It's Monday 12/22! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

 Life

Well, life around here has been pretty crazy. We're dealing with some very difficult stuff at our house, so the last two weeks have been characterized by a lot of stress and anxiety. All things considered, we're doing OK and in better spirits this week.

And, no matter what else is going on, Christmas is in 3 days! Eek! I got my last pile of cards out this morning and started (yes, just started) wrapping gifts. We enjoyed decorating our Christmas tree with our younger son and his girlfriend two weekends ago.

 

And, we got some much-needed happy news this weekend: our younger son proposed to his girlfriend during a trip to Pittsburgh! We are absolutely thrilled, and certainly, we all needed an extra reason to celebrate right now. They've been together a long time, she is wonderful, and we couldn't have picked a better life partner for him. And we love our in-laws-to-be, too!

 

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 On Video

 

My #1 Books of the Year for the Past 16 Years, in Both Fiction & Nonfiction - 37 Outstanding Books! I've been dying to share this very special video with you. I used this blog to look back over the past 16 years (since I started doing an end-of-the-year post) and make this list. Some books are still among my all-time favorites and some I had completely forgotten about! Overall, it's a great list of amazing fiction and nonfiction books. 

Reading in the Dark Tag - a quick, fun tag with questions about reading in the dark, books you were in the dark about, and books that enlightened! 

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 What We're Reading

 

I finished reading Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a book I've been hearing rave reviews of for several years. The author, a member of the indigenous Potawatomi Nation, is also a biologist, so she weaves together (see what I did there?) scientific information about plants, stories from her own life, and indigenous stories, myths, and uses for plants.She also addresses damage that has been done to the environment and small steps taking place to repair that danage. It's beautifully written, entertaining, and engrossing. I loved the whole tone of the book, focused on the indigenous ways of interacting with the natural world in a respectful and reciprocating way. I enjoyed it very much, especially since she has lived much of her life in upstate New York, close to where I'm from (she also spends some time in the Pacific Northwest). She has a TED Talk on the Honorable Harvest, which is a recurrent theme throughout the book. 

 

Next up, dealing with some difficult news, I needed something fast-paced, gripping, and escapist. From my shelves, I chose The Clockwork Cathedral by Heather Blackwood, a Christmas gift from my husband. It's a time travel story set in New Orleans. If you know me at all from my blog or videos, you know that's the sweet spot for me, what I consider a comfort read. Felicia, a medical student at Tulane gets sent back in time to 1857 New Orleans and struggles to find a way to get back to her own time. It was just what I needed! Suspenseful, compelling, and intriguing. I asked my husband for book #2 in the series for Christmas.

 

I am now reading You Only Call When You're in Trouble by Stephen McCauley, a beloved author I met at Booktopia in 2018 after reviewing his excellent novel, My Ex-Life, and interviewing him for Shelf Awareness.  I knew Stephen was good for an engaging story filled with warmth and humanity and plenty of wit. This one is about a 63-year-old architect, struggling with his own life, who is trying to help his beloved niece and chaotic sister with their problems. It's great so far!

 

I finished listening to The Black Wolf by Louise Penny, the 20th book in her Three Pines mystery series and a sequel to last year's book, The Grey Wolf (I wrote a mini review in this post). Inspector Armand Gamache and his team discover that the stunning, sinister plot they uncovered in that first book was just the beginning (I'm avoiding spoilers!). As always, it was gripping and immersive. I love listening to her compelling mysteries on audio. 

 

Now, I am listening to O Pioneers by Willa Cather on audio, the first of her prairie books, about a family of Swedish immigrants trying to carve out a life on the harsh Nebraska prairie in the early 1900's. It's excellent so far.

 

My husband is reading Never Flinch  by Stephen King, the next book in the Holly Gibney mystery series, though he hasn't been reading much. It's football (and now basketball) season!

 

Our son, 31, finally got back to reading after a month's break. He is reading Elantris by Brandon Sandserson, a favorite author. He said this was Sanderson's first novel.

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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.

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  What are you and your family reading this week?