Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

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

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Jan 20

Driving and More Driving (January 20, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

As you will see, I’m reading lots of fluff and audiobooks at the moment. Why? Left eastern Arkansas on Sunday and arrived in west Texas at noon Monday. Unpacked that evening and packed for a business trip on Tuesday. Drove to Tulsa on Wednesday to attend a conference through Saturday. Returned to Plainview on Sunday. Now I’m looking forward to spending a few weeks at home in my own bed and out of the car!

What I Finished This Week

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer. I forgot to plan my reading for my drive back to Texas, so I just picked something that popped up in my recommendation list. I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun this book was. Let’s sum it up this way. Guy settles into a small New England town while his uncle is away on a “fishing trip.” He is picked up mysteriously and placed in protective custody, although he is certain that it must be a case of mistaken identity. Once the safe house is discovered, the two must take refuge at an apple orchard where they are posing as newlyweds on their honeymoon. While I wasn’t looking for a MM romance, I found the story charming and laugh-out-loud funny. 4 stars

The Casanova by T.L. Swan. Book 3 in the Miles High Club was not as enjoyable as the previous two. This story centered around Eliot, the playboy of the quartet of brothers. It turns out that he is finally tamed by the director of IT at Miles Media. Only problem? Kate absolutely HATES Eliot. Once we got out of the “hate” narrative, the story began to pick up and find the charm of the previous Miles brothers’ tales. 3 stars

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding. I selected this book in order to fulfill prompt #32 of The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge – contains a diary entry. Actually, the entire book was written as diary entries over the course of a year. Bridget is obsessed with her physical appearance and her inability to attract men. She is frustrated by her parents’ failing marriage and her friends’ constant inquiries about when she will actually get married. Published in 1996, this book has not aged well. I struggled to finish the book, but persevered in order to add another completed read to the challenge. 2 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner (5:02 of 13:30). Another road trip required another audiobook. Since I didn’t really know where I was going on the drive up, I found that I had to concentrate on the road and couldn’t follow the book. Once I learned the route from the conference center to my hotel, I got a little reading done. Most of this was part of my journey home on Sunday. Now this will just be part of my commute reads, so it might be around for a few weeks.

The Do-Over by T.L. Swan (p. 505 of 526). Since I’ve read three of The Miles High books, it seemed appropriate to read the last of the Miles brothers’ stories. Almost got a finish before time to write this post, but not quite.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman (p. 32 of 308). This was a late start in the week as soon as I finished reading Diary. I’ve read Goldman’s prologue (or is it an introduction to the abridged version of S. Morgenstern’s class?) and have really enjoyed the humor. I have been surprised at the amount of sexual innuendo in this work written for a younger audience. Perhaps, my assumption is wrong that this is considered YA literature. Anyway, this is my last selected book for a prompt to be read in January. I’m using it for prompt #38 – An Adventure Story.

What’s Coming Next?

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Jan 13

Tons of Snow! (January 13, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It happens every year, it seems. Mother Nature decides that I should stay in Arkansas a few days longer than planned. This year was no exception as 7 inches of snow fell on the Geriatric Ward on Friday. Thankfully, this was not an ice event so we didn’t have to worry about losing power. Through all the cold temps, I maintained my reading pace. Once classes begin for the term, I anticipate that I’ll have to hit the brakes. Until then, I’m going to continue enjoying all of this “Reading for Me!”

What I Finished This Week

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Once again, Jeffrey Archer provides an excellent story. Two boys are born on the same day on opposite sides of the world. William Kane is raised in a wealthy Boston family, set to inherit his family’s fortune and position as the chairman of the bank. Abel Rosnovski is the illegitimate son of a Polish baron who finds himself watching his family die at the hands of the Russians, spending years in a work camp, before emigrating to the US. Abel inherits a hotel chain after the horror of the 1929 Crash, causing his path to finally cross with Kane. From this initial meeting, the two men’s hatred for each other grows daily. Archer weaves a powerful story of greed, hatred, misunderstandings, and love set against major events in American history. I used this read for prompt more than a million copies sold in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge. 4.75 of 5 stars.

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlet. I needed a prompt for A prequel and anticipated needing something short for the beginning of the Spring term of classes this month. (I had no idea that I would have such a productive beginning to my reading experience.) This was supposed to serve as the prequel to the American Gods series (never finished) about four young socialites at Yale University. It was a quick read and that was the best thing this romance had going for it. 3 stars.

The Takeover by T.L. Swan. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I read the first book in The Miles High series and really enjoyed it. I decided to continue through the series and found this novel even more enjoyable. This time, Tristan (another of the Miles brothers) develops feelings for a mother of three sons who is still grieving the loss of her husband nearly five years ago in a tragic car accident. Because of her responsibilities to her children and her husband’s memory, the woman has not allowed herself to consider dating. Tristan, however, cannot get her out of his mind. The two have a tryst while attending a conference in Paris. Their paths further entwine when the widow’s oldest son is awarded an internship with Tristan’s company. Full of twists and turns, this very spicy romance is a beautiful exploration of the definition of family, grief, adoption, and love. 4 stars.

D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. Returning to the 2025 Reading Challenge, I needed to read a book by an author who had received the Edgar Award. I planned this book for my January reads for a couple of reasons. 1) I despise mysteries and wanted to get this prompt off my plate as soon as possible. 2) I purchased a collection of Grafton’s mysteries on a whim during a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Since I didn’t have to invest any money and the book was close at hand, it was selected for the read. The plot is pretty much what I expected. A recently released convict engages our P.I. to deliver a sizable cashier’s check to the child of one of his victims. A few days after this meeting, the convict is found dead on the beach. The police have ruled the death accidental; but our heroine knows that something more is going on. She interviews possible suspects, finds herself in danger, and ultimately discovers the identity of the murderer. Meh. 2.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Casanova by T.L. Swan (p. 116 of 507). Book three in The Miles High series has not gotten off to a good start for this reader. I found the characters of Eliot and Kathryn to be annoying and petty. However, with a humorous turn of events, I’m now getting a little more invested in their story. Here’s hoping that it eventually reaches the same level of enjoyable reading as the previous books in the series.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (p. 19 of 271). I wanted to at least start this book before returning to Texas. It’s another selection for the 2025 Reading Challenge; I need to read a book with a diary entry. I’ve heard great things about the movie, so I wanted to see what the book would be like. I’m not far enough into the book to have formed an opinion.

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer (4:35 of 9:45). A long drive (and another one ahead later this week) means I need to add an audiobook to my reading. I didn’t really plan in advance, so I simply made a selection quickly — and it turned out to be pretty good. Chris needs protection while members of his family testify against a crime syndicate. After attacks on the safe house, he and his protector find themselves in the small town of Copper County. Their cover story? Newlyweds! It’s a hysterical story of what is the cover story and what are real feelings. I’m anxious to see how this one is going to turn out.

What’s Ahead?

Later this week, I will be traveling to participate in the Oklahoma Music Educators’ Conference. I won’t be attending many of the sessions; instead, I’ll be sitting in a booth to share information about the school. Between the evenings and slow times in the booth, I anticipate having some time to read. My plan is to finish the Fielding book and get started on the last of the 2025 Reading Challenge books that I have selected for January – The Princess Bride. We will all find out how things went next Monday.

Until then, I bid you happy reading!

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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

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Jun 24

Part-time Nurse, Part-time Reader (June 24, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Happy Monday, fellow readers! Things have been hopping here in the Geriatric Ward this week. Mom was getting better with her chest infection all week long. Sadly, on Friday evening, another infection appeared that required another trip to the ER. Thankfully, this was nothing life-threatening, but couldn’t wait until Monday…..so we spent roughly 6 hours getting care. (That’s an entirely different story that I might share at some other point.)

Somehow, I have managed to get some reading done this week now that I’m back at home. I am happy to say that I have a finish, some serious progress, and a decision. Here’s what’s been going on.

What I Finished

The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas. As I mentioned last week, this was a fun, fast-paced read set in the 1950s featuring four freshman women at Radcliffe College. The novel took an unexpected turn at its climax that I am still trying to decide if I liked or not. What I did enjoy was how each of the four women grappled with their beliefs about the role of women in their society and the importance of marriage. Even after reading the final word in the middle of the week, I found myself thinking about these characters and wondering what might have become of each of them as their lives continued. I suppose that is a mark of an exceptionally well-written story.

What I Put Away

Adam Bede by George Eliot. This should really not come as a surprise to anyone. I enjoyed the premise of the novel. The writing was wonderful. I simply could not find desire or time to read the novel to make any significant progress. The sense that I “should” read this novel was also having a negative impact on my reading of other books because I would feel shame whenever I picked up something else. Admitting that to myself made the decision to DNF Adam Bede an obvious choice. Will I return to it again later? Maybe. I enjoyed reading The Mill on the Floss earlier this year. Perhaps one Eliot novel is my max for the year.

What I Am Reading Now

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (p. 349 of 627). Now I cannot put this book down! I’m loving the developing relationship between Claire and Jaime. I find the prose smooth and the plot filled with suspense, love, and humor. It’s really a beautiful novel!

Plans for the Week Ahead

Since it is the last week of the month, I’m going to focus my attention on finishing Outlander as part of the Big Book Summer Challenge. I have a bit of incentive to finish as well; my next big book arrived today — Blackout by Connie Willis. I’m also going to start looking for my next “normal sized” read for my Kindle. But this week is all about Outlander….and I can’t wait!

That’s it for me! Happy reading, y’all.

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Feb 21

#4: A Darkness More Than Night (Michael Connelly)

by kennithfreeman

It seems that I am constantly playing catch up in my blogging. February has not been a nice month. There was simply no time to read….much less write about my reading! I finished reading the 7th of the Harry Bosch novels back in the middle of January and I’m just getting to blogging about it over a month later. As you can see, I wasn’t terribly excited to write about this book.

A Darkness More Than Night is a bit of a departure from what we have come to expect from Connelly’s plots. Harry is testifying in a murder trial against a Hollywood powerhouse while he is also being investigated as a suspect in another case. The new police detectives introduced in this story are not as fully developed as the cast of characters we have grown to love in the series, making the novel feel shallow and ill conceived.

I have shared my feelings about this novel with others who have read the series and they shared my sentiments about the abruptness of the changes in the structure. However, they did encourage me to continue reading the series as they think that I will continue to enjoy the books. I don’t know that I will finish the series though. I began reading the books as part of the My Library Shelf project and Darkness was the last of Connelly’s books on my shelf. I have a good feel for his writing and his voice. I have enjoyed the books, but I think there are many other authors that I would rather explore rather than devoting so much time and energy to this single storyteller.

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Dec 5

#30: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Julia Quinn)

by kennithfreeman

It should come as no shock to any of my regular readers that I picked up the fourth installment of the Bridgerton series last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now that Lady Whistledown’s identity has been revealed and she has retired from her writing, I wonder what impact this event will have upon the remainder of the series. Her witty insights and commentary was one of the things that I most enjoyed about these novels.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton continues the exploration of love in a non-traditional way. This time, the differences that must be overcome are a matter of physical appearances. The homely wallflower, Penelope, has been in love with the debonair charmer, Colin, for as long as she can remember. Does Colin even know that she has loved him? Penelope fully thinks that she will spend the rest of her life as a lonely spinster.

A few things to notice right away about this installment in the series. First, the book is a bit longer than the others in the series. The writing, however, is still excellent and worth the investment. Quinn’s commentary on the art of writing and the power of words are not to be missed. Second, this novel has more open-door intimacy; little is left to the imagination. At first, I was shocked by this choice, but I quickly came to understand why the author would make the change. It was important for the reader to see how much Colin ultimately comes to desire Penelope physically. If the audience doesn’t see the level of intimacy, there can be a question if this is a relationship of pity or convenience rather than love.

Bridgerton has been good to me this year and I’ve enjoyed the trips. However, I am going to delay my return to the series until the New Year. Typically, I find myself needing a break from the characters and writing style about halfway through a series. I’m not bored with Quinn’s plot or character development at all; I just want to make sure that I am not lulled into a sense of complacency due to familiarity. There is too much good writing in Bridgerton that I don’t want to miss a single turn of phrase.

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Nov 30

#28: An Offer from a Gentleman (Julia Quinn)

by kennithfreeman

Netflix is responsible for my addiction to Bridgerton. After watching the first season of the series, I decided to read the novel for myself. I was immediately hooked and have found that 19th century English romances are fun reads for me. An Offer from a Gentleman is the third of the Bridgerton novels and has been my favorite of the series thus far.

An Offer from a Gentleman focuses on Benedict, the second son of the Bridgerton household. Benedict has avoided marriage for some time and is convinced that he will not meet the perfect woman. His feelings change when he has a wonderful encounter with a woman in a silver dress at his mother’s masquerade ball. As midnight nears, the woman rapidly departs a la Cinderella. Benedict will spend years in search of this mystery woman’s identity to no avail.

Who was the woman? She was Sophie, a bastard daughter of a deceased earl. After her father’s death, Sophie has been “cared” for by her stepmother. Perhaps a better description of Sophie’s treatment is “enslavement.” Like Cinderella, Sophie dreams of going to a grand ball with her stepsisters and stepmother. Since she is nothing more than a chambermaid in society, Sophie decides to keep her identity a secret from Benedict; they are from different worlds and a relationship between the two could never work.

Several years pass and Benedict encounters Sophie at a country estate party. When Benedict sees that the maid is in danger, he steps in as any gentleman would. In the process of rescuing Sophie, Benedict finds himself caught in a nasty rainstorm that leads to a dire illness. Sophie nurses him back to health and the two begin to fall in love. Can it lead to anything? Is it possible for love to overcome social differences and the biases of high society?

Quinn once again offers a compelling story that keeps the reader coming back for more. Mingling humor with romance and social climbing, An Offer from a Gentleman is poignantly written for a modern audience. I found Benedict and Sophie’s story to be the most compelling of the Bridgerton novels thus far. (I must admit that I am currently reading the next book in the series — Romancing Mister Bridgerton — and enjoying it as well. I hope to have a review of the fourth book later this week.)

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Nov 29

#27: Angels Flight (Michael Connelly)

by kennithfreeman

November was not a kind month for my blogging, but I actually managed to get some reading done during the month. What was the problem on my end? There were a few things. I’ve fought a cold for most of the month that finally turned the corner and became a mild case of bronchitis. It’s also the season of voice competitions and various auditions that require video recordings for my singers. There have been job applications to complete. (Yes, I’m looking for a new place to land. Have a lead for an open position for a collaborative pianist and teacher? I’m all ears!) Just to add to the fun, my portable keyboard decided that the keys now need to stick which makes typing at home much more challenging than it should be. I could use the iMac, but I’ve gotten spoiled by writing from the comfort of my recliner and sharing my thoughts with you, dear readers. Alas, this blog is not designed to tell you about the challenges in my personal life…..so let’s get back to the books.

Early in November, I read Michael Connelly’s Angels Flight, another of the Harry Bosch novels that I have been reading as part of My Library Shelf challenge. In this book, Harry finds himself called to investigate a mysterious hit outside of his normal jurisdiction. Why? Because the victim was a prominent lawyer who was in the process of bringing a case against the LAPD for corruption and racial bias. This novel finds Harry facing off with some old foes while trying to maintain relationships that he has built. Of all of the Harry Bosch novels that I have read thus far, this was by far the most enjoyable. Angels Flight captivated me not only with its intense plot, but Connelly’s excellent character development as well. While I wouldn’t recommend reading this one as a stand alone because the relationships that have been built in previous novels are all important to the story, this definitely suggests that Connelly has found his best voice and that the following installments in the Bosch series will continue to benefit as a result.

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Nov 19

#26: 22 Seconds (James Patterson)

by kennithfreeman

Once again, I have failed to keep up with my blogging on this site. Part of the problem is that I am more interested in reading than writing at the moment. The other issue is that my keyboard has become sticky and typing is very slow. I end up getting frustrated instead of feeling productive and just skip the writing process. Hopefully, the keyboard situation will correct itself in the weeks ahead.

22 Seconds is the latest installment in Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series. The story is predictable, yet entertaining. Lindsey finds herself in danger when she and Joe are on the trail of gun runners. The book was a quick read and just what I needed during a really stressful time at work.

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