Last day of February...the monthly update on reading and watching

Well this month went by fast. I had some good reading, good walking, time fiddling with my plants which did not freeze to death this month....and yesterday was my granddaughter's 12th birthday.  That time flew!  I can still remember Doug and I leaving work to drive to Ft. Stewart in Georgia for her birth. She is as tall as I am now. 

 Here's the February breakdown.........

Watched........ 📺

This month we watched a variety of genres.  We finished season 2 of Fallout (SciFi based on a game our son was pumped about) season 2 of Patriot starring Terry O'Quinn and Michael Dorman (quirky) and just started a second season of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Very much looking forward to Shrinking and For All Mankind.

📚  Read   📚

I had a good month of reading.  Some books I loved and others were just meh...but I read quite a bit. Reviews may be found by clicking on the title links.

Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty

Crux by Gabriel Tallent (a buddy read with Susan of The Cue Card blog.)

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Within the Walled City by Virginia Evans

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz (nonfiction)

Loving / My new pen! I already had the Scriveiner ballpoint and just received this silver chrome Crown and Regent rollerball. It's lovely for journaling and letter writing.

That's it for now.  End of February, over and out!

Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Fickle February weather means more reading time

 Four days ago I was wearing short sleeves and wishing it were cooler.  Night before last I had to cover the plants as the temps dropped to be 27F / -3C.  Our walk today was brisk to say the least with 18 mph wind and heavy coats.  Loki's ears were flapping, lol.

This is Loki and his neighbor buddy Daisy on a warm morning walk this past weekend. The photo makes them look to be the same size but Loki is a good 28 pounds bigger.   Looks like they are about to drop a new album.

Two books finished this week. Let's start with a fiction by Virginia Evans - Within the Walled City. I loved her latest book The Correspondent but this one I have mixed feelings. 

Starting  with the good things I will say the cover art is beautiful. The story mostly takes place in Siena Italy and the descriptions of architecture, interactions and food come alive.  I could clearly picture the characters, the vibrant colors and conversations weren't stilted.

Jillian is the narrator, a college aged young woman focusing on art, planning a work study program in Italy.  It must be noted Jillian and her father have a cool relationship and by that I mean civil after a huge falling out.  As Jillian's mom Lily had cancer and died when Jillian was nine years old, she naturally had questions about her mother. Her requests for info about her mother were usually stonewalled over the years and then, she finds a treasure trove of Lily's paintings hidden in the attic.  Confrontation ensued.

Time passes....

Suddenly her father is encouraging her to accept the art study in Sienna over other Italian cities.  Before leaving, he hands her Lily's journal, written when Lily was an art student in....you guessed it, Siena.

There are times this story was rather slow and others storylines about her roommates in Siena get mixed in but overall, I did like the book.  It's a lovely armchair excursion to Tuscany where you'll love the foodie descriptions, a bit of romance and most of the loose ends get tied up neatly. 

I was fortunate enough to purchase this book on Kindle shortly after reading The Correspondent (which I loved) but now it appears the book is unavailable in either Kindle or physical book format. The great success of The Correspondent must have inspired bookworms to seek out Evan's earlier book.  Rating it a 3.75 and should probably round to 4 as I was never tempted to put it down.  Just the ending seemed "too" tied up and improbable, in my humble opinion.  I'll put a spoiler note on Goodreads with those thoughts.

Next we have a nonfiction.  Just finished Four Lost Cities: a Secret History of an Urban Age  by Annelee Newit last night. 

 Did you know we have a World Heritage site here in the United States? I did not until I read this book.  It's located about 10 miles from St Louis Missouri, a large prehistoric civilization which  was larger than London in 1250 AD.   Here is a link to Cahokia Mounds, a World Heritage and State Historical site.  

The chapters about Pompeii was my main interest and learning about the society.  Freed slaves (libertli) their children or those who earned their freedom constituted the major part of the population.  It was a vibrant city, ruined and abandoned so quickly after the volcanic eruption.  Sad. A citizen named Julia Felix was particularly interesting as she held ownership of several blocks of buildings, quite a businesswoman.

The other two cities excavated and studied are Cataholyuk, Turkey and Angkor in Cambodia. This book is tagged as science with much info about the archeological digs and finds. 

The book was written by a journalist, not an archeological team, so keep that in mind when reading about environmental and political reasons why a vibrant civilization disappeared. Rounded up to 3.5 stars

This was for the Nonfiction Reading Challenge hosted by Shelleyrae at Book'd Out. Category: Science.

Sharing with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge.

Books read and goals accomplished!

In my previous post I talked about making some short term goals and listing a few books I have on hand.  It's working well for me as I have finished two books I own.  One fiction and the other a nonfiction. 

After reading Cecile Pin's book Celestial Lights I found myself a fan of her writing style.  As I own Wandering Souls I thought I'd start with that one on Kindle.

This is the story of a family, broken apart while fleeing Vietman after the war ended. 

I can't imagine the fear and obstacles of leaving your country, grasping at an escape so scary, possibly unreliable  smugglers transporting you and loved ones..... hoping it will be safe. Hoping to escape horrid living conditions in exchange for a good life.

The story is told with multiple narrators.

"Because Anh, Minh Thanh were the 3 oldest children, their parents decided they would travel ahead on a separate boat, dividing the family in two. It hadn't occurred to Anh that this breaking in half was the first sign of peril. The first clue that her father knew that one of the halves might fall."

When Anh's parents and siblings don't arrive when planned she knows things went wrong.  Now at 16 years of age she is the care taker of her younger brothers.  She must keep them safe and fed while living with uncertainties in resettlement camps.

In between her story and viewpoint are passages from the deceased brother named Dao.  Seeing his sister and brothers from a ghostly existence.   Sounds odd but it worked, especially in explanations about their culture.

For a more my review is here on Goodreads.  #Historical Fiction #Asia #War

📚📚📚 Nonfiction

Next on my list was Hayley Arceneaux's book Wild Ride. A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships.

This is an inspiring story of a pediatric cancer survivor, how she handled the treatment and how it gave her a different outlook on life. That sums it up. She went into some good detail about the emotional side of cancer treatment, her adventurous spirit and how incredibly driven she was; however I would have liked more detail on how she was selected for the civilian spot for space travel and the mission training.

She traveled as much as could, learned another language and eventually got her dream job.  It's an easy read of 208 pages, listed as a memoir.  Could have been a Readers Digest short series rather than a book, in my opinion.  3 stars

Currently reading / Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty. This is about Gerry and Stella Gilmore, a retired Irish couple who now live in Scotland and their midwinter trip to Amsterdam. As I'm not too far into the book it appears there will be reflections on their 40+ year marriage and uncertainties about past events.  I like books featuring older adults...probably because I am one. :-)

Upcoming will be a buddy read with the book Crux by Gabriel Tallent in February.

That's all I have this week book related. Otherwise it was just a few medical apointments, Loki going crazy and havng a seizure because I snuck out early to get blood work, made a beef stew and homemade baguette for the comfort food needed in this weather.  Still covering the plants as lows are 23 F/ -5 C for the week.

Hope your reading week was fantastic.

Linking up with:

Joy for British Isles Friday (for Northern Irish author Bernard MacLaverty)

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge (using the Wild Ride book for the Nonfiction Grazer category as I have another book in mind for Memoir)

Subpar Planet by Amber Share{2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

This book uses the unique concept of gathering one star reviews of amazing travel destinations and combining it with historical info.  Some reviews such as "Only go if you like art" referring to The Louvre leave you shaking your head.  I mean...duh.

Educational and entertaining plus the armchair travel I crave.  That's a win-win-win for me! That said, I give it 3.5 stars.  

The layout of the book covers the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania with details about the history of the landmarks and wonders of the world.

The comment on the left side of the page is the one star review.  Might have been nice to have a more detailed review but what do you expect from someone who states Stonehenge is just a field of random stones or the sunrise over Mt Fuji was nothing spectacular. No pleasing some people.

The opposite page tells some history of the visited site and tips on best times to visit.  It's amusing but don't expect true photos of the venues. 

Tags are Nonfiction, Nature, Travel, Humor, Geography and History.

 Linking up with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Category: Humor

First book of year - Finished

 I finished my first book of the year - Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick.

Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, a True Story of Abduction, Adoption and Separated Twins.

In 1979 Chinese law was enacted to limit one child per family. You could petition or apply to have another child if your first baby was a girl.  Boys were desired and there were brutal laws about having children without a permit.  Having another child without a government sanctioned permit came with such severe penalties.   If you didn't have a planned birth you could be fined as much as a year's wages, have your house demolished and property confiscated.

If you were found pregnant without a permit a woman could be hog-tied and hauled away for a forced abortion.  Then they'd send you a bill. Those who hid an extra birth by giving the child to a family member to raise for a while were punished if a neighbor ratted them out.  Then the Family Planning Office would come seize the baby or toddler and take it to an orphanage where they would be a adopted out to foreigners.  All for a hefty price, it was like buying a child.

But that isn't how the government "marketed" the babies.  It was said the children were abandoned by their mothers so people felt good about adopting a child no one wanted.  An American family adopted a baby who, unbeknownst to them, was a twin.  What the adoptive family didn't know was this baby had a family who diligently searched for her for years.  There are many such scenarios like this.  Children taken and the birth families with little resources trying to find their babies.

This book details the history and focuses on one family in particular - the separated twins and how they came to find one another again.  It's good story, very sad at times.

Grace Newton, who is an adoptee and writes about it on her blog Red Thread Broken,  recalled a conversation she had on a flight to China.  Because she is Chinese the seatmate "launched into the familiar spiel about how "lucky" she was: "I didn't tell him how unlucky it is not to know your first family, to not know your medical history, to not know who you are and  have to fly seven thousand miles to try and figure it out, to feel like a foreigner wherever you go. Adoption has given me great opportunity,  but it was at a great cost," she wrote on her website.

The tags on this book are History, Adoption, China, Asia, Nonfiction, Memoir.

352 pages, 4.5 stars.

Linking up with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Category: History

The 2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge Wrap-up

 The 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge is hosted by Shelleyrae at Book'd Out.   I signed up for six categories but completed nine.

 

Categories completed:

History

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

Memoir/Biography

 Olive, Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter and Be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten

True Crime 

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Health

The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke

Food

What I Ate in One Year {and related thoughts} by Stanley Tucci 

Travel 

Hidden Libraries by Lonely Planet

Garden

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Myth, Legend and Folklore

Vanishing Cornwall by Daphne du Maurier

Published in 2025 

On the Hippie Trail by Rick Steves

It's always fun making the lists of books.

Check out the challenge link at Book'd Out. You will get many great ideas for titles and I am already in process of list making for the 2026 challenge.

Thank you for hosting, Shellyrae! 💓😍

  

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel {2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

Here is a true crime book about art theft that had me turning the pages. This was a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card.

I have bookmarked so many passages on my Kindle while reading this book.  It's incredible that Breitweiser was able to steal so many masterpieces in such a short period.  After finishing the book I realize he must have some mental issue that made him continue down a path of destruction, not only for the loss of his own freedom but at the expense of his mother and his beloved girlfriend, Anne-Catherine.  He is completely different from other art thieves as he never sought to sell the items.  He needed to surround himself with the beauty.

At first I felt sorry for Anne-Catherine when she gave him the ultimatum of choosing art or her....he paused and had to think about that.  But did she walk away then knowing she would always hold second place to his art obsession?   She did not.  Then the lies she told in court dissolved any sympathy I had for her. As for his mother...wow, zero sympathy for her. She did some despicable revenge.

It was stated that when museums had more financial resources where they could beef up security they chose to buy more art instead.  I think I understand that because if you already have security it's more inportant to acquire more art for ALL people to enjoy.  More art draws larger crowds. That certainly changed after Breitweiser's crimes were revealed.

Reading this true crime narrative educated me on security systems as as well as art detectives.  I didn't know so many detectives were employed solely to investigate art thefts.  Italy has the largest number of detectives boasting 300, Switzerland has a handful, France has 30 and the United States employs roughly 20 detectives and produces their own Ten Most Wanted list for missing art. These figures are from the date of publication here so I imagine there are more now. 

This book is shared with:

 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: True Crime

Nonfiction November - week one

This is my first time participating in Nonfiction November although I do participate in an annual nonfiction challenge at Book'd Out.  

Our host for the first week here is Heather at Based on a True Story.

 Week 1 (10/27 – 11/2) Your Year in Nonfiction: Celebrate your year of nonfiction. What books have you read? What were your favorites? Have you had a favorite topic? Is there a topic you want to read about more?  What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? 

So far this year I have read thirteen nonfiction books with various topics such as Food, Health, Travel, Garden, Myths/Legends and Memoir/Biography.  I am about to start The Art Thief by Michael Finkel which is true crime, also a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card.

Favorites / One of my absolute favorite for 2025 is The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke. That book could well have landed under the science category but I chose health.  

Here is a list of the nonfiction completed so far in 2025.

Olive, Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter

Be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten

Atlas of Abandoned Places

Hidden Libraries

On the Hippie Trail by Rick Steves

Vanishing Cornwall by Daphne du Maurier

The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks

Pastoral Song by James Rebanks

The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke ★

I have been reading nonfiction all year as I participate in Shelleyrae's Nonfiction Reading Challenge .  You can find more about this annual challenge at Book'd Out.

Sharing with the hosts Heather at Nonfiction November and Readerbuzz.

UPDATE - I am not on Facebook and can not sign in to participate in the link on Heather's blog.  So...yeah.

September reading and October plans

 Well we got through September.  While I am longing for fall temperatures here, my friends in the southern hemisphere are about to experience Springtime :-)  Clearly I need a home is two  parts of this world, haha.

So a wrap up of September reading and watching.  

I was saddened to learn of Nan's passing.  She wrote at Letter from a Hill Farm and will be missed.  Les wrote a lovely tribute to Nan and you can read that HERE. 

📚 Books read 📚

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (a buddy read with Susan at the Cue Card)

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal

Forever Home by Graham Norton

Vanishing Cornwall by Daphne du Maurier - a nonfiction for my 2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge at Book's Out. and British Isles Friday.

I enjoyed the book and learning so much about the history of Cornwall.  It was a place du Maurier had such a passion for and influenced so many authors we have read in classic literature.  The part about Yorkshire and the Bronte sisters and family was very interesting to me.  Reading about their Cornish mother and aunt and how it sparked their imaginations, inspiring the plots and locale in their books.

The myths and legends about Arthur, King Mark and Tristan were page turners as well.  Too many stories in here to address all but if you have an interest in the history, landscape,  myths and legends about Cornwall, please check your local library for a copy of this book.

As a few commenters stated they didn't know Daphne du Maurier wrote any nonfiction.   I thought I would include a screen shot of the book listing her books.  She wrote many about Francis Bacon, I suppose her big interest, as well as memoirs.

Category for the nonfiction challenge is Myths and Legends.

Watching

We have enjoyed all three of these shows.  You can't go wrong with Gary Oldman in Slow Horses and while I have not read the book series by Mick Herron I like the show.  Looking forward to the next season as it airs.

Chief of War is almost entirely in Hawaiian and is subtitled so be prepared to read it. 

Slow Horses

Chief of War

Friends and Neighbors

Sharing with

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Challenge 

Joy for British Isles Friday 

Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Hidden Libraries from Lonely Planet{2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

When I saw this book by Lonely Planet titled Hidden Libraries I couldn't resist checking it out. There are 50 libraries here that would make a good international travel list for those of us who love books.  Exotic locations and more.

"Book swap your latest read in a cool 1950s style fridge in New Zealand or hike through the ethereal woodlands of Eas Mor in Scotland where a hidden library in a small log cabin awaits. Each entry shares the library's mission and impact on the local community and offers fascinating stories from its resident caretaker."

Here is an excerpt from the Kenyan mobile library:

"Every morning the Kenyan Library Service prepare three camels for travel.  The party consists of a librarian in charge, two assistants and a skilled camel herdsman who knew how to keep the moody beasts healthy and in check. One camel is tasked with carrying a whopping 400 books, another is packed with a tent, reading mat and chairs. The third just waits for one of the other two to fall apart so it could sub for it.  They work Monday through Thursday and travel 7 miles in any direction from home base."

Nice photos accompany the stories and it's well worth a browse if you like books and travel.  I particularly liked this one of a phone booth library.  This one is in Somerset England and according to the book, Queen Camilla has been known to drop off books at these unique box libraries for others to enjoy.  There are many other locations in the British Isles which would make a good U.K. travel vacation for a few weeks.

This one below - the Bethnal Green Underground Library in London is labeled as In Memoriam.  During the second world war this subway was used as a bomb shelter.  When the bombing started librarians scrambled to save the books, digging through debris and brought them here. While over 5,000 East Enders sheltered there, librarians brought in thousands of books hoping to preserve them from the destruction.

There are locations complete with addresses (and some in memorium for those not existing anymore) in remote areas of China, Afghanistan and even the South Pole. Great book for those who love libraries and travel ideas.

This book is shared with:

 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Travel

Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Vicki for Monday Mailbox

Joy for British Isles Friday

Rick Steves on the hippie trail(2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

Rick Steves' travel books and shows are always informative and entertaining.  This publication isn't a typical guide book.  Actually, it's not a guide book at all. It's a memoir and diary of an amazing trip he and his friend endured when they were in their twenties.

I did say endured as it was described as an primitive adventure with total lack of refinement. Filthy conditions for sleeping, dangerous border guards and at times meals with questionable concern regarding preparation. That said, it's exactly what he and his friend wanted to check off the bucket list.  The Hippie Trail. You know straight off you'd have rough conditions but it's the adventure of a lifetime.

This is actually the diary of two 23 year old friends who make this trip work on a showstring budget.  They controlled themselves by limiting photos to 11 per day.  These were the days of film and no cell phone snaps. 

The appeal to me was reading about the youthful carefree attitude regarding travel.  Something I have done, but wouldn't repeat now.

I was in Europe the same year Steves arrived to start this journey but my loose itinerary was all about seeing western Europe (and as much of it as possible) before money ran out. A one way ticket from Miami to Luxembourg and savings lasted me (and the now ex-husband) for a year and a half before returning home.  I interject this because I get the youthful sense of adventurous traveling, sleeping in a van, discovering new foods and cultures with zero responsibilities. 

Much thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is shared with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Published in 2025

Also sharing with Vicki for Mailbox Monday.

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci{2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

This book is filled with food (hence the title), love of family and travel stories.  I very much enjoyed this book. 

Straight off I wanted the salad of cannellini beans, canned tuna, red onion, tomatoes, basil and olive oil.  I wish I had added cucumbers but I will do that next time. (please excuse my poor photograhy skills)

His love of soups - "it's the greatest culinary invention which can be made with two ingredients or twenty ingredients.  It can be served hot or cold. It can be cooked fast or slow. It can be vegan, vegetarian, paleo, pescatarian or carnivorian.  Soup is life in a pot."

The entry for April 27 was poignant with the memories of his former home, the life he and his first wife Kate created with their children. Memories of raising their children there until her death in 2009.  "The house he watched his children leave for the first days of school, where they learned of their mother's illness, where Kate passed away and where the magnolia tree where some of her ashes are scattered."

The stories in the October entry about working with Ukrainian refugees was very moving to me.  Hearing the women talk about what was left behind and how they are managing with young children but wanting nothing more than to be home. 

So much food and so many ideas I am inspired to prepare from reading this.  It is after all called What I Ate in One Year.  I liked the diary like format and descriptions of life with his family and his working projects as well.

This book is shared with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Food

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan is a stunning book. It’s not one you’d read through very quickly but one you would want to pick up over time. It’s filled with delightful stories about birds, nature and personal observations.

Naturally I needed to use my favorite bird mug for sipping while reading.  (That mug made it through many years with me at work and brought me happiness in a Dilbert world)

I like the forward of the book written by David Sibley where he’s talking about early birding memories and starting a life list of birds he has seen.

When I was reading the forward I noticed she mentioned not driving and I wondered why.  Turns out she has Lyme Disease and I read about that on her website HERE.  It's a very interesting article.

Besides the commentary about the birds and observations, she also sketches the birds and does the artwork.  This labor of love is a result of our author needing escape from the state of our country and racism she encountered.  What a lovely way to channel distress into something positive.

In the back of the book, there is a selected reading list, sharing many authors and resources during the writing of this book.

If you have a bird lover in your family this would make a wonderful gift.

This book is shared with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Garden

The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke

 Two families, one heart and the medical miracle that saved a child’s life

A girl from Devon and a boy from Cheshire became intertwined by the most tragic circumstances. In 2017 nine-year old Keira Ball was in a car accident which left her brain dead. For several months prior to that accident nine-year old Max Johnson's heart was slowly failing him.  He'd contracted a virus which weaked his heart causing acute cardiomyopothy.

This book is a page turner and takes you on the journey of Keira and Max's lives when they were both happy and healthy children. The experiences of both sets of parents, before the accident and afterwards, will leave you with such empathy for both familes. I did shed a tear or two while reading.

I found this a fascinating book, learned so much such as how ventilators were invented, the beginnings of the first I.C.U. and so much more.  It was explained in laymans terms so I was never lost, it was never a dry narrative.  The coordination between hospitals, doctors and those working with matching the urgent needs for organ donation  is amazing.  I never knew how very detailed this process was.

"Grief, as nurses know better than anyone, is the form love takes when someone dies.  Perhaps grief hurts as much as it ought to - as much and as fiercely as the person who has died was loved."

Here is part of the letter Max's family gave to the anonymous donor family:

"To the donor family, We are writing to you as you hold a very special place in our hearts.  Our son, Max, is 9 and he had a heart transplant.  He was very poorly and a heart transplant was his only chance of coming home and starting a new life.

We are so very sorry that you lost your loved one, but we would like to thank you for the incredibly kind, courageous decison that allowed organs to be donated. We do not know the circumstances, but we can only imagine what a dreadful, harrowing time you have been through and are doubtless still going through, with the loss.

Even in your grief, you have made a selfless decision to help others and we are indescribably  grateful to you....."

Dr. Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor and the author of many books. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and children.

This book are shared with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Category: Health

Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday

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2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

 The 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge is hosted by Shelleyrae at Book'd Out.  Check out the details HERE. There are twelve categories and I have a few books sitting on the shelf, ready to roll for the new year.  I am going for the Nonfiction Nibbler category of six.

That said, if I see some nonfiction of interest during the year I will just read more than the planned six.  

Categories:

History

Memoir/Biography 

True Crime 

Science 

Health

Food

Travel 

Garden

Myth, Legend and Folklore

Islands

How-To

Published in 2025 

Right now I am trying to decide which book to start within the history and memoir categories.

The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell (also a classic) or Olive, Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter.  Maybe both for January ! It's always fun making the lists of books.

Check out the challenge link at Book'd Out.and join in.  Would love to see what others are reading!