It's Monday 6/30! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

Life

 I had another busy, hectic week, trying to get ahead in all my work so I can go on vacation for over a month! I also hosted our local chronic illness support meeting on Zoom. We had a mix of new members and those who've been a part of the group since the beginning, 15 years ago, (and everyone in between!) and had a great discussion.

The highlights of my week were time with our sons. Our younger son and his girlfriend came for dinner Wednesday. They live nearby, but we hadn't had some relaxed time together in a long time. It was good to see them and catch up on their lives. And this weekend, our older son came to visit from Long Island. His girlfriend had promised to accompany a friend to NYC's huge Pride parade, so she couldn't come along this time. We enjoyed a very relaxed weekend with our son. We've only seen him briefly at big family gatherings lately, so it was really nice to just have a quiet weekend together to talk and catch up. We also watched some of our old favorite TV shows together (NCIS and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), and he even had a chance to catch up with an old friend while he was home. It was great to spend time together!

We're still struggling with high heat and high humidity here, though thankfully, it's now in the 90's instead of 100's. I can't wait to head north with our camper! The summer flowers in our garden are fully in bloom now, thanks to all the sun and storms. I'm so glad we planted the brown-eyed Susans in May, and the tickseed keeps growing and spreading, too. All that bright color makes me happy! Oh, and I was shocked to see a few tiger lilies blooming on the edge of our yard; I thought the deer gobbled them all up decades ago.

 

__________

 On Video

Since my hiking video posted on Monday last week, I already shared that one, so just one additional video last week:

Friday Reads 6-27-25: Big Books I Love and A Big Book I'm Not Sure About - my brief weekly update of what I am reading and listening to. 

__________

 What We're Watching

Yellowstone - My husband and I are down to one last episode in the last season (5) of this excellent modern Western that has become a pop culture phenomenon since its first season in 2018. This last season has been a twisty one, and the last part (that audiences had to wait a long time for!) has been especially emotional, as a main character dies and the Dutton family is in danger of losing their beloved ranch, but the end of the second-to-last episode gave us hope that things might just work out in the end. If you still haven't watched it, we both highly recommend it. It's really got everything: great acting and writing, very twisty plot, loads of action and suspense, a lot of heart, plus drama, romance, and humor. And that stunningly beautiful scenery! You can read my full review and see a trailer at the link (no spoilers: trailer is from the first season). We also really enjoyed the spin-offs: 1883 is about the original Dutton family's perilous journey in a covered wagon to Montana (really outstanding single-season show) and 1923, which stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, that continues the Dutton family story. We enjoyed season 1 and will watch season 2 this summer. 

Have you seen this outstanding, cinematic show or any of its spin-offs? 

__________

 What We're Reading

 Remember that Big Book Summer runs until September 1, so there is still plenty of time to join the fun! Details at the link. 

 

Last night, I finished reading Bridge by Lauren Beukes, my third book in print for Big Book Summer. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! My husband and I have previously enjoyed two of her novels: Shining Girls, about a time-traveling serial killer, and Afterland, about the aftermath of a pandemic that killed 95% of the male population. Both were very good, but Bridge is definitely my new favorite. The main character, Bridget (the title has a double meaning), is grieving after her mother's death. Her mom struggled with epilepsy and recurring brain cancer since the age of 14, She used to bring Bridge, when she was just a child, along with her on some very strange adventures. Using something her mom called the "dreamworm," the two would temporarily inhabit other lives, where they were each themselves but different, and everything around them was different. Since then, Bridge's therapist has convinced her those were just dreams or fantasies, but while cleaning out her mom's house, Bridge discovers the dreamworm and her mother's journals, and she begins to realize there really are other realities that she can access. Bridge gets the idea that her mother is still alive in some other reality, so she goes hopping through parallel universes (and into other Bridgets, leaving them very confused and upset). Alternate realities? I'm in! This is one of those sci fi topics that I love to dive into (Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is another favorite of mine) because it is so fascinating and endlessly thought-provoking. But in addition, this novel has great in-depth characters (including a non-binary main character--perfect timing for Pride Month), plenty of plot twists, and thoughtful ethical questions. The suspense was so intense that I was constantly talking to (and yelling at!) the characters, much to my husband's amusement, and stayed up way too late every night reading. An outstanding novel in every way.

 

Today, I will be starting one of my biggest chunksters for Big Book Summer, The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. I have never read any Conroy books (though I saw the movie adaptation many years ago), and since I announced my plans for Big Book Summer back in May, this is the book in my stack that SO many people have told me is one of their favorites. I can't wait to dive in!

 

On audio, I am still listening to The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which was first published in 1880. It's about a despicable father and his three sons (by two different wives): Dmitri, Ivan, and Alexei. The book was a bit confusing at first (and would be in print, too) because each of the brothers has very long names but is also known by multiple other names (I guess like nicknames). So Dmitri is also Mitka or Mitya, and Alexei is also Alyosha, etc. The three sons were each brought up by servants in peasant homes, after their mothers died and their father deserted them. Now, they are 28, 24, and 20, and they've each taken very different paths in life. Dmitri kind of takes after his father (though he seems to have more of a conscience) and is very impulsive, Ivan is well-educated and intellectual, and Alexei has been living in the monastery for the past year and wants to become a monk. There are some very introspective, thought-provoking passages (and whole chapters) about religion, the meaning of God, how humanity uses its "gift" of free will, separation of church and state, and more. This is not an audio where I can tune out for a while! Other chapters are fast-paced and even funny, with farcical scenes involving a love triangle (actually more of a hexagon!) or fights among the family members. Many of the characters are very melodramatic. If you saw my Friday Reads video from a few days ago, the book was really dragging for me, and I was considering giving up on it. But now, it's taken (another) turn, and one of the characters has been wrongly accused of murder and has clearly been set up. The pace has rapidly picked up, and with the added suspense and tension, I will definitely finish it. I think I'm about 2/3 of the way through it.

 

My husband, Ken, is taking a break from Big Book Summer to enjoy a shorter, fast-paced palate cleanser novel: Wrecked by Joe Ide. I bought him the first book in this series a few years ago, and he loved it. I just gave him this one for Father's Day, so he was eager to jump back into this world.

 

 Among the many things I was able to catch up on with my son, 30, this weekend was what he's been reading. He's been rereading the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, an old favorite of his, in preparation for the latest book (Beyond the Shadows). He finished book 1, The Way of Shadows, and then couldn't find his copy of book 2, The Shadow's Way! He thought it might be here at home (it wasn't), so in between, he's now reading the latest novel in the Arcane Ascension series by Andrew Rowe, book 6, A Brief History of Chronomancy. This is another favorite series of his. And we had a great discussion about alternate realities and parallel universes this weekend! He recommended another book to me in that arena.

 __________

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on:

Facebook on my blog's page

Instagram

Threads 

Twitter 

 

  What are you and your family reading this week?   

It's Monday 6/23! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

Life

 The official start of summer hit with a bang. It's going up to 100 today and tomorrow, and our humidity is extremely high, too. My husband and I got outside Saturday morning "before it got too hot"(ha!) to finish weeding and spreading mulch. It was already too hot, and we need more mulch, but it was a good start toward getting our gardens in good shape so they're not complete jungles when we return from our upcoming road trip. Our son will be watching the house, mowing the lawn, etc., but he shouldn't need to weed.

 

Then we stayed inside for the rest of the weekend! We cleaned our upstairs, paid bills, and finally finished booking the last few campground (and one hotel night) reservations for our trip - yay! I even booked a boat tour in Glacier National Park that a friend told us about. It's nice to be done with logistics so we can start thinking about fun! Good friends we've known for 34 years came over for dinner Saturday night, and it was so great to see them and catch up. We really enjoy their company. She's been taking flower arranging classes at our local Longwood Gardens, and she's gotten really good at it. She brought us this gorgeous display of tropical flowers, filled with vibrant summer colors. 

 

Otherwise last week, I worked in the garden, ran errands, had my annual eye exam (I love my kind eye doctor), and squeezed in a short hike on the way home. I also mostly finished painting my Little Free Library, which will go up when we get back from our trip.

I'd love YOUR input! Should I leave it as is, with bright solid colors on each side? Or continue with my original plan to add some simple designs (polka dots, stripes, flowers) to the sides and the back? (Keeping in mind my art skills are about child-level!) 

Let me know what you think because I can't decide!

__________

 On Video

 Are TBRs Fun or Not? A Conversation and Book Tag - Another Booktuber started this interesting conversation, and I joined in, explaining my own feelings about to-be-read lists, piles, and plans and whether they add to the fun of reading or make it stressful. How do YOU feel about TBRs?

Friday Reads 6-20-25: Big Book Summer and June on the Range - My brief weekly recap of what we are reading and listening to.

2-Minute Review of Streets of Laredo - In this 2-minute Short, I sum up my thoughts on this sequel to Lonesome Dove (spoiler: I loved it just as much!) 

Hiking at Ashland Nature Center, Delaware, with Sara of Hiking Outdoor Family Channel - This was SO fun! One of my favorite outdoor/nature Youtubers met up with me at my local nature center, so I could show her around this beautiful place. This brief video includes the highlights of our walk, with lots of peaceful nature footage (turn up the volume and listen to that birdsong!).

 

__________

 What We're Watching

 

The Handmaid's Tale - Last night, my husband and I watched the last episode of this stunning TV show that we both agree is one of the best shows we've ever watched. Everything about it is outstanding: the cast & acting, the writing, the cinematography, and the plot twists. It takes everything that was so engrossing and powerful about the book and expands on it. This last season was just as good as the first five, and it was a satisfying and hopeful, though realistic, ending. If you still haven't seen this incredible show, give it a try! My reviews (and a trailer for the TV show) at the links. 

__________

 What We're Reading

  Remember that Big Book Summer runs until September 1, so there is still plenty of time to join the fun! Details at the link.

 

 I finished reading Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry for both Big Book Summer and June on the Range (a Booktube event for reading Westerns), and I loved being back in this world with this amazing writer! This is the sequel (actually, the fourth book in a quartet) to Lonesome Dove, which I read last June and ended up being my favorite book of the year. To avoid spoilers of that book, I can't tell you which characters reappear here, but there are a few characters from Lonesome Dove, plus some intriguing new characters. Here, there are two really horrible, violent men murdering innocent people across the West, with only a ragtag team of old cowboys (plus a Brooklyn accountant!) to stop them. McMurtry is an outstanding writer, with complex characters you come to care about, twisty plot lines, emotional depth, and a sense of humor. It's also a gripping story that I hated to set down at night. One thing that surprised me in Lonesome Dove and is even more true here is that there are complex, interesting female characters, too, who are just as strong and brave (if not more so!) than the men. They're the real heroes of this story. I absolutely loved it and am definitely interested in reading the 2 prequels to Lonesome Dove ... and everything else McMurtry has written!

 

Now, I am reading a "short" Big Book (just over 400 pages) as a palate cleanser before my next big chunkster: Bridge by Lauren Beukes. My husband and I have previously enjoyed two of her novels: Shining Girls, about a time-traveling serial killer, and Afterland, about the aftermath of a pandemic that killed 95% of the male population. Both were very good, but I'm already thinking Bridge might end up being my favorite. The main character, Bridget (the title has a double meaning), is grieving after her mother's death. Her mom struggled with recurring brain cancer since the age of 14 and brought Bridge, when she was just a child, along with her on some very strange adventures. Using something her mom called the "dreamworm," the two would temporarily inhabit other lives, where they were each themselves but different, and everything around them was different. Since then, Bridge's therapist has convinced her those were just dreams or fantasies, but while cleaning out her mom's house, Bridge discovers the dreamworm and begins to realize there really are other realities that she can access. Alternate realities? I'm in! This is one of those sci fi topics that I love to dive into (Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is a favorite of mine), and I am thoroughly enjoying this novel so far.

 

On audio, I am still listening to The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which was first published in 1880. It's about a despicable father and his three sons (by two different wives): Dmitri, Ivan, and Alexei. The book was a bit confusing at first (and would be in print, too) because each of the brothers is also known by multiple other names (I guess like nicknames). So Dmitri is also Mitka, and Alexei is also Alyosha, etc. The three sons were each brought up by servants in peasant homes, after their mothers died and their father deserted them. Now, they are 28, 24, and 20, and they've each taken very different paths in life. There are some very introspective, thought-provoking passages (and whole chapters) about religion, the meaning of God, how humanity uses its "gift" of free will, separation of church and state, and more. This is not an audio where I can tune out for a while! Other chapters are fast-paced and even funny, with farcical scenes involving a love triangle (actually more of a pentagon!) or fights among the family members. In contrast to Larry McMurtry's novels, the women characters here were obviously written by a man and all tend to be quite melodramatic! It's all very interesting and complex so far, and I'm curious to see where it is all leading. Someone told me last week that Crime and Punishment would have been a better place to start with Dostoevsky because it has a more straightforward, linear plotline with one main character. Oh, well.

 

My husband, Ken, has been reading his first Big Book of the summer (yes, he participates, too!), Hunter by Tana French. She's one of our favorite authors, and he loves this new series of hers (book 1 was The Searcher and is now on my side of the to-be-read bookcase). He may have finished this yesterday. We normally read together before bed, but last night, he was busy cheering on his hometeam, Oklahoma Thunder, to NBA victory! He'll have more reading time now that the season is over!

 

 Our son, 30, is still rereading the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, an old favorite of his, in preparation for the latest book (Beyond the Shadows). So, he's rereading book 1, The Way of Shadows, and will then reread book 2, The Shadow's Way. He and his girlfriend are coming to visit this weekend - yay!

 __________

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on:

Facebook on my blog's page

Instagram

Threads 

Twitter 

  What are you and your family reading this week?