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?