Any time I have a bit of time off from work, I head back to the comfort of my parents’ home in eastern Arkansas. The house is the only home that I have ever known. (Yes, I know that my family lived in another house in town when I was born….but I don’t recall anything from the first 3 months of life!) While the three bedrooms have undergone changes over the years and my piano has moved locations several times, very little has been altered. Going home is always a treat as it means I get to relax, enjoy home cooked meals, and feel more connected to my Arkansas roots than any other time.
Fall Break is now in the rearview mirror, but the time of rest at home was much needed. I ran a few errands that were on my to-do list, got a little practicing done (though not enough!), and slept. In the process, I also managed to do quite a bit of reading.
What I Finished This Week
Moby Dick by Herman Melville. There’s no nice way to say this — I hated this book. I loathed it. I absolutely detested Moby Dick! Does that make my feelings regarding the novel about the white whale clear enough? Truly, I thought that the final five chapters showed moments of absolute genius. However, that doesn’t make the other 500 pages worthy of another read. Melville should have made this a short story….even a novella….and would have had a much more effective piece of writing. I read it. I survived it. I’ll never read it again and I will now be able to defend my statement that I think Moby Dick is highly overrated. 1.75 stars.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden. Such a fun read that was fast and filled with suspense. Told in two timelines, the story focuses on Sydney and Tom. Sydney has had bad luck dating the men of New York City, but seems to have finally met the man of her dreams in a doctor who came to her rescue after an attack. Tom was a high school student fascinated with blood who was suspected of a string of murders among the student body. When Sydney and Tom’s paths finally cross, is Sydney in real danger of being another victim of the psychopathic killer? Thankfully, despite the subject matter, McFadden manages to keep the reader engaged without relying on copious amounts of blood and gore on the pages. (I’m a wimp when it comes to reading graphically violent material.) This one is sure to keep you guessing until the end! 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The 24th Hour by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (p. 257 of 359). It’s been a while since I returned to the world of the Women’s Murder Club series. Honestly, I had forgotten that there were books in the series that I hadn’t gotten around to reading. This one features two cases for the women and their husbands. A rape victim suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and hospital facing a cyber attack that threatens to compromise patient records — potentially causing death of the most at-risk patients — unless their financial demands are met. This is a fast moving ebook that is also a nice change of pace from some of the other stories that I’ve read recently. Sometimes, predictability is relaxing.
The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett (p. 152 of 357). Parsifal the magician has died. Left behind is his wife-in-name-only, Sabine. Now Sabine must deal with the grief of Parsifal’s mother and sisters that she never knew existed. This is proving to be a neat look at the reasons we leave and the definitions of family and love — all through the lens of a broken son after his death.
It has been an odd week for me. After getting back from a much needed weekend away, I returned to my real life only to find that my motivation was still on vacation. I wasn’t resting well. I still didn’t want to interact with people. I didn’t feel well emotionally or physically. The only thing I wanted to do was curl up somewhere under a blanket with a good book and read.
Well, I sort of wanted to read. The book that I finished this week was a joy to get through. The American classic that I am continuing to plow through was just that — a chore. Any other book, I would probably set aside. Because of the novel’s place in history, I feel as though I just need to push through to the end so I can say that I have read it and to see if I can figure out why it holds such a stable place in the literary canon.
What I Finished This Week
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. This book had been sitting in my TBR for quite some time. I selected it because I needed a cover font in a primary color. I was encouraged when I noticed a sticker on the cover declaring it the 2023 Book of the Year by the readers of The Book of the Month Club. What I discovered was a laugh out loud novel about two hurting people who find their way to each other. Jacob and Briana are both ER doctors. Jacob suffers from debilitating anxiety and is dealing with the heartbreak of a failed relationship. To make matters worse, Jacob’s ex is about to marry his brother. Briana’s divorce is about to be finalized and her brother is getting sicker with each passing day as he waits for a kidney transplant. The two enter an agreement to be “fake dates” to get Jacob through the awkward wedding season and end up falling in love, but both are too frightened because of past hurt to admit their feelings to the other. At times heartbreaking, this novel was an emotional roller coaster that left me rooting for true love to win out. The perfect story for me for the moment. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 420 of 552). This week has been a trudge through Melville’s writing. Lots of detailed descriptions of the various parts of a sperm whale’s anatomy mingled with a few interactions with other boats, warning the crew of the dangers of encounters with Moby Dick. I was getting so discouraged this week that I asked ChatGPT if the novel got better after chapter 79! I had to chuckle at the AI response: “Oh, the Moby Dick question!” I’ve charted out my daily reading goals to the end of the novel and if I can stay the course, I should be done with this one later this week. Perhaps when I reach the end I will understand why this is considered an American classic, because right now, I’m wondering why people (myself included) continue to read this horrible book.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (p. 102 of 359). I cannot keep my nose out of this book at the moment! This is my first McFadden novel, but her work has been on my TBR for some time. The novel is written on duel timelines and the reader doesn’t yet know exactly how they are going to connect. Sydney is a single woman in her 30s living in NYC. Like most contemporary singles, Sydney is using online dating to find her perfect match. When her best friend, Bonnie, is brutally murdered in her apartment, Sydney questions the safety of her dating choices…especially after having an uncomfortable encounter in the days leading up to Bonnie’s death. This story is set against the story of Tom, a high school student living in an abusive home who is fascinated with blood, especially as it flows through the neck of the girl he is currently dating. McFadden’s novel is not overly graphic (at least, not so far), but there is definitely a high level of tension and suspense. I planned to stretch this book throughout the week to keep a moderate reading pace, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I really need to know what happens next!
Happy Monday, dear readers! If you have been anything like me, I thought September was never going to end. With the month starting with Labor Day, it felt as though there were no breaks in sight and life just kept getting busier and busier with each passing day.
Last week was one for the record books as the calendar turned to October. It seemed that everything that could possibly go wrong DID go wrong. By the end of the week, I was desperate for an escape. Since I was already planning to be out of the office on Friday, I decided to take advantage of it and head over to Oklahoma City for a few days. I unplugged from work and spent a lot of time resting, relaxing, and recharging. Of course, that always means plenty of reading for me as you will see in this week’s post.
What I Finished This Week
Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart. This was a really fun read that was a nice diversion from the Melville novel that I’m slowly working my way through. What begins as an unexplained murder and a contempt charge when Frannie Hardy won’t reveal what she knows before the grand jury quickly turns on its head and keeps the reader guessing. Whether you are drawn into the conversation by the damage gasoline additives do to the environment or whether it is right for a parent to “kidnap” young children to protect them from an abusive caregiver, Lescroart masterfully weaves all of these issues — and more — into a seamless novel that will keep you guessing until the conclusion. This was my first experience with Lescroart’s work….but I don’t think it will be my last. 4.5 stars.
The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelace. I am not a fan of reading poetry. It’s too much work. Either I find myself trying to extrapolate meaning from just a few words or I am getting lost in the text because of the meter employed by the poet. When I saw that one of this year’s prompts was a story told in verse, I was not looking forward to the task. I had planned to read Paradise Lost by Milton since I did enjoy my experience with the work in the Great Books Colloquium at Pepperdine. When I tried to dive into the poem, I found it to be exhausting. After trying a few contemporary works that were suggested on Good Reads, I was beginning to worry that I would need to read a book by Dr. Seuss to check this prompt off of my list! While in a bookstore in Oklahoma City this weekend, I stumbled across Lovelace’s work. In The Mermaid’s Voice, the author presents a retelling of a classic fairytale that is interwoven with details of her personal experiences as a survivor of domestic violence. Since my sister was victimized by a Monster for several years, I came to The Mermaid’s Voice with a rather unique perspective. I found the poetry insightful, powerful, relatable, and (ultimately) hopeful. I would be interested to hear the responses to The Mermaid’s Voice of those who have survived the horrors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. 3.5 stars.
People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young. I adored this audiobook! The love story of Milo and Prue is nothing if not complicated. Milo runs from relationships because he is perpetually running from memories of disappointing his parents and the resulting abuse. Prue has shut herself off from the possibility of finding love because she must care for her mother who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The two ultimately find their way to each other and their chemistry is off the charts! (Read: spicy!) As they come to admit to themselves that they are actually falling in love, a horrible secret threatens to destroy the trust they have built in each other. Beautifully performed by Victoria Connolly and Brandon Francis, this was the perfect selection for me to complete the prompt of an audiobook with multiple narrators. While driving to and from Oklahoma City this weekend, I laughed and cried while rooting for love and maturity to ultimately win out. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 203 of 552). I have continued my slow-paced reading of this American classic. Typically, I’m trying to plow throughout about 30 to 40 pages each day. By the end of the week, I hit a major snag since I found myself wading through descriptions of various types of whales and finally getting the Pequod out to sea. I’m getting a bit discouraged with this one since I’m a little over a third of the way through the novel and it feels as though nothing is happening. Here’s hoping that there is some action ahead in the narrative of the white whale.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (p. 37 of 387). Since I finished so many books this weekend, I needed to start something else to keep me moving. Yours Truly was the 2023 Book of the Year from the Book of the Month Club, so it seemed like an appropriate pick. Here’s the early premise as I can see it. Briana is a doctor who is up for a promotion to Chief of the ER. Only she learns that her supervisor has decided to delay his retirement (and her promotion) for a few months so the staff can meet the new hot-shot doctor who is starting today….and might be a candidate for Chief. Enter Jacob, the new doctor. On the outside, it appears he has it all together. In reality, he suffers from debilitating anxiety and has had a horrible first day at the new job. Can it get any worse? Yep…Jacob sticks his foot in his mouth when speaking about a young patient in need of a kidney transplant. The patient is Briana’s younger brother. Despite some of the heavy topics, the book has a lightness so far that is making for a fun read. I’m hoping that continues as I make my way through this story this week.
September in Review
September felt like an absolute whirlwind of a month. Lots of activities at home and in the office meant that I didn’t have as much time to devote to reading this month. Still, I managed to stay in my routine of reading daily. That resulted in at least one book each week — which is my actual goal. After the massive reading month that August was, September felt like a bit of a slog though. Here’s a look at what I accomplished this month.
Books read in September:5 books (down from 11 in August)
4 print
1 ebook
Pages read in September:2,246 pages (down from 4,014 in August).
Highest rated book:Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars)
Lowest rated book:Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (2.75 stars)
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!
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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?
Reading for Me 