Reading For Empathy

I haven’t written this week because I haven’t known what to say, but then it started to feel like by not saying anything I was also saying something. But really, I don’t know what to say. I only know that my friends, co-workers, and neighbors are in pain. That said I can always recommend a book.

Here are several books that I’ve read that have led to empathy and understanding for the situation happening in our country right now.

Note: Links here are affiliate links to amazon.com, but there are several lists going around right now of excellent black owned indie bookstores if you’d like to purchase any.

Walking Wednesday

Between the long weekend and a day of migraines that left me flat on my back I got almost no walking done let alone posting about it.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Walking Wednesday

Another week of walking. It’s getting old to tell you the truth.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Walking Wednesday

Now that the weather is getting better, and the hateful wind has stopped I’m really enjoying my walks.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

May Show Us Your Books

April shower + May flowers

Where the heck did this month go? Hard to believe time could go by so fast when I haven’t really been outside my house. I did read a whopping 19 books last month, so I guess my concentration issues are officially over. Here are some of my favorites from the month.

My Favorites

Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery - This book didn’t get great reviews, but the stuck alone dreaming of all the food I couldn’t have vibe was quite relatable. Sometimes you just find the right book at the right time, you know?

Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes - Another right book at the right time. This short verse YA book reminded me to take interest in what my kids are interested in, not just what I want them to be interested in. This was a super important lesson for this first time homeschooler.

Comfort Reads

Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maude Montgomery - Another Anne book, and I loved it just as much as the first. It’s been hard to keep myself to just one of these a month so I can stay on schedule with my buddy read!

Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary - I love, love, love listening to the Ramona books read by Stockard Channing. These were the first chapter books I read as a kid, and listening to one I hadn’t read before was like crawling under a warm blanket.

Devotions by Mary Oliver - Another right book at the right time- when there aren’t that many places to go beyond my backyard Mary Oliver’s poetry about the birds and other creatures in her yard were very soothing.

“And who will care, who will chide you if you wander away from wherever you are, to look for your soul?
Quickly, then, get up, put on your coat, leave your desk!”

— Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches by Mary Oliver

And Other Ways To Pass The Time

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner - This novel covered everything from the 1950’s to just before the 2016 election. At times it felt a bit like Weiner was trying too hard to fit everything in, but overall a good story.

The Lost Boys of London by Mary Lawrence - This was a good sit on the couch with tea mystery. See my full review here.

The Time Between by Karen White - I originally thought I would be reading this book on my vacation to Edisto Island, but since it was April 2020 I ended up reading it in my basement huddled under a blanket. Still, it would have made a good beach book- love story, cute kid, misunderstood family dynamics, etc. My only issue was that the male love interest who happened to be the main character’s boss thought nothing of giving her the day off to baby-sit his kid. There’s no way he could do that and not have full on office wide revolt.

I can’t wait to see what everyone else has been reading to pass the time!

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

Books and Breakfast

Like a lot of people I’ve been baking a lot. I love to get up on Sunday morning and enjoy a treat, a mug of tea, and a book while it’s still quiet. I thought it might be fun to share some of the goodies I’ve been making.

In all of these I had to make a few substitutions, leave something out, or added a bit of something I had a lot of because I can’t exactly just run to the store.

Sourdough pumpkin muffins

Ham & Cheese Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Rhubarb is going nuts in my garden, so I’ve been using that a lot in my treats. Some favorites are:

Rhubarb Snack Cake

Rhubarb Scones

I’ve also been enjoying just plain toast. It’s so good with butter and cinnamon isn’t it?

What have you been cooking lately?

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. In a fun twist this week my son and I took part in the #DoAGoodTurn 5k through the Boy Scouts. We just started walking around our neighborhood and stopped when we hit 5k. Everything I love about a 5k without all of the crowds, difficult parking, and loud DJs.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Summer Reading Lists Are Complicated

Usually this is my favorite part of the reading year. I absolutely love summer reading lists, and have been known to cancel plans when my favorites come out. But this year they’re barely on my radar. I just can’t bring myself to care about new books knowing that I’ll have a hard time getting my hands on any of them in the near future. I know my reading lists are small potatoes in the wider scheme of things, but this is just another example of how life has changed so much.

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. Now more than ever I need my walks to stay sane. Weather has been icky this week. Our walks have been the forced kind, but we always feel better when we get back. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Walking Wednesday Wildlife Edition

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. Now more than ever I need my walks to stay sane. We’ve been noticing more and more wildlife on our walks. In the absence of people it seems the turtles and squirrels are taking over. Luckily we have a neighborhood cat to chase the squirrels away before they destroy my garden. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

The Things I Do To Entertain Myself

I guess I’ve been looking at too many Covid-19 trackers because last week I got it in my head that I should track my books read in the same way. Now instead of saying I finished a book I say I flattened that book’s curve.

Walking Wednesday "Spring Break" Edition

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. Now more than ever I need my walks to stay sane. Last week was “Spring Break” for us, but obviously all walks were local. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Show Us Your Books April 2020

Channeling my inner Pete The Cat

Just another average reading month for me. Nothing exciting happening. How about you?

Most of my March reading took place before social distancing took place. You would think that staying at home most of the time would lead to an increase in reading, but my brain is scribble scrabble. Obviously 2020 isn’t turning out to be the year to care about reading goals or challenges. In the mean time I’m doing puzzles, making bread, and working in the yard.

Here are a few things I did manage to finish:

My favorites

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - This is the one book I did manage to finish in the first few weeks of staying at home. The world of Anne is so comforting, and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. I feel lucky to just be discovering this series now.

The Day The World Came To Town by Jim Defede - It was inspiring to me to read about how people came together during another time of crisis.

Good Stories To Pass The Time

Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Goodrich Royce - Mrs. Ford is living the good life until the FBI shows up. If you like the twists of Ruth Ware books I think you’ll like this one too.

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips - This one is getting a lot of good reviews, and I think they’re deserved. It starts with an abduction of two sisters in Russia, but the book itself is only slightly related to the abductions. Instead we get a story each month about others in the community which of course includes mention of the missing sisters. It’s very interesting how it all comes together. I had to return it to the library, but if I hadn’t I would have read it again right away once I knew how it all fit together.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett - Good, old-fashioned girl power YA dystopia. Give it a try of you like that kind of thing.

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

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. Now more than ever I need my walks to stay sane. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

My New Reading Garden

My reading garden is finally starting to take shape

One of my goals this year was to create a reading garden. It was hard work clearing out all of the bushes and ivy that were in this corner, but I’m so happy with the result. I can’t wait to spend the summer reading on that bench!

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

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

March Show Us Your Books

I have a ridiculous amount of books out of the library right now. I’m not sure what happened. I had been doing such a good job of keeping on top of my holds.

February was a good reading month for me. I’m doing a #AuthorAMonth challenge on Litsy, so took a deep dive into Colson Whitehead. Also, current events seem to be strongly impacting my reading choices.

Here are the best books I read last month:

Best of the Best

(One fiction, one non)

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - I think most people know what this book is about by now, so I won’t re-tell the synopsis. After reading two other books by Whitehead earlier in the month I didn’t think I would like this, but it really is a masterpiece. I’m so glad I finally read it.

On the Clock by Emily Guendelsberger - My co-worker suggested this because she knew I had liked Nickel and Dimed. Sure enough I was fascinated by this updated version where a woman works at Amazon, a call center, and McDonalds. This book seems especially powerful in light of all the conversations we’ve been having lately about lack of paid sick leave.

It’s the End of the World As We Know It

(Where my Twitter feed and the daily news subliminally impacts what I read.)

The Stand by Stephen King - Stephen King’s plague book. My copy is an old, beaten up paperback that doesn’t include the expanded versions from the 1990’s. Sorry King purists, but I prefer it that way. I think it’s a better, cleaner story for the editing.

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - This book was interesting- a total breakdown of society as experienced by a First Nation tribe. When phone, internet, and services are cut off they think it’s a normal interruption and go about living as they normally would. Eventually they find out it’s something more.

Zone One by Colson Whitehead - This is Whitehead’s zombie apocalypse book, although I read it as more tongue and cheek. Maybe I’m just not deep enough, but I kept feeling like there was more to the story than I was getting.

Vox by Christina Dalcher - This dystopian novel had an excellent premise. In the not too distant future the US has become extremely conservative to the point where women and girls are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. Unfortunately after a impactful opening the book just kind of fizzled. However this book did give me the momentum to finally get my real ID, renew my passport, and check on my voter registration. So there’s that.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - My second post-plague book of the month, I read this as part of my project re-read. This book gets a lot of hype for good reason.

And a Few More Good Books Worth Talking About

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - Another book for project re-read. I think I said this last month too, but more and more I’m really starting to appreciate books that feature older people having lives and maybe even falling in love.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell - This one was a ROLLER COASTER. A girl inherits a house and a whole lot of baggage. Read this if you’re a fan of Ruth Ware.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - Again, I feel like I’m probably the last person to have read this so I won’t re-tell the plot. I’ll just say the world building and magical realism in this YA chunkster were great fun. I’ve read that the next book in the series isn’t as good, and I’m bummed. I’ll still give it a try though.

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg - One of my favorite themes in books is families we’re born into and families we make. This book had that in spades, and was just the feel good palate cleanser I needed during the doom and gloom of last month.

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