Any time I have a bit of time off from work, I head back to the comfort of my parents’ home in eastern Arkansas. The house is the only home that I have ever known. (Yes, I know that my family lived in another house in town when I was born….but I don’t recall anything from the first 3 months of life!) While the three bedrooms have undergone changes over the years and my piano has moved locations several times, very little has been altered. Going home is always a treat as it means I get to relax, enjoy home cooked meals, and feel more connected to my Arkansas roots than any other time.
Fall Break is now in the rearview mirror, but the time of rest at home was much needed. I ran a few errands that were on my to-do list, got a little practicing done (though not enough!), and slept. In the process, I also managed to do quite a bit of reading.
What I Finished This Week
Moby Dick by Herman Melville. There’s no nice way to say this — I hated this book. I loathed it. I absolutely detested Moby Dick! Does that make my feelings regarding the novel about the white whale clear enough? Truly, I thought that the final five chapters showed moments of absolute genius. However, that doesn’t make the other 500 pages worthy of another read. Melville should have made this a short story….even a novella….and would have had a much more effective piece of writing. I read it. I survived it. I’ll never read it again and I will now be able to defend my statement that I think Moby Dick is highly overrated. 1.75 stars.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden. Such a fun read that was fast and filled with suspense. Told in two timelines, the story focuses on Sydney and Tom. Sydney has had bad luck dating the men of New York City, but seems to have finally met the man of her dreams in a doctor who came to her rescue after an attack. Tom was a high school student fascinated with blood who was suspected of a string of murders among the student body. When Sydney and Tom’s paths finally cross, is Sydney in real danger of being another victim of the psychopathic killer? Thankfully, despite the subject matter, McFadden manages to keep the reader engaged without relying on copious amounts of blood and gore on the pages. (I’m a wimp when it comes to reading graphically violent material.) This one is sure to keep you guessing until the end! 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The 24th Hour by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (p. 257 of 359). It’s been a while since I returned to the world of the Women’s Murder Club series. Honestly, I had forgotten that there were books in the series that I hadn’t gotten around to reading. This one features two cases for the women and their husbands. A rape victim suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and hospital facing a cyber attack that threatens to compromise patient records — potentially causing death of the most at-risk patients — unless their financial demands are met. This is a fast moving ebook that is also a nice change of pace from some of the other stories that I’ve read recently. Sometimes, predictability is relaxing.
The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett (p. 152 of 357). Parsifal the magician has died. Left behind is his wife-in-name-only, Sabine. Now Sabine must deal with the grief of Parsifal’s mother and sisters that she never knew existed. This is proving to be a neat look at the reasons we leave and the definitions of family and love — all through the lens of a broken son after his death.
It has been an odd week for me. After getting back from a much needed weekend away, I returned to my real life only to find that my motivation was still on vacation. I wasn’t resting well. I still didn’t want to interact with people. I didn’t feel well emotionally or physically. The only thing I wanted to do was curl up somewhere under a blanket with a good book and read.
Well, I sort of wanted to read. The book that I finished this week was a joy to get through. The American classic that I am continuing to plow through was just that — a chore. Any other book, I would probably set aside. Because of the novel’s place in history, I feel as though I just need to push through to the end so I can say that I have read it and to see if I can figure out why it holds such a stable place in the literary canon.
What I Finished This Week
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. This book had been sitting in my TBR for quite some time. I selected it because I needed a cover font in a primary color. I was encouraged when I noticed a sticker on the cover declaring it the 2023 Book of the Year by the readers of The Book of the Month Club. What I discovered was a laugh out loud novel about two hurting people who find their way to each other. Jacob and Briana are both ER doctors. Jacob suffers from debilitating anxiety and is dealing with the heartbreak of a failed relationship. To make matters worse, Jacob’s ex is about to marry his brother. Briana’s divorce is about to be finalized and her brother is getting sicker with each passing day as he waits for a kidney transplant. The two enter an agreement to be “fake dates” to get Jacob through the awkward wedding season and end up falling in love, but both are too frightened because of past hurt to admit their feelings to the other. At times heartbreaking, this novel was an emotional roller coaster that left me rooting for true love to win out. The perfect story for me for the moment. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 420 of 552). This week has been a trudge through Melville’s writing. Lots of detailed descriptions of the various parts of a sperm whale’s anatomy mingled with a few interactions with other boats, warning the crew of the dangers of encounters with Moby Dick. I was getting so discouraged this week that I asked ChatGPT if the novel got better after chapter 79! I had to chuckle at the AI response: “Oh, the Moby Dick question!” I’ve charted out my daily reading goals to the end of the novel and if I can stay the course, I should be done with this one later this week. Perhaps when I reach the end I will understand why this is considered an American classic, because right now, I’m wondering why people (myself included) continue to read this horrible book.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (p. 102 of 359). I cannot keep my nose out of this book at the moment! This is my first McFadden novel, but her work has been on my TBR for some time. The novel is written on duel timelines and the reader doesn’t yet know exactly how they are going to connect. Sydney is a single woman in her 30s living in NYC. Like most contemporary singles, Sydney is using online dating to find her perfect match. When her best friend, Bonnie, is brutally murdered in her apartment, Sydney questions the safety of her dating choices…especially after having an uncomfortable encounter in the days leading up to Bonnie’s death. This story is set against the story of Tom, a high school student living in an abusive home who is fascinated with blood, especially as it flows through the neck of the girl he is currently dating. McFadden’s novel is not overly graphic (at least, not so far), but there is definitely a high level of tension and suspense. I planned to stretch this book throughout the week to keep a moderate reading pace, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I really need to know what happens next!
Happy Monday, dear readers! If you have been anything like me, I thought September was never going to end. With the month starting with Labor Day, it felt as though there were no breaks in sight and life just kept getting busier and busier with each passing day.
Last week was one for the record books as the calendar turned to October. It seemed that everything that could possibly go wrong DID go wrong. By the end of the week, I was desperate for an escape. Since I was already planning to be out of the office on Friday, I decided to take advantage of it and head over to Oklahoma City for a few days. I unplugged from work and spent a lot of time resting, relaxing, and recharging. Of course, that always means plenty of reading for me as you will see in this week’s post.
What I Finished This Week
Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart. This was a really fun read that was a nice diversion from the Melville novel that I’m slowly working my way through. What begins as an unexplained murder and a contempt charge when Frannie Hardy won’t reveal what she knows before the grand jury quickly turns on its head and keeps the reader guessing. Whether you are drawn into the conversation by the damage gasoline additives do to the environment or whether it is right for a parent to “kidnap” young children to protect them from an abusive caregiver, Lescroart masterfully weaves all of these issues — and more — into a seamless novel that will keep you guessing until the conclusion. This was my first experience with Lescroart’s work….but I don’t think it will be my last. 4.5 stars.
The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelace. I am not a fan of reading poetry. It’s too much work. Either I find myself trying to extrapolate meaning from just a few words or I am getting lost in the text because of the meter employed by the poet. When I saw that one of this year’s prompts was a story told in verse, I was not looking forward to the task. I had planned to read Paradise Lost by Milton since I did enjoy my experience with the work in the Great Books Colloquium at Pepperdine. When I tried to dive into the poem, I found it to be exhausting. After trying a few contemporary works that were suggested on Good Reads, I was beginning to worry that I would need to read a book by Dr. Seuss to check this prompt off of my list! While in a bookstore in Oklahoma City this weekend, I stumbled across Lovelace’s work. In The Mermaid’s Voice, the author presents a retelling of a classic fairytale that is interwoven with details of her personal experiences as a survivor of domestic violence. Since my sister was victimized by a Monster for several years, I came to The Mermaid’s Voice with a rather unique perspective. I found the poetry insightful, powerful, relatable, and (ultimately) hopeful. I would be interested to hear the responses to The Mermaid’s Voice of those who have survived the horrors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. 3.5 stars.
People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young. I adored this audiobook! The love story of Milo and Prue is nothing if not complicated. Milo runs from relationships because he is perpetually running from memories of disappointing his parents and the resulting abuse. Prue has shut herself off from the possibility of finding love because she must care for her mother who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The two ultimately find their way to each other and their chemistry is off the charts! (Read: spicy!) As they come to admit to themselves that they are actually falling in love, a horrible secret threatens to destroy the trust they have built in each other. Beautifully performed by Victoria Connolly and Brandon Francis, this was the perfect selection for me to complete the prompt of an audiobook with multiple narrators. While driving to and from Oklahoma City this weekend, I laughed and cried while rooting for love and maturity to ultimately win out. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 203 of 552). I have continued my slow-paced reading of this American classic. Typically, I’m trying to plow throughout about 30 to 40 pages each day. By the end of the week, I hit a major snag since I found myself wading through descriptions of various types of whales and finally getting the Pequod out to sea. I’m getting a bit discouraged with this one since I’m a little over a third of the way through the novel and it feels as though nothing is happening. Here’s hoping that there is some action ahead in the narrative of the white whale.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (p. 37 of 387). Since I finished so many books this weekend, I needed to start something else to keep me moving. Yours Truly was the 2023 Book of the Year from the Book of the Month Club, so it seemed like an appropriate pick. Here’s the early premise as I can see it. Briana is a doctor who is up for a promotion to Chief of the ER. Only she learns that her supervisor has decided to delay his retirement (and her promotion) for a few months so the staff can meet the new hot-shot doctor who is starting today….and might be a candidate for Chief. Enter Jacob, the new doctor. On the outside, it appears he has it all together. In reality, he suffers from debilitating anxiety and has had a horrible first day at the new job. Can it get any worse? Yep…Jacob sticks his foot in his mouth when speaking about a young patient in need of a kidney transplant. The patient is Briana’s younger brother. Despite some of the heavy topics, the book has a lightness so far that is making for a fun read. I’m hoping that continues as I make my way through this story this week.
September in Review
September felt like an absolute whirlwind of a month. Lots of activities at home and in the office meant that I didn’t have as much time to devote to reading this month. Still, I managed to stay in my routine of reading daily. That resulted in at least one book each week — which is my actual goal. After the massive reading month that August was, September felt like a bit of a slog though. Here’s a look at what I accomplished this month.
Books read in September:5 books (down from 11 in August)
4 print
1 ebook
Pages read in September:2,246 pages (down from 4,014 in August).
Highest rated book:Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars)
Lowest rated book:Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (2.75 stars)
It’s always fun to make new discoveries. This week, while reading a blog about economical ways to support a book addiction — let’s just admit that most voracious readers have a problem that we refer to as our “book collection” — I expected to just be encouraged to visit the library frequently and to embrace ebooks. What I actually discovered was a recommendation for a website called Paperback Swap. The premise is actually pretty simple. You list books with which you are willing to part and list them on the website; you are responsible for the postage, but there are no additional fees. For each book you send, you can request another book from a member. It’s been a fun motivation to peruse my bookshelves with a critical eye and re-discover some books I had forgotten about while also selecting a handful to send to a new home. So far, I have sent out two paperbacks and have a biography of soprano Marian Anderson on the way.
While searching my shelves for books to list on the website, I also found a few editions of the classic that I have begun reading this week. While I am enjoying reading primarily from an edition without footnotes and textual interruptions, it is nice to have those resources at hand when I get completely lost along the way. So I’m finally sitting down to read of Ishmael, Queequeg, and Ahab rather than dreading my journey along the open waves with them.
This week features one finish and three current reads. (I know, I know….my “one at a time” approach was very short lived….but it is going to keep me from getting completely overwhelmed by the classic American novel….at least, that’s my hope!)
What I Finished This Week
The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover. After a couple of heavy reads last week, I was in the mood for something lighthearted. Something that would make me smile. O’Clover’s funny romance was a great fit for me this week. Louisa (called Lou by her friends) has been dating her musician boyfriend for nearly six years. His hit song “Purple Girl” is all about her and they live in Lou’s dream home outside of Denver. She has everything she could ever hope for….until she learns that the boyfriend has been cheating while on tour. Refusing to leave her home, but unable to pay the rent on her own, she decides to convert it into a bed-and-breakfast. Only problem? She has to convince the handsome veterinarian, Henry, who is now her landlord. Henry’s past begins to trouble him when he learns that Lou plans to target heartsick people who need to heal after a breakup when publicizing the Inn. The Heartbreak Hotel features a lovely cast of characters while exploring issues of self-confidence and family relations. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 81 of 552). I have never read this classic novel. I have started it several times and never found a rhythm to complete it. While planning for this year’s reading challenge, a young man who I respect greatly told me that I was missing out by not reading this novel. He went on to tell me that it was the greatest book ever written in his opinion. I decided that was enough of an endorsement to put Melville’s tale about the great whale on my TBR once again. My plan is to move through the book at a rather slow pace and couple it with contemporary works to see if that helps me find a better rhythm.
Nothing But the Truth by John Lescroart(p. 101 of 439). Since Night Over Water by Ken Follett just wasn’t the right fit for me at the moment, I went on a search through my bookshelves for another novel with a title that begins with the letter N for the reading challenge. I picked up this novel randomly on a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Lescroart’s legal thrillers have been recommended to me many times, but I’ve never actually read one of them. This seems like the perfect opportunity to be introduced to the author and his famous character, Dismas Hardy. Here’s what I know about the story so far. Dismas’ wife, Frannie, was having coffee with Ron Beaumont on the morning of his wife’s murder (confusing and convoluted, right?) and is Ron’s alibi in the police investigation. When Frannie is called before the grand jury, she decides to keep a crushing secret that Ron shared with her in confidence rather than answer the court’s inquiries. When Frannie insults the judge, things become explosive and Frannie finds herself in jail for 4 days! That’s when Dismas discovers that Ron has emptied his condo and made a run for it with his two young children. This is a fast-paced, fun legal thriller that keeps the reader constantly on the edge of their seat as they try to decide what really happened and who is in the wrong.
People Watching by Hannah Bond-Young (2:09 of 10:21). I’m including this book in this week’s reading because technically I have started the book. I have some travel coming up later this week and one of my prompts for the reading challenge is an audiobook with multiple narrators. Two narrators and a beautiful cover were all the incentive I needed to download the book. I did a little listening at the end of the week to make sure I would connect with the story, but I plan for this to accompany me while I’m driving this week. This is the story of Milo and Prue. Milo is a down-on-his-luck artist, returning to his childhood hometown to assist his brother in launching his new business. Prue is caring for her mother, a retired art teacher struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. So far, it is the perfect blend of romance, humor, and tenderness. This is definitely a book I am going to enjoy!
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.
In the midst of a really busy week, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had selected a couple of very enjoyable books. One was enjoyable because it stretched my mind and comfort level — even though I didn’t really “enjoy” the story itself. The other was a surprise as I found myself drawn into a world of fantasy — complete with magic and dragons!
What I Finished This Week
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni. This thriller toed the line between thriller and horror. The thriller was about a woman who was accused of murdering her boyfriend in a historic home. Turns out the two had unlocked a portal for a demon to torment them as they toyed with a possessed porcelain doll. Creepy, right?!? While I found the story of the doll’s creation interesting and was intrigued by the religious implications of the “God Puzzle” at the center of the story, I just didn’t enjoy the horror aspect of the novel. (Truthfully, I’m a wimp when it comes to reading stories about spiritual beings. It’s just not my jam.) Despite thinking about DNFing The Puzzle Master several times, I was just too far into the story to let it lie. I needed to know how it ended. After finishing the novel, I found that there is another novel featuring the puzzle maker at the center of the story. While he was a likable character, I don’t anticipate returning for another adventure into Trussoni’s universe. 3 stars.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I have never been a huge fan of fantasy. (I even had to educate myself on what this genre was really called!) Magic and mythological creatures really are not good plot points for me. However, I did find Fourth Wing to be an exception to the rule for me. Why? I think it really had to do with the focus on the human stories of the characters before introducing the major fantasy aspects. I found myself invested in the stories of Violet, Dain, and Xanos before I even saw the first dragon. Now that I’ve read the first installment in The Empyrean series, I think I’m going to have to see what happens next. (Major cliffhanger, Batman!) I won’t be continuing right away, but I have a feeling I will check out Iron Flame when I finish the 2025 challenge. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage (p. 114 of 427). This novel was a new start on Saturday afternoon after I was done with work for the day. It was a Book of the Month selection for September 2025; I decided to read it to fulfill the prompt that there was a moon on the cover. Despite having read very little of the book so far, here’s what I know. Steph is of Cherokee descent and dreams of leaving rural Oklahoma to pursue a better education and ultimately become an astronaut. The story is filled with issues related to abuse, poverty, embarrassment, and lack of concern for tribal traditions. It has proven to be a powerful read while presenting opposing sides of the tradition versus progress argument that continues to be at play among Indigenous peoples.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (p. 27 of 250). Ever since starting the 2025 reading challenge, I had considered this book as a possible option for one with a celebrity on the cover. There was something about reading the memoir after Perry’s tragic death that kept me from wanting to read the book. However, as I was looking for something else to read digitally this week, I stumbled across the book in my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I guess it was just meant to be. I’ll have a much clearer picture of what I think of the memoir next week.
What’s Up Next?
Although plans can always change based on my reading mood, I think I’m going to dive into Ken Follett’s Night Over Water for my next read. It is close to 450 pages, so I want to make sure that I have some dedicated time to read it without too many distractions. I’ve enjoyed almost everything else I’ve read by Follett, so my expectations are high and I think I will probably need the change of pace after the heaviness of my current reads.
Last Monday was Labor Day. Like any good blogger, I decided to delay my weekly post to this site in order to observe the holiday. That was a very good decision and one that I know was correct. What I didn’t realize was the impact that choice would have on this week’s reading.
Monday holidays mean that I have fewer days to get all of the work accomplished. That cuts into my reading time each day. Furthermore, because of the delayed publication of my weekly update, this week only has 6 reading days before I have to make another update on my progress — and that one lost day is going to make the difference in what I was able to accomplish this week.
What I Finished This Week
No finishes this week. That hasn’t happened in quite a while and I don’t like the feeling of not having a finish, but I understand why it happened. Actually, I had to go back to the June 16, 2025 post to find the last week that didn’t have a finish. That week, I was surrounded by noisy pianos at the Texas Music Teachers’ Conference in Houston and could not read as I had hoped. This week, I just ran out of reading days.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (p. 322 of 493). I come to you with my hat in my hand and freely admit that I cannot stop reading this book! Is it sci-fi? Yes. Do I tend to avoid this genre? Yes. But this book is so much more and I cannot get enough of Violet, Xander, Dain, Tairn, and Andarna. (In case you are wondering, I’m team Xander at the moment. I also think Andarna is the cutest little dragon I have ever imagined in my life!) Okay…back to the book review. Violet has come through the selection ceremony and been chosen by two dragons. Now everyone wants her dead….everyone except Xander who is now eternally connected to her because they are both paired with mated dragons. I can hear my friends groaning because of how much I’m enjoying this book — and I really can’t explain it to you myself. The novel is well written and is more about the people than the magic and myth. I think I’ll have a finish here in just a couple of days.
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni (p. 207 of 361). I sang this novel’s praises last week when I was beginning the read. I’m still all in on the novel, but we had a moment where I thought it was going to be DNF’d. Yes, the novel is about a writer, Jess Price, who has been imprisoned for a crime that she might not have committed. Enter master puzzle maker Mike Brink and Jess’ psychiatrist to try to figure things out. This is the formula for a great read when I’m in the mood for a thriller. As the narrative turns to Jess’ diary entries prior to the murder, we learn that the case involves an ancient riddle known as the God Puzzle that is somehow protected by a possessed porcelain doll. What?!? That was my response, too. When the scenes began to border on horror and not thriller, I wasn’t sure I was going to finish the book. That’s just not a type of reading that I enjoy at all. The creep factor went away as we returned to Mike’s attempt to figure out what was really going on with the God Puzzle, so I’m reading once again…..even if a bit more cautiously. Here’s hoping the Chucky doll doesn’t make another appearance to scare the crap out of me! Just in case, I’m doing this reading during daylight hours…..
My 2025 Reading Challenge Progress
Now that we are into September, it seems like the perfect time to provide a little update on where I am in my pursuit of completing the challenge from The 52 Book Club. Right now, I’m sitting at 67% complete, having fulfilled 35 of the 52 prompts. For those who enjoy the visual representation, here’s the graphic.
As you can see, I have 17 books left to read in the 16 1/2 weeks remaining in 2025. That’s completely doable! There are a couple of prompts that I am struggling to find a book that I think I will enjoy though. If you have suggestions for any of these prompts, I’m all ears.
Has a moon on the cover
Told in verse
A celebrity on the cover
Okay….now back to reading my creepy doll story! LOL
I decided that the Labor Day weekend was the perfect opportunity to escape Plainview and head to the beautiful city of Denver, Colorado. This was my first excursion into the state and I must admit that I was immediately mesmerized. The scenery is breathtaking. The people that I encountered were so kind and welcoming. I slept like a baby. I also enjoyed three really exciting baseball games between the Cubs and Rockies. Somehow, I also managed to get some reading done this week and continue making progress toward my goals.
Rather than pressuring myself to complete a post on Labor Day, I decided to enjoy the holiday and push this week’s post back to Tuesday. Reading for Me will return to its usual schedule next Monday.
What I Finished This Week
Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian. Let’s start with the important information. I absolutely HATED this book! I have rarely read such a piece of trash that has so few redeeming qualities. Why did I finish it? I kept hoping it would get better because I did find the premise intriguing. The story centers around two married college professors who each have extramarital affairs; his is physical in nature while hers is simply emotional. Her student feels the need for revenge and decides to expose her mentor in her debut novel that will also serve as her MFA thesis in Creative Writing. The thesis is supposedly what we are reading. Seduction Theory cannot decide what it wants to be. At times it is the thesis written to expose the illicit acts of all players; at other times, it is a journal of the author’s vengeful fantasies because her mentor decides to stay in her marriage. Adrian gives us a short book (thank Heavens!) that is both confusing and confused. Truthfully, I found myself wondering how an editor let it get through in its present condition. Really not good at all! 2 stars.
The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin. Set in World War II England, Martin takes us back to the universe she first introduced in The Last Bookshop in London (read April, 2025). This time, we meet Emma, a struggling widow, with her young daughter Olivia. Because of the marriage bar, women who are (or have been) married cannot work. Having grown up in a quaint bookstore, Emma loves literature and sharing her passion for reading with others. Miraculously, she is offered a position at an upscale lending library despite her social status. As German bombs begin to descend on the small town, Emma is forced to decide whether it is best to keep Olivia close by or evacuate her along with thousands of other children to a place she has never seen. Much of this historical novel focuses on Olivia’s experiences as an evacuee. Filled with humor, wonderfully researched historical data, and a touch of love, The Booklover’s Library is filled with characters that will melt your heart and cause you to care about their well being and futures. This one was really hard to put down! I’m excited to see what other historical novels Martin has available. 4.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
I didn’t bring any extra books with me on my trip to Denver, so I found myself headed to the airport without any additional selections. Rather than allowing this to hamper my reading style, I decided to go off plan a bit and start two random books for the week. However, I think I can use them for some of the more “general” prompts in the reading challenge if I need to.
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni (p. 22 of 361). Admittedly, I picked this book on my Kindle on a whim as I was looking for a book related to the word “puzzle.” Even though I am barely into the novel at this point, I am immediately thrilled with this selection. Here’s what I know right now. Mike Brink had it all until he suffered a horrible brain injury during a high school football game that left him with the ability to see things differently — patterns, numbers, complex puzzles are no challenge for him. Now a renown puzzle maker, Brink is rather surprised when he is invited to a women’s prison in upstate New York by Dr. Moses to assist with one of her patients, an inmate named Jess Price who was convicted of a brutal murder years ago. Since her incarceration, Jess has not communicated at all….until she drew a complex puzzle to an ancient secret. On the flip side of the paper were two words: “Mike Brink.” The book’s blurb suggests that the puzzle will lead Mike on an adventure involving an ancient Abrahamic prayer, a la The Da Vinci Code. I’m all in and ready to get some more reading done on my flight back to Amarillo.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (p. 52 of 493). I have never been a super fan of science fiction. So the prompt for a book with a character who can fly was immediately challenging for me. I went to three bookstores in the Denver airport looking for anything that would fit the prompt. I was even ready to read a graphic novel about one of the Marvel characters, but nothing was available. While I was in the largest of the bookstores — Tattered Cover Bookstore — I googled recommended books with characters who could fly. Nothing on the list was on the shelves. As I was walking out the door in defeat, this cover caught my eye and I quickly returned to the list on my phone. I knew I recognized that title! It’s longer than I had hoped for a sci-fi title, but I decided to give it a chance and follow through with my plan to be spontaneous this week. I have to admit that I have really enjoyed what I’ve read so far. Violet finds herself in an academy to become a dragon rider — even though what she really wants to do is become a scribe. That’s truly all I know so far. Why have I gotten pulled into this book? Yarros isn’t focusing on the magic too much yet. She is creating characters with depth that have you pulling for their success. We will just have to see how I do when the magic begins to enter the story, but for now, I’m all in on this human saga.
Another Milestone Achieved!
With the end of August, I reached another milestone in my reading goals for 2025. With the final read of the month, for the first time since I have kept track of the number of books I have read, I am very happy to say that I have read 52 books in a single calendar year!!! Okay, I actually read 52 books in 8 months, but who is being that specific? LOL! That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading for the year because I still have The 52 Book Club challenge to complete. I know…..but not everything I read was a good fit for one of the prompts, so I still have a bit of work to do to complete that task. I’m having fun reading and think I have finally fallen into a good routine.
August in Review
I’m a sucker for looking at the numbers each month. Here’s how August shook down….it’s amazing how much reading I got done during COVID isolation! Don’t want to do that again, but at least there was productivity in the process.
Books read in August: 11 (up from 5 in July). +6
6 print
4 ebook
1 audio
Pages read in August: 4,014 (up from 2, 273 in July). +1,741
Highest rated book: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover (5.00)
Lowest rated book: Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian (2.00)
Classes at Wayland began on Wednesday. The week has felt long and arduous for some reason. Thankfully, I had a good book to keep me company throughout the week. I also had a book that I just needed to read. Here’s hoping that the two books currently in my rotation this week will raise the level of enjoyment.
What I Finished This Week
James by Percival Everett. This beautiful novel has been in my TBR stack for almost a year. Winning the National Book Award, I knew that I was going to read it, but I was always looking for the perfect moment. Honestly, I wasn’t sure that the beginning of the school year would be the right time, but as soon as I started reading, I was drawn into the story and reminded of the joy I experienced reading Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn (the inspiration for James). Everett begins with the classic story, but presents the events from the perspective of Jim, the runaway slave. At times dark and introspective, the novel is laced with humor and tongue-in-cheek commentary about society and its racial divide. While this wasn’t my favorite prose of the year, I found it extremely enjoyable and insightfully relevant to the issues our world faces in 2025. 4.25 stars.
Migration by Charlotte McConaghy. Climate fiction is a challenging genre for me. The text always seem hopeless and man is portrayed as a villain for causing the Earth’s climate crisis. While the story of this novel was intriguing, I found it extremely dark and depressing. Franny is a woman on a mission as she desperately tracks the flight of rare arctic birds as they migrate south. Franny is also a driven woman, obsessed with correcting the mistakes of her past and making sure she punishes herself in order to find justice for those she has left behind. While McConaghy’s writing style is lovely and might be a pleasure to read when addressing a different topic, this one just didn’t do it for me. Between Franny’s depression, the failure of her marriage, and the plight of these endangered birds, I found little optimism to cling to in the reading of this novel. 2.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin (p. 52 of 416). I read Martin’s The Last Bookshop in London back in April and thoroughly enjoyed it. To satisfy the prompt to read a second book set in the same universe, I am returning to World War II England in The Booklover’s Library. Emma is a single mother facing the horror of impending attacks on the English countryside and whether she should evacuate her daughter, Olivia, or face the bombings together. Emma’s moments of solace come while working in the Booklover’s Library where she can escape the threats and terror among her beloved books. Although I just started the novel on Sunday, I am enthralled by the story and its characters. This is going to be another fun read!
Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian (p. 18 of 213). This novel was my August selection from The Book of the Month Club because I was intrigued by the premise. Two married academics have their extramarital affairs exposed in a master’s thesis. I have to be honest and admit that I also selected this book for one of the week’s reads because it is rather short. This will fit the prompt of a book with an epigraph.
A Little Celebration
I have accomplished my first reading goal of 2025! I reached page 18,000 in my reading this week. How did I arrive at that goal? In 2024, I read 16,851 pages. So I extended the goal by 1,000 pages and rounded up. Since it is just August, I anticipate that I will raise my page goal significantly for 2026.
The next goal on the horizon is completing 52 books in the year. This has long been an unspoken goal that has always seemed elusive. I should complete that goal in the next few weeks. Then I’ll just need to complete the annual challenge from The 52 Book Club for 2025.
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.
Reading for Me 