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!

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!

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!

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
  • Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell
  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michie
  • 31 Days to a Clutter-Free Life by Ruth Soukup

Finished:

  • Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

Total pages read this week: 757

Total books read: 1 of 80

TBR: +1 (Goal is -36)

I have a habit of starting many different books around the beginning of the year before settling back into my usual reading patterns, and this year is no exception. On top of that, I nearly always go to a bookstore to celebrate my birthday, and while I only bought 2 books during this trip, that means I’ve put myself behind on my TBR goal when the year has barely started. It’s a good thing I’ve got the whole year ahead of me!

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

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
  • Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

Finished:

  • The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
  • Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Total pages read this week: 338

Total books read: 101 of 80

This has been an excellent reading year! I finished 21 books over my goal, read nearly 30,000 pages, and rated 12 books at 5 stars (10% of my total reading for the year).

In 2024, I’m participating in a couple of reading challenges, #COYER and #BookSpin to tackle my digital TBR. I own over 400 ebooks and audiobooks combined, some of which I’ve had for more than a decade, so I would like to chip away at that a little bit while enjoying my new Kindle.

While I’m keeping my overall reading goal at 80 books for the year, I plan to reduce my TBR by 36 books. My plan for this is to change up my habits a bit by going for walks outside instead of going to the bookstore, which will also help me with my 2024 fitness goals (I’ll write more about that tomorrow in my #FitReaders post).

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

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
  • The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher

DNF:

  • A Lone Star Christmas by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone

Finished:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar
  • The Winter Freak Show by Daniel Parsons

Total pages read this week: 762

TBR Mountain: -25

Total books read: 99 of 80

I’m back from visiting family in Arizona, and even though I finished two books from my physical TBR, I came back with two new ones. I also got the Kindle Scribe as one of my Christmas presents, and it’s awesome! On top of that, I got a gift card to buy some ebooks, so I’m looking forward to a lot of great reading in 2024. I’ll be spending the rest of the year going through my books to update Goodreads (I’m sure I’ve missed a couple of books that need to be shelved), setting up my book tracker for the new year, and figuring out new goals.

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

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar
  • A Lone Star Christmas by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone

Finished:

  • Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
  • The Twelve Strange Days of Christmas by Syd Moore
  • It Ate Billy on Christmas by Roman Dirge
  • A Die Hard Christmas by Doogie Horner
  • The Night Before Christmas in Texas by Betty Lou Phillips and Roblyn Herndon
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton

Total pages read this week: 598

TBR Mountain: -24

Total books read: 94 of 80

I’ve hit both of my book goals for the year! Assuming I don’t buy any more physical books this year without finishing an equal number of them, I have earned a new Kindle. I’m going to wait until after my Birthday (in January) to buy it, though, since there’s a possibility that the Boyfriend got it as either my Christmas or Birthday present.

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

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
  • The Twelve Strange Days of Christmas by Syd Moore

Finished:

  • A Classic Christmas by various authors
  • The Twelve Days of Murder by Andreina Cordani
  • Take a Look at the Five and Ten by Connie Willis

Total pages read this week: 868

TBR Mountain: -19

Total books read: 89 of 80

I’ve been reading many Christmas-themed books, but not my physical ones, and with only 23 days left to finish 5 of them, I’m concerned that I won’t earn my new Kindle this year. I’m having a great time with what I’m reading, though, and with participating in the #WinterGames and #SnowedIn challenges on Litsy!

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

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • A Classic Christmas by various authors
  • Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Finished:

  • Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert
  • Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae
  • Sarah’s Quilt by Nancy E. Turner

Total pages read this week: 978

TBR Mountain: -19

Total books read: 86 of 80

I was back home in Texas for Thanksgiving, and so this post is for the past two weeks of reading. I had such a great time in Texas and it had been so long since I had been home that I didn’t want to leave. Now that it’s December, I’ll be reading Holiday and Winter-related books for the rest of the year and participating in a few different activities, challenges, and readathons on Litsy, including a read-along of Letters from Father Christmas.

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

Building the Book Fort

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

Currently Reading:

  • Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
  • Sarah’s Quilt by Nancy E. Turner
  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Finished:

  • Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J.K. Rowling
  • Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists by J.K. Rowling

Total pages read this week: 410

TBR Mountain: -20

Total books read: 83 of 80

I need to finish or get rid of four books by the end of the year to meet my TBR goal. I know it’s doable, but I feel like it’s been slow-going this past week, probably because the physical books I’m reading are both longer reads. Luckily, I’ll be traveling next week and will have plenty of time to read while I’m sitting in airports and on planes.

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