Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Dec 1

Gobble, Gobble (December 1, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. As usual, I spent most of the holiday week with my parents in Arkansas. The food was good. The rest was needed. The meal was awkward and uncomfortable. The reading time was heavenly. Three out of four ain’t bad, I suppose. Now it is time to get back to work for the last week of classes before administering finals….then a whirlwind trip back to Arkansas for Christmas.

What I Finished This Week

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli. I have never enjoyed science. As a student, I have taken the minimum number of classes in the field at the most general level of understanding and did not perform well in the courses. It wasn’t that the material was especially difficult. I simply didn’t find the topic interesting. When the prompt appeared in the November 2025 minis to read a book from the 500s of the Dewey Decimal system (science), I immediately assumed that would be the prompt for the month that I did not complete. While packing to travel for Thanksgiving, the thought of lugging around Iron Flame to continue Rebecca Yarros’ series was too much. So I searched the library for a small book about science that I thought I could handle. An international bestseller, Seven Brief Lessons is written in a conversational style with lots of practical illustrations to help the novice scientist understand the basic concepts of physics. If I was more interested in the topic in general, I think I would have probably enjoyed this read. Having said that, I see its appeal. While it wasn’t a personal favorite for me, I will still give it a good star rating. 3 stars.

Among Friends by Hal Ebbott. This novel was very slow moving. Two couples have been good friends since college, especially the two husbands. While spending a weekend together in upstate New York, things begin to unravel — an injured ankle, an argument over a lemon tart, and a teenage daughter is allegedly groped by her father’s best friend while she is doing laundry upstairs. Once the allegation is made, the novel improves greatly. Anna, the victim, questions what actually happened and if it is worth telling anyone about. Her mother is convinced that Anna lied about the assault in order to get out of trouble when she is caught shoplifting. Anna’s father doesn’t know who to believe — his daughter, his wife, or his best friend. The friend (and alleged predator) simply asks “Why would Anna say this?” While I nearly DNF’d the book when it was not moving at all, the second half showed glimpses of brilliance and hope that Ebbott will develop into a talented writer. This is the author’s first novel. 3 stars.

And with that finish, I also completed the November 2025 mini-challenge of The 52 Book Club.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Girl from the Garden by Parnaz Foroutan (p. 184 of 271). I went to the library this week in search of a book with a leafy green cover. That was the entire basis of this selection and I could not have been happier with the results if I had searched painstakingly for a great read. The novel tells the story of a Jewish family that immigrated to the US after facing violence in Iran. The narrative shifts between the current timeline in Los Angeles and the challenges faced in Iran. The shifts occur through the narrator’s memories of her treasured gardens in both locales. I know that the synopsis I have provided sounds very bleak; I would be lying if I tried to tell you that the story is not dark. But yet, there is a sense of hope as those who are victimized look to their family and their faith for support.

The Mistletoe Kisser by Lucy Score (p. 52 of 267). Once the Thanksgiving turkey was put away, it was time to begin some Christmas reading. Since I am a sucker for a good romance during the holidays, this book seemed like a good choice on a recent bookstore visit. The premise is much as we would expect. A teenage girl meets a young Ryan Reynolds look alike at the town holiday festival and receives her first kiss under a grove of mistletoe. Now as adults, Ryan — a true holiday grouch — returns to the small town to save his uncle’s farm and surprisingly runs into the girl he first kissed, though now all grown up. Very early in this one, but I am already enjoying the humor and finding myself laughing out loud as I read.

November in Review

  • Books read in November: 9 books (up 1 from October)
    • 6 physical
    • 1 ebook
    • 1 audiobook
    • 1 combined audio & physical
  • Pages read in November: 2,395 pages (down 1,059 pages from October)
  • Highest rated book: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – 5 stars
  • Lowest rated book: Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline – 2.75 stars

My Library Shelf

As though I don’t have enough going on in my reading life, I decided this week to bring back another personal challenge to my literary life. My Library Shelf project was first introduced to me in 2014 when I read Phyllis Rose’s The Shelf: Adventures in Extreme Reading. When visiting her local library, Rose realized that the book she planned to pick up was not going to be a good fit for her in that moment. That’s when she decided to venture into the unknown and select a shelf of the library at random to read her way through.

I have worked through a couple of shelves at various libraries since 2014 with mixed results. I have a few basic guidelines. The shelf must include at least one book that I consider a classic. The other stipulation is that no author can be represented by more than five books on the shelf. What I like about shelf reading is that it introduces me to new authors and forces me to explore genres I might typically avoid. I am still free to DNF any book I encounter as long as I give it enough of a read to get a taste for the material. I don’t put a timeline on the reading project, but I’m hoping to complete this task before the end of 2026.

Last Monday morning (November 24, 2025), I visited Unger Memorial Library in Plainview, Texas. Using the guidelines above, I set out to select a library shelf to read through. I was also looking for a book with a leafy green cover, so once I found a book that would fit that criteria, I would examine the shelf to see if it would fit my challenge. One of the pitfalls I quickly ran into was due to the large number of complete series that are shelved in my local library. It took me quite a while to find a shelf that contained less than 5 books by any single author. The shelf that I settled on was FORD-FORS.

My shelf contains 23 volumes representing 11 authors. Here’s the list of books that will be included in the current edition of My Library Shelf.

Ford, Ford MadoxThe Good Soldier
Ford, JackChariot on the Mountain
Ford, JamieHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Ford, JamieLove and Other Consolation Prizes
Ford, JamieThe Many Daughters of Afong Moy
Ford, JamieSongs of Willow Frost
Ford, JeffreyA Girl in the Glass
Ford, JeffreyA Natural History of Hell
Ford, Kelly J.Real Bad Things
Forest, KristinaThe Partner Plot
Foreman, GayleLeave Me
Foroutan, ParnazThe Girl from the Garden
Forster, E.M.The Collected Tales of E.M. Forster
Forster, E.M.Maurice
Forster, E.M.A Passage to India
Forster, E.M.A Room with a View
Forster, E.M.Where Angels Fear to Tread
Forstchen, William R.48 Hours
Forstchen, William R.The Final Day
Forstchen, William R.One Second After
Forstchen, William R.One Year After
Forsyth, FrederickAvenger
Forsyth, FrederickThe Day of the Jackal

As you can see, I have a wide variety of books to explore — everything from classics to thrillers and family sagas. If something will fit one of the 2026 prompts for the reading challenge, I’ll certainly use it there. So far, it seems that only a few of them will fit into my plans for the challenge. Perhaps the mini-challenges is where they will fit? Either way, I’m rather excited about exploring some of these works as I have begun to look at the basic ideas surrounding them. We will just have to see what the results are as I continue my off-the-path reading adventure.

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Nov 10

Wordless Week in Waco (November 10, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

This has been a busy week! Most of my time was devoted to the student auditions of Texoma NATS held at Baylor University in Waco. That meant lots of rehearsals and playing for singers to compete in a massive competition and not a lot of reading time. By the time I got home each day, my eyes were rather tired and I didn’t want to hear another sound — so that meant audiobooks were out of the question. Still, I managed to finish one of my reads somehow. I’ll take progress any way I can get it!

What I Finished This Week

One Day in December by Josie Silver. Needing to read a book set in Winter to meet my penultimate prompt of the 2025 challenge, I decided on this novel. Laurie first sees Jack on a cold winter day while riding a bus, but their paths do not immediately cross. Was it love at first sight? It appears so and Laurie searches for him for over a year. When she finally finds him, things do not go as she had hoped because her best friend has introduced Jack as the love of her life. Over the course of a decade, Jack and Laurie remain in each other’s spheres of influence….but the timing never seems right. Laurie marries another man. Jack is in several relationships as he searches for purpose in his career after a near fatal accident. Through heartbreak, divorce, family crises, and personal growth, Jack and Laurie ultimately find their way to each other. Silver builds a charming story where true love wins out while asking lots of questions about if we should settle for our “almost perfect” person in hopes that true love will ultimately grow. This novel didn’t feel as though it was formulaic although it did end as this reader expected (and hoped). 3.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Grant by Ron Chernow (p. 82 of 959). This book had the least progress this week. With students in my car, I didn’t want to listen to much on audio during the drive. During a busy week, this was also not the text that I turned to at the end of a long day. I managed to get through a single chapter this week in order to make a little progress. I intend to push this book back into my reading routine this week and see if I can make some significant progress toward my big book for Nonfiction November.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2:36 of 17:49). Since I’m getting close to completing the main portion of the 2025 reading challenge, I decided it was time to start working on some of the mini-challenges. First up is the conclusion of the January challenge — all associated with the celebration of Lunar New Year. I only need one more book to complete this mini-challenge: a book set in a country that celebrates Lunar New Year. Pachinko seemed like a great fit and has proven to be an enjoyable read so far. Set in Japan, it is the story of a Korean immigrant family that begins when a young woman becomes pregnant by a powerful Korean man. Rather than facing the imminent shunning, Sunja accepts the offer to marry a gentle, sickly minister on his way to Japan. A National Book Award finalist, Pachinko is enthralling and deeply engaging. I’m excited to resume my listening routine this week and see how the story continues to progress.

2026 Reading Challenge Planning

The wait is over! The 52 Book Club dropped the prompts for the 2026 reading challenge this week. My social media feeds are filled with readers who are planning their new challenge while many of us are still in the process of completing the 2025 challenge. With a busy week in Waco, I have perused the prompts but not given much thought to the new books. I’m excited to explore The Godfather in the coming year as well as finally taking a look at works like Dune and The Song of Achilles. Beyond that, I’m really focusing on completing the main challenge before I dive into intense planning for 2026. If anyone wants to join me in the new reading challenge that starts on January 1, 2026, check out the link above and start your planning!

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Nov 3

Fall is in the Air (November 3, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

As the calendar began to turn another page, the weather decided to change as well. There is no doubt that we are now in the heart of Fall in Texas. With the cooler temperatures and earlier darkness (thank you, Daylight Savings Time), I was in the mood for warm and cozy reads. Two of this week’s finishes definitely fit that bill.

What I Finished This Week

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. I have overlooked this novel for many years. I wish I could provide a good explanation of why this was the case. I think it might have been an association with the trailer for the film adaptation. I also think that I was convinced that a novel about a woman in her kitchen in Mexico could not be interesting to me. Whatever the reason for avoiding the novel, I had no idea what I was missing! This is a beautiful tale of complicated love, difficult familial relationships, and the power of food. The magical realism that is widely prevalent in Latin literature was incredibly effective in Esquivel’s tale. I never found myself thinking about how unrealistic the events were; somehow, the magic was woven seamlessly into the fabric of the land and people. I anticipate that this will be a novel that I will want to revisit soon. 4 stars.

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia. The cover of this book alone caught my attention as I made a quick selection of an audiobook last week. It just looks as though it is going to be a cozy read….and it was! I found myself looking for excuses to spend more time in my car just so I could listen. (Yes, I eventually curled up in my recliner with a blanket over my legs, put in my earbuds, and listened in my reading spot.) Michelle is recently divorced and needs some time to evaluate her life. So she decides to spend a few months in Vermont and manage the family bed-and-breakfast after her mother’s unexpected passing. With her dog Rocket along for the ride, Michelle meets the handsome neighbor, Cliff, and his two daughters. What starts as an uncomfortable interaction quickly grows to attraction. We watch as both of the divorcees struggle with their emotional baggage while trying to come to terms with how they feel about each other. If It Makes You Happy was a charming read that had me laughing and crying as I became more invested with this cast of characters. 4.5 stars.

Burnout, Who? by Chloe Grant. As November approached, I decided that I wanted to participate in Nonfiction November. My plan is not to read nonfiction exclusively, but to at least read a couple of books this month that are out of my comfort zone and that are not directly related to my profession. Since I have also come to terms with the harsh truth that I am dealing with a bit of personal burnout, Grant’s book seemed like an appropriate choice for the moment. Burnout, Who? is not a deep dive into the condition that plagues countless perfectionists as well as those who struggle maintaining personal boundaries. Rather, the book offers practical advice for getting out of the situation that saps your energy without going to the extreme measure of resigning or changing careers. Grant provided some good tips that I plan to employ in the coming weeks, but I also found the book very repetitive and a bit too superficial. 2.5 stars.

What I DNF’d This Week

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I gave it a good try for a few days, but I just couldn’t do the magical realism right now. The writing was good. The prose was absolutely beautiful. I didn’t connect with the story and had no pull to the book’s pages. Rather than fight during an incredibly busy season of my life, I decided to make a quick decision to DNF the novel and make another selection.

What I’m Currently Reading

Grant by Ron Chernow (p. 49 of 959). Once I decided to participate in Nonfiction November, I also decided to select something that could fit the September mini-challenge over on The 52 Book Club. The challenge is simple — pick your biggest read of the year and beat it. I decided to interpret “biggest” as the book with the most pages. The biggest book of 2025 thus far has been Anna Karenina coming in at 864 pages. Chernow’s biography of U.S. Grant is written in a gentle prose that has been fairly easy to read thus far and doesn’t spend too much time diving into tangents along the way. The focus remains firmly on President Grant. In the little that I have read, I feel I have a good understanding of Grant’s personality and the ways that his upbringing influenced the man that he would become. I’m reading this book on my Kindle as a loan from my local library, making it easy to read a few pages while I’m waiting for a student or standing in line. With upcoming travel later this week, I hope to make some significant progress in this biography when I’m between auditions.

One Day in December by Josie Silver (p. 28 of 392). I just started this one on Sunday evening, so I’m not far at all. Earlier that afternoon, I went to my local Barnes and Noble looking for books to fulfill the last two prompts of the 2025 challenge — a book set in Winter and one set in a country with an active volcano. One Day in December is the Winter selection. Laurie stares out the window of a public bus on a cold winter evening just before the holidays begin. She notices a handsome man sitting at the bookshop, reading a book. She wills him to step onto the crowded bus at the very moment that their eyes meet. Sadly, the bus pulls away just as the mysterious stranger approaches the door and Laurie is left alone. This begins a search through the bars and crowded spaces of London as Laurie looks for her “bus stop guy.” Is it a sappy premise? Absolutely! However, it is a Reese’s Book Club selection, so I’m hoping that it will ultimately morph into something other than just a holiday romance. Either way, I’ll be one step closer to the end of the 2025 challenge!

October in Review

October was a month full of travel. It featured a weekend getaway to Oklahoma City and a few days in the Geriatric Ward with my parents. I traveled to “almost Kansas” Texas for a performance (plus the 6 hours in the car) and survived a NASM site visit at the end of the month. On top of all of that, there was a LOT of baseball to follow as the postseason got going and demanded my attention. Despite all of that activity, I still had a very successful month of reading.

  • Books read in October: 8 (up 3 from September)
    • 6 print
    • 1 ebook
    • 1 audiobook
  • Pages read in October: 3,454 pages (up 1,208 pages from September)
  • Highest rated books: People Watching by Hannah Banham-Young; Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez; and The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden – 5 stars.
  • Lowest rated book: Moby Dick by Herman Melville – 1.75 stars.

2025 Reading Challenge – The 52 Book Club

It is no secret that I have been actively participating in the 2025 challenge from The 52 Book Club this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and have had a lot of fun discovering new authors while also revisiting some old favorites. As November begins, I am in a really good place with this year’s challenge. I only have 2 prompts remaining in the main challenge. (Books have been purchased for both prompts and are sitting in my reading pile as I type this post.) As soon as I get that goal met, I’ll turn my attention to the many mini-challenges that have appeared throughout the year. I doubt I’m able to complete all of those as well by year’s end, but I should be able to make a fairly good dent in them.

Because it is November, those of us participating in the challenge are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the 2026 challenge that will come at any time this month. Part of the fun is guessing when the new announcement will drop on social media. If you have any questions about the reading challenge, I’d be happy to share my experience or you can check it out for yourself by visiting the52book.club and look under the challenges tab.

It has been a lot of fun creating a graphic representation of the books I have read for each of the prompts this year. I’ll be sharing it again in a few weeks when I fill in the final two books, but here is where it stands at the moment.

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Oct 27

On the Road Again (October 27, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Another week has come and gone. This one has been a little different as I have spent more than my fair share of time on the road. A quick trip to Canyon to participate in Opera of the Plains’ Death by Aria event on Tuesday evening was a lot of fun. Thursday’s drive to Perryton, Texas was long, but a great time to take a few deep breaths and clear my mind. As the weekend came around, I found myself taking a few trips down to Lubbock to take care of some errands.

And the driving is not quite over. Next week, I’ll head to Waco for a few days of playing. There’s still a lot that needs to be done in preparation for that trip, but I think I’ll get it all done. (At least, that’s what I keep telling myself!)

What has that meant for my reading? Just the inclusion of an audio book into my reading routine. Also means that I’m being more selective in what I’m reading at the moment as the end of the 2025 challenge is in sight.

What I Finished This Week

The 24th Hour by James Patterson. It was time to return to the familiar world of the Women’s Murder Club. What can I say? I enjoy the predictability of these books from time to time. It’s also nice to know that there is a series that I have almost read in its entirety. While 24th Hour did continue along the regular plot scheme, the inclusion of a long awaited wedding for a couple of the characters was a nice addition. There was nothing earth shattering in the reading, but it was still a very pleasurable experience. 3.75 stars.

The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett. This was my first experience with one of Ann Patchett’s novels (although I had tried to read Bel Canto with no success). I enjoyed the story and really liked how the story unfolded by revealing bits of truth, allowing the complex plot to slowly unravel for the reader. I read this to fulfill the prompt of a book that features a magician. Although Parsifal the Magician dies before the novel opens, he is very present throughout the book through reflection and appearances in dreams. I feel compelled to offer a warning — if you are triggered by reading about domestic violence, this is not a good book for you. While the topic is handled with respect and great sensitivity, it is a major plot point that reappears throughout. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia (5:55 of 13:47). This week required a long drive to the very northern part of the Texas panhandle. With about 6 hours scheduled on the road, I decided this was the perfect time to start an audiobook. The first plan was to read Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher to fit the prompt of a book set in winter. However, I found the audiobook’s narrator difficult because of her accent and voice timbre. The story also progressed very slowly. I knew this was not going to be a good book for me. That “wasted” a three hour drive. Before heading back home, I decided to give Julie Olivia’s book a chance. The premise is pretty expected. After her mother’s sudden death, Michelle heads to a small town to take care of the bed-and-breakfast for a few months. Her new nextdoor neighbor is the single dad that runs the local bakery. Michelle’s opinion of the handsome baker moves from annoyance to lust fairly quickly. It’s an easy read that is appropriate for the cooling autumn weather around here.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (54 of 448). This novel has been on my shelf ever since it was selected for Oprah’s Bookclub in January, 2004. Winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize for literature, the novel served as an introduction to many mainstream readers to magical realism. Throughout the year’s challenge, I have constantly delayed reading something that includes Latin American history because of my unfamiliarity with the topic. I didn’t know what era of history I would like to explore in a fictional work. I decided that I simply needed to take the plunge this week and start reading the book. Here goes…..

Upcoming Plans

I’ve decided to participate in “Nonfiction November” this year. That’s going to be a real challenge for me as I don’t generally read nonfiction in my leisure reading. I’ve not made any definitive plans at this point, but I have made some decisions. I don’t plan to read anything related to my work — so no music biographies or books about educational issues. My early thoughts is that I’ll read two nonfiction books in November. One will probably be of a spiritual nature; the other is still being considered. I’ve considered reading a Presidential biography, but I’ve also thought about some kind of self-help book. I just don’t know where I want to go yet. The only thing that is certain is that I’ll share the details throughout the month of November with you here on Reading for Me.

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Sep 22

Tired Eyes (September 22, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It seems as though allergens have been in the air all week. Despite taking all the allergy medicines, my eyes have been paying the price. They have felt puffy, itchy, dry, and just plain tired. I know it won’t be an issue always; just for a few weeks as things begin to calm down with the arrival of fall. It can’t get here soon enough.

Combine tired eyes with less than stellar reading selections and you have a perfect formula for a rough reading week. I made progress through both reads this week, but only because I set daily goals for my reading and tried to stay on top of it. This week’s books were not what I had hoped they would be. That makes me second guess my plans for what to read next because I really need to be pulled into a story now to get me back into a healthy reading routine.

What I Finished This Week

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. I needed to read a book with a celebrity on the cover. This was a free book through Kindle Unlimited, so I decided it would be the selection. I should remember that often there is a reason the book is free. Knowing how Perry’s life tragically ended just a few years after the publication of the book should have been my first red flag. The book centered on Perry’s struggles with addiction throughout his life and how drugs and alcohol impacted his career, relationships, and health. At times, the text read as though it was blaming his addiction on everyone else but himself — a parent’s choice to allow him to fly as an unaccompanied minor or a woman who didn’t love him enough to stay despite his struggles. While I was hopeful to hear about his encounter with God, I found his relationship with a “higher power” unsettling. At times, I almost DNF’d the book because of the way Perry spoke to God; it was almost blasphemous. As you can tell, this was not a good fit for me at all. My rating is based solely on the fact that Perry was a gifted wordsmith. 2.75 stars.

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage. What began as a very positive reading experience quickly turned to a story of selfishness in the midst of family struggles. Last weekend, I expected this to be a book all about fulfilling one’s goals by overcoming obstacles. While there was an element of that in the conversation, To The Moon and Back was more focused on human sexuality and a person’s willingness to do anything necessary to obtain their dreams — whether that meant fighting a shark or betraying a sister. Truthfully, it felt as though the author lost her way about halfway through the novel when things took a turn in the plot’s construction. Ramage tried too hard to make the text make a political argument that didn’t do the story any favors. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

This has proven to be more complicated that I anticipated. It was late on Sunday evening when I finished reading To the Moon and Back. (I really just wanted to get that book done so I could start something new.) I planned to read Night Over Water by Ken Follett this week because of how much I had enjoyed my experiences with his other works, specifically the Century Trilogy and The Pillars of the Earth. (I must admit that Never left me a bit apathetic after reading it.) While Night Over Water sounds intriguing, as I sat down to begin reading today, the book is just not hitting me at the moment. So, I’ll head home this afternoon and peruse my TBR shelf for something that will captivate my imagination. It will be a surprise to all of us what turns up as the week’s featured book.

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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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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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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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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

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Nov 13

The View From My Reading Chair – November 13, 2021

by kennithfreeman

I am slowly returning to my life as a multi-book reader. I don’t necessarily enjoy reading this way, but at times it is necessary. Since I have decided to enroll in a graduate class in January (19th Century British History), I need to get a jump start on one of the four (!) book reviews required in this 8-week course. (Yeah, I’m thinking the professor just condensed his normal 16-week course and decided to have us do all of the work in half the time. Crickey!) So I’m slowly making my way through a historical biography and reading a piece of fluff fiction on the side.

The biography on my side table at the moment is Disraeli by Robert Blake. I must admit that I know very little about Disraeli’s role in British history other than that he ultimately served as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Currently, I’m reading about his early life with a special attention to his first novel, Vivian Grey. I’m finding Disraeli an interesting figure to read about and the writing itself is fairly easy to follow. (The same cannot be said for the first book I attempted to read for this assignment. I still don’t really know what I read in the first few chapters of A Mad, Bad, and Dangerous People?: England 1783-1846 by B.A. Hilton!)

When I returned my last book to the local library, I decided it was time to return to My Library Shelf project — I really would like to finish reading that shelf someday! — and picked up two books. Right now, I’m enjoying the last book in Mary Connealy’s The Kincaid Brides trilogy. Over the Edge opens with a stage coach robbery and the discovery that Seth Kincaid’s wife and child — both of which he doesn’t remember — are making their way to Colorado in search of Seth and the benefits of marriage. The situation is made more problematic because Seth has already deserted his young wife once and she does not trust him — but she needs help. A romance that is both a Western and Christian are not my normal fare, but I have enjoyed the previous two books in the series. It’s an easy read so far, so that is a nice change of pace after reading about British history!

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