Three Things...

 1. Nightwatching. OMG! What a riveting story! I was hooked right from the start and I could not figure out who the Corner man was, or if there really was a Corner man. I just found myself swept  away and enjoying the ride - so many things happened that kept my jaw dropping each time. The story was fantastic! A woman is at home with her children. She's in her son's room when she hears a noise downstairs. There's an intruder in her house. WTF! She needs to be quick and decisive - run for help or hide. It's nighttime and  heavy snow is in the forecast. Plus, her neighbors don't exactly live right next door. And will her kids be able to hand that kind of trek? Then again, where can she hide and keep her kids safe? Yikes! And, that is all I will share, because this book is most definitely a MUST-READ!! I absolutely LOVED it! I'd definitely recommend to everyone - pick up a copy ASAP!

2. Book buying ban. I need to ban myself, because I wind up with books that I just don't like. Ugh. I'll see something on social media that sounds like a great read and I'll grab a copy and then it's a dud. Also, I need to just read what is already on my shelves. This was supposed to be a bookish resolution - stop buying books and I've already broken it. LOL!

3. Wooden signs with positive messages. Are they a 'keep' or 'donate' - I'm decluttering as I'm about to start slowly packing up my office. I'm at my desk and I am looking at all the framed art and photos I have on the walls. I noticed that I have quite a few of those wooden signs with "Just Breathe" or "Believe" written on them. I'm wondering if I should get rid of them. I'm looking toward this new beginning (when we actually do move) as motivation to decorate differently. A more minimal, but cozy vibe. So, I'm thinking of getting rid of those signs. Hmm...what do you think? Or should I keep one or two? 

Alright, I'm off to tackle some to-dos. Hope you all have a lovely day. Happy reading!

Currently reading...

My Favorite Reads in 2025...

TBR Book

 

I love Miriam Toews writing. It is smart, strong, and unforgettable. All My Puny Sorrows was my first Toews book and it has stayed with me ever since. The beauty of that story just wrecks me. Two sisters, one who is truly depressed and suicidal, and the other sister who is desperate to keep her sister alive. Oh how my heart breaks just thinking about their story. I suppose I love it so much because it resonated so deeply. All this to say that Toews writing does that - it yanks on your heartstrings and yanks hard. Her writing is fierce, tender, raw, and powerful. So any book she writes I will read. And this new one is her memoir, A Truce That Is Not Peace. I am eager to lose myself in her words once more. 

Up Next:

 

Looking forward to starting this lovely by Miranda July. Everyone has been raving about it for quite some time, so I'm interested to see what all the fuss is about. 

Wishing you all a lovely Wednesday. Happy reading!

Day 1/100 of The 100 Day Project Challenge

The 100 Day Project starts now! Woo hoo! I'm really excited to participate in this year's challenge. Here are the three projects I will be working on:

1. Read a paperback set of Jane Austen's novels that I recently purchased. I'll be starting with:

2. and 3. I'll be writing and art journaling in my new Louise Carmen notebook cover:

I'll be sharing all about my projects throughout the next 100 days. Wish me luck!

Currently reading...

 

Just Arrived...

 

Currently reading...

 

Currently reading...

 

TBR Tuesday

Look what just landed on my doorstep:

I will definitely be devouring this for JLC18 - woo hoo! I love Yoshimoto's writing and have been looking forward to this book of short stories for ages. So happy I pre-ordered it last year, because I had forgotten about it until today - talk about happy mail!

This book will now be placed at the top of my TBR list and I just know I'll be reaching for it ASAP. I'm so excited to read it, which feels great. I haven't been my usual bookworm self for months, so to see a book and crave it, well, that is pure bookish joy. 

What about you? How are your TBR lists going? Any new books added to them? Or any progress made on them? 

Wishing you a happy Tuesday! 

JLC18 starts NOW!

Hurrah! It's time for my dear friend, Meredith's (of Dolce Bellezza) annual Japanese Literature Challenge and this year marks the 18th year. How amazing is that?! The challenge runs from January through February - so, two whole months devoted to Japanese literature - how awesome is that? I know I'm excited to join in on the fun. The only question is...which books should I read? Hmm...

Here are a few options:

I have a few other titles on my list, so I'm not sure which ones to choose. There are just so many terrific choices. I'm definitely going to have fun figuring out what to read. Can't wait to share which books I wind up reading for the JLC18. 

What about you? Are you joining in the on the fun? Or, do you have any recommendations for me - let me know. 

Wishing you a terrific Thursday! Happy reading! 

Still reading...

 

Normally when I pick up a new Murakami I devour it in one sitting. This time round, I can't seem to get caught up in the story. I know that he's written about The Town before, so there is a familiarness to his new book, but I don't think that is the problem. Especially, since I've picked up other books and can't seem to enmeshed in their stories. I think it's just me at the moment. I'm hoping it goes away soon, because I am missing reading. So, I'm going to grab a magazine and read that - sometimes just reading something helps flip the switch and I'm able to get my reading mojo back. I've already tried re-reading an old favorite book, but that didn't work either, so, fingers crossed this works. 

Hope you are having a great morning! Happy reading!

1st book for 20 Books Of Summer...

 

I meant to read this one as soon as it arrived in my mailbox, but my mind was not up for it.  Anxiety and depression are too busy interrupting my life, so reading has been a bit haphazard. I'm feeling a bit better, so I was able to pick up the new King and start reading. I'm already hooked and excited to keep reading. What about you? Did you pick up the new King? Let me know if you've read the book or plan to. 

Wishing you a groovy weekend. Happy reading!

My Friday Five...

1. Mental health. I'm feeling a bit better, which is great. I just need to keep doing all the things that help me, so that I can keep feeling better and better. Wish me luck!

2. TV/Movies. I finally watched the last Spider-Man movie, No Way Home. I thought it was fun, but sad. I'd be interested to see what happens next to Spider-Man. I also watched an older movie that I had seen ages ago, but forgotten about - Only the Lonely. It starred John Candy as a cop living with his mom (Maureen O'Hara). He falls in love with Ally Sheedy. Anyhow, his mom is not happy and breakups ensue. It was fun watching an oldie, but goodie. Now I want to watch more John Candy films and St. Elmo's Fire. Oh, and I was thinking of watching Return To Me - the one with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver - she has his wife's heart. I'm feeling like old favorites are what I need to see right now. They're like comfort food for my brain. What about you? Any movies like that for you? 

3. Music. Taylor Swift. Yes, I listened to TTPD and bought the album. I am a Taylor fan. I haven't listened to the new songs that closely, but truthfully they all sound the same to me. Then again, I thought that her  albums, Folklore and Evermore all sounded the same, too. I feel like she was going for Stevie Knicks vibes with those two albums. And with this new one, it has Tori Amos and Fiona Apple vibes. I love those artists, so I'm digging it. I just need to listen to it again and again. What do you think? Are you a Taylor fan? 

4. Journal. I bought a new one. And, I love it. I started using it straightaway. It's a light grey/blue color with a suede feel. The pages are lined, which I do not like ( I prefer blank ), but I am enjoying it for some reason. I think because it reminds of a dark blue velvet journal I had in college that I loved. That one had lined pages, too. Except, back then I didn't care about lined or unlined pages. LOL!

5. Book. I'm reading the new Mark Edwards book, The Darkest Water. I just started, so we'll see how it goes. I usually like his books, because they are quick and easy reads. I think of them like palate cleansers. I tend to pick those types of books up after reading something substantial. 

And now, I'm off to cross off some to-dos from my list. Wishing you a great weekend! Happy reading!

Up next...

I loved Never Lie, so I had to read more McFadden and chose The Locked Door. I can't wait to dive into it tonight! Let me know if you've read it and what you thought. Are you a McFadden fan? Which ones do you recommend? 

And now, I'm off to finish a project so that I can start reading ASAP. Hope you are having a wonderful day! Happy reading!

Just finished...

I read one last night and the other one this morning. They were quick, easy reads. Mystery thrillers with a bit of suspense. Oh, and predictable. I enjoyed the Feeney book more than the Griffin. Her story was more exciting and kept me reading late into the night. Griffin's story had me flipping pages faster and faster, because I was skim reading to get to the end. I should have just DNFed The Second Stranger, but I wanted to make sure I was right, so I kept on reading. I won't make that mistake again. Oh well, I won't like them all, right?

What about you? Read any good books lately? If so, I'd love some recommendations. 

Hope you are having a great week. Happy reading!

Currently reading...

I wanted something fun to kick off the new reading year, so I went for Lisa Unger's latest novel, The New Couple In 5B. It's a mystery thriller set in a historic NYC building and it oozes with creepy vibes - I'm loving it! The book will be released March 5th. And, I just know that Unger's fans are going to LOVE reading all about the Lowans. 

And now, I'm off to find out what happens next once Rosie and Chad move into the Windermere. 

Hope you are having a terrific Monday morning.  Happy reading!

Thank you to HarperCollins for my advanced copy of this book!

JLC17 starts now!

Hiya, folks! Just wanted to share about a fun challenge that my dear friend, Meredith, is hosting. It's called the Japanese Literature Challenge 17 and it is seriously a good time. From January through February all you have to do is read one (1) book that has been translated from Japanese. That's it! Of course, you can read loads more than one book, which is what I normally do. However, this year, I may just stick with two or three.  If you want to know more about the JLC17, head on over to Meredith's blog, Dolce Bellezza.

I need to peruse my bookshelves to figure out what I want to read for the JLC17. I'm thinking of rereading a Murakami...The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, or Kafka on the Shore - I have all three in the Folio Society editions and I've been itching to give those copies a read. I also have The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories, so maybe something from there. Hmm...and I do have a stack of books by new-to-me authors that I could give a go. So the options are great, it's just that I have to figure out which ones will suit my mood. Either way, I'm excited for the challenge and can't wait to share about which books I've read. Hope you decide to join in on the fun, too. 

As for now, I'm off to work in my art journal. Today's prompt is throwback. That should be a fun one. Hope you all are having a great day! Happy reading!

2024 Bookish Resolutions

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the very best in 2024!

It's a new month in a new year and that means resolutions! Or at least it's supposed to. I always set out to write a list of all the bookish things I want to accomplish in the new year and I never manage to cross any off the list. So, you would think that I would stop making resolutions, right? Well, that's not happening. In fact, I have a few.

Here goes...

1.  Read.  

2. Buy the books.

3. Join the challenges that intrigue me.

4. Create my own challenge.

5. Post on my blog.

6. Post on IG.

7. Keep track of all the books I read.

8. Stop buying notebooks and planners - use what I have.

9. Write.

10. Have fun.

Yeah, I had to include that last one, because blogging hasn't been fun lately. I mean, I stopped blogging months ago and didn't miss it. It was only towards the end of the year that I realized I did miss writing about the books I was reading and sharing what I loved about them. So, I decided to reread my old posts from when I first started this blog - talk about feeling inspired. In 2024, I am going to just read and write and that's it. No more feeling obligated to post about ARCs or trying to post more often to keep up. Instead, I will just write as often or as little as I want. And, I will write about books, journals, music, life, etc. I will just enjoy this blog for what it was meant for...sharing about my bookish life. 

And now, I am off to cook lunch. We're having a New Year's lunch and I am the chef - wish me luck! Hope you all have a wonderful day and are enjoying a great new read. Cheers!