On My Nightstand January 24, 2026

hiking along the potomac

We’re waiting to see if this giant storm actually materializes. Fingers crossed it’s enough to keep me in reading all weekend, but not so much that we lose power.

Quote of the week

“Every friendship is distinct. And, my dear Sven, allow me to say that if you never allow for the possibility that someone might care for you on your own merit, their way of demonstrating it will always feel unusual or inadequate.”

— The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller

dirty looks from the cat

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - We’re on Cambodia for #FoodAndLit this month so I’m reading Troubling The Water by Abby Seiff.

Audiobook - I started King Sorrow by Joe Hill. It’s SO GOOD!

Paper Book - Nothing yet. I’m thinking about South of Broad by Pat Conroy.

sheep!

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

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

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.

Note: links to bookshop.org are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

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

December 2016 Quick Lit

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.

The holidays and the election have had an effect of the books I'm picking up. Books about the immigrant experience, cozy mysteries with clear cut endings, and books with families so dysfunction mine looks normal are all appealing to me right now.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - I liked the first half of this book a lot better than the second half. The main character's thoughts on race and immigration were super interesting. However, I thought the love story felt forced. Most reviewers on amazon.com either loved or hated this book, but I was firmly in the middle.

Miss Dimple Disappears by Mignon F. Ballard - I found this book when I was searching for novels about Thanksgiving. It's a fun, cozy WWII era mystery. I'll look for a few more in the series next time I'm feeling cozy.

Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith - Nothing ever happens in these books, but I enjoy them.

Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich - Maybe I was in a bad mood when I read this, but I am getting really annoyed by the Ranger/Morelli thing. It started cute, then hot, and now is boring. Maybe it's just me. Also not enough Grandma in this book.

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott - Psycho gymnasts. It was perfect for Thanksgiving weekend. Recommend.

The Farm by Tom Rob Smith - Last but not least, I think this will end up being one of my favorite books of the year. The ending was so vivid I was surprised to find myself on a metro train and not in rural Sweden. It's about a son who basically wants to hide his life from his parents, and in exchange ends up losing touch with theirs. So, it's a shock for him when he gets a call from his dad saying his mother has been hospitalized for mental health reasons. From there it's a roller coaster.

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