Catching Up in February

Thanks to Mother Nature and a much-needed break, most of Arkansas received a week off from school this month.  On February 14, I had finished no books and had read little for personal want-to and enjoyment.  But...that changed, as my brain relaxed a bit, and I realized that I would have more time.  Thank you to the powers that be for arranging that snow storm just for me!  Seriously!

Over the last week, I accomplished two goals:  caught up my grading and read (or finished) several books! Yay!  Check out this list:

1. Countdown to Valentine's Day by Dianna Houx (ebook) - Winterwood (small, rural town)
1. This begins my yearlong read of this holiday series.  Easy and enjoyable.  I look forward to Easter's read.
2. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (Paper Chase Book Club) - Alaska
1. This one I had started for book club due on the first Thursday of the month...and finally finished.  Kind of a tough, intense topic (the dad is a Vietnam Vet who suffers from PTSD...with no help for it).  I recommend this author and will read more by her...find myself wanting a break after each one.
3. Driftwood Dreams by TJ Lowe (ebook) - South Carolina
1. Hummm not sure how I came about this one...either a Facebook recommendation or I had read another by this author.  Regardless, this one sat in my Libby Loans...and needed to be read!  Easy and enjoyable.
4. There's Something about Mira by Sonali Dev ebook - New York
1. Read this one for Friends and Fiction for challenge of a book by a person of color; I also saw it recommended by someone on one of the Facebook Book Clubs I follow (probably this one F&F).  It deals with issues that I do not support but is one that also helps me further understand why some who do.  Story, though, centers on a found ring and finding its owner and the many layers to those connect to that ring.  Easy and enjoyable. (And...was free on Kindle Unlimited...which I need to use more...as I am paying for it!)
5. Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky, Book 1- ebook - Chicago, Illinois
1. This one begins a series (of several books).  If I recall correctly, I noticed it on a Book Bub list and found it available on Libby.  I will follow VI the PI more in the next book...at some point...may be summer, as that is when I am absolutely addicted to gobbling up a series!
6. The Exchange by John Grisham - 12-12-12 Challenge for 2024, Bonus Read for SCHS 2024 - New York (mainly)
1. This one, another one, that I finished that I began in 2024...plan to keep doing this as I did not finish enough of the books I started last year!  This one continues, years later, the characters Mitch and Abby from The Firm.  It was okay...a lot of lawyer talk...and it ended too soon...maybe? But...was good to follow up with these characters.  I hope he writes another...as I would read it!  
2. Bold = I already owned the book.  My goal is to read 1/3 of of books read from books I already own.  I have yet to meet this goal!  But!  I need to keep trying as I own a lot of books.  Too many?  Naaaa...

With five days left in February, I hope to finish another...and maybe start/finish my next read (think I have a book club this Monday evening!  Better check that...as I have not started that one!)

Feeling a bit better about my reading goals, as I had committed to read every day (social media does not count) and to read an average of one book a week (that two-week gap was really bothering me!).  This many books is not a realistic look at my reading levels...but, again, Mother Nature was my friend and gave me the time to catch up, relax, and rest, which I realize now I needed more than I knew.

Oh, I am documenting the setting of each book...maybe for a reading challenge of a book per state?  Not too serious about this one...unless I get close, then I will finish it!  Need an interactive map on which to document this.  Need to work on that!

Hopefully, February has a been a friendly reading month to you!  Please share your favorite titles!

Happy reading!

The Beginning of a Lovely, Yearlong Series

On one of my many Facebook advertisements, I came across this book, and the timeliness and the book's cover hooked me.  Why not?  Yes!  And?  A part of Kindle Unlimited (which I need to use much more!)

Confession:  I did not begin the book until Valentine's Day...did not finish until a day or so later...but still quite timely!  

From the author's website, a quick intro:

As the most romantic time of year approaches, the arrival of new guests heralds both opportunities and obstacles to overcome. More prepared the second time around, Grace believes she has everything under control, until an unexpected guest brings heartbreak and despair. Will love ultimately triumph, or has the eternal flame been extinguished forever?

Find out how Grace handles her boyfriend's new girlfriend in an anti-Valentine's Day Experience!

Much to my pleasant surprise, I soon discovered that Countdown to Valentine's is a part of The Holiday Countdown Series.  Nothing more than I love (hummm...just a slight exaggeration)...nothing more than I love in bookland...than a good series!

Too late in the year to read book one Countdown to Christmas, so I shall end 2025 where I began and finish the beginning of the series then.  

Maybe the author will consider adding few more holidays?  Definitely need one for Thanksgiving!

As for now, I have Countdown to Easter on my reading list for April.  How egg-xiting!

What series might you recommend to a person whose TBR pile is much too high...but not quite high enough?

Happy reading!

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! 

_____________________

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?