Author: Rachelle

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

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 Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
  • The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

DNF:

  • The Power of Self-Compassion by Laurie Cameron

Finished:

  • Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
  • Sourcery by Terry Pratchett

Total pages read this week: 997

TBR Mountain: -14

Total books read: 43 of 80

Even though I finished two physical books from my TBR and decided to get rid of another one, I bought two books at the bookstore yesterday. I’ve had a gift card that my cousin got me for Christmas sitting in my wallet that I kept forgetting to use, and I found two more of the “Firefly” series on my wish list. I could not pass them up!

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

Down the TBR Hole #111

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.  Even though I finished 3 books, I bought an ebook and an audiobook.
This week’s books:

Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis – KEEP.  These books are a part of the “Oxford Time Travel” series.  I read and loved the first 2 books, Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog.

The Glorius Cause by Robert Middlekauff – KEEP.  I got this book around the same time the Boyfriend and I were watching “Turn” (based on the book Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose).  While I studied the American Revolution at various points in school, this book is much more comprehensive than what was covered in class.

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier – KEEP.  I love Dinosaurs and everything involving or about Dinosaurs, so there is no way I would pass on a book about Mary Anning, the fossil hunter who discovered the Ichthyosaur.

The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers by Terri-Lynne DeFino – KEEP. After reading the synopsis, I’m skeptical about whether or not I will like this book, but I’m willing to give it the 50-page test, mostly because I already own the book.  I would probably ditch it if it were still on my wishlist.

Circe by Madeline Miller – KEEP.  Though from an entirely different mythology, I think this story will be similar to The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, which I greatly enjoyed reading.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1131 books. The next post will be mostly physical books I already own and I *might* be getting rid of at least one of them.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 4th – 10th.
  • I worked extra hours this week trying to accrue enough time to have a four-day weekend over the Juneteenth holiday, and maybe I overdid it?  I hurt my back somehow and was stuck on the couch most of yesterday.  I’m still hurting a bit, so the Boyfriend will probably have to help me with my garden today.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 40,981
  • Miles: 16.69/17.26
  • Total Miles: 335.34/900
  • 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
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Train
  • The Power of Self-Compassion by Laurie Cameron

Finished:

  • All Things Aside by Iliza Shlesinger
  • Cat Magic by Lydia Sherrer
  • How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell

Total pages read this week: 478

TBR Mountain: -14

Total books read: 41 of 80

I’m at the halfway point for both of my goals! I also hurt my back somehow, and as unfortunate as that may be, it means I’ll be reading a lot this weekend.

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

Down the TBR Hole #110

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 book to 1133.  Even though I finished 3 books, I bought some ebooks and an audiobook.
This week’s books:

Deerskin by Robin McKinley – GO.  I’ve heard that this is an extremely dark story, and I’m not sure I want to read it after reading the synopsis.

Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley – KEEP.  The synopsis sounds like this book will be amazing, and now I’m very much looking forward to reading it!

The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel – KEEP.  This sounds like it’s in my wheelhouse, but the other two books of Manguel’s that I’ve read were only 3 stars, and I was being generous.  Maybe this one will be better.

Dead Man’s Deal by Jocelynn Drake – KEEP. This is the sequel to Angel’s Ink, which I really enjoyed.

Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose – KEEP.  The Boyfriend and I loved “Turn”, the show based on this book, and I’m planning to read this over the July 4th weekend.
My want-to-read shelf is down one book to 1132. The next post will be all physical books I already own and I highly doubt I’ll be getting rid of any of them.