After school pickup reading. Really looking forward to this one.

A gorgeous gem of a book about love and friendship and
missed opportunities. Winman is sparing in her language, allowing readers to find the story in careful sentences without imposing needless detail or melodrama. Gentle and heartbreaking.

Been a long time since I posted here. In the last year we bought a condo, sold out place, and moved (repeatedly) while we renovated the entire place and then life just got chaotic. Finally starting to feel settled. Kicking off my long weekend with this, in my favourite place.

It‘s been nine months since we made the decision to uproot our lives, sell our house, buy and fully reno a condo from the studs out. This weekend we finally moved in and started to unpack. Our dog moved back home with us. And while there is still a lot to do, the mere act of unpacking my books and starting to settle in has me itchy to read again. So this is where I‘ll start.

Quickly becoming one of my favourite places. I can supervise Bee while she swims and the place is light-filled. While we haven't moved in yet, we swing by whenever we can and when we need to supervise renos. So far this book hasn't completely pulled me in, but I am hopeful.

I did it! I finished a book! A long book! It wasn't the best book, but I finished it! I have enjoyed previous Moriarty books but I found this one ran far too long and many of the reveals just a little too convenient. But given my long break from reading, this was a quick and engaging story. (Shown alongside a recent knitting project that is half completed.)

Dipping my toe back in here and finally looking to finish a book - my first in months. We're hoping to be in our new place by the end of the month, and end our six month odyssey of house sales/moving/moving/moving/renos/moving. I miss my books (99% of which are in storage) and I miss my routine.

Another book finished! And what a lovely one it was. This book can best be thought of as a companion piece to My Name is Lucy Barton, as it is tells the stories of the people from her hometown. I particularly enjoyed how each story was rarely about the protagonist of that story, but rather a device to tell the story of another character. Our stories are never just our own, but merely a thread in a larger tapestry. A lovely, quiet, thoughtful book.

I did it! The longest stretch in my life that I've gone without finishing a book, and I finally did it! While I've been reading here and there, this is the first book I've completed since March. I saw the ballet of this last week, and decided I had to read the play, and I'm so glad I did. Absolutely fabulous take of desire and madness, family and betrayal.

Confession: it has been more than two months since I last finished a book, possibly the longest I've gone in my entire life. Part of that is directly attributable to the insanity of preparing our house for sale and a bad time at work. Part of it is due to resurrecting my knitting hobby. During the last few months it has grounded me, providing row by row evidence that I can be successful at something at a time when I control little else.

When you've made it through the marathon of preparing your house for sale, there is nothing more to do than hope that the vagaries of fate treat you well, all your books are in storage and you have a moment of exhausted weakness at the drug store. ::insert grand sigh here::

Empty bookcases are the saddest bookcases. Struggling with the fact that every book I own will be in storage for a minimum of five to six months.

So we made a momentous decision and have bought a condo! The next few months are going to be a whirlwind of preparing our house for sale, renovating our new space and moving our little family. I think reading is going to be minimal, but soon I'll be back and enjoying a book and this view!

Following up on my earlier post, I'm finally posting my dismal February reading stats. This doesn't cover the several books I have in progress (including Infinite Jest, the Bible, The Nix and Lincoln in the Bardo). Really hoping to bounce back this month!

So February is when the wheels came off. (I sense a theme - last year I got laid off and had a major renovation ongoing). I re-homed on of my three kitties (my beloved sucky boy) with my MIL because he just can't live with other cats and that has been really hard. And after much discussion my husband and I are on the cusp of a big life decision to move on from our house that we don't love. The ship is righting itself but it was rough going.

That moment when you realize the cover of your audiobook perfectly matches the piece you are knitting.

A busy weekend with friends meant not a lot of reading time, but I'm eagerly gulping this book down now prior to watching the HBO series. (I generally prefer to read the book before the movie/TV show. What about you?)

Long weekend views. Glorious light.

Now really sure what to say about this except that they were so SO weird. I admit, sci-fi is not a genre I gravitate to, and graphic novels are new to me, so perhaps I am not the target audience, but I was drawn in by the movie adaptation association. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief for so much of this and found the books deeply disturbing in their depiction of post-apocalyptic social hierarchy. That said, I DID finish them. 🤔

Another night, another trampoline practice, another book. Watching my kid kick butt on her new routines and skills for her upcoming competition (she's just above the "H"). I'm amazed at her strength and resilience. ??

The level of irritation when you get home from the library only to find out your audiobook is missing the first disc. 😡😡😡

Thank you so much to @melissajayne for the lovely #cupidgoespostal gifts. I love the bookmark and I haven't read The German Girl yet (and have been eyeing it in the bookstore). Thank you soooo much to @BookishMarginalia for organizing once again! ❤️❤️❤️

Woohoo! My husband doesn't really do Valentine's Day, so I'm going to take this as a karmic Valentine's gift from my local library. Have been very excited about this audiobook, and am getting right to the business of listening to it.

So these are the three books I'm currently working my way through (yes, I'm finally reading the bible all the way through). Given that all three are fairly complicated and significant investments of time, I have to say I'm really struggling. With the ongoing news and a bad case of the Februarys, I'm feeling like I might need to pick up a lighter read for balance, and just accept I might not be able to stick to timelines for these three. 😔

Finally got this to the post office today (after pulling together all the items the first weekend - sigh!), but am assured that it will arrive in time. Apologies to my #cupidgoespostal match for my terrible wrapping skills. Pretty packages are just NOT my specialty (especially during year end and reporting time at my job) 😂 Hope my match loves the items!

Although this book was already on my list, after hearing the author on Bill Maher last week, I knew I had to read it immediately. Written as a sermon, this is a raw and gut wrenching and should be required reading, particularly in the wake of yesterday's AG confirmation.

Getting to the end of the first #infinitejestbuddyread section for this week and I'm finally starting to find a rhythm. This book is definitely challenging, but fortunately the humour makes it worth it. Trying to get this week's last few pages in on a quick lunch break so I don't have to drag this with me to my daughter's practice tonight. 😂

I'm rather late on the monthly roundup for January, but here are my reading stats for last month. Despite all the terrible news, I managed to finish a fair number of books. Unfortunately I had quite a few meh books in there. February's finishes are definitely going to decrease as I have a few extensive long term reads that I've started. I've started Infinite Jest as part of the read-a-long, and I'm finally reading the Bible cover to cover.

If I wasn't seeing the author speak this week, I would have thrown this book out the window. The "über-feminist" male character has just told a female (lawyer) character he is impressed she correctly used "phalanx" and "spelunking" correctly in a sentence. How FEMINIST of him.

Let it never be said that a man can't write cliché-filled, suspension-disbelief stretching, shitty chick-lit (for sadly, that is where this book fits) as well as any woman.

Started this tonight and so far I haven't got the foggiest what is going on. I'm going to chalk it up to being tired 😂 #infinitejestbuddyread

This book is sorely trying my patience and willingness to suspend disbelief. A die hard feminist man who claims to have read every feminist tract he can get his hands on, yet is unaware of John Stuart Mill's The Subjection of Women. Just one NOPE of many.

I read Fuller's first book, Our Endless Numbered Days, a while ago and was so-so on it, but have found myself thinking of it as time has passed. Perhaps that will happen here too. Like the above, this moves back and forth in time in alternating view points. The story of a very unhappy marriage, the book is most successful in the past storyline, told in letters by the missing wife, Ingrid, but the story suffers from uneven tone and choppy dialogue.

I really do adore this movie (except for Mickey Rooney - that makes me die inside every time I watch it). With all that's going on I needed a pick me up, and this book was perfect for how little it demanded of me. This book is pure fluff, told in quick tidbits of gossip and history, never really digging into any particular area. It was a great diversion, although it could have done with more photos to accompany the descriptions.

Posting (and reading) has been light for me with the overwhelming and disheartening news out of the US combined with a bit of work stress (mansplaining anyone?) Today I hit our local thrift store in an effort to find a wee bit of happiness and came away with these goodies.

When you book buy (with a gift card) as a method of self-care/stress relief. Really looking forward to these. Any suggestions for which I should tackle first?

The #resistance reading list has been ordered.

I know today will be a hard day from many. I am a Canadian, and seeing what is happening to my neighbours has shaken my faith in humanity and democracy.

Today I'm going to take time to focus on the positive and surround myself with good things: my family, my friends, my books and this wee dog (who now stands on her back paws any time she wants a belly rub).

Tomorrow I take my 10 year old daughter to the women's march and we start the fight. ✊🏻

Sometimes a book just takes a few tries for it to stick. This is my third time attempting this book and I'm finally into it, which is pleasing.

Other things that are making me happy:
✅this fun bookmark
✅the dinner I just came from with good friends while my kiddo was at trampoline practice
✅arriving at trampoline practice to find my kiddo has had a great practice and is adding new skills. Proud of how hard she works at this!

Palate cleanser!

I'm pretty sure Eileen could take the top spot for most reprehensible character. For a book that is almost exclusively about character development rather than plot, this can make for an uncomfortable and claustrophobic experience as Eileen's obsession with her body and its functions and her hatreds are told in the first person. The character of Rebecca who led to the plot twist felt unnecessary, leading to a rather disappointing finale. #LitsyToZ

Next!

Productive day at work done. Soup is cooking away and making the house smell good. Now for a cozy bit of reading before it is time to head out into the cold (and freezing rain that is coming) to take the kid to her trampoline training.

This started out with an interesting premise: two girls are abducted without force when they are 12 years old and live with their kidnapper in the woods for two months before being rescued. The story picks up with them as adults living as a professor and an actress. Ultimately though, an interesting beginning fell apart under the weight of too many layers, questions and nonsensical plot devices with a disappointing ending.

She is speaking here of the book-within-a-book that is part of this novel. I wonder if the author is self-aware enough that this is a wink at the reader, as this book neatly fits this description.

Ooh - I like this. Because how many words have I stumbled over pronouncing when suddenly asked to say then out loud after a lifetime of reading them only in a book.

I love finishing a book just before drifting off to sleep.

I had the pleasure of hearing Ian Brown speak the other night. This is a wonderful, often humorous, terrifically blunt reflection on the year he turned 60. Brown does not shy away from physical descriptions or his less charming aspects, making for some occasionally cringeworthy moments, but I appreciated his candour. The more introspective, contemplatice moments were worth the read.

Read it just for the gorgeous pictures, as the story doesn't have much heft. This is essentially an exceedingly brief biography of Christian Dior set during the early days of his studio as told through the eyes of a fictional character who becomes one of his models. The dialogue is stilted, the shifts between scenes anrupt, but oh - the gorgeous drawings of the dresses was enough to keep me engaged.

I'm loving the illustrations in this odd graphic novel I picked up from the library.

It is such dark times in the news these days that these ended up being the the perfect books to read. I realize that my American neighbours have been through some incredibly dark times and faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the past. John Lewis's story of the challenges and fight for civil rights is an incredible one, and should be read by all as a reminder of how to come together in the face of power and evil. Highly recommended.

Sunday morning reading in bed. We've reached the stage where my railing at the television and interrupting any political commentary means Mr now warns me if he is going to watch the Sunday morning political shows so that I can avoid the family room. Oh, the little things that make a marriage work.

(Also, I have to hustle on this one, since I'm hearing the author speak on Tuesday.)

What can I say about this book, except that it was perfection. A slim volume, you learn the tragic story of Ethan Frome, his disappointing marriage and his longing for escape through an unnamed narrator. It beautifully illustrates the stark loneliness of small town New England, particularly in winter, the dependency on neighbours and family, and the crushing weight of responsibility. A fitting winter read I can see revisiting again and again.