Peek into my Public Library Stack (Part 1) πŸ“š + Victober Reading Beginning Impressions πŸ

Leftovers from Sci-Fi September

Good morning, friends! I’m snuggling into my sweatshirt as we woke to a chilly, but gorgeously sunny morning here! What a gift! β˜ΊοΈβ˜€οΈβœ¨

I have a massive pile of library checkouts that I may or may not get to due to my Victorian reading focus this month. I thought it would be fun to share what’s in my PL basket.

Mainly, I have a lot of Sci-Fi choices leftover from Sci-Fi September. I still don’t feel totally sick of Sci-Fi, so may try to see if any of these in photo above catch my fancy! I’m most interested in Green City Wars and Scion, but my 19 yo read Scion and said it was a bit brutal and had language. I’m surprised because I’ve loved James Islington so much and hadn’t run into language before. Have you read any of these? How are they?

Cozy mysteries ✨

My second pile is cozy mysteries! I know, I know, not high literature, πŸ˜‚ but just the right light reading for me, when I need a break from heavy reading or the chaos around me. πŸ˜‚Think Hallmark with a side of murder. πŸ€£πŸ“šβœ¨I’m most interested in Autumn at Cat Cafe! πŸ₯°πŸˆβ€β¬›πŸŽƒβ˜•️

My friend created a Victober bingo, so I made her grid with washi and stickers! So fun! 🀩
Crafting!

I bought a pack of these charming bookmarks (penpals I hope to send one your way!) and I decorated my first one for Victober on front, other reading possibilities on back. I need to add 2026, so I can keep them as a memory! Maybe I should make ones for the past Victober’s that I participated in!!! I think this is my 4th or 5th official year of participation?! It’s the 11th year this wonderful Booktube readathon has been happening! πŸ“šπŸŽƒπŸˆβ€β¬›βœ¨πŸ

To-Dos! ✨Rock paper weight πŸ˜‚βœ¨

My Moleskine Daily Pocket to-do is almost filled! My 2027 version is on its way! The one quibble I have is the Monday start, otherwise I loooove these. The paper is buttery and I love how they fit in my hand and the monthly and daily set up! The spines have held up to my heavy abuse.

How’s my beginning Victorian reading going? Good! I had listened to The Importance of Being Earnest a couple of days before October and that was a perfect, lighthearted choice to get me even more excited. I found this free audiobook of The Pickwick Papers and so I’ve started tandem reading and listening and it’s just as ridiculous and full of wordsmithing wonder as I remember. Yes, I had read half years ago! πŸ™ƒπŸ˜‚

It would definitely fulfill the prompt for Travel and Adventure. Dickens and I are fickle friends, so we’ll see if I can stick it out! I may have to just listen 🎧 while cooking etc.

I’m absolutely loving Poems of the Past and the Present by Thomas Hardy on my Kindle. Some obtuse literature/history/places mentioned, but I’m finding it very readable! This would fulfill birthday month author as we are both June born! I thought I would enjoy his poetry due to his lush writing in the novels I have read of his. I’m hoping to attempt The Woodlanders, too. A friend gave me a gorgeous old copy of it years ago, but it’s a bit fragile so may read it on my kindle.

I also picked up at 39%? with Uncle Silas as I had started this years ago. Honestly, the first part of this book draggggggged for me. But I have it on good authority, that the next part is better and gets the sinister, atmospheric plot going! So far, the main character Maud? is traveling to live with an estranged uncle to fulfill her father’s will conditions. 😳😬

I’m 5 chapters into my local friend’s bookclub read of Dr.Wortle’s School! It’s very easy to read and I like the story. Haven’t fallen in love with any characters yet, though. You could definitely use this for a Character who Has a Secret 🀐 prompt! It’s a nice, short Victorian novel, too, which can be a relief. πŸ˜…

Reading Autumn πŸ‚ ~

whole worlds

leaf by –

my eyes,

heart cries

tumbling in,

passing my kinβ€˜s

by-gone sighs

rustling, flitting

let my soul sink in.

~A.M. Pineβ™₯️🌲

Damp treasures πŸ₯°β™₯️✨

How’s your reading currently? Creating anything? What’s new with you?

Happy Friday! β™₯️πŸ₯°

Top Ten Tuesday : Book Series I Want to Catch Up On (or series you’d like to start)

Joining That Artsy Reader Girl here!

I didn’t realize how many series I’m in the middle of, because most of them I move through very slowly. Here’s a few of the ones I really want to prioritize and a few I want to try!

  1. Commisario Brunetti Mystery Series by Donna Leon ~ I absolutely love the characters in this police procedural series. The Venice setting is so intriguing and I’m so happy Kate Howe (favorite Booktuber and now a friend) introduced me to this series. This series has A LOT of books. FYI – the crimes are gritty and dark and these aren’t β€˜politically correct’ for today’s sensibilities.
  2. Matthew Shardlake Series by C.J. Sansom ~ This historical mystery series set in Tudor England is so wonderfully rich in characters, language, and setting. Shardlake is a deep, interesting character who works as a solicitor turned investigator. Dark and a bit creepy.
  3. The Huntress Series by Carrie Cotton ~ I loved this Celtic historical world and the deep, rich characters. Took a bit to get used to the dialect and the flashbacks, but I have the second on my Kindle waiting for the mood to strike.
  4. The Hierarchy Series by James Islington ~ I really enjoyed the first two books in this Roman-inspired fantasy world. I can’t wait for the next two to be published!
  5. The Bangalore Detective Club Mystery Series by Harini Nagendra ~ I’ve only read one of these so far, but fell in love with the newlywed couple solving a mystery in 1920’s Bangalore.
  6. Northwoods Mystery Series by Annie McEwen ~ new-to-me cozy mystery series set in my home state of Wisconsin! A family that runs a small cozy resort with lakeside cabins. Characters are deeper and so loving! I’m reading the second right now, Dead, White, and Blue, and really enjoying it. I will pause and save the next two for winter as they move seasonally. πŸ₯°
  7. Green Rider Series by Kristen Britain ~ I was loving this series following messenger Karigan G’ladheon as she navigates a lurking evil, politics, and all the interpersonal relationships. This is a medieval fantasy that I want to return to when the mood strikes.
  8. Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb ~ I so want to try this multi-series interconnected world. I’m experiencing extreme FOMO as a fantasy reader. πŸ˜‚ I’m newer to high/epic fantasy and have heard this is one of the best! I’m a little worried that it’s going to be VERY violent, heavy adult content, and heartbreaking.
  9. Licanius Series James Islington ~ I’d love to read this trilogy while I wait for him to finish the Hierarchy Seties! 🀣 He also has a newer book called Scion but not sure if it is going to be a series or if it’s a standalone.
  10. The Faithful and the Fallen Series by John Gwinne ~ I’ve heard such good things about this high/epic fantasy series from Miriam Elizabeth Reads and Paris Mae Reads, that I reallly want to try. Gwinne has more series, too, if I enjoy his stories. I anticipate these to be pretty dark and gritty, so we’ll see if this wimp can handle them. Maybe I’m coming into my epic fantasy era! πŸ˜‚

What are your FAVORITE series?β™₯️ Or do you prefer stand-alones?

Jane Austen July winding down… βœ¨β™₯οΈπŸŒΏπŸ«–β˜•οΈ

I have really enjoyed joining in with the annual appreciation of Miss Austen’s life and work by reading and watching various things by Austen or inspired by! I’m getting closer to finishing my reread of Sense & Sensibility. Lucy Steele is quickly becoming another all time villain in my book. Ha. I love Austen’s character studies! I’m still plugging away at Jane Austen’s Bookshelf. I identify with the author’s bookish love and really appreciate her personal stories of why and how she feels connected or on the flip side, uncomfortable with a book/author. I don’t love the modern spin author’s try to eke out of classic writers by trying to twist the little bit they know using their modern lenses. Romney sounds a touch whiny sometimes, but it’s at least limited to the hardships female authors had to face in the 18th century, which were true. She’s not, so far, trying to read into Austen or these other authors’s personal lives and make things up.

Overall, it’s a compelling read and I’m enjoying it.

Other things I read and did in honor were watch the 2020 BBC Emma adaptation. While I liked parts of it, unfortunately, it wasn’t my favorite. I reread The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which I really enjoy. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a contemporary of Miss Austen’s.

I also read Sarah E. Ladd’s The Governess of Penwythe Hall, which was so enjoyable as a Regency-era story. Georgette Heyer Regency novels (love!) and Amish Pride & Prejudice (don’t really recommend! 🀣) by Ashley Emma rounded out my Austen-inspired reading. πŸ“– Sigh. β˜•οΈπŸ«–β™₯️🌿✨

Someone to be looney with me! β™₯οΈπŸ€“

Do you enjoy Austen? What is your favorite by her? β™₯️🌿✨

Wednesday Wonders {Day 95} πŸ“šπŸ¦‹

~listening to~ β™₯️🌿 I just barely started a new audiobook called Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck. It’s a perfect listen on my riding lawnmower. I have wedding programs to work on later so I will probably listen to more! I heard about this free choice in the Audible Plus catalog if you have an Audible account from the lovely Booktuber, Emily

Colorful stack amongst my deck flowers! πŸ’ 😍β™₯️🌿 Trying a few and continuing others!

~watching~β™₯️🌿 I really want to try the 1995 β€˜Little Princess’ movie! πŸŽ₯ I’ve only seen the Shirley Temple version. It just came in from the library so hopefully my kids and I can watch it soon. I’m loosely participating in The Hardest Reading Challenge You’ll Ever Do 3.0πŸ˜†πŸ˜‚, so I enjoyed watching the announcement for that, too. Albeit she’s very opinionated, just FYI. πŸ€£πŸ˜¬πŸ˜…

β€’readingβ€’β™₯️🌿~ my mood is still somewhat πŸ˜†nonfiction, and I finished up the YRE of Radium Girls (fantastic) and Do Something Beautiful for God (gorgeous!), but I feel a shift to cozy? stories. I did read one of the Great Mouse Detective stories on my deck the other night. Our weather went from boiling and smokey to gorgeous and cool! 😍 I’m most interested in finishing up my reread of Sense & Sensibility and continuing Jane Austen’s Bookshelf. I’m currently very intrigued by Artifact by Gigi Pandian (so far some language) and starting The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink! The truth is I have SO many good sounding books on my physical and kindle stacks. πŸ™ƒπŸ˜β™₯οΈπŸ“š I’ve been ordering picture books from library because most of ours are packed away. It’s been fun to curl on my bed and read these with my youngest three. I find this gals recommendations are overall GREAT!

~noticing~β™₯️🌿 the details for my daughter’s wedding are slowly coming together! It’s getting close! 😱😭😍 I’m struggling staying with some of my rhythms and habits that are helpful, so trying to ease back into them for my sanity. However, trying not to guilt trip myself either. I’m finally feeling the school planning shift. Making some lists and poking around on websites. Love looking at book recommendations! Where do you look most for homeschool inspiration? β™₯️

Well, that’s all, folks! πŸ˜…β™₯️Bless you! β™₯οΈπŸŒΏπŸ“šβ˜•οΈβœ¨πŸ₯°

Captain Blood πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ {Day 90}

Short Description: Peter Blood, an Irish physician and soldier in England in the 1680’s, is wrongly convicted of treason and sentenced to indentured slavery in the Caribbean. He escapes and becomes the most feared pirate captain on the Spanish Main, but all the glory of his adventures cannot help him, for the woman he loves cannot love a thief and pirate. Even when he destroys England’s enemies, even at his most triumphant…but wait! What’s that…

~ Goodreads

Wow! I loved this story of Peter Blood, gentleman pirate! 6 stars ⭐️ from me! If you enjoy historical fiction, adventure stories, or Treasure Island, you will love this Robin Hood- like tale of loyal friendship, ingenuity, and high seas stakes. I bet it would be wonderful as an audiobook! I’ll have to see if I can find one! I definitely will be trying others of Sabatini’s books.

Do you have any good recommendations for high seas or pirate stories with a classic feel?

Happy Friday and Happy Reading! 🚒 🌊 βš“οΈ