And now onto reading a book for my daughter for Christmas. 😂

On my husband‘s 50th birthday trip, I‘m picking this one back up after setting it aside months ago.

Here‘s my #bookspin and #bookspinbingo for December. It‘s a combination of Christmas books and presents still to be pre-read. 😂 @TheAromaofBooks

Just finished a book I‘m giving my mom for Christmas. Now I‘m starting one I‘m giving my husband. 😂

I got my reading mojo back this week despite cooking for Thanksgiving, having all my kids at home (and being treated to my oldest‘s engagement news!), and walking with a friend almost daily. Of course, I did not touch the three books I‘d already had in progress, choosing to start new books instead. 🤪 #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

About to start this one although it‘ll get put down for “The Game” in the not too distant future. To be honest, I only care about the outcome because my family cares deeply, otherwise I‘d be content to just read my book.

Happy Thanksgiving from me and mine to you and yours. Anybody need pie?

If you are a child of the 70s, this memoir will probably resonate with you like it did me. It was a serious walk down memory lane for me although there was ultimately little of a narrative here. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/10/review-sting-ray-afternoons-by-steve.ht...

I‘m a day late posting this. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

The book I was reading was too big and heavy (coffee-table sized) to take to my dermatologist appointment today so I started this one. And on the plus side, another 6 months of no obviously alarming things on my skin. Take that, melanoma!

I forgot to post last week but I didn‘t read much the past two weeks thanks to a girls trip and then getting my booster shot and being super tired from it. I did finished my longest running unfinished book though so a definite win! @Cinfhen #bookreport #weeklyforecast

Two (well, three) things I love: my Gatsby girl and cheese (and books).

I usually enjoy books set in schools a lot but this one about a girls school that is facing going coed or closing and is under the tenure of a new, male headmaster just didn‘t gel for me with almost all the adults unable to see the bigger picture and/or act like actual adults. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/10/review-saving-miss-olivers-by-stephen.h...

#bookmail from today. Now I can join in the #FurrowedMiddlebrow read of the month. Side note: how do you get decent pictures of shiny books like these?

🦃October was pretty normal.
🦃I‘m looking forward to my girls trip this weekend with a friend I‘ve known since we were single digits old and to seeing my kids for Thanksgiving.
🦃I am grateful for the upstanding phlebotomist who did my annual physical blood draw better than anyone I‘ve ever encountered before (I have a needle phobia so this is high praise from me).
#ThoughfulThursday @MoonWitch94

I think it‘s about time I move this off my unfinished book stack. I had to scroll back 8 months to see when I started it and set it aside. Argh! So I took it to the doctor‘s for my physical today to get stuck back into it. Here‘s hoping I stay focused this time.

This is a sad and troubling middle grade book that might be too mature for readers the same age as main character Blister. I am super on the fence on this one. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/09/review-blister-by-susan-shreve.html

Not a bad run for the month on my #bookspinbingo board. I could use a bunch more free spaces too since I run out of those almost immediately and then don‘t get to count my other random books. LOL! On the plus side, I actually read my #bookspin and #doublespin this month so that was unusual. 😉 @TheAromaofBooks

The book I‘ll be reading as the trick or treaters come to check out the goodies on my table (still a distanced Halloween).

Can you even believe I‘m down to only two in progress books? It‘s a delightful shock to me too.😂 #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

My latest #bookspin and #bookspinbingo choices. They are a combination of non-fiction November picks and books I‘m giving for Christmas and therefore need to pre-read ahead of time. 😂 Some have been on previous boards but never chosen for bookspin or #doublebookspin while others are entirely new. @TheAromaofBooks

Reading while making canapés for tonight‘s Halloween party since I organized the world‘s easiest costume. Can you guess what I am?

Any book that starts with a cast list like this has got to be entertaining, right?

Guess I should start this month‘s book club book (and coincidentally my #bookspin book) since book club is Thursday and I‘m hosting!

Finished a couple of new books and a couple of long in progress books so it was a good week! #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

I tried to pick this one back up off the in progress bedside stack last night but boy howdy was the print small. I swear it‘s not that I‘m getting old (although I am) but the font is in about 8 point! So it had to be put off until I had daylight and an artificial light. Here I go back into it today.

The next one for my October is for mysteries reading list.

Once more unto the breach (or, picking this one back up) while Gatsby sleeps.

Man I love books like this one that just arrived for review. #bookmail

I‘m reading this one for review and occasionally setting it down to take pictures to work on my technique based on its advice. The boys are not thrilled with being my subjects but I caught Sam rubbing on my books and Oz loafing indifferently in the background.

Starting on another mystery for the spooky month. 😁

I read/finished five books this week leaving me only five left to go (until I pick another one up and mess up my nice symmetry). #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

My husband‘s watching football and I‘m reading this kick of a book.

Three unmarried young women in the 60s give up their babies for adoption in this interesting look at the consequences and repercussions of adoption. Never spoken of certainly doesn‘t mean forgotten in this novel set in 3 different times, pre-pregnancy, the years following the adoptions, and the near past. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-no-names-to-be-given-by-julia.ht...

Another free virtual event to share. This one is with Anjali Enjeti (The Parted Earth), Heather Frese (The Baddest Girl on the Planet), and NBA Award Shortlisted Jason Mott (Hell of a Book) on November 3 at 7 pm EST. Register to attend at https://www.WNBA-charlotte.org/Bibliofeast2021

When you forgot your book but have to wait for a friend you‘re meeting. Thank heavens for “emergency car books.” Now I just have to remember to replace this one with another one since I‘ll add this to my in progress bedside table stack.

I was doing well until a migraine felled me for 2 1/2 days. Big sigh! #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

I‘m going to start this one because I need something to distract me from A Discovery of Witches so I don‘t get ahead of #dowrtr.

I‘m not really the target audience for e graphic memoir of Willie Nelson anyway but I was baffled by the use of so many different artists, complicating who the continuing characters were in the different sections. And the memoir itself seemed superficial to me. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-willie-nelson-graphic-history-by...

The latest unfinished bedside table book I‘m picking back up.

My college is offering a lecture/discussion with Yaa Gyasi on Oct. 18 if anyone is interested in Zooming in for it. The mail said it‘s for alumni (me), friends (you), and family so I assume it‘s okay to share. Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5er2X1ruQ5CtiubAAhbpKw

The straight-laced Ruthie, a good girl trying to make amends for something in her past, falls for the bad boy (ish) son of the new owner of the retirement community Ruthie works at. The characters‘ chemistry is rather lacking and some of the descriptions are very repetitive but loved the quirky old ladies. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/07/review-second-first-impressions-by.html

The mail truck just drove by and left me these pretties. Three books with sea/ship/island in the title. I‘m so predictable. #bookmail

Working on my first mystery of October.

Finished 5, including 3 that had been in the in progress stack for months. I‘m down to only 7 on the go (one of which I‘ve just started so I don‘t really hold it against myself). #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Just under the wire, here‘s my #bookspin, #doublespin, and #bookspinbingo choices for October. These are as scary as I can bring myself to get. 😂 @TheAromaofBooks

Do you know about the Woman‘s National Book Association‘s Great Group Reads list? October is National Reading Group Month and you can‘t go wrong with any of these. #wnba-books #bookclubs #greatgroupreads #ggr (Adding all books into the comments.)

How many ways can I possibly avoid a #bookspinbingo (although I did manage to get one diagonally)? LOL! And per usual, I didn‘t read my #bookspin book but in an unusual move for me, I did read my #doublespin. I am not right. @TheAromaofBooks

Ozzie is my reading buddy as I tackle the last of the Great Group Reads books so I can blurb them for the website.

Gatsby thinks my #bookmail is boring. Not me though! Book mail is the best mail.