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May 2026 TBR

May 6, 2026 by Suzanne

Welcome to Mashed Potato May! 

No, it’s not about seeing how many mashed potatoes I can eat without suffering serious consequences (a challenge I would happily undertake). For fans of the Books Unbound Podcast, it’s about reading the books that have been on your TBR for a minute that you haven’t quite gotten to yet. Mashed potatoes are the perfect metaphor for how I feel about the books that hover near the top of the TBR. Saving the best for last, if you will. Like eating mashed potatoes after you’ve eaten everything else on your plate.

[Aside – I do not do that. Potatoes first. Sometimes, potatoes only. Sometimes, potatoes mixed with something else on the plate, even though that violates the one-food-at-a-time code. That’s just how excited I get about eating potatoes.]

I do not have leftover feelings about mashed potatoes. And I don’t have leftover feelings about any book I’ve listed on a TBR this year, either.

This month’s list is intentionally sparse (well, compared to my usual TBRs) to allow me to give some TLC to the books I’ve already planned but didn’t read yet because…

  • Someone else had them on hold at the library, or
  • I started them and then had to switch gears to finish a book club selection before we met and didn’t pick the original book back up, or
  • (most likely) I had 30+ books on my TBR for the month, and that’s not typically a reasonable expectation.

So I’m dipping back into

And adding just a (relatively) few more for this month.

[Disclaimer – I am a Bookshop.org affiliate – I get a cut of the sales from most of the links below.]

Book Clubs

Cozy

I incorporated most of my cozy reading plan for May into the summer months, but there are a few books that I had on hold at the library that became available recently. I’ll continue to read these throughout this month.

Anti Brain Rot Challenge

I ordered the three curricula I’m tackling for this challenge so that the one that will take the longest to see progress on (i.e., learning organ) was started first. While that’s not going as quickly as I’d planned, I have made some progress. At this point, I’m still regaining flexibility/mobility in my fingers so that I can play keys more nimbly. We’ll add in feet later.

That skill will also help out with my second curriculum, which I’m easing into this month. My goal for this curriculum is to write a score (or a song) and upload a recording on Bandcamp. I already have a rough draft of a score that I’m excited to perform. This curriculum will include some readings on deep listening, experimental sound/music, and other related topics. I’m going to start with these:

52 Book Club

I don’t have specific books for the May mini-challenges here yet, but I’m keeping an eye out for these prompts as I read. Extra challenge this month – the three May mini-challenges must be published in different decades.

  • May Mini 1 – A coffee shop scene
  • May Mini 2 – Character has a roommate
  • May Mini 3 – “I’ll be there for you.”

Libro.fm

OK, so I am burning through audiobooks these days. So I’m going to keep doing so with this challenge in mind. Books I should be able to finish by the end of the month:

  • This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (narrated by Zadeiah Campbell-Davies) – Read a bookseller-recommended audiobook – this one has been recommended by so many people, and it finally became my turn on our library’s waitlist, and I finished and returned it within 24 hours. It’s so good. I concur with my librarian friend that this is the best book about books (and bookshops) that I’ve read in a long time. I enjoyed the audio, but I’m 100% going to buy the print copy because 1) book lists, and 2) I will definitely re-read it at some point.
  • The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd (narrated by Saskia Maarleveld) – Read an audiobook with a buddy. It was…fine. But Brenda also read it via audio to discuss at book club last night, so I’m counting it toward this prompt.
  • Flashlight by Susan Choi (narrated by Eunice Wong) – Plan or join an audiobook outing. I’m counting my Silent Book Club meetup this Sunday as an “audiobook outing.” I’m sure others will also be reading via audio, as this will free up our hands for food truck treats.
  • A Murder in Eight Cocktails by Kelly Mullen (narrated by Laurence Bouvard) – Read an audiobook from our New This Week podcast
  • The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende (narrated by Samantha Desz, Cynthia Farrell, Joy Osmanski, and Timothy Andrés Pabon) – Listen to an audiobook by a Latine author
  • Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (narrated by Arian Moayed) – Listen to an audiobook by a South West Asian or North African author

I hope you get to read (and eat) some of your mashed potatoes, too!

Posted in Books, Cozy, Reading Challenges, Resolutions | Leave a Comment »

Friday Five – So It Begins (Orientation Season)

May 1, 2026 by Suzanne

We have our first Transfer Orientation today. My first experience with orientation as an advisor. I anticipate going home and not wanting to talk to anyone for about 30 hours after it’s over, but otherwise having a pretty good day.

A few reads I’ve enjoyed this week:

  • I adore this piece on getting older. I want to be able to say kinder things about my body, like “It is doing its best with the hand it was dealt, and that is far more than I ever before thought possible.“ Good goal.
  • About once a decade, I get tired of my wardrobe. Some staples stay, but I get an itch to donate everything else and start fresh. In the past, I’ve done this quickly, but my intentional slow-down with spending is giving me the opportunity to search for things I really love and also not jump into getting rid of things that maybe just need minor repairs to be wonderful again. I go to thrift stores expecting not to buy anything, instead of just buying everything that strikes my fancy because it’s such a good deal. And I’m looking for things that are better for the earth. I’m currently dating (not committed yet, just seeing how things work out) a few cute items at Pact, so I’m happy to see them on this list. 
  • Speaking of things I’m dating…I want this. I love a simple swimsuit with a short.
  • I like a niche memoir, and Leigh Kramer loves fashion fiction/nonfiction the way I love foodie fiction/nonfiction. I’ll have to check out a few of these (I’m especially interested in the Iris Apfel one).
  • And to culminate this list of pleasures, a lovely reminder from Jenny Lawson – don’t begrudge yourself happiness.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of your favorite things and people!

Posted in Alive, Beauty, Books, Friday Five, Health, Hope, Mental Health, Work | Leave a Comment »

Friday Five – Good Buys

April 24, 2026 by Suzanne

Happy Friday, friends! This week’s post is weirdly shopping heavy, but I’m here for it. I mean, some of the implied shopping is books, so at least that tracks. 

  • Yesterday was Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day), otherwise known as Day of Books and Roses. One of my coworkers surprised us with a selection of bookish stickers (“team whoever the villain is” is my favorite), bookmarks, roses, and a book of our choosing from her donation pile. 
  • Excited about Independent Bookstore Day tomorrow. I mean, every day is Independent Bookstore Day to me, and event days are crowded, so I’ll probably skip the festivities at my local shops. But I like the opportunity to celebrate them, even if from afar. I also love Modern Mrs. Darcy’s list of great indie bookstores around the world.
  • I took Montana Happy’s cozy living style quiz. Zero surprise that “whimsical retreat” is my brand of cozy (although I do like a garden, and also a house, not an apartment, is my ideal).
  • My current financial goal is to insert a pause on purchases. I am a quick decision-maker, which is beneficial in literally every facet of my life…except shopping. It urges me to buy things that, if I put just a little more time and thought into it, I might not want in the long run and thus regret buying. So this cute top is on pause right now. I want more spring/summer casual business clothes for work…but also need to reassess if this is one I really love or if it just checks that box (meaning there might be something else I want more). If I still love it in a week, I’ll take the leap.
  • Speaking of things I took off pause…these are the best under-skirt shorts I’ve ever worn. I have only worn them once, but it was on a super mobile day (i.e., I walked around a lot rather than just staying in/near my office, like most days), and they did not budge even a little bit. They’re also lightweight and super soft and low maintenance. I’m going to pause a little before purchasing more – give them a couple more wears to see if it was a one-time thing or if the quality persists after multiple washes – but if they continue to perform as well as they did the other day, Thigh Society can just take all my money. A good undershort is hard to find.

Enjoy your weekend! I hope you get to visit at least one indie bookstore (if that’s your thing)!

Posted in Books, Bookshops, Cozy, Friday Five, Fun, Getting It Together, Home, Joy, Resolutions, Work | Leave a Comment »

Friday Five – Little Pockets

April 17, 2026 by Suzanne

I’m wearing jeans today. It’s been a minute since I’ve worn real pants. But they looked cute and I bought them. So here we are. I forgot how little the pockets are.

This has been a high-anxiety week. No specific reason (other than the usual living-in-this-world). I did have a checkup at the doctor (everything’s good), so maybe that’s it. 

Anyway, today’s list focuses on little pockets of joy I love from the week. Enjoy!

  • I love this poem by Rebecca Dupas – How To Slay a Dragon
  • How did Dorie Greenspan know that what the world needs now is to hear her wax poetical about pastry? [P.S. Dorie Greenspan always gushes about pastry.] [P.P.S. The world always needs it.]
  • Sally Field stars in Remarkably Bright Creatures! This is a great year for the best books being made into films.
  • My tomato plants are thriving with all the moisture we’ve been getting, but they look a little lonely. Time to plant some friends!
  • Next week is National Library Week! The theme this year is Find Your Joy, and I’m pretty sure my joy is at the library. I’ll have to make sure to block out some time to do some meandering and browsing.

How are you doing? Hope you find some joy this weekend.

Posted in Books, Cozy, Food, Friday Five, Poetry | 2 Comments »

Friday Five – Life and a Love Story

April 10, 2026 by Suzanne

What a year this week has been. I haven’t been this happy to see Friday in a minute. And I get to leave early to attend a program at the library this afternoon, so that’s exciting.

Here are some things I enjoyed reading this week:

  • I’m excited to add a life audit from The Good Trade to my goal review process. I’ve decided to incorporate little transition spaces into the year. Advent, for example, begins the church year during the same season the calendar year is finishing. Sounds like a built-in transition space to me. This will also help move my goal-setting into January, which I’ve been considering for the past couple of years. I could really use a soft launch for new/updated goals rather than a sprint in the middle of winter when all I’m supposed to be doing is cuddling up with books and tea. I think I’ll try that out next time and see how it goes.
  • I love this list of recommendations for National Poetry Month from Parnassus Books.
  • I am emerging from my meal planning funk. I’ve cooked a couple of old favorites recently, and I’m trying out some salad recipes that go beyond just greens and dressing. Natalie Gale (via The Good Trade) must have known I was struggling. I am more excited about this list of 99 healthy recipes (divided by dietary lifestyle) than I have been about figuring out what to make for dinner in a long time.
  • This list is very Good Trade heavy this week, and I’m not even sorry. Here’s some good stuff on the importance of cultivating soft skills, especially with AI becoming more prevalent. I especially like the reminder that these are not just things you have or don’t have – they can be learned! As a former communication instructor, I assure you that most people do have to learn these skills. Even those who have natural talent at influence or resilience or conflict management still have to train and practice that talent to get the most out of it. This reminder also helps me be more hopeful about my future, as teaching adjunct may be something I go back to when I retire from full-time work.
  • An otherwise terrifying week has been made a little kinder – a little more “oh yeah, that’s the point of living” – by the Artemis II crew. This is what happens when people who actually know and love the moon go up to see what more we can learn about it. We get a love story. I love that they carried the flag designated for the Apollo 18 mission. I love that they named a crater after a loved one. Before this week, I didn’t know that craters were formed when the moon protected us from space junk. I am happy to know that now. Wishing the crew a safe return home today. Go outside and say hello to Carroll tonight.

I hope you have a good weekend, friends!

Posted in Alive, Beauty, Books, Bookshops, Food, Friday Five, Getting It Together, Mental Health, Poetry, Wonder | Leave a Comment »

Friday Five – Dreaming of a Reading Retreat

April 3, 2026 by Suzanne

I’m yearning for a reading retreat. I typically have at least one good reading night (i.e., no meetings or out-of-the-house plans, time specifically set aside on the calendar to read/journal) a week. But I’m talking an intentional day or two that is meticulously planned with all the laundry/regular weekend chores done, prepared foods and snacks, a list of specific books I want to tackle, and no other plans (unless they’re bookish ones – I will, on occasion, allow a book club meeting or bookish event some space on the retreat schedule). 

I have one scheduled this month with an online book group, and I would like to attend a social one at some point. A social retreat where we have breakfast together, read all day, and then come back together for dinner to discuss how our days went is pretty much my ideal vacation. But my current favorites are the ones I plan for just me.

One of my goals for the year is to have a personal book retreat in a hotel with room service. All the fun and relaxation of a personal retreat with none of the prep work (other than budgeting for it and booking the hotel). I’m looking forward to that.

When I feel this yearning, bookish pieces stick out to me even more than usual. 

  • Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Summer Reading Guide is coming out on May 15! If I were to make a list of my top ten reads each year, at least half of them would be books I learned about from the MMD team. The highlights usually get posted as a blog post later (the Minimalist List), but if you want the full guide experience and you’re not a member of the book club or Patreon, there’s a small charge. WORTH IT. I love that the theme for this summer is “reading retreat” and that the guide is going to offer tips for planning a good one. The unboxing is also a fun evening to gush about new books with bookish internet friends.
  • Are you upset about the state of the world? Feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Finding it difficult to sleep? “Have you tried reading a book about sexy dragons?” It really takes the edge off.
  • I love Roxane Gay’s Emerging Writers series, and I especially love this one – No More Siestitas.
  • I knew journaling was helpful, and neuroscience agrees!
  • Scandinavia (or the Nordic region in general) is seriously wooing me. Denmark with its hygge, Iceland with its Christmas cat and Jólabókaflód. And now Norway has entered the ring with an Easter tradition called påskekrim where you hole up and read crime fiction. WHAT. I feel like we would really benefit from having reading holidays. *slow blink* Country goals.

I hope you get to hole up and read (or do whatever you consider fun/relaxing) for a little while this weekend. Have a good one, friends!

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April 2026 TBR

April 2, 2026 by Suzanne

Unpopular opinion – Spring is, objectively speaking, the very worst season. At least in Texas. But I imagine any place with trees or floral plant life is just unbearable right now.

So what does that leave? The desert? Desert people – how are you right now? Can you breathe? I’ve forgotten how it feels to be able to do that. Is it wonderful? I bet it’s wonderful.

The pollen is really pollening. My gray car has taken on a perpetual yellow tint, despite vigilant rinsing. I’m constantly drugged, and as they are providing no actual symptom relief, I’ve concluded the allergy meds are merely keeping me alive. I have a constant wheeze. It’s a miracle I can open my eyes wide enough to read print at all.

That must be why the audiobooks I read in March outnumbered the print books I read. For the first time ever. Incredible.

It’s National Poetry Month, though, so I’m going to power through with puffy, watery eyes to enjoy all the lovely collections I’ve planned. Print is always my preference with poetry.

[Disclaimer – I am a Bookshop.org affiliate – I get a cut of the sales from most of the links below.]

Book Clubs

  • A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
  • Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (Rise & Shine theme – something blue)
  • The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler (I haven’t quite finished the previous ones in the series, so I’m going to have to read them OUT OF ORDER to get this one read by the time book club comes *melodramatically breaks out in hives*)
  • Black. Single. Mother. by Jamilah Lemieux
  • Katabasis by R. F. Kuang
  • Choose your own poetry adventure – see the poetry section below!

Cozy

Poetry

It’s National Poetry Month, and I’m going to celebrate not only by reading lots of poetry but also by learning more about how to write it well from some of my favorite poets.

Anti Brain Rot Challenge

PopSugar

52 Book Club

Libro.fm

  • Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert  (narrated by Adjoa Andoh) – Listen to an audiobook by a disabled author (Part of The Great Audio Reading Surge of March 2026. It’s so good! I’m excited to read the other two this month.)
  • Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (narrated by Robert Sean Leonard) – Listen to a banned book (Another part of The Surge. I am glad I didn’t read this as a child. I was way too sensitive to have been able to handle this then. It was almost too much for Adult Me to try to listen to during lunch and while driving. There was ugly crying involved.)
  • Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab – Listen to a Libro.fm staff pick (Also read in March. While I liked Schwab’s series – Shades of Magic and Villains, specifically – better, it was a solid read, and the audio was fantastic.)
  • Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson (narrated by Viola Davis) – Read an audiobook from your wish list (Just waiting on my libro.fm credit for the month to pop up!)

Nowhere Book Bingo

Bad Bitch Book Club

  • Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky – A collection of poetry written by someone who has a chronic illness or disability
  • Finger Exercises for Poets by Dorianne Laux – A nonfiction book about art or creativity
  • Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson (narrated by Viola Davis) – An audiobook narrated by the author

Overeducated Women With Cats

  • Shady Hollow by Juneau Black – A book with an anthropomorphic animal
  • The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley – A book that blends genres (specifically, sci-fi and romance)

Alphabet Challenge 

Read My Bookshelf

Book Riot Read Harder

  • Game Changer by Rachel Reid – Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary author
  • Smothermoss by Alisa Alering – Read a book by a librarian

I hope spring is treating you more kindly than it is me, and I hope you get to read a lot of poetry (or whatever you want) this month!

Posted in Books, Cozy, Fandom, Health, Poetry, Reading Challenges, Resolutions, Seasons | 3 Comments »

Reading Habits – A Question

March 31, 2026 by Suzanne

I was going to address a question I got about my reading life with my April TBR tomorrow. Then I started writing, and it was longer than an intro to an already long post should be. So it gets its own post!

Question – How much do you actually remember of what you read? 

If I’m recalling the conversation where this question was asked correctly (heh, irony), it came from someone who thinks they don’t read a lot. They read about a book a month (which is a lot, relatively speaking, as many people don’t read at all), and they really delve into it. That is, they read it slowly and also end up reading articles and listening to podcasts or watching interviews about the book, the topic, and/or the author. They join the fandoms of their favorite series and dabble in their own fanfic with their favorite characters. They go all in.

And that’s fantastic. I love that so much. What a thorough, beautiful way to approach reading!

I don’t do this with most of the books I read, but I typically have at least one deep dive going on at a time (e.g., my current hyperfocus babies are organ/music theory and Heated Rivalry). My brain does love a rabbit hole, and focusing on a book/series or a theme and reading/researching it so thoroughly definitely scratches that itch. 

However, while this approach often helps with my memory, the main factor that determines how well I remember a book is simply how much I connect to it, regardless of the length of time it takes me to read it.

The books I really love (i.e., rate 4.25 and above on StoryGraph) – I remember vividly. I remember how it made me feel, where I was/what was going on in the world when I first read it (because I am likely to re-read it), what I loved about the characters and specifically why I disliked some of them, some obscure plot details, and maybe even a direct quote or two. I will be absolutely insufferable (or delightful, depending on whether you’re a person who likes joy at all) any time this book comes up in conversation. Which will be often, if I have anything to do with it.

Most of the rest? I remember generally – basic plot, favorite character(s), intersecting themes, etc. Enough to chat about it at book club, especially if I read it within a few months of discussion time. After that, I will need to google a character list and a brief synopsis before I can contribute effectively to the discussion beyond, “I really liked it” or “This scene was funny.”

And there are about a handful of books I finish every year that, even only a few months later, I could not tell you what they were about to save my life. But that’s rare. Most of the time, if a book is that lackluster to me, I don’t finish it and thus don’t count it toward my total list for the year. The exceptions to this rule are usually things I’m reading for book club that I would probably not have even started otherwise. I’ve noticed that as I get older, I’m more likely to slide a book over to the DNF pile (but not the official, public one on Goodreads…I have feelings about this) if it doesn’t hold my interest. I feel like this leaves more room in the library of the old mind palace for the books that do.

How about you? Are you an intentional deep-dive reader, a multiple-books-at-a-time chaos reader, or something in between?

Posted in Beauty, Books, Fandom, Joy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Friday Five – I’m a Fan

March 27, 2026 by Suzanne

Happy Friday, friends. We did it. Despite being absolutely covered in pollen every time I step outside, I have made it through the week. Claritin is my friend.

I’m a big fan of these five things this week:

  • This is the deep dive into bar soap that I didn’t know I needed, and I am here for it. Bar soap for life. I mean, not Irish Spring, as I’m allergic. But you can pry my locally crafted soaps and my Dr. Bronner’s peppermint away from my cold, dead hands.
  • Jane Fonda is going to play one of my favorite book characters from the books I read last year. I’m so excited!
  • HARRY STYLES TALKING TO HARUKI MURAKAMI ABOUT RUNNING! “One of the most important things for a human being is to embrace the contradiction.” I feel better about life in general just having read Murakami saying, “What is this chaos in me?” Same, Murakami. 
  • Today, we are celebrating International Waffle Day (Observed) in the office because we had another lunch to attend on Wednesday, when it was actually International Waffle Day. Of course, I brought my waffle iron to work. While Mark Bittman’s quick and easy waffles are my favorite go-tos, I make a mess when I mix them up. I needed something more portable, so I adjusted to a mix I could just shake and pour. I tested it last night, and it was fine. Meh. It was waffles from a mix. It will work. I have cranberries and thyme to add to it, so that will spruce it up a bit. At any rate, yay waffles for lunch!
  • I’m going to make this dish this weekend. Baharan brought it to cookbook club, and I can’t stop thinking about it. So simple. So delicious. So easy to make, even on busy days.

I hope you have a good weekend!

Posted in Books, Food, Friday Five, Fun, Run, Work | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Friday Five – Awe

March 20, 2026 by Suzanne

“When was the last time you felt in awe of something?”

I appreciate nature. I do. Especially the sky. There are few things I love more than driving down a country road under a vast canopy of blue.

While nature may be my reactive response to the question, though, there are lots of other experiences that make me pause and take notice.

Today’s Friday Five brings you five things that inspire awe for me:

  • A really good cup of coffee. Not just a decent cuppa that gets the job done, but a truly exquisite coffee. That will stop me mid-sentence. So many factors go into producing the perfect cup of coffee – where and how it’s grown, how it’s harvested, how the beans are cared for before/during/after roasting, how it’s ground, how it’s brewed, the temperature at which it’s served – it’s a remarkable moment when they all come together to make something special.
  • Zoom choirs. As tired of Zoom as I got during the 2020 shutdown, some of the most beautiful things that came out of it were the choirs. I mean, I love choral singing anyway, and it’s a fast way to get to awe for me, but coupling it with the commitment to making sure people could still enjoy it despite the obstacles of social distancing was particularly touching. The amount of collaboration from all the participants and the hard work from the editors that it took to put these presentations together yielded something marvelous.
  • Meditation. My favorite style of meditation usually involves prayer, but even when it doesn’t, it’s still full of wonders. At its base, it is quiet and still and open. I am seldom closer to awe than when I’m meditating. There is so much noise in the world, and it’s so easy to get distracted from my own soul and my own purpose. There are many different ways to meditate, and I highly recommend finding one that works for you. 
  • Reading poetry. I am easily uplifted by the exceptionally worded sentence. Well-crafted poetry takes it one step further. 
  • People who excel. I love watching people who are very good at what they do – who have found their niche and revel in it – perform. Artists, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, athletes. Even if I don’t generally give a flying fig about what they’re doing (looking at you, most sports), if they are exceptional at it, I suddenly can’t get enough of it. This also extends to people I have worked with. In the grand scheme of things, very few things about any job I’ve ever had are earthshaking. But when I see someone really make a difference in a student’s day or their college experience, or enrich their life in some way, the impact of that moment makes it easier to get out of bed for a while.

Where do you experience awe?

Posted in Alive, Beauty, Church, Cozy, Friday Five, Mental Health, Music, Poetry, Wonder | 2 Comments »

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