quick lit: next page, please {July 2024}

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It’s been a while since I posted anything I’ve written here. But I wanted to share some of the highlights of my reading year so far. Click on the titles to hear what the publishers have to say about each read.

These do not include my rereads, including A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT by Becky Chambers.  On New Year’s I’ve made it a tradition to read one selection of the Monk & Robot Series; thus I guarantee myself a 5-star read at the beginning of each year. I also reread WINTERING: THE POWER OF REST AND RETREAT IN DIFFICULT TIMES by Katherine May. And THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone, a Rocket City Mom Virtual Book Club selection.

Additionally, I have been really getting into series.  Anthony Horowitz’s Hawthorne & Horowitz Mystery released a fifth book this year, CLOSE TO DEATH that I was really excited to read.  I made progress in Deborah Crombie’s Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series, meaning I have read book 4 and currently reading book 5. There are 19 books in this series! I also was introduced to the Henry Kimbll/Lily Kintner series by Peter Swanson. Thanks to William and Morrow for the advanced reader’s copy, I read the third one, A TALENT FOR MURDER. Then I went back and read books 1 and 2. Lily Kintner might be one of my newest favorite characters.

Now to my highlighted selections.

BELLE GREENE by Alexandra Lapierre. This is a book that made me cry. I felt so deeply connected to Belle Greene, the curator of J.P. Morgan’s personal library. The story was heartrending, inspiring and empowering. I was frustrated that I had never heard of her before but so happy I now know about her now.

84, CHARING CROSS ROAD by Helene Hanff. People have been telling me to try this epistolary read for a long time and it was what every one told me that it would be. I loved the story told by the correspondence between an American writer and the booksellers in England during World War II.  I read it in one sitting.

WHEN THINGS FALL APART by Pema Chödrön. It has felt that things have been falling apart for while and I have read parts of this book over and over and over again.  But I finally completed it. I am not Buddhist, but some of the concepts within have been really helpful in handling everything that has been going on in my life.

THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kailene Bradley. I enjoyed this genre-bending read that had me guessing unto the end. It’s sci-fi with a bit of romance mixed in. This book sent me to Google more times than I can count. Check it out.

MIDDLETIDE by Sarah Crouch. This is the SEP/OCT selection for the Rocket City Mom Virtual Book Club. I loved this atmospheric novel set in the Pacific Northwest by debut author Sarah Crouch.  My local indie, The Snail on the Wall, hosted Sarah for the launch of her book and she was delightful. You can watch the event HERE.

YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls. This might be the best book I have read this year. I have been reading a lot of books about hiking and enjoing these stories. Quiet, with beautiful writing, this is the book I didn’t know that I needed until I read it.

What have you been reading? Tell me in the comments.

…enjoy life

quick lit – next page, please {january 2023}

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Here’s a look at what I read in January. This year I am continuing to be very intentional and deliberate about my reading life in 2023. I don’t want to save the good stuff (taking inspiration for Ginger Horton’s episode on What Should I Read Next? podcast). One of my goals for the year is to make a significant dent in my Owned TBR Shelf, which I did by reading 3 books from that shelf this month. Yay!

A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY (Monk & Robot #2) by Becky Chambers

I absolutely love the Monk & Robot series and this one follows Sibling Dex and Mosscap off the mountain and into Panga. How will the people react to the robot? Will Sibling Dex still be a tea monk? This was the first book I read this year and I am planning on making reading a Monk & Robot during the first of the year a tradition. It’s dedication sums up my life beautifully: For anybody who doesn’t know where they are going. A lovely story about being where you are while you are there. I love this series so much! 

YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang

My first five-star read this year, I will read anything R. F. Kuang writes after last year’s BABEL was one of the my best reads. This one is very meta, set in publishing and about authors and who can tell what stories.  I am not sure I can form a concise thought about this yet; and I am going to read this one again. Set to release on May 16; thanks to William Morrow for the advanced readers’ copy. 

GALATEA by Madeline Miller

This is more short story than novella and I read it because I loved Miller’s CIRCE.  An interesting perspective on another Greek mythological tale.  I liked it.

THE SPACE BETWEEN WORLDS by Micaiah Johnson

This was a surprising five-star read for me; it’s a lesson on not giving up on a book when I think there is something there. I started it two or three times and the time was right for me to complete it this month! This is a sci-fi multiverse novel with multiple worlds with multiple you(s) on those worlds. I’ve always been fascinated with “the road not traveled” and “what if I had made a different choice” stories. This is all that and more.  I can’t stop thinking about it. Here’s to hoping Micaiah Johnson’s working on another one.

TO BE TAUGHT, IF FORTUNATE by Becky Chambers

I am now a Becky Chambers’ completist; and I’m not going to lie, I am sad about that. This one was published before A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT and is a bit more science-driven than her other works. This one was about a team of astronauts visiting and researching other planets who have to create a home in many locales. Visiting these other worlds was very imaginative. I loved what she says, “…a home can only exist in a moment. Something both found and made. Always temporary, in the grand scheme of things, but vital all the same.” I think fans of Andy Weir’s work will enjoy this one.

THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb

I read this for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club; it was the January’s selection.  I loved it because it had a lot of the things I loved: music and mystery. I had the privilege of interviewing Brendan Slocumb in Anne’s stead; it is an episode of the What Should I Read Next podcast.  He was a delight and he said that this story is based on his own life’s experience as a classical violinist who also had a violin stolen.  His upcoming release SYMPHONY OF SECRETS is releases in April and is set in the same universe as THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY! I love when books do that. 

THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESS (Mossa & Pleiti #1) by Malka Ann Older

Think Sherlock Holmes & John Watson. But females. On Jupiter because Earth is no longer inhabitable. It will release March 7th. I liked this one and will read the follow-up THE IMPOSITION OF UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES due out February 2024. Thanks to Tordotcom for the advanced readers’ copy. 

What did you read in January? As usual, I’m linking up to Anne Bogel’s Quick Lit post. If you’re here because you were there, thank you for coming.

enjoy life… 

what i’m into – keeping me sane {january 2023}

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Winter is hard for me.  I deal with seasonal affective disorder (sad) during the winter months and it’s heightened between the months of January and March because there are no major holidays like Christmas to brighten my days. In Alabama, we may get one light snowfall a year so the world outside is all browns and grays.  Frankly, it’s depressing. Last year was particularly difficult so I went into this year intentionally managing my days to counteract the sad. 

In January, I did two almost diametrically opposed things.  This is picking up on one of my lessons learned in 2022: two things (sometimes opposite things) can be true at the same time. 

I am resting, relaxing, taking it easy, slowing down, chillin’

I have taken more naps this month than I have in a long time. I’ve shut down work at 2 PM most days and haven’t gone back even after everyone is settled for the evening.  I bought a paint-by-numbers and I am giving that a go – I should be finished by January of 2024. I watched shows and movies that I have been wanting to watch for years. I read books; in fact, I devoted a whole weekend to a personal Reader’s Weekend. I completed three books during that time.  I didn’t feel guilty about taking time to talk on the phone with friends and family. I have tried (I’m not as successful as I want to be with this – work in progress) not to rush the Buddy Man with all of the things he has to do: getting out the door every morning, bedtime routine, etc. I have taken walks outside and tried to notice any color other than brown and gray. I have seen so many blue jays and the honeysuckle is coming in. I took a few days off work for my birthday and didn’t go near a computer at all. 

I am staying busy

I know. After reading that first part you’re probably thinking, “Wait. What?”. But it’s true. Work has kept me plenty busy: I recorded a podcast episode and interviewed Brendan Slocumb, author of THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY. That was so much fun! You all will get to hear it soon and I will post a link here when it is available. One of my clients has two major projects this quarter that have been wonderful but are keeping me pretty occupied. I am working on developing personal branding which you will see hints of on my IG. Full rebrand is planned for the Spring. I did a curation of my closet letting go of so many things that I have held onto during my KonMari tidying in 2019.  It’s out-of-here! I plan to curate my books this month and get all my papers under control in late February/early March. I planned and executed my personal Reader’s Weekend and Birthday Fav Day. I have been exercising in some way, shape, or form most days (remember, two things can be true). 

In summation, I am trying to stay occupied enough that the sad doesn’t have a chance to catch up with me but gentle and kind enough with myself to know that this is a low energy period and I have needed and will need to slow it down.

I don’t know if this is going to work long-term.  I do know when I visited my doctor last year, she told me to come back in early February if I wasn’t doing great and if I was doing OK, I could cancel my appointment.  Last week, I canceled. But, who knows? I may be back next month saying how it all crumbled to pieces in my hand and that I have been down for the count. That will be OK too. 

What have you been doing in January? Does the winter season affect you as much as it does me? Head over to Modern Mrs. Darcy: What’s Saving My Life Right Now and find out ways she and others combat the winter blues. And if you are here because you were there, thank you.

enjoy life…