SCHS Reads: Our Winter Picks

Off and on our high school faculty....well, another English teacher and I...have hosted a book club.  When she decided to not return to teaching and as a commitment to meet and chat and drink coffee and talk books, we decided to meet read a book each month over the summer and then to continue meeting even after school started.  

Our group has grown some...another English teacher sometimes meets with us and one of the history teachers is somewhat committed.  But...regardless...we love meeting and drinking coffee and chatting...sometimes, about the current month's book!

Our first three picks for 2025 are as follows: 

• January:  The Snow Child, which I saw recommended on some Facebook online book club...and because I soooo love a good snow in January (we are out tomorrow for our first snow day!  Yay!), so I suggested this title.  So far?  Interesting...seems to have a connection to a fairy tale, which I am going to need to read.
• February:  James, which I received as an Audible gift (a first for me)...because I have never listened to a book.  No.  Never.  Hummm...now, I must!  But...I went ahead and bought a hard copy, as I can see maybe wanting to use excerpts in my class?  This is a telling of Jim's side of the story, a character in Huck Finn.  This title is also the chosen title for The Girlfriend Book Club...and I chose for Friends and Fiction for January for a book that begins with PB or J...yes, my J book!
• March:  The Magician's Nephew - we chose this one after a discussion about my friend having read CS Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe...and that this was actually the first in the series...and that she had just asked her husband for the series...and my saying I had two copies of this series...and the decision was made to read the first one in the series.  Yay!

Now, I need to share this with our building/district...maybe another one or two will join us!

Friends who love to read books, aren't they just even more special?  I think so!

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Also, posted at TG's Lit Treasures.

Why Do We Read?

As my students and I chatted about resolutions/intentions for 2025, I shared that I had read 81 books.  A curious student asked, "Do you remember all the books you read?"

No.

Some.

Some more than others.

This got me to thinking...should I remember them all?

My answer:  no.  Many books I read for just the pure entertainment, for the moment, for the quick journey that particular book takes me.  Much like movies or TV shows...I do not remember all the characters;  sometimes, I even lose the plotlines, for I watched them for the moment, for the pure entertainment, for the journey.

I hope I am asked this question again sometime...now that I know the answer to the question...or, at least, I know my answer! 

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Also, posted at TG's Lit Treasures.

2024 and Books

This has been a year for the books...until September and school became too busy...and maybe too much time on technology as a way to relax because "school became too busy."  Yes, I need to solve that "too busy" to read prob!

2024's Reading Goals...Success (or not)

1. to read an average of one book per week = minimum of 52 books
   Goal met!✔
2. to read half of my goal from my own TBR pile = 26 books (these will be bolded).
   Goal NOT met...as I only read five of the 26 needed.  Hummm...
3. to complete books for book clubs before the meeting time (love book clubs!)
   Goal sorta met...as I did finish more before the deadline.  Still need to work more on this one!
4. to finish books from 2023 Book Club lists...I am always behind!
   Got NOT met!
5. to read more series (love series!)
   Goal met!✔...especially during the summer.  What a great way to celebrate school being out!
6. to completely read more professional books
    Got NOT met!
   
7. to continue to read more young adult books
   Got NOT met!
8. to read a classic...or four!
   Goal sorta met...as I did finish Gone with the Wind!  But...much more focus on this one needed, also.
9. ✔ = book read (Begins with Book Clubs)

Hummm...based on this checklist, I am not accomplished...but I did read 80+ books, so I claim that for the win!

My favorite book?  Again...hummm...I did recommend The Frozen River  to a local book club for next year.  I, also, enjoyed The Autobiography of Santa Claus, a very interesting book!  

Book Clubs:  They challenge me to read the books I might not choose, and, more times than not, that is a really good thing; therefore, I will sign up and (sorta) commit to read more of those suggested book titles again.  I have absolved myself of putting pressure on myself to read (or not), for if the read happen, win!  If they do not, they remain on the list...and one day retirement will offer me more time to read!  Win!

Still another few days of this year to read...so I begin a new goal:  to read from a book every day, even if just a few pages.  

Happy reading!

Summer Book Club...Win-Win!

Our building's book club is back!  Time to read for fun and meet and drink coffee and talk books.  Win-win!

Excited I am about these titles...as, yes, I helped select the titles!  

The first book The Reading List is available free via Kindle Unlimited right now.  The next three, I own.  the final book The Women, I will probably purchase and possible use excepts in my classroom.  Maybe.

My good friend and peer, as of Monday, will have left education.  Sad.  But I so understand.  These are hard times.  But.  She is an avid reader, and these book to assist in my staying in touch with her, and what better way, than thru books?!  My plan...a secret right now!...is to continue a monthly read and our meeting throughout the school year.  Another win-win, yes?!

Should you want to read along, please do!  

Win-Win Books in '24

 This has been an interesting line up of books so far in 2024.  Check out this list of titles:

1. Swedish Art of Death Cleansing  (Paper Chase) 
2. Lowcountry Getaway by Susan M. Boyer - ebook
3. The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Janet Dailey - ebook
4. Telling Lies by L.A. Dobbs (A Sam Mason K-9 Dog Mystery, Book 1) ebook
5. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (published in birth year)
6. Juliet by Anne Fortier (Bernadette's Jan Challenge)
7. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Bernadette's Classic Book)
8. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (Bernadette's Feb Challenge) ebook
9. Inheritance by Nora Roberts - ebook
10. The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall - ebook

Some insights:

• Some really loooooong ones:  In Cold Blood and Gone with the Wind
• Five of the ten connected to a book club.
• One based on Shakespeare and his Romeo and Juliet...very good read.
• Four "light" reads...easy, but fun and enjoyable.
• Still reading more on an eReader...which I never thought I would like...but I do!
• Two are from my TBR pile.  Yay!  Really want to read more from my many bookcases!

Current Read:  The Nightingale  by Kristin Hannah.  Such an intense book set during World War I in Paris (and other places).  This tells the "real" story of two ladies who assisted in helping many pilots escape and saving several babies from death.  Just an almost scary read as I realize who quickly this very situation could occur in our very own country.  This book is the first of my 12 Books 12 Friends 12 Months Book Challenge, one I would like to quit...but just cannot because I am committed, and books like this must be read. Just a must.

What are you reading good in 2024?

Calling It...at 92

Hummm...I must admit...I had hoped to reach 100 books read.  But.  I am okay with 92 and having lived the busiest year of my life.  

I experienced many journeys through these books and still know...the more I read the more books I need to read.  Truth.  

I will be back to comment...as I have not had time...yet...to review my favorites, as the real world is calling in the form of grading paper and planning lessons for 2024.  Where did this two-week break go?!

I have taken the time to plan my reading goals for 2024.  I am excited about chosen titles and book clubs and book challenges.  Going to be a grand year of reading!

Falling into Reading...of course!

October is one of my more busy months...and, still, I found time to read...of course!

Here the titles are in chronological order:

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden (ebook)

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber  (ebook)

The Five-star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

Whispers at Dusk by Heather Graham - Bk 1 The Blackbird Trilogy

Secrets in the Dark by Heather Graham - Bk 1 The Blackbird Trilogy

Cursed at Dawn  by Heather Graham - Bk 1 The Blackbird Trilogy

The last three set the scene for the final weeks of October, as these characters usually have "abilities."  Heather Graham, not new to me, as I binge-read one of her series a couple of summers ago, creates a world of suspense, magic, and little bit of romance.

And now these busy months continue...welcome to month of reading in November!