Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

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

2025 Reading Challenge family saga fiction historical romance The 52 Book Club

Leave a comment »
Sep 23

The One with an Eye Infection (September 23, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Last week, the crud that kept on giving in the music department decided to throw me an additional curve. On Tuesday night, I began to feel a stye forming in my right eye. I’ve had them before and normally they can just be treated with warm compresses and a little TLC. Things felt different on Wednesday morning, so I headed straight to the local optometrist because I am not going to fool around with my eyes!

Long story short, somehow the respiratory infection found its way to my eye. I was prescribed a salve to apply to the lower eyelid — the INNER lid actually — as well as a Z-Pak. I would eventually figure out how to apply the salve effectively. The Z-Pak, however, made me so sick on the first day that I decided it wasn’t worth the effort. I cannot handle nausea at all!

Since my eye was infected, reading was not all that fun this week for several days. Thankfully, my eye was significantly better by Friday afternoon and I was able to get back to a reading routine that resulted in more than just my minimum daily goal. Despite all of the challenges, I had a finish this week!

What I Finished Reading

As Sure As the Dawn by Francine Rivers. This final volume of The Mark of the Lion trilogy was not what I expected. The now free gladiator Artestres returned to Germania with his Roman wife and a Roman centurion. As they desired to share the gospel with the village that Artestres called home, they were faced with pagan rituals. This volume was much darker and filled with the miraculous. The dead were raised, spiritual warfare was a central part of the story, the gift of tongues was used to share faith with non-Greek speakers. All in all, it was a fascinating story but certainly not what I was expecting from what I would consider mass market Christian fiction.

What I’m Currently Reading

Although I made no additional progress this week, I still have plans to read No Book Beginners by Tim Topham. Since I just finished the Francine Rivers book yesterday, I’m looking for a new start. I pulled a couple of things from my book shelf, but nothing struck my fancy. A package from the Book of the Month Club arrived this afternoon, so I think I’m going to start making my way through one of them. You’ll have to join me next Monday to see what I actually end up reading.

Happy reading, y’all!

~Kennith

Christian fiction historical

Leave a comment »
Sep 9

Fall Is Coming! (September 9, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

The weather is getting cooler. We experienced a few rain showers. I enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home after getting the first full week of playing up and running. No students or pianists were harmed in this endeavor. Of course, my annual friend chest congestion made an appearance. Fortunately, Mucinex seems to be doing the job of keeping things under control and not allowing this unwelcome friend to set up permanent residence.

There was also some reading that happened this week and some decisions made. Here’s the scoop….

What I Finished Reading

The Rookie by Jim Morris. I shouldn’t have been surprised that I enjoyed this memoir as much as I did. After all, it was a baseball book. But it was so much more. It was a story of fear, failure, family, and frustration. It was a story of dreams delayed and dreams fulfilled. It was encouraging and challenging. It was the perfect read for the beginning of a new semester and a new group of freshman students in my world.

What I Stopped Reading

The Artist as Citizen by Joseph Polizi. The more I read in this collection of speeches, the more I realized that the era that Polizi addressed was not the art world that I currently reside in. There were interesting points to consider, but the book was not speaking to me. Besides, there were other books sitting nearby in the office waiting for my attention. This volume had become a drudge and a duty. That’s not what I want my reading life to be about any more.

What I Am Currently Reading

No Book Beginners: A Step-By-Step Framework for Creative Piano Teaching by Tim Topham. (p. 18 of 194) One of the books that was calling from the corner of my desk was this one. A leader in modern music instruction, Topham is calling for a new approach to piano instruction. Following an approach more akin to language learning, Topham suggests that students first explore the language of music before the process of learning to read and write begins. This approach would pull teachers away from traditional piano methods and require more activity-driven instruction of students as they discover musical concepts. While the traditionalist in me is a little apprehensive of the prospect, the educator in me is intrigued. I’m not sure what I’ll find, but I’m looking forward to making my way through this book slowly in the weeks ahead.

As Sure As the Dawn by Francine Rivers. (p. 45 of 473) In this final novel in the Mark of the Lion trilogy, Rivers focuses on the story of Atretes. Atretes was a gladiator who purchased his freedom from the arena and has since discovered that his child lives. I’m still very early in the story, so I’m not entirely sure where we will be heading. I am excited to see how things will be tied up in this final episode of the saga and trust that I will enjoy this novel as much as I have the rest of the series.

There you have it. Happy reading, y’all!

~Kennith

fiction historical memoir music

Leave a comment »
Sep 2

Happy Labor Day! (September 2, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Ah….the joy of a long weekend at the very beginning of the semester. After getting things up and running and beginning to get into the groove of how things are going to go, I get a day off. That’s the perfect time for my allergies to begin causing problems and congestion to settle into my chest. Just what I had hoped for!

The week has been pretty good overall. Lots of things accomplished in the office, practicing again with some regularity as my arm continues to heal, and still managing to do some reading. At the moment, I’m fighting through a bit of a reading slump after powering through the final book of #BigBookSummer. Let me tell you what I’ve finished, what I thought, and what I’m reading now.

What I Finished

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. I am conflicted about this book. It was an interesting premise — Did Shakespeare actually write all of those plays and poems or were they purchased from other individuals, including women? The plight of women to receive equal footing and respect in modern society is certainly an issue worthy of discussion. Sadly, this book did not arouse the type of response in this reader that I expect when I come to one of Picoult’s books. I expect to have to think critically about important issues from perspectives that may challenge me and make me uncomfortable. By Any Other Name felt like a history lesson about a little-known female author fighting against a system that simply wasn’t going to change. I get that Picoult was pointing out how women have been fighting the same battle for centuries, but the historical fiction almost made the plight seem hopeless. When reading about the modern playwright who was deceptive, manipulative, and dishonest in order to get her play read — and then pouted when her plot blew up in her face — I was not cheering for her. Honestly, I was rather pleased that she got what she deserved. Dishonesty is never the way to bring about societal change. So, I’ve put this book on a low shelf of my bookcase and don’t plan to recommend it to other readers. I’ll just pretend that Picoult didn’t write it and continue to enjoy most of her other works.

What I’m Currently Reading

Plans changed this week and I didn’t pick up the Sue Grafton novel I mentioned last week. I also didn’t finish reading my office book….because work was BUSY! Here’s where things stand at the moment.

The Artist as Citizen by Joseph Polizi (p. 54 of 178). I chose this book for my office read because it is a compilation of speeches given about the role of the arts in American society and the artist’s responsibility as a member of society. What I failed to realize is that the quickly changing conversations in these speeches left me not necessarily wanting to dive back into the reading. So I am not making much progress through it. I’m hoping that I can force myself to continue reading the speeches this week and get closer to a conclusion. That’s also why I didn’t choose to begin another novel this week.

The Rookie by Jim Morris and Joel Engel (p. 59 of 276). A baseball memoir should be an obvious choice for me. I am finding myself drawn into the story of a west Texas boy drafted into the Big Leagues despite the obstacles, but as I have struggled with my allergies at the end of the week and needed to take care of a few things around the apartment, I haven’t done as much reading as I had hoped. Thankfully, this is a really fast read and not requiring a ton of effort to make progress. After reading several dense, big books recently, this short memoir will be a nice change of pace.

There you have it! Happy reading this week, y’all.

~Kennith

baseball Big Book Summer fiction historical memoir music

Leave a comment »
Aug 26

A New Semester is Under Way (Aug 26, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Last week, the WBU music building was a hub of activity. Students were everywhere it seemed. New music students were finding their way through the halls. Athletes were meeting with my next door colleague for individual conferences to determine eligibility. The school year got off to a start without too much stress.

I also got back to playing this week. After dealing with an injury for most of the summer that effected my right arm and shut me down, it felt good to start playing again. My chiropractor is taking good care of me and gave the all clear to begin playing again — just with the instruction to make sure that I stretch at the beginning of each session and that I listen to my body. The first big test came on Thursday with the fall retreat of the Singing Men of Texas. It was a lot of playing to be sure. By the end of the day, I knew that I had used muscles that had been dormant for a while because I was tired. Thankfully, there was no pain to report — and that’s very good news!

I’m also happy to tell you that I am on a successful reading streak at the moment. At the beginning of the year, my goal was to read at least 10 pages per day. While that sounds like a really small goal, this wasn’t about quantity, but consistency. I especially struggle during the academic year — and the beginning of the semester is often treacherous for my reading. As of today, I have met my daily goal for 29 consecutive days and fully plan to keep it going!

What I Finished

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers. On Tuesday, I finished the second volume of the Mark of the Lion trilogy. As I have already mentioned, this volume was darker in tone and dealt largely with sickness, pain, and healing. There were moments of tears and moments of pleasure as the book reached its conclusion. In many ways, it felt as though a lot of loose ends have already been tied up. I’ve decided to step aside from Mark of the Lion for a bit to read something a little different for a while.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Artist as Citizen by Joseph w. Polisi (p. 20 of 178). Polisi was president of the Juilliard School for 20 years. This volume is a collection of articles and speeches from his term. While I have read the book before, it felt like a good time to return and turn my attention to arts’ advocacy for a few days.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult (p. 195 of 483). Anyone who knows much about my reading life is aware of my love for the novels of Jodi Picoult. I think I have read every book she has published at least once. Every year, I look for the announcement of her latest book and rush to the store as soon as it drops to begin my reading. This year, I pre-ordered the book and it arrived in the mail on Tuesday!

What I enjoy about Picoult’s novels is the way she takes contemporary issues and turns them on their ear, forcing the reader to think about things from another perspective and face their own biases. By Any Other Name is falling a little short for me so far. Here’s why. There is definitely a contemporary issue on the page — the plight of women to have their voices heard in the arts, specifically as a playwright. Where things are failing for me is in the historical fiction set in Elizabethan England. I can tell that it is Picoult’s voice. I understand why she chose this storyline and how it connects to the contemporary story. It just falls flat for me and I don’t think historical writing is where Picoult best shines. I hope that my opinion of the work changes as I continue through the pages. (Let there be no doubt…..I plan to read the novel in its entirety. I’m enjoying the story — I’m just not so captivated by the book that I cannot put it down as I normally am when I encounter Picoult’s writing.)

What’s the Plan?

I hope to finish the Polisi this week. I might get done with the Picoult, but it will all depend on how busy things are in the office this week. I have a Sue Grafton novel on the table to try out next and anticipate having some piano pedagogy resources arriving in the coming week. One of those will probably be my next office read.

Happy reading this week, everybody!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer fiction historical music non-fiction

Leave a comment »
Aug 19

Where’s the Thermostat? (Aug 19, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

It’s hot! That’s all there is to it….it’s hot! This week, we have been soaring anywhere between 100-110 F and relief can’t come soon enough. So no one complained too much that we had tons of meetings that kept us in the same room for hours on end and out of this oppressive heat.

Combine the heat with lots of beginning of the semester meetings and my brain is officially fried. Trying to start an online class while getting ready for traditional classes that start in just a few days has me pulling my hair out a little bit. I know I’ll get there. I just might not “really” be ready for everything. One more day to try to put out the biggest fires before we welcome our students back.

Somehow, the heat and meetings didn’t completely stifle my reading this week. I’m feeling pretty comfortable with the progress I have made and look forward to what’s ahead this week in my reading chair.

What I Finished

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. It took longer than I had planned to finish Vance’s memoir, but I really enjoyed his insightful analysis of rural southern life. So much of what he said parallels my own experiences. I find his ideas about the roles of parents and teachers in education as well as his thoughts about the paths to higher education fascinating. I don’t know that I agree with everything he proposes, but I think there are some conversations that need to be had in our nation.

What I’m Currently Reading

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers (p. 328 of 432). The end of this second volume of Mark of the Lion is quickly winding down. Hadassah is now known by the name Rapha — Healer — to conceal her identity from those who would do her harm. That name gives us insight into what this novel is all about. Julia suffers from an illness resulting from her immoral choices. Phoebe’s illness comes on suddenly and without explanation. Marcus is simply lost and needs to be healed of his painful memories, guilt, and sin. As each of their stories progress, they again encounter Hadassah, and, more importantly, her God. While this installment of the trilogy has been darker in tone, I still find myself enjoying the movement of the Spirit across each page as the characters’ sagas unfold.

What’s On the Horizon

I need a break from 1st century Rome and my reprieve will arrive tomorrow in the form of Jodi Picoult’s newest novel, By Any Other Name. I know nothing about the story and really don’t care. It has become a tradition in my reading life to simply pick up everything Picoult publishes and inhale it. So I hope no one really needs much of my time this week…..I’m gonna have my nose in a book!

Happy reading, y’all! See you next Monday.

~Kennith

Big Book Summer Christian fiction historical memoir

Leave a comment »
Aug 5

Summer Vacation Must End (August 5, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

It’s the time of year that I hate every year. My summer vacation ends this week and I have to return to west Texas. It always comes without warning and I find myself not quite ready to leave. I’m ready to have my own space again. I’m ready to get things rolling for the Fall semester. I’m really ready to see my chiropractor and let him fix things again! I’m not ready to give up spending time in the kitchen with Mom and helping her with some of the planning that she has to do regularly. But everything has to come to an end whether we like it or not.

During this last week in the Geriatric Ward, I’ve spent most evenings in the kitchen preparing dinner to give Mom one more week of rest before I leave. I’ve also watched a lot of Olympic broadcasts — I’m always fond of gymnastics, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo, and all of the swimming races. Now I just have to figure out how I’ll keep up with these events once I leave here since my home cable connection is anything but reliable.

With all of the cooking and cheering for Team USA, I’ve also gotten quite a bit of reading done this week. No finishes, but I’ve been pleased with my progress.

What I’m Currently Reading

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (p. 384 of 496). I have seen Rivers’ Mark of the Lion on bookstore shelves for years and assumed it was not for me. It is Christian fiction — not my favorite. I assumed that it was a romance on top of that — certainly not my favorite combination. As I was starting my last week in my parents’ home and saw the gift box of the trilogy sitting on the shelf, I decided this was the perfect time to read a little of the book so I could give Mom a teaser to see if she might like it.

I ADORE THIS BOOK AND CAN’T GET MY NOSE OUT OF IT! I had no clue what I was missing. Yes, it is Christian fiction and it definitely has an element of romance in it — but don’t hold those descriptors against this book. This is just high quality writing that pulls you into a marvelous story. It is the story of a young Jewish girl who is taken into Roman slavery in the 1st century. Her interactions with her master’s adult children are memorable and thought-provoking. I have been struck by the similarities between Rome as depicted in the novel and 21st century America.

My hope was to finish this book before leaving here on Wednesday morning as part of #BigBookSummer. It’s possible, but it might be a tight fit. I want to leave it here so Mom can read it this fall, but I also don’t want to have to push pause on my own reading!

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (p. 104 of 257). I continue to plug away at this memoir. I am regularly struck by how Vance’s experiences parallel my own — escaping circumstances through education, the impact of charismatic religion on my faith journey, and the importance of strong women in making me the man I am today. I plan to shift this book to the front of my reading because I want to make sure that I am giving it the attention it is due.

There you have it for now. Next week, I’ll be coming to you from Texas….hopefully I won’t be melting too badly!

Happy reading, y’all!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer Christian historical memoir

Leave a comment »
Jul 29

Insomnia is Not Fun (July 29, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

As summer vacation is beginning to wind down, I’m struggling with my sleep. Oh joy! There are a mixture of issues going on, but I’m not entirely sure how to fix any of them. I have been staying up later than normal because of the Olympic broadcasts that I love. That normally is a good recipe for my sleep patterns. Several nights this week, I have found myself lying down at night exhausted and ready to snooze….and once my head hits the pillow, it is as though a switch has been flipped and I am suddenly wide awake! It’s frustrating to lie in bed waiting for Mr. Sandman to come for his nightly visit. To add to my frustration, my father does not understand the concept of quietness. When he gets up between 5am and 6am, it is as though a proverbial bull has been set loose in the house with the emptying of the dishwasher and his grunting. (I know that he is 88 and things probably don’t move very smoothly for him. When I am pulled out of a deep sleep, empathy is not easy to come by.) After his breakfast is finished, he sits in his recliner and begins the long process of clearing his lungs and throat; the acoustics in that spot are VERY good. Most mornings, I swear that he could rouse the dead from their graves with those sounds. LOL!

Those who know me well know that I HATE mornings already, so being wakened does not make for a happy Kennith at all. So you can imagine the level of crabbiness that emerges when I am sleep deprived due to not being able to fall asleep and then abruptly waking after struggling to get to sleep because of all of the noise! Ugh! But, I digress. I only have a few more weeks in the Geriatric Ward before returning to West Texas.

All of this is not only intended to be humorous; it is also a bit of a glimpse into my reading world. I am one of those readers who must have absolute silence to dive into the written word. (You can imagine how challenging it is for me to concentrate in a noisy music department….) If other people are around and quiet, I can read in a public setting. As you have probably derived from my descriptions above, silence is not an option when my dad is around. Truly, I don’t think he realizes the amount of noise that he makes due to his hearing issues. While it is hard to fault him for that, it is still a reality to all of the rest of us in his orbit. That means that my reading life for the past few weeks has been significantly reduced; as the temperature outside rises, Dad is at home more often. And that just means fewer opportunities to bask in the quietness of a lazy afternoon.

There’s a New DNF in Town

Blackout by Connie Willis. This week, I finally admitted to myself that forcing myself to read this book was just not worth it. I wasn’t enjoying the process and I was feeling guilty that I wasn’t reading the book. So I made the choice to label the book as “Did Not Finish” (DNF). When there’s a book on my reading table that I am “supposed” to read — whether I assigned it to myself or someone else has told me to read it — I stop reading entirely. It’s a bit of a perfectionist mentality that is not healthy for me. I’m not saying Blackout is a bad book; I’m just admitting to myself that it is not a good book for me in this moment. So I let it go after reading nearly 50% of the book so I could shift my focus to things that were more interesting in this moment. I will admit that it took most of the week to finally give myself permission to DNF the book after getting that far into it….perhaps I could just power through in order to just have a finish. Nope! I just had to hear the voice in my head chanting “Too many books, too little time to devote to reading something you are not enjoying.”

What I Am Currently Reading

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (p. 76 of 257) I made a little more progress in this memoir once I allowed myself to DNF Blackout. As I stated earlier, I don’t intend to fly through this book as I am wanting to get to know a little more about the VP Candidate through his writing. This week, I have been struck by the challenges Vance described as his family made their way from rural Kentucky to Middletown, Ohio. Some have attempted to make Vance’s Middletown experience that of a privileged suburban existence. As a person who grew up close to a metropolitan area, I can understand how a few miles geographically can still equate to an enormous gap between the ease and convenience of the city and the poverty and challenges of rural living.

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (p. 24 of 497) Several years ago, I gifted a box set of Rivers’ three volume Mark of the Lion series to my mother for Christmas. The books are intimidating because of their size and the historical scope of the saga. A Voice in the Wind is the first of these books and I decided it was finally time for me to find out for myself what they were all about. Even though I only read the first few pages last night before bed, I am definitely hooked and looking forward to this piece of Christian fiction.

The story centers around Hadassah, a young Jewish woman living in 1st century Jerusalem at the height of the Roman occupation. Although other Jews have fled the city, Hadassah’s father insists that the family remain to share their personal accounts of the deity of Christ and the power of His resurrection. Quickly, Hadassah loses her entire family to Roman violence — only surviving as a slave with little hope for release or a rich future.

Rivers’ prose is lyrical and places the reader in the heart of the story. Her characters are created with great care and her attention to detail and historical accuracy is obvious from the beginning. I cannot wait to continue reading about Hadassah’s experiences and watching her courage and faith grow in uncertain circumstances.

That’s what I’ve got for this week. I hope you all have a lovely week of reading as you greet August and all that it entails for us.

~Kennith

Big Book Summer Christian historical memoir update

Leave a comment »
Jul 16

Music and a Little Summer Sickness (July 16, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I’m back in the Geriatric Ward after a quick trip to Cincinnati, Ohio last week. The trip included attending a recital by my friend, Jessica Rivera Schafer. It was lovely to sit at the back of the hall and just listen to some quality singing after a long summer hiatus from any classical music.

The trip also included a lot of sleeping. After the recital on Thursday evening, I slept for nearly 14 hours and simply could not seem to get enough rest. I don’t know if I was sick or exhausted, but I was confined to bed for the next couple of days — even deciding to skip going to the baseball game (Marlins at Reds) that I had been looking forward to all summer long.

I felt poorly enough after getting home on Saturday night that I made my way to the medical clinic yesterday morning. That visit took longer than I anticipated, putting me completely off of my regular routine. While the tests came back negative for COVID and the flu, I didn’t feel like doing much of anything when I got home. Thus this week’s update post is a day late….but here it is.

What I Finished This Week

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline. A couple of short flights to Cincinnati made my Kindle the perfect reading companion. This relatively short novel was packed with intrigue and interesting characters. As I mentioned last week, the story opens with John Devlin suspecting that he had killed a man and asking for help from his brother, TJ. As the story continues John attempts to pin the murder on TJ in order to hide his own secrets. Can anyone say dysfunctional?! Having enjoyed other novels by Scottoline, I had high hopes for this one. It was okay…..I didn’t hate reading it, but it felt rather routine and formulaic.

What I’m Currently Reading

Blackout by Connie Willis (p. 264 of 491) Your eyes don’t deceive you. I have read all of 10 pages of this book this week. I didn’t try to pick it up until I got to Cincinnati when I was expecting quiet time in my hotel. However, I didn’t feel like reading and wanted to sleep instead. I forced myself to read a chapter and a bit more of this month’s entry for #BigBookSummer. I hope to get back to this novel this week and see if I can make some progress. I’m not really sure why, but this one is just not grabbing my attention at the moment.

My Best Friend’s Secret by Romeo Alexander (p. 138 of 313) I needed a new Kindle read for the flight home and picked up this one. I’m barely halfway through the book and it’s just now getting to the basic premise. Since I started it when I wasn’t feeling very well, I didn’t get acclimated to the story right away. The alternating voices seem very similar in tone to me, so I’m having some difficulty keeping the characters straight in my head as well. It’s not a bad book…..I’m just not in a good place with it.

What’s Ahead?

My intentions this week are to finish My Best Friend’s Secret and to make significant progress in Blackout. However, I also have a couple of memoirs in my sights that I want to dive into this week. One was written by my sister and I feel obligated to give it a cursory glance at least. The other is J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy; since he has been named as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency, I feel it is important to re-read this piece and reacquaint myself with his story as the nation makes an important decision later this fall.

There you have it. I’ll return to my normal Monday posts next week and let you know what I’ve managed to get done.

Happy reading, y’all!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer historical romance Sci-Fi Series

Leave a comment »
Jul 8

Doctors and Independence (July 8, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

As July arrived, the reality that there are only a few weeks remaining of my summer vacation became a reality. That meant it was time to take care of a lot of doctors’ visits for me. Before the holiday arrived, I visited both the dentist and the cardiologist. Thankfully, I got good reports from both….and might have heard about the importance of flossing and exercise.

The arrival of Independence Day signaled one very big reality for the rest of the week — the Geriatrics would have a four-day weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents. But I am the oddball of this family and prefer to enjoy the sounds of silence more than the cacophony of mind-numbing televisions. My dad is the major culprit in this issue. Because he cannot hear (I don’t jest!), he has no idea just how loud things really are. Several times, I had to shut the doors separating the living room from the bedroom-turned-small-den in the rear of the house because the volume on the tiny television in the back was so loud that you could hear it over the main system in the front. It was really bad!

Somehow, I managed to convince my Mom to resume her reading life and she has had her nose in The Women by Kristin Hannah recently. Two readers in the house means there was a little more productivity going on since we didn’t have to have the television roaring for entertainment purposes. That’s a happy sound to my ears!

What I Finished This Week

Crusher by Darryl Banner. This light romance told the story of Quin and Adrian. Quin is an art student with immense talent and low self-esteem. He has been convinced by everyone — his parents, his art instructor — that he should pursue another career. But Quin’s passion for painting tells him otherwise. While visiting a beach-front town, Quin encounters Adrian – the local heartthrob who is known around town as the “Heart Crusher.” Opposites attract, the two fall in love, and all’s well that ends well. LOL!

What I personally found most rewarding about this read was the insightful conversation the two boys had about the pressures of creating and searching for validation from those you trust. Quin voices the fears of every young artist and explains beautifully to his non-artist friend the emotional roller coaster that is trying to figure out if you have the fortitude and talent to succeed.

What I’m Currently Reading

Blackout by Connie Willis. (p. 254 of 491) Now that I have reached the halfway point of my July selection for #BigBookSummer, I’m finally beginning to enjoy this book. I was worried for a bit as I dove into the book this week.

Here’s the basic premise….Historians at Oxford in 2060 have the ability to travel back in time to observe important events as they occur. Despite their various intentions, the team finds themselves in sundry locations in and around London during World War II. Okay…I like historical fiction and I am fascinated by this war. I thought this would be an excellent read for me. A large portion of the novel’s opening necessarily explores the time travel since the intricacies of the process are important as the story progresses. However, I got lost in the weeds and just wanted to get to the War. Now that the aspects of time travel are woven into the background of the characters’ stories, I am finding that I can simply enjoy the trials and exploits of these people. I’m glad that I stuck with it for a while and did not DNF this book. But be warned….if you are not a sci-fi fan (like me!), this is probably not a book I would recommend.

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline. (p. 114 of 369) This novel is proving to be a fun and fast read that keeps me coming back for more. The Devlin family are all lawyers — everyone except TJ, that is. TJ is a convicted ex-con and recovering alcoholic who works for the firm as an investigator. TJ’s older brother has his sights set on taking over the firm when his parents finally retire and is working on a major merger to insure he is set financially. When John discovers that the company’s accountant has been embezzling funds, John arranges a private meeting. In the early pages of the book, John becomes irate and throws a rock at the accountant that strikes him in the head. When the accountant’s body is found a few days later, a few questions are at the top of everyone’s minds. Did John kill the man or did someone else? Does it matter?

At this point, I don’t have many of the answers at all, but I’m definitely looking forward to continuing my reading to find out what is going to happen next and to learn The Truth About the Devlins!

Upcoming Plans?

Later this week, I’ll be visiting Cincinnati for the first time to hear a friend’s voice recital and to take in a game at the Great American Ball Park. As a result, I’m not entirely sure just how much reading I’ll get done. I would like to finish the Scottoline book this week, but we will just have to see how that goes. Regardless, I’ll meet you back here next Monday to give you the update about my reading life.

Happy reading!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer fiction historical Sci-Fi

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