All out of routine.........

I am a person who likes a routine.  I like to plan out my week ahead.  I do not like spur of the moment changes.  So getting sick wasn't part of the plan this past week.

However despite being sick I did manage to get the part of the basement painted that I planned on painting this past week.  It wasn't done until Saturday morning, but it was done.  Part of the issue with this basement decorating is that I can't do it all at once, it's too much for my hands.  Also I went and booked a company to come and clean the carpet and stairs down to the basement at the end of the month.  So I have a deadline; which is not something I normally do.

A bonus this past week, was getting more books read than I planned on doing this month, therefore cleaning out more books that have been laying around.  I will say though, the Jane Austen books are on hold as I can't handle them at the moment.

My goal for this basement for the upcoming week is to get it all painted and finished.  That will then give me another good week or so, to clean out cupboards and drawers down there and finishing tidying up in the laundry room before the end of the month.  That way I can do another trip to the charity store to donate stuff.

Oh and finally we got rid of the last of the snow........I hope I am not jinxing myself by saying this; as it is nearly the middle of April.  Hubby actually got out on Saturday and did the first of the winter cleanup.  It's far from being warm, but it's above freezing so we will take that as a win!

Which one are you?

Still not feeling great so catching up on some reading.  I am a cross between The Statue/The Whisperer/The Hoarder.  I am trying my hardest though to read what I have before I buy anything else!!

I am reading this at the moment.  "Nothing Daunted, by Dorothy Wickenden," it's pretty good.

Trending..........

 Did you know one of the biggest trends on Tik Tok is reading?  I didn't.  So I guess I am trendy, who knew😉

We had a doctors appointment last week, so called in at the Indigo Book Store while there.  Lots to see of course, in fact I spent a whole hour wandering around the store.  Took random photos of things I liked.

They have such lovely sweatshirts.  Shame I am always too hot to wear a sweatshirt......

I love the concept of book clubs, but generally hate going to them as I never like the books..........

The sign "Read More Scroll Less," caught my eye........I should do that!

I always check out the 3 for $10 books, did pick three up, but put them back.

Loved the colourway of these items, but I am not a journal writing person, are you?

These book sleeves/bags are popular.  I did buy one for grand daughter for her birthday last year, as she is a big reader.

I did pick this book up for $6 as it's one I have never read.  Have you read it?

I love this British magazine, I have bought it regularly since it was first published in the early 80's.  Fun fact, the lady on the front Helen Skelton;  she came from the same village hubby was brought up in.  He played football with her dad, although the dad is 3 years older.  Her brother is or was an assistant coach for the football team hubby supports.  She went through a rough time with her now ex-husband, it was splashed all over the newspapers.

Finally a bit of an update, as we are talking about books and reading in this post.  I have started reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and have to say I am struggling with it.  Probably less than a third of a way through it.  It's the language in it, and the way she writes.  I am having to reread things to make sure I have understood what she is saying.  Did anyone else have to same issues when reading her work?  The rate I am going It's going to take me better part of February to read the one book!

February is going to be a

... Jane Austen reading month for me.

I picked up this Jane Austen boxed collection on half price at Christmas for $15 which I thought was a good deal.

This is what is in the set:

Not sure in what order I should read them?  

Is there a right or wrong way in the order they should be read?

I have probably read these books at some point in my life, but I can't remember when?  I am a sucker for a historical British romance, so must say I am looking forward to reading these.

I will probably end up donating these to one of the "N's" both are bookworm's.  Would you believe Nora turned 12 in November and Nitara turned 13 earlier this month.........where has the time gone too?  Both are in Grade 7.......high school is just around the corner!

Are you a Jane Austen fan?  When was the last time you read one of her books?

Another finish

 As the weather has been miserable, I hunted out another puzzle that I bought when we were on vacation last September.

It's another 1,000 piece one and was quite hard I found.  Too much white and too much green...LOL

However it was really pretty.

This puzzle along with the other two I did this month have already been donated with a bunch of other things, as I am doing a bit of decluttering as well.  The spare bedroom already looks so much better.  Like books, puzzles I only make the once; books I generally never read more than the once!

Now back to reading!

Lazy Sunday...........

 I had a lazy Sunday yesterday.

Did manage to get a load of laundry done.  Popped to Costco to pick up a few bits and bobs, so I don't have to leave the house today.

I then alternated between reading my book "Fly Girls," and doing another 1,000 piece puzzle.  

Supper was a frozen PC Veggie Lasagna.  We had the regular size not the club size.  Enough leftover for hubby's lunch today.  It is really good.

Then we finished the day with watching the Netflix Show "Run Away," based on the book by Harlen Coben.  I will review that another day.

All in all a great way to spend a snowy Sunday.

What did you do on Sunday?

Goodreads Reader's Favourite Books 2025

I can actually say I haven't read any of them. (I have put links to the books, if you click on the titles)

Fiction: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Historical Fiction: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Mystery & Thriller: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Romance: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Now there are more categories which you can read about here.  The one I would be most interested in reading is the Mystery & Thriller one, "Not Quite Dead Yet."

Have you read any of them?  Have you decided to put one of the winners on your list to read?

Three books I read in October.........

 All three books are set in World War II

"The School for German Brides," by Aimie K. Runyan

Germany, 1939

As the war begins, Hanna Rombauer, a young German woman, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother's death. Thrown into a life of luxury she never expected, Hanna soon finds herself unwillingly matched with an SS officer. The independence that her mother lovingly fostered in her is considered highly inappropriate as the future wife of an up-and-coming officer and she is sent to a "bride school." There, in a posh villa on the outskirts of town, Hanna is taught how to be a "proper" German wife. The lessons of hatred, prejudice, and misogyny disturb her and she finds herself desperate to escape.

For Mathilde Altman, a German Jewish woman, the war has brought more devastation than she ever thought possible. Torn from her work, her family, and her new husband, she fights to keep her unborn baby safe. But when the unthinkable happens, Tilde realizes she must hide. The risk of discovery grows greater with each passing day, but she has no other options.

When Hanna discovers that Tilde hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Tilde, fear wars with desperation. The women must take extraordinary risks to save the lives of mother and baby.

Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for?

This was a fast paced book and there were many times I held my breath while reading, as you get so immersed in all that is going on.

This book was different in that it was also told from the German perspective, in that Hanna and Klara, although living a "spoiled and privileged life" they understood what was going on and tried to help the Jewish in their own way.  They too were trying to survive in an impossible situation, because at any time they could lose their own lives, despite having to marry SS Officers.

Add in Mathilde and her complex situation and how their paths collide it makes for a very interesting book.  As always make sure you read the authors notes, it's always interesting reading .

"The Book of Lost Names," by Kristin Harmel

Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names.

The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?

As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rémy disappears.

The main character Eva had so much life in her and her bravery went above and beyond.  I loved the priest also, Father Clement.  Eva's mother though was just annoying; however in those circumstances how anyone would act being on the run from the Nazi's who knows how you would act?

Also a book with a code in it, with the actual real names of Jewish people was such an ingenious idea.  I will say the ending had me in tears.  This book makes you grateful for everything you have, a must read.

"The Forest of Vanishing Stars," by Kristin Harmel

After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.

Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and suffused with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made Where the Crawdads Sing a worldwide phenomenon, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel.

Another book by Kristin Harmel, and again set in World War II.  I must say the synopsis of this book isn't anything exciting, but looks are deceiving.  This book is a must read.  You are drawn into the book before the end of the first chapter.  Yona is such a strong character and a superb heroine.  

I found the details of surviving in the forest very interesting.  I did realize, I wouldn't last five minutes!!!

You must read the author's notes, as they are so interesting and it show's you how much research went into this book.  It also explains how in fact many Jews did indeed survive the war by hiding in the forests.  

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, even more than The Book of Names.  

I am now reading "The Seamstress of Sardinia," by Bianca Pitzorno and thoroughly enjoying that also, will review later.

I am then going to read a Nora Roberts, trilogy.  Just to mix things up. So plenty of reading in front of me.

I love reading your book reviews, as that's where I get ideas of what books to read next.

Book's I read over the past couple of weeks........

 Here are a couple of books I have read over September/beginning of October.

A House In The Sky by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett.

As a child, Amanda Lindhout escaped a violent household by paging through issues of National Geographic and imagining herself visiting its exotic locales. At the age of nineteen, working as a cocktail waitress, she began saving her tips so she could travel the globe. Aspiring to understand the world and live a significant life, she backpacked through Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India, and emboldened by each adventure, went on to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. In war-ridden Afghanistan and Iraq she carved out a fledgling career as a television reporter. And then, in August 2008, she traveled to Somalia—“the most dangerous place on earth.” On her fourth day, she was abducted by a group of masked men along a dusty road.

Held hostage for 460 days, Amanda survives on memory—every lush detail of the world she experienced in her life before captivity—and on strategy, fortitude, and hope. When she is most desperate, she visits a house in the sky, high above the woman kept in chains, in the dark.

This was such a good book, well worth reading.  It was very eye opening.  Although I didn't feel any sympathy when she got kidnapped, as she was told multiple times by various people not to go to Somalia as it was so dangerous.  What they did to her while she was in captivity was not good!  You go through so many emotions while reading this book.  I do admire how she dug deep through the worst of times to just to get through the next day/hours/minutes.  Well worth the read.

"Our Woman in Moscow, by Beatriz Williams"

In the autumn of 1948, Iris Digby vanishes from her London home with her American diplomat husband and their two children. The world is shocked by the family’s sensational disappearance. Were they eliminated by the Soviet intelligence service? Or have the Digbys defected to Moscow with a trove of the West’s most vital secrets?

Four years later, Ruth Macallister receives a postcard from the twin sister she hasn’t seen since their catastrophic parting in Rome in the summer of 1940, as war engulfed the continent and Iris fell desperately in love with an enigmatic United States Embassy official named Sasha Digby. Within days, Ruth is on her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of counterintelligence agent Sumner Fox in a precarious plot to extract the Digbys from behind the Iron Curtain.

But the complex truth behind Iris’s marriage defies Ruth’s understanding, and as the sisters race toward safety, a dogged Soviet KGB officer forces them to make a heartbreaking choice between two irreconcilable loyalties.

I picked this book up while on vacation.  Wasn't sure where the story was going to go, but once I started it I could not put it down.  It's a mix of fact and fiction.  Some people mentioned in the book, were actual spies.  I did enjoy the twist in the book, didn't see it coming.  Lets just say I was impressed. Again another book worth reading.  I picked this book up in the clearance section in Books A Million (I think that's the chain) in the States.

"We Are Afghan Women, by George W. Bush Institute"

Here are Afghan women in their own words. Words that are by turns inspiring, moving, courageous, and heartbreaking. Their powerful stories create a compelling portrait of the lives, struggles, and successes of this extraordinary nation and its extraordinarily resilient women. With an introduction by Laura Bush, honorary founding co-chair of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council.

Afghanistan has been described as “the worst nation in the world to be a woman.” More than fifty percent of girls who are forced into marriage are sixteen or younger. Too many women live in fear and in many areas, education and employment for women are still condemned. The women featured in We Are Afghan Women are fighting to change all that. From rug weavers to domestic violence counselors to business owners, educators, and activists, these courageous women are charting a new path for themselves, their families, their communities, and their nation. Told in their own voices, their stories vividly capture a country undone by decades of war and now struggling to build a lasting peace.

Meet Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, who ran underground schools for girls until the Taliban fell, and today has established educational centers across Afghanistan to teach women and girls basic literacy. Or Freshta Hazeq, who as a female business owner, has faced death threats, sabotage, and even kidnapping threats against her children. Naheed Farid is the youngest female member of Afghanistan’s parliament. During her campaign, opponents cut Naheed’s face out of campaign posters and her family risked complete ruin, but her husband and father-in-law never wavered, encouraging her to persevere. Here, too are compassionate women such as Masooma Jafari, who started a national midwives association. Her own mother was forced into marriage at age twelve and gave birth to her first child at age thirteen.

With an introduction by former First Lady Laura Bush, We Are Afghan Women chronicles the lives of young and old, daughters and mothers, educated, and those who are still learning. These determined women are defying the odds to lead Afghanistan to a better future. Their stories are a stark reminder that in some corners of the world the struggle continues and that women’s progress in society, business, and politics cannot be taken for granted. Their eloquent words challenge all of us to answer: What does it truly mean to be a woman in the twenty-first century?

I had made a start on this book a while back and so I picked it back up when we came back from vacation.  It was first published in 2016, so unfortunately things have changed again in Afghanistan, and not for the better.  However, all these "stories" are still well worth reading.  Whether all these women are still doing what they set out to do and are still doing it under the leadership of the Taliban, who knows.

Regardless, they are very courageous and very determined individuals.  It makes you think that what we take for granted, by just going out for a walk by yourself, or playing sports, or talking to another man who is not related to you, is unthinkable for a lot of women in Afghanistan.

The one thing all these women and one man want is to make Afghanistan a better place for women to live in.  I do hope they succeed. 

I think I got this book from Book Outlet, where I get a few of my books from. 

"The Witness, by Nora Roberts."

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive.

Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems designer, her own protection is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town.

The mystery of Abigail Lowery and her sharp mind, secretive nature and unromantic viewpoint intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights.

And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.

I read this book in a day, as it was so good.........until the ending; which I thought was lacking.  The detail in this book, got you sucked into it from the very start.  That doesn't happen very often I find.  I rarely read Nora Robert's books, but picked this one up from Indigo in the 3 for $10 section.  

Abigail reminded me of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory.  The way Nora built up the storyline was great and she kept the leading characters to a minimum so it doesn't get awfully confusing as to who is who. There was action, romance, a bit of technical stuff, and a bit of cloak and dagger.  I did expect more from the ending though, as there was a lot more to tell to my mind.

I will look out for more Nora Roberts book's, as I did enjoy this one.

I might just do this................

 

I first saw this posted over at Small Moments Blog and thought it was wonderful.

I then googled Cottage Whimsy and went down an Etsy rabbit hole!!  Feel free to visit that rabbit hole here.

Have a lovely day either cleaning the house, or reading.........I would choose reading, personally!!

A great way to start a Saturday.......

Our biggest Canadian Bookstore chain Indigo was giving away 10 thousand books on Saturday the 13th of September to people over the age of 18.  This is the second year of doing this and they are going to make it an annual tradition.  Heather Reisman is the CEO of the company and is behind all this.

You got to choose one of these books:

I took hubby along and we lined up outside just before opening.  There was probably 20 or so people in front of us, and it was very well organized.  A lady came along the line and asked us what book would we like.  We told her and she gave up a slip of paper with the name of the book on it.

I made hubby chose this book, he doesn't read:

Here is a link so you can read the synopsis.

I chose this one:

Again here is a link to the synopsis.  I am really looking forward to this one and will take it on vacation with us.

I am reading this book that I picked up at the dollar store.  It's one of those books that you don't have to think hard to follow the story!!

You can read the synopsis here.

After I have finished that I may start on The Grey Wolf.

I must say as a reader I do appreciate a company that encourages reading, especially in adults.  I will of course pass my copies on to other readers, so they will be well used.

I also admire Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, that is such a great cause also.

Books........

Here are a couple of books I have just read.  The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong and  The Hollywood Governess by Alexandra Weston.   Both are good in their own right and both highlight gender prejudices.  I think I preferred the The War Librarian better as I didn't figure out the twist in the story, whereas I figured it out in The Hollywood Governess.

My next book up is Come Fly With me by Helen Rolfe.  It's the first book in Skylark series.  I have never read anything by this author.  Have you?

Update: from when I originally wrote this post I have read this book and it was really good, plenty of action in it.  I need to look out for the rest in this series.  

All three books were purchased at Indigo in the 3 for $10 section.

Daughter picked up this diamond art project for me on clearance.  Not sure if I should start it now or leave it until the colder weather appears?

What are you reading at the moment?

Cross stitch and more........

My weekly crafting, reading and puzzle making post.

It was flipping hot last week and this week is not looking any better with temperatures in the 30's all week....BOO!!!!!  Therefore it's all in the red this past week.

I am reading this book at the moment.  It's good, but it's taking it's sweet time getting to the nitty gritty of the story.  I seem to be in a World War II genre of reading books at the moment.

The puzzle is slowly coming together.  I have been busy this past week with hubby being off, so haven't had chance to do much.

What have you been up to in your spare time?

More books I have read.........

I have read these three books over the past couple of weeks.  All were really good and I would recommend them.  I have ordered a couple more by Jennifer Ryan from the library, so will show you those when they arrive.  All the books involve some aspect of World War II.  It was a tie between the Jennifer Ryan books as to which one I enjoyed the most.  Both of the Jennifer Ryan books involved actual things that happened during the war.

I must say Jennifer Ryan is my new favourite author at the moment.

Books I have read

Here are some of the books I have read in the past month.  I have not reviewed any of them though.

The Paris Showroom: Set in World War II based on true facts, and very interesting.

The True Love Bookshop: Perfect "chick-lit" great quick read.

The Beach Quilt: Teenage Pregnancy and how it affects all the people around her.  Well worth the read.

The Cornish Midwife: Perfect summer read.

The Oysterville Sewing Circle: Set of the west coast of the States.  Shows how resilient a woman can be when challenged.  Good read.

I got this one from the auction site for just under $4.  Again it was a feel good book.  It does feature a bit of religion in it, but it's not overwhelming.  Easy book to read.

I have just started this one by Jennifer Ryan.  This book includes recipes from World War II so very interesting.  I borrowed this book from the library.

What are you reading at the moment?

Reading...........

I have been having a clean out of books and have discovered numerous fiction books laying around.  When I say numerous probably well over 30 that I have purchased but haven't read yet.  So I have decided no more books are coming into the house until I have read the ones I have.  There is one exception though and that is the books that my mother is reading in her book club.  I will borrow those from the library.  I have also decided, if I can't "get into" a book after a few chapters, then I am not going to waste my time trying to read it.

I have three areas/bookcases where I keep books in the house.  In the living room I have this cabinet.  All are fiction novels in this area.

In the basement there is this built in unit.  Now the only fiction area is the third shelf down on the right hand side.  The bottom shelf on the left hand side is all the kids books.  I need to clean out that shelf, but waiting another few months until Evan turns 3 and then I'll get rid of the baby books.

This bookshelf is in the spare bedroom and holds magazine and cooking and crafting books.

I have donated a lot of books and magazines over the past few months.  Still have more to purge.

Do you own a lot of books?

I book I am reading at the moment is "The Last Time I Saw Paris," by Lynn Sheene.  I did post another review here on my book review blog.