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Day 2 – October TBR

Posted in 31 Days, Books, Joy on October 2, 2021| 2 Comments »

The TBR list grows exponentially. As much as I’m reading these days (for example, I finished 15 books in September), I still don’t usually make it all the way through my monthly TBR list. I’m ok with this. I look at these lists more as a “I’m going to start these books this month,” which is a better portrayal of what actually happens. This is how I get 40 books on my “currently reading” list on Goodreads, because I start them and then don’t take them off until I either finish them or decide I’m not interested enough to do so (rare, but it happens). 

So here are the things I’m interested in starting this month:

Joy

The joy selections this month are books I meant to start in past months but haven’t quite yet:

Community Reading

This section used to be reserved strictly for book club selections, but I find that the same spirit of camaraderie exists in less structured book discussions. So I’m also including things that I and a few book-loving friends are passing around (and thus gushing about together), things I’m reading for work, etc.

Additional Reads

These are books I’m may start/finish because they’re the next up in a series (big fan of series – more on that later in the month) or because someone is waiting for them so I have to take them back to the library soon or simply because it’s spooky season so I’m in the mood for witchy/gothic/horror/suspense themes.

It’s also likely that I’ll keep bingeing the next Phryne Fisher mystery (Greenwood), Cork O’Connor mystery (Krueger), or the latest Paisley Sutton or Harvey Beckett cozy (Bookens), and I may finally finish Braiding Sweetgrass (so good!) this month. 

What are you reading this month? Let’s gush about it together!

I’m talking about books for 31 days (and – let’s be real – the rest of my life).

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Friday Five – Favorite September Reads

Posted in 31 Days, Books on October 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »

I read so many good things this month that I had a hard time narrowing it down to five. Because I’m writing about books all month (and thus will have ample opportunity to discuss the others), I am appeased to highlight the five this month that stood out not only because I really liked them but also because of a certain factor that made this book (or, in the case of the first one, this author) particularly extraordinary.

Super vague? Yes. But I know what I meant, and hopefully you will, too, soon. I promise there’s method to the madness.

  1. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – Let me get this out of the way first – I LOOOOOVE Fredrik Backman. He writes character-driven fiction that is hilarious, charming, and detailed. When my own characters are falling flat and I can’t seem to make them come alive, I pause and read a little while out of whichever of his books is nearest to me to remind myself how to do it. Another reason I love his books is that in each one, there is at least one scenario that could go quite badly, but then the characters choose empathy and kindness instead of fear or selfishness, and the reader gets to see how wonderfully those decisions play out. And this may be my favorite book of his I’ve read yet. I wish I could give it more than five stars on Goodreads, because five is not enough.
  2. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See – Set mainly in Jeju off the coast of Korea, this book takes you through the story of the friendship and hardships between two haenyeo (female divers who harvested the ocean to support their families). I didn’t know anything about these legendary women before I picked up this book, and the tale is intriguing. While the book itself is fiction, it takes you through the area’s history, highlighting particularly the regimes in control, particularly during World War II and the Korean war (minor tangent – colonialism is trash). I also found the family structure in the divers’ subculture fascinating. Definitely glad my book club chose this one, because I’m not sure I would have picked it up myself, and I would have been missing out.
  3. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson – I started reading Caste as part of HR’s summer book club at work. There has been a lot of praise about this book already, and I don’t have much to add to what has already been said, except to say that it lives up to the hype. It is both meticulously researched and artfully written. One of the reasons it takes me so long to get through a lot of nonfiction is that it often reads so drily. It still took me a while to read this one but that’s because I didn’t want to miss a single word of her beautiful prose. I can’t wait to read her previous book The Warmth of Other Suns next.
  4. How To Be Both by Ali Smith – This book is also exquisitely written. It’s presented in two interrelated parts – one set in the 1400s and one set in more modern times. Some versions are printed with the older time frame first and some with the more recent time frame first. My copy started in recent years, but I kinda want to read it again a few years from now (after I’ve forgotten enough details that it feels quasi-new-ish) with the other time frame first.
  5. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton – Ok, so I haven’t technically finished this one yet. I’m listening during my commute, so it takes a little longer to get through it. But I don’t need to finish it to know I adore it. The main narrator is a crow. That’s it. That’s all it took to sell me on this series. But it gets better – it’s a zombie novel told from the perspective of a crow. I found out about it when we had our first in-person meeting of our book club at the local public library, and we were invited to take a couple of free books that they were sent. I chose the second book in the series (Feral Creatures, which is on the TBR for this month), so I decided to listen to the library’s audio copy first. It did not disappoint. Clever concept and good, witty writing. 

What have you read recently that you’d recommend?

I’m writing about my love of books all month.

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31 Days of Books

Posted in 31 Days, Books, Joy on October 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »

I have loved books all my life. If you had asked different family members when I learned to read, you would probably have gotten a variety of answers. Mom would confirm that it wasn’t until I started first grade that I really started reading on my own, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, church nursery workers, and babysitters would have sworn that I started earlier. As soon as I could sit up and hold them, I could entertain myself for hours just by flipping through the pages of my favorite books. I even tricked MeMaw into thinking I could read when I was about three years old because Mom had read the Little Golden Book version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to me so many times that I could not only recite it from memory but also follow the words with my finger and turn the pages at the right time, just like she did. 

One of the clearest ways I find joy is through reading. I definitely have my preferences, but I’ll read almost anything, particularly if I have people to talk to about it. I am insatiably curious. If I don’t think I’m sufficiently informed on a subject, I may Google it first, but that’s mostly to find books on the subject so that I can delve more deeply into the topic. A cozy evening at home alone usually involves a comforting beverage and my latest fiction obsession. For what it’s worth, I think that would also be a great date. Bring your book, I’ll bring mine, and let’s see where this goes. Or let’s bring each other books that we love. So many possibilities.

I track my reading, not only through monthly TBR lists that I post here but also by rating the ones I finish through Goodreads. I set a yearly goal, and this is the first year I’m actually ahead of schedule (by 15 books!). This month, I’m going to be talking about different aspects of my reading life each day. I am likely to gush about books and genres I particularly love, give tips for reading more, proclaim my adoration of book clubs, and talk about what I look for in a bookshop or reading nook. Unlike my other 31 days series, I don’t have a set rhythm for general topics. I’ll just post thoughts in the order that they come to me and keep the master list here. Hope you enjoy it!

Day 1 – Favorite September Reads
Day 2 – October TBR
Day 3 – How I Track My Reading
Day 4 – Your Book Club Personality
Day 5 – First Book Club of the Month
Day 6 – Contemporary Romance
Day 7 – How To Read More
Day 8 – Five Favorite Bookish Apps
Day 9 – The Joy of Shelfies
Day 10 – Not a Competition
Day 11 – Books for Celebrating National Coming Out Day
Day 12 – Where I Read
Day 13 – Poetry
Day 14 – Favorite Children’s Books
Day 15 – 5 Books About Books
Day 16 – Library Book Club
Day 17 – Reading Cookbooks
Day 18 – Food Memoirs
Day 19 – Church Book Club
Day 20 – Foodie Fiction
Day 21 – How I Get Out of a Reading Rut
Day 22 – Five Authors I Will Always Read
Day 23 – Reading for a Cause
Day 24 – Strangelings, Happy Endings, and Nowhere
Day 25 – Surrounded (Minor Thesis on a Dream)
Day 26 – In Praise of Audiobooks
Day 27 – Memoirs
Day 28 – Follow The Reader
Day 29 – Five Books That Inspire Me
Day 30 – For the Love of Bookshops
Day 31 – Final Thoughts

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Fall Wish List

Posted in Books, Food, Fun, Getting It Together, Joy, Mental Health, Music, Seasons, TV on September 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Sweater weather…if only in my apartment

One of my favorite posts I’ve read this month is Kaitlin Curtice’s autumn checklist. As seasons change, there is often an anticipation or rush or dread (depending on what the particular upcoming season tends to do to me), but the transition almost always includes a slight change in habits to accommodate whatever lies ahead.

I keep a standard list of tasks that I know I need to do on a regular basis for my life to feel somewhat put-together or fulfilled or happy or joyful. It is divided into general categories, and I track specific tasks within each category by color-coding so that I have a record of how often I do them (or how long it’s been and thus how I might want to work it in the next few days). The list I’ve been working with most of the year includes things you might expect:

  • Creative outlets (work on a knitting project, cook a meal, write, read, and play piano)
  • Movement (dance, kickboxing, run/walk, Pilates, and strength training)
  • Basic self-care (proper hydration, good food, and socializing online or in person)
  • Housekeeping (cleaning bathroom, doing dishes, taking out trash, doing laundry, and tidying)

As I enter fall, I look for ways to add more coziness and connection to my days. I like the idea of adding fun social outings to the mix so that I don’t isolate too much while also safeguarding the untasked downtime that I know I need for maintaining decent mental health by not packing my schedule with more meetings and obligations that try to pass themselves off as a social life. That was a long sentence that basically boils down to remembering that my social/solitude balance is important.

My reading habits also tend to change as the days get shorter and the weather grows cooler. I don’t always read more in the fall and winter but I do tend to choose more things in my comfort zone, which includes a lot of mysteries and gothic literature and magical realism and foodie fiction/memoir. You’ll see a lot more about my reading habits in October during this year’s 31 days series (more details coming on Friday).

Fall self-care looks like:

  • Warm beverages, cozy blankets, and books
  • Listening to records
  • Re-bingeing comfort shows (currently – Bones and Suits, but I’m about to start Once Upon a Time over and maybe actually watch the whole thing this time)
  • Restful weekends with minimal commitments
  • Coffee dates
  • Making big vats of soup
  • Sitting around fires

Do your self-care practices change with the seasons? If so, how?

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Friday Five – What’s In the Stars

Posted in Books, Friday Five on September 17, 2021| Leave a Comment »

I have read some really great books this month. I have only been sharing the things I plan to read but I seldom really talk about what I learn or what I love about them. So I think I’m going to start making the last Friday of the month (ish – maybe sometimes the first Friday of the next month) the top five reads I’ve enjoyed (with maybe the occasional “save yourself” PSA if I run into a book that I really didn’t like).

But today I want to talk about stars. Not the actual stars, although those are nice (I see you, full moon in Pisces on Monday), but rather the star ratings that I use when I log my books on Goodreads. I know that there are generic meanings, but I think that people pretty much ignore those for the most part. And by people I do mean me. I ignore them.

Here’s what my ratings mean instead:

  1. One star – Yuck. I’m embarrassed on behalf of humanity that this book exists. I don’t have this reaction often, but when I do, it’s visceral. I felt this way about Twilight (which I read – all four books – just so I could explain IN DETAIL exactly what I didn’t like to people who were like “How do you know if you haven’t read them?”). Also Bridges of Madison County. How anyone ever read that terrible book and thought, “Let’s prolong this drivel by making it into a movie” is beyond me. I have a copy that I use for blackout poetry, which greatly improves it. These books lived rent-free in my head for a long while, and they made me want to turn off my give-a-damn about my love of reading.
    [Aside – if you enjoyed either of those books, great for you. Read what you love; just keep reading. I’m sure you despise something that I love, and that’s ok, too.]
  2. Two stars – Meh. It may have taken me a long time to finish this book because it did not hold my attention at all. I many not have even finished it, which doesn’t happen very often. A lot of my two star reviews are classics which, admittedly, may just not be my preferred style but it felt like they in particular droned on and on. Anna Karenina is one such book – a few nice descriptions but overall too tedious to finish. Plus, I don’t think Tolstoy liked her (or maybe even women) that much. A Woman of Substance was suspiciously lacking in substance itself. Madame Bovary made me want to drop out of my honors humanities course from sheer boredom (I didn’t…thank goodness we only spent a week on it).
  3. Three stars – Good. Or…it was fine. Meh+, maybe. I don’t have vast complaints about this book. I may even be able to understand why other people liked it or why they thought I would. It didn’t quite live up to the hype for me, though. The most recent book I gave three stars was The Midnight Library, which I really wanted to love, but alas, no.
  4. Four stars – Great (or at least very good for what it is). I recommend it, particularly for people who like this genre. Most of the books I read fall within this category.
  5. Five stars – I LOVE IT AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT EVEN IF THEY NEVER READ THIS GENRE. I definitely own it and have probably bought additional copies to give away to reader friends. If you mention it, I will likely clap enthusiastically and perhaps hop around in joy a bit. I just can’t help myself. It’s possible that this book will make anyone who reads it a happier/better person. I may have cried when I finished because I was sad it was over. I felt this way about Their Eyes Were Watching God and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Anxious People is my most recent 5-star review. Stop what you’re doing and go read it now.

Do you track and rate the books you read (do you do it on Goodreads? Are we friends so I can see your recommendations?)? If so, how closely do you stick to the generic meanings on your ratings?

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September TBR

Posted in Books on September 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Hello! I get excited in September because both jobs calm down a little and the weather (usually) starts being a little more bearable. Well, there is talk that the weather may someday be more bearable, at least. I start to think about fall things, like who I’m going to be for Halloween (right now I’m varying between 80s Susannah Hoffs from the Bangles and Daria), warm beverages on patios, and new boots.

September’s not always a big reading month for me, but this year may be different. With the pandemic still raging away in Texas and the Texas legislature’s utter lack of concern for…well, anyone…I’m bouncing between hyper-anxious and dissociative, both of which have many effects, and one of them is that I act even more introverted than usual. If the last couple of weeks has been any indication, this may shape up to be a heavy reading month.

Joy

I am going to read the books I meant to read for joy last month because that didn’t happen at all. 

Community Reading

One way I’m keeping myself from going full hermit is continuing with book discussions. Most are online but a couple of them still meet in person. Follow the Reader met in the swimming pool last Thursday, and that is my new favorite way to talk about books in the summertime. I’ve joined a couple of other low-maintenance book groups in the last month or two

Seasonal Leanings

Ah, fall. The time of year when my love of mystery and gothic novels and magic intensifies. The TBR list for the month reflects some of these particular leanings.

Also I had to pick up the latest releases from two of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and I doubt I’ll be able to wait another month to tuck into them:

The list is long this month, but I’ve started quite a few of these selections and finished a couple of them already. So I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to finish most of it. 

What are you reading?

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August TBR

Posted in Books on August 4, 2021| 2 Comments »

August is the busiest work month. At both jobs. It’s a mess.

So when I’m finally free for the day, all I want to do is curl up and read until I start nodding off. I mean, that’s what I want to do every night always, but I tend to neglect all other nonessential tasks in the late summer because I am absolutely fried from the weather and the busyness of the day. The good news is that this typically serves as an opportunity to take a chunk out of my TBR stack. Here is the planned chunk for August.

Book Clubs

  • The Searcher by Tana French – I listened to this on audiobook. It started during my commute but I devoured the rest of it last weekend. Another good pick by my first wine book club of the month.
  • Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger – This audiobook is my current commuting selection. So far I like it. It’s the seventh in a series of which I have not read any of the other books, so I feel a little like the new love interest walking in to holiday with a close-knit family. If I end up really liking it I may play catch up at some point.
  • Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford – There are a lot of hard things in this memoir, but it’s gotten great reviews from people who tend to love books I love, so I’m looking forward to it.
  • The Secret History by Donna Tartt – I like books about misfits, and I like the way Tartt writes characters. I’m excited about this one!
  • Mrs. March by Virginia Feito – Suspensful story? Check. Odd characters? Check. I’m in!

Joy

My joy selections this month are about building the life you want and taking care of yourself while doing it. Two of them actually have joy in the title, but the third is just on theme (and also due at the library next week).

Other Selections

What are you reading this month?

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Friday Five – Weekend Plans

Posted in Books, Church, Food, Friday Five, Music, TV on July 23, 2021| Leave a Comment »

This week has been a little intense (some health things, some practical things, some Texas-summer-is-the-worst things), but I’m looking forward to the next couple of days. Maybe you want to enjoy a few of these things, too?

  • Playlist for The Magicians – Any time I really love a show or a book, I want a playlist that reminds me of it. The Magicians has a great soundtrack. I went to make one and found that there are already so many out there. This is a nice list to start with but this is definitely my dancing/reading/vegging vibe for tonight.
  • Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Readers’ Weekend – Minimal structure, maximum reading. Basically, the perfect weekend.
  • Suits Season 1 – I am rewatching this adorable show, starting this weekend. Yay!
  • Reconciling in Christ – our group is meeting on Sunday, and I’m glad my church is pursuing being more intentional about inclusion. This learning structure is not as…assertive…as I tend to be, but it’s a start.
  • Nectarines – I had a nectarine/cherry upside down cake at lunch and I forget every year how much I love nectarines but I think I’ll need some tomorrow. Maybe also apricots….

Hope you have a nice weekend as well!

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Summer/Fall Bucket List – 2021 Edition

Posted in Books, Getting It Together, Joy, Resolutions, Spiderweb, Writing on July 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Beautiful view on a farm outing with friends

I look forward to Joy the Baker’s summer bucket list every year. It’s typically a mix of places to go and things to learn and/or make, and it’s inspiring. Because summer tends to be a busier time for me, I am expanding my timeframe into fall (and really – the rest of the year). So this is my remainder-of-2021 bucket list. Doesn’t quite have the same ring but…oh, well.

  1. Get some ducks in order – Some of my goals are just reminders to get/keep it together enough to be healthy or at least not completely derail any progress I’ve made in various areas. To that end:
    – Pay off personal loan (last payment due in September!)
    – Carve out time to get back into Pilates practice
    – Make eye exam and yearly physical appointments
    – Write, edit, and submit a short story every month
  2. Take a trip with friends – Okay, so I’ve already done this one. We went to Colorado for a few days in June, and it was magnificent.
  3. Get a new (to me) car – Watson is showing signs of unreliability, and I want to trade her in before her upkeep starts costing more than a car payment would. My first car was a hatchback, and I’ve wanted another one ever since, so I’m looking at gently used options in the area along the lines of a VW Golf or Kia Soul.
  4. Take an overnight bookshop trip – I’ve been musing about going to Magic City Books in Tulsa for a while, but I think my next long-distance bookstore venture is going to be to Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio. They’re opening for real to the public on Monday, and I think a leisurely drive down there in October would be a great way to break in a new ride.
  5. Choose a new planner – I do love my Simplified Planner, but the siren song of Papier’s daily planner beckons me. I have had separate goal and meal planning calendars for the longest time, and the idea of having everything in one book is so appealing. Also…there are so many cover designs to choose from. *salivates*
Although there’s certainly nothing wrong with this cover…

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What I’m Into – July 2021

Posted in Books, Spiderweb, TV, Writing on July 10, 2021| 5 Comments »

Mountain dragon from Colorado says hello

A couple of things I’m into these days…

While The Audacity is closed for essay submissions the rest of the year, Roxane Gay Books is now open for manuscript submissions. I love love love this and if you have a manuscript that you are waiting to submit because you haven’t quite achieved the *insert example of the hyper-capitalistic hellscape that is a lot of the publishing industry here* maybe this is an appealing option?

This meta monologue from Penny pretty much sums up my love of The Magicians (the show – I’ve yet to start the book but expect to love it, too):

“All I’m saying is you think you’ve seen stories like this before, so you can guess what’s going to happen. Who’s important and who isn’t. But that’s because you are trapped in your POV. You have a classic case of White Male Protagonist, Derek, and a Librarian simply can’t have that. But that’s why these books are so important. They’re such a gift. They can allow you to see other points of view. And once you start seeing that, you’ll find that the story doesn’t end the way you think, and the most important characters aren’t who you expect.”

“When you file people away as sidekicks, you don’t realize their importance to the story, and this story belongs to a lot more people than you think. Where to shelve a book – it’s not a little thing. You’re telling the world what to value, who to value.”

I’m excited to be working on some short stories for submission in a new local publication. More to come on this soon.

I hope you’re having a good weekend so far!

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