Can we just all agree this year has been enough of a joke, and we don’t need to try and fool each other?

Anyway, it’s undeniable that this is the best time of year to walk in the DC area. We just have flowers everywhere. Even the weeds are gorgeous this time of year.

I’m rushing to listen to Katabasis before the library takes it back. Yes, another long book!

March Beginning TBR: 502
March Ending TBR: 521
(Not a good sign going into summer reading season, but can I help it of people keep writing books?)

My reading has slowed down this year, but I’m hoping with the better weather and the return of porch reading season things will pick up again. Concentration issues are a problem too, but I just need to keep reminding myself that the world is going to keep turning no matter if I’m watching it or not. It’s a rough time. I’m hoping books will keep me sane.

I’m looking forward to my April list. I’m going to try to get through a bunch of books I’ve had on my shelves (physical and virtual) forever. A bit of spring cleaning if you will. We have a trip planned so I’m hopeful I can get my mojo back.

My April TBR

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

How to Resist Amazon and Why by Danny Caine

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng

My Fourth Time, We Drowned by Sally Hayden

The Fatal Unpleasantness and Netherfield by Claudia Gray

The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub

At Wits’ End by Kiersten Weiss

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

The Clue of the Velvet Mask by Carolyn Keene

The Price of Greatness by Jay Cost

Nothing To Envy by Barbara Demick

The Bone Seeker by M.J. McGrath

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

A Perfect Union by Catherine Allgor

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Bamboo and Blood by James Church

Happy reading!

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Another busy week here. Looking at the calendar it will stay that way until graduation. I hope my brain can stay calm enough to read.

It’s almost midnight as I write this, and I just got back from dropping a car full of teens off. I’m still a little wired from being out so late so I think I will catch up on my chapter a day classic reads before I go to bed. Maybe a late night snack too?

Quote of the week

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I’m about to start Unshakable by Fr. Mike Schmitz as this year’s Easter Read.

Audiobook - I’ve got another long one- Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I started it on paper, but it was taking me too long to get through so I switched to audio so I could multi task.

Paper Book - I’m trying to finish Heaven’s Keep by William Kent Krueger before the library repossess my car or something. Paper books have just been so slow going for me lately.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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Spring walks mean wildlife and flowers! I love this time of year when fast growing flowers mean something new to see almost every day.

I’m listening to Fingersmith this week. I read somewhere it’s based on Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

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Spring is official now! I still haven’t put my winter clothes away though. We’ve been touring colleges and getting ready for a French student to come stay with us. There’s so much going on! My audiobook consumption is still outpacing my physical book consumption by a lot.

Quote of the week

On My Nightstand This Week

Kindle - I have the ARC of The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung.

Audiobook - I’m in the middle of the very long Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose.

Paper Book - I’m still reading Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I picked so many long books this month!

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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Mid-March already, wow. This month is flying and it’s only going to go faster as my son finishes his senior year. Thank goodness I have my walks to keep me sane.

This week I have a bunch of middle grade books downloaded to keep my ears happy. I’m starting with Secrets of The Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon. I loved the first in this series and grabbed the second from the library as soon as I could.

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February is a short month, but the cold nights make for great reading. Here’s the best of the best of the books I read last month.

Four and Five Star Reads From February 2026

King Sorrow by Joe Hill — I absolutely loved this book. It was long, but I could have definitely kept reading. I loved the characters even the evil ones. Just so good.

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor — I enjoyed this book about an isolated community off the coast of Wales just before WWII. The audiobook was excellent and really added to the sense of time and place.

Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius — When she was 9 a young Sami girl witnessed someone illegally butchering her reindeer when she was skiing at night. As the years go by and she devotes her life to her reindeer the crimes don’t stop and the police do nothing. This was a great winter read and gave good insight into life in Northern Sweden.

A Tender Struggle by Krista Bremer — I found this book to be well written and really relatable. A blonde American marries a Libyan ex-pat and they try to blend their lives in North Carolina. The author did a really good job of describing their struggles to blend their beliefs and raise their children but also shows how much they care for each other.

Have a great month everyone!

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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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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We’re having ALL the seasons here lately. Most of the snow has melted though and it’s been pretty easy to get outside. It just hasn’t been particularly pleasant. I have to force myself despite the blah weather because my neck problems get really bad when I don’t walk (as does my attitude if we’re being honest.)

This week I’m listening to The Last Emperor of Mexico by Edward Shawcross. It’s interesting so far!

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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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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January saw me reading all over the world. It makes sense- we were snowed in so I partook in some armchair travel. Reading stories set all over is my favorite thing so I’ll count this as a good reading month!

Four and Five Star Reads From January 2026

(in no particular order)

The Memoir of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller - Sven was a loner so arctic Norway suited him just fine. Eventually though people (and dogs) found their ways into his life. Sven was a great character and this book was perfect for winter reading. I‘m glad this came into my life when it did.

Eight Very Bad Nights Edited by Tod Goldberg - I love noir in the winter, and Hanukkah related noir at the beginning of the month made it extra fun. (Started in December but I’m slow.)

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - I read this because Sybil wrote to Ann Patchett about it in The Correspondent. I liked it. Somehow it was both slow and fast all at once with good complicated characters. I was a little bit torn about the ending but I guess it all made sense.

Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon - This book from the survivor of the Cambodian genocide will stay with me for a long time. The recipe for making noodles in a refugee camp was gut wrenching from getting black market noodles to procuring water to cook them in. Everyone should read this.

Travels With George by Nathaniel Philbrick - George Washington meets Travels With Charley meets the life and times of Nathaniel Philbrick. I enjoyed learning about all 3. I also learned a few things about Alexandria, the town where I’ve lived for 20 years or so. I thought the reflections at the end were great and hopeful. Washington, Steinbeck, and Philbrick all had similar experiences when it came to everyday people.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - My first read of 2026.

I liked this, but found it a little depressing knowing the games would still be going on when Hamitch was a grown man. Very hopeless. Well written hopelessness though.

Have a great month everyone!

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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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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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

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!

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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January Beginning TBR: 448
January Ending TBR: 502 (Hoping to get this under 500 by Feb. 28)

I’m just a few days late which isn’t bad after battling covid and snowcrete for the past couple of weeks. I fell behind on my ARCs late last year so I’m trying to get a few read this month. I also have a few challenges going on and am trying to read from the TOB Shortlist before the tournament happens in March.

My February TBR

The Director by Daniel Kehlmann

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor

Shirley by Charlotte Bronte

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

Deadly Appearances by Gail Bower

Malinalli by Veronica Chapa

Endling by Maria Reva

If You Love It, Let It Kill You by Hannah Pittard

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Death by Java by Alex Erickson

The Beautiful and the Damned F Scott Fitzgerald

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

A Tender Struggle by Krista Bremer

The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman

Watching Over Her by Jean-Baptiste Andrea

When I’m Gone Look For Me In The East Quan Barry

Sea of Grass by Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty

First Family by Joseph J. Ellis

So Far Gone by Jess Walter

That’s all for this month. Happy reading everyone!

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Walking has been slow going this week, but I’m grateful to have the right gear to make it somewhat possible. I’ve been listening to Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite. I’m not sure what I think yet.

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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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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

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.

Hang in there everyone, and happy reading.

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Happy New Year! It’s my first Show Us Your Books post of 2026, which means I am looking back at the books I read in December 2025. I read quite a bit in December, but that was a lot of re-reads. So here are the few 4 and 5 star reads of new to me books from last month. (In no particular order.) You’ll see my reading was heavily influenced by the TOB 2026 Long List.

The Best of the Best, December 2025

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - An excellent audiobook, and a great choice for last read of the year. I loved all of the letters and the book references.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang - This was a wild ride! I will never scroll through Instagram in the same way again.

We Do Not Part by Kang Han - This book was haunting and just short enough so that the confusion of not knowing exactly what was going on didn’t make me want to quit. It touched on the generational trauma of the Jeju massacre, which is something the world doesn’t know enough about. Grateful for books that share hidden history.

Christine by Stephen King (technically a re-read but since it’s been 40+ years I’m counting it as new) - It felt like King could have been describing social media and the terrible hold it has over some young men when he was talking about Arnie and Christine. Creepy.

Have a great month everyone!

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