On My Nightstand March 14, 2026

snow on the flowers

There is so much going on good and bad I don’t even know what to say. Thank goodness I have my books to get me through. I have been flying through my audiobooks, and inching through my print and kindle books. Just that time of year I guess. Multitasking is the way to go when it gets like this.

Quote of the week

“For my private plans, I’ll keep them to myself; which is very easy, as at present I have none: no private life is permitted a man in my position, a man in debt.”

— Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

My growing nancy drew collection

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I just started The Director by Daniel Kehlmann. I have no idea what is going on but I like it.

Audiobook - I’m listening to Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. It’s interesting but stressful.

Paper Book - I’m in the middle of a bunch, but the one that’s standing out right now is Wild Swans by Jung Chang.

a stack of books on every surface

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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

On My Nightstand February 28, 2026

morning skies

I think we had all four seasons this week. It started with snow and ended with warm sun. Weather like this makes me unhappy with all my clothes because nothing seems right. So I think I will take myself thrifting tomorrow to see if I can find something that makes me happy. If I happen to end up at the store that has the huge selection of books? It can’t be helped.

Quote of the week

“Don’t mess with statistics.”

— Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

the birds are confused by this weather too

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I settled on Watching Over Her by Jean-Baptise Andrea. I have it as an ARC but it looks like it’s already been published. I really need to catch up.

Audiobook - I started The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald. These people are terrible for each other. I’ll finish but it feels like a train wreck I can’t look away from.

Paper Book - Still going with Heaven’s Keep by William Kent Kreuger. I’m hoping to finish this weekend. I like this series.

pretty kitty

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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

On My Nightstand February 21, 2026

Night walks have been very pleasant lately

Another week in the books. Somehow we persist. We had lacrosse tryouts and wisdom teeth surgery, and work commitments here in this house. Plus the start of Lent. Is it any wonder I’m feeling scattered? Sometimes I am way too hard on myself.

Quote of the week

“The alternative is resistance, but you’re too busy reading novels.”

— The Book Censor' Diary by Bothayna Al-Essa

cat naps

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Still working on my ARCs. I think I’ll pick a mystery this week.

Audiobook - I have When I’m Gone Look For Me In The East by Quan Barry going for my book club.

Paper Book - I just started Heaven’s Keep by William Kent Kreuger. I was mad at the previous book in this series, but I decided to keep going.

winter walks

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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

On My Nightstand February 14, 2026

winter sunrise

Happy Valentine’s Day if you’re into that. Happy Saturday if you’re not. The super busy end of year weekends seem to have started early this year, so I’m just hoping for some down time with my books and my cats. If not summer is only 126 days away.

Quote of the week

“I believe, in my heart, we were intended to prize life and enjoy it, so long as we retain it.”

— Shirley by Charlotte Bronte

snack and a book

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - Still trying to get through my ARCs. This week it’s Watching Over Her by Jean-Baptiste Andrea.

Audiobook - I’m about to start something new. I have a few choices on Everand, but I haven’t decided yet.

Paper Book - Still working on Malinalli by Veronica Chapa. It’s good but slow.

my internet is misbehaving so i just need to keep this cat pic here i guess

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 February 7, 2026

well hello there

We’re starting to get back to normal here. Those who needed them are on the right meds for covid and the schools are open again in person for at least most of the day. (Full days next week PLEASE??) I’m actually looking forward to going back to my physical therapy tomorrow.

Quote of the week

“Did you really think you were the hero of this story?”

— Kind Sorrow by Joe Hill

she is always judging me

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I have an ARC for Death by Java by Alex Erickson.

Audiobook - I am making my way through the maze that is The Unveiling by Quan Barry.

Paper Book - I got a book called Malinalli by Veronica Chapa out from the library. It’s really different and interesting so far!

see?

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 31, 2026

cat model

Well the storm did materialize, and luckily we did keep our power. Unluckily covid is making rounds around our house which isn’t pleasant when you need to shovel every day. Things are looking up though, and this weekend’s storm will likely miss us. We’re all ready for things to go back to normal. Or as normal as things get these days.

Quote of the week

“There was a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued”

— Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

sunshine on snow

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I’m about to start Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius.

Audiobook - I was reading King Sorrow by Joe Hill on Everand when they abruptly took it off the platform! I got my credit back and was able to use a credit on another platform so I can start again this weekend. This wasn’t a pleasant development mid-shovel session though! Has this happened to anyone else?

Paper Book - Nothing at the moment. Kindle has just been easier lately.

the Potomac river a few hours before the storm

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 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.

On My Nightstand January 10, 2026

love walking and looking at clouds

This week has been a lot. I am reeling from the news, and exhausted from being thrown back into life head first while the world is set on fire. I am thankful for the act of reading and for the thoughtful community of readers I have found myself in.

Quote of the week

“I got to figure,” the tenant said.

”We all got to figure. There’s some way to stop this. It’s not like lightening or earthquakes. We’ve got a bad thing made by men, and by God that’s something we can change.”

— The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

a rare moment of peace between these two

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I need something simple with a clear ending, so cozy mysteries it is. I have Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews out from the library.

Audiobook - A friend told me about a fantasy set in 1920’s DC so I grabbed it from the library right away - The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope.

Paper Book - I started The Chesapeake Requiem by Earl Swift over the summer but didn’t get very far. (Me not the book.) I’m trying again now that I have repaired my attention span somewhat.

started this one again. 2026 needs some poetry.

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.