On My Reading List - Fall 2018 Edition

Along with my recent post about what I've been reading lately, I wanted to share some of the books on the docket for the coming months. I am hoping that this will serve as a bit of accountability to actually get to reading these books!

The Blue Castle - L.M. Montgomery
We're reading this one for book club and the discussion is at the beginning of November. I just got started and I am loving it!

The Grace of Enough - Haley Stewart
This is another book club read that we will be discussing at the beginning of December. We're all really excited to read this Catholic blogger's new book!

I Heart Forever - Lindsey Kelk
The next (and final?) book in the I Heart series; I am super excited to read this one as I really enjoy all of the books I have read by Kelk so far.

That's all I am going to hold myself to, since I also have two very large textbooks that I need to be reading. I am also hoping to listen to a couple audiobooks, but I haven't picked those out yet. Any recommendations for a good audiobook?

January: Books I Read

I have been wanting to read more, so at the beginning of the year I set a Goodreads goal of 24 books in 2017. That’s two books per month, in case you had trouble doing the math ;). So far I have finished four, so I am two books ahead of schedule! I really like using Goodreads to track books that I have read, books that I want to read, and also to track how far along I am in each book. It is so satisfying to me to check in each time I read and see my progress increase as I inch closer to my goal.

I like to read a mixture of genres, and I find different times of the day are better suited to different genres as well as different formats. I really like borrowing audiobooks from my local library through the OverDrive app for my walk to and from work (about 35 minutes round trip each day) and I find I do better with autobiographies when I am listening – I especially like when the author reads it as well. Before bed, however, I like a real book that I can turn the pages on. This is when I like to read fiction, my favourites being either the classics or chick lit. I like switching between a more dense, more involved classic novel and a mindless, light-hearted chick lit novel. I also like to have other books on the go that fall into either professional development, spiritual, lifestyle, or health/wellness. Sometimes I have a lot of these on the go, and sometimes just one. It kind of depends on what extra time I have. Right now I am taking two night classes, so the only reading I can really get in is right before bed and while I walk.

So, on to the books that I read this month!

I Heart Paris – Linsdey Kelk

This was the first book that I finished in 2017. I had actually started it at some point in 2016 (I have a lot that I started in 2016 and never finished). I first found Lindsey Kelk when I read The Single Girl’s To-Do List and I enjoyed it so much that I sought out other novels written by her. I came across the I Heart series and quickly became hooked on the adventures of Angela with her best friend Jenny, her boyfriend Alex, and her friends and family back home in England. As the title suggests, the majority of this book took place in Paris, which I really enjoyed. Lindsey Kelk has a major talent for describing the setting and each story speaks to the wanderlust in my heart. This is the third book in the series, following behind I Heart New York and I Heart Hollywood.

I Heart Vegas – Lindsey Kelk

The fourth in the series above, I enjoyed this book too and flipped through it pretty quickly. I have actually already read the fifth book in the series first; it was pretty hard to get actual print copies of these books when I was looking, and I got my hands on the fifth one first. Even with reading the book that came after, I Heart Vegas as well as I Heart Paris we still great and the story wasn’t ruined by knowing what came next (Angela still got into mishaps and kept me on my toes!). I highly recommend this series if you enjoy light-hearted reads.

Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

I had started this book long, long ago. Long before the movie was even a thought. For some reason, I got half-way through her time in India and I just never picked it up again. I haven’t let myself watch the movie all this time, because I wanted to finish the book first. So, when we moved in to our place after getting married and I started walking to work, I knew which book to choose to listen to while I walked. I enjoyed this book, as much as I enjoy any book that involves travel and other countries. I really liked how Elizabeth Gilbert was reading her work too – it always seems better when the author can read it because he or she can place emphasis in the same places that they would have when thinking and creating the work. I think this book had some good messages about not letting life control you and taking the time to slow down and find peace. I do think, however, that you would want to find your own Truth before reading or listening to this book, because someone who is searching could really be swayed.

Simple Matters: Living With Less and Ending Up With More – Erin Boyle

I picked up this book on the recommendation of my friend Brandi. This book is a really aesthetically pleasing discussion on and guide to simple living. I know that minimalism and simple living has really almost become a fad lately, but this book goes beyond that. (And, honestly, it’s becoming a fad because so many people are recognizing the value in it). Erin Boyle talks about her approach to possessions, space, and even time. This book is something I know I will read over and over again and refer back to through different times in my life. I find her words both inspiring and calming – her approach being so peaceful that reading what she has to say almost provides a tranquility that I’m sure would be heightened by following some of her methods.

There you have it! The four books that I read this month. I hope to come back next month with a few more books to share. Until then, do you have any recommendations for me? Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? What else did you read this month?

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Book Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I go in and out of reading phases - you know, where you read like crazy for awhile and then it takes over 6 months to finish a book, even a good one. Overall, I would say I am a reader, but one of the last books I finished was one of those 6 month books, yet it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith was utterly fantastic. My heart connected early on with the main character, Francie Nolan. Throughout the novel, the way she looks at the world, how words form within her, and how she connects to others all really spoke to me. I also really liked how faith, doubt, and the existence of God were woven throughout, but wasn't the focus of the novel.

This story takes place in the early 1900s in Brooklyn, NY. The Nolan family is poor, but getting by. The novel follows Francie, the oldest child of Johnny and Katie Nolan, throughout her childhood and early adolescence. We see their family struggles, the love in their family, and what everyday life in Brooklyn at the time was like.

I honestly laughed out loud and cried at different times. It was a fantastic read. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Have you read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? If so, do you have any recommendations for books I may like that are similar? As it turns out, there is a film based on this novel that I would really like to watch - if you have watched it please let me know what you thought!

On the Shelf - Upcoming Reads

I have to admit that I have a lot of books sitting on my bookshelf, waiting to be read. I have a bit of an addiction to bookstore browsing, which naturally turns into a habit of book buying, which has gotten me to where I am today: with an overflowing book shelf in serious need of some attention.

I buy these books with good intentions. I'm going to start reading it right away! Once I finish the 3 or so other books I have already started. It gets placed on my shelf, next to many other books patiently waiting to be read, to wait its turn for me to pick it up. The problem, however, is that I do not make enough time for reading. The pace that I purchase new books far exceeds the pace at which I actually read them. It's not that I don't love reading - I do! It's just that work, dance, friends, family, YouTube, HGTV, and a myriad of other things always seem to take precedence. But not anymore!

I plan on reading at least one new book a month. But I really want it to be more than that - I'm just setting myself up for success by setting the goal low. I noticed this whole too-many-books-still-buying-more problem at the end of 2014 - well, I probably noticed it long before that, but I kind of chose to ignore it because I really like all that comes along with getting a new book. I finally did something about it at the beginning of 2015 when I told myself that I was not allowed to purchase a new book in 2015 unless I somehow managed to finish all of my unread ones, which would only be possible if I spent everyday, all day reading, so not very likely. I have read a bit, but as the end of 2015 is fast approaching (how is it October already?!), I have started to kick it into high gear. I'm probably going to have to continue my book-buying moratorium for at least the first half of 2016, and that's ok, this is really more about enjoying these wonderful books that I have yet to experience.

As I said, I have lots of books that are yet to be read, but some of the ones that are up next are:

I Heart Hollywood (eBook version) by Lindsey Kelk

I have read a couple books in this series and this is the next one. I really like the light-hearted feel that comes with reading these books. They're my chick-lit, feel-good read that I like to read now and then, especially after a particularly heavy read. I got into reading books by Lindsey Kelk with The Single Girl's To-Do List (which was great!) and realized she had this series. I actually went on a hunt a few months ago looking for the real books because it seems that this author is going the eBook route now instead of lots of books in print. Since I already had a couple in print I needed the others to be the same. Is anyone else like that? I just can't fathom having a whole series in my possession, but half in print and the other in eBook - it's just too weird to me.

Greece on My Wheels by Edward Enfield

I really like novels about travel or that at least somehow incorporate travel, so that's why I picked this one up. I haven't really looked into it further than that! 

The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

And this is another that I just sort of randomly picked up. I know I read the back and liked it, but I also have to admit that I am a sucker for a good cover (aren't we all?) and I like the look of this one. (That's actually how I picked up The Single Girl's To-Do List I mentioned above).

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe: A Novel with Recipes by Jenny Colgan

This was another random pick up on one of my Starbucks and browsing Indigo, Sarah's-alone-time nights. The name caught my eye because I had recently read a book called How to Eat a Cupcake and I liked it. This one seems neat because it has recipes throughout the novel.

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

This is a book that I have actually partially read before. It was required reading for a class I took in university, but I didn't quite finish it (I know, not good). The professor (probably my favourite professor from my entire degree!) actually specified that it had to be this particular edition, I guess there is enough of a difference between the different ones that he felt it necessary to distinguish it. I remember liking it, there were so many lines that spoke to me - but I just didn't manage my time well in order to finish it. This was one of those books that I would constantly find a quote that I wanted to remember so I would write it down. I did that a lot throughout university, actually, I would go and sit at the coffee shop on campus and read while listening to music (side note: how did I manage that? My brain doesn't function that way anymore) and I would constantly write down lines I heard or read. I have so many pages of loose leaf with songs and quotes on them that still linger in my mind to this day. I want to read this one again because I know I didn't give it the time it deserved, and I also want to read it before I watch the new movie (another thing I tend to do on a regular basis - I have many books sitting unread on my shelf that are preventing me from seeing many movies I would like to watch).

I also recently started reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith but I didn't take a picture for two reasons: 1. I left it at work by accident, and 2. I've already started it, so it's not quite "on the shelf." This was yet another book I picked up on a whim, this time it wasn't so much the cover rather than the title - it intrigued me before I even bothered to read the back cover. I'm only a chapter or so into it, but I am really enjoying it! It seems even more up my alley than I had originally thought.

Do you have any books lined up to read? Which ones? Have you read any of these books? Do you want to? I'd love to hear some recommendations for future books to read! 

P.S. Keep up with my book readying by following me on Goodreads!

Currently Reading (And Listening!)

I tend to read more than one book at a time. Sometimes it's because I start one book and get bored so I start another, but I wasn't actually bored enough to completely ditch the first book, so I read them both until I am so engrossed in each story that I cannot choose one to commit to so I just don't choose. Phew! All that being said, sometimes it's because I like to have different styles for different moods, or sometimes it's different types of books. Right now I am reading a physical book and listening to a different audiobook. The audiobook is what I read (listen to) while cooking, tidying, or painting my nails, while the physical book is what I read in bed right before turning out the light. Different forms for different circumstances.

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The book I am reading before bed right now is Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger. Andy Sachs is back in the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada and even though it's almost ten years after her time at Runway magazine, she just can't seem to get Miranda Priestly out of her life completely. I'm about a third of the way through this book and I am really enjoying it. The Devil Wears Prada was an enjoyable book and I really like the movie too, so I'm hoping this sequel turns out to be just as great.

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My audiobook of the moment is Tina Fey's Bossypants. I'm enjoying the humour, but I'm finding nothing can make me laugh quite as much as Mindy Kaling's audiobook. Nonetheless, I am realizing I really like audiobooks in place of music at times. If you have any suggestions for future books to listen to, please let me know!

What are you reading right now? I love learning about new books, so please share.

Book Review: Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me on Audible.com

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I recently finished listening to the audiobook Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling from Audible.com. Let me tell you: it is absolutely fantastic! 

I love that Mindy narrates it and adds her personality to the reading. I sort of felt like I was there as she was writing the book and going over sections, as if I were a close friend. She had me laughing out loud and sometimes choking a little if I was eating (note: I recommend not eating anything and especially not drinking anything whilst listening to her audiobook, for safety reasons ;) )

Throughout the book, the reader/listener quickly learns that Mindy is a pretty regular girl, with the typical concerns, not limited to the FOMO referenced in her title. She reveals her down-to-earth nature while making you wish she were your best friend and she doesn't shy away from sharing many embarrassing moments, which we all know is the surest way of making everyone feel like you're just like them.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and worked my way through it far too fast. Do you have any recommendations based on Mindy's book? I really want to listen to more audiobooks or read more books like this!

Book Review: Single Girl's To-Do List

Image via indigo.ca.

I recently completed The Single Girl's To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk and, I have to tell you, I enjoyed it SO much!!  I picked it up a pretty long time ago (I actually can't even place it in my memory), and it sat untouched on my bookshelf for far too long.  This was partly because of my hectic life the final semester of university and partly because I was somewhat worried that I had let the title and cover create something so exciting in my head for the book that it wouldn't be able to compare.  I am happy to report that this book definitely beat out any expectations I had created for it.

The Single Girl's To-Do List follows Rachel, a makeup artist in England, as she navigates her newly single life with her two best friends.  Out of their post-breakup bonding comes a list of things Rachel needs to do as a single girl, every single one of them completely for her.  

This book was exciting to read and it inspired me to really think about the goals I have in my life, recent and long term.  The list in this book is definitely on the fun, not so serious side, and it helped me to remember that while looking at my own goals.  Some of my items are the same as Rachel's, while some are very different; maybe sometime soon I'll share my list with you!

Have you read The Single Girl's To-Do List? What did you think? Have you read any of Lindsey Kelk's other books? Do you have a similar list? What would go on your list?

I would love to hear your comments and any similar book recommendations!

Kind of Like Belle

My dream is to have a library in my house.  Not one that consists of a couple bookcases in the corner of a room with a chair and a lamp nearby, but an actual room devoted to housing my wonderful collection (that I will most certainly have) of the most interesting of books, ranging from the classics that stir your thoughts to the mindless reads that you take on vacation for poolside page turning in Mexico.  It will be my retreat - scratch the huge bathtub that has technology so it never gets cold, I want a room full of books, a comfy chair, and maybe a fireplace too (this can be negotiated).

If this room were set up as a gift/surprise?  Even better.

Currently Reading: The Age of Innocence

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Recently I began reading The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.  I am not very far into it, but I will let you know how I like it!

I am so excited to be reading again.  It is just so difficult to enjoy reading for pleasure when I have classes that require excessive textbook and class notes reading (or, if I do allow myself to enjoy it, I read my books way too much and forget about schoolwork!).  I am starting a class on May 10, but having one class is much different than having five, so I think I will still be able to have time to read for enjoyment.

What are you currently reading?

Wishing of Summer

I know it's still awhile away,
but I can't keep myself from thinking about when classes and finals are finished.
(AKA - SUMMER!)
I'm so excited to be able to wear dresses and sandals
And to not need a jacket everytime I leave the house.
I'm excited to take Art History in May
And to get back to working my job full time.
But what I'm absolutely most excited for
Is to be able to read.
I keep myself from my books all semester long,
Knowing I could get lost in them.
But once summer comes I am free to read whatever book I choose.

The books that are up first:
- A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
- Are you a Jackie or a Marilyn? - Pamela Keogh
- The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
- Metamorphoses - Ovid
- Inferno - Dante
- What Would Audrey Do? - Pamela Keogh
- Shopaholic & Baby - Sohpie Kinsella

Good Read

I have just finished Brunonia Barry's the Lace Reader and I absolutely adored it. The way that she was able to tell the story from different perspectives, the way she used different methods to get the story out, and the surprising twist that came scarily close to the end that I was almost worried it would be a dull book without the needed twist. Timing in this book was everything and looking back I can see so much foreshadowing that I have already planned to read it again to see what aspects of the foreshadowing are slipping my mind. Amazing book!