Show Us Your Books October 2023

September was a good reading month for me. I enjoyed some end of summer reads, some middle grade, and, of course, Holly. It’s kind of funny now to think how hot it was when I read some of these books. So glad sweater weather is here. (You can tell it’s getting cooler because my two cats will actually spend a few hours sitting next to each other not fighting.)

Five Star Reads:

Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling -- I‘m probably not the intended audience for these books, but I really like them. I love the characters and love cheering them on as they navigate teenage life.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- I loved this book. It was so sad, but also so insightful. 5 stars. Perfect end of summer reading.

Four Stars:

Holly by Stephen King -- Holly is such a great character, and I will read anything King writes about her. Great creepy story.

I do understand why some people complained about the politics. It didn‘t seem natural to me that people would bring it into conversation as soon as Holly met them.

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan -- Multi-generational books are my sweet spot. This book about a family over time and what home means was no exception.

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk -- Listened to this MG coming of age story with my daughter and we loved it.

The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny -- I enjoyed this book about cranky mc Greta and her dumpster fire of a year. Grumpy ladies have feelings too. Thanks for the representation.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray -- This book was delightful. Gray brought so many characters together from Jane Austen‘s books for a murder mystery in a way that seemed authentic and humorous at the same time.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.

Walking Wednesday March 22, 2023

It’s cherry blossom time! Also pollen time, but I’m trying to ignore that.

I’m listening to (and enjoying) The Secret History of Home Economics. Who knew?

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Walking Wednesday March 15, 2023

It’s another week of glorious blooms that make walking a pleasure despite the cold weather. I just love this time of year.

I’m listening to one of the few Stephen Kind books I haven’t read yet, Duma Key.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

On My Nightstand March 5, 2023

Happy weekend! I had a great week. I took a day off and took myself on a field trip to the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. It’s been a long time (like 20 years) since I spent a day wandering through museums by myself like that. I went specifically to see a certain bookish display, and I’ll post more about that later this week.

This week it’s back to normal working for the man and reading as much as possible!

Have a great week everyone.

What’s on my nightstand this week:

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King -- I’m re-reading this series in anticipation of Stephen King’s new book Holly which is coming out in September.

Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck -- I read and loved this at the suggestion of a friend a few years ago. John Steinbeck is our Author A Month on Litsy this month, and I’m looking forward to re-reading this one.

A Corpse in the Koryo -- This is for my work book club, and it’s actually not bad! Work book club can be hit or miss.

Quote of the Week:

I’ve found that while a grilled cheese won’t solve my problems for me, it makes them a bit easier to manage.

From Rivals by Katherine McGee

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

2022 By The Numbers

I always like to look back at the books I’ve read over the year and see where my stats end up. It doesn’t really matter- I read a lot and I’m not going to push myself to read any more or any less. I do find it interesting to see where my time goes though.

In 2022 I read 209 books.

That’s 26 less than last year, and one more than the year before that.

I read more audiobooks than usual

(I blame my denial of needing reading glasses through most of the year. This stat took a deep dive once I gave in.)

In 2022 50% of my reads were via audio. That’s up from 45% in 2021.

Beverly Cleary and Louise Penny are authors I read a lot of

Usually Stephen King would appear on that list too, but this year I only read one of his books. (Under The Dome- it was okay.) We’ll see if he makes a comeback in 2023.

I’ve already read 3 books in 2023, so we’ll see where my stats are this time next year! My goals are to finish up the Reading Africa and Reading Asia challenges I’ve been working on as well as to read some of the chunky books taking up space on my shelves.

Happy New Year!

Summer Reading Plans

It’s summer reading season!

I am so excited for summer reading. There’s nothing I love more than reading a book outside on a hot summer afternoon. Of course, me being me, I already have stacks and stacks of books picked out to read. I don’t really gravitate to the the new best sellers. Instead I like to re-read, concentrate on the back list titles I have at home, and dip my toes in a little bit of romance- something i don’t usually read the rest of the year.

A Few Titles From My (Very Long) Summer Reading List:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Show Us Your Books November 2020

The sun coming through stormy skies

November 2020, it really seemed like we would never get here! We made it!

I read a ton in October, mostly thanks to a Halloween reading challenge on Litsy. In retrospect it probably wasn’t the best for my mental health to read five Stephen King books in the weeks before the election!

Best of the Month

Self care - a good book and ice cream

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - This was a great book, and so, so clever. It starts in Ghana in the 1700s where two half sisters end up on very different paths- one is kidnapped and sold into slavery and one lives the pampered life of a slave catcher’s wife. From there each chapter skips a generation and we see how the two halves of the family live- one in America and one in Ghana. This will probably be on my best of 2020 list.

It Is A Truth Universally Acknowledged

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding - After reading P&P last month it was time to read a few adaptations. I was obsessed with Bridget Jones in my 20’s and really enjoyed re-visiting with her. This was my first time reading it on audio, and I enjoyed it in that format. If you need something to make you laugh this month Bridget is a good choice!

Pride and Prejudice Graphic Novel by Ian Edington - I’ve become a big fan of graphic novels based on the classics in the last few years and this was no exception. Mr. Darcy just looked so…proud.

Most Mysterious

I spent a lot of October with The West Wing running in the background.

The Best American Mystery Stories 2017 - I grabbed this when I was wandering around the library one day, and liked it more than I thought I would. I’m not usually a short story person, but lately they’ve been perfect for when I can’t concentrate. This was a good collection, and I'm going to pick up another volume next time I go to the library.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger - I’m averaging about a book a month by Krueger since I started early this summer. Ordinary Grace was a stand alone, but I enjoyed it just as much as his Cork O’Connor mysteries. The book takes place in the early 1960’s but is told 40 years later from the point of view of a pre-teen boy. Great book!

The Likeness by Tana French - The second book in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French. It went on a bit long for my tastes, but the mental gymnastics the undercover cop main character underwent kept me mostly entertained. I’m not in a huge rush to get to the next book, but probably will at some point this year.

And Five From The King

A bit too close to current events

The Dead Zone by Stephen King - What would you do if you knew the new popular politician who sold himself as “just a regular guy” was actually a psychopath who would kill us all? I read this as a teenager, and re-read it in October because I started thinking it was eerily close to current events. Thank goodness we live in America and not a Stephen King book so we can take care of these issues with elections.

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - King’s sequel to The Shining, and another re-read for me. Both times I’ve read this I’ve been bored by the beginning and then get about a third of the way in and can’t stop. Read The Shining first.

The Institute by Stephen King - A decent modern King book. Kids with psychic abilities are kidnapped and kept in a secret facility supposedly for the good of the world.

11/22/63 by Stephen King - Another re-read and probably my favorite Stephen King book. In this one a man goes back in time to stop the assassination of JFK. It’s a great story and what King has to say in the afterward about his motivation for this book is almost just as great. It’s a chunkster, but worth the time.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King - A book of four short stories, the best best one featuring Holly Gibney from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy. Worth reading, but I’m glad I got it from the library instead of buying it.

One More

Speaking Truth To Power by Anita Hill - This was completely different from everything else I read in October, but I wanted to give it a mention. This is such an important book, and I really think everyone should read it. It really shows how sexual harassment can change the course of a woman’s life through no fault of her own, and how men need to do a better job of listening (looking at you Joe Biden. I think you’ve learned your lesson but giving you the hairy eyeball just in case.)

Linked to: Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit

Links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

November Show Us Your Books!

I read a lot in October, but because it was mostly dedicated to reading for the Scarathlon on Litsy I fell like just read one long book. I enjoyed the experience, but I glad to be reading with more variety in November. My October reading highlights are below. (And because I’m in a mood, one lowlight.)

I’m Your #1 Fan

Misery by Stephen King - I haven’t read this book since high school, and I forgot how good it is. Plus it didn’t take six years to read like some of King’s other books. I’m one of Stephen King’s constant readers, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a succinct book with a good ending every now and then!

Life Is a Mystery

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - This is only the second Christie book I’ve ever read, and I was surprised by how funny it was. I wasn’t laughing with tears coming out of my eyes, but some of the comments and observations has me chuckling on the metro in a way that made others think twice about sitting next to me.

The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny - This is another book that has escaped my re-reading habits until now. I’m glad I went back to this one though because this is the one where a lot of the later, wonderful story lines start to take shape.

Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear - These are serviceable mysteries for when I don’t have any Louise Penny books to read. I’d like to get through the series, but I don’t feel any particular rush. In this one Maisie goes back to France for the first time since WWI, and Hitler is beginning to stir in Germany.

Creepiness

The Family Plot by Cherie Priest - A good old fashioned ghost story. It could have been better if I actually cared about the characters, but the creepiness was definitely there.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware - Ruth Ware writes a certain type of book, and this one stuck to theme. The main character is desperate for money, and thinks her problems are solved when she gets a letter informing her of an inheritance she’s not entitled to. She just has to travel to a creepy old house to pick it up. Not Earth shattering, but a great twisty read for when you feel like crawling under a blanket.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman - Another spooky old house in this one. I got this to read with my daughter, but it was a bit too much for her. I liked it though so I ended up finishing it on my own. Coraline wishes her parents paid more attention to her, but realizes that they might not be so bad when she finds another set of parents.

I Give Up

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy - Way too much detail about submarines, and not enough action. I bailed after 50 pages. Should I go back or let this one go?

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Non-Fiction Books For September

September is for new pencils, graph paper, and non-fiction reading.

There’s something about seeing kids go back to school that makes me want to learn everything all at once. I’m sure I can’t be the only book worm reading my kids’ texts after they go to bed at night. With that in mind, here are 16 non-fiction books that will get you in the September back-to-school reading spirit.

Books That Teach You To Do Things

On Writing by Stephen King - Stephen King writes so much he makes it look easy. In this book though you get the background into the hours and hours he puts into his craft. Part how-to and part memoir of a great American writer, he reads the audiobook himself, and it it superb.

100 Recipes: The Absolute Best Ways To Make The True Essentials By America's Test Kitchen - This book is exactly as promised. The best way to cook almost everything you’d want to cook. I love it, and check it out of the library at least once a year.

The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful by Myquillyn Smith - This book is a good antidote to my personal decorating style which is “It doesn’t have to be beautiful to be good enough.” Give it a try if you need a change in your house, but don’t have tons of time or money.

Random Facts About Things You May Never Have Thought Much About

A Clearing In The Distance by Witold Rybczynski - You may not think you care about the trials and tribulations of Frederick Law Olmsted, but this book is super fascinating. I read it when I was visiting the Biltmore Estate, but that’s not required to enjoy it.

The Residence by Kate Andersen - A look at the presidents that you won’t get anywhere else. You can have feelings about politics and campaign promises, but can you really trust a politician if they don’t teat their pastry chef well?

The Road Not Taken: Finding America in the Poem Everyone Loves and Almost Everyone Gets Wrong by David Orr - A deep dive into one of America’s most quoted poems. It’s a short book well worth the time.

Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens by Steve Olson - One of my earliest school memories was my teacher bringing in a glass jar of ashes from Mt. St. Helens. Then it seemed like I didn’t hear another thing about it until I read this really interesting book. Now I’m obsessed.

Leaving Home

Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery - This is a good one for East Coast hikers who are feeling their years. Anything you’re worried about doing, this lady in her 60’s did it in keds.

Walking With Plato by Gary Hayden - I liked the intermingling of philosophy and walking, and I really liked the relationship of the walkers. This is a nice, soothing book if that’s what you’re in the mood for.

The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau - Everyone needs a quest, and this book will help you realize that. Plus it’s fun to read about what other people are doing in the name of pursuit.

Apollo 8 by Jeffrey Kluger - This is a great book about man’s first Moon orbit, and if you get the audiobook the recordings of the chatter between Houston and Apollo 8 will take your breath away. This was one of my favorite listening experiences ever.

Braving It by James Campbell - This father and daughter adventure story was sweet, and made me realize my kids are capable of more than I give them credit for.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

A Bookish Vacation

An amazing sunset in Rocky Mountain National Park

Last week we went on another adventure, and of course half the things I saw reminded me of books.

Kit Carson’s House in Taos, New Mexico

Taos reminded me of Willa Cather and her dreamy novel Death Comes for the Archbishop. Taos isn’t as in your face as Santa Fe; you have to work to find the heart of it. It’s worth the effort though, and nearby hikes in Cimarron Canyon State Park and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument only sweeten the deal.

View from Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma

Part of the reason I pushed myself to finish The Grapes of Wrath last month is because I knew this trip would bring me to Oklahoma, and through the Comanche National Grasslands. The government created the grasslands in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma in order to stop a dust bowl from happening there again. Oklahoma has a bad rep as a road trip destination, but the sights in the panhandle were stunning. Just get gas and pack snacks before you go. There’s not much out there!

The lights of Estes Park

Our last stop was Estes Park, Colorado which is the home of the Stanley Hotel, and inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. I looked into having dinner at the hotel, but my daughter had a stomach bug on this leg of the trip, so a fancy meal wasn’t in the cards. That’s okay, I’m afraid of ghosts anyway.

You might also like:



Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Show Us Your Books July

Summer reading season is officially here! I’ve been spending many hours on the porch drinking tea and reading books (and maybe eating a burger or two.)

When I first went to tally up my books, in my mind I hadn’t read much in June. But then I looked at the numbers, and I had actually read twelve books — 6 were paper and 6 were audio.

Favorite

Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl — This was a glorious audiobook read by the author. I thought I was signing up for tempting descriptions of food when I bought this, but there were so many other nuggets about working motherhood, corporate politics, and recovering from mistakes that I loved. I ended up taking many long walks the weekend I listened to this just so I could finish.

****

Great Beach Reads

Daisy Jones And The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid — This was excellent brain candy. It was reminiscent of a VH1 documentary, and I read it all in one sitting. I read the print book, but I heard the audio version is amazing.

****

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser — A thriller about a missing mom, and the aftermath of her disappearance. Did she flee on her own, or did someone take her? Was it the husband? What about the missing money? This was perfect for laying on the beach while my kids built sandcastles.

***

Moody Reads To Dwell On

Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella — This is the book that Field of Dreams was based on, and I’ve been meaning to read it for years. It’s different from the movie, but it has that same dreamy and hopeful feeling.

***

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent — I read this for a book club, and it was perfect pick for that. I appreciated that the love affair I thought the author was building towards never happened.

****

The Guineveres by Sarah Domet — This book was without place or time, and it worked. I enjoyed the characters.

***

The Near and Distant Past

The Boat People by Sharon Bala — An important read considering what we’re facing in our country these days. This book gives a face to the refugee crisis. Wish I could make this required reading for all of America.

****

Tear Down This Wall by Romesh Ratnesar — A non-fiction audiobook that I downloaded from Audiobook Sync. I’m of the age where I can remember when the Berlin Wall fell, but had no real idea of what that meant at the time. I appreciate books that help fill in the gaps now. I’m going to recommend this one to my 11 year old as well.

***

The Future

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen and Owen King — This book went on a little too long for my tastes, but the afterward at the end of the audiobook by the authors made up for it. I love getting a glimpse of what goes into writing books.

***

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins — This was a re-read for me. I’m not a huge fan of this book, but I really liked the ending.

***

Audiobooks to Take Your Mind Off Things When You’re Home Alone and Cleaning For HOURS

(Or Maybe That’s Just Me)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling — My favorite of the series. I could listen to this audiobook again and again.

****

The Lost City of Z by David Grann — I liked this armchair adventure story, minus the description of all of the snakes and other creepy things that can kill you in the Amazon.

***

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Quicklit December 2017

We moved our furniture to put our tree in a different spot, and I must say reading within view of it is rivaling back yard reading, and reading by the firepit as a new favorite place to park myself with a book. Cozy nights=Merry Christmas.

Here's what I've been reading lately:

The Purple Swamp Hen And Other Stories by Penelope Lively -- I'm not usually a short story person, but I think someone on The Readers podcast talks about her a lot, so when I saw this on the new releases shelf at the library I picked it up. These short stories were great- engaging and satisfying. They were like a mix of F. Scott Fitzgerald and O. Henry. I predict that several Penelope Lively books will appear on my TBR in 2018.

11/22/63 by Stephen King -- This was a re-read for me, brought on by the release of the Kennedy files in early November. I still love this book as much as I did originally, even if it is a gigantic doorstop that was hard to carry on the metro!

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall -- It's not weird to relate to a polygamist man right? Because that was my reaction to this book. Oddly sympathetic.

It's been a few months since I've linked up with Quick Lit, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been reading.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

August 2017 Audiobooks

The world may be ending, but my flowers look great this summer!

I can't believe it's August already. Summer is almost over, and I'm turning 40! No worries. In my head I'm maybe 32.

Anyway summer always leads to good audiobook listens. Here are some of my favorites from the last month.

Apollo 8 by Jeffrey Kluger - I LOVED this book, especially the recordings of the astronaut's chatter with mission control at the end. Audio added so much to this book. It's about, as you may have guessed, the flight of Apollo 8. Apollos 11 and 13 get a lot of attention, but this one was truly groundbreaking. I'm glad to know more about it.

Song of Susannah by Stephen King - This is a re-read for me. I first read it on my honeymoon, and my memories of it mostly included our balcony in Mexico. This time I paid more attention to the book, well aware of what's going to happen at the end. It's weird that Stephen King wrote himself into the book, but I appreciated the technique more this time.

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan - This book about the Dust Bowl is so interesting. I highly recommend it if you enjoy non-fiction that reads like fiction.

Happy reading friends!

July 2017 Quick Lit

Not to brag, but I have not read a bad book all month. It has been a great reading summer so far, and we've only just begun!

Each month I link with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit as a way to talk about the books I liked, but didn't review. Here are the best of them:

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie -- This book was everything I love: a coming of age story set in an far away location. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a genius, and I can't wait to read more of her books.

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey -- This book was billed as Station 11 meets The Martian, which it wasn't, at all. Those books had a lot of action, and this one mostly took part in the astronauts minds. Still, I liked most of the characters, so I liked this book.

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith -- A perfect summer read. Two creepy people meet each other on a train with murderous results. I liked this one a lot.

The Shining by Stephen King -- I HAD to re-read this after driving through Estes Park, CO.  I had forgotten how different it was from the movie. When I finished I was so creeped out I jumped at my husband's shadow. That doesn't usually happen to me.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

My Summer Reading List 2017

I can't wait for summer reading. Is there anything better than books that smell like sun block?

I'm expecting good things this summer. My kids are both independent swimmers now, and we got a pass to the local water park. There is a chair there somewhere with my name on it. (Hopefully it's in the shade, and hopefully it stops raining soon.) Here are some of the books I plan on slipping in my bag (other summer bag essentials: sun block, band aids, cheeze its, and sun glasses.)

Song of Susannah by Stephen King -- I lost steam in my re-read of the Dark Tower series until I started seeing posters for the movie version coming out this summer. Suddenly I got interested again.

Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan -- I've read most of J. Courtney Sullivan's books, and I'm excited she has a new one for this summer.

Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton (release date 8-22-17) -- I really hope Kinsey doesn't die at the end of this series. Been reading these since I was a young teen.

Glass Houses by Louise Penny (release date August 29, 2017) -- I'm about 1/3 of the way through book 12. I'm so glad there's another book in this series on the horizon for when I finish that one!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

May 2017 Audiobooks

Camping near the Chesapeake Bay

I've been everywhere this month which means plenty of time for audio books. I've found some winners too. Everything I've listened to has been 4 or 5 stars.

Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King - I listened to this book for project I'm working on thinking I would grin and bear it. I ended up loving it! It's a super interesting account of building the dome on the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral in Florence.

The Outermost House by Henry Beston - I grew up near Cape Cod and still go back every year. The Cape Cod that Beston wrote about when he lived there after World War I was a lot different than the one I know! I really enjoyed this narrative ofyear in a place that I love more than anyplace else.

It by Stephen King - 44 hours! That's how long this audiobook was. I think Stephen King is a better writer now, but I still enjoyed my re-read of one of his earlier gory works.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - This book took my breath away. Any description I give it won't do it justice, so I'll just say: read it, even if you don't think you like young adult fiction.

February 2017 Audiobooks

My February spirit animal

Twitter and political podcasts have been distracting me from reading and listening lately. Still I did manage to get in some winners (and some junk that I listened to with my kids and won't discuss here.)

A Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalin - A thriller that takes place during WWII and in the years after. A bit greusome in parts, but a pretty good story. It kept me guessing until the end.

A Trick of the Light and A Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny - I'm still chugging along with these. Each time I start a new one I think "Oh really? Another body in Three Pines? Boring" and then before I know it I'm sucked in. As everyone who reviews these books says these books start with murder, but they're about so much more than the mystery. (To be fair A Beautiful Mystery doesn't take place in Three Pines.)

Bag of Bones by Stephen King - There was a part at the end of this book that almost made me stop listening. Up until then it was a near perfect audiobook. I kept going past that part, and I'm glad I did. Read by the author, and it contained music that added to the story. However I don't think I'll ever re-read it like I usually do with King's books. I know that's probably not very helpful to anyone trying to decide if they should read this book, but I'm not sure what else to say!

Also see Books That Are Saving My Life Right Now.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

My favorites from 2016

Like a lot of people, for me 2016 just seemed like one bad thing after another. One of the few bright spots was all of the great books I read. Between reading for this site, my deeper involvement in the bookish community, and ridiculous delays on the metro I read more books than ever - 147 as I write this. 2016 is truly the year I embraced my inner book worm.

I broke my favorites down into categories over the past few days:

Favorite audiobooks from 2016

Favorite non-fiction from 2016

Favorite fiction from 2016

Naming my favorites was a fun exercise, but now I feel like it's time to name my favorite over all. I went back and forth on this a few times. My pride wants me to name something that has been deemed an IMPORTANT BOOK by the 2016 powers that be. Reality and book tracking reminds me that I still haven't gotten any of the IMPORTANT BOOKS from the library yet.

So, it comes back to favorites. What books had me waiting impatiently for them to be released? What books did I reserve from the library months before they came out, and then read in one big gulp?

So, when I thought about it, I realized my favorites of 2016 were actually two series. These are the books that I've gulped down one after another. I start one book, tell myself I'll take a break after this one, but then as soon as it ends I download the next because I WILL DIE OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

These two series are:

Both of these are more than the sum of their parts.

You can read more about the Bill Hodges series here and here.

I've talked about the Gamache series in the last few Show Us Your Books link ups here, here, and here.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

My favorite fiction from 2016

I read a lot of good books this year, books that had me ignoring my family, missing stops on trains, and hoping that my plane would be delayed just a little bit longer. Here are the stand outs.

End of Watch by Stephen King - This book, the last one in the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King, pushed all my good book buttons. I loved the rsolution, and the call backs to King's earlier books.

The Farm by Tom Rob Smith - It's been a long time since I felt like I was actually in a book, but The Farm took me to Sweden in the snow. This book had a great ending too.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne - Yeah, I know there's a lot wrong with the timelines, depction of the characters, etc. I just loved being back at Hogwarts.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - An amazing audiobook loved by my whole family. Would be great for a family road trip.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein - My favorite read out loud all year. Had us up reading way past bed time. The first book that ever made my son say "Just one more chapter, please???"

Opening Belle by Maureen Sherry - The circumstances of this working mom's day to day were kind of far fetched, but I feel like this is one of the few books that got the details of my experience right.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik - I just finished this not too long ago, and loved it. The only thing that made me give it 4 1/2 stars instead of 5 was that it dragged on just a bit too long at the end. Other than that, this is the kind of book that will make you want to curl up and just keep reading.

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng - A powerful story about a part of World War II you don't often hear about.

And some re-reads...

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King - A must read after a crazy trip to Maine - still good, and a trip down memory lane to the years before the Red Sox finally won the World Series.

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder - My favorite of the series. I'm so glad I got to read it again.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume - I read this for a reading challenge, and it still holds up after all these years.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

October 2016 Audiobooks

This time of year seems like a constant sprint/marathon combined. Meaning I have to go to meetings and practices a lot and talk to people. Meaning I am not able to dream away my time while listening to audiobooks as I would prefer. However I did make my way through two mysteries.

I always thought I wouldn't be able to follow mysteries on audiobook, but turns out I quite like them. Just goes to show you're never too old to try new things.

X is the latest in the Kinsey Milhone series by Sue Grafton. This wasn't the best in the series, but I liked how this book continued the story of some of the characters from the previous book.

With only two letters left in the alphabet I'm strongly considering starting over again at 'A' before the series ends. These books started in 1982! Can you believe it?

When I tried to read Still Life by Louise Penny in print I didn't get past the first 15 pages. I heard so many people rave about these books though I decided I needed to try again, this time on audio. I'm so glad! I'm not sure if it was the country setting on the back drop of a fall hurricane, or the delicious way pastries are pronounced with a French accent, but I too am now in love with these books. I'm anxiously waiting for it to be my turn to listen to the next one on Overdrive.

I started listening to It by Stephen King this month as part of a spooky Halloween reads challenge. However it is 44 hours long, so I may not have a review until next Halloween!

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!