Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

“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
  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
  • The Reader by Traci Chee

Finished:

  • Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose

Total pages read this week: 343

TBR Mountain: -10

Total books read: 64 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 13 of 7

#RIP:

  • Peril of the Fiction Read – 0
  • Peril of the Short Story – 0
  • Peril of the Listen – 35 episodes of “Welcome to Night Vale” by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
  • Peril of the Screen – 0

I’m nearly caught up on “Welcome to Night Vale” to the point when The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home was published. I’ve also been trying to finish my current reads so that I can really get into the spirit of #RIP. My plan is to finish The Reader this weekend.

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

Down the TBR Hole #124

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 back up to 1141 books.  I finished a book but added a few to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams – KEEP. This is the 4th book in the “Secret, Book, and Scone Society” series, of which I’ve read the first 3 books. I will probably read this one sometime before the end of the year.

The Complete Poems of Walt Whitman by Walt Whitman – GO.  I got this book to read as part of a free class that I started during the pandemic, but never finished, and now can’t even remember what the course was called or what website it was on.  I’ve never been much of a poetry reader anyway, so I’m not likely to ever get around to reading this one.

Turtle Recall by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs – KEEP.  One of my long-term reading goals is to read every “Discworld” book that Sir Pratchett ever wrote.

All I Ever Wanted by Kathy Valentine – KEEP.  A memoir by the bassist of the Go-Go’s, one of my favorite bands.  I have the audiobook since she also narrated it, and music memoirs narrated by the musician usually end up being some of my favorite books.

Donn’s Hill by Caryn Larrinaga – KEEP.  This book sounds like perfect reading during #RIP.
My want-to-read shelf is one book to 1140. The next post will be mostly physical books I already own.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for September 3rd – 9th.
  • I’m back in a normal ankle brace, but still taking it easy of course.
  • I’ve adjusted my mileage goal for the year, from 900 to 850 miles.  The new goal will still be a push for me, but doable.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 29,172
  • Miles: 11.82/16.30
  • Total Miles: 515.55/850
  • Active Minutes: 68/150

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
  • Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose
  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
  • The Reader by Traci Chee

Finished:

  • In the End by Demitria Lunetta

Total pages read this week: 165

TBR Mountain: -9

Total books read: 63 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 13 of 7

#RIP:

  • Peril of the Fiction Read – 0
  • Peril of the Short Story – 0
  • Peril of the Listen – 10 episodes of “Welcome to Night Vale” by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
  • Peril of the Screen – 0

I decided to take a break from audiobooks to catch up on “Welcome to Night Vale.” I’ve also been reading other things than books this week, such as the essay “On Fairy-Stories” by J.R.R. Tolkien.

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

Down the TBR Hole #123

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 skyrocketed to 1141 books.  I bought a Humble Bundle ebook bundle of Seanan McGuire’s “October Daye” and “InCryptid” series.
This week’s books:

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire – KEEP.  This is the first book in yet another series, “Wayward Children,” by McGuire that I want to read.

Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes – KEEP.  I was hoping to get to this book for this year’s #SciFiSummer, but with less than 3 weeks to go, I doubt that will happen.  I’ll have to make it a priority for next year.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells – KEEP.  This is another book I want to read for the Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge this year, and it’s short enough that I might get to it.

Inconspicious Consumption by Tatiana Schlossberg – GO.  I don’t know why, but I originally thought this was a book more about how to be a Minimalist than anything else, but its focus is on the horrible consequences of consumerism, which I already know more than enough about.

No Man’s Land by Simon Tolkien – GO.  If I remember correctly, the author is J.R.R. Tolkien’s grandson, so, of course, I was immediately intrigued; however, I don’t think I can take on such a dark and heart-breaking story as the synopsis makes this book out to be.
My want-to-read shelf is back down a couple of books to 1139. The next post will be mostly ebooks I already own.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for August 27th – September 2nd.
  • My ankle got worse and I ended up having to go to Urgent Care.  The doctor put me in a walking cast for the week because I wouldn’t be able to work with crutches, not to mention trying to get to and from work from where I park would’ve been excruciating.
  • The Boyfriend and I went to Cleveland to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and I’m so thankful that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has free scooter rentals; otherwise, I doubt I would have been able to go, even with being in a walking cast.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 31,339
  • Miles: 12.75/17.26
  • Total Miles: 503.73/900
  • Active Minutes: 103/150

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
  • Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose
  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
  • In the End by Demitria Lunetta
  • The Reader by Traci Chee

Finished:

  • Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Total pages read this week: 469

TBR Mountain: -9

Total books read: 62 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 12 of 7

#RIP:

  • Peril of the Fiction Read – 0
  • Peril of the Short Story – 0
  • Peril of the Listen – 0
  • Peril of the Screen – 0

I’m posting this a day late because the Boyfriend and I were in Cleveland celebrating our 10th anniversary! We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because neither of us had ever been. The drive to Cleveland was a bit stressful, but we listened to Odd and the Frost Giants on the way home, which was the perfect length.

Now that I’m back home, I am ready to finish out the last couple of weeks of #SciFiSummer while also fully embracing all things creepy and scary for #RIP. I’ll be participating in 4 of the 5 categories, but focusing on “Peril of the Fiction Read,” and I’ll track everything in these weekly posts.

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

Down the TBR Hole #122

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 by one book to 1127.  I finished a few books this week.
This week’s books:

The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michie – KEEP.  Cat meditations?!  Yes, please!

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. – KEEP.  I’ve read several reviews from other bloggers that this book is awesome, so it will stay on my wish list until I get around to buying it or checking it out from the library.

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher – KEEP.  I absolutely love “The Dresden Files” series.  This is the 16th book, and I’m on book 12, so it will be a while before I get to this one.

Bookshop Memories by George Orwell – KEEP.  I don’t know where I will find a copy of this book, but I will hopefully find it someday.

The Faceless Old Woman Who Lives In Your Home by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor – KEEP.  Even though it’s not necessary to keep up with the “Welcome to Night Vale” podcast to read the books, I prefer to do that.  Unfortunately, I got really bad about listening to any podcasts thanks to all of the audiobooks I have, but I’m now catching up on “Welcome to Night Vale” in the hopes that I’ll get to this book before the end of the year.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1127 books. The next post will have a couple of books that at first glance I’m not sure I’ll be keeping.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for August 20th – 26th.
  • I twisted my ankle and haven’t been doing much this weekend.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 33,233
  • Miles: 15.66/17.26
  • Total Miles: 490.98/900
  • Active Minutes: 73/150

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
  • Washington’s Spies by Alexander Rose
  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
  • In the End by Demitria Lunetta
  • The Reader by Traci Chee

DNF:

  • Tuf Voyaging by George R.R. Martin

Finished:

  • Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
  • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Death and the Queen by James Goss

Total pages read this week: 345

TBR Mountain: -9

Total books read: 61 of 80

Sci-Fi Summer: 12 of 7

I really wanted to like Tuf Voyaging. So many people told me it was a great book, and since it involves cats, I was looking forward to a fun Sci-Fi adventure, but the writing kept me from enjoying it. I managed to get through 50 pages, hoping it would get better, but I just couldn’t keep going after that. I gave it to the Boyfriend to keep in case I ever want to give it another try.

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