Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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!

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May 19

Aloha from Honolulu (May 19, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Staring out at the Pacific Ocean while lounging in a hotel room near Waikiki, I’m doing a little reflecting on the past week of my reading life. (I promise I’ll share more about my adventures on the island in coming posts.)

Last week was finals week at Wayland. Honestly, I can never predict what the week will look like. Some semesters come to a quiet end as things wrap up and the week is very relaxing. That was not the case this week. It seemed that every moment was filled with activity and I was just trying to hang on and survive.

That level of activity ate into my productive reading time. So I don’t have a finish this week. I did, however, continue to make progress — even if it was slower — in my current reads.

What I’m Currently Reading

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). I managed to complete the first volume in the novel this week. I have found that I have to read this one in absolute silence. I am continuing to enjoy the story and look forward to more of Emma’s adventures and social errors.

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 63 of 148). When I first cracked this one open, I really thought I had made a mistake. The writing is stilted and awkward. However, as I have kept reading, I am pleasantly surprised to see that Stone has brought together some of the best aspects of multiple time management approaches and revised them for modern creatives. It’s definitely a good diversion from the Jane Austen novel right now.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 20 of 947). I read one chapter before packing my bags for Hawaii. My plan was to get lost in the story while high in the air. Instead, I got enmeshed in the Cubs v. White Sox game during the afternoon leg and then got some progress done in Emma. This is my first book of Big Book Summer that will actually start on Memorial Day.

2025 Reading Challenge Big Book Summer classic The 52 Book Club

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May 12

Can I Start Vacation Already? (May 12, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s the second week of May and I am still in school. Really? It feels as though this semester started two years ago! Good grief…..students and faculty are dragging our butts across the finish line and have finally made it to finals. Just a few more days before I can officially check out for a bit.

As we pushed to the end of classes, I just did not have the energy to do as much reading as I would have liked. Still, I managed to tick off two books from my reading list this week.

What I Finished This Week

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill. I thought I was never going to get to the end of this one. The stream of consciousness writing style was not a hit for me. I found the plot — a marriage falling apart — very unsettling. I decided to read this one in a digital format because I wasn’t really interested in adding it to my bookshelf. Ebooks are not a good format for me; I think the problem is that I don’t always have a sense that I am making progress in my reading. I finished the read in order to mark off another prompt of the 52 Book Challenge (stream of consciousness narrative), but I don’t want to repeat the experience. 1 star.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. I was aware of this book because of the Hollywood adaptation. If I’m honest, the film’s previews turned me off from reading the book; I just wasn’t interested. When the book popped up as a recommendation in my Audible account, I decided to take a chance. (I was also aware that the first mini-challenge for 2025 from the 52 Book Club included a prompt to read a book by an Asian author.) I struggled with this story in the beginning. I think part of my issues were associated with the accents used by the narrator to provide authenticity and I was having a bit of trouble keeping all of the names of the characters straight. But I continued to listen, I found the story to be witty, insightful, and thoughtful. All in all, I ended up enjoying the story. I wish the resolution was a little clearer. I would have liked to have gotten pulled into the story sooner. But it was a good read overall. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery: Focus, Flow, and Freedom by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 22 of 148). As the week ended, I was having lots of conversations with students about time management. As I was reflecting on what I was saying to them, I realized that my go-to time management resource was published in 2001. It’s probably time to look and see what other resources are available that might be more impactful to today’s student. While browsing my Kindle, I stumbled across this short book. It seems to consider creatives and focuses on aligning the things we devote our time to with where our values are. I’ve just started the book, but I am looking forward to spending some time in its pages this week.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 67 of 335). As the semester was winding down, it felt like the appropriate time to dive into one of the classic novels that are scheduled for this year. I have a shameful confession to make as well….I have never read one of Austen’s novels in its entirety. Somehow, I avoided Pride and Prejudice throughout my education. I was assigned Emma as an undergrad and bluffed my way through the class discussions. Now, it is time to actually tangle with this classic British novel. I selected this Austen novel because I have heard that it is her best from several sources and I already had a reliable edition on hand. I gave myself permission to move through the novel at a slower pace so I can focus on what I’m reading and not feel as though I’m working against a deadline. So far, I am finding Emma to be a delightful young woman who has a unique perspective on her society and her circumstances. I’m hoping that since things are a little slower this week, I’ll be able to relax into the story a bit more and get comfortable with the author’s writing style. I anticipate this book will accompany me on my flight to Hawaii this weekend.

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May 6

Music in Amarillo (May 5, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It’s a rainy Tuesday morning as I write this post. I’ve found myself playing a bit of catch-up since the last half of the week was spent in Amarillo where I judged piano soloists in the Greater Southwest Music Festival. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the wonderful musicians in Amarillo, but once I got back to Plainview on Sunday afternoon, I realized just how much work there was to do to put the semester to bed!

While in Amarillo, I stayed at the Courtyard Downtown, a historic building in a revitalized part of the city. The room was so spacious and comfortable. What did that mean? Rest…..lots and lots of rest. Still, I managed to make process toward my reading goals as well.

What I Finished This Week

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. As you might recall from last week’s post, a good friend from my time at Pepperdine recommended this book to me. I quickly picked up the book and could not put it down. Without giving too much away, Haig weaves a tale that considers what might happen in the realm between death and life. In this universe, our heroine finds herself in the Midnight Library — filled with all of the various stories that her life might have taken with each choice possibility she faced. What if she had continued swimming in high school? What if she decided to follow her interest in philosophy in college? Maybe she would have found happiness if she had signed the recording deal with her brother’s band? Or maybe she just should have said yes to coffee with the shy guy. So many possibilities…..and so many different versions of her life to explore! Only one problem — she must decide which life to continue in before time begins to move forward again in the Midnight Library! Haig fashions a beautiful story that is thoughtful and filled with hope and light. 4 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (7:17 of 13:53). I continue to make my way through this story in the car. It might be time to pull out the AirPods and listen outside of the drive to get this one out of my reading rotation. I’m enjoying the story, but I’ll want something new for upcoming drives.

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (p. 114 of 177) This has turned out to be a very difficult read for me. Basically, it is all about watching a marriage and family fall apart from the mind of the betrayed wife. Written in a modified stream of consciousness style, it is challenging to keep pace with the story as other issues of survival, revenge, and mourning enter the inner dialogue. Offill’s short novel will be my focus piece for the week. I just have to get this off of my plate soon.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 26 of 335). I knew I wanted to at least start one of my May reads while away this week. Emma is one of those books that has a special place in my memory though I never actually read it. It was assigned for one of my literature classes at Pepperdine (maybe Great Books Colloquium?) and I remember enjoying the conversation a lot. But I was at a point in my life where reading Austen did not come easily and I didn’t think I had time to enter her world. I skimmed through to get the basic details and survive the reading assignments. This text wasn’t figuring into my end-of-term project, so I wrote it off. Now it’s time to actually dive into the text. I anticipate this will take a bit longer to read and that’s why I’ve decided to set aside quiet time at home to sit with this book each day. Here’s hoping that I can get through at least half of the book this week.

That’s where I am. Hope you are all enjoying your reading life right now and that you are planning some relaxing summer reading for the days and weeks ahead.

Until next Monday…..

~Kennith

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Apr 28

The Beginning of the End (April 28, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Last weekend lulled me into a false sense of security and relaxation. Once I returned to the office on Tuesday, I realized just how much there was that still had to be done before the end of the term and the beginning of summer break. Stressing about a few things caused stomach issues and headaches that hindered this week’s reading. I think I’ve gotten a handle on the stress and a plan to successfully get everything done without completely losing my mind.

What I Finished This Week

If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. I cannot sing this book’s praises enough! I absolutely adored this read. What was so special about it? First of all, it was the read that got me out of a reading slump and I found myself devouring this story in just a few days. The story centers around a recent graduate from fashion school who is obsessed with shoes. As a plus-size woman, she has found it difficult to find clothing that expresses her personal fashion and doesn’t think she will be taken seriously in the industry. While flying back to Los Angeles for a few weeks to help her stepmother, she is dazzled by a charming man who seems to see the woman she is on the inside. Sadly, she fails to get his number before leaving the airport. Her stepmother is the producer of a reality dating show and our Cinderella-in-waiting ends up filling a spot that was vacated at the last minute. At the first taping, she discovers that her Prince Charming from the plane is the suitor for the season. If The Shoe Fits is a funny, witty story about love, self-esteem, and clothing. Unlike most other romances on the market these days, there is little in the book that would embarrass your grandmother. 4.5 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (6:37 of 13:53). I can tell that I am not spending as much time in the car as I was earlier this spring. Audiobooks are requiring a little more time to get through as a result. The story is enjoyable, but I have to remind myself to turn on the book when I’m driving right now because I’m not constantly interacting with the book.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (p. 134 of 288). This book was recommended to me by one of my mentors and dear friend, Bob White. When Bob recommended the book, I immediately put it on my TBR and bought it on my next visit to the bookstore. The book centers around the question of what happens in the time just before death. In Haig’s imagination, we find ourselves in a magical library filled with books that reveal how our life might have been different if we had made different choices. It is an intriguing premise that grabbed my attention from the very beginning.

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (p. 18 of 177). I decided to add an ebook to my reading rotation again now that I thought things were “slowing down.” (Yeah, right!) My plans to read this book during lunch breaks came to naught. The quasi-stream of consciousness writing is requiring more of my attention when I read than I first expected. (Why can’t a short book actually be a quick read?)

April in Review

April was a busy month and it felt as though I accomplished less in my reading life than what the numbers suggest. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised earlier today when I realized what I have accomplished this month.

  • Books read in April: 5 books (even with March’s reading)
    • 4 physical
    • 1 audio
    • 5 fiction
  • Pages read in April: 1,336 pages (down 494 pages from March)
  • Highest rated book: The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (0.5 stars)

What’s Ahead in May

I need to finish The Midnight Library and Dept. of Speculation to close out my April plans (that underwent some serious modifications this month). That is the first time in this challenge read that I have found so many books that I simply could not read. I’m not worried about that because I found substitutions pretty quickly.

May is always an exciting reading time of year for me personally. With finals week and the beginning of summer living, I get to turn my attention to a few longer works and hopefully complete more books than I have planned for the month. At the end of the month — with the arrival of Memorial Day — I’ll begin my second adventure in Big Book Summer. The idea was first started by Sue Jackson on BookByBook.Blogspot.com. It is quite simple….any book over 400 pages qualifies and you read as many BIG BOOKS as you wish. The challenge runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. I try to read one big book each month, May through September…..but I probably won’t wait until Memorial Day to dive into the first one of the summer.

What’s on the TBR this month? I’m actually rather excited about several of these!

  • The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer
  • Emma by Jane Austen
  • Lady Chatterly’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
  • Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (This is May’s Big Book coming in at a whopping 947 pages!)

I’m thinking that I might start with either the Austen or the Lawrence to knock out one of the classics early on before my brain goes completely into summer vacation mode.

2025 Reading Challenge audio classic plans romance The 52 Book Club

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