Author: Rachelle

Down the TBR #108

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 one book to 1131.  I finished a book this week.
This week’s books:

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana De Rosnay – KEEP.  I don’t remember where I got this book, but the story is set in Paris, and I’m pretty sure I read a review from one of the many blogs I used to read during that time and decided it was for me.  I still think that, so I have no problem with keeping it.

We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory – KEEP.  This sounds like it will be just as awesome as Spoonbenders.

Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne – KEEP.  I tend to love comical Fantasy stories, and they usually end up on my list of all-time favorites.  They’re fun, light, and don’t take themselves too seriously.  I’m looking forward to reading this one, especially since it’s the first in a series.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore – GO. This is one of those books that is probably really good, but I only got it because I felt I *should* read it, and that is never a good thing for me when it comes to books, especially if it’s a sad Non-Fiction story.

Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty – KEEP.  I loved Beatty’s “Serafina” series, so I immediately bought this when it came out.  Now that I’ve finished the “Serafina” series, I will probably start this one sooner rather than later.
My want-to-read shelf is down one more book to 1130 books. The next post will be a mix of physical, audio, and ebooks I already own, along with a book that has been on my wishlist for quite some time.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for May 14th – 20th.
  • I’ve had a bit of a rough week, healthwise.  I ended up having to stay home from work for 2 days and I had the same issue this weekend, which put a damper on having the house to myself while the Boyfriend is out of town.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4/5
  • Steps: 32,584
  • Miles: 13.29/17.26
  • Total Miles: 287.26/900
  • Active Minutes: 150/150

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
  • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • The Sunset Route by Carrot Quinn
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Train
  • Fireflies and Chocolate by Ailish Sinclair

Finished:

  • The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

Total pages read this week: 441

TBR Mountain: -15

Total books read: 35 of 80

I’m still ahead on both of my goals and I’m really enjoying most of what I’ve been reading. I will probably finish at least one of my current reads this weekend since I have the house to myself (along with the cats). I am also going to start planning out this year’s Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge! Look forward to seeing a post about that by the end of the month.

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

Down the TBR Hole #107

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 a few books to 1132.  I finished a couple of books, bought a few ebooks, and then removed a few from my wishlist that I no longer want to read.
This week’s books:

Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien – KEEP.  I haven’t read much of Tolkien’s other books, and I would like to change that.

The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake – KEEP.  I got these 3 books after reading a review many years ago.

The Return of the Shadow, The Treason of Isengard, and The War of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – KEEP.  These books are part of the “History of Middle Earth” and “History of The Lord of the Rings” series edited by Christopher Tolkien.  During the pandemic, I signed up for an online college course through Signum University called “The Story of The Hobbit,” and some of the coursework involves reading parts of the series.

Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell – KEEP. I’ve greatly enjoyed Rowell’s other books, and this one is fairly short and contains two of her previously published short stories.

Unbound, Imprinted, and Revisionary by Jim C. Hines – KEEP.  I love the “Magic Ex Libris” series so far, and I’m looking forward to when I finally pick the third book up.  It’s been a couple of years since I finished the 2nd book.  Books 4 and 4.5 are still on my wishlist because I only buy the books in a series one at a time as I finish them.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1132 books. The next post will be mostly ebooks I already own, and I’m not sure what I will decide to keep.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for May 7th – 13th.
  • I think I’m giving up on gardening.  It feels like whenever I have the time to do anything, it’s raining, and then when it’s not raining I have to hurry up to do whatever I can before I have to do other things.  It’s becoming more of a chore and isn’t relaxing or enjoyable at all.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 33,472
  • Miles: 13.63/17.26
  • Total Miles: 273.97/900
  • Active Minutes: 74/150

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
  • The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
  • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • The Sunset Route by Carrot Quinn
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Train

Finished:

  • My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
  • The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

Total pages read this week: 662

TBR Mountain: -15

Total books read: 34 of 80

I’m now ahead on both of my goals. I don’t have to finish any more books until next month, though I’m sure I’ll finish at least one of my current reads by then, and I don’t have to finish or get rid of any books from my physical TBR until August. If I keep this up, I might earn my new Kindle before the end of the year.

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

Down the TBR Hole #106

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 a couple of books to 1136.  I finished a couple of audiobooks.
This week’s books:

The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso – KEEP.  I have no idea when or where I got this ebook, and I’m not even sure if it was a freebie or if I bought it based on a recommendation or review.  I’ll give it the 50-page test.

Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder, The Magnificent Nine by James Lovegrove, and Generations by Tim Lebbon – KEEP.  “Firefly” is one of my all-time favorite TV shows, and there is no way that I’ll get rid of these books.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom – GO.  While I’m sure this is an amazing story, the synopsis makes it seem like it is very heavy on religion, and I’m just not interested.

The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher – KEEP. The authors literally lived along side a pack of wolves for several years.  There’s no way I’m not going to read this at some point.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber – KEEP.  The synopsis reminds me a little of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, though the plots don’t seem similar at all.  I’m willing to give it a try.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1135 books. The next post will be full of physical books I already own, and I know without a doubt that (with the exception of one book), I won’t be getting rid of them.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for April 30th – May 6th.
  • I haven’t lost any weight this week.
  • The weather warmed up and the sun came out.  I got hardware cloth to reinforce my garden fence, along with a few other things I need to plant some bulbs and other flowers.  When I went to see how the few remaining vegetables were doing, I discovered that the whole garden bed was full of little dandelions that had just started to grow!  I pulled out everything that I saw, but with the way the dandelions have been spreading this year, I’m sure there will be lots more.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 41,194
  • Miles: 16.80/17.26
  • Total Miles: 260.34/900
  • Active Minutes: 66/150

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
  • My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
  • The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
  • The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
  • The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

Finished:

  • The Chronicles of Narmo by Caitlin Moran
  • How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
  • The Return of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks
  • Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
  • The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection by Neil Gaiman
  • M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman

Total pages read this week: 1126

TBR Mountain: -14

Total books read: 32 of 80

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon helped me out with my goals quite a bit. I’ve read or gotten rid of enough books to keep me on track through July and I only have to finish one book this month to catch up with my reading goal, which shouldn’t be a problem at all.

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

Down the TBR Hole #105

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 1138.  I finished 5 books during the readathon on Saturday.
This week’s books:

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss – KEEP.  I’ve been putting off reading this because there is still no sign of when the 3rd book in the “King Killer Chronicle” series will be published.

Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines – KEEP.  I love the “Magic Ex Libris” series, and this book, the first book in the “Janitors of the Post-Apocolypse” series sounds like it will be just as fun.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway – KEEP.  This is all about the Ex-pat Writer’s experience in Paris during the 1920s, and I’m very interested in reading it.

Veins of Gold by Charlie N. Holmberg – KEEP. There isn’t a single book yet by Holmberg that I haven’t enjoyed.

Smoke and Summons by Charlie N. Holmberg – KEEP.  See above.  I haven’t read this one yet mostly because it’s the first in a trilogy, and I want to finish the “Paper Magician” series first.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1138 books. The next post will be mostly physical books I own and I highly doubt that I’ll be getting rid of any of them.