Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Aug 18

So Many Meetings (August 18, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

What an incredibly busy week it has been! Monday and Tuesday consisted of driving me and my things back to Plainview. I made it back just in time to begin professional development and faculty meetings on Wednesday morning. Despite the never ending and often tedious meetings, I still managed to have a very good week in my reading life. I’m celebrating the conclusion of the big Russian novel as well as two ebooks this week!

What I Finished This Week

The Appeal by John Grisham. Just in case you didn’t read my summary from last week, let me briefly recap. Chemical company dumps waste in a small Mississippi town. Water supply becomes polluted and people die. Jury returns verdict with massive damages awarded. Company does not want to pay and attempts to purchase a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. That’s the entire plot. Grisham is very good at weaving these interesting legal stories that force the reader to examine both sides of the issue. Was I frustrated as I read? Absolutely! Did I find myself rooting for the victims to get the money I felt they deserved? Most definitely. Do things in the justice system always turn out as they should? According to my experiences and Grisham’s novel, not at all. 3 stars.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It’s time to celebrate! I completed my latest #BigBookofSummer read with this Russian masterpiece. This week, I read Part 7 and the shorter Part 8. Part 7 was the climax of the book as Anna’s psyche unraveled and she found herself in the pits of despair. Ultimately, she would choose to end her life in order to punish those who she did not feel loved her adequately. While I understand that Part 8 was needed to wrap up loose ends, it really felt as though Tolstoy was trying too hard to say something of importance and never quite summed up the theme of his novel. Levin wrestles with his philosophy of religion and spirituality while asking important questions about the meaning of life. Part 8 was intended to show how Anna’s death had impacted those left behind; instead, it was just a depressing statement of how life continues until we all ultimately die. 4 stars simply because of the massive scale of this tome.

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling. A romance that is all about a pitcher getting drafted and moving through the ranks to the major league? I’m all in! After seeing the book lauded on Facebook all summer, I decided it was finally time to read it and see what all of the fuss was about. It’s a pretty standard plot. Boy meets Girl and falls in love. Girl has trust issues that are tested when Boy has a drunken one night stand while traveling. Matters become worse when Boy’s indiscretion leads to an unwanted pregnancy. All in all, this was a fun, fast read to bring my summer reading sprint to an end. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

James by Percival Everett (p. 104 of 303). I purchased a copy of the 2024 National Book Award winning novel last November. What I knew about the book was that it was a re-telling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s perspective. Twain’s masterpiece has long been a personal favorite and one that I have examined multiple times, so I knew that I would ultimately read Everett’s novel. I finally sat down with James on Saturday morning and began reading. I was instantly pulled into the story and enjoyed the prose immensely. What I didn’t expect was how quickly the story moved; even with some dialect included as an homage to Twain’s novel, I have found the text quite easy to move through thus far. I’m anticipating that this book will be an easy one to finish this week and will fulfill the prompt for a book with a final sentence of less than six words.

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (p. 50 of 254). One of the prompts that I have been most worried about completing was “Climate Fiction.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one who will deny that Earth’s climate is changing and that we have a responsibility to protect it. However, it’s not something I want to consider in my reading life. I had tried to read There Once Were Wolves earlier this year, but the opening scene was just too graphic for me and I could not get past it. Migrations is about a woman who is studying endangered birds that make an annual migration to Antartica. Many scientists believe that this will be the final flight of the birds; Franny is convinced she will also cease to exist when the birds are extinct. Although I’ve only gotten a few pages into the book, I am finding it an enjoyable read thus far.

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Jul 21

The Eyes Have It (July 21, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Never in a million years did I anticipate my vision going south in just a matter of days. Alas, that is exactly what has happened and it is frustrating beyond belief. This week has continued to see my blood glucose coming into a normal, healthy range. Having been a borderline diabetic for many years, my annual eye exam always included checks for any damage. I had never heard about the impact that high blood sugar could have on your vision, but apparently I am living it right now. What kind of problems am I experiencing? Mostly it is just difficulty seeing print, but I am also experiencing a little eye fatigue at day’s end.

I went to visit the local eye doctor this morning only to find the office locked with no notice of when they would reopen. So I did the next best thing and headed to Wal-Mart to see if a pair of readers would help my vision issues. I now have a pair of +3.25s in my possession that is making it easier to see print (as long as it isn’t too small) and will hopefully buy me time until I return from this week’s trip to Chicago.

What have the vision changes meant to my reading? Not as much as I would have feared. The issues became apparent late in the week, so I was able to get another novel added to my finished list before my eyes went crazy. The print in the contemporary novel I am currently reading is large enough that I can manage with my bifocals. Thankfully, I have a digital copy of Anna Karenina and am able to enlarge the font when my eyes refuse to cooperate. Even though the vision problem isn’t solved at the moment, I think I have a “band-aid solution” until I can get to an optometrist.

What I Finished This Week

Heathen and Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey. This book was a pleasant surprise! As you will recall from last week’s post, I selected this novel during my last trip to Barnes and Noble based solely on the sprayed edge because I needed to read a book with a beautiful edging for the 2025 reading challenge of The 52 Book Club. This is the story of Leo and Darby, nicknamed Heathen and Honeysuckle, respectively. The two fall in love as teenagers during a summer they spent together in Pacific Shores, California. Leo is a developing surfer with lots of emotional baggage. Darby comes from a respected Kansas family with traditional Judeo-Christian ethics. At the end of their summer together, Darby is forced to leave Leo behind without the opportunity to say goodbye.

The story continues ten years later where Darby is about to get married to a man selected by her overbearing father. When Darby’s sister finds a letter written to Heathen stuffed in a desk drawer, she mails it and includes the date, time, and location of the wedding. As Darby is preparing to walk down the aisle, she receives a bouquet of honeysuckle and a message to meet Leo at a local hotel if she wants to walk away from this sham of a wedding. What follows is a marvelous story of love, misunderstanding, loss, and forgiveness.

As I mentioned last week, the book opens with a content warning. Now that I have finished the book, I will affirm that the novel is graphic, especially in the second half. Additionally, potential readers should be warned about trigger warnings for abuse, miscarriage, drowning, and parental death. Despite the content, the novel is moving and a really good read. 4.25 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon (p. 58 of 354). At the end of the week, I started my next read. This one is for the reading challenge prompt “Title starts with M.” I’ve just gotten started with it, but it seems like it is going to be a fun murder mystery — an unusual genre for me.

Here’s the basic premise thus far. Beth and her teenage daughter, Jack, live near the water in Northern California. When Beth’s mother, Lana, is diagnosed with brain cancer, Beth and Jack move her into their condo while she recovers. While guiding a tourist kayaking outing, Jack discovers a body floating in the water. After their initial investigation, the police are convinced that young Jack is the culprit of the crime, forcing Lana and Beth to figure out how best to defend her while trying to find out what really happened. What I am most enjoying about the novel so far is the interaction between Lana and her adult daughter, including redecorating the condo and offering parenting advice. The hope is to finish this one this week, but we will just have to see how much actually gets read with another piano conference on the horizon.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 278 of 817). Staying on schedule with another Big Book of Summer, I read Part 2 this week and got started on Part 3. The affair between Anna and Vronsky has become more apparent to the aristocrats of Petersburg, although her husband still seems to be oblivious. To further complicate matters, Anna is also pregnant. A heart-broken Kitty has visited a spa for the wealthy suffering from depression and other illnesses. While there, she gains the attention of an artist, much to the chagrin of the artist’s wife!

As I have begun Part 3, the early focus is on Levin and his brother. There is a long conversation between the two men about the differences in Russian classes and the appropriate role of the aristocracy. Levin spends a long day working with the muzhiks in the meadows and learns of their challenges and life experiences. As I read, there is definitely the sense that this time in the fields will forever change Levin and will impact his choices and opinions in the future.

2025 Reading So Far…

Now that we are into the second half of the year, I realized that I have not mentioned how I’m doing with my personal reading goal for the year. My goal is to read 52 books in the year; as of this writing, I have now read 39 books! I am well on my way to meeting my goal for the year.

As far as The 52 Book Club’s 2025 reading challenge goes, I still have some significant work to do. So far, I have completed 23 of the 52 prompts — roughly 44% of the challenge. I’ve included a visual of my progress with this reading challenge below. If you are looking for a fun reading challenge for the new year, I highly recommend this one. The new list will appear in November so there is time to prepare and brainstorm. If you don’t want to wait until the new year, check out some of the smaller mini-challenges at http://www.the52book.club.

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Jul 14

Sugar is Not Always So Nice (July 14, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I have always had a massive sweet tooth. Bring on the chocolate and don’t forget to offer me a slice of cake or we cannot really be friends. So when I learned that my blood glucose was out of control this week, I was more than a little upset. Now I’m learning to appreciate diet sodas and really cutting down the amount of snacking happening between meals. As my glucose has fallen, my body has not been happy. As the nurse told me today, my body is basically in shock that the sugar is going away and it is revolting. I was a grumpy bear most of the end of the week and just wanted to sit still.

What did that mean to my reading? I managed to keep my streak of reading at least 20 pages per day alive, but I didn’t do much more than that while I was learning about insulin injections and what I could actually eat that wouldn’t spike my glucose levels. Now that a new week is here, I’m starting to feel a little better and able to sit and read for longer periods of time.

What I Finished This Week

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer. I really enjoyed this book! Set on Nantucket, it is the story of two sisters that are both dealing with the death of their brother and their mother’s desertion. Eddie followed her dream of working in the publishing industry and left the island years ago. Barrett is about to have her dream come true, opening a boutique near the family home. Eddie returns to Nantucket for the summer to support her sister in her new endeavor and help care for their father. Over the course of several weeks, the women learn about love, grief, and hope. 4.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (p. 107 of 817). This has been a much more pleasurable read than I expected. I haven’t quite reached my goal of finishing Book 1 of the novel, but anticipate reading the remaining few chapters before bedtime tonight. In this opening section, Tolstoy has introduced us to Dolly and Prince Alexander, a marriage on the rocks. Alexander’s sister, Anna Karenina, comes to Moscow to visit and encounters Count Vronsky. The chemistry between Anna and Vronsky is undeniable. There’s only one problem — Anna has a husband and child awaiting her return to Petersburg. Imagery of trains are prominent, foreshadowing what we already know will happen in the novel’s tragic conclusion. Before leaving this, I must praise the exceptional Pevear/Volokhonsky translation. It is incredibly approachable for the modern reader and provides amble end notes to assist in understanding the text fully.

Heathen and Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey (p. 33 of 358). I’ve not read enough of this novel to give much of an opinion about it. It was a recent purchase during a visit to Barnes and Noble. For the 2025 reading challenge of The 52 Book Club, I needed a book with a sprayed edge. My local bookstore had a display of beautiful sprayed edges, so it seemed this was the time to make a purchase. Most of the books were fantasy, a genre I do not typically enjoy. The remaining books were mostly romances, so I looked for the most attractive edge of those and made my selection. Yup, I totally judged this book by its cover! What I can tell you so far is that it is written with alternating time lines and comes with a warning at the beginning: “[This book] is intended for readers 18+ and includes heavy emotional and explicit content.” Reader be warned.

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Jun 16

The Sound of 880 Piano Keys All At Once (June 16, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I have returned from the Texas Music Teachers’ Convention in Houston and lived to tell the tale! I was there to staff the Wayland booth in the exhibit hall — talking to teachers, alumni, and potential students about our programs. Held in the Hyatt Downtown, the exhibit hall was on the bottom floor on Friday and Saturday. Vendors from all over were in the hall. Our booth sat just across the aisle from the piano vendors — who had about 10 pianos on the floor to be played throughout the day. I’m not talking about digital instruments or consoles. No….these were grand pianos with their lids fully opened! What do 10 large pianos sound like when they are all playing different pieces at the same time? Imagine 20 toddlers in your kitchen floor with wooden spoons that they are banging on large metal pans. Yeah….it was a hot mess!

I planned to spend my time on the exhibit floor reading. That didn’t happen at all. I did manage to make a little progress once I retired to my room on the top floor of the hotel, but my head wasn’t going to cooperate too long in my effort to concentrate on the story.

What I Finished This Week

…..I had to at least make you look.

What I’m Currently Reading

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 672 of 947). Most of the 150+ pages I read this week were completed on Thursday’s flight to Houston. Once I encountered Claire’s miscarriage, I found it really difficult to push through that section. I thought Gabaldon handled a tragic event in any woman’s life with such grace that I didn’t want to rush through the storyline and savored the way she handled the text. I almost felt as though Claire’s grief as well as that felt by her husband could not be rushed. Now that I am in the ultimate battle scenes of the novel, the pace is picking up again and I *think* I will finish this Big Book of Summer this week. (At least, that’s the goal.)

What’s Coming Next?

I think I’m going to depart from my plan and insert a book that arrived last week from the Book of the Month club. The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram sounds very interesting. Two teens meet and fall in love during a summer trip. Fast forward to their adult lives, and the two former loves find themselves on opposing sides of a political campaign. It will definitely meet a need on my reading challenge since it was published in 2025. But first, I have to finish my current installment in the Outlander series and find out what happens to Claire and Jaime.

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Jun 2

A Busy Start to Summer Break (June 2, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Greetings from the Geriatric Ward! I arrived in eastern Arkansas Sunday afternoon and I am really looking forward to a slightly different pace for a few weeks.

This past week was busy in an unusual way. As you will recall, I was in Austin for the Memorial Day weekend to play for the Texas UIL Solo and Ensemble state contest. I returned to Plainview on Tuesday to begin packing up my apartment for summer. Somehow, I got the schedule wrong in my mind for the week. So Wednesday turned into a flurry of activity as I ran errands, cleaned, packed, and prepared to leave for Stillwater, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Music Teachers’ Conference on Thursday. The conference was great and ran through Saturday afternoon. Rather than begin the drive home, I stayed the night in Oklahoma City and drove home on Sunday.

All of that to say that I was able to do some significant listening in my car, but not as much physical reading as I would have liked. I didn’t meet my finish goals for the week, but I’m very close to another finish. Let’s just take a look at where things stand at the moment.

What I Finished This Week

Beach Read by Emily Henry. This audiobook got me through many miles of driving this week. The story centers around two authors who hated each other in graduate school. When they find themselves living next door to each other, the old rivalry is reignited. In the heat of battle, the two issue a challenge to each other — she must write a story that doesn’t resolve everything in the end with a neat “happily ever after” tied up in a bow; he must write a romance with a happy ending. Henry’s writing is entertaining and filled with heart. Beach Read is about writer’s block, family difficulties, and the challenges of falling in love. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 133 of 148). I’m so close to another finish, but I couldn’t quite get there this week. I just have the final chapter and the epilogue to read, so it will definitely get done this week. Just another reminder that non-fiction is not my typical jam.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 241 of 947). I’ve read another 100 pages this week. The slow pace is only because of the little amount of time I have been able to devote to the novel. Truthfully, most of the week’s progress has happened in the Geriatric Ward. I’m not worried about getting this done quickly now that I am in a position where I can regularly read. Not sure that I’ll get finished this week, but I anticipate sizable progress ahead.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). My plan to make this the focus piece of the week fell by the wayside when I realized that I didn’t have as many days in Plainview as I thought. I plan to slowly work my way through the remaining 220 pages this week to get a finish. (Somehow, I remember this very point in the story being the challenge for me when was first assigned the novel in my undergraduate studies. Just have to push through!)

May in Review

May was not a good month in my reading life. I’m still ahead of schedule in my reading goal, but I have to have good months in June and July to get back on track with my reading. Here’s the shameful numbers to report for the month.

  • Books read in May: 3 books (down 2 books from April)
    • 1 physical
    • 1 ebook
    • 1 audio
    • 3 fiction
  • Pages read in May: 1,249 pages (down 87 pages from April)
  • Highest rated book: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (4 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (1 star)

Plans for June

May clearly did not go as I had hoped, so I still have some loose ends to tie up there. I need to finish both Dragonfly in Amber and Emma. I was also scheduled to read The Summer We Started Over and Lady Chatterly’s Lover last month. For June, these are the new additions that I have slated to read:

  • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
  • Moby Dick
  • The Quiet Librarian
  • Eruption

Thankfully, most of June’s novels are shorter than those I encountered in May. I hate to think about it, but it may be the month that I begin to reassess my plans for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge and pivot in order to reach my goal.

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Apr 28

The Beginning of the End (April 28, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

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

What I Finished This Week

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

What I’m Currently Reading

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

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

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

April in Review

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

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

What’s Ahead in May

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

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

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

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

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

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Apr 21

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail (April 21, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I hope you all enjoyed a restful Easter weekend. I escaped Plainview for the a few days and visited Austin. It was a needed time of rest for my body and a chance to reflect on my reading. I made a couple of important discoveries along the way.

What I Finished This Week

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. For such a short book, I thought I was never going to get finished with this one! I suppose it was a mistake to try to read a genre I am not naturally drawn to while dealing with the exhaustion of the opera. It was a stretch on most days to read my self-imposed goal of 20 pages. When Easter break started on Friday, I sat in my reading chair with the determination that I was going to plow through this novel before hitting the road. I got it done, but can’t say that I enjoyed the experience. 0.5 stars.

What I Am Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (1:48 of 13:53) I didn’t make much progress in my audiobook this week. With only one trip to Canyon this week, I was really banking on making some headway here while driving to Austin for Easter. What can I say? There was a Cubs game on the radio and that required I listen…..and it was a GOOD game too! I think once I get to the introduction of the young woman to her boyfriend’s Chinese family that I will be more inclined to listen at other times and not just in the car.

If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (p. 156 of 292). This is exactly the book I needed to get me out of my current reading slump! Imagine a retelling of Cinderella that includes a plus-size shoe designer who finds her way onto a dating show (a la The Bachelor). It’s funny and the reality TV aspect has me rolling! It’s also nice to see a leading female character who doesn’t look like Barbie! This will do nicely for the prompt of a fairy tale retelling.

What I Removed From My TBR

Once in Austin, it was time to begin my next read. I had brought both books since they were part of my March and April reading plans. As I started to read, I realized that both books had some baggage that I was not equipped to deal with at the moment. Once There Were Wolves was the first book to be chopped. The novel opens with a relatively gruesome scene that I simply could not get past. (Those who know me well know that I have an extremely weak stomach.) This was my second attempt to get this novel going and it was clear that I wasn’t getting through the first chapter. Now, I’m on the look out for another piece of climate fiction.

Then came the realization that Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister was getting connected to my previous reading of Wicked by the same author. As much as I adore the musical, the novel was a real sludge for me to get through. Since I was already in a bit of a reading slump, I wasn’t ready to struggle through another tough read so soon after And Then There Were None. A trip to the bookstore led to the discovery of If The Shoe Fits, making me very comfortable to leave Confessions behind for this year.

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Apr 7

Blowing Snow in April (April 7, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Despite a busy week, I found myself with several books that I just couldn’t put down! Then a little snow on Saturday meant that I got to spend a little extra time in my reading chair finishing up a book between watching baseball games.

What I Finished This Week

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. I absolutely adored this book! As you can tell by my finished reading this week, I am fascinated with the stories surrounding World War II. It’s not so much the war as it is the determination and perseverance of the European people in the face of such challenges. Martin tells a charming story of Grace, a young woman who arrives in the city just ahead of the Blitzkreig. Not having a letter of recommendation for work, the only job she can secure is in a dusty, dilapidated bookshop. While working there, she is introduced to the power of story and her life is transformed. Grace volunteers with the RAF and witnesses some of the worst attacks the German bombers can bring. The Last Bookshop in London is a story of love, endurance, survival, and the power of books to transport our mind. I’m looking forward to reading another of Martin’s historical fictions this summer. 4.75 stars

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey. With the end of opera rehearsals this week, I also finished this audio book. The third book in the Big Shots series, this one was perhaps the most thought provoking. Sieg, a professional hockey player, is scheduled to have dinner with his estranged father to meet the woman he plans to marry. Dreading the meal, Sieg makes a stop where he is charmed by the lovely Chloe. After what can only be described as “love at first sight,” Sieg’s world comes crashing down at dinner when he learns that his father plans to marry Chloe’s mother! How is it possible that the love of his life is about to become his step-sister? Bailey once again provides a story that is engaging and entertaining. Be warned…the spice level is high! 4 stars

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I have to admit that this novel has caught my eye repeatedly when browsing in the bookstore. I think I steered clear because I expected the text to be simply too dark. I could not put this book down once I started. Yes, the details of life in the camp were disturbing and sorrowful. However, the love and hope that permeates each page lifts the story significantly. 4.5 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (00:29 of 13:53). When one audio ends, another begins. I’ve heard good things about the movie, so I decided to take a look at the book finally. It is also a way to knock out another of the Lunar New Year mini challenge books. I’ve only listened to the first chapter. I enjoyed it, but I have to listen very carefully because of the reader’s accent.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (p. 22 of 247). Mysteries are rarely high on my list of reading selections, but I find myself needing to read another for the 2025 Reading Challenge. I’m still meeting all of the characters and appreciate that Christie said of this novel that it was the most challenging to write. I’m looking forward to experiencing some fine writing even though it is not a genre I typically enjoy.

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Mar 31

Back to the Grind (March 31, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Last week was a whirlwind. From the second I landed back in Amarillo after a much needed Spring Break in Arkansas, it felt as though everything needed immediate attention. As a result, I didn’t post an update here. So….this week’s post will reflect two weeks’ worth of reading. That doesn’t mean it will be a robust post because….yeah…..life has been busy!

What I Finished

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I have heard all of the praise for this 1908 children’s classic. It is certainly a charming concept. A red-haired orphan is taken in by an unlikely pair where she grows into her own and realizes her potential as a student. I struggled with this one. I don’t know if it was because of the feeling that each chapter was more of a stand-alone vignette than actually propelling the overall story ahead or that I just found the writing dated. I finished, but I won’t be returning to Green Gables any time soon. 2.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin (p. 201 of 314). Once I got back to Plainview and finished reading Anne of Green Gables, I needed something much different. I made a change to my plans and picked up the other book scheduled for March and put Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister back on the shelf. I’m really enjoying this tale of survival that includes the protagonist developing a love for reading against the backdrop of World War II London. It’s a fast moving read and really dynamic historical fiction. This book will fulfill prompt #28 (A Crossover) of The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey (6:11 of 9:14). With the return of driving to opera rehearsals, I needed to start another audiobook. Since I have enjoyed Tessa Bailey’s other stories in the series, I decided to keep going. The topic is a little more risqué and can be uncomfortable for some readers. The jury is still out on how I feel about this one, but I have to give Bailey credit — I’m still listening and plan to finish the story.

March in Review

As anticipated, my reading numbers have gone down in the month of March. Still, I am already nearly halfway to my goal of reading 52 books in 2025….so I’m not that upset about not meeting my complete goal for the month. Here’s what I accomplished in March, 2025.

  • Books read in March: 5 (down 2 from February)
    • 2 audio
    • 3 physical books
    • 5 fiction
  • Pages read in March: 1,830 (down 231 pages from February)
  • Highest rated: Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (2.0 stars)

What’s Ahead in April

I still need to tie up a few loose ends from my March reading plan. I’m definitely finishing The Last Bookshop in London this week. That will just leave Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister to round out March’s reading. However, I have a sneaky suspicion that I may push this novel back into the summer. Since the children’s opera I am currently playing is a retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, I really don’t think this is the best time to read a retelling of another classic tale.

Here’s what is planned for April. I’m really excited about a few of these….and there are a few that are causing me a moment of pause.

  • Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
  • Paradise Lost by John Milton
  • Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  • Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill
  • The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Next Monday is the beginning of opera week. It may take me a day or two to get my post written, but I promise that you will hear how things are going as I continue Reading for Me.

Until next time,

Kennith

2025 Reading Challenge audio Children’s literature historical romance Series The 52 Book Club

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Mar 17

The One with All the Wind (March 17, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

This has been a week for the record books. Lots of activity at school with auditions and mid-term exams….resuming rehearsals for the children’s opera….a wild wind storm that nearly blew us away….and preparations for Spring Break travel. In all of that, I got to finish an audiobook this week and finally finished the last of my February reads once my feet were on the ground in Arkansas. Just a few more weeks of the really busy season of the semester. At this point, I’m just trying to stay in the routine of reading something each day and keeping some forward progress.

What I Finished This Week

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey. I absolutely loved this rom-com! It was a fun read that also pulled at the heart strings. Burgess is a single father and a professional hockey player. He needs some help with his precocious 12-year-old daughter. That’s where Tallulah comes in. A graduate student, she is always looking for an inexpensive living arrangement and extra income; the job as Lissa’s au pair — a glorified nanny —- fits the bill perfectly. Complications arise as Tallulah and Burgess develop romantic feelings for each other….and Lissa finds out! Bailey does a tremendous job of exploring the dynamics of non-traditional families while also exploring topics such as May-December relationships and forced retirement. While this was a bit more graphic than the previous Tessa Bailey novel I read, I still found myself really enjoying the writing and fell in love with these characters. 4 stars.

Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah. I think Kristin Hannah is one of the rising stars of contemporary fiction today. With recent favorite reads such as The Women, True Colors, and The Great Alone, I was pleased to find an early novel that would fit one of my reading challenge prompts. I used this for prompt #10: author’s last name is also a first name (but you could also use it because it has a moon on the cover – prompt #12). As I’ve already mentioned, this book was a little different from Hannah’s other books that I have read. The story opens with a young woman being brought to an asylum after a tremendous injury to her head. Ian, a retired doctor, cares for the residents of the coastal Maine facility and reluctantly takes in the injured woman. Since she is unable to recall her name, Ian begins to call her Selena. Over the course of her recovery, Selena discovers that the asylum’s residents are not all insane; instead, many of them suffer from past trauma that they have not learned to deal with. Not surprisingly, Ian and Selena fall in love. Everything seems to be perfect until Elliot arrives, claiming to be Selena’s husband. Out of honor and loyalty, Selena returns to her former life with Elliot although she has no memory of it. What we find there is shocking! When Elliot is injured, Selena decides to bring her husband back to Ian, the only man who can possibly save his life. This is a beautiful story that has many similarities to the Frankenstein narrative while exploring definitions of marriage, family, the God-complex, and selfless love. As much as I enjoyed the story, I felt that the novel suffered because it was one of Hannah’s first attempts as a novelist; her immaturity shows. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (p. 144 of 373). I find it very hard to believe that I have never read this classic children’s book. So far, I am finding Anne’s imagination intoxicating and I have fallen in love with this character’s wit, verve, and boldness. Originally, I had planned to read this for prompt # 6- set in Spring, but I really think that I’m going to use it for prompt #2 – a character with red hair.

What’s Ahead in March?

Now that we are halfway through March, I wanted to take a moment to remind us all of what I still need to read this month to get back on track with my reading plan since April’s schedule is also quite full. Two books remain for the month.

  • Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. This book is currently sitting on the table in Arkansas. I should finish Green Gables in the next day or so and will dive right into this novel. The writing doesn’t look dense on the page, so I’m hoping that I can move through it fairly quickly while on Spring Break.
  • The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin. I hope to start this one shortly after returning to Plainview next week to finish out the month strong.

I’ll be back next Monday to let you know how things turned out!

2025 Reading Challenge audio Children’s literature romance The 52 Book Club

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