#VolumesAndVocals #FolsomPrisonBlues

I haven't read many books about prison, so this one I read earlier this year was the first thing to come to mind. I figured I'd add a picture of my guy at the Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville to the lineup. No worries...I sprung him loose right after this photo was taken. 😉

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Depending on your age, you either got Goosebumps or just goosebumps.

Celebrating the return of summer with June's #bookspin list. 🌺🌞⛱️🌊

@TheAromaofBooks

I only have a week left on my library borrow of this one, so I need to buckle down and get to it. Since my pup isn't interested in joining me at the moment, this doggy blanket will have to keep my legs warm instead.

I have a long weekend, but since I have a birthday party for my niece on Saturday, I'm going to start now. It's already tomorrow across the pond anyway. 😁

I'm starting at Ch 18 on Outrun the Moon, and since I'm terribly behind, that's my priority. Then I'll start Legends and Lattes and swap them with audio if I can.

#24in4 #readathon @andrew65
#sundaybuddyread #childrensclassicread @thebookhippie
I'm alive, my #litsylove friends!

Dropping by to post my May #bookspinbingo list.
Hopefully this month will be a better reading month than April. Apparently, attending a regional meeting and making two property visits for sales calls wasn't conducive to reading.

@TheAromaofBooks

This was a Netgalley "listen now" offering last week. I'm too curious.

I started this one today for #littensloveromance and I'm enjoying it so far. The main man is a giant grump so far, but the potential couple's bickering has made me laugh a few times already, and I'm only 8 chapters in.

1. Caution: Vulgar Language & Brutal Honesty

2. I'll do most hated & liked from Harry Potter.
Dolores Umbridge: Fun-Sucking Witch (I'll keep it clean)
Luna Lovegood: Delightfully Whimsical but Easily Distracted

Tagged by @Eggs
@TheSpineView
It's late, so if you'd like to play, tag you're it!

I finished (but haven't yet reviewed) 7 books for #booked2023 during the first quarter of 2023.

6 #ProperNounInTitle My Name is Carrie Soto
7 #WronglyIncarceratedMainCharacter Just Mercy
12 #TitleStartsWithVOrW The Weary Blues
15 #BookFeaturingThreeGenerations The Godmothers
16 #AfroFuturismBook Parable of the Sower
17 #BookWasMoreWeirdThanExpected Tropic of Cancer
24 #GiftenByALitten The House With Chicken Legs

Here are this month selections. The Lost Summers of Newport was added on a whim. I'll be attending a meeting in Newport, RI in a few weeks, so I thought it would be fun to try listening to a story on the way out. The Woman in Cabin 10 had been on my TBR for too long, and #authoramonth is a good excuse to finally get around to it. Hopefully, I can stick to the plan.

#bookspin #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

I have two months' worth of #foodandlit to read, only one buddy read for #littensloveromance, some #YApril books that may help me make some #seriesread progress, and lots of optimism. Here's hoping April is a kick-ass reading month for all of us!

I associate April with cherry blossoms. The white buds are forming in my neighborhood, and I'm thrilled for the pink petals to make their debut.
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

My guy has been into Asian food lately, so he isn't letting me slack off of #FoodAndLit this month.

No reading tonight. Just some Chicken Pad Thai and Wrestlemania.

@Texreader @Catsandbooks

The Luck of the Irish wasn't strong with me this year. I have to admit that life has kept me busy the last few weeks and my #marchmadness efforts weren't as awesome as I hoped. As It is, I still have two hours of listening to finish The Women Could Fly and a little less than half of Adult Assembly Required to finish, but at more than 50% each, I'll call them completed.

@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

My local B&N moved. I took advantage of their deeply discounted mining sale a few weeks ago and this week they owned in their new location in Union, NJ. It's closer to my apartment so that's good but I was prepared to hate it. I don't take too easily to change. However, it's light & bright and it was full of people. Any guessed on how many times I drive to the old location first?! 😁

That's my guy checking out the cookbooks.

Hey friends! I'm alive! Traveling for work this week (hello Louisville, KY) and I made my way over to a local bookshop. An entire table celebrating Women's History Month! I got a little reading in and drove around quite a bit, with no touristy things done yet, and I leave early Saturday. Oh well... there's always next time.

I loved this style of signage seen throughout the store.
#BookTourism #IndependentBookStore

Both of these have been lingering on my TBR shelf for a few years now. Excited to read them both.

#bookspin #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

March's list is hot off the press! I picked up four impulse bonus borrows just before they disappeared so naturally I'll probably read those first.

I have a week in Louisville next week for work, so I can either kill it or shit the bed - both figuratively, of course. This will also count as my reading plan for the month-long readathon.

@TheAromaofBooks #bookspinbingo

#marchmadness #marchmadnessreadathon
@andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Hi friends! This hasn't been my best reading month, so I have conservative goals this weekend. Making progress on 2 buddy reads so I can join in conversations.

@Andrew65 #20in4 Readathon @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @StayCurious #LitsyLove Readathon

Very busy work week in Western Massachusetts but I did find a little time to visit a few bookstores.

Top stack from Odyssey Books in South Hadley. Right by Mount Holyoke, they sell merch for the college & highlight books from school professors & alumni. A good selection of popular books & a bookcase dedicated to translated works.

Bottom stack from Book Moon in Easthampton. Small store, large variety, with a special section for Small Beer ⬇️

@andrew65 Lofty goals for #FabulousFebruary but I'm hoping that my nights involve more reading & less working and that I do more audiobook listening & less singing on my drive to MA & back.

Finish Parable of the Sower 50% 🎧
Finish Tell Me Lies 75% 📖
Catch up The Hurricane 📖
Catch up Dearest Josephine 📖
Read Can You Sign My Tentacle 📖
Read another audiobook 🎧
(In the Time of the Butterflies or My Name is Carrie Soto if my hold comes in)

My local Barnes & Noble is having a moving sale. Luckily, the Springfield store is moving closer to me into Union, NJ but will be a bit smaller and without the cafe.

To clear the shelves, they're having a moving sale. 40% off nearly everything and then my 10% member discount from that subtotal. This week's spoils are pictured.

I had to pick up a copy of the tagged since I personally know the author & can now hound her for an autograph.

February's List. What are the chances that I actually read the books selected? Maybe even get a bingo?!

Don't bet on it, friends. 🤣

@TheAromaofBooks #bookspin

One of the perks of having a new-to-me territory is exploring new bookstores! This was a large store with books, a cafe (that's only open 10-3 unfortunately), and other gifty things. These three books came home with me.

It's a business travel kind of week so my days feel extra long but it's nice to get on the road and see a couple new-to-me hotels I've never visited before. Luckily I know the managers, so the transition is easy.

Finally finished The Godmothers. Going to start Ghost 19 and hopefully get to the other two this week, as well.

#sharreadathon

Friends... why am I pondering the logistics of human/dinosaur sex on a Saturday night? 🤣

Because the tagged book was mentioned in a Facebook book group and of course I had to see if it was legit or a joke. It's not a joke and now I might need to borrow one of these this week just to see how things line up.

I read the book blurb to my guy and, no lie, Watson looked weirded out like above.

I mean, really...Triceratops and Bottoms?! 🤣🤣🤣

@hannah-leeloo Here's a good assortment of bookmarks I've acquired over the years. I have others in books and tucked away at work, too.

Friends! Feel free to show us your collection or just a few favorites.

#12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

I'm far behind so here's a mega-post for the second half of the year.
July was the toughest month to choose because a couple other books were good. The Traveling Cat Chronicles made be ugly cry.
A Bear Called Paddington might be the best book I read this year.
Madam wins December only because I felt underwhelmed by all of the ones I read.

Well my efforts to #JumpStart2023 aren't going so well. My first audiobook is a bust.

Since I didn't get to read the India Overview in November for #foodandlit I thought I'd read it this month along with this, since it has been on my shelves since I won it in a giveaway 10 years ago. I'm at 38% and I just don't care about these people, I'm not eager to keep listening, and the narrator's voice makes this seem like a stodgy non-fiction. BAIL.

#12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

My favorite book of June was this graphic novel about two ladies who get a second chance at love.

Honorable mentions to The Kite Runner graphic novel. Very good story, but again, I just can't say that human suffering is my favorite.

I'm back at work after nearly two weeks off for the holiday so it might be a few days before I can get my bingo board together. I'm excited to get back to summer camp with The Lumberjanes and read about A Boy and His Dog - it's been on my Kindle unread for too long.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView

1. When I decorate its mid-December so I leave things up until mid-January at least. I like the lights.

2. I like sound of a heavy rain storm and it can rain year round.

 @DaveGreen7777 @Traci1 @julieclair Want to play if you haven't already?

I completed the #Booked2022 Challenge! HUZZAH!! I likely wouldn't have found Voices or The Prettiest Star without these prompts, so thank you! They were some of the better books I read this year. Now on to 2023.

❄2 In a Dark, Dark Wood #TitleRepeatsItself

🌸8 Voices From Chernobyl #WrittenByAJournalist

☀13 Butterflies in November #IncludesARecipe

🍁19 Madam #DarkAcademiaNovel
🍁24 The Prettiest Star #MCHasAIDS

#12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

May's top book was a close race but this one wins. I'm always in the mood for a little creepy mystery.

Honorable mentions to A Thousand Splendid Sons, which was good, but books about human suffering just haven't been favorites, and The Thief of Time. The story was great but it got a little long winded considering the outcome.

#12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

My favorite book of April was small but packed a big punch - Ring Shout! It was my first by Clark but won't be my last. He created an interesting situation and characters to root for.

I also read The Storyteller by Dave Grohl. He always seems like a great human being and this book keeps me believing that he is. He's a family man & friend first, a musician second.

I've got my January 2023 BookSpin Bingo list all sorted out. It's a new year with new reading challenges and I am excited to see where my reading year takes me. Maybe I'll even TRY to get a bingo again!

Thanks for keeping this one going strong, @thearomaofbooks .
#Bookspin #bookspinbingo

I took advantage of the Barnes & Noble post- Christmas sales. What can I say? I had a few gift cards that were burning a hole in my pocket! 😁

Hopefully I'll read these sooner than later and they won't appear on my August 2027 BookSpin list!

My holiday spoils!

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @StayCurious Thank you for the #LitsyLove surprise this holiday season. I mentioned I See You to my mom & she wants me to read it soon so she can read it next. ?

My guy took one soup cooking class at our local Kings grocery store and was inspired to get me a couple of food related books I was interested in.

Magnolia Parks was a total "treat yo self" impulse buy from the only US Indigo store.

#12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65
March's top book was a tie. Luck is set aboard the Titanic and acknowledges the presence of the few Chinese folks on the doomed voyage. Well Matched is book 3 in a series, featuring a modern-day alpha male who wears a kilt at a summer Renaissance Fair and a love interest about 10 years older than him. Love for the 40 year old! HUZZAH!

Honorable mention to Greek classic Lysistrata that was better than I anticipated.

#12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

February's top book was Most Eligible Billionaire. This is a slight cheat, as I started in February but finished in March. I just didn't love the others I read. A cute white dog inherits a role with a large company after it's owner dies and the dogsitter winds up the human proxy. Cute and funny, I would recommend this as a light, fluffy option to the #52Books 2023 challenge prompt about including an inheritance.

Better late than never for posting my #12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

Looking back at my reading year, I didn't love very many of the 100+ books I read. Luckily, I read a few Simone St James books and I enjoyed each one.

January's top book was The Other Side of Midnight.

Other good January selections were Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World and Death on the Nile.

Pictured are my Top 3 Christmas movies.
Christmas Vacation reminds me of a few people in my life.
All I Want For Christmas is cute and makes me feel like a kid again.
12 Dates of Christmas is a holiday rom-com Groundhof Day with Zack Morris!

Honorable mentions to Home Alone, The Holiday, Elf, & Love Actually.

#winterreadathondailychallenge
@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Thanks for the tag @hannah-leeloo

1. Just traveling locally for Christmas. Might take a short drive to see my parents next week if they don't decide to come out to NJ.

2. We're not expecting snow. Looks like it's going to be below freezing and too cold for a white Christmas. ☹

If you haven't played yet, tag! You're up. 😁
#two4tuesday @thespineview

@andrew65 I got today's challenge covered! Yesterday we had a party at the hotel and I baked red velvet cupcakes for the team. Yes it's from a box mix, but the cream cheese frosting from scratch. As long as I work here, no one dares bring in other cupcakes. They leave it to me. 🤣
#winterreadathondailychallenge

A huge thank you to a few people for the #winterreadathondailychallenge

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you! This came in today & I'm going to wait until Xmas. I don't anticipate seeing many people this year so a little something extra to open will be nice. I appreciate you continually making me feel seen & appreciated. I've been utter trash this year at replying in a timely manner so I'm slowly getting letters written this week. #litsylove

Just checking in friends! Why did I think I could read/listen to 16 books this month?! Because I'm delusional! 🤣 I'm about 40% through this one and can catch up on the week 1 questions. I'm nearly done with Madam and about 35% through The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke. I'm not collecting points but reading by twinkle light with a glass of wine & the pup nearby brings me joy. Happy Weekend!
@Andrew65
#sundaybuddyread @TheBookHippie

Hey @TheBookHippie & #sundaybuddyread friends! I just got an alert that this ebook is on sale for $0.99 here in the US. If you want to be prepared for October, snag a copy today!

December's list goes up to 25 because I have 5 previous #bookspin / #doublespin selections that I've neglected so far. If a free space comes up, I might be picking a children's book from my nieces shelves or a holiday short story. If I finish all the listed titles, I finish all 4 of my challenges. Fingers crossed that I have an epic month and don't bungle things royally.
@TheAromaofBooks

Sharing for those of you who haven't discovered www.rivetedlit.com yet. Each month they feature a few YA books and excerpts that you can read online for free.

From December 1-25 this year, they will release a full book to read for free. It is available for 1 day only and can only be read online, starting at midnight EST. If you or the teens in your life read fast, this is a great opportunity to read (or sample) recent releases.

I knew of Paddington but I don't remember reading this as a child. What a delight! Paddington gets into some funny predicaments because of his adorable naivete. Bless the Brown family who just keep loving him along the way. I think I have a new "go to" gift for the littles in my life.

@TheBookHippie #childrensclassic2022 @TheAromaofBooks #bookspinbingo @Librarybelle #192025 #1958