I have no idea where or when I acquired this book, so I think that makes it a perfect #ReadOrDonate candidate! What will everyone else be reading?

This book was a fascinating glimpse into the constantly changing politics of Ancient Rome, from a female point of view. Livia was the wife and trusted advisor of the emperor Augustus. Although I didn‘t always agree with some of the choices she made, I couldn‘t help but admire the way she worked through the constraints placed upon her as a wealthy woman, to become a powerful, influential force for the good of the Roman people.

I‘m really looking forward to traveling to the glorious fictional island of Tuga for #FictionalTraveler this month! What will everyone else be reading for the #Island prompt?

I struggled a bit with the April #Sport prompt for #ThematicCozies, as I‘m not a “sporty” person. But I‘m looking forward to reading this one. In addition to being a runner, the main character also owns a book store. 😉

What will everyone else be reading?

My #MonthlyNonfiction choice for April has been on my TBR forever!

What will everyone else be reading?

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Lighthearted, humorous, endearing, and uplifting, this book was an absolute delight. A perfect escape from today‘s crazy world. I‘m so glad I chose this for the #FictionalTraveler #BigCity prompt this month!

The romantic plot was a bit eye-rolling and obvious, and the supporting characters felt one-dimensional, but I loved the Irish village setting and the magical realism element. This was my #ReadOrDonate pick for March. Definitely donating it.

#Pantone2025 #Kashmir @Lauredhel

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Happy Spring! 🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸

#SpringCardSwap cards heading out in today's mail. 📬

Thanks for hosting. @TheBookHippie !

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Happy Friday, everyone! If you‘re reading this, consider yourself tagged. 😃

#LitsyLove

#TLT @dabbe

Clearly I need to step up my old movie game. 😬😂

Three I‘d like to start with:
Room at the Top
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Kings Row

Thanks for the tag, @Eggs ! 😃

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. I felt like I could be friends with the main character, the New Orleans setting was fun, and the mystery kept me guessing. Plus, I picked up a lot of great scrapbooking tips! I‘ll read more of this series. This was my March pick for #ThematicCozies. #Hobby .⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Here are just a few of the many joys we experienced on our Caribbean cruise this week! 🏝️

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

I have some great #ReadYourKindle choices this month! Thanks for hosting, @CBee !

This sweet story was a loose retelling of Sense and Sensibility, set in modern day Austin, Texas. I enjoyed it on its own merits, and after the first few chapters, forgot to look for similarities with the original. A light fun read, with enough surprises to give it some depth.
#JaneAustenThenAndNow @Crinoline_Laphroaig
#Pantone2025 #PearSorbet @Lauredhel
#LitsyAtoZ #J @Texreader

I‘m hoping to finish more than one of these in March for #MonthlyNonfiction2025 . 🤞☘️

What interesting reads does everyone else have on their lists?

All are welcome to join, just let me know if you‘d like to be added to the tag list.

Optional StoryGraph Challenge: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/05fd860d-5e9b-45d6-bdf4-28410ac...

I enjoy scrapbooking, and I‘m hoping to pick up some tips as I read this book for the March #Hobby prompt for #ThematicCozies. What hobbies will everyone else be exploring?

All are welcome. Let me know if you‘d like to be added to the tag list.

Optional StoryGraph Challenge: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/f5ca22b5-c3a4-47f6-9456-f2df264...

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Want to play, #LitsyLove members? 🩵

Well, this was interesting! Thanks for the fun, @TheBookHippie !
#Literallymycharacter #Pinterest

The magic of books is taking me to Paris in March, to fulfill the #BigCity prompt for #FictionalTraveler. Where is everyone else going?

Obviously, I need to step up my movie-watching game! Three I‘d like to see are:
1. Rebecca
2. From Here to Eternity
3. Mrs. Miniver
#tlt @dabbe
Thanks for the tag, @Eggs !

This book was a difficult read… bleak and depressing… but also very important. Plath‘s writing is incredible… so immersive. I‘m glad I read this with my #hashtagbrigade friends, led by the fabulous #BarkingMadRead . I‘m not sure I would have finished it on my own. When I reached the end, I was doing fine. And then I read the epilogue, which was a recap of Plath‘s life. Ugh. It plunged me back into despair. So sad.,😭

My #ReadOrDonate choice for March is Jewels of the Sun, by Nora Roberts. What will everyone else be reading and/or donating?

This book made me laugh out loud a couple of times, but more importantly, it made me think. A lot. Roxane Gay‘s down-to-Earth writing style is so approachable. Even when I didn‘t agree with her opinions, she helped me focus on what my own opinions are. In the end, I realized that, like her, I am a Bad Feminist. But that‘s better than not being a feminist at all.

#authoramonth @Soubhiville
#MonthlyNonfiction2025

Sweet story set in a sweet Cotswold village. Charming. This was my #FictionalTraveler choice for February. #APlaceYouLove (The Cotswolds)

This book was a beautiful, quiet, reflective balm for the soul. A lovely escape from the craziness of modern life, perfect for savoring slowly.

This was a wonderful choice for #KindredSpirits #BuddyRead , @BarbaraJean , and I would never have discovered it on my own. Thank you!

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

My #BookSpin and #ReadYourKindle lists for March. ☘️

I have been savoring this book a page or two at a time, over the course of the past year or so. Page after page of gorgeous watercolors depicting flowers, plants and trees, painted with a naturalist‘s eye for detail, and labeled with their (often very quaint) common name. Every single page is pretty enough to be framed. I will miss my daily escape time with this gem.

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and lighthearted, but also surprisingly thoughtful and reflective. The setting at a destination wedding, and the characterization of the group of guests as “the wedding people”, will ring true in a fun, humorous way for anyone who has been to an over-the-top wedding weekend.
#Pantone2025 #DejaVuBlue @Lauredhel

The #ValentineCardSwap was such a delight! I loved seeing everyone's personality and creativity in all the different cards. Thank you so much for hosting this fun event @TheBookHippie ! 💖💖💖

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Just realized I never posted last week‘s #5JoysFriday ! But it‘s never too late for joy, right? 😘
@DebinHawaii

I‘m not equipped to judge whether or not this is “the greatest novel ever written”, as has been alleged. But it did make me think a lot. It covers just about every human emotion in its pages, and many social, religious, and philosophical ideas as well. I‘m glad I read it, but won‘t be rereading it again anytime soon!

Many thanks to @TheBookHippie for hosting the #KareninaWinter buddy read, as I would never, ever have read this on my own.

This entire book felt like an old-time slapstick comedy movie. It did make me laugh out loud several times, but ultimately, it was just too silly. I kept waiting for it to be over.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

I‘m excited about my February selections for #readyourkindle !

Thanks for hosting, @CBee !

Oh my dear Jane Austen, I do love you so.

Rereading this for #JaneAustenThenAndNow was a total delight.

For #SeriesLove2025 , I have decided to read all the Beatrix Potter books. In January, I read The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was like visiting a dear old friend, and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, which I had not read before. Although Squirrel Nutkin is adorable to look at, I was quite surprised by his rudeness of manner! 🐿️

@Andrew65 @TheSpineView

I have a fun variety of books to read for #MonthlyNonfiction2025 this month!

Ten Birds That Changed the World for #Naturalitsy @AllDebooks

Bad Feminist for #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Blackbeard the Pirate for #BookedInTime @Cuilin

#5JoysFriday (on Sunday!) @DebinHawaii

I can see why this is such a popular book club pick. There is so much going on - the theme of right vs. wrong vs. morally gray being played out in numerous scenarios involving various combinations of characters. I didn't like any of the characters, which normally would make me dislike a book, but this was an exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the way it challenged me to see all sides of several difficult issues.

#ReadOrDonate

My #ReadOrDonate choice for February is Kunstlers in Paradise, which has been calling out to me for a year or so now. This is the month!

What will everyone else be reading/donating?

All are welcome to join.

The link to the optional StoryGraph challenge is: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/efdc1ad1-dea0-414f-abeb-38ea1d0...

My February choice for #ThematicCozies is A Rather Lovely Inheritance, which I have had on my shelves for I-don‘t-know-how-many years. So happy to finally be reading it!

What will everyone else be reading?

All are welcome to join our happy little group!

Link to the optional StoryGraph challenge: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/f5ca22b5-c3a4-47f6-9456-f2df264...

My February #FictionalTraveler choice is The Telephone Box Library. It‘s set in The Cotswolds, which for me, truly fulfills the prompt #APlaceYouLove .

Some of you have already posted your February choices. What will everyone else be reading? It‘s fun to see all the places we love!

All are welcome to join!

For those using StoryGraph, the link is: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/eebba389-4e05-42f3-b771-b413425...

To my utter amazement, I find myself currently enmeshed in various stages of FOUR different chunksters. How did this even happen? Hoping I can finish at least one of them by the end of February. 😳🤪
#AllergicToChunksters

I'm excited to be able to participate in #HyggeHourReadathon ! I'm not usually home on Sunday nights. I'm audio puzzling and listening to Hester, which I'm really enjoying.
@AllDebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit
#LiteraryCrew @Librarybelle

So much to discuss in this book - a great book club selection. Excellent sense of time and place - feels very realistic, if uncomfortable. Not necessarily an easy read, as there are several difficult, and even heartbreaking, things that occur. But ultimately, I think, a hopeful book.

#Pantone2025 #AiryBlue #Orangeade @Lauredhel
#LitsyAtoZ #H @Texreader

I‘m so happy that, thanks to #AuthorAMonth , I have finally read my first book by Dorothy L. Sayers! This was a delightfully satisfying golden age mystery. I adored Lord Peter Wimsey and will definitely be reading more of this series.

#Sharreadathon #LitsyAtoZ2025 #ISpyBingo #BookChain #LitsyLove

My #5JoysFriday this week is all about the “this never happens here” snow & ice storm.
@DebinHawaii