Two excellent books completed in December!

I loved my journey through classical music—many composers highlighted in this volume are modern day—and spent my evenings listening to each piece.

The Flight Portfolio was so wonderfully written, and it took me months after #SundayBuddyRead discussed it to read the book. This is not a fast-paced novel but rather one that deserves lots of time to slowly read. #12BooksOf2024

I had two 5-star reads in November, and both tie into injustices.

The tagged book is a true crime story, but it‘s more than that—it‘s about laws and injustices against Indigenous communities. Nagle provides a history of wrongs and the constant struggle the communities face. This even involves a Supreme Court case. Be ready to be angry.

The Book Censor‘s Library was so good! Satire that is way too close to reality. #12BooksOf2024

I did not have any 5-star reads in October, and my reading pace really decreased at this time, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Osman‘s other series is on my to read list, with the books staring at me from my shelves, so this was my first encounter with Osman and his writing style. So humorous! There were enough red herrings and twists, and some surprises too, that made me fly through this. #12BooksOf2024

I read the first two chapters tonight to kick off #JaneAustenThenAndNow . So excited to spend a year in the world of Jane Austen! #PemberLittens

Carryover read from 2024. Overall, a good middle grade book set at Bletchley Park. There‘s a mystery element, along with code breaking and ciphers. It seemed like the ending was a bit rushed. Still, fun read.

I finished this at my parents‘ house with one of their cats Della on my lap.

This September read was a surprise to me. It‘s a slow-paced narrative that follows the MC‘s decisions involving her family‘s cheese business in Croatia and her personal life. I learned much about the political upheaval in what is today called Croatia, as well as family traditions and family dynamics. The audio was beautifully performed. Great book! #12BooksOf2024

And the new year with the #HashtagBrigade begins!

I loved the TV series but have yet to read the book. Looking forward to the hashtags and reading journey!

And, the year‘s #ReadLesMis begins!

I love my edition, with the red ribbon bookmark (hopefully I can keep it away from my cats). ❤️

#LiteraryCrew : We have two books this month!

We‘ll discuss Take the Mic on January 20th and Hester on January 31st.

Let me know if you would like to be added or removed from the tag list! #buddyread

We‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion, #LittenDetectives !

The idea of a haunted bridge makes me a bit nervous, but I‘m sure the intrepid Nancy will solve the mystery!

Discussion on January 15th.

Our journey through Agatha Christie‘s mysteries begins this month!

Read at your own pace during the month, with discussion on January 26th.

If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know!

I am also adding the link to a spreadsheet created by @TheAromaofBooks that better explains the pub order of the books as found on the official Christie website. Thanks, Sarah!!

#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

My first read every year is this slim epistolary collection between friends. I love viewing the progression of the friendship, and the ending gets me every time.

#SebastianKitty is kindly modeling the book for me. #CatsOfLitsy

Possession is a different book, with narrative and letters and poetry and stories woven together to make a breathtaking account of love, loss, and regret. I finished reading the book in August, and I have to thank @Graywacke for leading us through the discussions. Such a good book! #12BooksOf2024

Though I hope to finish one more book tonight, I am officially calling my #Top24Of24 , which is really 25 (one for good luck).

To date, I have completed 166 books this year (not counting picture or early reader books for #BBRC ); I think this is my best reading year ever.

I selected 5-star reads and books that I keep thinking about, even months later.

Thanks for being great reading supporters! Huge thank you those who joined me in buddy reads!

I did not make my #Top24Of24 yet, and it‘s because I hoped to finish this before the end of the year. Mission accomplished!

Elegantly written, this is based on the true story of Varian Fry and his attempt to rescue Jewish artists and others deemed enemies of the Germans and secret them to the US during WWII. Fry also has secret passions deemed abhorrent in the culture, and it‘s this constant hiding and tension that carries the novel ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Please do yourself a favor and find this companion to The Year of Wonder, a daily encounter with classical music. Once again Burton-Hill takes the reader on a daily journey through classical music, with many composers in this collection from contemporary times. I loved every minute of this collection.

When you read the intro, Burton-Hill‘s persistence in writing this while overcoming a medical emergency is remarkable.

A wonderful collection!

My January #BookSpinBingo list!

I made a note too of my ongoing buddy read titles—I have quite a number of buddy reads happening, and I‘m afraid I‘ll forget one (I may have!). It‘s good to have a place to track them. 😂

Here‘s to another year of reading!

July was another extraordinary month, with three 5-star reads.

Grief was so beautifully written.

Lula Dean was hilarious, and as a former public librarian, I loved every minute of it.

River Sing Me Home was also beautiful and melancholic. I learned so much about enslavement in the Caribbean. #12BooksOf2024

#LiteraryCrew : It‘s time for our discussion!

So sorry I did not post a checkin this month! I had a couple migraine days in the middle of the month and completely spaced on doing so. Join in the discussion when you can. I have 7 questions posted that can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the hashtag.

Thanks for another great year of reading! We have 2 books in January, and I‘ll post a reminder tomorrow!!

Really late in finishing this for #LiteraryCrew ! This slow building novel follows Veronique and later Mary Louise at the end of the French monarchy in the 18th century. There‘s much about power and influence and what happens when one is no longer in the king‘s sphere. I was not familiar with the Deer Park girls; not surprised either.

I switched from book to audio to finish by the end of the year, and the audio was great!

I spent a wonderful time in June devouring this one. It‘s comedic, has a bit of mystery, and debuts a wonderfully original heroine who goes against social customs in Regency England. And, gasp, she‘s happy to be a spinster. Until, at least, a dangerous rogue crosses her path (note: this is not a romance, though there is a dash). I laughed, took down quotes, and enjoyed this one. Hope book two comes out soon! #12BooksOf2024

My favorite read in May was The Situation Room—Stephanopoulos writes an approachable history of one of the most secretive areas of the US White House. His research and interviews tells a story of how each president since the inception of the Room handled covert actions and intense decisions…or didn‘t, during one recent presidential term.

I learned a lot from this! #12BooksOf2024

PSA: Hallie Rubenhold has a new book to be released in March 2025!!

The Five is on my list of all time favorite books—Rubenhold humanizes the victims of Jack the Ripper with great research (most of whom were not active prostitutes at the time of their murder).

In this book, Rubenhold investigates the murder perpetrated by Dr. Crippen; Google books says she gives voice to the women, not the murderer.

I have high hopes for this one!

My nightstand is overflowing with books started but not finished; it really bothers me when I have to finish a book in the new year. Weird, I know!

I have a few buddy read titles that will carry over into 2025, and that‘s fine!

I‘m using both readathons to help me tackle the stack. Let‘s just say I have a lot to read. 😂

#ReadOutTheOld #20in4 #YearEnd #OutWithTheOldInWithTheNew

How I loved this one! It was simply beautiful. Not my usual read, and one I read for #SundayBuddyRead in April, this follows Zorrie as she navigates life, from a young age up to her final years. It‘s bittersweet, and the pacing makes it absolutely perfect.

Incidentally, I read a companion of this book that came out very recently, and I did not enjoy it as much. There‘s just something about this slim novel that is breathtaking. #12BooksOf2024

Thanks for the tag, @DebinHawaii !

1. My boys
2. My Litsy friendships. My mailbox has been full the past few days with holiday cards. I hang them in my kitchen every year, and I‘ll have to post on Litsy when I have the next batch hung up! Lots of holiday cheer! Thank you!
3. My dad who has been working on my walk-in closet remodel. It‘s slowly coming together!
4. Planning my January 2025 reads, to post soon!
5. The joy of books ❤️

#5JoysFriday

I‘m cheating a bit, but March was an excellent reading month for me. I had three 5-star reads—books that I met at the right time, exactly when I needed them.

I adored Mrs. Quinn. The Collected Regrets of Clover was simply beautiful. North Woods was so different from my typical reading, but I find myself thinking about the book (and the other two as well). #12BooksOf2024

When a magazine photo shoot goes wrong, Angie and Mel are forced to bake cupcakes with the magazine staff. There‘s a lot of drama in this one, and it‘s not just the murder! Good listen and story, though I‘m now a bit exasperated with Mel. 😂

This was my first 5-star read (not including reread books) for the year. Granted, this is a very niche book, so it‘s not for everyone, but it pulled my ‘90s girl heartstring hard. A fun reminiscence of songs, a few of which I either forgot about or did not know. I‘m not a big podcast listener, but it made me get so close to listening to Harvilla‘s episodes. #12BooksOf2024

From my little fur boys, wishing everyone a blessed day. No matter how you celebrate, it‘s a day to relax and reflect. And to those who are living through grief or a difficult time, you‘re in my thoughts. ❤️

I have a quiet morning planned with my parents to celebrate Christmas, and then an afternoon of reading, napping, and hanging with the boys.

I love posting the 12 books of Christmas every year!

January was an excellent reading month for me, but no 5-star reads. This one came close, though. It was hilarious and the perfect balance between Regency and mystery. I‘ve recommended it to non-Littens to read, a sign to me that it is a worthy book! #12BooksOf2024

It was nice to return to this series after a brief pause—I feel like I can only take Angie in small doses. The cupcake bakery heads to a rodeo to sell cupcakes, and one of the employees because prime suspect in a murder. Good cozy mystery, and especially fun to listen to while baking (cookies, not cupcakes, but it‘s still baking).

Oh, to be young and in love and the biggest worry is if your partner will forgive you…

I would not have picked up this book if not for #SundayBuddyRead , and I probably would have bailed on it long ago. Too much angst (and I am a ‘90s grunge/alt-rock girl, full of angst and anger 😂). I did learn a lot about sea animals!

Light pick. This offers a glimpse into the politics of Russian ballet, told in dual timelines from the MC Natasha‘s perspective. There‘s a lot not to like about Natasha, but her determination and perseverance in dance is noteworthy. Natasha slowly tells her story, and for me the slow pace of the story would have been better reading a physical book rather than listening to the audio. Honestly, I struggled with the audio and the voice actress. ⬇️

January starts the new round of #AgathaChristieClubR3 , and we‘ll read these #ChristiesCapers in original publication order.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first book. Published in 1920, this book introduced the world to Hercule Poirot.

Read at your own pace. Discussion on January 26th.

Let me know if you would like to be added to the tag last. And, feel free to post the cover of your edition!

January is a busy month for #LiteraryCrew ! We will discuss two books, the tagged book and Hester.

Read each book at your own pace, with discussion for Take the Mic on January 20th and Hester on January 31st.

If you like to be added to the tag list for this #BuddyRead , let me know!

January‘s #NancyDrewBR involves the theft of jewels and a footbridge that is guarded by a ghost. How will Nancy solve these mysteries? What other amazing skills will we learn she has?

Discussion takes place on January 15th!

If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know!

It‘s time for our #NancyDrewBR discussion, #LittenDetectives ! I have 5 questions posted as spoilers that can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Another book, another big difference between the editions! However, next month has only minor differences, so it should be easier for us to discuss! I‘ll post the official reminder for The Haunted Bridge tomorrow.

Thanks for reading with me!