Down the TBR Hole #97

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 1150.  I finished a book, but a book I had preordered several months ago arrived.
This week’s books:

It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis – GO.  I’m usually all for Dystopian Fiction, but I realized that it’s usually Dystopian Sci-Fi, set in a distant future or an unknown time, and I keep passing this book up because it seems a little too close.  Maybe that means I *should* read it, but I don’t like to should myself.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg – KEEP.  I saw the movie when I was probably too young to really understand it, and I only remember bits and pieces of it.  I’ve wanted to read the book ever since I found out that it existed, and maybe after I finally read it, I’ll rewatch the movie.

Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick – KEEP.  The Boyfriend got a vintage copy of this book for me, which is Dick’s first published novel, after finding it in a used bookstore. It’s the type of distant-future Dystopian Sci-Fi that I prefer.

Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol- KEEP. I only bought this because it’s one of the books that Rory in “The Gilmore Girls” mentions reading.  Now that I’ve read the Goodreads synopsis, I’ll keep it and give it the 50-page test.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – KEEP.  I read this in high school, and I’ve always wanted to re-read it.  It was one of my favorites, along with A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  It inspired my French obsession, which lasted well into my college years.
My want-to-read shelf is back down to 1149 books. The next post is a toss-up of physical books that I’m not sure I’ll be keeping.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for February 26th – March 4th.
  • I haven’t lost any weight this week.
  • I got one of my raised beds built this weekend, and I’ll hopefully be able to build the second one next weekend.  I’ll also start seeds for some broccoli and celery today and set up my new compost bin.  Future projects will include setting up a rain barrel and installing a garden fence.  All of my plans are making me wish I didn’t have to work and then try to squeeze everything into weekends and evenings.
  • I finally earned another $5 towards something on my wishlist.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 43,186
  • Miles: 17.67/17.26
  • Total Miles: 124.84/900
  • 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:

  • 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 Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

Finished:

  • The Swallowed Man by Edward Carey

Total pages read this week: 270

TBR Mountain: -5

Total books read: 12 of 80

While I finished one book, my two book club books arrived, along with a book I had pre-ordered prior to setting my TBR goal. I still only have to finish or let go of one physical book this month to stay on track, but I have to read EIGHT books if I’m going to keep up with my reading goal. I need a readathon!

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

Down the TBR Hold #96

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 1149.  I finished a book, but I also bought a book.
This week’s books:

Middlemarch by George Eliot – KEEP.  This is a Classic that I’ve never read before.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – KEEP.  This one is a chunkster that I’ve always wanted to read.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough – KEEP.  I read this when I was very young after having seen the TV movie.  I think the copy I had at the time was loaned to me by my Grandma.  It was my first adult Historical Fiction novel, and I remember loving the story, so I really want to read this again from a much more mature point of view.

Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore- KEEP. This is another Classic that I’ve never read.

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings – KEEP.  Here is yet another Classic that I’ve never read.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1149 books. That’s not surprising since all of the above books are much older Fiction books that I have in mass-market paperback copies I bought from used bookstores.  I don’t know why, but those kinds of books seem to be the ones I choose to hold onto more than any other type of book or format.  The next post will be more of the same, so I probably won’t be getting rid of any books then either.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for February 19th – 25th.
  • I’ve lost one pound this week, bringing my weight down by a total of 9 pounds.  This has been a super stressful week, and I’m very surprised that I lost weight instead of gaining.
  • Though my original change in diet included being allowed to have one fast-food meal per month, I’m finding that I’m sorely disappointed in the taste and quality and I don’t want it anymore.  I’d rather make a burger and fries at home.
  • I will be trying my hand at gardening this year, and I’m really excited about it!  I’ll be outside and more physically active and will hopefully end up with a lot of great-tasting produce.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 3/5
  • Steps: 33,385
  • Miles: 13.60/17.26
  • Total Miles: 107.17/900
  • Active Minutes: 128/150

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
  • 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.