Okay, let’s start with the boring part. I’m still on my diet. Four weeks down, three to go- that is, three weeks until my trip. At that point I’ll be assessing the situation- it’s going to be almost impossible to stay on the diet strictly while I’m traveling. ANYWAY. I’m doing fine- there are things I miss, but mostly I’m okay with what I’m eating.
I’m just a little tired of all the prep required. I’m tired of grinding and blending, and constantly cleaning the food processor, blender, and spice grinder. But…. I’m sticking to it.
Let’s move on to the fun stuff. I finished this book:
This is the third book in the Susan Ryeland series, and is another “whodunit” within a “whodunit.” Susan is once again editing an Atticus Pund novel, which is a classic Agatha Christie-style mystery, while a real life mystery unfolds around her as well.
It sounds like it would be contrived and complicated, but Horowitz does is so well. I love this series, and enjoyed this book- although about 3/4 of the way through I kind of just wanted to get to the end. It was a temporary lull, and then the ending was really fun. I recommend this if you love mysteries BUT YOU MUST START WITH THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES, Magpie Murders. This book has spoilers for the first two.
Nest I started this:
So far I like it, but I don’t love it. I’m not quite 100 pages in, so I’m reserving judgement. This mystery/fantasy was hyped by Meredith on the Currently Reading podcast – it was one of her top ten books of 2024, so I had high expectations going in. We’ll see what happens!
Speaking of Meredith…
This was another of her top ten books of 2024. It’s a short mystery, and she recommends reading it in one sitting, if possible. Well, I’ve been saving it for “Read 25 Day.” Gretchen Rubin has declared June 25 as an official reading day (her challenge for 2025 is to read for 25 minutes a day). Bookstores around the country are actually holding reading events, but I’m putting my own spin on it and just calling it a “day of reading.” Wednesdays are my day off, so it works out perfectly.
I’m not sure if I’ll read the book in one sitting, but I’ll read it all in one day, for sure.
Do you do any of Gretchen Rubins challenges? Will you observe Read 25 Day?
Top photo by Olga Tutunaru on Unsplash
20 Responses
I love your take on Read 25 Day – turning it into a full reading retreat sounds perfect!
I haven’t done any of Gretchen Rubin’s challenges before, but this one has me tempted. Since it’s tomorrow, I’m looking at carving out a nice chunk of time to finally start Gone with the Wind (inspired by you and Birchie!)
Oooh! That’s a perfect way to celebrate a “Day of Reading.” I can’t wait to hear what you think of the book- I hope you love it.
Ooh! I have not read I’m Thinking of Ending Things but I listened to the spoiler episode that the Sarah’s Bookshelves podcast did on it. They had questions!
If anyone needs me I’ll be on Meredith’s website checking out her recs.
I’m almost done with M in the Alphabet series. I think my next book is going to be The Jackal’s Mistress, which I heard about on Sarah’s Bookshelves. I checked it out right after we finished GWTW but I had a backup of other books and the loan period is almost up so we’ll see if the timing works out. It’s a Civil War setting.
I’ll be able to report back soon- I’m reading it tomorrow! And, you’re reminding me that I need to check out Sarah’s Bookshelves. I’ve never listened but I’m pretty sure I would love it.
I have never heard of Read 25 Day! But you can be sure I am going to hype it up for my kid now that I know about it!
Yes, perfect opportunity to get some good reading in for everyone. I wonder if I could get my daughter to participate…?
Stop recommending such enticing books – I have too many in my TBR pile!
I did read GWTW- and you were right about it being hard to put down.
I tried Go as the River – meh. Sorry everyone who recommended it – just not my cup of tea. The little house inspired book , Caroline, I tried but decided I want to keep some of my little house illusions untouched.
I know- my TBR is growing and growing. I need a month to do nothing but just READ.
Hahaha as I was reading this, I kept thinking “Jenny and I are opposites.” So many mysteries! And also, I…don’t like Gretchen Rubin. I have tried. I read one of her books. I tried to listen to her podcast. And I just really, really dislike her. So, um, no. I won’t be doing her challenge. But that said, I do read more than 25 minutes a day on average, so I guess I’m doing fine.
That’s funny that you dislike Gretchen! I agree that her books aren’t great (they’re okay, but not great) but I do like her podcast. We are opposites in reading land though. Every once in a while we have an overlap, but usually we do not like the same books!
Well, you’re more than halfway through your diet now, so I’m sure you can make it to the end, and then hopefully figure out what foods to keep out and what foods to reintroduce. When you mentioned the prep, it reminded me of when I experimented with being raw vegan in 2014. Obviously I didn’t cook anything but there was a lot of prep work and constantly cleaning out the food processor and the dehydrator, so it ended up being a lot more work than just cooking my food!
OH YES. I tried the raw vegan diet a long time ago. I felt GREAT in the beginning (but then not as great as it went on- I think I just wasn’t eating enough.) But it was definitely the prep that did me in. It’s funny, you would think eating everything raw would be less work, but nope.
I will be on a plane on the 25th so will do some reading on our short flight to Chicago. And after Will goes to bed, I will read in the hotel room. So in total, I will probably read a bit more than usual. But 25 minutes of reading in a day is a low amount for me! I usually read for at least an hour a day!
Good for you for sticking with this diet for 4 weeks! That’s a big milestone. It’s so much work to eat a modified diet so I understand why you are sick of cleaning out all the various gadgets, etc. And there isn’t really an ‘easy button’ type of meal typically when you are doing a modified diet.
I am doing 25 in 25 which is a GR challenge. I don’t tend to do her challenges, though! Well, I did read XX in 20XX and could say I am doing read 25 in 2025, but that is just my daily habit and nothing something I am doing differently!
i agree- 25 minutes of reading would be low for me. I usually read at least an hour a day, and lately I’ve been doing more.
I don’t usually do Grethchen’s challenges either. Last year I attempted to “write 24 in 24” but failed after about a month. Oh well.
I adore GR, but really haven’t followed her for years. I burned out on listening to podcasts and, at the time, felt like every single episode talking at length about the 4 Tendancies Framework.
I am not doing this challenge, but I did go read her blurb about it and find it ironic that given my post today, part of her “rules” includes the fact that audiobooks and re-reading count. There we have it; a definitive answer from a reading guru.
Yep, that’s the final answer1 They count.
I hope you are able to ditch this diet by the time the road trip happens. The mystery series Horowitz, sounds really good. So many books to read, so little time. I don’t do a 25 minute a day reading challenge, but I do tend to read 25 minutes a day. June 25th is Lad’s 27th bday. Fun fact.
Well Happy Birthday to Lad! And I agree- so many books. So little time.
How perfect that Read 25 Day lands on a Wednesday! Those tend to be busier days for me, but I will at least get an hour of audiobook listening in. I’ll try to sit down for a half-hour, though, and read my physical book!
I picked up Magpie Murders to read but then I saw it was almost 500 pages and I had JUST finished a 500-page book, and I was like, “Not right now.” I know it will move a LOT more quickly than my 500-page nonfiction book, but I need some short books for a few weeks. But I do want to read it because I hear such great things about that series!
The weather is supposed to be nice, so I think I’ll be outside… perhaps with a book, perhaps with a spade… we’ll see how it goes. I like your take on reading day!