Author: Rachelle

Down the TBR Hole #115

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 went up several books to 1129.  I added a few books to my wish list while I was in Arizona visiting my BFF.
This week’s books:

Where Books Fall Open ed. by Bascove – KEEP.  I love reading books about books.  What more needs to be said?

Myths and Mortals by Charlie N. Holmberg – KEEP.  This is the 2nd book in the “Numina” trilogy, and I haven’t read the 1st book, Smoke and Summons yet.  I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Holmberg so far.

Nightbooks by J.A. White- KEEP.  I’ve been wanting to read this during #RIP for the past several years but never get around to it.  I’m going to try to make this year the year I finally do.

The Bookwanderers by Anna James – KEEP.  A story about books and it involves one of my all-time favorites?!  Yes, please!

The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier – GO.  I love the “Sevenwaters” series, but it’s taking me so long to get through them that I don’t know if I’ll ever get to this one, and I don’t want to start a new series before I’ve finished the other one.  If it’s meant to be, I’ll come back to this book at some point, but until then, I’m removing it from my wishlist.
My want-to-read shelf is down one book to 1128. The next post will consist entirely of physical books I already own.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 25th – July 8th.
  • Since I was in Arizona and not able to post a check-in, this check-in is for 2 weeks.
  • I got a lot of steps and miles walked while I was in Arizona, but I came down with some kind of a stomach bug shortly after I got back.
  • I did so much walking during my trip that I earned another $5 towards something on my wishlist!
  • My garden exploded in growth while I was gone!  My tomato and watermelon plants are determined to escape the trellis, and everything but my pepper plants are flowering.  I’m not sure what is taking them longer to grow, but they still look healthy so I’m going to leave them be for now.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 6/5
  • Steps: 81,365
  • Miles: 32.94/17.26
  • Total Miles: 396.19/900
  • Active Minutes: 235/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro
  • First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
  • The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
  • Gardens in the Dunes by Leslie Marmon Silko
  • Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose

Total pages read this week: 580

TBR Mountain: -15

Total books read: 47 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 1 of 7

My vacation in Arizona was awesome! I had so much fun with my BFF and didn’t want to leave. I didn’t get much chance to read, though, except on the planes and while I waited in airports on my way there and back, so I didn’t finish any books. I am less than 100 pages from finishing Gardens in the Dunes, though, so I’ll probably finish it this weekend.

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

Down the TBR Hole #114

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 continues to hover at 1129 books.  I finished a book and decided to get rid of another one, but I added a couple to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman – KEEP.  I’ve loved every book of Hoffman’s I’ve read so far and this one looks like it will be just as good.

Jim Morgan and the King of Thieves by James Matlack Raney – GO.  I can’t see myself enjoying this book.  I also own the sequel, and the third book is on my wishlist, so those are going as well.

Disenchanted by Robert Korese- KEEP.  This book sounds like a lot of fun.

One of Our Thursdays Is Missing and The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde – KEEP.  I LOVE this series!  I’m currently reading First Among Sequels and enjoying every moment.

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein – KEEP.  The author’s other books that I’ve read have been fun to read.  They’re all centered around the joys of reading and book trivia, and while this one is still about books, it looks like it might be less about trivia and more fantastical.
My want-to-read shelf is down three books to 1126. The next post will be made up of mostly Fantasy books.

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro
  • First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
  • The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
  • Gardens in the Dunes by Leslie Marmon Silko

DNF:

  • Hiking Alone by Mary Beath

Finished:

  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Train
  • The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Total pages read this week: 452

TBR Mountain: -15

Total books read: 47 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 1 of 7

I’m currently on vacation with my BFF, so this post brings my bookish life up to Thursday, the night before I went adventuring. I’m on track with my TBR goal through the end of the month, and I only have to finish one book this month to keep up with my reading goal.

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

Down the TBR Hole #113

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 still holding steady at 1129.  I finished a couple of books but also added a couple of books.
This week’s books:

Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin – KEEP.  I have no idea if I’m going to like this book, but it’s a classic Horror novel and I feel like I must at least give it a chance.

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge – KEEP.  I tried to start this during last year’s 24-Hour Readathon, but I couldn’t get into it.  I’m not sure if it was because I was tired or if it was the story, so I’m going to try again this year during #RIP, but not during the readathon.

Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond- KEEP.  I’m a huge “Stranger Things” fan, and I know the show isn’t going to last forever, but at least there’s this book along with five others.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud – KEEP.  Another book blogger recommended this several years ago, and it was available to check out through Prime Reading on Amazon.  It’s been sitting in my Kindle library ever since, mostly because it’s a fairly long book (nearly 500 pages).  Maybe I’ll finally read it sometime this year or next, now that my annual reading goal is more relaxed.

Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire – KEEP.  I really enjoyed Rosemary and Rue, the first book in the “October Daye” series, and I bought a couple of the author’s other books along with this one, mostly because I love the titles (is it weird to buy a book based on the title?).
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1129 books. The next post will be a hodgepodge of books from different genres.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 18th – 24th.
  • Next weekend I’ll be out of town, so I decided to harvest the head of lettuce in my garden this weekend.  I just know that if I waited, it would bolt and get bitter.  It’s a good thing I did, too, because we’ve gotten so much rain lately that the leaves at the very bottom had started to rot.  Even after removing the bad stuff, though, I’ve still got more lettuce than the Boyfriend and I will probably be able to eat before it goes bad.  We’re having lots of salads this week!
  • Since I won’t be home, there won’t be a check-in next week until I get back.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 33,316
  • Miles: 13.57/17.26
  • Total Miles: 363.25/900
  • Active Minutes: 32/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Train
  • Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro
  • The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
  • First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

Finished:

  • The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
  • Doctor Who: Technophobia by Matt Fitton

Total pages read this week: 650

TBR Mountain: -13

Total books read: 45 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 1 of 7

I finished my first book for the #SciFiSummer reading challenge, making me a Red Shirt. While I’m still on track to meet my reading goals for the year, I’ll no longer be ahead if I can’t finish or get rid of any more of my physical books before the end of the month. Since I’m going on a trip next weekend, my focus will be to finish The Invasion of the Tearling this week. It’s not nearly as good as The Queen of the Tearling and I don’t want it taking up space in my bag, especially when I’ve already picked out 5 books I want to take with me.

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

Down the TBR Hole #112

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 two books to 1129.  I read a couple of books, DNF’d another book, removed a couple of books from my wish list after realizing I didn’t want to read them, and added another book to my wish list.
This week’s books:

The Perfection Detox by Petra Kolber – KEEP.  I completed one of Kolber’s workshops during the pandemic, and that inspired me to buy the book, but it’s sat on my shelves ever since.  I don’t know why, but I tend to do that with Self-Help books.  I’ll get around to reading this one at some point, though I have no idea when.

Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit by Corey Olsen – KEEP.  I love all things having to do with Hobbits.

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist- KEEP.  This one is a Swedish vampire story, and it sounds like it will be very interesting and perfect for the Readers Imbibing Peril challenge.

Among the Shadows by L.M. Montgomery – KEEP.  I remember reading and loving this when I was a kid.  When I found it online through a used bookstore, I immediately bought it.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill – KEEP.  I enjoyed Heart-Shaped Box, and I have several other books of Hill’s that I’ve bought because they sound like they’re right up my Horror alley.  This is one of them, and the only reason I haven’t read it yet is because I can’t decide if I should read it during #RIP or during the Christmas season.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1129 books. The next post will be mostly books I already own that are #RIP worthy.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 11th – 17th.
  • The Boyfriend and I went to the Celtic Festival yesterday.  We had a blast, saw my favorite Scottish pipe and drum band, Albannach, and I got lots of steps and active minutes in.  Unfortunately, I forgot to bring sunscreen or a hat with me and got a horrible sunburn on my face and arms.  I will definitely be more prepared for the Renaissance Festival in September.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 35,438
  • Miles: 14.34/17.26
  • Total Miles: 349.68/900
  • Active Minutes: 156/150