Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Sep 29

Making Discoveries (September 29, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s always fun to make new discoveries. This week, while reading a blog about economical ways to support a book addiction — let’s just admit that most voracious readers have a problem that we refer to as our “book collection” — I expected to just be encouraged to visit the library frequently and to embrace ebooks. What I actually discovered was a recommendation for a website called Paperback Swap. The premise is actually pretty simple. You list books with which you are willing to part and list them on the website; you are responsible for the postage, but there are no additional fees. For each book you send, you can request another book from a member. It’s been a fun motivation to peruse my bookshelves with a critical eye and re-discover some books I had forgotten about while also selecting a handful to send to a new home. So far, I have sent out two paperbacks and have a biography of soprano Marian Anderson on the way.

While searching my shelves for books to list on the website, I also found a few editions of the classic that I have begun reading this week. While I am enjoying reading primarily from an edition without footnotes and textual interruptions, it is nice to have those resources at hand when I get completely lost along the way. So I’m finally sitting down to read of Ishmael, Queequeg, and Ahab rather than dreading my journey along the open waves with them.

This week features one finish and three current reads. (I know, I know….my “one at a time” approach was very short lived….but it is going to keep me from getting completely overwhelmed by the classic American novel….at least, that’s my hope!)

What I Finished This Week

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover. After a couple of heavy reads last week, I was in the mood for something lighthearted. Something that would make me smile. O’Clover’s funny romance was a great fit for me this week. Louisa (called Lou by her friends) has been dating her musician boyfriend for nearly six years. His hit song “Purple Girl” is all about her and they live in Lou’s dream home outside of Denver. She has everything she could ever hope for….until she learns that the boyfriend has been cheating while on tour. Refusing to leave her home, but unable to pay the rent on her own, she decides to convert it into a bed-and-breakfast. Only problem? She has to convince the handsome veterinarian, Henry, who is now her landlord. Henry’s past begins to trouble him when he learns that Lou plans to target heartsick people who need to heal after a breakup when publicizing the Inn. The Heartbreak Hotel features a lovely cast of characters while exploring issues of self-confidence and family relations. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 81 of 552). I have never read this classic novel. I have started it several times and never found a rhythm to complete it. While planning for this year’s reading challenge, a young man who I respect greatly told me that I was missing out by not reading this novel. He went on to tell me that it was the greatest book ever written in his opinion. I decided that was enough of an endorsement to put Melville’s tale about the great whale on my TBR once again. My plan is to move through the book at a rather slow pace and couple it with contemporary works to see if that helps me find a better rhythm.

Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart (p. 101 of 439). Since Night Over Water by Ken Follett just wasn’t the right fit for me at the moment, I went on a search through my bookshelves for another novel with a title that begins with the letter N for the reading challenge. I picked up this novel randomly on a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Lescroart’s legal thrillers have been recommended to me many times, but I’ve never actually read one of them. This seems like the perfect opportunity to be introduced to the author and his famous character, Dismas Hardy. Here’s what I know about the story so far. Dismas’ wife, Frannie, was having coffee with Ron Beaumont on the morning of his wife’s murder (confusing and convoluted, right?) and is Ron’s alibi in the police investigation. When Frannie is called before the grand jury, she decides to keep a crushing secret that Ron shared with her in confidence rather than answer the court’s inquiries. When Frannie insults the judge, things become explosive and Frannie finds herself in jail for 4 days! That’s when Dismas discovers that Ron has emptied his condo and made a run for it with his two young children. This is a fast-paced, fun legal thriller that keeps the reader constantly on the edge of their seat as they try to decide what really happened and who is in the wrong.

People Watching by Hannah Bond-Young (2:09 of 10:21). I’m including this book in this week’s reading because technically I have started the book. I have some travel coming up later this week and one of my prompts for the reading challenge is an audiobook with multiple narrators. Two narrators and a beautiful cover were all the incentive I needed to download the book. I did a little listening at the end of the week to make sure I would connect with the story, but I plan for this to accompany me while I’m driving this week. This is the story of Milo and Prue. Milo is a down-on-his-luck artist, returning to his childhood hometown to assist his brother in launching his new business. Prue is caring for her mother, a retired art teacher struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. So far, it is the perfect blend of romance, humor, and tenderness. This is definitely a book I am going to enjoy!

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

Leave a comment »
Aug 18

So Many Meetings (August 18, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

What an incredibly busy week it has been! Monday and Tuesday consisted of driving me and my things back to Plainview. I made it back just in time to begin professional development and faculty meetings on Wednesday morning. Despite the never ending and often tedious meetings, I still managed to have a very good week in my reading life. I’m celebrating the conclusion of the big Russian novel as well as two ebooks this week!

What I Finished This Week

The Appeal by John Grisham. Just in case you didn’t read my summary from last week, let me briefly recap. Chemical company dumps waste in a small Mississippi town. Water supply becomes polluted and people die. Jury returns verdict with massive damages awarded. Company does not want to pay and attempts to purchase a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. That’s the entire plot. Grisham is very good at weaving these interesting legal stories that force the reader to examine both sides of the issue. Was I frustrated as I read? Absolutely! Did I find myself rooting for the victims to get the money I felt they deserved? Most definitely. Do things in the justice system always turn out as they should? According to my experiences and Grisham’s novel, not at all. 3 stars.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It’s time to celebrate! I completed my latest #BigBookofSummer read with this Russian masterpiece. This week, I read Part 7 and the shorter Part 8. Part 7 was the climax of the book as Anna’s psyche unraveled and she found herself in the pits of despair. Ultimately, she would choose to end her life in order to punish those who she did not feel loved her adequately. While I understand that Part 8 was needed to wrap up loose ends, it really felt as though Tolstoy was trying too hard to say something of importance and never quite summed up the theme of his novel. Levin wrestles with his philosophy of religion and spirituality while asking important questions about the meaning of life. Part 8 was intended to show how Anna’s death had impacted those left behind; instead, it was just a depressing statement of how life continues until we all ultimately die. 4 stars simply because of the massive scale of this tome.

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling. A romance that is all about a pitcher getting drafted and moving through the ranks to the major league? I’m all in! After seeing the book lauded on Facebook all summer, I decided it was finally time to read it and see what all of the fuss was about. It’s a pretty standard plot. Boy meets Girl and falls in love. Girl has trust issues that are tested when Boy has a drunken one night stand while traveling. Matters become worse when Boy’s indiscretion leads to an unwanted pregnancy. All in all, this was a fun, fast read to bring my summer reading sprint to an end. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

James by Percival Everett (p. 104 of 303). I purchased a copy of the 2024 National Book Award winning novel last November. What I knew about the book was that it was a re-telling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s perspective. Twain’s masterpiece has long been a personal favorite and one that I have examined multiple times, so I knew that I would ultimately read Everett’s novel. I finally sat down with James on Saturday morning and began reading. I was instantly pulled into the story and enjoyed the prose immensely. What I didn’t expect was how quickly the story moved; even with some dialect included as an homage to Twain’s novel, I have found the text quite easy to move through thus far. I’m anticipating that this book will be an easy one to finish this week and will fulfill the prompt for a book with a final sentence of less than six words.

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (p. 50 of 254). One of the prompts that I have been most worried about completing was “Climate Fiction.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one who will deny that Earth’s climate is changing and that we have a responsibility to protect it. However, it’s not something I want to consider in my reading life. I had tried to read There Once Were Wolves earlier this year, but the opening scene was just too graphic for me and I could not get past it. Migrations is about a woman who is studying endangered birds that make an annual migration to Antartica. Many scientists believe that this will be the final flight of the birds; Franny is convinced she will also cease to exist when the birds are extinct. Although I’ve only gotten a few pages into the book, I am finding it an enjoyable read thus far.

2025 Reading Challenge baseball Big Book Summer classic ebook romance The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
Aug 11

Break is Over! (August 11, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

If you listen very closely, you may hear me lying in the floor raising a ruckus. I am kicking and screaming like an overly tired toddler, yelling “I don’t wanna!!!” Why am I so grumpy? Summer vacation is officially over. As of the appearance of this post, I am making my way back to the reality that is life in west Texas. It is probably no surprise, but I am not ready to go back.

This final week of break was not exactly what I had wished. I continued to isolate after contracting COVID late last week. Just as I was beginning to feel better, we got the news that Mom had tested positive. In order to try to remain healthy, I continued to isolate. It wasn’t absolutely horrible. I got a lot of reading done while sitting in the back of the house….not as much as I did last week, but I’m still happy with my progress. No three completed books this week, though. LOL!

What I Finished This Week

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild. You know a book has captured your imagination when you simply have to stay up late in order to get to the end. That was my experience on Friday night with Finding Grace. Tom and Honor are celebrating the Christmas holidays in Paris with their young daughter, Chloe. In a moment, Tom’s world is turned upside down and will never be the same again. As he returns to London, he moves through life in a trance, searching for purpose. When he receives the call that his dead wife’s surrogate is in labor, giving birth to his son, Tom suddenly has a second chance at life. However, no one has written a book on how to raise a young son alone. When a letter is mistakenly posted to Tom instead of the surrogate who wished to remain anonymous through the entire process, Tom’s curiosity gets the best of him….and a web of deception begins. Finding Grace is at times funny, heartbreaking, and unbelievable. I read the opening and closing sections through tears; the middle kept me asking questions about honesty and the eternal aspects of unconditional love. This novel will fill the prompt for a novel 300-400 pages in length. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 736 of 817). Part 6 was the most challenging portion of the novel to get through to this point. With the introduction of several new characters and the political discourses, Tolstoy’s story sometimes got lost in the shuffle. Veslovsky is a friend of Prince Stephan who comes to join the hunt with the Prince and Levin. During the course of the newcomer’s visit, Levin becomes incredibly jealous of Veslovsky’s interactions with Kitty. After being expelled from Levin’s home, Veslovsky is next seen at the country estate of Vronsky and Anna. Veslovsky’s flirtations are now directed at Anna, but Vronsky does not respond negatively. When Vronsky has to go away to Moscow for a political gathering, Anna becomes convinced that she is no longer loved and begins to show signs of depression as she turns to morphine for comfort. In truth, Vronsky is struggling with the fact that Anna is still not divorced from Karenin. Here’s hoping that Part 7 returns us to the stories of the characters that we have come to love as this brick of a book is propelled to its tragic ending.

The Appeal by John Grisham (p. 378 of 485). A small Mississippi town’s water supply has been tainted because a mega chemical company dumped toxic waste in the woods. People are becoming sick and dying. Now known as “Cancer County,” the residents of Bowmore want justice. When the first of the wrongful death verdicts awards the plaintiff $41 million, the New York corporation is determined to make sure that they don’t pay a penny in damages. The plan? Buy the elected seats of the Mississippi Supreme Court Justice up for re-election so the eventual appeal will go in the company’s favor. Grisham is a master of judicial storytelling and weaves a fascinating tale of power, intrigue, and justice.

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer Book of the Month classic ebook historical international The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
Aug 4

Aestas Horribilis (August 4, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

While watching Final Jeopardy during one of this week’s episodes in the Tournament of Champions, I was reminded of Queen Elizabeth II’s description of the year 1992 — annus horribilis. Considering the troubled marriage of Diana and Charles as well as other troubled royal unions and fire in Windsor Castle, 1992 was truly a horrible year for the monarch. Taking some liberties, I must refer to the summer of 2025 as aestas horribilis – a horrible summer.

What was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me? On Thursday afternoon, I developed a nagging cough that simply would not be tamed by medication. As the day wore on, I began to experience congestion, earache, and headache along with sneezing and fatigue. Friday morning, I returned to Mitchell Family Health (my second home this summer, it seems) and got the diagnosis. I have COVID-19. At some point, I just have to laugh at the irony that I will be dealing with another illness during my final week in the Geriatric Ward before returning to West Texas.

What did this mean to my reading life? Thankfully, I seem to have only had a mild case of COVID and have not suffered terribly with the symptoms. So I have taken over the back bedrooms of my parents’ home and tried to isolate as much as possible. (I am now into Day 4 of my quarantine.) I have had a lot of quiet time to do lots of reading. When first diagnosed, I wondered if I would experience “brain fog” as I have in previous bouts with the virus. Thankfully, that has not been the case and I was able to continue the reading routine I had gotten into before becoming ill.

What I Finished This Week

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean. Talk about a family saga! This novel hit all of the marks for me. A billionaire has died and now his four children and widow must complete a series of tasks to receive their inheritance. Living on a private island, the siblings who are estranged from each other, must work together despite their animosity. As the family hosts a “celebration” for the dearly departed (because how could they possibly be seen mourning publicly?), tensions mount and explode. And all of that happens before the real storm arrives on the island! Want something full of family secrets, challenging relationships, and hilarious hijinks? This is the perfect read for you. Part rom-com, part family drama with a lot of heart-felt soul searching, These Summer Storms will keep you entertained and desperately wanting to turn the page to see what happens to the family. 4.75 stars

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. WHAT A BOOK!!!! Since I first read Hoover’s works a few years ago, I have been enthralled by her writing and storytelling. Few authors are as adept at spinning a riveting story. I wanted to pick up something to begin reading digitally this week; something that I could read while lying in bed and ending the day. I did not expect Hopeless to rock my world as it has and now I can hardly put the book down! The story centers around Sky, a teen girl who is entering her senior year in high school after being homeschooled for her entire life. One day in the local grocery store, she encounters Holder, a bad boy that everyone warns Sky about. Despite the warnings, Sky and Holder’s attraction and connection are undeniable. As their relationship quickly progresses, it becomes clear that something is amiss. When the revelation was finally made at the midway point of the book, I sat bolt upright in bed and couldn’t believe my eyes! (For those with whom I have shared the recommendation, this ranks right up there with Jodi Picoult’s shocking twist in Mad Honey.) From that point forward, I was constantly pulled back into Sky and Holder’s story. The rest of the plot is filled with twists and turns that the reader does not see coming. As I neared the book’s conclusion, my reading pace slowed tremendously because I was constantly wiping away tears. I completely fell in love with these characters and was thoroughly invested in their story. A few trigger warnings are needed because this book packs a major punch; child abduction, molestation, suicide, bullying, and rape are all encountered. While I think Hoover treated each issue with sensitivity, I am certain that reading this book may be traumatic for those who have personal experience with any of these issues. By the way, I am using this novel to fulfill the prompt for an author who publishes more than one book a year. (Although Hoover is not currently publishing, she was producing two books annually when Hopeless was released.) 5 stars.

Eruption by Michael Crichton & James Patterson. This thriller has been sitting at the bottom of my TBR for several months now. I had planned this read for the prompt for a book set in a country with an active volcano (a story about an erupting volcano seemed perfect, right?), but I quickly realized that the better fit would be the prompt of a book with a non-human antagonist. Man vs. machine or man vs. nature are not normal plots that I enjoy, so I decided to use the Crichton thriller to fill the bill. Set in Hawaii, a long dormant volcano is expected to blow its lid any day now. Scientists can predict the time of the eruption and the direction of the lava flow. Thankfully, the lava will flow away from Hilo towards mostly uninhabited portions of the island. The only problem is that there is a large surplus of toxic waste stored below the ground in this part of the island that will have catastrophic results — basically, the end of human life — if it is released into the air….and that’s exactly what will happen unless this team of scientists and engineers can figure out a way to redirect the lava flow. While it sounds incredibly cheesy…and it is to an extent…..it is still a very fun read. The novel was an unfinished manuscript by Crichton at the time of his death in 2008; it was finished and published by Patterson in 2025 with the support of Crichton’s widow. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 574 of 817). This week, I stayed on goal, completing Part 4 and (actually) Part 5 as well. In Part 4, Alexei continues to pursue his divorce of Anna because of her affair with Vronsky. However, when Anna becomes severely ill after the birth of her daughter, also named Anna, Alexei has a change of heart and finds that he has forgiven his wife and found love for both of the children. Despite his desire for things to remain the same in their marriage, Alexei must ultimately admit that Anna does not love him and cannot bear the thought of life without Vronsky. When divorce is once again on the table — only this time, not as an act of revenge — Anna questions if she truly wants the freedom it will bring.

Part 5 shifts our attention to the marriage of Levin and Kitty. As the newlyweds learn of the approaching death of Levin’s brother, the two dash to his bedside where Kitty acts as an angel of mercy, caring for the dying man with tenderness and grace. Levin begins to see his wife in a new light. Interestingly, chapter 20 of this part of the novel is the only one that has a title — “Death.” While this makes the chapter extremely famous in literature, I found the preceding chapter to be much more moving. As the story returns to Anna and Vronsky, we see the two returning to Moscow from their time in Rome. As they near the city, Anna’s desire to see her son grows stronger as his 9th birthday approaches. Despite obstacles and through some cunning on Anna’s part, the two are briefly reunited in the boy’s nursery. However, a schism seems to be forming between Anna and Vronsky, forcing Anna to wonder if she is still loved by the man she chose.

July in Review

It’s hard to believe that another month has come and gone. July was a busy month in my world with health challenges and a trip to Chicago. Still, I had a pretty stable reading life through it all. Not the best results of the year, but still moving towards meeting my goal of 52 books in 2025.

  • Books read in July: 5 (up 1 from June)
  • Pages read in July: 2,273 (up 956 pages from June)
  • Highest rated book: These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (4.75)
  • Lowest rated book: Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence (3.75)

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer Book of the Month classic ebook family saga The 52 Book Club thriller

Leave a comment »
Jul 28

My Kind of Town (July 28, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Frank Sinatra had it right…..”Chicago is my kind of town!” I flew into Midway on Tuesday afternoon to attend the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy at the Westin Lombard. I spent Tuesday night near the airport before meeting my colleague on Wednesday morning. The conference went through noon on Saturday. Even though I didn’t get to see a lot of the city’s best attractions, I did get to visit Wrigley Field to see the Cubs lose to the Royals. I was struck by the friendliness of the people as they went about their lives in a major metropolitan area. I definitely want to head back to the city and do some more exploring.

Typically, being on the road for work significantly impacts my reading life. This time, I was actually productive. While sitting in the recruiting booth, I was able to do quite a bit of reading as my colleague worked on a major report that is due later this fall. Once we returned to the hotel each evening, we both found our quiet spots and did some reading in companionable silence. So I’m happy to say that I have another finish this week and met my goal on my last Big Book of Summer.

What I Finished This Week

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. Thanks to some uneventful time in a recruiting booth and plenty of time flying, I was able to finish this novel before returning to Memphis on Saturday evening. The mystery surrounding the body found floating in the water expands to include one of Beth’s patients in the nursing home. This book is full of twists and turns as well as power plays for land control and childhood grudges. In addition to the murder, Simon paints a charming portrait of three generations of women learning about their similarities when all they really see are differences. By no means do I consider this a contender for my favorite book of the year, it was a fun read during a time in my life when I needed a little levity. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 395 of 817). Even with this week’s travel, I managed to stay on schedule and finish Part Three of the novel. This part focuses largely on Levin’s time in the countryside and provides contrast between the Karenins. Most importantly to our heroine, Anna’s husband demanded that things remain the same in their strained relationship and that she not entertain Vronsky in the family home. When Karenin comes home to find Vronsky there, he immediately decides to begin divorce proceedings and to separate Anna from her son. Since beginning Part Four, family in Moscow are learning of the impending divorce and looking for ways to mend what has been broken. This week’s reading should bring me to the halfway point of the novel.

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (p. 105 of 380). MacLean’s novel is this week’s new start and will fulfill the prompt “Set in Summer” for the 2025 reading challenge from The 52 Book Club. Alice has been estranged from her family for 5 years. Now that her billionaire father has died in an accident, it is time for Alice to return to the family manor (which just happens to be located on a secluded island) in order to grieve her lost relationship with her father while also confronting demons from her past. This novel quickly pulled me in during my reading session early on Sunday morning and I am really looking forward to getting back into its pages to find out what happens next.

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer Book of the Month classic family saga fiction The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
Jul 14

Sugar is Not Always So Nice (July 14, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I have always had a massive sweet tooth. Bring on the chocolate and don’t forget to offer me a slice of cake or we cannot really be friends. So when I learned that my blood glucose was out of control this week, I was more than a little upset. Now I’m learning to appreciate diet sodas and really cutting down the amount of snacking happening between meals. As my glucose has fallen, my body has not been happy. As the nurse told me today, my body is basically in shock that the sugar is going away and it is revolting. I was a grumpy bear most of the end of the week and just wanted to sit still.

What did that mean to my reading? I managed to keep my streak of reading at least 20 pages per day alive, but I didn’t do much more than that while I was learning about insulin injections and what I could actually eat that wouldn’t spike my glucose levels. Now that a new week is here, I’m starting to feel a little better and able to sit and read for longer periods of time.

What I Finished This Week

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer. I really enjoyed this book! Set on Nantucket, it is the story of two sisters that are both dealing with the death of their brother and their mother’s desertion. Eddie followed her dream of working in the publishing industry and left the island years ago. Barrett is about to have her dream come true, opening a boutique near the family home. Eddie returns to Nantucket for the summer to support her sister in her new endeavor and help care for their father. Over the course of several weeks, the women learn about love, grief, and hope. 4.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 107 of 817). This has been a much more pleasurable read than I expected. I haven’t quite reached my goal of finishing Book 1 of the novel, but anticipate reading the remaining few chapters before bedtime tonight. In this opening section, Tolstoy has introduced us to Dolly and Prince Alexander, a marriage on the rocks. Alexander’s sister, Anna Karenina, comes to Moscow to visit and encounters Count Vronsky. The chemistry between Anna and Vronsky is undeniable. There’s only one problem — Anna has a husband and child awaiting her return to Petersburg. Imagery of trains are prominent, foreshadowing what we already know will happen in the novel’s tragic conclusion. Before leaving this, I must praise the exceptional Pevear/Volokhonsky translation. It is incredibly approachable for the modern reader and provides amble end notes to assist in understanding the text fully.

Heathen and Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey (p. 33 of 358). I’ve not read enough of this novel to give much of an opinion about it. It was a recent purchase during a visit to Barnes and Noble. For the 2025 reading challenge of The 52 Book Club, I needed a book with a sprayed edge. My local bookstore had a display of beautiful sprayed edges, so it seemed this was the time to make a purchase. Most of the books were fantasy, a genre I do not typically enjoy. The remaining books were mostly romances, so I looked for the most attractive edge of those and made my selection. Yup, I totally judged this book by its cover! What I can tell you so far is that it is written with alternating time lines and comes with a warning at the beginning: “[This book] is intended for readers 18+ and includes heavy emotional and explicit content.” Reader be warned.

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer Book of the Month classic family saga romance The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
Jul 7

Happy Birthday, America! (July 7, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

After a long week of doctor’s visits for me and my parents, it was great to celebrate the nation’s birthday in the Geriatric Ward. Despite a few days of exploding fireworks (and gunshots) in our peaceful little hamlet, I’ve managed to continue my reading schedule. There’s a happy finish and a couple of new starts just in time for the new week.

What I Finished This Week

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence. I must admit that I really enjoyed reading this classic novel. While I could see the scandal it would have caused at its time of publication, I found the story relatively tame and extremely provocative and thoughtful. Can marriage survive without intimacy and passion? Should a person have to deny his or her desires simply to avoid public dishonor? Add to this discussions about class distinctions, technological development, and societal change and you have a really outstanding book. My only complaint? Lawrence’s writing felt pedantic and redundant at times. 3.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer (p. 110 of 302). I’m kind of on a roll with books about broken relationships, so this seemed like the perfect fit for the moment. Eddie and Barrett are sisters who could not be more different. Eddie lives in the city, works in publishing, and enjoys a fast-paced life. Barrett is opening her own business on Nantucket while trying to care for her father at their farmhouse. The girls’ lives have been traumatized by the desertion of their mother and the tragic death of their brother. Eddie returns to Nantucket for a long overdue homecoming so she can assist Barrett with the store’s grand opening and help with her father who seems to be dealing with some depression. This begins the rebuilding of their lives together as they deal with loss and hopefully begin to find love again. Thayer’s writing glides effortlessly and is a relaxing experience that readers can be swept away into a lovely summer story.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 14 of 817). This absolutely beautiful edition has been praised for its exquisite translation and readability. I added it to my bookshelf in 2004 with every intention to read this work, but I always found a reason to put it back on the shelf every time I pulled it down. Either it was too long for the limited reading time I had available or the Russian names (and the multiple iterations of names) were intimidating and would require more effort than I was ready to devote. I don’t have my nose in any other #BigBookofSummer at the moment and based on my recent readings about relationships, this seemed like the perfect moment in time. So in the wee hours of the morning, I quietly slipped to the back while the rest of the Geriatric Ward remained asleep and began to dive into the pages. I even read the introduction to the edition before diving into Tolstoy’s story. My plan is to pair this massive novel with more contemporary options in the coming weeks. I’ll try to get through at least one of the novel’s eight parts each week; most of the individual parts are around 120 pages in length. I know it’s going to be an adventure, but it’s time to just jump into the deep end of this Russian classic. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer classic family saga The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
Jun 10

Morning Spent in the Service Center (June 10, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Good morning, fellow readers! I’m a day late on this post, but things have not necessarily gone as planned this week. A nagging cough led to a diagnosis of bronchitis brought on by allergy issues has me moving a little more slowly and breathing rather intentionally.

Last week, the check engine light popped on while driving into Memphis. An initial check at Auto Zone listed the problem as something with the exhaust system. Not something too difficult to fix and should be covered by warranty. So I called to schedule a service visit at the dealership. Only available appointment was this morning (Tuesday) at 7:30am. We all know how much I hated that option, but needed to get things fixed. So I’m spending the morning in the customer wait center — against the advice of the service consultant! — with my computer to get some work done and my copy of Dragonfly in Amber. We will just have to see which one gets finished first — my car or Dragonfly!

What I Finished This Week

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone. I finally made it through this short ebook this week. As I have continued to reflect on Stone’s work, I think there are a few issues that I immediately recognize. First, Stone simply offers a variety of time management techniques from various leaders in a single place. He does not present any new ideas. Second (and probably more annoying to this reader), the audience is not clearly defined. Stone addresses business leaders, creatives, and students throughout the book. Personally, I would much rather he focus on one audience and allow the others to examine the concepts and decide if the principles are applicable to them. It’s impossible to effectively be everything to everyone. Focus your writing, sir!

What I DNF’d This Week

Emma by Jane Austen. If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you have probably seen this one coming. After several weeks of trying to find my way into Austen’s Regency era society, I finally admitted to myself that this was just not going to happen. My interest was leading me elsewhere. I have to admit that DNFing this classic does upset me a bit. It makes me question my intelligence and ability. Even though I have moved on from these negative thoughts and returned to my reading life, I must admit that they do rear their head from time to time. With a few more classics on my TBR in the coming weeks, I’ll get a chance to restore my confidence in reading important works of literature….just not British literature. (That has long been my nemesis!)

What I Am Currently Reading

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 509 of 947). I really am enjoying this novel! Just over halfway through this first Big Book of Summer 2025, I am finding myself pulled into the drama of Parisian society as the exiled Scotsman plots to stop the attempt to overthrow the throne. Dragonfly is a perfect fit for me. Historical fiction with a hint of romance, intrigue, and political espionage. I’m in Heaven.

Uncertain How to Proceed….

Later this week, I will travel to Houston for the Texas Music Teachers’ Convention. This will be a busy time as I work the WBU recruitment table. I need to have some reading materials that I can jump in and out of without appearing as though people are interrupting me if they have questions. I’m not sure if I will take Dragonfly or something shorter that can possibly be completed during my travels to and from the conference. Maybe an ebook? I just don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but I still have a few days to decide. Hmmm….decisions, decisions!

Big Book Summer classic fiction historical self-help

Leave a comment »
Jun 2

A Busy Start to Summer Break (June 2, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Greetings from the Geriatric Ward! I arrived in eastern Arkansas Sunday afternoon and I am really looking forward to a slightly different pace for a few weeks.

This past week was busy in an unusual way. As you will recall, I was in Austin for the Memorial Day weekend to play for the Texas UIL Solo and Ensemble state contest. I returned to Plainview on Tuesday to begin packing up my apartment for summer. Somehow, I got the schedule wrong in my mind for the week. So Wednesday turned into a flurry of activity as I ran errands, cleaned, packed, and prepared to leave for Stillwater, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Music Teachers’ Conference on Thursday. The conference was great and ran through Saturday afternoon. Rather than begin the drive home, I stayed the night in Oklahoma City and drove home on Sunday.

All of that to say that I was able to do some significant listening in my car, but not as much physical reading as I would have liked. I didn’t meet my finish goals for the week, but I’m very close to another finish. Let’s just take a look at where things stand at the moment.

What I Finished This Week

Beach Read by Emily Henry. This audiobook got me through many miles of driving this week. The story centers around two authors who hated each other in graduate school. When they find themselves living next door to each other, the old rivalry is reignited. In the heat of battle, the two issue a challenge to each other — she must write a story that doesn’t resolve everything in the end with a neat “happily ever after” tied up in a bow; he must write a romance with a happy ending. Henry’s writing is entertaining and filled with heart. Beach Read is about writer’s block, family difficulties, and the challenges of falling in love. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 133 of 148). I’m so close to another finish, but I couldn’t quite get there this week. I just have the final chapter and the epilogue to read, so it will definitely get done this week. Just another reminder that non-fiction is not my typical jam.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 241 of 947). I’ve read another 100 pages this week. The slow pace is only because of the little amount of time I have been able to devote to the novel. Truthfully, most of the week’s progress has happened in the Geriatric Ward. I’m not worried about getting this done quickly now that I am in a position where I can regularly read. Not sure that I’ll get finished this week, but I anticipate sizable progress ahead.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). My plan to make this the focus piece of the week fell by the wayside when I realized that I didn’t have as many days in Plainview as I thought. I plan to slowly work my way through the remaining 220 pages this week to get a finish. (Somehow, I remember this very point in the story being the challenge for me when was first assigned the novel in my undergraduate studies. Just have to push through!)

May in Review

May was not a good month in my reading life. I’m still ahead of schedule in my reading goal, but I have to have good months in June and July to get back on track with my reading. Here’s the shameful numbers to report for the month.

  • Books read in May: 3 books (down 2 books from April)
    • 1 physical
    • 1 ebook
    • 1 audio
    • 3 fiction
  • Pages read in May: 1,249 pages (down 87 pages from April)
  • Highest rated book: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (4 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (1 star)

Plans for June

May clearly did not go as I had hoped, so I still have some loose ends to tie up there. I need to finish both Dragonfly in Amber and Emma. I was also scheduled to read The Summer We Started Over and Lady Chatterly’s Lover last month. For June, these are the new additions that I have slated to read:

  • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
  • Moby Dick
  • The Quiet Librarian
  • Eruption

Thankfully, most of June’s novels are shorter than those I encountered in May. I hate to think about it, but it may be the month that I begin to reassess my plans for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge and pivot in order to reach my goal.

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer classic ebook historical romance The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
May 26

A Week of Travel, Different Time Zones, and Lots of Work (May 26, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

The rain is falling outside my Austin hotel room. Thankfully, the storm held off until the end of my activity here for Solo & Ensemble this year. As I prepare to pack things up here and return to Plainview for a few days, it is time to reflect on my reading life for the past week. It might be better to refer to my lack of a reading life instead.

There’s not much new to report this week, but I’m not at all upset about it. As you will see, there were no finishes this week. Additionally, there was no progress in two of my “current reads.” Instead, I met new people, explored Oahu, dreamed about the future of music in Hawaii, and returned to the mainland to play a couple of days of the Texas UIL All-State Solo & Ensemble contest. That’s my kind of living.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 63 of 148). Not a single page read since last week’s post. I just need to set aside time each day for this read and get it done….or else I need to DNF it. This week will be decision time.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). Again, not a single page read since last Monday. This one isn’t really surprising. Austen’s writing doesn’t feel like a good pairing with the Hawaiian beach. If I had looked at the cover during Thursday’s overnight flight, I would have been asleep in just a few moments. I think I may make this the priority this week to see if I can either get a finish or make a really significant dent in it.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 144 of 947). I managed to read 124 pages here this week. It is not significant progress, but this was the one book that I could actually sit down with for a few minutes and read a small chuck without too much effort or without feeling that I was missing out on the beauty of Paradise. I’m also finding myself once again deep into the story with Jamie and Claire. If I can limit my reading of this one, I think I can make some real progress in the other books this week.

What’s Ahead?

I have a few long drives ahead as I push to the end of May. Tomorrow, I head back to Plainview for a few days to close up shop there for the summer. On Thursday, I’ll head to Stillwater, Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Music Teachers’ Conference before driving to the Geriatric Ward on Saturday or Sunday to begin the summer holiday there. Since I’ve only had three finishes so far this month, it may be time to pull in some more audio books. But I could also use the quiet drive to wrap my head around a few of my upcoming projects. I just don’t know what the ultimate choice will be. One thing is certain — you can find out all about it in next Monday’s post!

Big Book Summer classic ebook

Leave a comment »
«Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Blog at WordPress.com.