Down the TBR Hole #204

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is up a few books to 1191. I finished a few books, but I added a few more to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox – KEEP. Gothic Historical Fiction about a mysterious library? Yes!

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence – KEEP. The synopsis sounds like this might be very similar to “Stranger Things.” I’m hoping it’s different enough that it doesn’t feel like a rip-off.

King Nix by Kirsten Bakis – KEEP. I’m skeptical about this one, but it was one of Jenny Lawson’s picks for the Fantastic Strangelings book club, so I’m willing to give it a try.

Everyday Sisu by Katja Pantzar – KEEP. This is one of two books I have about the concept of Finnish Sisu. I think it might be similar to Stoicism, but I’m not really sure.

Rumo by Walter Moers – KEEP.  I started this book a while back, but for whatever reason I couldn’t get into it at the time. I’ll try again at some point.

My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1191 books. One of my goals for June is to read at least two books from my TBR, in addition to the two books from my TBR that I’m already reading and the six books I currently have checked out from the library. If I have to renew a couple of books from the library, I’ll do it, but some of them already have other people waiting for them.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

  • This check-in is for May 25th – 31st.
  • I’m still dealing with a lot of pain, but yesterday I was determined to go to the Pop Cats convention to see all things cat-related, but also to meet Lydia Sherrer, the author of the “Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus” series. The boyfriend and I had a good time, and I was the happiest I’ve been in a while. Not only did I get to meet Lydia, I also got a pic with her, and I now have signed copies of the last two books in the series. While we were only at the convention for a couple of hours, I had to lay down when we got home, and wasn’t able to do anything else for the rest of the day but rest.
  • I checked out Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs from the library, I bought a massage pad, starting taking a supplement that is supposed to help with nerve pain, and I got the Reverse Health 28-Day somatic exercise program, all because I’m getting desperate to alleviate my pain. Medication isn’t working, and while I do have a serious diagnosis that will likely require surgery, it’s two weeks until I get to see a doctor, and I’m struggling to function.
  • With my physical and energy limitations in mind, I’ve decided to change “Active Days” to “Exercise Days,” and will track how many days each week I do one of the somatic workouts from the Reverse Health app.
  • Exercise Days: 2/7
  • Steps: 40,217
  • Miles: 16.09/16.31
  • Total Miles: 320.78/850
  • Zone Minutes: 25/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • The Dead Zone by Stephen King
  • The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living by Mary E. Kingsley
  • The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate

Finished:

  • Friends with Bunny Feets by Andrew Seiple
  • Disenchanted by Robert Kroese

Total pages read this week: 450

Total books read: 59 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -9

#ShelfLove Challenge: 33 of 51

I’m still in constant pain, and no medications, exercises, or other treatments are working well enough to make much of a difference; however, a couple of months ago I bought tickets to the Pop Cats Convention because CATS, of course, but also because Lydia Sherrer, author of the “Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus” series will be there! It’s this weekend, and I’ve done everything I can think of to help me get there and through what should be a fun and hopefully distracting-from-the-pain day. The only rule is that I’m not allowed to be adopted by another cat, as we’re staying a two-cat family for now.

Raith and Dresden snuggling on my “For Bookhalla!” Book Goblin blanket

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #203

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is up a couple of books to 1190. I finished a few books, but I added several more to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson – KEEP. This is a Classic, and since I saw the movie before I found out that it was a book, I definitely want to read it.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs – GO. I got this ebook when I was desperate for anything that might be Cozy, even though Women’s Literary Fiction is not really my thing most of the time. I’m pretty sure I got the ebook for free or at a very low price, so I’m going to let this one go.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – KEEP. One of my Boyfriend’s Aunts recommended this book while we were visiting for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Then, while we were waiting for our flight back home, I found a copy of the book sitting in the magazine rack of the airport’s bookstore. It was the only copy in the store, and I saw that as fate. I still haven’t gotten around to reading it, but I hope to change that this year.

The Death of a Beekeeper by Lars Gustafsson – KEEP. This is a bibliotherapy recommendation for living with chronic pain. Given what is going on in my life right now, I need to read this short book sooner rather than later.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson – KEEP.  This is one of Jenny Lawson’s picks for her monthly book club “Nightmares from Nowhere”. I recently got into Dark Academia with the “Scholomance” series by Naomi Novik, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

My want-to-read shelf is down one book to 1189. I’ll probably be doing a lot more reading than usual for a while since I’m much more limited in my physical activities. With any luck, I’ll be doing my reading outside in the sun so I’m not cooped up in the house all the time.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

  • This check-in is for May 18th – 24th.
  • In yesterday’s “Building the Book Fort” I wrote about how I had to go to Urgent Care. My shoulder pain is actually a problem with my neck. So far, it hasn’t gotten much better. I did manage to get a decent amount of sleep last night, but I feel like I paid for it with severe pain this morning that has only let up a little. Since Friday, I’ve tried a number of different things that have worked in varying degrees, but nothing is getting me to the point where I can go about my day normally. It’s sapping my energy, ruining my mood, and even making reading difficult.
  • Active Days: 0/5
  • Steps: 38,507
  • Miles: 15.62/16.31
  • Total Miles: 304.69/850
  • Zone Minutes: 23/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Friends with Bunny Feets by Andrew Seiple
  • Disenchanted by Robert Kroese
  • The Dead Zone by Stephen King
  • The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living by Mary E. Kingsley

Finished:

  • Life’s Short, Talk Fast ed. by Ann Hood
  • Where Books Fall Open by Bascove
  • An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris

Total pages read this week: 749

Total books read: 57 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -6

#ShelfLove Challenge: 31 of 51

I ended up at Urgent Care yesterday morning after waking up with a whole lot of pain in my shoulder. After a trip to radiology, the doctor did not have good news and referred me to a neurosurgeon. I’ve been trying really hard to stay positive since I’ve already been living with Degenerative Disc Disease in my lower back for well over a decade and have managed that fairly well without surgery. However, my mind keeps going to all of the things I loved to do that I can’t anymore, and all of the things that I might have to quit doing now. I know it could be worse, and I know there are so many other people in the world who are worse off than me, but that doesn’t change the fact that once again my daily life and my ability to be independent are being limited. Perhaps I’ll be in a more positive frame of mind when I can get a good night’s sleep that isn’t constantly interrupted by pain.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #202

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is up a few books to 1188. I finished a couple of books, but I added several to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

The Portable Door by Tom Holt – KEEP. This is supposed to be comedic Fantasy and the synopsis sounds interesting enough for me to give it a chance.

Just an Ordinary Day by Shirley Jackson – KEEP. I love Shirley Jackson so when I came across this collection of her short stories, I had to get it.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall – KEEP. I don’t remember who recommended this book, but I’ve got nothing to lose by checking it out from the library.

Five Children and It by E. Nesbit – KEEP. This is another book that I don’t remember who recommended it, and it is also available at the library.

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery – KEEP.  I vaguely remember reading this book when I was very young and would read anything by Montgomery after I fell in love with Anne of Green Gables. However, I can’t remember any of the details, and I want to reread it.

My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1188 books for now. My reading has picked up again, so I’m hoping to start seeing that number decline soon.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

  • This check-in is for May 11th – 17th.
  • The boyfriend and I went to a couple farmers’ markets yesterday and had a good time hanging out in the sun and walking around for the day. We went to a small, local Greek restaurant for lunch, and we’ll probably be returning there in the future.
  • I also decided to do another screen-free 24 hours, but I wasn’t entirely successful. I used my phone far more than I normally would, but I stayed off my computer and away from the TV. I also finished two books, and I feel more relaxed, so I’m happy.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 48,806
  • Miles: 19.46/16.31
  • Total Miles: 289.07/850
  • Zone Minutes: 38/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Friends with Bunny Feets by Andrew Seiple
  • Disenchanted by Robert Kroese
  • Life’s Short, Talk Fast ed. by Ann Hood
  • Where Books Fall Open by Bascove

Finished:

  • Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
  • Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson

Total pages read this week: 621

Total books read: 54 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -5

#ShelfLove Challenge: 30 of 51

The Boyfriend and I are going to go to a couple of farmer’s markets that have opened this weekend, and I’m also going to do another screen-free 24 hours so I wanted to get this posted before that while I’m still at home.

I think I’m coming out of whatever burn out/reading slump was going on last week, though I don’t feel like I’m 100% myself again. We’ll see what being away from screens for a day can do to help. I’ve got plenty of physical books to read, and getting out into the sunshine and walking is always a good idea for me.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #201

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is up a couple of books to 1186. I finished a couple of books, but I also discovered that several books were missing from my TBR.

This week’s books:

Njuta by Niki Brantmark – KEEP. First there was “Hygge,” then “Lagom.” After that, I learned about “Lillordag.” Now, I want to read about “Njuta.”

The Black House by Peter May – KEEP. This is a Scottish crime novel. Since I’m more into Cozy Mysteries, I’m not sure I will like it. However, it’s set in Scotland, so I’m still interested.

The Paris Secret by Karen Swan – GO. I used to be just as obsessed with any book set in France as I am with books set in Scotland, but this really doesn’t seem to be anything I will enjoy reading. I don’t even know why I got it in the first place.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum – KEEP. I feel like everyone has already read this book. I bought it because I loved living in South Korea, and I would like to take an armchair trip back there since it will probably be a very long time before I’m able to go back in real life.

Murder at the Book Club by Betsy Reavley – KEEP.  I’m skeptical about this Cozy Mystery because there are only two books in the series, and both were published in 2018. I’ll give it the 50 page test.

My want-to-read shelf is down one to 1185 books. It has been quite a while since I’ve decided to let go of a book. I’m not sure my want-to-read list is going to get any shorter for a while since I haven’t been reading much lately.