Thursday, January 9, 2025

2024 Reading Highlights

2024 was a solid reading year, though I wish I had spent more time "butt in chair" reading physical books and ebooks.  Nevertheless, I am, as ever, so grateful for the opportunity to listen to audiobooks as many aspects of my daily life--laundry, continuous loop kitchen cleaning, decluttering--would be drudgery without the company of the wonderful narrators who bring these books to life.  Audiobooks certainly motivate me to get out and walk as well.

I've gotten away from offering commentary in my reading highlights post.  If you have questions, hit me up in the comments or via text or email.  I have posted short reviews of many of the titles below on Instagram -- I'm @booksandcarbs there!

Most of the books below were published in 2024; exceptions are indicated.  

 

Fiction Highlights

Good Material (2023) by Dolly Alderton 
 
The Road to Dalton (2023) and Where the Forest Meets the River (2024) by Shannon Bowring

Wait by Gabriella Burnham 
 
The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Factory Girls (2022) by Michelle Gallen
 
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore 
 
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

You Are Here by David Nicholls
 
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell   
 
The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan
 
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
 
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

Fiction Highlights with Romance Vibes -- not separating out because I find romance to be a lesser category but because I know some people avoid this genre (their loss!)

Pick-Up by Nora Dahlia

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

Funny Story by Emily Henry
 
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan 
 
Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell 
 

Books I loved (and feel protective of) that you may NOT love...

The Happy Couple (2023) by Naoise Dolan

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

All Fours by Miranda July

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu 
 
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
 

Memoir/Non-Fiction Highlights 

Twopence to Cross the Mersey, Liverpool Miss, By the Waters of Liverpool, and Lime Street at Two by Helen Forrester (1974, 1981, 1982, 1985)

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
 
I've Tried Being Nice: Essays by Ann Leary

A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings
 
What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings by Leanne Morgan
 
My Name is Barbra (2023) 
by Barbra Streisand

 

"New Books from Favorite Authors" Highlights

The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan

The Hunter by Tana French 
 
Just for the Summer by Abby Jiminez

My Favourite Mistake (Walsh Family #7) by Marian Keyes 
 
Tell Me Everything (Amgash #3) by Elizabeth Strout

 

"New (to me) Favorite Authors"

Anthony Horowitz -- I read the first five books in thte Hawthorne and Horowitz series.  First book is called The Word is Murder

Stephen King -- I have always been a FAN, but this year I was a super fan, finishing eight Stephen King books, including every book (so far) relating to Bill Hodges and Holly Gibney.

Richard Osman -- I am eating up The Thursday Murder Club series and also read the first in his new series:  We Solve Murders. 




 



 



 







Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

2024 Non-Fiction Log

 2024  MEMOIRS, ESSAYS, POETRY, AND OTHER NON-FICTION

An (*) indicates a reread.  All ebooks are purchased on sale via the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst Public Library.  All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library, and Libby Apps). 

Jami Attenberg
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round
 
Robert Bhatia
Passage Across the Mersey (ebook via Hoopla)
 
Kelly Bishop
The Third Gilmore Girl (audiobook via Libby)

Claire Bowditch
Find Your Creative Courage (audiobook via Audible)

Julie Chavez
Everyone But Myself (ebook)

Claire Cohen
BFF?: The Truth About Female Friendship (audiobook via Libby)
 
Griffin Dunne
The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir (audiobook via Audible) 

Kevin Fedarko
A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon (audiobook via Audible)

Helen Forrester
Twopence to Cross the Mersey (#1, ebook via Hoopla)
Liverpool Miss (#2, ebook via Hoopla)
By the Waters of Liverpool (#3, ebook via Hoopla)
Lime Street at Two (#4, ebook via Hoopla)

Ina Garten
Be Ready When the Luck Happens (library book and audiobook via Libby)
 
John Glatt
The Family Next Door: The Heartbreaking Imprisonment of the Thirteen Turpin Siblings and Their Extraordinary Rescue (audiobook via Hoopla) 

Natalie Goldberg
Writing on Empty: A Guide to Finding Your Voice (library book)
 
Karen Holcomb and John F. Holcomb
Easter Sunday Massacre: A Prosecutor's Diary: The True Story of Mass Murderer James Ruppert (paperback)
 
Ann Leary
I've Tried Being Nice: Essays (audiobook via Audible) 

Tia Levings
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy (ebook via Libby)
 
Jane Marie
Selling the Dream: The Billion-Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans (audiobook via Audible)
 
Sarah McCammon
The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church (audiobook via Audible) 

Leanne Morgan
What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings (audiobook via Libby)
 
Cathy Rentzenbrink
Write It All Down: How to Put Your Life on the Page (audiobook via Hoopla)
How to Feel Better: A Guide to Navigating the Ebb and Flow of Life (audiobook via Hoopla) 
Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books (audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Scott Rick
Tightwads and Spendthrifts:  Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships (audiobook via Libby)
 
Barbra Streisand
My Name is Barbra (audiobook via Audible) 
 
Annabelle Tometich
The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony (ebook via Libby)
 
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Drunk-ish: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving Alcohol (audiobook via Audible)




ARCHIVES

 

2013 Reading Highlights
2014 Reading Highlights
2015 Reading Highlights
2016 Reading Highlights  
2017 Reading Highlights

2018 Reading Highlights -- Nonfiction 

2021 Reading Highlights 

2023 Reading Highlights 

Posted by at No comments:

2024 Fiction Log

 2024 FICTION LOG

An (*) indicates a reread.  All ebooks are purchased on sale via the Kindle Store or checked out from the e-offerings of the Elmhurst Public Library.  All audiobooks are from Audible.com or the Elmhurst Public Library's e-offerings (Hoopla, Cloud Library, and Libby Apps). 

Cori Adjmi
The Marriage Box (library book)
 
Louisa May Alcott
Good Wives (Little Women #2, audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Dolly Alderton
Good Material (ebook via Cloud Library)

Lara Avery
The Year of Second Chances (library book)
 
Cara Bastone
Ready or Not (audiobook via Audible)
Maybe This Time (audiobook via Audible) 

Audrey Bellezza
Elizabeth of East Hampton (For the Love of Austen #2, ebook via Cloud Library)
 
Flynn Berry
Northern Spy (audiobook via Libby) 
Trust Her (audiobook via Libby) 

Shannon Bowring
The Road to Dalton (Dalton, Maine #1, audiobook via Hoopla)
Where the Forest Meets the River (Dalton, Maine #2, audiobook via Hoopla)

Gabriella Burnham
Wait (hardcover)
 
Robyn Carr
The Friendship Club (audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Steve Cavanagh
Kill for Me, Kill for You (audiobook via Libby) 

Katherine Center
The Rom-Commers (hardcover)
 
Kate Clayborn
The Other Side of Disappearing (ebook via Hoopla) 

Jenny Colgan
Studies at the School by the Sea (School by the Sea #4, audiobook via Audible)
Sunrise by the Sea (Little Beach Street Bakery #4, audiobook via CloudLibrary)

Sara Goodman Confino
Behind Every Good Man (ebook via Kindle store)

Lauren Connolly
PS: I Hate You (audiobook via Libby)

Kate Cotugno
Meet the Benedettos (audiobook via Audible) 
 
Christine Coulson
One Woman Show (audiobook via Libby)
 
Sophie Cousens
Is She Really Going Out with Him? (audiobook via Audible)

Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Rest in Pink (Liz Danger #2, ebook via Cloud Library)
One in Vermillion (Liz Danger #3, ebook via Cloud Library & Kindle store)
 
Nora Dahlia
Pick-Up (library book)
 
Laura Dave
The Night We Lost Him (library book)
 
Helen DeWitt
The English Understand Wool (ebook via Libby)
 
Lian Dolan
The Marriage Sabbatical (library book)
 
Naoise Dolan
The Happy Couple (library book) 
 
Katelyn Doyle
Just Some Stupid Love Story (library book)
 
Sarah T. Dubb
Birding with Benefits (ebook via Libby)
 
Dave Eggers
The Honor of Your Presence (library book) 
 
Alison Espach
The Wedding People (hardcover) 

Ivy Fairbanks
Morbidly Yours (Love in Galway #1, library book)

Kate Forster
Fly Me to Moongate Manor (audiobook via Audible)
The Perfect Retreat (audiobook via Audible)
Starting Over at Acorn Cottage (audiobook via Hoopla) 
The Sisters (audiobook via Audible)
Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross (audiobook via Audible)

Laurie Frankel
Family Family (audiobook via Audible)
 
Tana French
The Hunter (Cal Hooper #3, audiobook via Audible)
 
Michelle Gallen
Factory Girls (paperback) 
 
Mike Gayle
The Museum of Ordinary People (audiobook via Libby) 
 
Fiona Gibson
How the In-Laws Wrecked Christmas (ebook via Hoopla)
'Tis the Damn Season (audiobook via Hoopla)

Emily Giffin
The Summer Pact (hardcover)

Taylor Hahn
A Home for the Holidays (library book)

Janice Hallett
The Twyford Code (audiobook via Libby)
 
Laura Hankin
One-Star Romance (hardcover) 

Danielle Hawkins
Take Two (ebook via Cloud Library)

Lottie Hazell
Piglet (library book)

Emily Henry
Funny Story (ebook via Cloud Library)
 
Sally Hepworth
Darling Girls (hardcover)
 
Kristan Higgins
Look on the Bright Side (ebook via Cloud Library) 

Elin Hilderbrand
"Natural Selection: A Short Story" (ebook via Kindle)
Swan Song (hardcover)

Ginny Hogan
The Great Indoors (audiobook via Audible)

Anthony Horowitz
The Word is Murder (Hawthorne & Horowitz #1, audiobook via Libby)
The Sentence is Death (Hawthorne & Horowitz #2, audiobook via Libby)
A Line to Kill (Hawthorne & Horowitz #3, audiobook via Libby)
The Twist of a Knife (Hawthorne & Horowitz #4, audiobook via Libby) 
Close to Death (Hawthorne & Horowitz #5, audiobook via Libby)

Claire Keegan
So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men (ebook via Hoopla)
 
Abby Jiminez
Just for the Summer (hardcover) 

Debbie Johnson
A Very Irish Christmas (audioook via Hoopla)
 
Miranda July
All Fours (audiobook via Audible)

Marian Keyes
My Favourite Mistake (Walsh Family #7) (audibook via Audible)

Rachel Khong
Real Americans (audiobook via Libby)
 
Stephen King
Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges #1, audiobook via Cloud Library)
Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges #2, audiobook via Libby)
End of Watch (Bill Hodges #3, audiobook via Libby) 
The Outsider (Holly Gibney #1, audiobook via Libby)
If It Bleeds (Holly Gibney #2, audiobook via Libby)
Holly (Holly Gibney #3, audiobook via Cloud Library) 
The Shining (audiobook via Libby) 
Misery (audiobook via Audible)
 
Sophie Kinsella
What Does It Feel Like? (library book)

Jean Hanff Korelitz
The Sequel (The Book Series #2, audiobook via Libby)

William Kent Krueger
The River We Remember (audiobook via Libby)

Mary Kubica
She's Not Sorry (audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Kevin Kwan
Lies and Weddings (audiobook via Audible)

Christina Lauren
The Paradise Problem (library book)

Claire Lombardo
Same As It Ever Was (hardcover)
 
Portia Macintosh
Enemies to Lovers (audiobook via Hoopla) 
The Suite Life (audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Rebecca Makkai
The Borrower (audiobook via Libby) 
 
Susan Mallery
One Big Happy Family (audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Jennifer Mathieu
The Faculty Lounge (audiobook via Audible) 
 
Mhairi McFarlane
You Belong with Me (Edie Thompson #2, audiobook via Audible)

Dervla McTiernan
What Happened to Nina? (audiobook via Audible)

Arthur Miller
The Crucible* (paperback)

Jacquelyn Mitchard
A Very Inconvenient Scandal (audiobook via Libby)
 
Annabel Monaghan
Summer Romance (ebook via Cloud Library) 
 
Liz Moore
The God of the Woods (audiobook via Audible) 
 
Beth Moran
Let It Snow (audiobook via Hoopla)

Maxine Morrey
Just Say Yes (audiobook via Hoopla)

David Nicholls
You Are Here (audiobook via Audible)

Onyi Nwabineli
Allow Me to Introduce Myself (audiobook via Hoopla)

Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club (audiobook via Libby)
The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2, audiobook via Cloud Library)
The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3, audiobook via Libby)
We Solve Murders (audiobook via Audible)

Zibby Owens
Blank (ebook)

Lynn Painter
Betting on You (audiobook via Libby)
Happily Never After (hardcover) 

Ellie Palmer
Four Weddings and a Funeral (hardcover)
 
Louise Penny
The Grey Wolf (Chief Inspector Gamache #19)

Ashley Poston
A Novel Love Story (audiobook via Libby)

Nita Prose
The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2, ebook via Cloud Library)
The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid #2.5 via Cloud Library)
 
Anna Quindlen
After Annie (audiobook via Libby)
 
Kiley Reid
Come and Get It (library book)

Rebecca K. Reilly
Greta & Valdin (hardcover)
 
Suzanne Rindell
Summer Fridays (library book) 

Ava Robinson
Definitely Better Now (audiobook via Libby)
 
Sally Rooney
Intermezzo (audiobook via Audible)
 
Jane L. Rosen
Seven Summer Weekends (audiobook via Libby)

Emma Rosenblum
Very Bad Company (library book)

Rainbow Rowell
Slow Dance (hardcover)

Sarah Grunder Ruiz
Last Call at the Local (ebook via Cloud Library)
 
Cynthia Rylant
Missing May (paperback)
 
Susan Scarlett
Sally-Ann (ebook via Hoopla)

Jessica Saunders
Love, Me (audiobook via Hoopla)
 
Elizabeth Strout
Tell Me Everything (Amgash #3, audiobook via Audible)
 
Natalie Sue
I Hope This Finds You Well (audiobook via Libby)
 
J. Courtney Sullivan
The Cliffs (audiobook via Audible) 

Jesse Q. Suntano
You Will Never Be Me (audiobook via Libby)
 
Duane Swierczynski
California Bear (audiobook via Cloud Library) 
Fun & Games (audiobook via Libby)

Plum Sykes
Wives Like Us (audiobook via Libby)
 
Alexandra Tanner
Worry (library book) 

Rufi Thorpe
Margo's Got Money Troubles (hardcover)

Colm Toibin
Long Island (Eilis Lacey #2, audiobook via Audible)
 
Amy Tintera
Listen for the Lie (audiobook via Audible)

Bethany Turner
Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other (ebook via Cloud Library)
 
Ruth Ware
The Perfect Couple (audiobook via Libby)
 
Kate Weinberg
There's Nothing Wrong with Her (library book)
 
Chris Whitaker
We Begin at the End (audiobook via Libby) 

Marcia Willett
The Garden House (audiobook via Hoopla)

Monica Wood
How to Read a Book (hardcover)


ARCHIVES

2013 Reading Highlights
2014 Reading Highlights
2015 Reading Highlights
2016 Reading Highlights  

2017 Reading Highlights

2021 Reading Highlights 

2022 Reading Highlights 

2023 Reading Highlights

2024 Reading Highlights 

Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

25 in 25

If you are one of the 0-3 readers of this blog, you may have caught my recent posts about how I fared with regard to my 24 in 24 list.  Quick summary:  the results were just so so.  I did some things.  I rolled a few things over to 2025.  I changed my mind about several things and ended up just not caring about doing them.  You may be wondering, "Well, Megan, why bother to make a somewhat arbitrary to-do list for 2025 if the Megan of March of 2025 or August of 2025 ends up shaking her head at Megan of January 1, 2025?"  Well, why not?  Why not give myself a little extra motivation that might lead to a little extra fun, a little extra joy, a few new experiences, and/or some bonus good habits for the coming year?  So, in the spirit of why not? I offer you my 25 in 25 list.   

1. Reflect often on this mantra:  I have all that I need, and I am grateful for all that I have.

2.  Meet my Peloton minutes goal of 15K.   I got to 13,650 in 2024.  Not that you care about the nitty gritty of this, but I do track outdoor walks and playing tennis (cardio workout) through the Peloton platform in addition to Peloton content.

3.  See three movies in the theater with Diet Coke and generously buttered popcorn.  Repeating this item from 2024 because it motivates me to do something I really enjoy.  

4.  Stream three documentaries at home.  I have seen (almost) nothing of late.  

5.  Make three new recipes from cookbooks on my shelves.

6.  Make three new recipes from those saved in the Paprika app.  Great app, btw, for saving recipes you find online.  More efficient than screenshots.  

7.  Read two Agatha Christie books.  The only one I've read is And Then Were None and that was in 1989 Honors English when the book was still titled Ten Little Indians.

8.  Try the Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie mystery series.  First book in the series is Case Histories.  Atkinson's Behind the Scenes at the Museum is one of my all-time favorite books, and I don't know why I've never tried her mysteries.  

9.  Try a little harder with my finger nails.  I realize "try a little harder" is not easily quantifiable, but I want to make more of an effort.  

10.  Finish transforming our playroom/family dumpster into an organized storage space.  

11.  Work out five times at Courts Plus.  I rejoined this past August when I felt brave enough post-ACL to start playing tennis again (very proud of myself for that).  If you add up my tenure at Courts Plus, it's got to be about a decade of membership.  And in that decade, I have collectively done a non-tennis workout there less than five times.  So, even though this goal seems pathetic, it would be a big step forward.  

12.  Clean out the bottom half of my china cabinet.  

13.  Clean out the bottom half of the family room entertainment center.

14.  Get a new rug for the family room.  My husband has authorized and encouraged this purchase for three years now, and I just haven't gotten it done.  

15.  Log the clothing items I purchase.  I have a very full closet.  I "treat myself" often.  I'd love to say, "Megan, you are not buying any new clothes in 2025.  Won't that feel great?!  LFG!"  Realistically though, restriction doesn't work for me, except for in 2016 when I stayed out of Target for the entire year!!!!  I think logging my purchases will make me more mindful. 

16.  Walk the Steps at Swallow Cliff.  I heard about these when my son was preparing to go on a scout high adventure trip at Rocky Mountain National Park.  Some scouts walk these steps with their packs on for practice.  My son never did, but I have been meaning to visit the Steps at Swallow Cliff for over five years now.  **Rollover from 2024**

17.  Take a walk at Lake Ellyn.  Twenty minutes away, and I've never seen this lake.  Actually, had never even heard of it until a dogsitter told me how much my dog enjoyed walking there.  My dog is not an enthusiastic walker so I gotta check this place out.  **Rollover from 2024**

18.  Visit the Art Institute of Chicago.  I have not been there since my freshman year of college.  What?!  I took a screenshot of the "free days" as motivation, but it wouldn't kill me to pay either.  I'd love to get one of my kids to go with me, but it may be a tough sell.   **Rollover from 2024**

19.  Visit the National Museum and Shrine of St. Therese in Darien.   There is daily mass there at 11:30 am.  I can easily fit this into a weekday.  **Rollover from 2024**

20.  Encourage/Force family to watch a comedy special as a family.  Mom's choice and snacks provided.

21.   Clean out linen closet.

22.  Clean out upstairs hall closet.

23.  Find a series to stream with my husband.  Our tastes our different so we haven't watched something together in years, but we totally could. 

24.  Try food at Aunt Tina's Kitchen, a newer restaurant Elmhurst.

25.  Take walks with 50 different people in honor of my 50th birthday.  Deadline for this is 3/15/26.



Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)