- 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
“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
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
- 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
“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
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.
#FitReaders Check-In
- This check-in is for May 4th – 10th.
- The weather has gotten much nicer, and I had a couple of vacation days this week, so I’m feeling much better than I have in the past few weeks, both physically and mentally.
- I’ve been mostly relaxing with my cats while my boyfriend has been out of town, but I’ve done a little bit of gardening (mostly weeding). I plan to do some more today once I’ve got some chores done.
- Active Days: 1/5
- Steps: 28,529
- Miles: 11.54/16.31
- Total Miles: 269.61/850
- Zone Minutes: 52/150
Building the Book Fort
“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
- Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
- Life’s Short, Talk Fast ed. by Ann Hood
Finished:
- The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
- Feral Self-Care by Mandi Em
Total pages read this week: 350
Total books read: 52 of 75
TBR (goal is -24): -4
#ShelfLove Challenge: 29 of 51
I haven’t really felt much like reading books this week. Instead I’ve been reading articles online and watching TV. I don’t know if it’s the beginning of a book slump or that I’m feeling burnt out from work. It could also be that I have the house to myself and the cats this week and can watch whatever I want. Maybe it’s a little bit of all of the above, but regardless of the reason, I’m not reading as much right now.
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!
Down the TBR Hole #200
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 down a few books to 1184. I finished several books this past week thanks to the weather keeping me indoors instead of out in my garden.
This week’s books:
The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane – KEEP. I supposedly own a physical copy of this book, but I don’t remember buying it or where it is on my bookshelves. I’m still interested in reading it, though, so it’s staying on my want-to-read list.
Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White – KEEP. This is supposed to be a slower approach to decluttering, and while I’ve decluttered my home multiple times over the years with more traditional strategies, whenever I read a decluttering book, I’m inspired to let go of even more stuff.
Midsummer by Deborah Blake – KEEP. I like the “Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials” series of books because they help me reconnect to the seasons in a meaningful way while also providing a bit of history. I hope to get to this one before the end of the month so that I have some time to plan any of the traditions I want to try.
Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien – KEEP. I got this so that I would have several of the stories covered in an at-your-own-pace class I signed up for several years ago. Now that I’m getting the hang of screen-free days, I’ll probably get back into studying Tolkien’s work.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame – KEEP. I somehow made it through my entire childhood without reading this book! This is another one I’m hoping to get to this month.
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1184 books. I was feeling a bit stressed from work last week and checked out a couple more books from the library, but I’m balancing those with books from my own TBR, so I’m hoping that number will continue to go down.
#FitReaders Check-In
- This check-in is for April 27th – May 3rd.
- I’m still having some issues with my back, and it’s definitely the weather.
- There has been more craziness at work this past week, and it feels like the insane changes are to try to push people to quit. I wish I could afford to do that like I had planned before current events gave me reason to stick around, and every day I have to remind myself why I am staying.
- Thanks to all of the above, I was filling a little bit overwhelmed and like I had information overload, so I did another screen-free 24 hours. I’m definitely feeling much better, and if the rain doesn’t start up again this afternoon, I’m going to try to do some gardening today.
- Active Days: 0/5
- Steps: 35,228
- Miles: 14.16/16.31
- Total Miles: 258.07/850
- Zone Minutes: 9/150