I feel like my reading life has become very joyful since I finished Pillars of the Earth. It’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I can read anything I want- I can read something funny, or silly! I can read something short! Ah, freedom.
For our trip to Waco, I brought along these books:
On the Currently Reading podcast, A Most Agreeable Murder was promoted as “If you loved Pride and Prejudice but wished someone had been murdered, this is the book for you.” WELL! I think Pride and Prejudice is perfect as is, no murder needed (although if someone HAS to be murdered, maybe Lydia…) but I do love a good murder mystery. A Most Agreeable Murder seemed right up my alley.
It has all the elements of a Jane Austen novel- an entailed estate, a mother desperate to marry off her daughters, a ball, and an eligible bachelor… who ends up poisoned to death. What more could we possibly want?
The first 3/4 of this book was really fun, and then it just became ridiculous. It’s the first book of a series, but I wouldn’t read any others- it was a fine airplane read though, quick and easy.
The Long Way Home is the 10th Louise Penny book. I know this will be shocking, but I don’t LOVE Louise Penny. I really enjoyed her earlier books, then didn’t enjoy them as much as I went on, and stopped after #9. But lately I’ve been seeing her latest and having FOMO, so I picked up the series again.
I’m about halfway through this one, and I’m enjoying it. I’ll write more about it when I’m done, along with an explanation of what I don’t love about her writing- I know I’m in the minority here.
While we were in Waco we had some time to kill on the morning of graduation, so I took my husband to one of my favorite spots, Fabled Bookshop and Cafe.
We spent a couple hours there- I got a “Waco Fog,” ha ha… Earl Grey, milk (I got almond milk) and lavender brown sugar. I mean… when will I get another chance to drink a Waco Fog??? Never.
I also bought this:
After Kae’s post last week about time, I was thinking of starting a Line a Day journal, in the hopes of slowing things down and putting more focus on each day. What better way to start? Every time I take this out, I’ll remember that I bought it in Waco on the day of Paul’s graduation.
Back to books. Paul gave me three books and insisted I read them before our road trip in July:
AND, I have some books on my library hold list that I’m excited about- a new one by Anthony Horowitz, Marble Hall Murders, (I can’t wait to read that one!) and also a new one by Wally Lamb. Phew! It’s going to be a fun summer of reading.
Do you have anything exciting on your TBR?
34 Responses
I like Louise Penny a lot, but sometimes things get a little carried away. I took a break from her for a while before I read her more recent stories. I hope you enjoy Howl’s Moving Castle- one of my favorites!
My TBR pile keeps getting bigger because of all of the bloggers who list good books! My son gave me Cold Comfort Farm for Mother’s Day- a classic I’ve never read.
My son liked Howl’s Moving Castle so much, he read it twice. So I’m pretty sure I’ll like it! And, I know- every time I read about a book on someone’s blog I want to add it to my TBR. If only I could just read all day and not go to work!
Some nice, smaller, reading there! I’m about to launch into my horrific pile I made MYSELF for 20 Books of Summer … https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/05/10/20-books-of-summer-2025/
Good grief- I looked at your list- you have a lot of heavy non-fiction books there! Well… you’re be even smarter by the end of the summer, whereas I’ll be happily making my way through Stephen King and Anthony Horowitz.
Ha – yes, it is rather large, isn’t it. I doubt I’ll absorb all the information therein!
I like Penny, but the first one I read was maybe number 15, as I didn’t realize it was a series. That one left a good impression on me though and I have started to read them from #1 now, and I think I’m up to #8(?) I don’t read them all in one go, I usually have a few months at least between them so they feel more fresh each time.
I have been hit and miss with reading, often binging and then purging, but I recently listened to the first book of the Fourth Wing, and despite me not always loving fantasy, and there being a bit too much gratuitous sex, I enjoyed it.
Oh that’s interesting- I wonder if things were slightly confusing, starting the series at #15!!! It must have been interesting gong from 15 to #1- I’ll bet there were some stylistic differences.
I have a one-line-a-day journal, and I’m in my fourth year of it. It’s so fun to see what happened on this day in years past. I mean, sometimes it’s boring. But hey, so is my life sometimes!
Oh Jenny, I am on a MEH streak of books right now. I had three not-great ones in a row, and now I’m on another one which is FINE (Animal Vegetable Miracle) but it’s pretty dated and I just want something to dive into. I have to go to the library today to pick up FOUR titles, so fingers crossed they will be good. I don’t even remember what titles came in, so it will be a surprise of sorts when that happens.
Oh, I know that- the library alerts me that my holds are in and I have no idea what they are! It is fun. And- the first couple days of the line a day journal were nice and eventful (there was a graduation! we traveled!) and now it’s been a bit of a struggle because I feel like there’s not much to say. But I’m sticking with it- I’ll be happy in four or five years, even if I’m looking back at mundane, everyday events.
The Waco Fog sounds delicious, and that bookstore is really cute! I recently met a good friend who was visiting from out of town at a local bookstore that has a really nice cafe area. It was morning so I got an iced coffee but apparently they serve beer and wine and margaritas there so I may have to go back later in the day to try their adult drinks!
Ooh! That sounds REALLY nice! It would even be a good spot for a date. Actually, the PERFECT spot for a date. Book browsing and beer- what more could you want.
The 5 year journal was the perfect graduation gift! I need to get one.
After a reading drought, I’m back baby! I had back to back hits with Go As A River and Caroline, and I started a book called Sky Daddy, which is about a woman who is navigating a quarter life crisis and has a fetish for plane crashes. It’s both weird and good. She lives in San Francisco and flies out of SFO every chance that she gets – and hey I’m sitting in SFO right now waiting for my plane home. So the location is perfect.
Yes, get yourself a line a day journal!
Your location sounds good for that book (although I’m not sure I would want to read about plane crashes in that specific situation?) I actually LOVED our travel days- you’re just sitting there in the airport or on the plane with nothing else to do but read. I hope you have an uneventful flight with lots of reading!
I’m reading Crow Mary right now. I just started it, but so far it’s really good. The line a day sounds like a great idea. I have a stack of books on my nightstand, but I allowed Crow Mary to sort of jump the line. I need to go back and see what’s on the book club list for June to be sure I have time to read it before June book club. I typically have more time to read in the summer, if and when pool weather decides to grace the Midwest.
Well, everyone I know has loved Crow Mary. I guess it needs to go on my TBR!
I don’t think I always have a TBR, Jenny. Right now, there are books that I’ve finished reading, there are books that I’m reading right now, and there are books that I’m vaguely examining whether or not to read. I don’t think any of the above belong to a TBR, though. And I don’t think I have a TBR right now. The books that I’m vaguely examining whether or not to read right now are “From Eternity to Here” by Dr. Sean Carroll and “Words on the Move” by Dr. John McWhorter.
I did read one of the three books that Paul gave you, Jenny. And I can tell you that I come from China. So I think that can give you a hint as to which of these three books I read. Nevertheless, I prefer not to insist anyone read any books.
Oh, you read Ball Lightning! My son LOVED it (as he’s loved everything by that author). I think it might be a difficult book to start, but once I’m into it I’m sure I’ll like it.
Yes, I did read “Ball Lightning” by Mr. Cixin Liu, Jenny. I’ll also point out that I read it in the language in which it was originally written, that is, Chinese. I didn’t find it to be a difficult book to start with, though. In the Appendix section of the book, the author elaborated on his own encounters with ball lightning in real life and how that experience is related to his decision to write this book. I read that part first before reading the book’s main body. In that case, I found that I was into the book right from the start.
I LOVE the cover of your One Line A Day Journal. I’m on Year 4 of mine and write in it every night!
I have had so much good reading lately. I will share all the deets at the start of June. But spoiler alert that Beautiful Ugly and The Clockmaker’s Daughter have been my favourite so far in May.
So far I’ve kept up with the line a day journal (although it hasn’t even been a week yet). I’m determined to write every day, even if my line for the day is boring.
I’m looking forward to your book post!
I have that same exact Line a Day journal! It’s published by Chronicle Books, my daughter’s employer. YAY!
I didn’t know Howl’s Moving Castle was a book, I’ve only seen the film…
Well, good! Glad I’m indirectly supporting your daughter (as well as an indie bookstore). And- yes, I’ll do a review of Howl’s Moving Castle. I don’t know anyting about it, other than that my son loved it.
I have a 5 year journal, too. I’m on year 2. I get behind on it at times. I need to work on filling it out more often!
I am reading ‘the forty year kiss’ right now which is about a couple who rekindles their romance 40 years after they divorced. It is very character driven so I would not recommend it for you.
Fabled looks adorable! I doubt I will ever make it there so thanks for sharing pictures. It’s become quite a well known bookshop thanks to the excellent taste of Elizabeth Barnhill. She gets mentioned on Sarah’s Bookshelves Live as well as on Currently Reading!
I just listened to an episode of Currently Reading where they talk about attending an event at Fabled- I was so excited!!! And- I’m glad I’m reading these comments at night because it’s reminding me to fill in my journal for the day.
I used to like Louise Penny but I got bored. Just finished An American Marriage and I liked it. Also Claire, Darling. I’m reading now Last twilight in Paris and next Dream Count.
I haven’t read any of those- although I think I actually own American Marriage. I guess I should read it!
I feel like I’m to blame for your Pillars of the Earth hate. I loved that book so hard. I really should stop recommending it.
What a lovely looking bookstore! I love that you always make it a point to go to bookstores when you go out of town.
No, you weren’t the only one- SO many people recommended that book. And I didn’t hate it… I just found parts of it very hard to read.
I really loved _Pillars of the Earth_ too, but yes, it’s got that medieval woe built into it!
What a wonderful goodbye to Waco–the tea and journal sound particularly memorable.
_Howl_ was fun and will be so great for road-trip dialogue!
Yes- I didn’t dislike the book. There were parts I really liked, but overall it was a little too heavy on the medieval woe for me.
Have you read “The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennett, Witch”? It’s a Pride and Prejudice spin off that posits that Lydia Bennett is a witch who actually saves her family from the evil demon Wickham. It’s a lot of fun, though, goes on a touch too long for my tastes. But I really liked turning the Lydia Bennett character on its head.
I’m currently reading Three Bags Full, a mystery featuring crime solving sheep and also Long Walk To Freedom, Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, and enjoying both.
Jenny! I was thinking about you being in Waco and wondering if you had been to Fabled yet, especially since Meredith talks about the bookstore so much on Currently Reading. That’s so exciting!
If you’re not loving the Louise Penny books, you don’t have to read them! I give you full permission (if you need that) to stop reading them. 🙂 It’s totally okay!
My mom has that exact same One Line a Day journal. I’m on year 4 of mine and once you get through the first year, it is SO FUN to look back and see what you wrote in previous years. I get behind on mine but it’s okay!
Holly is on my TBR and I thought it was next, until Irealized wrong Holly series! Boo
Love the idea of remembering his graduation every time you journal
That one line a day diary is probably one of the prettiest I have seen so far.
I started a book a few years back and after two years writing it needed a break. So right now I am on the second year break but will pick up again in 2026. Not as intended but I think it will still be lots of fun to read.