Down the TBR Hole #140

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 book to 1102. I finished a couple of books this past week, but also added one to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Sage Stone by Darcy Deming – GO. I would love to say that I’ll read this book someday since it was a gift, but I know I won’t.  It’s better that I let it go so that it finds someone who will read it.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry – KEEP. This will probably not be my cup of tea, despite the bookshop setting, but I’m going to give it a try anyway.

Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day – KEEP. I suspect this book is more for creative or artistic people, but I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Day, so I’ll give it a chance.

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria – GO. *meh* I’m just not interested.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles – KEEP.  Post-Civil War Historical Fiction set in Texas? Yes, please!
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple of books to 1100. The next post will be another varied selection of genres of physical books I own, but I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any of them.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for January 21st – 27th.
  • To live the Hobbit life this week, the Boyfriend and I had a wonderful Burns Night dinner. In addition to the haggis, we had cock-a-leekie soup, neeps and tatties, an extremely delicious Scottish cheese with crackers, and a whisky cake for dessert.  I’ve also continued decluttering and reorganizing the house, but I’m taking more breaks to read and do other things I enjoy.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 43,874
  • Miles: 17.89/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 3/100
  • Total Miles: 56.07/800
  • Active Minutes: 166/150

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • How to Hygge by Signe Johansen
  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • 31 Days to a Clutter-Free Life by Ruth Soukup
  • 10-Minute Digital Declutter by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
  • The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
  • Nordic Lifestyle by Susanna Heiskanen

DNF:

  • The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase by Greg Cox

Finished:

  • The Burns Supper Companion by Nancy Marshall
  • Third Eye by Felicia Day

Total pages read this week: 493

Total books read: 7 of 80

TBR: -7 (Goal is -36)

I’m still struggling with my mood, but it’s gotten a bit better thanks to me finally telling myself to sit down and spend some time with a book, any book, as long as I take the time to do nothing else but read for a while. I can declutter later. The stuff will still be there. Sometimes self-care is not doing the work, at least for a couple of hours.

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

Down the TBR Hole #139

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 a couple of books to 1105. I finished and started a couple of books this past week, but I also bought a few.
This week’s books:

House of Shadows by Darcy Coates – KEEP. I haven’t enjoyed everything by Coates, but I think this one will be right up my alley.

Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake – GO. I have no interest in YA Romance disguised as Fantasy.

The Black Company by Glen Cook – GO. I have no idea what this story is about after reading the synopsis on Goodreads, other than something having to do with good and evil.

Pastrix and Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber – KEEP. I met the author during a Wellness/Yoga convention and was immediately interested in her books.  I still am, despite not remembering much about what she talked about at the convention.

Women Who Love Books Too Much by Brenda Knight – KEEP.  I’ll probably get through this book in a lazy weekend afternoon at some point.
My want-to-read shelf is back down a couple of books to 1103. The next post will have even more of the physical books I own.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for January 14th – 20th.
  • To live the Hobbit life this week, I ordered everything I needed for Burns Night. The Boyfriend and I will be having a traditional Burns Night dinner, which includes haggis.  I’ve also been decluttering and reorganizing the house a little bit at a time, including the pantry, to make our home more comfortable and cozy.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 3/5
  • Steps: 33,758
  • Miles: 13.83/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 3/100
  • Total Miles: 38.18/800
  • Active Minutes: 95/150

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • How to Hygge by Signe Johansen
  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • 31 Days to a Clutter-Free Life by Ruth Soukup
  • 10-Minute Digital Declutter by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
  • The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
  • Nordic Lifestyle by Susanna Heiskanen

Finished:

  • The Medici Manuscript by C.J. Archer

Total pages read this week: 388

Total books read: 5 of 80

TBR: -3 (Goal is -36)

I’ve been going from book to book looking for coziness and comfort, but not finding it in any of my current reads, which are mostly Non-Fiction. This time of year isn’t helping by making me want to sleep all the time thanks to the cold and lack of sunlight, and I’m struggling with my mood.

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

Down the TBR Hole #138

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 1105. I finished and started a few books this past week.
This week’s books:

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1 by Diana Wynne Jones – KEEP. Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite Fantasy authors, and I just love books full of cats.

The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish – KEEP. I remember seeing this on Jenny Lawson’s bookshelves at some point and thought it sounded interesting.

The Gutsy Girl by Caroline Paul – GO. I’m not the intended audience of this book. While that has never stopped me from reading something I want to read, this book is truly written for young girls, and I’m going to let it go so that it hopefully finds its way into the hands of a girl who needs it.

Alice Takes Back Wonderland by David D. Hammons – GO. I have a gut feeling I won’t enjoy this book.  Maybe someone else will.

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier – KEEP.  This one sounds bizarre and I’m not sure I will enjoy it, but I’m willing to give it a chance.
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple more books to 1103. The next post will have yet more of the physical books I own.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for January 7th – 13th.
  • I spent most of the past week stuck at home sick with some kind of stomach thing. I’m not entirely sure if it was something I ate or a bug, but it was not fun.
  • To live the Hobbit life this week, I wasn’t able to do much until this weekend when I went out to run an errand. After I accomplished that, I decided I wanted some comfort food (it was windy and icy cold out and I hadn’t wanted to go anywhere). I headed to an Irish pub-style restaurant and had Shepherd’s Pie and a much larger-than-expected glass of cider. Then I walked over to a bookstore, enjoyed perusing the shelves for a while, bought a few books, and got a London Fog at the cafe there before heading home.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.

  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 23,911
  • Miles: 9.78/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 3/100
  • Total Miles: 24.35/800
  • Active Minutes: 56/150

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • How to Hygge by Signe Johansen
  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • 31 Days to a Clutter-Free Life by Ruth Soukup
  • 10-Minute Digital Declutter by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
  • The Medici Manuscript by C.J. Archer
  • The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Finished:

  • Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell
  • The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michie
  • The Dalai Lama’s Cat: Guided Meditations by David Michie

Total pages read this week: 405

Total books read: 4 of 80

TBR: -3 (Goal is -36)

I continue to start new books before finishing the ones I’m reading, mostly because I can’t decide what to continue reading and instead look at my shelves. Luckily, I did manage to finish a few books and get back on track for my TBR goal. I’m also lucky to have a three-day weekend with lots of reading time thanks to the weather being bad enough to make going out not worth it. I will probably be listening to audiobooks quite a bit since I also have a new puzzle to put together. Life is good!

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

Down the TBR Hole #137

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 1112. I finished and started a lot of books since my last post in December.
This week’s books:

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan – GO. The Boyfriend gave this to me after deciding he was no longer interested in reading it, and I’m no longer interested either.

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl – KEEP. I read The Dante Club well over a decade ago and greatly enjoyed it. That fact is the only reason I’m willing to give this one a chance after seeing such low ratings for it on Goodreads.

We Have No Idea by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson – GO. I want to be the kind of person who wants to read this book, but I’m accepting that I, at least not at this time, am not.

The Nirvana Threads by Rachel Tremblay – KEEP. I have a feeling I will either love this book and not be able to put it down or I will despise it and stop reading within a couple of pages.

The Many-Colored Land by Julian May – KEEP.  I loved Jack the Bodiless and, based on that, the Boyfriend said I will probably enjoy this one as well, even though they’re very different stories but related in a weird wibbly wobbly timey wimey sort of way. Perhaps I’ll finally get around to reading it during this year’s #SciFiSummer reading challenge.
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple more books to 1110. The next post will have more of the physical books I own.