On My Nightstand January 17, 2026

a moment of quiet before a meeting last week

I am really looking forward to this long weekend. I ended up with food poisoning last weekend and I spent my one free day dizzy and doom scrolling. That was not helpful at all. This weekend I hope I just get a glimpse of that feeling when you’re lost in a really good book, although like most people it’s hard to get away from the “what has happened now” feeling.

Quote of the week

“Often, after an active morning, she would spend a sunny afternoon in lying stirless on the turf...”

— Shirley by Charlotte Bronte

my favorite t shirt

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I’m behind on my book club books as usual. I need to read The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller.

Audiobook - I’m about halfway through Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon.

Paper Book - Still working on The Chesapeake Requiem by Earl Swift.

cold mornings on metro

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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

REVIEW: Under The Naga Tail by Mae Bunseng Taing with James Taing

I have always heard about the Cambodian Genocide, but this book really brought it to life. The first hand account of a Chinese-Cambodian family fleeing from the Khmer Rouge showed what terrible things we do to each other as well as a person's ability to keep hope when there seemingly is no reason to.

This is a true story written from the perspective of Mae with help from his son James. Mae faces many harrowing situations at the hands of the Khmer Rouge all while being nearly starved to death. This is not an easy story to read, but it is an important one. I highly recommend this book.

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review through The Library Thing Early Reviewers Program.