I started EO Wilson‘s On Human Nature yesterday, only to contract the plague (or my daughter‘s post-vacation cold) and have zero attention span for it.

So maybe the tagged book will work while I‘m miserable.

Another full-to-bursting book in the Kate Daniels series. So much happens, as in the last few. Roland is out of control and driving Kate to more and more difficult decisions; magic is driving Kate slowly to the breaking point; and the fast-approaching wedding may just be her undoing.

Need to reread Iron and Magic 1 and then it‘s on to Magic Triumphs!

I read this years ago but remembered little. It makes more sense after the first book.

Sam‘s sister Alice has been living on the mountain, but one day she disappears. Sam follows her tracks and also finds an illegal falconry ring, who have stolen his Peregrine falcon Frightful.

Lots of elements here, a little too much for the story.

Nancy‘s at it again, solving a Mardi Gras mystery in NOLA! A supposedly haunted showboat deep in the bayou, a belle‘s fiancé who isn‘t what he seems, car thieves, road trips, and more - whew!

34 down for #nancydrewchallenge!

Not the best ND, with lots of racism, lower quality of writing, and lots of telling-not-showing for the wrap-up, but overall ok.

About to have some Lemon Zinger in my new birthday mug (tomorrow‘s my birthday!) from my mom. The back has the constellation and Virgo qualities.

I told my husband I‘m not planning to go to the used book store on our upcoming Dallas trip, in favor of other things. He said, “well, of course not, you just went.” That was in June and I only got stuff for the kid. It‘s like he doesn‘t know me at all. 😆

Kate and Curran are learning how to be something other than Beast Lord and Consort; Kate is also getting the feel for being responsible for Atlanta; and K&C need to find Eduardo without mucking up Pack waters. Lots going on (though less than the previous installment) and it‘s all awesome.

#bookhaul day 2 of the book bazaar. This time the kiddo accompanied me and several of these were “Mama may I please have this one?” Like I‘d say no, right? Only two she suggested did I ask her to reconsider because she won‘t read them more than once. A few of these will be for school. Today‘s haul was $9.25. Good thing this only happens once a year.

Today‘s #bookhaul from the Centenary College Book Bazaar - 19 books that, oddly enough, totaled $19. Happy early birthday to me!

A decent #romantsy but not great. Started slow but picked up once Sophie made her great escape. King‘s trust issues wore thin but the real dealbreaker for me is a profound misunderstanding of the myth of the Minotaur. 2.5/5 ⭐️

First day of second grade! As homeschoolers we have the liberty of starting later than our neighbors (of course, we finished first grade about ten days ago). This kid came flying into my room at 8:04 shouting that she‘s so excited and ready to start school NOW! I‘m so proud and excited to be on this journey with her.

Poor defaced copy! #33 down for #nancydrewchallenge!

Nancy takes up a search for an old stained-glass window. Along the way she solves three more (related, naturally) mysteries!

Thanks to #24B4Monday and #SummersEndReadathon (hosted by the always awesome @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 and @Clwojick respectively) August was my second-best reading month this year!

4 DNFs (but some new space on the shelves)
23 books finished
5306 pages!

One of my goals for the remainder of the year is to hit 100,000 pages on the Litfluence counter, which is about 9k pages. At this rate it should happen Oct-Nov.

I kept trying, despite my immediate dislike, but 41 pages in and I just can‘t get into it. I‘ve had this ARC forever. I read These Shallow Graves a couple years ago and it was ok, but should have been better. This one, I‘m really struggling with all the substance abuse. It‘s one of my triggers - I hate YA that normalizes drug use. Giving up and looking for something else.

Calling it quits on #SummersEndReadathon. I read for around 33-34 hours (goal of 30); passed 90,000pages on the Litfluence counter; had 2 DNFs and one completion to clear off my shelves; and finished 12 books, 11 of which I started during the readathon. What a way to finish off the month!

Thanks @Clwojick for a fun and inspiring readathon!

Do you ever find books on your shelves and not have the faintest idea why you ever bought them? I vaguely remember buying this years ago, but after actually opening it up and trying a few pages, then flipping to others, I have absolutely no idea what prompted me to put this on my shelves. And I‘ve moved it at least three times, too. Time to be done with it.

Wow, an awful lot happens in this book! It‘s really a turning point in the series, and now we‘re heading into the home stretch. Two more rereads and then the last book.

Twelfth finish for #SummersEndReadathon. I stopped tracking time once I passed 30 hours, and because I was picking up odd moments while waiting in the chiropractor‘s office this morning.

Calling it a night. I‘ve met my time goal, but didn‘t quite finish this book. About 30 pages remaining for tomorrow, which should be pretty easy.
#SummersEndReadathon
@Clwojick

Started day 7 of #SummersEndReadathon with some Kate Daniels. I‘d love to finish this one today. (Laps are off by one day as I stuttered on the button early one morning)

I need four hours over the next two days to meet my time goal; already met my pages goal; finished 11 books already; made a little space on my shelves = overall really enjoying this readathon. Thanks @Clwojick for hosting!

Not a bad start to day six of #SummersEndReadathon. I met my pages goal, passing 90,000 on the Litfluence page count with my last finished book. Working on my time goal and hoping to make some good progress in Magic Breaks today, plus starting the next Nancy Drew with the kiddo.
@Clwojick

Eleventh finish for #SummersEndReadathon and number 33 for #nancydrewchallenge!

Nancy travels to Amish country to find a thief, but dangers await!

My first superhero GN. I liked the art, especially all the funny inserts (cereal box that says GM-Os, for instance), and I liked Bruno. Kamala‘s clash of expectations and stressors is interesting.

But I don‘t think I‘ll continue the series. It‘s just not a good fit for me.

Tenth finish of #SummersEndReadathon puts me at 20.5 hours.
@Clwojick

Calling it a night, as I can‘t decide what to read next after an early bail. Thanks to some Nancy Drew time with the kiddo today I got close to 20 hours! #24B4Monday done, #SummersEndReadathon to continue tomorrow.

New goal: 30 hours, do some more weeding of bookshelves (but still read something enjoyable), surpass 90,000 pages read in Litfluence.

First bail of the readathon. One of my goals for this year is to clear out some space on my shelves. This was an ARC from 2011, and I have no idea why I‘ve been carting it around from house to house.

#SummersEndReadathon #24B4Monday

Always good. Hephaistos‘ story is also Prometheus‘ story, and it raises lots of interesting questions on both fronts.

Book eight finished in #SummersEndReadathon and #24B4Monday and just over 19 hours!

@Andrew65 @Clwojick @TheReadingMermaid

Book eight done for #24B4Monday #SummersEndReadathon!

Lucy is having some trouble adapting to middle school. Some of her struggles are unique (after being struck by lightning she became a math savant, but has done OCD behaviors to contend with too), but, as one of her classmates points out, she‘s not the only one struggling. The dog made me cry.

@Clwojick @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

Close to 18 hours now!

My reading total as of Sunday night.

#24B4Monday (does this include Monday this time?)
#SummersEndReadathon (revised goals to come later today)

@Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

I‘ll say it again - I love this series! Hermes is one of the gods I really like, and I loved how his story unfolds. I need to find this series for my collection.

Seventh finish for #SummersEndReadathon and #24B4Monday

@Clwojick @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

My first Gaiman kids‘ book, and I really liked it. I love the way he takes a familiar story and turns it into his own, without hurting the spirit of the original. It‘s a rare gift.

Posted out of order, this was my fifth completion for #24B4Monday and #SummersEndReadathon.

@Clwojick @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Not a ton of reading time today, as my entire morning was wrapped up in a gig. A good trade-off, though (and hopefully the first of many there!). But I passed my 12-hour goal for this weekend!

Finished the tagged book in the ongoing quest to clear the shelves of books I only want to read once. That‘s six down in the #24B4Monday and more to come for #SummersEndReadathon!

@Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

A good, not great, read. More mystery than romance, but billed as romance. Not a terribly surprising villain reveal.

Lorna returns to her childhood home to close out her mother‘s estate. She becomes embroiled in an old mystery when human bones are discovered on part of her family‘s (former) property.

Another winner in the Olympians series. Should have come before Apollo, I think, but I get why it didn‘t.

Fourth finish for #SummersEndReadathon #24B4Monday and closing in on 12 hours!

@Clwojick @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

A pick minus for me. Pros: diverse (in so many aspects), most kids should find someone to relate to, cool idea about a whole neighborhood spending a summer in their fantasy world. Cons: vignettes that can feel disjunct, and some sections are stronger than others; I didn‘t care for the bully‘s story. It felt forced. Still a good read.

Third done for #SummersEndReadathon #24B4Monday
@Clwojick @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

Second book I finished during #24B4Monday #SummersEndReadathon. I love this series! I‘m enjoying the stories of gods I don‘t even particularly like (Apollo, Ares). Well researched and arranged stories.

Apollo‘s story is narrated in sections by the Muses. It‘s great.

@Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

Good morning to all! Three graphic novels down this morning, and it‘s time to get on with Mom duties.

#SummersEndReadathon #24B4Monday

@Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

I‘m out for the night. Continuing #SummersEndReadathon and #24B4Monday tomorrow. Good night all!

Almost halfway to my goal for #24B4Monday already! Might get a bit more tonight, but I‘m on my way. And 23% toward my goal for #SummersEndReadathon - might revise that goal on Monday

@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @Clwojick

First book down for #24B4Monday and #SummersEndReadathon.

Kate, Curran, and their entourage journey to the Black Sea on a quest for a magic elixir that will help shapeshifter children survive. It‘s a trap, and they know it, but they can‘t refuse. Only things are much more complicated than they realized.

@Clwojick @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Not a bad start this morning for #24B4Monday and #SummersEndReadathon. I‘m about 2/3 through the tagged book as I reread the series. Hoping to finish this afternoon and move on to the library stack!

This was the library stack returned today! I think it was about 50 books. Then we checked out about 30 more. Then we went to the bookstore.

I think I might have a problem, and I‘m passing it on to my daughter. 😂

#bookhaul part two! Care and Keeping of You was the only one not part of the sale. I was so excited to find another Isabella book! One of my favorite picture book series.

#bookhaul part one from preview day at the BN blowout. Got the tote, too (be careful, first one I grabbed wasn‘t sewn fully). Some are for the kiddo, some are for us both.

Here‘s my library stack for #24B4Monday and #summersendreadathon - 4 more in the Olympians GN series, my first superhero GN, a MG GN, and 2 MG novels. Also continuing my Kate Daniels reread. I have a gig Sunday morning that will either cut into my time or give me extra between the rehearsal and performance, no idea which.

Goal for the weekend is 12 hours, and 25 for the week.
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @Clwojick

...so we don‘t waste any mischief!

What a great find! Sanity is a scientific genius and Tallulah is her enthusiastic but less focused best friend. Sanity‘s illegal experiment produced a 3-headed kitten, and they‘ve been found out. When the kitten gets loose on the space station the girls need to find her. But is the kitten responsible for all the damage that‘s being done? Can the girls save the cat AND their home?

Second installment due in October.

Another good one. There is political intrigue, international jewel smuggling, art, ballet, kidnapping, danger - oh, and Ned fantasizing about marrying Nancy.

#nancydrewchallenge number 31 done.

We had a busy day of errands today, led by my car being serviced for recall repairs. That led to an unscheduled library visit, without bringing our returns back. We have now maxed out my card and came close on the kid‘s (total of 70 items checked out, max is 40/card).

My husband decided to weigh the kiddo today, then the library books. She‘s 52 pounds; the books are 54. 😂

Pretty good but not great. The Applewhites are a multi-generational artistic colony and unschool, where Jake Semple lands as a last resort before juvie. Poor E.D. is the lone “normal” kid, and she craves organization and order - two things very hard to find at Wit‘s End. Hijinx ensue. Should include a trigger warning for The Sound of Music overload.

Written shortly after the first book but published much later (as the grittier depiction of living conditions was deemed unsuitable for children), this book falls second in the series by story order. Another year of vignettes in the life of the family, peppered with observations of Jewish holy days and full of day-to-day happenings. A sweet story.

Not my favorite in the Kate Daniels world, but it is nice to get a different perspective. I like Andrea well enough, but a full novel of her POV was a bit much. The plot of the novel and novella were both good, but I disliked how they ran parallel because I felt like I kept missing something from one to the other. Glad I finally read this one, now back to Kate.