Author: Rachelle

Down the TBR Hole #158

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 shelf is up several books to 1097 books. I finished a book, but bought a book and added a few others to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

The Killing Fog by Jeff Wheeler – GO. Nothing in the synopsis sparked my interest and I don’t remember how I got this ebook or why.

The Dalai Lama’s Cat and The Art of Purring by David Michie – KEEP. I loved The Dalai Lama’s Cat and look forward to reading this second book.

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown – KEEP. I don’t know about this one because I’ve already read another book by Brown that focused on vulnerability and I’m questioning how much more needs to be written about the topic by the same author. I’m going to keep it for now and think on it a little more later.

Now, Then, and Everywhen by Rysa Walker – KEEP. Time Travel Science Fiction is in my wheelhouse, and even though I don’t remember how I got this book or exactly when, it’s in my TBR and I’m happy about that!

The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy – KEEP. A story involving books set in Ireland? Why, yes, I believe I will keep that, thank you very much.
My want-to-read shelf is down one to 1096 books. I’m not sure about any of the books for the next post. Not even a little bit.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
  • This check-in is for June 23rd – 29th.
  • I’m only 5 lbs. from my goal weight and my clothes fit more comfortably. I also feel better and lighter and movement is easier. I WANT to move my body more, which is a big deal because exercise has never been something I enjoy.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 49,272
  • Miles: 20.02/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 13.10/100
  • Total Miles: 402.36/800
  • Active Minutes: 189/150

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:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • Rumo by Walter Moers
  • The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver, MD
  • Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder & James Lovegrove

Finished:

  • News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Total pages read this week: 210

Total books read: 42 of 80

TBR: -27 (Goal is -36)

I had a lot of work stress this week and didn’t read as much as I wanted, but I at least started my first book for the #SciFiSummer reading challenge.

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

Down the TBR Hole #157

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 one to 1093 books. I finished a couple of books but added a few books to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Before the Broken Star by Emily R. King – GO. The synopsis sounds like this is a YA Romance disguised as Epic Fantasy. No, thanks.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim – KEEP. I needed this book when I got it, and I still need it now.

Love for Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim – KEEP. I don’t know if I realized it at the time, but this is another book by Sunim. I’m going to keep it for now and decide on whether or not to let it go after I read The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down.

No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco – KEEP. I have loved Ani’s music since seeing her at my very first concert when I was 17. I still have the concert ticket. Her lyrics kept me going at a very rough and dark time in my life.

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith – KEEP. I’m skeptical. This one will get the 50-page test.
My want-to-read shelf is back to 1092 books. I’m not 100% certain, but I might not be letting go of any books in the next post.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 16th – 22nd.
  • All of my mood, sleep, and skin issues have improved tremendously! I’m feeling so much more like myself again. Even on the days that I felt a little low or didn’t sleep well, I was still able to function at close to my usual level without feeling like I was trying to survive.
  • One of the bonuses to my new medications is that I’m losing weight again. I’m now only 7 lbs. from my goal weight. I’m hoping this will continue as I continue to improve my nutrition to match up with the Galveston Diet guidelines.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 6/5
  • Steps: 35,063
  • Miles: 14.25/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 13.10/100
  • Total Miles: 382.34/800
  • Active Minutes: 192/150

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
  • Rumo by Walter Moers
  • News of the World by Paulette Jiles
  • The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver, MD

Finished:

  • Fitness After 40 by Vonda Wright, M.D.
  • The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

Total pages read this week: 747

Total books read: 41 of 80

TBR: -25 (Goal is -36)

I started my new medications on Sunday and felt better on Monday than I had felt in months. Not all of my symptoms are gone, but the remaining ones aren’t nearly as severe. Now that I have a lot more energy, I’ve been trying to finish as many of my current reads as possible so I can start reading books from my #SciFiSummer TBR.

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

#SciFiSummer Reading Challenge 2024

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments
SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

Summer is the best time of year to read science fiction. So, I’m reading as much Sci-Fi as possible from June 20th, the official first day of Summer, to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox). I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR shelves, and I’m inviting all of you to join me!

Here are the challenge levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 3 books
  • Viper Pilot – 4 to 6 books
  • Browncoat – 7 to 9 books
  • Time Lord – 10 or more books

Once again, I’ll be trying for “Browncoat” (I aim to misbehave). I have a large variety of Sci-Fi books I’ve been wanting to read for a while so I think this will be the perfect goal for me.

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.

Are you up to the #SciFiSummer challenge? Sign up by leaving a comment! (Links to reviews or TBR lists are welcome, too!)

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!