Category: The Book Fort

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • Recollections by Colette
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  • The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth
  • Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence

Finished:

  • Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
  • I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

Total pages read this week: 414

Total books for 2022: 16 of 85.

I’m down to 5 books that won’t fit on my bookshelves. Also, I don’t know how I accomplished it, but I went to a bookstore and, for probably the first time in my life (at least willingly), I didn’t buy any books! It might have helped that the couple of books I saw that I know I want to read are still only available in hardcover, and I don’t want to read them soon enough to pay the hardcover price. In the past, I don’t know if that would’ve stopped me, but I also reminded myself of the overflowing shelves of books I still haven’t read and my current financial goals (I’m saving up for a car and trying to boost my retirement savings).

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

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • Recollections by Colette
  • Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  • I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

Total pages read this week: 359

Total books for 2022: 14 of 85.

I have officially run out of shelf space! I finally unpacked the last of my physical TBR boxes, and I have 7 books that won’t fit on the shelves. I don’t have the space to put more bookshelves, either, so I’m now focusing on reading my physical TBR over other books (other than listening to audiobooks during my commute). I’m also putting myself on a temporary book buying ban. I can not buy any more physical books until I have a place to put them.

I’m trying to figure out a time to start writing and posting “Down the TBR Hole” posts again, as well. My most recent one (linked in the last sentence) was in September of last year. Perhaps I’ll also find a TBR reading challenge to help motivate me. If you know of any that are still open for sign-ups, please let me know!

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

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • The Essential Tea Guide by Teressa Hansch
  • Recollections by Colette
  • Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Finished:

  • The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
  • Stuff and Nonsense by Andrew Seiple
  • Storm Glass by Jeff Wheeler
  • Oddball by Sarah Andersen
  • El Arroyo’s Big Book of Signs: Volume One by S. Arroyo

Total pages read this week: 896

Total books for 2022: 14 of 85.

This week’s post is for 2 weeks’ worth of reading since I missed posting last Monday. I’m finding it difficult to come up with the time to get blog posts written and posted during the week, so I’m shifting to the weekends. I’ll be posting these weekly reading updates on Sundays, and that means the title needed an update, hence “Building the Book Fort.”

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to come up with the time to start posting more than two posts a week, but for now, I’m just grateful that I’m starting to come out of the depression I’ve been in for so long. I’ve rarely talked about my mental health issues here, but this past week, I’ve had more energy to do not only the things I have to get done, but things I actually enjoy doing as well. I hadn’t realized just how bad things had got, and while I’m not going to assume that everything is all hunky-dory now, I’m taking advantage of this improved mood and energy for as long as it lasts.

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

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • Artemis by Andy Weir
  • The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

  
Finished:

  • The Evolution of God by Robert Wright


Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 405
Total books for the year: 60 of 90.  This past week was rough.  I spent the first couple of days sick and the rest going to an appointment and doing two job interviews while also trying to catch up on everything I didn’t get done while I was sick.  My head just was not in a place where I could concentrate on what I was reading until the weekend when I could finally relax.
What are you reading this week?

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
  • The Evolution of God by Robert Wright
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

 
DNF:

  • The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale


Finished:

  • The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
  • The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

  
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 1149
Total books for the year: 59 of 90.  I won’t be starting any new books until August 1st, when the N.E.W.T.s reading challenge starts.  I just realized that I never wrote a post for that, but I did plan everything out so I’ll be able to getting something posted either today or tomorrow.  Until Wednesday, I’m only reading books that have been on my Current Reads for awhile now.
What are you reading this week?

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

  
Finished:

  • To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
  • I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

  

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 730
Total books for the year: 56 of 90.  
What are you reading this week?

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
  • The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau

     
DNF:

  • The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco


Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 402
Total books for the year: 52 of 90.  I wanted to like The Bone Witch, but for some reason I didn’t care about the MC at all and couldn’t get into the story.  Oh well, maybe I’ll try again some day.  The Boyfriend and I recently finished watching the series “Turn,” based on the book, Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose.  I found a copy of it, along with The Glorious Cause, and got sucked into the latter while hanging out at the coffee shop yesterday.  It seems that I’m in a phase where I can’t finish the books I’m reading because I keep getting distracted by other books.
What are you reading this week?

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau

    
Finished:

  • Angel’s Ink by Jocelynn Drake
  • Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
  • The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

  
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 532
Total books for the year: 52 of 90.  Even though the Boyfriend’s Mom and her Husband were visiting this weekend, I still managed to read quite a bit.  I also got introduced to two local, independent bookstores (City Lights Books and Browser Books) and bought a couple of books that had been on my wish list for awhile.  The only not-so-great thing about this week, reading-wise, was that I’m not enjoying The Bone Witch.  I’m 42 pages in, and it has yet to grab my attention or make me care about the MC.  I’m going to give it until 50 pages, but I’m considering it a dud and returning it to the library if it hasn’t hooked me by then.
What are you reading this week?

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • Angel’s Ink by Jocelynn Drake
  • The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau

     
Finished:

  • How to Make Disease Disappear by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee


Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 429
Total books for the year: 49 of 90.  I’m not reading as much now that I’m looking for a job instead of putting together furniture.
What are you reading this week?

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • Angel’s Ink by Jocelynn Drake
  • The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • How to Make Disease Disappear by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

     
Finished:

  • Beauty by Robin McKinley
  • The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe


Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 795
Total books for the year: 48 of 90.  While putting together a “Thursday’s Things” post for this week, I came across a way to convert ebooks from one format to another.  It took some time, patience, and a couple of do-overs, but I’m completely free of my 1st gen Nook now.  While I’m *supposed* to be reading from my COYER list, I’ve been celebrating my new found digital freedom by reading whatever strikes my fancy just because I can!  Seriously, y’all, I’m so excited about this I want to run around shaking my butt and waving some books in the air!
What are you reading this week?