#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for January 26th – February 1st.
  • I did fairly well this week up until Friday.
  • The weather has warmed up a bit, but thanks to my back and a stomach bug, I’m already behind on my miles for the Taji 100.
  • Active Days: 3/5
  • Steps: 39,220
  • Miles: 15.84/16.31
  • Total Miles: 52.17/850
  • Zone Minutes: 98/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • Hunted by Meagan Spooner
  • Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
  • Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon
  • The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

Finished:

  • Cold Days by Jim Butcher
  • A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons by Cressida Cowell

Total pages read this week: 963

Total books read: 12 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -6

#ShelfLove Challenge: 9 of 51

Winter and my back do not get along. There’s also been some kind of a stomach bug going around, and between that and major changes happening at my job, I haven’t been in a good mood. I’m grateful to have so many wonderful books to escape into, along with my Bad Day box, which is full of comfort when I need it most. That was especially helpful yesterday, the anniversary of my Dad’s passing.

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

Down the TBR Hole #186

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 want-to-read shelf has skyrocketed up to 1163 books. I finished several books this week, but I discovered Meg’s Tea Room on Instagram and she has tons of Cozy Fantasy recommendations that I added to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon – KEEP. Here is another first book in a Cozy Mystery series involving the owner of a bookstore. It seems to be quite popular with 16 books, multiple short stories, and the 17th book expected to be published sometime this year.

Mortal Monarchs by Suzie Edge – KEEP. I think this might have been a recommendation by Jenny Lawson, but my memory is fuzzy on that. Regardless, it sounds like a morbidly fun read.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean – KEEP. Now this one I know is one of Jenny Lawson’s recommendations since it’s one of her picks for the Fantastic Strangelings book club. It is one of my goals this year to get caught up with the book club, even though I recently canceled my membership to cut down on expenses.

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman- KEEP. This is another of the books picked for the Fantastic Strangelings book club, and though I don’t think it’s going to be my thing, I’m going to give it a try.

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth – KEEP.  Here is another book pick for the Fantastic Strangelings book club. Again, I’m not sure it’s going to be my thing, but it is Horror, and I trust Jenny Lawson’s recommendations 99% of the time.
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1163 books. I said in the last post that I probably need to stay off of social media for awhile because I keep seeing books that I then add to my wishlist. I added more than 20 books in the past week alone, mostly thanks to Bookstagram. Last month, I began limiting my scrolling to 15 minutes a day, and while that is certainly keeping me from wasting hours of time, it apparently isn’t helping me keep my want-to-read shelf under control. I might do a month-long social media ban in February, but I’m not sure about that yet.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for January 19th – 25th.
  • I was doing fairly well this week until I hurt my back again. Winter is the worst time for my back, and it’s been so very cold. It’s supposed to warm up a bit over the next several days, and I’m hoping that continues into February when I’ll be trying to accomplish the Taji 100.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 25,894
  • Miles: 10.46/16.31
  • Total Miles: 36.33/850
  • Zone Minutes: 63/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • Cold Days by Jim Butcher
  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • Hunted by Meagan Spooner
  • Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

Finished:

  • Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
  • The Dead Letter Delivery by C.J. Archer
  • For Whom the Book Tolls by Laura Gail Black
  • Why the Dutch Are Different by Ben Coates
  • The Slow Regard for Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
  • The Burning Pages by Paige Shelton

Total pages read this week: 1,029

Total books read: 10 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -5

#ShelfLove Challenge: 7 of 51

I hurt my back again and have been stuck at home with not much else to do but read. I did manage to finish crocheting a blanket I’ve been working on a little bit at a time for several years, and that meant lost of audiobook listening.

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

Down the TBR Hole #185

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 want-to-read shelf is up a few books to 1141. I finished a couple of books, but added several to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Banned Books by D.K. Publishing – KEEP. I bought this audiobook with the intention of listening to it during Banned Books Week, but then forgot about it. Hopefully I’ll get to it this September.

The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin – KEEP. My sister recommended this one, and my boyfriend bought if for me a couple of years ago. I’m going to try to get to this one this year.

Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates – KEEP. How could I pass up a Gothic Horror novel by Coates?!

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor- KEEP. I’m going to give this one a chance since it sounds like it will be cozy.

Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry – KEEP.  This is yet another first book in a cozy mystery series that I want to try out. However, the main character in this one is a Thriller writer, instead of a librarian or bookstore owner.
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1141 books. I probably need to stay off of social media for awhile to avoid seeing books that I then add to my wishlist. Lately, many of the books I’ve added aren’t available at my library which means they’ll probably still be on my wishlist next year.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for January 12th – 18th.
  • I got a lot of exercise this week, though not in the form of walking. I’ve been decluttering room by room and reorganizing what I’ve decided to keep. I’ve decided to part with nearly 500 items, filling up several boxes and a couple of bags. Nearly everything is going to donation, except for the few things I’ve come across that weren’t suitable and needed to be trashed.
  • Active Days: 4/5
  • Steps: 25,772
  • Miles: 10.41/16.31
  • Total Miles: 25.87/850
  • Zone Minutes: 122/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

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

Currently Reading:

  • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • Cold Days by Jim Butcher
  • Why the Dutch Are Different by Ben Coates
  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • The Dead Letter Delivery by C.J. Archer
  • Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Finished:

  • Littered with Trouble by Eryn Scott
  • The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

Total pages read this week: 1,043

Total books read: 4 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -1

#ShelfLove Challenge: 2 of 51

I’m in the middle of a very long weekend and I have the house to myself (and the cats) while my boyfriend visits one of his best friends. I finished season 7 of “Outlander” last night, and I’m trying to finish the library books I checked out before picking up the other books I started at the end of 2024. I’ve also been doing a lot of audiobook listening while I doing things around the house. This has been exactly what I needed to get me out of my post-holiday slump.

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

Down the TBR Hole #184

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 want-to-read shelf is up one book to 1139. I finished a book, but I added a couple to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

The Twelve Even Stranger Days of Christmas by Syd Moore – KEEP. This is the last book in the “Essex Witch Museum” mystery series, but supposedly there will be more in the future. I’m planning to read this one this year around the holidays.

A Tomb With a View by Peter Ross – KEEP. I’ve always loved cemeteries. They’re quiet and peaceful, and full of so much history. Reading about them usually brings the same sense of calm I feel when I’m visiting one.

Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany – KEEP. This is the first book in yet another cozy mystery series that I want to read.

Books Promiscuously Read by Heather Cass White- KEEP. I want to read this one soon as I think it will help me remember why I love reading so much and get me out of the post-Christmas blahs.

Mindfulness for Anger Management by Stephen Dansiger – KEEP.  I think I got this book as part of a Humble Bundle. I mostly want to read it because it seems to be more of a practical application for Mindfulness than the usual general “it’s good for you.”
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1139 books for now. I’m hoping to get myself out of this weird reading slump I seem to be in and start finishing some books soon.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for January 5th – 11th.
  • I haven’t done much this week thanks to hurting my back trying to help my boyfriend shovel the driveway on Monday so I could get my car out. I didn’t think I had overdone it, and I felt fine (just tired) after I was done. However, by the next morning I was in too much pain to do anything for several days.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 22,593
  • Miles: 9.19/16.31
  • Total Miles: 15.46/850
  • Zone Minutes: 56/150