On My Nightstand April 26, 2025

We’re just back from our spring break trip to Western North Carolina. It was sad to see how much damage was done by Helene, but hopeful to see the recovery efforts. It was a great trip- we were outside most of the time hiking, riding bikes, or just reading on the porch.

Now we’re back and trying to hold on until the end of the school year. Every minute is packed this time of year, but it’s all fun stuff so I’m trying to enjoy. If only I could kick this cold I seem to have picked up somewhere.

Quote of the week

“I wondered exactly where that research had been done. Presumably the University of Unsupported Hunches, where I was guessing she was a tenured professor.”

— Back After This by Linda Holmes

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray - Never got to this one last week. I’m looking forward to it though.

Audiobook - The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie - For a challenge- we’re reading these books in order. I’m not into this one as much as the others, but it may just be my mood.

Paper Book - The Earth Cries Out by Gary Gardner - I think I read the first chapter then forgot to pack it for vacation. Time to dive back in.

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

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Vacation Book Review

This year was my first in memory that I tried to match my vacation reading to my location. Usually when I travel I pick something that's easy to read. I've been known to devour a whole trilogy in a week. I also have a thing for reading scary books by the beach.

Last week when I traveled to the mountains of North Carolina with my family I switched things up a bit, and matched my books with my vacation destination.

I've been meaning to read A Clearing in the Distance for years. It worked out well though that I got to read it in the same week I was visiting the Biltmore Estate.  Olmsted laid out Biltmore as an older man, and I got so much insight into the process by reading this book. I even got to read some of it while sitting on a bench in the gardens of the estate.

My husband downloaded all ten million hours of Fortune's Children for us to listen to in the car. This book was actually very funny, and gave a good background into exactly why someone would want to build a really huge house.

My husband bought me a signed copy of Appalachian Odyssey for Christmas, and I put it aside until our trip. I turn 40 this year, and appreciate stories about people who continue to hike past the age of 30.

How do you pick your vacation books? I liked this approach, but did kind of feel myself wishing for a novel at the end of some days!

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