’s entirely possible, I just have to be very intentional in my reading for the rest of the year.
The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge
With intentional reading for the rest of the year to finish the main challenge, that means that the summer and remaining mini-challenges will probably need to get put on pause. But they are so much fun to read! (And I’ve got prompts left in the main challenge that I have not been looking forward to….oops!). Anyway, here’s where the summer challenge is at the moment.
I read 2 books for this challenge in August. Now I’m supposed to work on prompt #7 – a book with a final page count that is ODD. Am I the only one finding that most of the books I’m interested in reading have an even number of pages? Alas, I’ll find something to read to keep moving on this challenge eventually.
This week was rather normal here in the Geriatric Ward. Lots of doctor’s appointments, caring for my parents, making dinners, and preparing for the family to gather and celebrate the July 4th holiday together. Somehow, I also managed to get some reading done along the way. (It sort of helps when you don’t have to do a regular job at the moment as well…..taking care of the patients is enough of a full time job!) It’s been a really good week and I’m please with the results.
What I Finished This Week
PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly. For some reason lately, I’m reading all of the books about loved ones who have passed and the awkward ways of saying goodbye. While I hope that the Universe is not trying to prepare me for something upcoming, I will admit that the stories have been lovely and somewhat comforting. In Connolly’s novel, Maddie has lost her brother to cancer. At the funeral, she receives instructions that she is to visit the 8 states that her brother did not get to during life and spread his ashes in beautiful locations. There is a catch though — she is to be accompanied by Dominic. Dominic was her brother’s best friend and the guy that broke her heart. In the typical enemy-to-lovers fashion, the adventures are filled with anger and lots of sexual tension. Overall, this was a charming look at the idea of a chosen family and the importance of building relationships while balancing our moral responsibilities. 4 stars.
The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham. Published in 1919, this classic novel is an exploration of the line between focusing on material wealth and security and following our passions. Charles Strickland was a successful stock broker in London who had it all — wealth, success, and a loving family. Despite it all, he was not happy. Strickland announces that he is done, packs up and moves to Paris to pursue the life of an aspiring artist, leaving his wife, children, and job behind without a second glance. Strickland does not find success and continues to run, making his way to Tahiti. There the artist will live in poverty and ultimately succumb to a horrific disease that will take his life. After his death, Strickland is finally appreciated as a genius and master of his craft. Maugham presents a tale that teaches that moderation is more important than total devotion to either extreme. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (8:57 of 12:33). A romance set in the cut-throat world of academia? Yes, please! I’m really enjoying this story of the grumpy experimental physicist who falls for the lovely theorist who has been posing as his brother’s “fake date.” Confused? It’s a fun puzzle to unravel.
I Loved You First by Cate Beauman (p. 50 of 330). Another romance for my summer challenge. This one features Cam, a single father who has never left his quaint New England hometown. After her mother’s car accident, Fiona returns home for the first time since Cam broke her heart, announcing that he was going to marry her rival who was now pregnant with his child. Fiona intends to avoid Cam at all cost, but once she meets his precocious 5-year-old son…all bets are off. I’m certain this is going to be very predictable, but it’s proving to be an enjoyable read so far.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman (p. 60 of 415). A murder in a small town obsessed with hockey. That’s all I really know at the moment. Reading this one because of the many rave reviews it has received. At this point, the jury is still out for me.
June 2026 in Review
June has been a very productive reading month for me. Reading was my escape during long days visiting hospitals and rehab centers. For the most part, I didn’t read “hard-hitting” literature, but it was what I needed in the moment. Here is the month by the numbers.
Books read in June: 9 (up 1 from May)
2 physical
3 audio
4 ebooks
Pages read in June: 2,650 (up 795 from May)
Highest rated book: This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page – 5 stars
Lowest rated book: Protected by the Biker by Logan Chance – 2 stars
The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress
I made six additions to the main challenge this month, bringing me to the 40% mark with 21 finished books. I would like to be a little closer to the halfway point, but I think I can continue to make some serious progress toward my goal in the remaining few months of summer vacation. I’m not worried (yet!) about completing the challenge by the end of the year, but I am certainly reading with a little more focus now.
The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge
The summer reading challenge began this month and I’ve had a lot of fun with the board game element. I’m currently reading my 5th book for the challenge and about to make my way along the bottom border of the board. As you can see, my reading has been dominated with romances with a bit of historical fiction and classics thrown in. Realistically, this challenge will extend past Labor Day for me, but I’m not too upset about that. I’d like to get done early in the Fall, but my focus will remain on the main challenge…until a new batch of mini-challenges begin to appear, at least!
My world has gradually returned to a version of normalcy this week. On Wednesday afternoon, we brought Dad home from rehab. (He promptly had a fall that evening; we always have to have drama in the Geriatric Ward.) So the end of the week has not had the insanity of constant drives and has allowed for a bit of much needed rest. That has also meant that I was able to settle down and finish several books that were in progress.
What I Finished This Week
The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this American classic despite my initial trepidation. The story of Michael Corleone and the struggles to maintain power within the Five Families in New York was fascinating. I anticipated lots of violence and bloodshed on the page. While it was definitely present, the accounts were not gruesome or overly descriptive. In truth, the violence was used to propel the story telling. I especially found the afterward to be interesting; taken in light of what was happening in American society in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Puzo’s novel holds an important role in the American literary tradition. I now have to find 3 hours in my life to watch the film adaptation. 4.75 stars.
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. This week’s audio book was about getting over the perfectionism that plagues so many of our lives and learning to simply be present in the moment. With lots of emphasis on making sure that we are saying “yes” to the right things and managing our professional, personal, and spiritual lives healthily, I found the book incredibly encouraging and challenging. I must admit that this was probably not the best book to listen to in the current season of my life. With everything going on right now, feelings of being overwhelmed are a reality for me. That’s a topic that is very prevalent in Niequist’s writing. It was hard at times to focus in and really hear the message. That doesn’t mean it was not wonderfully written; it just suggests that it wasn’t the right book for this moment. The format (audio) was also not right for me. I plan to keep this book on my TBR so I can pick up a copy of the physical book and really dive into the truths that are there. 3 stars.
Reckless at Heart by Zoe York. The story of Owen and Kerry is a cute novel. Owen is a single father who struggles with relationships after becoming a father as a teenager. Now pregnant herself, Owen’s daughter turns to Kerry to serve as her midwife. Despite their initial feelings toward each other, Owen and Kerry fall in love. However, they both know that the relationship is destined to be only temporary because Kerry desperately wants children of her own; Owen has moved far away from that part of his life and has taken steps to avoid having children again. Both are faced with deciding which is more important — having the person they love or holding on to the dreams they held for their future. Will love win out? 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
P.S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly (p. 50 of 418). In a lot of ways, this books feels very similar in theme to This Book Made Me Think of You that I just finished a few weeks ago. In Connolly’s novel, a brother has passed away. At his memorial service, the deceased has left his sister and best friend with the task of visiting the eight states he didn’t get to during life. Each location is indicated by an envelope with coordinates. Once the pair arrives at the location, they are to open the letter, follow the instructions, and leave a portion of his ashes behind. I just started reading this novel last night, but it is quickly proving to be a very enjoyable read.
The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham (p. 40 of 280). For my next prompt in the summer beach read challenge, I am tasked with reading a classic novel featuring a character with an unusual career. Thanks to an AI search, I found this 1919 novel that features a stockbroker who leaves his life behind to pursue his newly discovered passion as an artist in Paris. (For this musician, a career as a visual artist is FAR from unusual; however, I’m taking the POV of most of society and counting it. Plus, it seems like a situation I would like to explore, so I’m reading the book.) I haven’t encountered Maugham’s writing before and I struggled a bit when I first started reading — because it was an unfamiliar voice. Now I’m finding that the reading is much easier and moves at a relatively easy pace.
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.
