Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

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.

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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.

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Feb 10

Rehearsals Have Returned (February 10, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Now that February is here, my time is no longer my own. Rehearsals for the children’s opera are in full swing. State music conferences are happening in the coming weeks. Recruitment is in full swing and it is also contest season in Texas. That means I’m spending a lot more time on the piano bench and fighting to find time to read each day. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — it’s just a seasonal change for the next few months.

Traditionally, the spring semester has always been a difficult time for me to maintain an active reading life style. In the past, I would get frustrated that I wasn’t making progress and simply give up as I watched my goals pass by unmet. This year, I’m taking a more realistic approach. My daily goal is to read 20 pages….so far, so good there. That smaller goal means that I may not read a book or two every week. I’m okay with that. As long as I am constantly making forward progress, then I am still on my way to achieving my goal of reading 52 books in 2025.

What I Finished This Week

Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong. For the first time in 2025, I have only read one book this week. I have to admit that I am a little sad about that, but I am deciding to focus on the progress instead of the lack of movement. This book fulfilled Prompt #1 in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge: A Pun in the Title.

Finding Mr. Write is a 2024 rom-com that had a lot to say about the publishing industry. Daphne is an author who has not been able to get her apocalyptic zombie novel published. On a whim, she adjusts her cover letter — focusing on the survival skills in the novel — and uses a man’s name instead of her own. In that moment, Daphne’s alter ego, Zane Remington, is born. To Daphne’s surprise (or perhaps, her frustration) Zane’s novel is published and climbs to the top of the best-seller list! Now, Daphne must find an actor to portray Zane in public appearances on the much anticipated book tour. Instead of finding an actor, Daphne hires Chris Stanton, a handsome accountant in need of extra cash. What follows is a charming story of role play, romance, and fun.

Unlike several of my previous reads, Finding Mr. Write spent more time exploring mutual attraction before the two characters finally begin to fall in love. While there are a few scenes that would be classified as “open door” as the book nears the end, the overall spice level of the book is very low. Overall, this was a very enjoyable, funny read for me. 4.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Reset by Dan Heath (1:32 of 6:17). Self-help books tend to be a challenge for me to read on audio. Reset has proven to be no different. As the week has been busy, I have found myself reverting to driving in silence. I have a longer drive coming up on Tuesday, so I anticipate getting this book finished and hopefully starting something new.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (p. 172 of 227). It is no surprise to me that I struggle reading literary books on my Kindle. There’s just something in my psyche that associates ebooks with fluff reading. I thought about driving to Barnes and Noble and picking up a copy of this book to add to my library, but I was tired and opted for the ease of reading the ebook. I’m intentionally delaying starting another novel until I can plow through the rest of this classic. I love the characters, but the dialect is forcing me to slow my reading pace to make sure I comprehend the material.

What’s Ahead?

I will spend most of the week in San Antonio attending the Texas Music Educators’ Conference. With some 10,000 participants from all over the state, this is a great time to speak with potential students while vision casting and dreaming with my colleagues. That also means that I won’t get a lot of reading done this week. (I find it difficult to read if other people are around.) So my goal for the week will be to read something rather light on my Kindle this week — Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton.

There’s a plan in place. Now we will just have to see if I reach the goal when we chat again next Monday….

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Jan 6

Out with the Old, In with the New (January 6, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

The end of the year was a bit of a whirlwind. My parents were both off work much of the week. (Indeed, the 85 and 88-year-olds still work full time!) While I adore the Geriatrics, having them home meant that there was constant activity and very little quiet in the house. Add in a health scare for my Dad on Sunday evening and you have the recipe for getting less reading in than I had hoped. Still, I’m happy to have made some progress and getting close to adding my first completed prompt to the 2025 challenge.

What I Finished This Week

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I managed to finish reading this cozy little mystery on New Year’s Eve as my final book of 2024, bringing my final tally to 45 books for the year. Murder mysteries are not usually a good fit for me, but I’m noticing that as I read more of them, I am getting more comfortable with the form and relaxing into the reading experience. Hannah is a baker in a small Minnesota town that is rocked when the beloved dairy delivery man is murdered. Since she was the one who discovered the body — and since her brother-in-law is on the police force — it is only natural that Hannah use her powers of observation to solve the crime and keep her customers safe! I found Hannah and her family charming. What I found a little bothersome as I read was when Fluke would insert mundane scenes into the plot to give Hannah some normalcy. While there were some elements of flirtation and possible romance included in the storytelling, it was not overt and did not distract from the story. Truthfully, it made for a very charming ending that also served as a great connection to the next book in this franchise. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was not the worst thing that I have ever read; it was the perfect kind of filler I needed while waiting to begin my next read. 2.5 stars

The Stopover by T.L. Swan. The first book of 2025 was not actually meant for any of the 52 Book Club prompts. Since I was reading a bit of a brick for my first prompt (see below), I thought it would be nice to have a fluff piece going on my Kindle to read at night. Once I got my nose into this spicy romance, I couldn’t put it down. After being upgraded to first class on her flight, Emily meets a handsome stranger. When their flight is diverted due to weather conditions, the two share a night that neither will forget. A year later, Emily begins a new job and discovers that the handsome stranger from her flight is the angry, wealthy CEO who is now her boss. Which one of these men is the real Jameson Miles? The charming man from the flight or the a**hole she now works for?

This was an incredibly spicy open-door romance that was exciting and intriguing from the start. I was visibly angry with many of Jameson’s choices while reading — what a total jerk! Unfortunately, the resolution as the novel came to its close felt rushed and a huge letdown after an emotional journey for this reader. 3.75 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer (p. 545 of 637). I decided to knock out one of my larger books before returning to the classroom next week. Previously, I have read The Clifton Chronicles and thoroughly enjoyed the entire series. Knowing that I enjoy Archer’s writing, I decided to read the book that began his career. I anticipate getting very close to finishing later today, but I didn’t want to delay getting my blog post written too long. I’ll have a full review for you in next week’s post. I’m using this for prompt # 26 – More than a million copies sold. (According to the book’s cover, over 30 million copies have been sold.)

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlett (p. 37 of 168). I am very early in the reading of this short novel that I’m using to fulfill prompt #11 – A prequel. I selected this book because most of the other prequels I found were in the sci-fi realm that I really don’t enjoy. This book hasn’t grabbed my attention fully because I am so engrossed in the saga of William and Abel as told by Archer. I’ll definitely have more to say next week.

What’s Next?

I haven’t decided if I’m going to tackle D is for Deadbeat (Sue Grafton) or Bridget Jones’ Diary (Helen Fielding) next. I’m not always fond of mysteries, so I might get that one knocked out while I can. But there is also something enticing about enjoying a funny read before heading back to Texas for the semester. Decisions, decisions….

Until next Monday, I wish you all happy reading!

~Kennith

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Nov 26

The One with Lots of Rehearsals (Nov 26, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I’m late with this week’s post again. Last minute packing for a much needed trip to Arkansas to rest with family meant that I didn’t get around to writing when I had planned. Enough about my current situation — let’s talk about last week.

Last week was BUSY! In addition to my normal responsibilities, I had nightly rehearsals for the opera workshop performance, a recruiting trip to Hobbs, New Mexico, and a masterclass to accompany. It was a fulfilling week of music that I greatly enjoyed. However, it did have an impact on my reading life. When I got home each night, I was more interested in crawling in bed than cracking open a book.

What I’m Currently Reading

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Rosemarie Terenzio and Liz Neil (4:38 of 14:54). Can I find an excuse to do a little more driving for someone? I get to listen to my audiobooks while I’m on the road and I’m anxious to do some more listening! This week, I have learned about John’s time in high school and at Brown University. Of course, he was defensive about his father’s presidency and the men that surrounded him. Who wouldn’t have been given his personal history? I love reading about his friendships with both celebrities and everyday Americans. It seems that the Kennedy family longed to simply have the freedom to live their lives away from the public eye. John’s journey to India and his interaction with the people there was heartwarming and reminded me of why America — and the entire world, for that matter — absolutely loved John-John.

Owning Jacob by Simon Beckett (p. 193 of 343). I can’t decide whether I’m loving or hating this book. As I told you last week, I was fascinated with the premise: Ben’s autistic stepson was not the biological child of his dead wife — she kidnapped him from the delivery ward! The 6-year-old has now been returned to his biological father’s care, but Ben is obsessed with the child’s new stepmother and fears that the boy may be in grave danger from his father’s negligence. The story is fascinating and I’m deep into the obsession. What I’m not enjoying right now is the dark turn the book has taken. I’m not sure if I’m watching a man lose his sanity through his obsession or if he is going through a very sexualized mid-life crisis. There’s no question that I will finish Beckett’s novel because I have to know what happens. If all goes well, I’ll finish it up on today’s flight to Memphis.

What’s Ahead

As the year begins to draw to a close, all sorts of reading challenges are appearing online. While I’ve never finished a 52 book challenge, I do enjoy looking at the prompts and seeing how things will align. For 2024, I used The Booklist Queen’s Reading Challenge. The prompts were fun, but a lot of times I found myself stretching to make a book fit one of the prompts so I could push forward to the end. For 2025, I’m in the process of changing my approach. I have found The 52 Book Club and their challenge for the upcoming year. This group does a very good job of including suggested books for each prompt, so I’m planning to sit down in the coming month and have a basic plan for my year of reading. I think that my brain may benefit if I know what books I hope to read in each given month. It will also give me the opportunity to shift my plan if a book doesn’t strike my fancy at the moment rather than wallowing in a sea of uncertainty as I try to find something to read. I’m especially noticing that happens more frequently when my schedule gets incredibly busy. Having a plan makes it more likely that I’ll actually follow through.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy time with family and friends. Take some time to curl up with a good book along the way!

~Kennith

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Nov 18

On the Mend (Nov. 18, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

After what feels like the longest illness ever, I think I am finally on the road to recovery. I’m still dealing with some lingering congestion and sneezing, but I am definitely feeling better. As a result, I managed to put my nose into a few books this week and got two finishes for my efforts.

What I Finished This Week

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes. Once again, Jojo Moyes hit me right in the feels with another excellent novel. Yes, this book was about bullies and self-doubt. It was also about misunderstandings and forgiveness. It was a beautiful look at a dysfunctional family wrapped up in a charming romance. It was everything that I should have hated in a novel that left me much richer for sharing a little time with these powerfully drawn, deeply flawed characters.

No Book Beginners: A Step-By-Step Framework for Creative Piano Teaching by Tim Topham. I’m a little ashamed to admit that this book has taken me several months to complete. It wasn’t because the writing was challenging or that I found the discussion uninteresting. Truthfully, the book is a very fast read. What slowed me down was the fact that I really needed to wrestle with the basic argument and decide where I stood on it. Here’s the basic idea: if we really want to teach young pianists effectively, don’t rush into introducing them to the challenge of reading the notes of the page. Instead, focus on the other elements of music — melody, harmony, rhythm, and sound. Let the students become so engrossed in the music itself and develop a natural curiosity about it. Then (and only then) begin to explore the language of reading music. It’s not how I was trained, so everything in me rebels against the idea. Yet, I have to admit that there is something in the argument that causes me to pause and consider. Topham presents a 10-week framework for these beginning lessons that prepare the student for reading. Am I ready to jump in completely? Not yet….but it has definitely given me something to think about. That’s what we ask from the non-fiction that we invest our time and energy into reading.

What I’m Currently Reading

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio (1:46 of 14:54 listening time). Normally, a 15 hour audiobook would turn me off, but this one caught my eye. I had started listening to Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell on Wednesday, but the topic was much darker than what I had originally anticipated. That’s when I saw this biography on John F. Kennedy, Jr. I have always been fascinated with the man and watched along with the rest of the nation when his plane went down. Honestly, I had planned to listen to a little bit of this book to close out the week and begin with something a little shorter next week. But then I realized this wouldn’t be like other biographies. McNeil and Terenzio have gathered recollections from those closest to the Kennedys to tell the story of John-John from their various perspectives. The result is a story that I cannot get enough of. The recollections of John’s famous salute to his father’s passing casket and his early interactions with other men after his father’s death are spellbinding. While this won’t be a quick read, I am in for the long haul now.

Owning Jacob by Simon Beckett (p. 40 of 343). On Sunday afternoon, I was browsing the Kindle library for a new read. I didn’t want anything too literary. I did want something that would keep my attention from the start because I hope to continue making significant progress in my personal reading as the year draws to a close. This thriller has all the elements I was looking for. The novel opens with the death of Sarah who has left behind her husband Ben and his 6-year-old stepson, Jacob. While sorting through his wife’s possessions, Ben stumbles upon a lockbox that contains Jacob’s birth certificate and newspaper clippings about a child that was taken from the hospital nursery. As Ben continues to investigate, he realizes that Jacob shares the same birthday as the child that was taken! Was Jacob actually Sarah’s son? Or has he unknowingly been part of something far more sinister? As the truth begins to emerge, Ben is now faced with the question of what he should do — reunite his autistic son with his birth parents or continue as though nothing has changed? This novel is absolutely riveting. Since the truth has been revealed so early in the story, I’m anxious to see where Beckett’s storytelling is going to take us next.

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Nov 12

A Mixture of Singing and Hacking (Nov 12, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I apologize, dear reader, for visiting with you a day later than normal. I spent much of last week at Sam Houston State University for a voice competition. I accompanied a few students between bouts of coughing up a lung. Yes, as usual for my annual NATS visit, I fought the crud…and the crud won.

I struggled with my reading this week. Have you ever noticed how much the book in your hand moves when you are trying to extract a lung via your sore throat? Yeah, that’s a real thing! I did manage to do some listening during the cross-state drive and completed an audio book. I’ll take that as a win!

What I Finished This Week

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. This audio memoir was a beautiful look at success through the eyes of the beloved food icon. From negative messages from her childhood through the beliefs of the day that a woman only went to college to find “her man”, Ina shares a lovely tale of how she views obstacles as inconveniences rather than roadblocks. Tell her she can’t do something, Ina will look for a way to achieve her dreams rather than being stifled. The story of her marriage to Jeffrey Garten and their ensuing challenges as career-driven newlyweds was inspiring and a lesson in the power of compromise when both parties lovingly speak truth despite the uncomfortable situation. Personally, I also loved Ina’s story about leaving the high-powered world of Washington, D.C. politics to pursue her passion for food, despite the outcries of others. I have always appreciated the simplicity of Ina’s food; now that I understand that the same philosophy guides her relationships and business pursuits, I am a bigger fan of this successful woman. If you’ve ever found yourself drawn to The Barefoot Contessa and couldn’t really explain why, I encourage you to take a look at this memoir. I highly recommend the audio book. It feels as though you are sitting down for a cup of coffee with a new friend who is sharing story after story with you as the two of you laugh together.

What I’m Currently Reading

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (p. 225 of 369). Despite only getting another 100 hundred pages into the novel this week, I’m still hooked by the story. Our unlikely quintet has made it to Scotland for the Math Olympics. Along the way, the children have connected with Mr. Nicholls while Jess is beginning to have to admit to herself that the man who has freely driven them across the country is not such a jerk after all. In fact, Jess might just be attracted to him. The book does contain triggers of bullying, domestic abuse, and betrayal. I know I said that I wanted to finish it last week…..but this week, I really intend to finish this great novel and get started on another one!

Just a Bit of Accountability

Each year, I set two major reading goals for the year. First, I set a target for the number of books that I hope to read in the new year. Then I set a target for a gross number of pages. For 2024, the two goals are 40 books completed and a minimum of 15,000 pages. (Pages of books that I ultimately DNF count toward my total page count.)

Since it is now November, it’s time to look at where things stand and what I have ahead in the next 6 weeks if I plan to reach my goal. Currently, I have read 12,037 pages which is about 80% of my total goal of 15,000 pages. Just under 3,000 pages in 6 weeks? I think I might actually be able to do this if I can get back into the reading routine. (Just so we are all clear, I also include audio books in my total pages. So a drive to the Geriatric Ward in a few weeks and flights over the Thanksgiving holidays should help me get close to the goal.)

The number of books might be a different story. Currently, I’m sitting at 30 books completed. I’m pleased with what I have accomplished this year in my reading life, but I know that I hit a few weeks where reading was just not happening in my corner of the world. 10 books in 6 weeks is certainly possible, but that would mean I would need to finish approximately 1.66 books per week. That’s not a normal reading pace for me normally. I’m not going to give up on this goal just yet, but what I am able to accomplish in the coming week will tell a lot about the story. Plus, I get to decorate for Christmas while I’m at home in a couple of weeks…..and that’s not going to involve much reading. If I select some lighter reads and dive into some “fluff”, I can probably reach the goal. But do I think reaching the goal of total books read a worthy goal to read books that aren’t as personally enriching? Decisions, decisions!

Next week, I should get back to my normal routine of posting on Monday. Until then, happy reading!

~Kennith

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