School started this week and things got BUSY quickly! Whether it was trying to track down scholarship students, making a recording with an ensemble, or getting technology to actually work properly, I have been running most of the week. I don’t mean to imply that I’m not enjoying the work — I am! There is life and excitement in the music wing once again and I am all for it. My reading life, however, has taken a bit of a hit as a result of the new schedule.
Now I find myself looking for any available moment to get in a few pages throughout the day. Graded essays for 90 minutes? I deserve a 15 minute reading break. Taking a walk around the indoor track? I’ll listen to a few chapters of an audio book. Some of my current reads are easy to insert into my day — especially ebooks. Others provide more of a challenge.
What I Finished This Week
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. If you follow me on social media, you probably saw that I asked for book recommendations from my friends recently. I got a LOT of really good recommendations that have been added to my TBR. The reason for the post, however, was to fulfill a prompt for the Summer Beach Reads challenge. I took the first 6 recommendations I received, assigned a number to each, and rolled the die. This musical enemies-to-lovers was the selected book. It is the story of Xander and Gwen, two musicians who find each other despite many obstacles. While I did enjoy the story itself, I found myself distracted and reflecting on the manipulation of the characters by family, agents, and colleagues. While my heart broke for the musicians, I found myself thinking about how the industry needs to change and wondering how I can begin to prepare my own students for the cut-throat world they will probably face after graduation. 3.5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim (2:56 of 8:09). This is my current book for when I’m on the move — either in the car for a drive or walking around the track. It is the story of four British women who rent an Italian castle for a glorious vacation away from all responsibility for the month of April. The premise is intriguing. The narrator, however, is a real challenge for me, but I’ve decided I’m going to push through. Here’s hoping that things begin to get better with this read now that the women have arrived at the castle and are experiencing their first conflict.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 427 of 870). I’m struggling with this read at the moment. I think it is all about the size of the book, honestly. I’m just not at a place where diving into a massive read is enticing to me. I’m trying to convince myself that since there are only 443 pages remaining in the book that it is just like a normal weekly read at this point. The story is great. The writing is outstanding. It’s just big! This is the final read for the 2026 Big Book Summer challenge for me; that means I technically just need to finish by Labor Day, but I’d really like to get it off of my plate sooner. Here’s hoping….
Sometimes, it feels as though I am meeting myself coming and going. As the semester gets rolling again, that’s the atmosphere in my world. I get up, frantically try to get things done between all of the other crises that arise around me, get a quick bit of food, crawl in bed and do it all again. In the midst of the constant shuffle, I still managed to get some reading done!
What I Finished This Week
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. I adored this book! It was such a fun, informative read. This piece of historical fiction centers around the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune as together they work to improve the lives of women and African-Americans. I was entertained. I was educated. I was inspired by the reading. This novel inspired one of my personal studies for this fall; I’m going to explore the life and presidency of FDR. 4.75 stars.
Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall. Valentine is a wealthy duke who has been promised to Arabella. There’s only one problem — Arabella doesn’t love him and intends to run away to avoid a life of marital servitude. Her twin brother, Bonny, joins Valentine in pursuit of Arabella. Things become complicated as Bonny and Valentine develop feelings for each other. The novel explores the stereotypes of MM relationships and the desire of all people to find authentic love. The first in a series that I don’t anticipate completing. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 362 of 870). With all of the meetings that had happened this week, I didn’t manage to get much done in this behemoth this week. Still, I got through roughly 100 more pages. Now that the story is heating up as young Ian fears that he may have murdered a man unintentionally and there is a possibility that political tracks printed by Jamie may be circulating among his enemies, the story is much more compelling. I’m hoping to get very close to a finish this week. We shall just have to see how that goes though.
Getting Things Done by David Allen (p, 53 of 125). Every few years, I return to this productivity work. Published in 2001, the book is starting to show some age, but the basic concept presented continues to assist me in my personal management. (I think there may be an updated edition that I should probably check out.) I’ve been feeling as though my world is a little out of control, so this is the perfect time to revisit the book and see if I can find ways to help tame the craziness.
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto (p. 76 of 365). Earlier this week, I asked friends for book recommendations. While I am always thrilled to hear what others are reading, this request was part of the Summer Beach Read challenge over on The 52 Book Club. I took the first 6 books recommended, assigned each a number, and rolled a die. That’s how I got started on this Julie Soto novel. It’s a romance featuring two musicians. I’m far too early in the reading to tell you much more than that. I’m very happy that it is a rather light read that is perfect at the end of the day.
Just when I thought the summer of Geriatric Health Care was going to end smoothly, I was hit with other plans. Dad ended up going back to the ER on Thursday and remains there as of the writing of this post. The doctor is not yet entirely sure what we are fighting, but we know that his blood markers are all over the place. Since the end of the week was spent transporting Mom to the hospital, cancelling appointments, and trying to prepare for my departure without any unnecessary bloodshed, my reading took a bit of a nose dive. I managed to read my minimum goal of pages each day, but that didn’t get me to the week’s planned finish line.
What I Finished This Week
Nothing to see here. Not a single book was finished this week. Hopefully that will mean a good number of finishes for next week.
What I’m Currently Reading
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 270 of 870). With all of the running this week, my reading of this monster only happened at home. It’s too heavy to drag around! So I got through another 100 pages. I will probably try to make this a focus of the week so I can make significant progress in the coming days. I’m enjoying the story, but I’m ready to get things moving forward again.
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (p. 280 of 370). I have fallen absolutely in love with this book and the two female characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or you are interested in exploring the plight of the African-American community in 20th century America, you should DEFINITELY add this book to your TBR! Fascinating situations with wonderful storytelling. Once again, fiction has inspired my next personal study. (I’m going to dive into the presidency of FDR for a couple of months and see what I can discover there.)
Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (4:13 of 10:53). I needed an audiobook for my drive to Texas. Alas, I didn’t have an available credit in my Audible account and didn’t have enough direction to search for something on Libby. This charming, witty period piece was in my library and I had not listened yet. it probably won’t turn out to be one of my favorite reading experiences, but it is keeping my attention as the miles click along.
Summer break is beginning to wind down and that means my return to west Texas is imminent. That revelation has increased my stress level significantly as I attempt to tie up as many loose ends in the Geriatric Ward as possible before leaving. I’ll do anything to try to keep as much of this stress off of Mom as possible.
As the stress has climbed, reading has been a welcome escape. Reading a novel about death during the Black Plague was probably not the best choice for this season of my life, but I got through the book and enjoyed the read — despite the tears! Here’s a look at what I finished, what I’m reading, and how things went in the month of July.
What I Finished This Week
Bookstore on the Bay by Leeanna Morgan.Bookstore on the Bay was a charming romance about two older adults who find a second chance at love. Isabel and her three friends first met as teens at a summer camp in Sapphire Bay. Many years later, she returns to the Bay to start again after the death of her husband. Frank made his way to the small town after leaving a lucrative job in Seattle. When he found that a security company was acting deceitfully and putting people in danger, he sounded the alarm. Now they are out to stop him from testifying at any cost. After losing his daughter and her husband in a tragic car accident, Frank decides that Sapphire Bay is the perfect place for him and his grandson Thomas to find stability and safety while the lawsuit calms down. When Frank crosses paths with Isabel, the two know that they have found something they were not expecting. Leeanna Morgan creates a cute story that kept me turning the page to see what was going to happen to these loveable characters. 4 stars.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. I was a bit skeptical going into my reading of this novel. So often, I find that many of the blockbuster novels don’t live up to the hype. O’Farrell’s novel was certainly worthy of the praise it received. I found it fascinating to watch the relationship between Shakespeare and Agnes grow and falter as they faced unimaginable tragedy in the face of the Black Death. The novel was poignant; I found myself marking several especially beautiful passages about death, grief, and the artistic process to revisit later. I’m definitely planning to investigate more of O’Farrell’s novels later. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 170 of 870). Progress in the latest volume of the Outlander series was stunted this week. With lots of other projects demanding my attention as I prepare to leave the Geriatric Ward later this week and getting pulled into Hamnet, I made less progress here than I had hoped. Still, the story is great! I’ve enjoyed watching Jamie’s leadership in prison as Claire learns more about what happened to her husband from another century. I’m just getting into Jamie’s indentured servitude and how he is being blackmailed by the young Lady of the estate. This will be the final Big Book of Summer for me this year, so I’m happy as long as I am steadily making progress.
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (p. 42 of 370). On a visit to the Memphis library last week, I presented one of the librarians with a challenge that he admitted was one of the more interesting he had heard this year. As part of the Summer Beach Read challenge, I needed to find a work of historical fiction that had a six-letter word as the first word of the text. He furrowed his brow and asked if I meant the first word of the title. No, the prompt clearly says the first word in the book is to be six letters long. (I know! This is crazy, right?) I had decided to be very literal in my interpretation of the prompt and use the first word of the text as opposed to any introductory material. So we decided to begin our search by looking at authors who wrote multiple works of historical fiction that came highly recommended by library patrons. Then, it was just going to be a scavenger hunt. I was really lucky that the second author on the list he provided led me to two books that would fit the prompt: The Other Einstein and The First Ladies. The second novel sounded the most interesting to me in the moment, so that’s the one I have chosen to begin reading. (In case you are wondering, the novel begins with the sentence “Nearly fifty blocks whir past my cab window as I ride through the upper reaches of Manhattan from the Hotel Olga in Harlem.” This one is going to be about the unlikely relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune. I’m looking forward to getting further into this novel this week.
July 2026 in Review
July turned out to be my most productive reading month of 2026 thus far! I have to admit that I’m a little surprised at how much was accomplished given all that has been going on in the Geriatric Ward. Audio books and e-books certainly helped me out a lot.
Books I read in July: 12 (up 3 from June)
Pages read in July: 2,874 (up 224 from June)
Highest rated book:Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (4.75 stars)
Lowest rated book:The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2.75 stars)
The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress
With the end of July, I managed to cross the halfway point of the 2026 challenge. That’s a month later than I would have liked, but I think I’m still in a fairly good place to finish on track. I have plans for several of the prompts that remain and only two of those are really worrying me at this point — the stand alone science fiction novel and the genre defining book. I had planned to read Dune for genre defining, but I’m starting to get cold feet about that selection. I may shelf that one for the 2027 challenge and find another option for this year. At this point, I just need books that I am really excited about reading that will keep me moving forward.
The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge
Five of July’s reads moved me around the game board in the summer challenge. If you look closely, you will see First Ladies just before the start space. So I’m getting ready to make my second lap of the board! The game element getting added into the challenge has really made this one addictive and something I want to play through.
This week was full of ups and downs. As the week began, things were running smoothly and everyone was getting along. As the week progressed, more challenges were encountered and stress levels went through the roof! In those moments when things got tense, I found myself turning into my reading. What can I say? It’s great therapy! So I guess you can say that there was a silver lining in that I got a lot of reading done this week. Hoping that the reading pace continues without the additional drama though. If this roller coaster keeps going, I may be looking for the barf bag.
What I Finished This Week
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This is my second Neil Gaiman novel. I’ll share the unpopular opinion; I don’t like his writing at all! It’s not just that I don’t enjoy fantasy. I find the writing convoluted. I think the problem is that I also can’t really tell who the intended audience is supposed to be. If you want to write for children, do it. If you want to write a fairy tale for adults, do it. Don’t try to mix the two. It just doesn’t work. 2.75 stars (and that’s generous…..)
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. Alexis is a ER doctor in a prestigious Minneapolis hospital. Her family has a long history of making significant contributions in the medical field. She is constantly trying to live up to expectations. While driving home from a family funeral, Alexis swerves to avoid striking a raccoon and lands in the ditch. This is where she meets Daniel, a simple small town guy who is a jack-of-all-trades and runs the local Bed and Breakfast. The two immediately find chemistry, but realize that they come from two different worlds. Jimenez weaves a lovely story that examines challenging family relationships, the importance of social structure, and navigating personal preferences when they conflict with high expectations. Definitely worth a read, but you should know that the book deals prominently with domestic abuse (mostly of a verbal nature, although physical abuse is also present). 4.75 stars.
Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon. I was having difficulty settling on a book that would meet the prompt of a read with a diacritical mark on the cover. Nothing that I found really grabbed my attention. I selected this book on a whim on a recent trip to Barnes and Noble. It turned out to be a very enjoyable read. Frida and Gabriel were raised in a cult and became best friends. After escaping, the two pursue lives on the outside. Gabriel marries a vibrant young woman who tragically dies shortly afterwards; Gabriel is accused of her murder. Nearly a decade later, Frida and Gabriel find themselves once again entwined in the tragic death of a young woman. Michallon writes a fascinating story of family, abuse, and unconditional love. 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Bookstore on the Bay by Leeanna Morgan (p. 167 of 244). As part of the summer Beach challenge, I had to select 6 books on my reading list and allow fate (via the roll of a die) to determine my next read. I selected some of the free books that I have loaded onto my Kindle and ended up being very pleased with the results. Morgan tells the story of a widow, Isabella, who returns to the quaint town of Sapphire Bay to reunite with childhood friends. While there, she meets Frank and his young grandson, Tommy. The two become friends as Isabella purchases the town’s bookstore and decides to begin a new chapter in her life. However, developing feelings for Frank and Tommy may come with challenges. Frank relocated to Sapphire Bay to escape the danger brought on by providing evidence to the FBI against a powerful security firm. A quick, fascinating read with a charming love story featuring older adults looking for a second chance.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 38 of 870). Ever since first participating in Big Book Summer in 2024, the Outlander series has been part of the annual plans. With Dad’s health complications this summer, there just wasn’t a convenient time to start the book earlier. Since I have a couple of weeks left before my life returns to full swing, I decided this was the time to hit the third volume in the saga. Although I just started the book yesterday afternoon, it has been easy to fall back into the story of Jamie and Claire. I won’t get through this behemoth this week, but I’m hoping to make a significant dent in it.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (p. 38 of 305). One prompt for the 2026 challenge has a tendency to sneak up on me — a book that I started reading on the 26th! As I made plans to start new books for the week after Saturday’s finish, I realized I could delay a day and plug something in for this prompt to get it off my plate. Yeah! Hamnet has long been of interest to me. All I really know (at least, what I think I know) is that it is the story of the son of Shakespeare who will ultimately inspire the character Hamlet. I could be completely wrong, but I’m enjoying the early pages of this novel so far.
This week was rather hectic. A frantic race to sign papers in Plainview (which turned out to be a fruitless trip), getting the other Geriatric in for a CT scan, and a long Friday afternoon in the ER with my Dad. Add to all of this an excruciating back ache, and you have the formula for a lot of reading since I couldn’t do much else.
What I Finished This Week
Breaking His Rules by Layla Hagen. The first audio book that I completed this week. Grant is the COO of a security company who does everything by the book. When his best friend decides to host his engagement party at a small restaurant, Grant plans to overrun the charming space with security upgrades in order to ensure that nothing happens. The restaurant’s owner, Ruby, turns out to be a bigger obstacles than Grant had anticipated. Ruby fully intends to maintain the quaintness of her space while trusting that everything will be just fine since nothing has ever happened before that should cause concern. The two square off and prepare for battle, but become friends along the way as they realize that they share a common goal — making sure the engagement party is everything their friends have dreamed of. This is really a cute enemies-to-lovers romance that has more character building than you would expect. 3.5 stars.
Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren.Dating You/Hating You had been on my TBR since the beginning of the 2026 challenge since Christina Lauren is a pen name for the writing duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Carter and Evie both work as talent agents in successful Hollywood studios. When their companies merge, the two find themselves competing for the same job. Their attraction is undeniable, but it is also what they fear most. Will their tenderness toward each other be used by one of them in order to get the upper hand? This was a really enjoyable audio book that made the roads through Texas and Arkansas pass much more quickly. 3.5 stars.
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham. Sebastian Rudd is the lawyer everyone hates. He defends the most despicable and often gets his clients lighter sentences than they deserve. His ex-wife thinks he is a worthless father, more concerned with his career than his child. The police hate him because he is less concerned with justice than winning the case at any cost. One of his clients claims to know the current location of a missing police officer and reveals crucial information to Rudd. The problem? Should Rudd share this information with the authorities, he will be breaking attorney-client privilege and jeopardize his career. While this wasn’t my favorite of Grisham’s novels, I was enthralled by the story as well as the legal and moral issues raised. 3 stars.
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Set in Iceland, this novel was read to fulfill the prompt of a story set in either the Arctic or Antarctica in the main 2026 challenge. Agnes has been convicted of killing a man in his home. Her sentence? Death by beheading. While awaiting her execution date, Agnes is sent to the remote farm in northern Iceland. Suffering through the extreme winter weather, she is also outcast by the farming family that is forced to host her. In order to prepare mentally and spiritually, a young priest is assigned the task of ministering to her (despite Agnes’ lack of faith). Kent’s historical novel examines the search for truth, the impact of unrequited love, and the natural fear of death in a gripping tale of intrigue and doubt. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon (p. 49 of 299). A summer resort is rocked by the death of a woman and the subsequent arrest of her famous husband. For Gabriel and Frida, the events trigger memories of their time in a cult as children. I just started reading last night, but I’m already fascinated and ready to tear through more of this story tonight.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (p, 80 of 372). I read Yours Truly last year and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I decided that I should read the first of the books in the series. This story focuses on Alexis and Daniel, two people who could not be more dissimilar, but find themselves drawn to each other. I really enjoy Jimenez’s writing style and the ease of getting pulled into the story.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (3:06 of 5:43). It only seems appropriate to be reading at least one book at the moment that is not a total hit for me. For the summer challenge, I needed a fantasy book with a “watery” scene. Fantasy is not a favorite genre for me, so I was looking for something rather short that didn’t require too much world building. I’m just not in the mood for that type of work at the moment. At just under 6 hours, Gaiman’s tale seemed like the perfect option. The story is entertaining and I’m finding that listening to the story makes it easier to get into.
My plan was to write a witty introduction to this week’s reading summary this morning before heading to Jonesboro to see Dad. Right now, life has a way of looking at my plans, laughing, and throwing a curve ball my way. I’m still standing, but I’ve prepared the white flag of surrender so I can yell “Uncle!” to end this current round of the karmic game. How’s that for an intro? Luckily, I had written the rest of the weekly update last night. Here’s what I’ve been reading lately.
What I Finished This Week
The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom. As part of the Summer Beach Read Challenge, I needed to read a book with something you would expect to find at the beach on the cover. My assigned genre was historical fiction. I am thrilled that I found The House of Hidden Letters! Told in alternating time lines, the novel traces the story of Skye, a modern woman who has left her British home and career to flee her abusive husband. When she lands in Greece, she finds a community of friends and an unexpected mystery. Hidden in the chimney of her restoration house, Skye discovers a pack of love letters written by Katerina, a young woman trying to survive the Italian invasion of the Greek isles during World War II. Katerina’s story is one of love and murder. The young woman is traumatized by the Nazi general living next door in the occupied land. If you have followed my reading journey for very long, you probably know by now that I love this era of history and Broom’s story was engaging while presenting a portion of the Great War with which I was not familiar. I found the novel to be a fairly quick read and I was always excited to see how the story would progress (much to the chagrin of the other novels I was reading at the time). 4 stars.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey. For this week’s audio book, I borrowed Fix Her Up from my local library using the Libby app. That means that the book didn’t cost me anything and would fulfill that prompt for The 52 Book Club Challenge. This Tessa Bailey book tells the story of Georgie and Travis. Georgie is the youngest child who chose to launch her own business rather than working with the family. Her chosen career is that of a children’s entertainer — specifically, a clown. Obviously she receives no respect for her choice from her siblings or parents. They view her as an immature failure who simply needs to be tolerated and not respected. Travis has returned to his childhood home after injury ended his promising career in Major League Baseball. Despite his success, the only voice that Travis hears is that of his alcoholic father who repeatedly proclaimed that Travis would never amount to anything. Georgie wants the respect of her family; Travis needs to land a new job as a sports commentator. In order to help each other reach their goals, the two decide to masquerade as a couple. This cute romance was a really fun book to listen to. The narration by Charlotte North was exceptional. Be warned though — in typically Bailey fashion, the spicy scenes are off the charts! I would normally listen to an audio book on my commute; since my mother was in the car with me most of the week, this was definitely not a book that was going to get much airplay. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Godfather by Mario Puzo (p. 315 of 428). I have put off reading this book for much of the year. The prompt was to read a book inspired by the top grossing movie from the year that you were born. In 1972, that film would have been Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. I wasn’t really that interested in reading something about the mafia and the thoughts of exploring the lives of Coppola or Brando didn’t appeal to me either. So I decided to bite the bullet and read the novel that inspired the film. Since I’ve not watched the movie before, I had an erroneous idea of what the story was about. I was expecting lots of murders gruesomely described. While the mob wars are certainly present, the focus of the story is about the Don and his children. It’s a story about loyalty, betrayal, and revenge set against a sprawling family saga. I’m really enjoying the read much more than I expected and plan to watch the movie later this week.
Reckless at Heart by Zoe York (p. 235 of 596). The novel’s opening line grabbed my attention: “Dad, I’m pregnant.” A single dad to a teenage daughter, Owen is not prepared to watch his daughter repeat the same mistakes he did as a young father. When the girl announces that she is going to use the services of a midwife, Owen is anything but pleased. Now Owen must come to terms with the fact that he finds himself attracted to the midwife that is caring for his daughter. Why did I pick this one up? The prompt for the summer challenge called for a romance that included the name “Rebecca” in the acknowledgements. (That was surprisingly more difficult to find than I had expected!) I’m not expecting a 5 star read here, but it has proven to be an easy read to pass the time while at the rehab center.
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist (0:28 of 4:15). On Sunday afternoon, I had a few minutes alone in my car while running some errands, so I decided to get an early start on my next audio book. The book appears to be about moving from exhaustion and burnout to peaceful living through simplicity. That’s definitely something that I need to hear right now. I’m reading this to fulfill the prompt of a comma in the subtitle.
Much of the week has been spent in medical facilities. Thankfully, I can report that Dad is making significant progress and doing much better than anyone ever expected. My physical read of the week was finished early while sitting in an ICU waiting room waiting for a procedure to be finished. The audiobook I finished while trying to calm my mind at the end of long days. It’s amazing the power of books to help us navigate troublesome times.
What I Finished This Week
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. The second volume of The Empyrean series left me feeling a little lacking. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Violet and Xaden grow. However, the entire rebellion felt forced and very contrived. I remember finishing Fourth Wing looking forward to continuing the story. Now that I’ve read Iron Flame, I’m finding myself asking “Really?” I don’t know if I will read Onyx Storm or not. 3.5 stars.
Our Secret Summer by R.S. Grey. Isabel is an American socialite who is spending the summer in Ibiza in honor of her twin sister who recently passed away. While in Spain, Isabel decides to complete the bucket list that the two girls made together for their summer adventure. At the top of the list was to fall in love with a handsome Spaniard. Enter Cristiano, a successful entrepreneur and all-around playboy. R.S. Grey’s novel was full of fun and wit. It’s also rather spicy…..you have been warned! Overall, a great read for me in this current season of life. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom (p. 203 of 388). I was looking for historical fiction that included something that might be seen at the beach on the cover for one of my reading prompts. After another failed attempt, I stumbled on The House of Hidden Letters and cannot put it down! The novel is told in split time lines. Set on a small Greek island, Skye is one of the winners of a lottery where the prize is a hilltop home costing 1 Euro. Despite the fact that the home is in shambles, having remained unoccupied since the Second World War, it is the perfect way for Skye to escape her abusive husband. During the course of renovations, Skye discovers a series of love letters hidden in the fireplace flue. As other discoveries are made at nearby homes, a story of the occupation of the island during the war emerges. I’m absolutely adoring Broom’s characters and enthralled with the challenges that both of our heroines are facing — in the 1940s and the present day.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey (1:28 of 9:58). Audiobooks are proving to be a good fit for me right now, so I got started on another one on Sunday afternoon while resting on the couch. Georgie has no respect from her family. Since she did not follow in the family business of house flipping (opting to be a party clown instead), she is not taken seriously. Travis has returned to town after his professional baseball career came to an end as a result of injury. What did not end for him, however, was his tainted image. Georgie and Travis decide to enter into a fake relationship in order to earn the respect of others. I’m still early in the reading of this one, but I have high hopes based upon my previous experiences with the works of Tessa Bailey.
What would have normally been a very restful week turned a bit crazy. Last week was final’s week. Typically, I give a few exams, play a handful of juries, submit my grades, and get some work done for the next term. This time, I took care of exams, juries, and grades in a couple of days as I arranged to travel to Memphis for a family funeral. Then I jetted off on Thursday, attended the service on Friday, and cared for my parents over the weekend. Then I jumped back on a plane today to return to Texas to tie up a few loose ends. It was a good trip that I am glad I was able to take, but I’m pooped!
Even though I am feeling a little behind at the moment, I did continue to have a productive reading life. Here’s a quick look at the two books that I read this week as well as the newest audio start. (I still have to decide what physical book I’m going to pick up this week.)
What I Finished This Week
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. With lots of time on a plane traveling back to Arkansas for a few days, I was able to get through the bulk of this novel. I found myself incredibly moved by the story about the power of words to inform, challenge, manipulate, and set individual’s free. Set against the background of World War II Germany, the novel took a rather unique approach to life under the Nazi regime as Leisel and her family figured out how to survive while still standing for what they viewed as right. The relationship between a young Leisel, Papa, and Max – the Jew hiding in the family’s basement – will forever be in my heart and mind. I especially enjoyed the narration by Death himself. 4.5 stars.
Funny Story by Emily Henry. This was a really cute audio book that accompanied me along my recent drives. Miles and Daphne have both been jilted by their significant others. Whatever will they do? Share an apartment, obviously, while they lick their wounds. When they receive an invitation to the wedding of their exes, their next move is to rsvp and pose as though they are dating. Uproariously funny and poignant at the same time. Henry really knows how to tell a story. 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn (1:16 of 10:32). Griffin and his brothers are cursed by a fortune teller during a bachelor party in New Orleans. When tragedy strikes, Griffin begins to think the threat of lost love is real. Continuing to suffer with the death of his wife two years later, this volunteer firefighter responds to a 911 call from Ren, a young teacher who has just moved to the small Maine community. We can all see where this story is heading, but the humor mingled with the images of grief keep me coming back for more. It appears that this is the first book in Quinn’s “Getting Lucky” series. With a bit more driving ahead later this week, I anticipate making significant progress in this cute romance in the days ahead.
As the semester wound down, I watched students wonder how things would turn out in the end. My own footsteps faltered this week as well — literally! Around midweek, I began to find that my right foot was not behaving normally. A trip to the chiropractor revealed that I was dealing with “drop foot.” Quite simply, I wasn’t walking with a full stride. Instead, my foot was dragging a bit. It was disconcerting enough that I (briefly) considered cancelling a trip to Arlington to watch the Cubs take on the Rangers. Based on the results of the baseball games, I probably should have stayed home! At least I got some more reading done while traveling. What can I say? I have to take a win wherever I can get one.
What I Finished This Week
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D. This relatively short book started out with great potential as it explored the symbols hidden in quilts to communicate essential messages to escaping slaves. The “code” was presented to the authors by an elderly African-American woman in North Carolina who had heard the story passed through generations of her family. The opening chapters of the study were fascinating, if based more in hypothesis than fact. As the book continued into discussions of spirituals and figures in the Underground Railroad, the quality of the research floundered. This is one of those times when an author should have “quit while they were ahead.” I really wanted to enjoy this book, but was sadly disappointed. 2.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (p. 249 of 550). I have always loved stories set in the horrors of Nazi Germany. (I’m just realizing how horrifying that sentence sounds when I read it back to myself. Still, it is true.) I am moved by the resilience of people in troubling times. I find this era of history fascinating. This story is made more intriguing because of the role that the written word plays while the tale is narrated by Death himself. I’m almost halfway through the book and I have to admit that I’m loving every word.
Funny Story by Emily Henry (6:02 of 11:23). For something very different in my audio reading, I went for a romantic tale that I had downloaded a while ago and never got around to reading. Daphne had it all. She loved her job as a children’s librarian and had met the man of her dreams. The dream turned into a nightmare when he returned from his bachelor party and told Daphne that he realized he was actually in love with his (female) best friend and they were running away together. Daphne had a week to get out of the house and figure out what she was going to do. Where’s a girl to go? Obviously to the apartment of Miles, the jilted boyfriend of the other woman! When they receive an invitation to the happy couple’s wedding, Daphne and Miles decide to attend as each other’s plus one. Is it a ruse or are the two heart-broken people actually developing feelings for each other?
Reading for Me 