Author: Rachelle

Down the TBR Hole #156

Published on by Rachelle
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 shelf is holding steady at 1092 books. I finished a book but added a book to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

A Well-Read Woman by Kate Stewart – KEEP. This biography of a Librarian who survived Nazi Germany sounds more than worth my time to read despite not having a clue who Ruth Rappaport was.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven – KEEP. I only bought this book (along with the next two) because it was a new “format” I hoped would become more common back when I lived in California and walked or took public transport everywhere. It’s unabridged but about the size of a cellphone. I could put it in my back pocket, or throw it in my backpack without it taking up much space or adding a lot of weight. However, more often than not, I listened to audiobooks or read ebooks in the Kindle app on my phone, so I didn’t need to carry around a “mini book”. Oh well, I still want to read this one at some point.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – KEEP. I don’t usually read suspense thrillers, but at one point in my life, I had never read cozy mysteries and now they’re my go-to “guilty” pleasure, and right now I feel like I need a form of escapism more than anything else. This book might be the next one I pick up.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri – KEEP. I read this classic children’s novel when I was around 11, and all I remember is the grandfather and Heidi eating a lot of bread and goat cheese. I want to reread this because there is a whole lot more to the story!

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson – KEEP. I don’t know if I’ll enjoy this book, but it might be fun, and I have always wanted to learn more about the universe and the field of Science that studies it.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1092 books. At a glance, I’m not sure about any of the books in the next post.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 9th – 15th.
  • Everything went to hell this past week. My mood swings and anxiety went through the roof.  My face broke out again, and I started waking up in the middle of the night again and couldn’t get back to sleep. Things got so bad that I booked an appointment with a virtual clinic.
  • I had to run all over town to find a pharmacy that had my new medications in stock, so that was a stressful adventure! I start my medications tonight, and even though I was told that it could be a little bit of a bumpy ride for a couple of months as we figure out the dosage, I have hope that the end of my mood, sleep, and skin issues is in sight.
  • With all of that craziness going on, I’ve done nothing else but get through each day. I did discover that getting outdoors and doing something physical (walking, gardening, whatever) helps with my anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. That’s difficult to do at work, but much easier when I’m at home. I also learned that, for the first time in my life, meditation doesn’t help me. I guess it’s not enough to get me out of my head and grounded back into my body.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4/5
  • Steps: 47,450
  • Miles: 19.32/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 13.10/100
  • Total Miles: 368.09/800
  • Active Minutes: 137/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Rumo by Walter Moers
  • Fitness After 40 by Vonda Wright, M.D.
  • News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Finished:

  • The Galveston Diet by May Claire Haver, MD

Total pages read this week: 168

Total books read: 39 of 80

TBR: -23 (Goal is -36)

Everything in my life sort of went to hell this week. It started with me having such severe mood swings along with several other distressing symptoms that by Wednesday I couldn’t take it any longer and booked an appointment for the next day with a new doctor at a virtual/Telehealth clinic. Otherwise, I don’t know how long I would have had to wait to get everything sorted out. I almost missed the appointment after getting stuck in the worst traffic I’ve ever seen where I live and had to pull into some church’s parking lot to get logged on just in time. My new doctor prescribed me a couple of different medications (Yay!) As I went to drive home, my fuel light came on (Argh!) Then, because my preferred pharmacy was out of stock, I spent a frustrating Friday afternoon running around town to different pharmacies after work (my pharmacy incorrectly told me it was available at another location). After all that, I came home to a power outage that lasted until around 1 am. I definitely won’t be doing anything but relaxing this weekend.

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

Down the TBR Hole #155

Published on by Rachelle
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 shelf is holding steady at 1094 books. I finished a book but added a book to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

The Snow Gypsy by Lindsay Jayne Ashford – KEEP. This historical fiction book is set after WWII in Spain, and as with many of the previous WWII stories I’ve decided to keep on my TBR, I’m keeping this one because the setting is completely different from any of the others I’ve read.

Rock Needs River by Vanessa McGrady – GO. I have no interest in adoption memoirs.

The Fever King by Victoria Lee – GO. A YA post-apocalyptic fantasy romance?! That’s just too much for my brain.

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater – KEEP. The “Raven Cycle” series is probably my favorite in the YA genre and the series that made me fall in love with Stiefvater’s work.

Beyond the Shadow of Night by Ray Kingfisher – KEEP. Here is yet another WWII novel set in a country I’ve not read about before. I’m beginning to think I could do an around-the-world reading challenge with the WWII stories on my TBR alone.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1092 books. I’m not sure I’ll be getting rid of any books in the next post, but we shall see.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 2nd – 8th.
  • Other than the mood and anxiety issues, things are getting better. My face has mostly cleared up, I’m sleeping a bit better, and I discovered that spicy foods are a common trigger for night sweats, so I’ve stopped eating anything spicy for dinner to see if that helps.
  • Since body composition is a much better indicator of overall health than weight or BMI, I splurged on a new scale that measures all that. The at-home scales aren’t as accurate as the professional ones found in some gyms and other places, but they’re much more reasonably priced (a one-time cost versus around $100 each time at the gym) and it doesn’t require me going anywhere or making an appointment.
  • My first time on the new scale showed me some things I already knew but also showed me a couple of measurements that made me happy (my muscle mass for example). The important thing is now I have solid numbers that I can track over time to see how the changes I’m making in my diet and exercise are affecting my body.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 3/5
  • Steps: 47.689
  • Miles: 19.30/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 349.30/800
  • Active Minutes: 104/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • The Galveston Diet by May Claire Haver, MD
  • The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Rumo by Walter Moers
  • Fitness After 40 by Vonda Wright, M.D.

Finished:

  • The Book of Nordic Self-Care by Elisabeth Carlsson

Total pages read this week: 155

Total books read: 38 of 80

TBR: -23 (Goal is -36)

I’ve gotten back into my normal daily routines, but I’ve been listening to podcasts during my commute instead of audiobooks. My page count will probably continue to be low until I get back to audiobooks.

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

Down the TBR Hole #154

Published on by Rachelle
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 shelf is up several books to 1096. I finished a book but bought a few ebooks.
This week’s books:

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb – KEEP. I think this might be a good Readers Imbibing Peril book.

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande – GO. I thought this book was about using checklists to improve productivity or better organize daily life, but I didn’t get that impression from the synopsis. It seems to be more of an ode to the checklist, which I am not interested in.

The River Widow by Ann Howard Creel – GO. I was interested in this historical fiction novel until the last couple of sentences of the synopsis when the main character develops feelings for a man who might lead to her losing her daughter. No, thank you.

The Road Beyond Ruin by Gemma Liviero – KEEP. This historical fiction novel is set just after WWII, and that’s just different enough from the hundreds of WWII stories to interest me.

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint – KEEP. A Fantasy story all about cats?! Why have I not read this book yet?!
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1094 books. I’m sure I’ll let go of at least one book in the next post.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for May 19th – June 1st.
  • I’m not sure what happened, since I had continued sticking to the Belly Fat Blast challenge guidelines as much as possible, but I regained nearly all the weight I had lost. With this, my night sweats, insomnia, acne, and mood swings went through the roof. I guess that my hormone levels went haywire. My symptoms began easing up this past week, but the weight is not going down again yet. This has not done well for my overall mood, and I feel discouraged. I’m not giving up, but I am struggling.
  • Since I didn’t post last week, I’ve listed the totals for both weeks below.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4 and 3/5
  • Steps: 53,278 and 41,943
  • Miles: 21.73 and 17.19/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 330/800
  • Active Minutes: 105 and 72/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • The Galveston Diet by May Claire Haver, MD
  • The Book of Nordic Self-Care by Elisabeth Carlsson
  • The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Rumo by Walter Moers

Finished:

  • Ethan Frome and Selected Stories by Edith Wharton

Total pages read this week: 294

Total books read: 37 of 80

TBR: -20 (Goal is -36)

My BFF and her husband were visiting this past week, and I haven’t been reading much at all. Now that they’ve headed back home, my daily life is returning to normal, including my nightly routine of reading for at least a half hour before bed.

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

Down the TBR Hole #153

Published on by Rachelle
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 shelf is down several books to 1096. I finished a couple of books and got rid of a got rid of a couple as well.
This week’s books:

The Tenth Island by Diana Marcum – GO. I’ve already read Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun. I don’t need another “White Woman Traveling and Finding Love” story.

Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton – GO. I’m not interested in the love affair of two famous people. I’ve never cared about that sort of thing.

Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King – GO. This is another one of those books that I don’t know how I got it or why I decided to get it. I hope it was free.

Stray by Tanya Marquardt – KEEP. Now this is a memoir I’m interested in reading. The reviews aren’t all that good, though, so it might be a dud. I’ll give it a chance.

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker – KEEP. Yet another Historical Fiction book set during WWII. However, there’s a mention of the “Red Orchestra,” which I’ve never heard of before, so I’m interested in potentially learning about a new perspective.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1093 books. I’ll probably let go of at least one book in the next post.