I barely read anything during the last few months of 2019. I couldn't focus, largely in part to persistent anxiety, but we had a death in the family, too, that made me listless and inattentive. I slowly made my way through this book though and finished it today. I would've liked a little more at the end to wrap up one plot point without any ambiguity so the wait for the third volume would be easier. Still, I enjoyed being swept away.

In high school, my now-husband, who I wasn't dating at the time, lent me this book because he wanted me to read it. I didn't and he ended up asking me to give it back. I didn't explain to him that I was a slow reader and that the reading for our honors English class was all I could handle. I just brought it back to school. Now, 20ish years later, I'm finally going to read it.

There's been some hard stuff going on in my life lately and I really appreciated being swept away to a galaxy where good always wins. ❤

I found a first edition for my collection. It's not in great shape and it's not a first printing, BUT the price was right and it's signed. ❤

Now all I need is a first edition of Birds of America. I don't shop for them online because I like looking for them in neat used bookstores, especially when I'm travelling.

This is the second Ellen Gilchrist story collection I've read in the last year. She's brilliant.

A thoughtful rumination on life, art, and cats.

"I'd say one's thirties are a cruel age."

I loved this! The writing was fresh and vibrant. It was a tender story with a sweet young narrator I wished I could've hugged and reassured.

The last in this beautiful set of books. Reading and contemplating them has been truly meaningful. I know I will reread them over the course of another future year and I hope they are as helpful then as they have been this past year.

It took me a minute to warm up to this one, but in the end it was worth the read. Not as snappy as The Maltese Falcon and much bloodier, Red Harvest is the story of a good detective cleaning up a dirty town and becoming a stranger to himself in the process.

My library hold came in! 😁 I loved this book series and can't wait to start watching this.

Well, that was intense. 😳

Forgot to post this yesterday, but I did a mini bookstore crawl for Independent Bookstore Day. I picked up a Margaret Millar collection at Murder by the Book, my husband got Ghost Wall at Brazos Bookstore, and our son got the exclusive IBD Wings of Fire book at Blue Willow Bookshop (as well as three other books, one from each store).

I've been reading hard-boiled crime novels sort of as research, but also because I think they're interesting. This pulp-y novel was okay, but lacked...something.

This was my second reading, but this time I read it aloud to my husband and son. I can't wait to start the next one!

This one has been in my TBR pile for a few months. It was okay. I didn't think it was as suspenseful as her other books though.

Just ran across my old book club journals and found the questions I wrote for two different clubs' discussions of Prodigal Summer, years apart. 💚

This book was so fun to read! I haven't read a hard-boiled detective story in years and this really had all the snappy dialogue and twisting plot points I like about that genre. Makes me want to reread The Maltese Falcon.

A compelling account of the coming-of-age of five young women whose lives intersect during a traumatic event. The structure and pacing made each section build upon the last. Also, I love the cover!

This wasn't quite what I expected. Johnson's short story collection floored me and I anticipated more of the surrealistic fantasy I loved about it to be present here. Still, this was interesting and the writing is superb.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which means I have another Sarah Arthur book of daily readings to start. #lent #liturgicalyear

I happened to see the new, gorgeous paperback cover of this book in Half Price Books and I almost started crying! Look at her! 💚🏒

I'm starting this book, which I was supposed to have read in college, and trying to make sense of what I underlined when I started reading it before. It's weird seeing my own handwriting in the margins and feeling like someone else wrote it.

I listened to the audio book with Overdrive, but I'll definitely be purchasing the hardcover to complete my set. I loved the conclusion to this trilogy. I love Vasya and am so glad I read her story. ❤

I listened to the audio book version of this with my son. It sparked several good conversations and life, death, and what makes something a happy ending.

I'm so glad I finally read this! I started it months ago and then my life got shaken up by a move. It was captivating and fun, with the all the quirky surrealism of an episode of Star Trek when they go into the holodeck.

I finished this last week before going away for the weekend and forgot to post. I started this book well over a year ago, but kept putting it down because it's such a heavy subject. It was absolutely fascinating though and I am full of admiration for the women who fought so hard for justice for themselves and protection for others.

This is my "something with a death" book for #nonfiction2019.

Some of my current reads...
Nevermoor: reading aloud with my son and husband
From a Certain Point of View: short stories for when I need something quick
Everything Under: novel I hope to finish today
Book Scavenger: reading aloud with my son

I'm really confused about how I missed this when it came out. I've read all of Vendela Vida's other novels and am a huge fan. I'm about halfway through this one and it's not letting me down.

I love Amy Fusselman. Her books are always short, but dense.

Parker Posey fascinates me. Listening to this book was wonderful and really did evoke the feeling of having a conversation with a stranger.

I loved "Where'd You Go Bernadette," so bailing on this one is sad, especially considering it's a library book and the audio version. ? I didn't like the main character at all, but I bailed because my husband is an animator and her description of the animation industry frustrated me.

I started this today. #advent

A lovely literary devotional, great for people like me who don't like devotionals.

My current audio book. I started a cross stitch project yesterday and am looking forward to stitching my way through another Backman book. 😊

I've loved both books in this series so far. I love the Russian folklore, the characters, and the way you can almost hear the snow crunch under their feet. ❄

Reading outside is my favorite.

I made it.

This is a book that remains timely, 167 years on, and there are sections that are funny, parts are gripping, and I understand why it's a classic. Still, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're already interested and want to know A LOT about whales and whaling. I had hoped to be swept away. I was ready to get lost in the minutiae, but instead I still found it tedious.

This is not only an excellent companion to the classic novel, but also a well-written book on its own.

Started this audio today. I'm not loving the reader, but the book is fun so far.

Last night, I met Barbara Kingsolver.

My son got to see "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" for the first time yesterday at the Alamo Drafthouse. It was his first time seeing a Potter film on a big screen. Now we can start book 7! #hufflepuffpride

"Magisterial crawl" indeed.

"I try all things; I achieve what I can." Ishmael: Jack of all trades, master of none. #characterstudyinoneline

Making progress! 🐳

(The spine of my paper copy cracked, like really CRACKED. Out loud. I'm using my Kobo, which I rarely use, because I'm afraid of losing pages.)

My mom sent me this from her visit to the Southern Festival of Books. The first chapter has me hooked already!

Some inspiration to get me through the second half...

I got to meet Kate Morton yesterday!

Starting this one today.

I picked this up today. There are a couple other books I want to finish before I start, but I'm looking forward to this one.