I’m taking a Booktube watching break/Instagram break and a few days in, it’s already been nice. I’ve mostly been listening to the birds on my deck early in the morning. Starlings are loud and strange sounding birds. 🤣 Recently, I got to hear two owls (Barred?) chattering because I went out there at 4:00 am. I did get in the Agatha Christie audiobook of Dumb Witness, Poirot and Hastings make me laugh! 😂 I also got the audiobook Ruby Holler in, but we’ll see if I get to it. I decided to soft quit Calculated, my last audiobook, because I have to be in the right mood for revenge stories. I do like the main female character, though, and setting, so I will probably finish it.
Watching ♥️🌿~ my hubby, three younger kids, and I traveled to see the biggest steam train recently. It was used during WWII to haul big loads over Utah mountains?! We had a fun Tookish adventure together! 😅♥️ I read almost a whole book there and back! 😂 Otherwise, I haven’t been watching much? I hope to watch the movie ‘Summer of Monkeys’ with my kids as we are almost finished with the book. 🥰♥️
Reading ♥️🌿~ I talk nonstop here 😂😏 about my reading, but I’m currently most enjoying The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane, What you are looking for is in the library, and The Bride of Fallen Stars is intriguing me on my Kindle.
Noticing ♥️🌿~ I’m mostly noticing flowers, trees, and seedlings. 🌱 🥰 It’s a wonderful time of year!
What are you listening to, watching, reading, noticing? ♥️🌿~
Reading and journaling bring me so much joy 🥹 so the marriage of the two is a double dose! I don’t really plan, but just go with whatever is inspiring me in my sticker/washi stash. I had a kind of slow start to my reading in the beginning of May, my reading mood was changing, had some meh/ok-ish reads at the start. I pretty much hated Date with Danger! 🤣 The end of the month reading though was amazing! I loved all the Middle Grade reads for a small readathon on Booktube called Middle Grade May! Especially, Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave and its sequel, Tower of the Five Orders by Deron R. Hicks. I really enjoyed the Christian historical light fantasy, The Huntress, also. Honorable mention goes to The Little House in the Highlands which is based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s ancestors. It was a slow start but SO cute! I made some good progress on my newest bingo boards I printed off from Pinterest, also. Georgette Heyer is hit or miss for me, but I loved two of her Regency romances, Arabella and Sylvester. Overall, a great reading month.
Now that summer is close at hand, my TBR stacks are exploding!
Here is what I’m currently finishing on my Kindle ‘stack’! My reading mood is pretty light as we have a heavy, busier season with remodeling:
A bit slow? May try the next in series? I got this one for Mother’s Day, begins a teeny bit draggy, but cute, light fantasy middle grade about Bee, who can bake a wee bit of feelings into her baked goods. I love the tulip bulb smuggling pirates and the second half has been fantastic! Sequel to a wonderful children’s mystery story about a brother and sister saving their father’s place in the family’s publishing company! (The Secret of Shakespeare’s Grave) This one has Shakespeare, Marlowe, other bookish nods, hidden messages, and just a lot of delight! I enjoyed the first, the best, but this one is great, too.
I think my mood? is still a bit on the lighter side but shifting to historical fiction, especially American Revolution possibilities to honor the 250th birthday this year.
Lighter maybes on my stack!
A Booktuber I like to watch wrote this and I want to dive in! I’ve tried about 10% and I like her writing style!Sign me up for anything lighthouse! It’s one of my reading buzzwords. Do you have any favorite lighthouse fiction recommendations? I love this cover and can’t wait to try it! Banned books and ancient Korean Pride & Prejudice retelling? Yes, please. I’ve enjoyed some of Hur’s historical fiction in the past. I’ve heard great things about this, like Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None vibes?
A few historical fiction I’d like to try!
Fictionalization of Deborah Samson’s story. A woman who joined the Patriot army in disguise during American Revolution. Boston Tea Party and modern day, hard-hitting topics in a dual timeline with thread woven between eras.
There’s a lot more in my stack, but these are catching my eye! Are you a mood reader or make a list and stick to it reader? Do you read more than one book at a time?
I’ve been mainly listening to two audiobooks when on walks or cooking.
I don’t LOVE revenge stories, but this is very creative so far! Chinese American Math genius is rescued from prison to save a failing company. Can she get revenge on the woman who put her in prison?Reading the new book out from Bright Eating founder with my friends.
I’ve also listened to a little Booktube and music. I heard an Oriole singing above us when my little boys, daughter’s finance and I where sitting at the campfire. It was beautiful!
•watching•
Spring burst out around us! It’s glorious! My daughter and her relationship! They were able to visit Mother’s Day weekend and it was so good to visit.
•reading•
We are finishing up a lot of our school books as we need to be done early this year! My two little boys and I are almost finished with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and we laughed so hard at the preachy Ompaloompa songs. 😂 I just finished a raw, realistic historical fiction about a woman’s journey to true faith as she struggles to survive on the Dakota prairies. Spring for Susannah is my second Catherine Richmond and it won’t be my last.
•noticing•
I am noticing how much we are asked to trust and let go of as Christ-followers, women, mothers, sisters, and friends! I find myself drowning if I hold on too tight and try to control out of fear. I’m noticing I need to choose to surrender to the Lord.
How about you? What are you listening to, watching, reading, and noticing?
I’m trying to keep going with my 100 Day Project even though my posts aren’t always perfectly consecutive! Life gets life-y! Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts with me on this journey!
Happy Thursday! I ‘tried’ to group these by main genre topic. ♥️ I’m hoping to add more for reference! A few of these don’t regularly update, but there is a TREASURE TROVE of back posts!
I don’t remember when I first encountered the wonderful world of Booktube, but it was pre-covid and I’ve been happily watching ever since! If you aren’t sure what it is, Booktube is a corner of YouTube that focuses on reading and talking about reading! 😅 I also have found AMAZING reading journalers which is like a sandwich of my two favorite hobbies ever! There are YouTubers for EVERY hobby! Flosstubers, Gardentubers, Cookingtubers! 😍😅♥️ Overall, I’ve found a small group of people in the Booktube world who are sooo friendly, welcoming, and as passionate about books and reading as I am! As with anything, you have to weed out a few thorns and balance the time spent, but this has been an enriching part of my life. Today I thought I’d share a few of my current favs! As you know 😉I read a wide variety of random things, so I’m going to share my Eclectic Booktuber favorites! I have many MORE, I love, but these are my jam currently.
Do you have a niche YouTube corner? A hobby that you like learning about on YouTube!? I’d love to hear! Maybe I will do another of these lists later for my general favorite Booktubers!
From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Psalm 61: 2-4, NLT
What’s been inspiring me? ♥️🌿
•listening to•♥️🌿
BTS’ new ‘Arirang’ album. 💿 A bit different than what I expected but it’s growing on me. I don’t love lots of language or overly sexual themes, but there’s enough deeper lines/ideas that got me thinking. Hope to write a few of my own poems based on some of the lyrics.
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
I’ve also started the audiobook of Quarter Labyrinth by Victoria McCombs on the recommendation of a friend! It’s included free with Audible currently! I really hope our weather will warm up a bit so I can get outside walking and listening. 📚🎧
•reading•♥️🌿
I always have a healthy stack 😏🤪 of things I’m dipping into! I’ve started my two buddy reads and I’m currently really enjoying slowly rereading my favorite Victorian novel of all time, Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. It’s almost an annual reread for me. My 14 yo is listening to it for the first time and enjoying it! I’ve also been craving a reread of The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. It’s been awhile and it’s a perfect spring read.
If only I had this gorgeous vintage copy! 😍♥️🌿
I’ve also been enjoying the Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz about a 14 yo spy with M16. The fifth? one made me definitely warm up more to Alex who seemed a bit cold/distant at first. They are so adventurous and thrilling. Definitely super violent, but compelling. I also just dove back into Donna Leon’s Commasario Brunetti’s police series. She writes Venice and Brunetti’s family life SO well, that I’ve just fallen in love with Guido as a police detective. The crimes are gritty and disturbing, so if you don’t like police procedural type detective novels, these may not be for you. I feel so immersed in Venice and his friendships and his family that I’ve come to love them! They are a fast, great Kindle read that I get through the library!
This one ☝️ was 5 star 🌟 for me!
•watching•♥️🌿
I really haven’t watched much recently as I took a Booktube break for the Lenten season. I did put on hold at the library the first Season of Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman 🤪🤣 to see if I can get my hubby to watch with me during the chilly, spring nights.
•noticing• ♥️🌿
How cute my little guys hands are! He has bad dry skin in the winter and we’ve been rubbing Aloe Vera into them each night. He’s such a blessing. 🥹♥️🌿
I’ve really been noticing and remembering little tidbits from this lovely collection of quotes!
“God has not called me to be successful, He has called me to be faithful. When we stand before God, results are not important. Faithfulness is what matters.”
•Mother Teresa•
Happy Easter, my friends! 🩵💜🩵
How ‘bout you? What are you listening to, reading, watching, noticing? ♥️🌿📚 I’d love to hear! ~
I was struck and inspired by these adorable, amazingly crafted children’s shoes on a flea market date with my hubby. There were teeny nails on the soles. 🥹🥰 The craftsmanship was astounding and frankly a bit convicting. Reminds me of the care that the artisans in the Old Testament put into creating the Temple and everything in it!
Hello, Dear Heart 💜 ♥️🖤💗 ~
How are you? The days of advent are winding up to the happiest birthday we could ever wish to celebrate and remember. Come, sweet Jesus, come. I’ve some catching up to do here and prayerfully, I will do that this long weekend. I’ve been thinking about feasting.
•💘what are you feasting on?💘 what is feeding you?•
~•How are you doing mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and creatively?•~
I know this is a lot to consider, but more than ever, I feel a pull to receive all that the Lord has for me as a whole person. Our world is so fragmented and fractured. It demands of us a lot of ‘black & white’ type living, choices, ‘left or right’ thinking and that is just not human reality. We are a living, breathing human collages, sewn together with so many experiences, pieces, and ephemeral bits. We are intricate masterpieces! I’m asking for clarity from the Lord as I move into this next year about who I am as a daughter of God.
Winter abounds in wonder. Wonder is the dawn, after a snowfall, when the world is quelled by a quiet like no other quiet. When icy mosaics are etched on the panes of the window. When the red bird of winter -hope perched on a bough-shatters the washed-out tableau. Wonder is the soul burrowing into the darkness, kindling the flame deep within.
Barbara Mahany
The Stillness of Winter, p. 8
I’m SO excited about this book as winter tends to be a hard, dry season for me in many ways.
I’m still praying over these areas and trying to focus my heart and mind on gazing fully on Jesus. I want to be wholly His and feasting on His Truth. I love 💕 discovering new ideas and inspiration, so I thought it would be fun to link some things that have recently encouraged me and are feeding me. I don’t necessarily love/agree with everything from all of these creators, but still can pull enough from them to challenge and spur myself on. I will give a brief overview of where I think my own journey is in each of these areas:
Mentally ~
Honestly, I’m still learning about resting in the Lord. Poetry, the Psalms, the Gospels, and instrumental music soundtracks have really helped. Covid era junk, hard relationships, and politics have messed with my anxiety a bit. The winter cold and darkness are difficult for me, but I’ve felt a real inner breakthrough this year. It’s slow and sure. Thanks be to God. Saying ‘no’ to certain things {regular news and too much social media, for example} and ‘yes’, to gentle things that are still a bit outside of my comfort zone, have help me think a bit deeper, yet led me away from the sleepless, racing brain. It’s finding the right things to challenge me, yet not contribute to worry or fear.
I’ve felt a bit dry, so praying about some ways to refresh and refocus in the new year. I recently read through The Gospels quickly and was so filled and blessed. One of my winter goals is to read Psalms from the paraphrase, The Message by Eugene Peterson. I find different translations or word studies really help. I hope to look at place names closer in the Bible in 2025, as I love names and the process of naming. Do you have any ideas or things that have helped you with your spiritual life? I really would love to get back to prayer walks and going to nature spots intentionally for focusing on the Lord, but need to get some new snow pants soon. I’m so cold! 😅 {you can call me wimp, it’s ok 😂}
Sophie, our cat, is SUCH a lovely beastie…so thankful for her 🥹😅♥️
Emotionally ~
This is tied into all of the above and other categories, but honestly, less Instagram, YouTube, Patreon, and newsfeeds has really made a difference for me. I miss some of the lovely people and STUFF I was involved with online {Voxer groups, Booktube, Zoom meetups, Marco Polo etc}, BUT I know that at this time, they got out of control after covid. I felt fractured between all that I have here in my ‘real’ life and the wonderful, but mistimed relationships online. So much online is fed by FOMO, “the fear of missing out”, and everything is hyped months in advance. That’s not bad, necessarily, like Walmart putting up Christmas stuff around Halloween. 😳🤪😏😒 I’m finding however, for my season of life and personality, prolonged exposure to this racing FOMO ruins me.
Things Helping Emotionally ~
Getting into nature! My local friend and I took our kids on some nature rambles this autumn and it was WONDERFUL. We talked books , ideas, and life, while enjoying the outdoors. We have plans for an outing in January.
Journaling to process. I’m finding a small amount goes a long way. Even making lists has really been helpful. Gratitude lists, prayer lists, hardship lists, things I’ve noticed lists, the list 😏 is endless!
Taking long breaks from online things if I catch myself getting stressed or overwhelmed by them. Life is too short for stress from random social media.
Analog recording of life and reading. I still love and enjoy online friendships and especially the friends I’ve made in the reading community, but pulling out of things like Goodreads/Storygraph/ some Booktube has really helped settle my emotions. These things aren’t bad and I’ve enjoyed them in other seasons, but for me, currently, I needed to cut and limit them.
Reading light and fluffy things in-between more challenging reads. I try not to have too heavy a ‘diet’ of marshmallow reading, but at times of extra stress, light reading is helpful.
Physically ~
This is a hard area for me to talk about honestly. I’ve always struggled with my self image, weight, and moderation. Even in highschool when I was an athlete and very ‘healthy’ on the outside. Ever since I’ve been having babies and been more sedentary, I’ve struggled with my weight. I’ve been on multiple diets, eating plans, exercise regimens, etc, etc, etc. During 2020, I lost a significant amount of weight in a highly structured program {Bright Line Eating} and was in a loving support group with some other strong, Christian women. We are all Charlotte Mason home educators and even met on annual retreats. These women are amazing, loving people! In late 2022/early ‘23, I found myself struggling with this and stopping the program. I really haven’t found a balance since then. One interesting thing, though, has been that my sleep has always been touchy and now that I’m not low-carb currently, it’s been significantly better. Go figure. Extreme low carb, I’ve been reading about, can mess with sleep. Good sleep is something that heavily contributes to ALL these areas!! All this to say is that, I’ve really been focusing on my internal battles through prayer 🙏🏻. I feel like that’s something I’ve never fully dealt with, no matter how well I do with the externals. I still am floundering and am not where I’d like to be health-wise. I’m trusting that some of the anxiety, 😟, self-loathing, and bad cycles are being worked though in a better way. Will you pray for me? Also that I know when enough is enough? Just finding where I need to be with my faith and in my body, for me. Not falling for the cultural definitions of worth, health, or value, but looking at myself through God’s lens. I also feel humbled over and over again. This is a pride area. Unfortunately, one gets a lot of attention and validation when one looks well and “with it” on the outside, even if I’m a tomb full of dead man’s bones on the inside. I want to be wholly Jesus’, inside and out. I want to walk in obedience to His guidance for me.
I don’t have anything currently that’s 💯 percent inspiring me currently right now in this area. I feel a bit fragile and burnt out. I have read a little by Geneen Roth lately and I’m thinking about it. Thanks for sticking with 🤪that long rant
The kids decorate the tree now. My work is finished. 😂♥️🎄
Creatively ~
Last but not least, I’m sooooo excited and inspired to find that in some ways, I’m settling into what I love to create and what inspires me in my life. I’m a Gatherer of Fragments. The Recycler of Remnants! I absolutely love things made of pieces. Stained glass, mosaics, collages, poems, ephemera, journals, photographs, and quilts. What do you love? What absolutely inspires you?
The overly simplistic magazine Bella Grace! I just love its sweetness. I got a subscription for Christmas. 🥰
The old Disney version of 101 Dalmatians. Roger’s commitment to his music and Cruella is my favorite villain. She shows me what selfishness looks like. She makes me laugh at how odious self-centeredness can become!
The Ben Stiller version of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Soooooo inspiring on SO many levels.
Favorites of mine! ♥️ my children don’t like the film. 😂
There is so much to see-things that tell of His love and grace; things that show His Presence;the treasures of His Book. There is no limit to what we shall see except the limit of our own power to see. “Open Thou mine eyes” is a prayer for us all.
And then listen. There is much to hear. What did God say to me this morning in what I read in His Book, in what I heard from others who love Him, in what I heard deep in my heart, through something He caused me to recall? Whatever it was, let me take time to “comprehend” it, hold it fast, and live in the light of it to-day.
Amy Carmichael
Edges of His Ways, p. 174
💗🥰How about you? How are you doing in these areas? Do you take time to evaluate things? How are you feeding yourself ? ♥️
What is your jam or ‘poetry of life’ currently? A little something bringing you joy and a pause during this can-be-hectic time of year?
~Magazine dates with myself. I take a little cash and go buy a magazine and usually sit by a nature spot (in my car currently 🥶, of course! ) to peruse it. I love the quiet, the pause, and the new freshness of something to look forward to. It’s a wonderful time of contemplation and prayer! 🙏🏻
~Scriptures/poetry/prayer/journaling…my morning routine is such a lovely time to contemplate and set myself on Jesus for the day. A few words of poetry or devotionals plus Scripture under a cozy blanket, mug of coffee, and fairy lights are crucial as I love on/survive 😅the relationships in my life. I journal my way through it all. My favorite poetry currently is Ted Hughes’ Seasons Songs and my friend, Kim’s poetry, not to mention her photography is pure poetry, too. ❣️I have a few new collections I want for Christmas.
Can you spot the kitty cat? 🐈 😂✨New Christmas mug I found for $3! Yay! 😀
~ Reading is always my jam! 💗 Here is a list of some of my autumn reading favorites (September-October-November) with a little snippet to snap review. These are all perfect for curling up with this winter. Something for everyone. I wasn’t able to film a YouTube recap, so I’m wrapping it up here!
Witches by Roald Dahl (sweet, grotesquely funny story of little boy and grandmother who battle evil together!)
Apple Boughby Noel Streatfield (delightful story of the oldest daughter in an extremely artistic family who is finding her place. This was beautiful and deep!)
Kiki’s Delivery Serviceby Eiko Kandano (sweet, comforting, cozy coming of age fantasy story.)
The Language of Spellsby Garrit Weyr (deep story following a family and a dragon through both World Wars – so lovely and thoughtful.)
Thimble Summerby Elizabeth Enright (gorgeous farm family story with beautiful writing!)
The Grey Womanby Elizabeth Gaskell (short, atmospheric story. Ending was a bit rushed, but accessible Victorian literature at its best.)
The Chantry Houseby Charlotte Mary Yonge (longer Victorian literature with a side of ghost. I really enjoyed this one!)
The LostHeiress by Roseann’s M. White (lovely, clean historical romance that had a mysterious twist to it. I really enjoyed this one!)
An Enchantment of Ravensby Margaret Rogerson (amazingly written, gorgeous atmospheric fantasy story with deep themes of the emptiness of immortality and more. Romance wasn’t for me, but overall, I loved this.)
Honey for a Women’s Heartby Gladys M. Hunt (a favorite nonfiction reread that was just what I needed to inspire my reading and my home educating!)
Sylvia’s Loversby Elizabeth Gaskell (gloriously written, heartfelt, heart wrenching story set in an English coastal, whaling village. I’ll read anything Gaskell wrote! She’s my favorite Victorian writer.)
The Mirror VisitorSeries by Christelle Dabos (translated from French – fantasy reread that I love for its beautiful, intriguing setting and main character, Ophelia’s revelations about how we see ourselves. The first two books are my favorites.)
Conscious Creativityby Philippe Stanton (a gorgeous photographer’s art philosophy, prompts, inspiration, and ramblings. So inspiring!)
Amish Quilt Shop Seriesby Isabella Alan (simple and cozy mysteries. When I’m exhausted and need of something light, I enjoy a few cozy, clean mystery authors.)
Full Disclosureby Dee Henderson (Police Detective fiction. This was unique in that Ann, the main investigator was very introverted. A little unrealistic, but I really identified with a lot of her internal processing.)
Jane of Lantern Hillby L.M. Montgomery (I’ve read this multiple times, but this reread was with my four younger children and we all had such a lovely time together. Even my 5 yo listened pretty well!)
Maisie Dobbs Seriesby Jacqueline Winspear (#4 & #5 in this long series of a female private English investigator in the interwar period. I disliked #3 , so was so glad to enjoy these two! Highly recommend the series!)
Chaliceby Robin McKinley (lovely, elemental magic fantasy that enchanted me. Can’t really explain why. A bit darker fantasy, fyi.)
Deerbrookby Harriet Martineau(this was an online buddy read and had some convoluted parts and unloveable characters. However, the philosophical parts were intriguing and the nature writing was amazing. The conversations with my friends made it an interesting read!)
Library 📚 picture book stack! ❣️
~ Walking and nature drives are so wonderful when I take the time. It’s a bit cold for me, but I’m always so rewarded. My hubby is very willing to take back roads and I’m so grateful we live in a beautiful area.
Do you find yourself returning to old favorites and habits in times of stress and upheaval? Sometimes, for me, this isn’t a good thing, because I have to work very hard to make good choices in a few areas where I’m prone to excess. However, books, music, and nature or domestic detail photography all have their place in a kind of “on-the-spot therapy” for me. I am definitely a rereader especially if a book encapsulates a certain ‘feeling’ I’m after or setting I love.
Poetry that I return to again and again!Wild, windy days and whipping yellow
I recently pulled off my shelf a favorite reread series that’s so interesting that I got immediately sucked in all over again. I was reminded how much I love rereading, because so much more can be caught and different things highlighted. The Mirror Visitor Series isn’t perfect, but it has so many interesting characters and so many ideas to think on, I just love it. I was again reminded that it’s not always good for me to rush reading or be trying to keep up with all the new stuff. One big downside to Bookstagram and Booktube. Poetry, too, is something I absolutely have favorites of, I’m so rewarded and surprised as I cracked open the pages and take a deep drink all over again.
I don’t own a PB copy of the last book, The Stormof Echoes yet, can’t wait to collect it for the gorgeous cover alone. My favorites are the first two, by far, but they are all so immersive. Josh Garrels oldie, but goodie
I’m very eclectic in my reading, listening, and watching tastes. I like quirky, kind of off-the-beaten-track things with a side of classic. I’ve noticed a shift lately back to my old Josh Garrels listening, instrumental BTS (my one and ever only K-pop fandom), a craving for films like Sound of Music, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Babette’s Feast. I watched a few episodes of Over the Garden Wall with my kids the other day. It’s a bit toooo creepy for us, but some of it is interesting and has such a gorgeous atmosphere. How about you? What do you gravitate towards when life is feeling weighty?
Two reread favorites 🥹♥️Tree gazing and listening to…what are they whispering? Hello light, my old friend.
How ‘bout you? What are some healthy ways you refresh yourself? Do you need something new and different? Or do you return to your comfortable, hole-y sweater of inspiration? It goes without saying, that the Holy Bible is super comforting to me because it shows that there is nothing new under the sun. We are all so flawed. I need deep gulps of Jesus.♥️ I definitely occasionally need a ‘Tookish’ adventure to get me out of a funk, but generally, returning to my old Baggins favorites and home comforts blesses me immensely. What richness we’ve been given! ☺️♥️🕸️🕷️🌿🍂🍁🍄🌾
The Marble Faun is American, but the right time period. It was a recommendation from Jennifer Brooks, a favorite Booktuber that unexpectedly passed away this year. 😞 I’m reading a Christina Rossetti poem each day and buddy reading on Voxer Sylvia’s Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell. I found a Librivox audio version which has different readers for each chapter (not my favorite), but there is difficult colloquial language that the readers are better at than me. Deerbrook is being put on hold so I can buddy read it with an online friend later this year. I have so many Trollope books to choose from, but I’d love to pick up Barchester Towers sooner than later. This is the group read and I have it on my kindle…I didn’t love-love Lady Audley’s Secret, but I liked it enough to give another Braddon a try.Nicholas Nickleby by Mr. Dickens I started in September and I’m listening while following along. It’s hilarious in the midst of Dickensian misery. 😂 I’m really enjoying it! Creepy tales from Mrs. Gaskell that I’ve wanted to try! I have these in my Kindle.Chantry House by Charlotte Mary Yonge I started in September and I’m really enjoying it. I read Dynevor Terrace by Yonge this summer and didn’t love some of the characters portrayal, BUT overall, liked it. A Victorian play is one of the prompts for Victober and I found an audio version of ‘Mrs. Warren’s Profession’ and his famous ‘Pygmalion’. I’m going to give them a try!I just recently heard of The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade. I’ve never heard of this Victorian author.The Coral Island sounds like a fun adventure story. My son’s Sherlock mug! ☕️ ♥️
Just a ‘few’ of the Victorian items I’m trying or considering reading…it’s part of Victober fun to way overestimate how much one can get to during October! 😂😂😂 I’m planning on continuing during November and December, too! The “BER” months are perfect for classics. 😁🖤🐦⬛ I have piles of lighter, easier reads for inbetween the dense reads. Here are a few more Victorian things I’m considering…
‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw
Woman in White by Wilkie Collins audiobook
Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope
My Lady Ludlow by Elizabeth Gaskell
A Dark Night’s Work by Elizabeth Gaskell
Children of the New Forest by Frederick Merryat
Treasure Island by RLS (reread, possibly listen with my children?)
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (my children and I are listening to this currently)
Victorian Fairy Tales edited by Michael Newton ( I read a few of these last year! I may read ‘The King of the Golden River” and “The Golden Key” with my children.
One of the prompts is a Sherlock Holmes story, but I’m just planning on watching a Jeremy Brett episode with my 17 yo son. Brett is a fantastic Sherlock!
What sounds good here? What should I prioritize? This is SO fun! 🤩😂 Let me know what you are reading that feels fallish! 🧡🖤🧡
{book cover images/interior illustrations are from Google}
Listening…Great Pumpkin and Harry Potter Ambient Music. I’m also enjoying Nicholas Nickleby audiobook while I follow along in the book.
Reading…I’ve begun a lot of my Victorian TBR, Dickens, Gaskell, and Yonge. but I’ve been enjoying light, cozy stories inbetween. Kiki’s Delivery Service, Thimble Summer, and The Language of Spells.
Watching…I’m back to watching YouTube/or going on Instagram only on Saturdays. It really helps my focus and sanity during the week. A new favorite YouTuber that I can’t wait to watch more of is CleoPatrick.
Noticing…the main thing I’ve noticed lately is that our Barn Swallows are gone. 🥲♥️ We’ve been seeing a few butterflies still and our temperatures are fluctuating a lot. My son saw a “V” of geese on Sunday. We’ve been trying to get outdoors more because we know the cold, snowy is coming.
How about you? What have you been reading, listening to, watching, or noticing? 🍁♥️
