Tag: Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• The Space Between by Diana Gabaldon
• Moon Magic by Diane Ahlquist

Finished:

• The Radleys by Matt Haig

Total pages read this week (and last week): 211

Total books read: 95 of 100

TBR (goal is -24): -29

#ShelfLove Challenge: 53 of 51

I didn’t post last week because I was out of town for the final Ironton Wizard Fest. I took my tablet with me, but when I was packing for the trip, I couldn’t find the keyboard that works with my tablet so that I could write. I left on Friday and got back late on Sunday, and while I had a great time, I’m still dealing with feeling wiped out after doing anything that isn’t just sitting around my apartment. I only attended the festival for one day, and I was only there for about three hours before I had to go back to my hotel room to rest. I told myself I would go back out for dinner, but instead, I took a shower, got into my pajamas, and went to bed. The thought of putting my shoes back on, getting into my car, driving to a restaurant, and ordering food was too much for me to handle.

On the drive to Ironton, I found a little coffee shop called The Little Black Book Beanery. All of their drinks are literary-themed, and I got the Dark Academia. I don’t remember what was in it, but it was absolutely delicious. I also got a butter pecan muffin, which was amazing. I stopped there for lunch on my drive back home and got the same drink and two muffins to go after I ate a sandwich.

Despite the book-related activities and cafe, I’ve realized that I’m in a bit of a reading slump. I’ve been listening to podcasts instead of audiobooks. I’ve also barely read any books, whether physical or digital. Concentrating on what I’m reading has been hard and I keep having to reread whole paragraphs. My mind keeps wandering off to thinking about all sorts of other things.

I didn’t understand why I have been so tired, until a couple of friends reminded me of the fact that I’ve been through a lot over the past few months, and that stress shows up in the body. My inability to focus, my exhaustion, and my not wanting to “commit” to listening to anything more than an hour in length are all signs that I’m recovering from all of that stress. Throw in the sinus infection I had that meant I wasn’t able to use my CPAP, being anemic, and a time change coupled with a major change in temperatures, and no wonder I’m exhausted! I was told to give myself some grace and patience and plenty of rest. I’m so grateful for friends who truly see me and know when I’m being too hard on myself. For whatever reason, once stressful events are done and dealt with, I have an expectation of myself to be “over it” and able to get back to doing everything again. Now that my friends have talked some sense into me, I’m taking their advice and letting myself take as much time as I need to feel better.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• The Radleys by Matt Haig

Finished:

• The Family Plot by Cherie Priest
• Dust & Grim by Chuck Wendig

Total pages read this week (and last week): 673

Total books read: 94 of 100

TBR (goal is -24): -29

#ShelfLove Challenge: 53 of 51

Last week, I wrote, “…all I can think is, “please, can I just have one day that I’m not in pain, sick, or dealing with chaos?! Just one full 24-hours that I can relax and enjoy in peace?” Well, that has been today, at least so far. There are still the evening hours to get through.

Life in my apartment has improved, but I had to threaten legal action to get it. Then, just after all of my maintenance requests had finally been completed, I discovered that I had I an ant problem. I was able to quickly get that resolved, and I’m hoping it will continue to be a non-issue.

Since I’ve been feeling much better physically and mentally, I decided to make a trip to IKEA for some idea shopping and a few items that I could safely carry and would fit in my car. I got a coat rack since I don’t have a hall closet and some wooden storage bins that I think will work for my CD collection. I’ll order the bookshelves and everything else online and have it delivered after I measure to make sure what I picked will fit.

I don’t know why, but that took a lot out of me, so I’ll be spending the rest of the weekend reading and cuddling with my cats.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• Beyond the Count ed. by Margo Bond Collins
• The Family Plot by Cherie Priest
• Dust & Grim by Chuck Wendig

Finished:

• Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

Total pages read this week (and last week): 578

Total books read: 92 of 95

TBR (goal is -24): -28

#ShelfLove Challenge: 52 of 51

The nightmare continued this week with a burst pipe just as I was getting ready to go to work. My living room was flooded, and because I don’t have bookshelves yet, some of the books I had in boxes got ruined. A couple of bookish art prints I won in a charity auction also got damaged. Luckily, because I got up late that morning, nothing else of mine was wrecked. I don’t know what would have happened had I already left for work. I’m also grateful that I knew where the main water valve was and could get to it to shut it off. I did hurt my back, though, which I was already having trouble with, because I had to quickly move everything in my living room off of the completely water logged carpet and get the books and other things out of the soaked boxes.

My ex helped me move everything back once the carpet was fully dried, and all of my book boxes are now up in my office in case something like this happens again. I also have a massage appointment today that will hopefully help my back. Through all of this, I have been sick, and all I can think is, “please, can I just have one day that I’m not in pain, sick, or dealing with chaos?! Just one full 24-hours that I can relax and enjoy in peace?” Maybe today will be that day, but I’m not getting my hopes up.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• Beyond the Count ed. by Margo Bond Collins
• The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

Finished:

• Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
• A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
• Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Two by Jack Townsend

Total pages read this week (and last week): 608

Total books read: 91 of 95

TBR (goal is -24): -28

#ShelfLove Challenge: 52 of 51

Living in this apartment is becoming a bit of a nightmare. There have been constant problems requiring the water to be shut off on multiple days and none of the other maintenance requests I submitted when I moved in have been completed. I keep telling myself I only have to put up with this for a year and then I can move.

My doctor called me on Thursday with some concerning news about one of the tests she ordered. She’s referring me to a Rheumatologist. I’m hoping it’s nothing, and I’m doing my best not to worry about it.

Today is Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon! I’ll be reading as much as possible today, but anything I post will be on Litsy.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
• Beyond the Count ed. by Margo Bond Collins
• Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Two by Jack Townsend

Finished:

• The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby by G.Z. Schmidt
• Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
• The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Total pages read this week (and last week): 875

Total books read: 88 of 95

TBR (goal is -24): -27

#ShelfLove Challenge: 51 of 51

It took a week, several phone calls, and a couple of visits to the apartment office to get the dryer vent in my apartment cleaned out. On top of that, my hands started hurting really badly this week. I thought it was synovitis at first (which I’ve had in the past), but then the pain changed and I knew it wasn’t synovitis. Luckily, I had a appointment with my Doctor on Friday, and she thinks it’s tendonitis. Being in pain, dealing with the apartment stuff, and feeling overwhelmed by everything I still have to get done, sent my stress levels back up.

I did manage to get the remaining stuff I had at my ex’s house today, though. I just need to figure out where to put it all and then do all of my laundry. Beyond that, I’m resting as much as possible. I’m participating in the #JustOneMoreChapter readathon on Litsy, and I’m hoping to finish a couple of books before I return to work on Tuesday.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby by G.Z. Schmidt
• Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
• Beyond the Count ed. by Margo Bond Collins

Finished:

• How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera
• Running on Empty by Jonice Webb, PhD
• The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

Total pages read this week (and last week): 1,012

Total books read: 85 of 90

TBR (goal is -24): -24

#ShelfLove Challenge: 48 of 51

I found a great deal on a washer and dryer, got it delivered, and then partly installed. Why not installed all the way? Because it turns out the dryer vent in my apartment is so clogged with lint from never being cleaned that it’s a fire hazard and the installer said he couldn’t hook up the dryer for liability reasons. While the apartment management does seem to be responsive and get maintenance to fix things fairly quickly, I’m finding the number of things that need fixing to be a bit concerning. This will be the 7th work order I’ve put in since I signed the lease.

Other than the frustrations of getting settled into a new place, my stress levels are down considerably. My fur children seem to have adjusted, most of my stuff has been unpacked and put somewhere (except the books), and I haven’t had to drive back and forth across town nearly as often this past week. The cats and I are getting back into our normal daily routines, and that means I’m reading a lot more and actually enjoying my free time. I am truly grateful for that for obvious reasons, but also because this is #RIP season! I might not have the energy to decorate this year, but I am definitely reading books that are more on the spooky and scary side until November 1st.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera
• Running on Empty by Jonice Webb, PhD
• The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

Finished:

• No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
• Doctor Who: The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner
• Lock In by John Scalzi

Total pages read this week (and last week): 842

Total books read: 82 of 85

TBR (goal is -24): -22

#ShelfLove Challenge: 47 of 51

I signed my lease for the apartment last Friday, spent the entire weekend packing, making trips with stuff that I didn’t want the movers moving (food, really fragile stuff, important paperwork, etc.), and getting my computer and the internet set up. Surprisingly, the move itself on Monday was the least stressful part of the whole process, but with everything going on, I didn’t have the time or energy to write or post anything last week.

Nearly everything I’ve read for the past two weeks has been in the form of audiobooks while I was packing, driving back and forth, cleaning, unpacking, and generally feeling like I was going to fall apart at any moment. I’ve had panic attacks, a couple of days of severe depression, and a synovitis flare up (which I haven’t had in a couple of years). I would fall into bed exhausted each night, but then wake up around one or two in the morning and not be able to get back to sleep. On top of all of that, I still went to work everyday this week (other than moving day). Needless to say, I will be doing nothing but resting today. No unpacking, no driving, no errands. I’m not even going to change out of my pajamas. Just reading, drinking lots of herbal tea, and cuddling with my cats, who are still adjusting to our new home.

While not everything I’ve unpacked has been put away yet, most of what is still in boxes is art, decorations, and my books. I only have two small bookshelves until I can get to IKEA, but first I need to buy a washer and dryer. The apartment complex doesn’t have a laundry facility, and while I will be able to do my laundry at my ex’s house for a little while, he will eventually be selling the house. So, it will likely be a couple of months until I finally get to unpack my books.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• The Death of a Beekeeper by Lars Gustafsson
• How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera
• No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
• The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

Finished:

• An Uninvited Ghost by E.J. Copperman
• The Disappearance of Emily Downs by C.J. Redwine

Total pages read this week: 434

Total books read: 79 of 85

TBR (goal is -24): -20

#ShelfLove Challenge: 44 of 51

I finished two audiobooks and started a third. My hold for How to Be the Love You Seek finally came in, so I’m going to try to finish that by the time I move. I discovered that another book I had checked out from the library, Devil’s Gun by Cat Rambo is the second book in the “Disco Space Opera” series. I’ve added the first book, You Sexy Thing, to my wishlist, but it will likely be quite a long time before I check it out. Instead, I picked up the next book on my library stack, The Poppy Fields. I only read the first chapter before I went to bed last night, but that’s only because I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer despite already being hooked.

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough
• An Uninvited Ghost by E.J. Copperman

Finished:

• METAtropolis ed. by John Scalzi
• Firestarter by Stephen King

Total pages read this week: 352

Total books read: 77 of 85

TBR (goal is -24): -19

#ShelfLove Challenge: 42 of 51

I finished two books over the holiday weekend, and then my life got busy again, and I didn’t do much more than listen to an audiobook. I have an official moving date now, and as much as I want to do so many other things, I’ll be spending most of my free time packing the rest of my books and stuff. Along with that, I’ll probably be listening to more audiobooks. However, today, I’m going to the Renaissance Festival for Fantasy Weekend. I’ll be dressed up as a Hobbit, and I’m very excited about my costume!

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

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

Currently Reading:

• Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
• Firestarter by Stephen King
• Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
• Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough
• METAtropolis ed. by John Scalzi

Finished:

• Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members by Sherrie Campbell, PHD
• A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris
• Sprinkles and Sea Serpents by Danielle Garrett

Total pages read this week: 805

Total books read: 75 of 85

TBR (goal is -24): -19

#ShelfLove Challenge: 41 of 51

I deliberately spent more of my time reading this past week instead of doing other activities. I’ll be doing a lot of reading during this holiday weekend as well, since I’m focusing my free time on finishing as many of the library books I’ve got checked out as possible. I’m up to 20 books, and only one of them is an ebook!

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