It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2020

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

Welcome to another year of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Hope you loved seeing the new year in. I have to say I fell asleep before the clock rolled over, but I am sure I was awake when it rolled over somewhere else in our world!

What I read last week:

The first two I finished last year! In This House of Brede was my first book of the year. I liked it very much although I know it would not be for everyone. However I found it an excellent read and would link it to Susan Howatch’s Church of England Starbridge series.

What I am reading now:

For review – just beginning.

And am listening to..

Up next:

 

Last Week’s Posts

December Wrap Up

First Book of the Year

Five Priority TBR Books

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Discussions 2020

Joining Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon at It Starts at Midnight

While I am not doing any reading challenges I am going to take on one writing challenge!

I am going in at Discussion Dabbler because I am that for sure. 1 – 10.

Five Books From my Bookshelf I’ll Priority Read in 2020

Welcome to the first Connect Five link up. A  Friday link up that invites you to join in posting about a list of five bookish related topics/lists of your choice. Be creative and enjoy the process. If you want to know a little more read the introduction to it here.

Here are five books I bought in 2019 and want to give priority to reading from my TBR in 2020. I have no plan for when, but I am going to group  them together on my shelf to remind me to pick them up soon.

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They had a bond, until a sudden tragedy thrust them apart. Now, each of them  at a crossroad in her own life, two sisters paths are about to intersect.

I forget where I heard about this but I want to read it soon

 

Over worked and under appreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when her guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shoe up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts and escapes to New York.

Yes another I want to read soon. It has books on the cover and what else is over due but books so it has to be connected.

Malcolm Postead’s Oxford life has been one of routine, ordinary even. He is happiest playing with his dæmon, Asia, in their canoe La Belle Sauvage. But now as the rain builds, the world around Asta and MalcoIm , is, it seems, set to become increasingly far from ordinary. I bought this on spec! I enjoyed a long time ago his dark materials series and so I thought I’d give this one a go.

After a divorce request second baseman Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men.

I’ve seen some good reviews for this book plus its been rated well on some of the book podcasts I listen to, so I am hoping I’ll enjoy it.

Doctor Dani Novak has been keeping soccer coach Diesel Kennedy at arm’s length to protect him from her dark secrets. When they are brought together by two young brothers who desperately need their help it seems they might be able to leave their damaged pasts behind them.

This is one I’ve wanted to pick up for awhile, I bought it the day it hit the local bookshelves, but… books got in the way. It’s time for what I know will be a fast paced thrilling romantic suspense. And even though it has just over 500 pages it won’t seem like that.

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First Book of the New Year 2020

Since 2014 Sheila over at Book Journey has been leading us in choosing that first special book of the year. Its thanks to her that I have been doing it since then, I just hadn’t thought of it before. However I think its such a great idea.

For 2020 I am choosing one of my own bookshelf and its a reread as well. It is a large number of years since I read it and I bought myself a new copy because I have no idea where the copy I read is.

Its by Rumer Godden, written in the 1960’s and considered a bit of a classic. I know I liked it first time round, but draw a big blank on it now even as I read the blurb!

Bruised by tragedy, Philippa Talbot leaves behind a successful career with the civil service for a new calling: to join an enclosed order of Benedictine nuns. In this small community of fewer than one hundred women, she soon discovers all the human frailties: jealousy, love, despair. But each crisis of heart and conscience is guided by the compassion and intelligence of the Abbess and by the Sisters’ shared bond of faith and ritual. Away from the world, and yet at one with it, Philippa must learn to forgive and forget her past

Would you read it? Have you read it?

 

December Wrap Up

Total books read this month: 11

Authors came from:

Britain: 1
USA: 9
Australia: 1

New to me authors:

Kim Michelle Richardson
Elizabeth Berg
Peter Heller
Rebecca Raisin

Reading Challenge Update:

I completed most of my challenges, however no challenges for 2020. I will be starting and hosting a new weekly Friday Five meme or link up. Never sure what they are meant to be called!

Oh and I will be doing Nicole’s Discussion Challenge because that’s writing not reading!!

Top Book for December

Difficult to pick, all good reads. These are the three I gave 5 stars.

Looking forward to reading in January 2020

Incoming Books for December

Purchased

Yes I’ve read A Madness of Sunshine but I wanted my own paperback copy! Plus to support a favourite author too.

Library Books

From NetGalley

Audio Books

Linking up with Nicole at Feed your Fiction Addiction

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

I hope you all had a great Christmas Day and week. I had a wonderful family day with sisters and brothers and families. It’s such fun to be among little ones. My gorgeous 4 year old great niece gave me a card she’d made. Her grandmother (my sister) told me she’d spent the day before making them. She told Anne the best part was putting the cards in the envelopes. So when I received mine I commented on the envelope and how well stuck down it was. (It was really stuck down!) “Yes”, she said proudly, “I really used my tongue.”

Well the old year is almost gone! Maybe you’ve been reflecting on it and re visioning for 2020. In reading I have decided to drop all challenges except for setting a low key goal over on Goodreads.

I am also beginning a Friday Five bookish link up/meme/post for those who enjoy making lists with five. The lists can be as simple or as complicated as you like. I have been compiling posts for my lists of five and I think I’ll begin with five books on my bookshelf that I’ll read sooner rather than later in 2020.

What I read last week:

Both very good reads.

What I am reading now:

For some reason I thought this was a cozy mystery, I think it was the author’s name that put me into thinking that. But no, it is more women’s fiction with a little romance.

And still listening to Regretting You by Colleen Hoover.

Up next:

Sheila from Book Journey is again running her First Book of the Year

Indeed its also the first book of a new decade as well. If you haven’t joined in before why not this time and make it a new tradition.

To be revealed on January 1st 2020. Just a couple of days away.

 

Last Week’s Posts

Introducing new meme/link up

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Introducing Connect Five Friday Link Up

Last year I did connect five as a challenge, for 2020 I am going to host it as a link up or meme on a Friday. I didn’t want to lose the concept but I am not getting  involved in reading challenges for 2020.

It will be open for the week. You might like to do your Connect Five on another day. A link will close on Thursday and a new one will open on Friday.  Your five might be just one section of a post and that’s quite okay. You might just make a post on Instagram and link it if you want.

So the five can be connections of any kind. Books can have been read last year or any year. Books can be used more than once.They may not have been read yet. They might be ones you just bought or want to buy.  It can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Maybe it’s not a list of actual books, but things connected to books – e.g. favourite book shops, recipes etc. It might even be five movies related to books or five poems or five poets or five bookish moments, five thoughts about reading – be creative!

While I am challenge free for 2020,  you might still want to take this on as a challenge so do it!

I hope you can join in some weeks. I look forward to your ideas.

Hashtag #connect5books

Starts first Friday in January 2020.  Now that’s pretty soon!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading just before Christmas?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

Well wishing you all a very blessed Christmas if you celebrate this wonderful family day. If not, then still sending you blessings. The world certainly needs love, peace and hope in buckets. Let’s all be kind to ourselves and others.

What I read last week:

Fatal Accusation #15 in a great romantic suspense series came out and I read it soon as it hit my Kindle. 15 is a lot, but I remember when I found this series I read the first few one after another until I had to wait for the next one!

Celine was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you want an older heroine – like 70, this is your book. What a woman! It had suspense and humour.

What I am reading now:

Loving this – great addition to the series.

I am listening to and enjoying

Up next:

I’ll see the year out with these two books and then, with maybe time for one more but will see. It will be then time for First Book of the Year. I think I have chosen it.

 

Last Week’s Posts

The books I read for the Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge 2019

My Reading Goals for 2020 – a new decade.

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What I Want My Reading to be in 2020.

It’s the beginning of a new decade! Are you setting a new path in reading? I am.

Setting my boundaries for reading in 2020

1. Read no more than 24 review books, tops. Less if possible. At this point I already have three in the line up. And already hard turning from books I’d read but have others I want to read more.
2. Read less books. Take my time. I just want to relax and read and no pressure. I’ll set a goal of 100 books at Goodreads, that will most likely be quite easy – roughly two books a week.
3. Only participate in one or two challenges. .  No Reading Challenges! The other day I was visiting and a young one year old great nephew had some marbles nearby – mother and I had both shaken our heads and said ” No” when he put one in his mouth. I saw him pick up another a little while later and he was going to put it you know where and then he gave a shake of his head! I am giving my head a No shake.  However! I most likely will do the discussion challenge again as that isn’t reading!! And I was a little bit more successful in it this year and want to build on that.
4. Choose only one online book club book a month to read – I belong to three but I don’t want to get too tied down. And happy if I don’t read any of them in the month, will just be a guide to me.
5. Use the library, especially for authors I haven’t tried before or books I don’t really want to buy  – but no challenge.
6. Read what I really like – not what I think “I should read” but stretch now and then when I think I am in the right mind.  
7. Listen to audiobooks of course, but no challenge.
8. Read some of the books that are already on my shelf or Kindle. Delete or give away if I know its really not going to be a great read for me.
9. Buy the newly released books of favourite authors.
10. Do some rereading where I can – books I know I loved and er…. have forgotten what was in them.
11. Repurpose! My Connect Five Reading Challenge.  I enjoyed doing this but it turned out a little complicated and too many guidelines. Instead I am going to run a new link up called Connect Five Friday and there will be a lot less rules. It won’t be a challenge – just a link up. More coming soon.

So 2020 is going to be all about totally reading for enjoyment and and seeing into others lives with differing life experiences. The books I like best. So 2020 a time to chill out with books.

What are one or two of your hopes/plans  for reading in 2020?

Linking up with  Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight

What I Read for Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge 2019

 

1. A book you’ve been meaning to read. The Wednesday Wars  Gary D Schmidt And I am so happy to have finally gotten to this one. I loved it. Gary Schmidt writes wonderful middle grade fiction.
2. A book about a topic that fascinates you. How Reading Changed my Life. Anne Quinden This had lots of thoughts about reading I could identify with. Not her lists though!  I’ll stick to my own.
3. A book in the backlist of a favorite author.  Fox River.  Emilie Richards.  One I hadn’t read and while it was an older one I still enjoyed it.
4. A book recommended to you by someone with great taste. The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay recommended by Katherine P from I Wish I Lived in a Library   Her review begins “Loved it” See for yourself. When she says that I sit up and take notice! This was definitely one of my favourites of 2019 and I am happy I have a copy sitting on my shelf.
5. Book One by same author. Carmel Harrington  The Woman at 72 Derry Lane.
6. Book Two by same author.  Carmel Harrington Every Time a Bell Rings
7. Book Three by same author. Carmel Harrington. The Things I Should Have Told You.  Carmel Harrington is my new favourite Irish author, all her books are worth reading. Hope she has another in the near works ready for publishing.
8. A book you chose for the cover  A Month of Sundays   Liz Byrski. This proved to be well worth reading and I have already another of hers now sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.
9. A book by an author who is new to you. The Huntress. Kate Quinn. I thought this WW2 story was amazing if harrowing in parts.
10. A book in translation  The Red Address Book. Sofia Lundberg. A beautiful, poignant story. It is the life of Doris – a 96 year old woman, now dying. But we meet all the people who were important to her. The people she loved. She had a hard life but she made the most of opportunities. I loved Jenny her great niece who insisted on being there for her and insisted on dignity and love for Doris.
11. A book (genre) outside your comfort zone. Meet Me at the Museum Anne Youngson – epistolary fiction. This was slow paced but as it developed – interesting. What we see is a woman who has been deprived of genuine intimacy and she begins to find it in letters. ( It is often easier to be more real in the written word). Her marriage of forty years has been one of sacrifice and caring for the needs of others. If she is guilty of anything – she is guilty of not having her needs met. The ending is not detailed out, which is okay, because there is resolution in the way that she has come to know herself more deeply.
12. A book published before you were born.  Enchanted April.  Elizabeth Arnim. Different to what I usually read, however the women were interesting and the setting idyllic. It also had me rushing off to find the movie and to watch it.