Author: Rachelle

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Live Your Best Life by Dr. Stuart Farrimond
  • Walden on Wheels by Ken Ilgunas
  • The Swallowed Man by Edward Carey

Finished:

  • Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom

Total pages read this week: 203

TBR Mountain: -7

Total books read: 11 of 80

This has been an insane and very stressful week, especially the second half of it. I had a dentist appointment that did not go how I thought it would and the next day we had a small electrical fire in the bathroom thanks to the bathroom fan shorting out. Luckily, I was home (because of my teeth) and got it extinguished right away, but the stress from both events (and the clean up after the fire) had me drinking wine, watching gardening videos, and snuggling my cats most evenings instead of reading. I also bought a book while I was out finding replacements for a couple of things that got ruined in the bathroom. I’m a month and a half ahead of my goal, though, and my reading will probably pick up again this weekend.

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

Down the TBR Hole #95

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 has gone down one to 1152.
This week’s books:

1916 by Morgan Llywelyn – KEEP.  This book is set during the Irish Rebellion, a part of History that I’ve been interested in learning more about since the very brief discussion about it in an English Literature course I took in college.

Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski – GO.  The synopsis on Goodreads isn’t inspiring any interest in reading this book.

The Return of the Indian, The Secret of the Indian, and The Mystery of the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks – KEEP.  I never finished this series when I was a kid, only having read the first 2 books, and I re-read the first book, The Indian in the Cupboard, a few years ago.

Breakfast with Socrates by Robert Rowland Smith- KEEP. The Goodreads synopsis says that the author applies different philosophical ideas to the everyday, mundane activities of life.  I think this will be a fun and interesting book.

Wideacre by Philippa Gregory – GO.  Another non-inspiring synopsis.  I think I’ll stick to Gregory’s later novels.
My want-to-read shelf is now down to 1150 books. I honestly didn’t think I’d get rid of any books this week, but instead, I got rid of two!  The next post will be filled with yet more of the physical books I own.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for February 12th – 18th.
  • I didn’t lose any weight this week.
  • The weather has been so crazy that one day it was 70 degrees and sunny, and the next day it was 28 degrees and snowing.  I’m so done with February already.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 32,230
  • Miles: 12.26/17.26
  • Total Miles: 93.57/900
  • Active Minutes: 78/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Live Your Best Life by Dr. Stuart Farrimond
  • Walden on Wheels by Ken Ilgunas
  • Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom

Total pages read this week: 174

TBR Mountain: -4

Total books read: 10 of 80

While I didn’t finish any books this week, I did decide to let go of a book that I know I will never read. Doing that put me on track to meet one of my TBR goals, but I have to finish 3 more books this month if I want to stay on track to meet my reading goal, according to my book spreadsheet (Goodreads says I’m on track, though). I doubt I can do that in a week and a half (without a readathon), but who knows, I might surprise myself.

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

Down the TBR Hole #94

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 has gone up one to 1154.  I finished several books since my last post, but also added several to my wish list.
This week’s books:

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson – KEEP.  I’ve enjoyed other books by Bryson, so I’ll give this one a chance.

Was Superman a Spy? by Brian Cronin – KEEP?  The Goodreads synopsis says this is all about the crazy and bizarre stories that have been told over the years about popular comic books, many of which are true.  I’m willing to give it the 50-page test.

I Don’t Care About Your Band by Julie Klausner – KEEP.  I may have outgrown this book.  I’ve owned it for over a decade, and it had been on my wishlist for several years before I got around to buying it.  However, I’m still going to give it a chance because it’s a memoir, and even though it speaks to a much “younger” version of me, I will probably be able to relate to it through my past experiences.

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend- KEEP. Middle-Grade Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read, and the only reason I haven’t read this one yet is that I was focusing on finishing as many books as I could, and the length of this one (461 pages) meant it always got moved to the bottom of the stack.

Dryland by Sara Jaffe – GO.  I got this one through a book box subscription many years ago, and I’m just not interested.  I’m sure it’s a wonderful story, but out of all of the books I could read, I know I will never pick this one up and say, “I HAVE to read this!”
My want-to-read shelf and my TBR are back down to 1153 books. The next post will again be all physical books that I own, and most of them look like keepers.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for February 5th – 11th.
  • I didn’t lose any weight this week.
  • The constant up and down with the weather is messing with my back and sinuses, and that makes me glad I chose the free option for the Taji 100.  I won’t be signing up again as long as I live in Ohio.  February is just not a good month here.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 34,362
  • Miles: 14/17.26
  • Total Miles: 81.31/900
  • Active Minutes: 49/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Live Your Best Life by Dr. Stuart Farrimond
  • Walden on Wheels by Ken Ilgunas

Finished:

  • Unstuck by James S. Gordon
  • The Book of Idle Pleasures by Dan Kieran and Tom Hodgkinson
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
  • Imbolc by Carl F. Neal

Total pages read this week: 486

TBR Mountain: -3

Total books read: 10 of 80

If I’m going to keep up with my goal, I need to finish 1 more book from my physical TBR this month. The trouble is, besides what I’m already reading, I don’t know what book I want to pick up next, and only one of my current reads is a physical book. I think I’m in the mood for more Fantasy, but I also have a couple of Non-Fiction books I’ve been meaning to read. Hopefully, I’ll settle on something today.

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

Down the TBR Hole #93

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 has grown quite a bit since my last post.  It currently stands at 1154.  I’ve added a lot of books to my TBR, but also to my wish list.

This week’s books:

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma – KEEP.  Time Travel and Literary Classics?  Yes, Please!

These Restless Heads by James Branch Cabell – GO.  Goodreads doesn’t have a synopsis, but luckily the one review did. This book is a Non-Fiction account of the author’s life during the 1920s in Richmond, Virginia.  I have the ebook, but I have no idea where or why I got it.  It was probably a freebie, but regardless, I have no interest in reading it.

20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill – KEEP.  After reading Heart-Shaped Box, I’m definitely going to give this short-story collection a try.

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy- KEEP. This is by the same author that wrote Tess of the D’Urbervilles, which I gave 4 stars, so I’m willing to give this one a chance.

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan – KEEP.  This book is considered a Classic and involves music, so I will definitely read this one.
My want-to-read shelf and my TBR are down one to 1153 books. The next post will be all physical books that I own, and all but one look like keepers.  We’ll see.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for January 29th – February 4th.
  • I didn’t lose any weight this week.
  • I signed up for this year’s Taji 100 after I learned that I could register for free and not get the t-shirt, medal, and other things that come with the paid registration.  Unfortunately, I got sick soon after I signed up and am already behind on my miles.  Life happens when you’re busy making plans.
  • Despite getting sick, I managed to get my miles for the week toward my annual goal, which means I’ve earned $5 toward something from my Amazon wish list.  The Boyfriend and I are doing a “No-Spend” month, though, so I’ll be saving that for March.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4/5
  • Steps: 38,530
  • Miles: 17.78/17.26
  • Total Miles: 67.31/900
  • Active Minutes: 140/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • Unstuck by James S. Gordon
  • The Book of Idle Pleasures by Dan Kieran and Tom Hodgkinson
  • The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
  • Imbolc by Carl F. Neal

Total pages read this week: 340

TBR Mountain: -1

Total books read: 6 of 80

Instead of finishing a book, I started another one! If I’m going to keep up with my goal, I’m going to have to finish 3 books from my physical TBR this month. Luckily, the Boyfriend and I decided to do a “No Spend” month, so I’ve got plenty of time on my hands on the weekends to read, and with the exception of my book club subscriptions and a book I pre-ordered several months ago, I won’t be adding any books in any format to my TBR.

We did a “No Spend” month in 2019 after I came across the book 31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero by Ruth Soukup, and taking on the challenge again this month seemed like a good way to reset after a couple of crazy years involving a cross-country move, buying a house, renovating said house, buying furniture, etc. Part of the challenge involves shopping your own closet, pantry, etc to discover forgotten items and to declutter whatever is no longer usable, so I’m going to take some time to write a couple “Down the TBR Hole” posts to see if I can’t shed a few books, or at the very least shop my own shelves for some gems.

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