Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Jul 16

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

by kennithfreeman

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

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

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

What I Finished This Week

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

What I’m Currently Reading

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

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

What’s Ahead?

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

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

Happy reading, y’all!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer historical romance Sci-Fi Series

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Jul 8

Doctors and Independence (July 8, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

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

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

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

What I Finished This Week

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

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

What I’m Currently Reading

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Plans?

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

Happy reading!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer fiction historical Sci-Fi

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Jul 1

Finding Quiet Moments (July 1, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

The Geriatric Ward continues to be in recovery mode. Mom has continued to convalesce from her latest infection. The antibiotics simply sap her of all energy and strength. She does appear to get stronger with each passing day, so I’m hoping that she is able to get back to her normal routine slowly this week.

Since she has been getting better, I was able to sneak into the back room much of the week and get some serious reading done. That brings me to the first success of #BigBookSummer.

What I Finished This Week

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Few things are more enjoyable than turning the last page of a big book and knowing that you have accomplished something significant. When you can admit that you thoroughly enjoyed the book as well, that just makes it better!

I know I’m late to the Outlander phenomenon. I had resisted reading these books for some time. I was expecting something that had a lot more to do with time travel. I was anticipating something more magical and supernatural. You cannot imagine how excited I was to find that I couldn’t have been more wrong while also kicking myself for missing out on such an enjoyable read for so long!

Outlander is a love story at its core. As the relationship between Claire and Jaime grows, the readers’ understanding of the danger and implications it has on both of their lives makes for an exciting story. Gabaldon does an exceptional job of making the Scottish landscape come to life while setting us firmly in the political intrigues of the 17th century. I found myself laughing out loud at the outrageousness of events only to be twisted in knots as I waited to see how Claire and Jaime would escape those who wanted to harm them. I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful conversations between Claire and Anselm in the abbey at the novel’s conclusion. These explorations of issues of faith were incredibly enlightening and extremely well written. I’m looking forward to Dragonfly in Amber, but I think I’m going to wait a little longer so my Outlander experience can be extended.

What’s Up Next?

With the arrival of a new month, it is time to begin another big book as I celebrate #BigBookSummer. This month’s selection is Blackout by Connie Willis. I haven’t started reading it yet, but the description sounds intriguing. Essentially, the story centers around time-traveling historians in 2060’s Oxford who are returning to events of World War II. (I know, I just said that I’m normally not one who enjoys time travel!) I heard the description on a podcast and thought it sounded really interesting, so I’m going to give it a try. Coming in at 491 pages, it is one of the shorter “big books”, so I decided it was worth a try.

In addition to the big book, I’m also hoping to read a few more small books this month. First up is Crusher by Daryl Banner. This is another installment in Banner’s Texas Beach Town Romances, the first of which I read in honor of pride month. Just beginning the book, it is a funny MM romance that is just a fun read.

There you have it. Hope you all have a great week and lots of happy reading along the way.

~Kennith

Big Book Summer romance Sci-Fi

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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.

Big Book Summer fiction Series

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Jun 17

Home After a Bit of Travel (June 17, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

The last few weeks have included some work travel. Last weekend, I was in Norman, Oklahoma; this week saw me in Waco, Texas at the Texas Music Teachers’ annual conference. I was there telling piano teachers, parents and students about Wayland and the opportunities we have there. My plan was to do a lot of reading while sitting in the booth. I was so excited to curl up with my books and get some work done.

Sadly, I learned that things have not changed for me. I am easily distracted and cannot concentrate in the midst of noise. So the constant banging of pianos not only gave me a headache, but it meant that I could not read a word of the easy read that I had selected for this purpose. When the day was done, all I wanted to do was head back to my hotel room and relax in the silence. At night, I would do a little reading to calm my mind, but I didn’t get as much accomplished as I had hoped.

Now on this Monday afternoon, I have returned to Arkansas to find a situation that will once again mean that I don’t get much of anything accomplished this week. Yesterday morning, Mom was taken to the ER with shortness of breath associated with a lung infection. She’s fine, but feels horrible and will be spending much of the week in the back room watching television and resting while a humidifier pumps cool midst next to her. To add to the fun, Pop got attacked by a cat this morning (yep…..a simple little cat) and had to go to minor medical to get bandaged up. He has been on blood thinners for years, so even a small scratch requires medical attention. But the bandages plus rainy weather means he is home for the day as well. What does that look like? He has plopped down in the recliner, remote in hand, and the volume up incredibly loud because he is deaf and won’t admit it to himself! (Just a little frustrated about that, but at some point you just have to say “whatever” and move on.) So that means I can only find a bit of quiet at the dining room table with my EarPods crammed in my ears to try to shut out some of the noise. C’est la vie!

Now that I have whined enough about my situation, let me tell you what I’ve been reading this week.

The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas. (p. 135 of 246) This was the book that I expected to get to finish at the conference this weekend. Set in the 1950s, it is the story of four young ladies who are beginning their freshman year at Radcliffe College. While in the area, they begin a friendship with Alice, a single woman who owns a local bookshop and they begin a book club. Their discussions center around books that examine the role of women in society and often become heated as some of the girls hold very traditional stances. Against the backdrop of these conversations, one of the freshman girls is assaulted and cannot share her trauma with her friends and turns only to Alice. Nearly halfway through the book, I’m really enjoying the conversations and watching as the literature becomes relevant to the situations they are finding themselves in.

Adam Bede by George Eliot. (p. 237 of 574) I’m just going to be honest here. I’m struggling to find inspiration to continue reading this classic novel. When I first started the book, I was drawn in by the theological concepts and the growing relationships. However, the reading is SLOW and it just feels like I am slogging through thick mud to finish a single chapter. There is part of me that wants to read this work because I know it is important and well-written. But then I find myself questioning if it is worth the effort. I’ve not made a decision yet, but I won’t be surprised if this is DNF’d this week because of how much I am drawn into my first BIG NOVEL of the summer.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (p. 66 of 627) When I first learned about the Summer Big Book challenge, I immediately knew this was my opportunity to finally give this book a chance. I picked it up last week and got to a slow start rather intentionally; I didn’t want to get too invested before going to the TMTA conference. While in my hotel room on Friday night, I picked up the book for read a bit more and the time travel element was established — and I was HOOKED! So now I just want to keep my nose in this massive book and see what is going to happen to Claire in old-world Scotland. My goal is to finish this big book in the month of June so I can pick up another one to enjoy in July.

That’s what has my attention at the moment. Now….back to the reading!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer classic fiction historical

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Jun 10

Finally Getting Back to It (June 10, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I intended to write with more regularity. I really did! But when life and performances began to take off, something had to give…..and blogging was the obvious choice. When things began to slow down, the thought of trying to catch you up on my activity, dear Reader, was overwhelming. Even though life was busy, I managed to continue reading a bit. But every time I thought about sitting down to write an update, I froze.

So I have decided to simply update you in this way. Since my last post in March, I have read 5 additional novels (both audio and print books). The books ranged from contemporary literature to beach reads. That’s the total update you’re getting for March, April, and May. Now I can just pick up and report on my reading for the last couple of weeks.

What Have I Finished Reading?

For the official kick-off of summer reading, I started The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah the day after Memorial Day. I have really enjoyed reading Hannah’s works recently and decided to explore another of her earlier works. Published in 2004, the novel is the story of two women. Angie is a divorcee who has also experienced fertility issues and has no children. Lindsey is a teenager from a dysfunctional family who finds herself pregnant. The Things We Do for Love is a beautiful exploration of family, motherhood, love, and loss.

What Am I Currently Reading?

  • Adam Bede by George Eliot. I’m only about 220 pages into the book and enjoying it at a leisurely pace. With a goal of reading roughly 25 pages each day, Adam Bede will certainly be a long term project for the summer.
  • The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas. I’ve only read a paragraph….but I’ve started! With more travels coming up this week, I needed to get something loaded and started into my Libby app that would keep me moving while sitting at the recruiting booth for WBU at the Texas Music Teachers’ Convention in Waco this week.

What’s Ahead?

While watching YouTube earlier this week, I stumbled on Sue Jackson’s Big Book Summer Challenge and was intrigued. The premise is pretty simple: read big books between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For the purposes of this challenge, a big book is defined as anything with 400 pages or more. I am certain that I can read at least one big book this summer…and here’s hoping that I can read a few more. Here’s my list of possibilities for summer 2024.

  • Adam Bede (George Eliot)
  • Black Out (Connie Willis)
  • Outlander (Diane Galbadon)
  • Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy)

There you have it! Now back to the reading. (And the blogging hopefully…..look for update posts each Monday throughout the summer!)

~Kennith

Big Book Summer classic fiction update

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Jun 10

Smoke and Wind Everywhere (Mar 2, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I’m a week late on making this update, but life has been a little hectic the past couple of weeks. A couple of fun performances and UIL solo & ensemble competitions took the majority of my musical attention after returning from San Antonio. Add to that the first couple of weeks of rehearsals for the children’s opera produced by Opera of the Plains and you will see that I have been a busy boy! Last week, wildfires plagued the Panhandle and the windy conditions made containment a major challenge while blowing heavy smoke into Plainview. While I was never in danger from the fires, the acrid smell brought some frightening times from my youth right back to the forefront of memory.

With all of that going on, reading took a bit of a back seat in the second half of February. Still, I managed to work my way through a couple of books that I enjoyed quite a bit.

What I Finished

  • Red, White, and Royal Blue (Casey McQuiston). Let’s start with a simple statement: I LOVED THIS BOOK! It has everything you could want…humor, intrigue, politics, romance. Alex is the son of the US President. Henry is a member of the British Royal family. The two hate each other—or is the tension really denying deeper feelings? This LGBTQ novel is both riveting and heart-warming. It is a worthy read by any book lover.
  • Yellow Face (R.F. Kuang). Two authors — one white, one Chinese-American — are at the heart of the novel. When one dies suddenly, the other takes her first draft of a new novel, edits and caresses it into a masterpiece and publishes it as her own. Is it plagiarism? In an industry where there is “nothing new under the sun,” Yellow Face is a deep exploration of integrity, racial sensitivity, and creative freedom. It also brings to question where original inspiration comes from….and if it’s even possible to write a story that hasn’t been influenced by the experiences and thoughts of another person. While this wasn’t a pleasure for me to read, it did make me think deeply about issues.

What I Did Not Finish

  • The Caine Mutiny (Herman Wauk). I always struggle when I decide to DNF a book. With the craziness of February, I was barely able to read 50 pages of this massive work. Rather than dragging this book with me into another month, I decided to shelf it for now. I enjoyed the writing, so maybe I’ll return to this military story again at a later date.

What’s On My TBR

Three books are on my radar at the moment.

  • The Women (Kristen Hannah). I’ve been anxious to dive into the latest book from a favorite author ever since it arrived a few weeks ago. I’ve barely started it, but I can tell that I’m going to enjoy this tale of the women heroes in Vietnam’s nursing units.
  • 23rd Midnight (James Patterson). I’ve always enjoyed these stories of the Women’s Murder Club series. Again, just started it….but I’m expecting a fast, enjoyable read.
  • Silas Marner (George Eliot). March brings me back to my project of exploring the works of Eliot. Since the month looks busy, I’ve elected to read one of the shorter works. With less than 200 pages and the regular assignment of this novel to high school students, I’m feeling confident that I can complete my reading goal this month.

There you have it. I’m going back to my reading chair now and will tell you how things are going in a few weeks.

~Kennith

2023 Reading Challenge Uncategorized

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Mar 20

Not Quite What I Expected (Mar 20, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I planned to get so much reading done while visiting my parents last week. I was going to have a reading picnic in the park. I was going to get some much needed practicing done too.

What I did, however, was catch a horrible cold and flopped from the bed to the couch and back again. The last thing I was able to do was hold a book and comprehend anything.

So, needless to say, I didn’t make the progress I had hoped for. But here’s what I managed to do before everything fell apart.

What I Finished Reading

  • The 23rd Midnight (James Patterson). When I can’t read anything else, I return to tried and true series. This installment of the Women’s Murder Club was much darker as it involved a copycat serial killer who targeted our heroines. It was a page turner, but I definitely didn’t read it right before bed!

What I’m Currently Reading

  • The Women (Kristin Hannah) p. 268 of 464. This exceptional new novel tells the story of female nurses serving in Vietnam at the height of the war. It’s a story of loss, grief, love, and purpose. The leading character, Frankie, has returned back to the States after her tour of duty only to find a world more torn apart than she imagined that discounts her experiences and service. I’m finding this read both enthralling and thought provoking.
  • Silas Marner (George Eliot) p. 40 of 183. As part of this year’s reading project, I selected this familiar work for a busy month. Although I’ve not gotten very far into the story yet, I find Eliot’s writing very easy to read as long as I am engaged. (Lesson learned when I had to reread 10 pages because I had no clue what I had just covered). With a weekend at home coming up and a hope that my stopped up ear will improve, I plan to make some headway into this work soon.

Next on my TBR?

  • Just Show Up (Cal Ripken). With the start of baseball season just a few more days away, I decided to read a memoir from this baseball great. I also need a departure from the heavy plots of the novels I’ve been pouring over recently. I don’t know how much I’ll enjoy this, but it seemed like a good option and I’m ready for something a little different.

There you have it! Now back to the reading….

Kennith

Uncategorized

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Feb 11

Back Just in Time for Snow (Feb 11, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

It’s been a hectic few weeks since I last posted. Returned from Asheville motivated to get some quality work done. My body had other plans as a nasty upper respiratory infection settled into my chest and would not let go! Managed to get over that in time to head to San Antonio for this year’s Texas Music Educators’ Association (TMEA) conference. Great to see some friends and fellow music teachers before getting home in time for a winter storm to roll into the area.

All of that to say, it’s been an interesting season for my reading life. While at home recovering, I was able to finish several books that were in process. I got started on the next batch of books, but reading was not a major priority while I was in central Texas. Now that I’m home, I’m hoping to get back into my reading routine.

What I Finished

  • The Mill on the Floss (George Eliot). I vaguely remembered the closing image of the book from my undergraduate days, but I had forgotten how well-written this novel really is. I’m glad it was my first venture back into Eliot’s writing in this year of learning more about the author.
  • Me Before You (Jojo Moyes). Someone should have warned my seat mates on my flight out of Asheville that this was going to be so emotional. I was ugly crying by the time I got to the end of this beautiful story. I talked about the themes in my last post, but I have found myself returning to these questions about length of life vs. Quality of life in the days since leaving these characters. I think this one is going to stay with me for a while.
  • Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books (Cathy Rentzenbrink) I don’t know why exactly, but I lost patience with this book. Maybe it is because I rarely read non-fiction (although I would like to read more of it). While reading, I thought the “story” had already reached its conclusion, but the author stretched in order to meet a page requirement. I made it to the end, but it was a rocky ride to the conclusion.
  • On the Way to the Wedding (Julia Quinn) I absolutely adore the Bridgerton series! This installment did not fail to engage me either. A jilted groom, scandalous blackmail, and tons of humor makes Gregory’s story enchanting and a great end to the series I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Now I just have to figure out what saga will fill the void left by the Bridgertons.
  • City of Bones (Michael Connelly) I discovered the Harry Bosch novels several years ago when I decided to randomly read through a shelf of the local library. These police thrillers are set in my beloved Los Angeles and are gritty and hard-hitting. City of Bones was a bit uncomfortable as it addressed child abuse and pedophilia. Despite the subject, I was fully invested in the story and was shocked to see Harry turn in his badge at the close of the book. Now I’m intrigued to see how Connelly will continue the story of this Vietnam vet turned homicide detective.

So that accounts for books 2 through 6 of 2024. I’m on pace to complete my goal of reading 40 books before the end of the year. Forward we go.

What I’m Reading Now

February saw the start of reading works by my other focus author of the year. So I’ve got a piddly start on The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. What little I’ve read so far has been beautiful, but this is a big read. I’ve got a lot of work to do if I’m going to finish it by the end of the month.

Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang has been a surprise! I knew very little about the premise when I picked it up and now I can’t wait to find out what happens next. The sheer idea of an author finishing the novel of a colleague that she watched choke to death is both hysterical and an ethical dilemma rolled into one. I expect to have a lot to say about this book.

With the popularity of Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, I had to pick it up. I am enjoying the connection between the son of the US President and a member of the British royal family that began as nothing short of detestation! The series of text messages regarding the pardoned turkey and its murderous looks are worth the read by themselves!

There you have it! Opera rehearsals and solo & ensemble competitions hit my plate this week if the snow decides to play along, so we will have to see how my reading life progresses. Wish me luck!

Happy reading, all! I’ll be back in two weeks.

update

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Jan 26

It’s Been a Rough Few Weeks (Jan 26, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I had great plans for this week. The universe was setting up for a perfect situation for lots of reading. The cold came in and no one wanted to move. Then life happened. With the cold came a migraine that wouldn’t let go. Then came a performance that I had hoped to avoid. Dad was admitted to the hospital after going to the ER with chest pains and difficulty swallowing. (Thankfully, everything turned out okay and he’s back at home.) Just as I was about to get back into a routine, I developed a nasty sinus infection that almost wiped me out! Now I’m sitting in the airport in Houston on my way to Asheville for a much needed weekend break.

Why tell you all of that? I felt I needed to explain the next portion.

What I Finished Reading

Nothing….nada….nope! I really thought I was going to have at least one book to add to my completed list, but….yeah…..

What I’m Reading

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. (94% complete) I have struggled to finish this novel. I loved the relationship between Tom, Maggie, and Phillip as children. I was engaged as Tom and his father raged against Wakem. But as Maggie found herself in a love triangle, it felt as though things simply dragged on eternally. I used the first leg of today’s flight to plug through some more of the novel. I’m hoping now that I’m in the last 10% of the book that I can just power through so I can start something new (and devote some time to what I have neglected).

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (p. 282 of 334). I cannot put this book down! I am fascinated by the concepts that are raised about quality of life, the struggles of the paraplegic community, and the impact that injury has on families and caregivers. Since I’m reading this on my iPad, I don’t always have a sense of how much progress I am making. I think it would have been a much faster experience if I were reading it in a traditional format, but I’m trying to get used to doing more ebooks. I’m enjoying the process and should have a finish here as well before my next update.

Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink. (27% complete) I haven’t read a word since my last update. This is also on my Kindle, so every time I pick up the device, I feel as though I need to read the Eliot instead.

What’s Next in my TBR

I’ve got a few things coming up that I’m really looking forward to. Here’s what I’m planning for the weeks ahead (in no specific order)

  • On the Way to the Wedding (Julia Quinn) – It’s time for a return to the Bridgerton series.
  • The Caine Mutiny (Herman Wouk)
  • Yellow Face (R.F. Kuang)
  • Silver Linings Playbook (Matthew Quick)

There you have it. I’ll join you again on February 9 from San Antonio and the Texas Music Educator’s Conference. Not entirely sure how much reading I’ll manage to get done while I’m there, but we will see.

Happy reading, y’all!

update

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