Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Sep 7

The End of Summer (September 7, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Happy Labor Day to those in the US! Sadly, this signals the end of summer as we enter the full schedule of fall. School is back in session, performances are beginning to mount, and (hopefully) the weather will begin to cool. Labor Day also brings the end of Big Book Summer….and I got my last big book finished just in time! Look for a special section below to summarize the books I read for this fun annual event.

What I Finished This Week

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. I really struggled with this book. The story centers around four women who travel to Italy and spend the month of April in a castle. While they are there, we learn much about their lives back in England, their struggles in relationships, and their dreams for the future. Typically, this should have been an excellent read for me. I think the problem with this experience was the fact that I read an audiobook with a narrator whose accent made listening difficult. Because I was listening while walking around the indoor track, I struggled to become fully engaged in the slow-moving plot. 2 stars.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. The third book in the Outlander series, Voyager reunited Claire and Jaime. Much of this volume focuses on Jaime’s two children as well as his difficult relationship with his sister. When his nephew Ian decides to follow Jaime on an adventure, the young man is captured by pirates. Jaime and Claire seek to rescue him. Their efforts lead them to the Caribbean islands and all of the magic and sorcery found there. While I adore the characters in the series, the large amount of scenes occurring on boats was a struggle for me. I also found the reading rather slow to plow through. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Summer of 66 by Dan Wheatcroft (p. 64 of 265). With the beginning of September, another mini-challenge appeared from The 52 Book Club. That’s just not what I needed to happen so early in the month, but I was immediately engaged and began to look for titles to fit the prompts. The Summer of 66 is proving to be an engaging novel so far. A British police detective is reassigned to work with the stats department. In reality, he is working with a offshoot of MI5 to investigate a case that has led to the suicide of multiple investigators in rapid succession. This has been a nice change of pace from the sweeping saga that Voyager was. I’m also enjoying that it is a much quicker read and not as long!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (p. 54 of 453). I have never read any novel by the Bronte sisters. I have started a couple of them, only to find them boring and too challenging. Somehow, it seems that I had a wrong impression of what Jane Eyre was all about. I don’t really know what I thought the book was about, but I certainly was not expecting to read about a young orphan girl who was mistreated by her benefactress before being sent away to boarding school. I suppose I was anticipating something more in the vein of Pride and Prejudice. I have really enjoyed the book so far and I am finding this edition to be very approachable.

Big Book Summer 2026

For the last 3 summers, I have participated in Big Book Summer. Hosted by Sue Jackson, it is a celebration of big books and the stories that we love that take over 400 pages to tell. Running from Memorial Day to Labor Day each summer, it coincides nicely with the break in my teaching schedule. As you know, this summer was full of twists and turns in my world. Still, I wanted to participate and am pleased with my accomplishments. Here’s the complete list of the Big Books I finished in Summer 2026.

  • This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (407 pages) – 5 stars
  • Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (886 pages) – 3.5 stars
  • The Godfather by Mario Puzo (448 pages) – 4.75 stars
  • Reckless at Heart by Zoe York (602 pages) – 3.75 stars
  • PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly (418 pages) – 4 stars
  • Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (870 pages) – 3.75 stars

Six big books this summer, totaling 3,631 pages…..I’ll take that for the win!

August in Review

August was not a good month for my reading life. I struggled as I prepared to leave the Geriatric Ward and make my way back to my life. As exhaustion set in, I was struggling to meet my daily goal of reading at least 20 pages. Since that streak continued through this challenging month, I’m going to take that as a win. But it means that I have a lot of reading to do in the coming months to meet my 2026 goals and finish the main challenge.

  • Books I read in August: 4 (down 8 from July)
    • 2 print
    • 1 audio
    • 1 ebook
  • Pages read in August: 1,408 pages (down 1,446 from July)
  • Highest rated book: The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (3 stars)

The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress

Since August was not a productive reading month for me, there is little progress to see here. It turns out that I have completed 31 of the 52 prompts. That means there are 21 prompts remaining — so I need to add 5 or 6 books each month if I hope to finish the challenge by December. It’s entirely possible, I just have to be very intentional in my reading for the rest of the year.

The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge

With intentional reading for the rest of the year to finish the main challenge, that means that the summer and remaining mini-challenges will probably need to get put on pause. But they are so much fun to read! (And I’ve got prompts left in the main challenge that I have not been looking forward to….oops!). Anyway, here’s where the summer challenge is at the moment.

I read 2 books for this challenge in August. Now I’m supposed to work on prompt #7 – a book with a final page count that is ODD. Am I the only one finding that most of the books I’m interested in reading have an even number of pages? Alas, I’ll find something to read to keep moving on this challenge eventually.

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Aug 31

Let the Insanity Begin! (August 31, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

School is back in session and my schedule is absolutely packed! Trying to find time to do my job….much less time to read for pleasure….was a real challenge this week. My days are going to be filled and I’m starting to realize that there is a very good chance that I will not finish the 2026 reading challenge by the end of the year. That’s not the worst thing ever, but I would like to start 2027 with a clean reading slate. Oh well…..I’m still having fun reading and trying to get it all done!

What I Finished This Week

Nada….Nothing…..Zip….Zero. For the second week this month, I have not finished a book. I’m choosing not to let that become distressing, but I am also not going to pretend that I am happy about it. This monster of a book just is not moving as I had hoped. Failing to maintain my daily walking regime didn’t help me finish my current audio book either. Just have to get back into a routine — or establish a new routine — that will bring me regular finishes once again.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 698 of 870). I continue to plug away at this book and have gotten another 200+ pages under my belt. I’m not entirely sure what it is about this novel, but I cannot make significant strides when I sit down with this book. It’s not that the book is hard to read or unenjoyable. There’s just something about the book itself that causes my reading pace to slow considerably. Now, Jamie and Claire are making their way to the West Indies in pursuit of a kidnapped young Ian while trying to avoid those who would like to capture and execute our lovable hero. Hopefully one more week will get me to the end of this massive tome. I just have to be finished by Labor Day…..I just have to!

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (4:23 of 8:09). Not walking during lunch each day was a huge hit to my progress in my audio book. It’s a double edge sword too. I don’t think I was making an appointment with myself to go for the daily walk because I wasn’t looking forward to reuniting with the characters in the book or the narrator herself. I have no doubt that I will finish this one up this week with a trip to Dallas on the horizon for the holiday weekend.

Upcoming Plans

It’s rare that I already know what books are coming up in my reading life, but I have a couple of looming books that I’m actually looking forward to beginning very soon.

  • Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao. I was drawn to this book over the Christmas break while visiting a local bookstore. It has sat in my TBR for quite some time, always taking a back seat to other novels calling my name. With a prompt calling for a stand alone fantasy novel, it seems that Water Moon has now found its time in the sun. It is sitting in the floor right next to my reading chair so I can dive in the second I finish the Gabaldon book.
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I am embarrassed to admit that I have never read this classic novel. Typically, I struggle with these Victorian works and have shied away from the Bronte sisters’ works. That is changing now that I have gotten involved with a virtual book club (I know, I know…..I’m a glutton for punishment to add another challenge to my already full life!) and this month’s selection is Jane Eyre. I don’t think it will be too bad as we are reading roughly 10 chapters per week and should make our way through the novel by the end of September. I did splurge a bit and picked up an edition with a captivating cover that I hope will encourage me to engage with the book regularly as I make my way through.

Next week, I’ll take a look back at my accomplishments (and lack of) during the month of August. In case you’re wondering, I estimate that I need to complete approximately 5 1/2 books each month for the rest of the year to complete The 52 Book Club’s 2026 Reading challenge. That’s not impossible…..but it means that I will probably need to put the summer challenge and the upcoming mini challenges to the side. The problem is that it is SO FUN to complete the shorter challenges as well! I just want to do it all! Maybe I need to find a job that pays me to read all day long…..but only what I want to read…..because I hate being told what to read….yeah, that never worked well in any of my classes….

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Aug 24

Claiming Every Moment (August 24, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

School started this week and things got BUSY quickly! Whether it was trying to track down scholarship students, making a recording with an ensemble, or getting technology to actually work properly, I have been running most of the week. I don’t mean to imply that I’m not enjoying the work — I am! There is life and excitement in the music wing once again and I am all for it. My reading life, however, has taken a bit of a hit as a result of the new schedule.

Now I find myself looking for any available moment to get in a few pages throughout the day. Graded essays for 90 minutes? I deserve a 15 minute reading break. Taking a walk around the indoor track? I’ll listen to a few chapters of an audio book. Some of my current reads are easy to insert into my day — especially ebooks. Others provide more of a challenge.

What I Finished This Week

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. If you follow me on social media, you probably saw that I asked for book recommendations from my friends recently. I got a LOT of really good recommendations that have been added to my TBR. The reason for the post, however, was to fulfill a prompt for the Summer Beach Reads challenge. I took the first 6 recommendations I received, assigned a number to each, and rolled the die. This musical enemies-to-lovers was the selected book. It is the story of Xander and Gwen, two musicians who find each other despite many obstacles. While I did enjoy the story itself, I found myself distracted and reflecting on the manipulation of the characters by family, agents, and colleagues. While my heart broke for the musicians, I found myself thinking about how the industry needs to change and wondering how I can begin to prepare my own students for the cut-throat world they will probably face after graduation. 3.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim (2:56 of 8:09). This is my current book for when I’m on the move — either in the car for a drive or walking around the track. It is the story of four British women who rent an Italian castle for a glorious vacation away from all responsibility for the month of April. The premise is intriguing. The narrator, however, is a real challenge for me, but I’ve decided I’m going to push through. Here’s hoping that things begin to get better with this read now that the women have arrived at the castle and are experiencing their first conflict.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 427 of 870). I’m struggling with this read at the moment. I think it is all about the size of the book, honestly. I’m just not at a place where diving into a massive read is enticing to me. I’m trying to convince myself that since there are only 443 pages remaining in the book that it is just like a normal weekly read at this point. The story is great. The writing is outstanding. It’s just big! This is the final read for the 2026 Big Book Summer challenge for me; that means I technically just need to finish by Labor Day, but I’d really like to get it off of my plate sooner. Here’s hoping….

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Aug 17

Back on the Carousel (August 17, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Sometimes, it feels as though I am meeting myself coming and going. As the semester gets rolling again, that’s the atmosphere in my world. I get up, frantically try to get things done between all of the other crises that arise around me, get a quick bit of food, crawl in bed and do it all again. In the midst of the constant shuffle, I still managed to get some reading done!

What I Finished This Week

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. I adored this book! It was such a fun, informative read. This piece of historical fiction centers around the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune as together they work to improve the lives of women and African-Americans. I was entertained. I was educated. I was inspired by the reading. This novel inspired one of my personal studies for this fall; I’m going to explore the life and presidency of FDR. 4.75 stars.

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall. Valentine is a wealthy duke who has been promised to Arabella. There’s only one problem — Arabella doesn’t love him and intends to run away to avoid a life of marital servitude. Her twin brother, Bonny, joins Valentine in pursuit of Arabella. Things become complicated as Bonny and Valentine develop feelings for each other. The novel explores the stereotypes of MM relationships and the desire of all people to find authentic love. The first in a series that I don’t anticipate completing. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 362 of 870). With all of the meetings that had happened this week, I didn’t manage to get much done in this behemoth this week. Still, I got through roughly 100 more pages. Now that the story is heating up as young Ian fears that he may have murdered a man unintentionally and there is a possibility that political tracks printed by Jamie may be circulating among his enemies, the story is much more compelling. I’m hoping to get very close to a finish this week. We shall just have to see how that goes though.

Getting Things Done by David Allen (p, 53 of 125). Every few years, I return to this productivity work. Published in 2001, the book is starting to show some age, but the basic concept presented continues to assist me in my personal management. (I think there may be an updated edition that I should probably check out.) I’ve been feeling as though my world is a little out of control, so this is the perfect time to revisit the book and see if I can find ways to help tame the craziness.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto (p. 76 of 365). Earlier this week, I asked friends for book recommendations. While I am always thrilled to hear what others are reading, this request was part of the Summer Beach Read challenge over on The 52 Book Club. I took the first 6 books recommended, assigned each a number, and rolled a die. That’s how I got started on this Julie Soto novel. It’s a romance featuring two musicians. I’m far too early in the reading to tell you much more than that. I’m very happy that it is a rather light read that is perfect at the end of the day.

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Aug 9

Will It Ever End? (August 10, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Just when I thought the summer of Geriatric Health Care was going to end smoothly, I was hit with other plans. Dad ended up going back to the ER on Thursday and remains there as of the writing of this post. The doctor is not yet entirely sure what we are fighting, but we know that his blood markers are all over the place. Since the end of the week was spent transporting Mom to the hospital, cancelling appointments, and trying to prepare for my departure without any unnecessary bloodshed, my reading took a bit of a nose dive. I managed to read my minimum goal of pages each day, but that didn’t get me to the week’s planned finish line.

What I Finished This Week

Nothing to see here. Not a single book was finished this week. Hopefully that will mean a good number of finishes for next week.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 270 of 870). With all of the running this week, my reading of this monster only happened at home. It’s too heavy to drag around! So I got through another 100 pages. I will probably try to make this a focus of the week so I can make significant progress in the coming days. I’m enjoying the story, but I’m ready to get things moving forward again.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (p. 280 of 370). I have fallen absolutely in love with this book and the two female characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or you are interested in exploring the plight of the African-American community in 20th century America, you should DEFINITELY add this book to your TBR! Fascinating situations with wonderful storytelling. Once again, fiction has inspired my next personal study. (I’m going to dive into the presidency of FDR for a couple of months and see what I can discover there.)

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (4:13 of 10:53). I needed an audiobook for my drive to Texas. Alas, I didn’t have an available credit in my Audible account and didn’t have enough direction to search for something on Libby. This charming, witty period piece was in my library and I had not listened yet. it probably won’t turn out to be one of my favorite reading experiences, but it is keeping my attention as the miles click along.

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Aug 3

Stress Reading (August 3, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Summer break is beginning to wind down and that means my return to west Texas is imminent. That revelation has increased my stress level significantly as I attempt to tie up as many loose ends in the Geriatric Ward as possible before leaving. I’ll do anything to try to keep as much of this stress off of Mom as possible.

As the stress has climbed, reading has been a welcome escape. Reading a novel about death during the Black Plague was probably not the best choice for this season of my life, but I got through the book and enjoyed the read — despite the tears! Here’s a look at what I finished, what I’m reading, and how things went in the month of July.

What I Finished This Week

Bookstore on the Bay by Leeanna Morgan. Bookstore on the Bay was a charming romance about two older adults who find a second chance at love. Isabel and her three friends first met as teens at a summer camp in Sapphire Bay. Many years later, she returns to the Bay to start again after the death of her husband. Frank made his way to the small town after leaving a lucrative job in Seattle. When he found that a security company was acting deceitfully and putting people in danger, he sounded the alarm. Now they are out to stop him from testifying at any cost. After losing his daughter and her husband in a tragic car accident, Frank decides that Sapphire Bay is the perfect place for him and his grandson Thomas to find stability and safety while the lawsuit calms down. When Frank crosses paths with Isabel, the two know that they have found something they were not expecting. Leeanna Morgan creates a cute story that kept me turning the page to see what was going to happen to these loveable characters. 4 stars.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. I was a bit skeptical going into my reading of this novel. So often, I find that many of the blockbuster novels don’t live up to the hype. O’Farrell’s novel was certainly worthy of the praise it received. I found it fascinating to watch the relationship between Shakespeare and Agnes grow and falter as they faced unimaginable tragedy in the face of the Black Death. The novel was poignant; I found myself marking several especially beautiful passages about death, grief, and the artistic process to revisit later. I’m definitely planning to investigate more of O’Farrell’s novels later. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 170 of 870). Progress in the latest volume of the Outlander series was stunted this week. With lots of other projects demanding my attention as I prepare to leave the Geriatric Ward later this week and getting pulled into Hamnet, I made less progress here than I had hoped. Still, the story is great! I’ve enjoyed watching Jamie’s leadership in prison as Claire learns more about what happened to her husband from another century. I’m just getting into Jamie’s indentured servitude and how he is being blackmailed by the young Lady of the estate. This will be the final Big Book of Summer for me this year, so I’m happy as long as I am steadily making progress.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (p. 42 of 370). On a visit to the Memphis library last week, I presented one of the librarians with a challenge that he admitted was one of the more interesting he had heard this year. As part of the Summer Beach Read challenge, I needed to find a work of historical fiction that had a six-letter word as the first word of the text. He furrowed his brow and asked if I meant the first word of the title. No, the prompt clearly says the first word in the book is to be six letters long. (I know! This is crazy, right?) I had decided to be very literal in my interpretation of the prompt and use the first word of the text as opposed to any introductory material. So we decided to begin our search by looking at authors who wrote multiple works of historical fiction that came highly recommended by library patrons. Then, it was just going to be a scavenger hunt. I was really lucky that the second author on the list he provided led me to two books that would fit the prompt: The Other Einstein and The First Ladies. The second novel sounded the most interesting to me in the moment, so that’s the one I have chosen to begin reading. (In case you are wondering, the novel begins with the sentence “Nearly fifty blocks whir past my cab window as I ride through the upper reaches of Manhattan from the Hotel Olga in Harlem.” This one is going to be about the unlikely relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune. I’m looking forward to getting further into this novel this week.

July 2026 in Review

July turned out to be my most productive reading month of 2026 thus far! I have to admit that I’m a little surprised at how much was accomplished given all that has been going on in the Geriatric Ward. Audio books and e-books certainly helped me out a lot.

  • Books I read in July: 12 (up 3 from June)
  • Pages read in July: 2,874 (up 224 from June)
  • Highest rated book: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2.75 stars)

The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress

With the end of July, I managed to cross the halfway point of the 2026 challenge. That’s a month later than I would have liked, but I think I’m still in a fairly good place to finish on track. I have plans for several of the prompts that remain and only two of those are really worrying me at this point — the stand alone science fiction novel and the genre defining book. I had planned to read Dune for genre defining, but I’m starting to get cold feet about that selection. I may shelf that one for the 2027 challenge and find another option for this year. At this point, I just need books that I am really excited about reading that will keep me moving forward.

The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge

Five of July’s reads moved me around the game board in the summer challenge. If you look closely, you will see First Ladies just before the start space. So I’m getting ready to make my second lap of the board! The game element getting added into the challenge has really made this one addictive and something I want to play through.

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Jul 27

Roller Coaster Summer (July 27, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

This week was full of ups and downs. As the week began, things were running smoothly and everyone was getting along. As the week progressed, more challenges were encountered and stress levels went through the roof! In those moments when things got tense, I found myself turning into my reading. What can I say? It’s great therapy! So I guess you can say that there was a silver lining in that I got a lot of reading done this week. Hoping that the reading pace continues without the additional drama though. If this roller coaster keeps going, I may be looking for the barf bag.

What I Finished This Week

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This is my second Neil Gaiman novel. I’ll share the unpopular opinion; I don’t like his writing at all! It’s not just that I don’t enjoy fantasy. I find the writing convoluted. I think the problem is that I also can’t really tell who the intended audience is supposed to be. If you want to write for children, do it. If you want to write a fairy tale for adults, do it. Don’t try to mix the two. It just doesn’t work. 2.75 stars (and that’s generous…..)

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. Alexis is a ER doctor in a prestigious Minneapolis hospital. Her family has a long history of making significant contributions in the medical field. She is constantly trying to live up to expectations. While driving home from a family funeral, Alexis swerves to avoid striking a raccoon and lands in the ditch. This is where she meets Daniel, a simple small town guy who is a jack-of-all-trades and runs the local Bed and Breakfast. The two immediately find chemistry, but realize that they come from two different worlds. Jimenez weaves a lovely story that examines challenging family relationships, the importance of social structure, and navigating personal preferences when they conflict with high expectations. Definitely worth a read, but you should know that the book deals prominently with domestic abuse (mostly of a verbal nature, although physical abuse is also present). 4.75 stars.

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon. I was having difficulty settling on a book that would meet the prompt of a read with a diacritical mark on the cover. Nothing that I found really grabbed my attention. I selected this book on a whim on a recent trip to Barnes and Noble. It turned out to be a very enjoyable read. Frida and Gabriel were raised in a cult and became best friends. After escaping, the two pursue lives on the outside. Gabriel marries a vibrant young woman who tragically dies shortly afterwards; Gabriel is accused of her murder. Nearly a decade later, Frida and Gabriel find themselves once again entwined in the tragic death of a young woman. Michallon writes a fascinating story of family, abuse, and unconditional love. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Bookstore on the Bay by Leeanna Morgan (p. 167 of 244). As part of the summer Beach challenge, I had to select 6 books on my reading list and allow fate (via the roll of a die) to determine my next read. I selected some of the free books that I have loaded onto my Kindle and ended up being very pleased with the results. Morgan tells the story of a widow, Isabella, who returns to the quaint town of Sapphire Bay to reunite with childhood friends. While there, she meets Frank and his young grandson, Tommy. The two become friends as Isabella purchases the town’s bookstore and decides to begin a new chapter in her life. However, developing feelings for Frank and Tommy may come with challenges. Frank relocated to Sapphire Bay to escape the danger brought on by providing evidence to the FBI against a powerful security firm. A quick, fascinating read with a charming love story featuring older adults looking for a second chance.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 38 of 870). Ever since first participating in Big Book Summer in 2024, the Outlander series has been part of the annual plans. With Dad’s health complications this summer, there just wasn’t a convenient time to start the book earlier. Since I have a couple of weeks left before my life returns to full swing, I decided this was the time to hit the third volume in the saga. Although I just started the book yesterday afternoon, it has been easy to fall back into the story of Jamie and Claire. I won’t get through this behemoth this week, but I’m hoping to make a significant dent in it.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (p. 38 of 305). One prompt for the 2026 challenge has a tendency to sneak up on me — a book that I started reading on the 26th! As I made plans to start new books for the week after Saturday’s finish, I realized I could delay a day and plug something in for this prompt to get it off my plate. Yeah! Hamnet has long been of interest to me. All I really know (at least, what I think I know) is that it is the story of the son of Shakespeare who will ultimately inspire the character Hamlet. I could be completely wrong, but I’m enjoying the early pages of this novel so far.

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Jul 20

No Rest for the Weary (July 20, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

This week was rather hectic. A frantic race to sign papers in Plainview (which turned out to be a fruitless trip), getting the other Geriatric in for a CT scan, and a long Friday afternoon in the ER with my Dad. Add to all of this an excruciating back ache, and you have the formula for a lot of reading since I couldn’t do much else.

What I Finished This Week

Breaking His Rules by Layla Hagen. The first audio book that I completed this week. Grant is the COO of a security company who does everything by the book. When his best friend decides to host his engagement party at a small restaurant, Grant plans to overrun the charming space with security upgrades in order to ensure that nothing happens. The restaurant’s owner, Ruby, turns out to be a bigger obstacles than Grant had anticipated. Ruby fully intends to maintain the quaintness of her space while trusting that everything will be just fine since nothing has ever happened before that should cause concern. The two square off and prepare for battle, but become friends along the way as they realize that they share a common goal — making sure the engagement party is everything their friends have dreamed of. This is really a cute enemies-to-lovers romance that has more character building than you would expect. 3.5 stars.

Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren. Dating You/Hating You had been on my TBR since the beginning of the 2026 challenge since Christina Lauren is a pen name for the writing duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Carter and Evie both work as talent agents in successful Hollywood studios. When their companies merge, the two find themselves competing for the same job. Their attraction is undeniable, but it is also what they fear most. Will their tenderness toward each other be used by one of them in order to get the upper hand? This was a really enjoyable audio book that made the roads through Texas and Arkansas pass much more quickly. 3.5 stars.

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham. Sebastian Rudd is the lawyer everyone hates. He defends the most despicable and often gets his clients lighter sentences than they deserve. His ex-wife thinks he is a worthless father, more concerned with his career than his child. The police hate him because he is less concerned with justice than winning the case at any cost. One of his clients claims to know the current location of a missing police officer and reveals crucial information to Rudd. The problem? Should Rudd share this information with the authorities, he will be breaking attorney-client privilege and jeopardize his career. While this wasn’t my favorite of Grisham’s novels, I was enthralled by the story as well as the legal and moral issues raised. 3 stars.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Set in Iceland, this novel was read to fulfill the prompt of a story set in either the Arctic or Antarctica in the main 2026 challenge. Agnes has been convicted of killing a man in his home. Her sentence? Death by beheading. While awaiting her execution date, Agnes is sent to the remote farm in northern Iceland. Suffering through the extreme winter weather, she is also outcast by the farming family that is forced to host her. In order to prepare mentally and spiritually, a young priest is assigned the task of ministering to her (despite Agnes’ lack of faith). Kent’s historical novel examines the search for truth, the impact of unrequited love, and the natural fear of death in a gripping tale of intrigue and doubt. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon (p. 49 of 299). A summer resort is rocked by the death of a woman and the subsequent arrest of her famous husband. For Gabriel and Frida, the events trigger memories of their time in a cult as children. I just started reading last night, but I’m already fascinated and ready to tear through more of this story tonight.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (p, 80 of 372). I read Yours Truly last year and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I decided that I should read the first of the books in the series. This story focuses on Alexis and Daniel, two people who could not be more dissimilar, but find themselves drawn to each other. I really enjoy Jimenez’s writing style and the ease of getting pulled into the story.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (3:06 of 5:43). It only seems appropriate to be reading at least one book at the moment that is not a total hit for me. For the summer challenge, I needed a fantasy book with a “watery” scene. Fantasy is not a favorite genre for me, so I was looking for something rather short that didn’t require too much world building. I’m just not in the mood for that type of work at the moment. At just under 6 hours, Gaiman’s tale seemed like the perfect option. The story is entertaining and I’m finding that listening to the story makes it easier to get into.

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Jul 13

Things are Heating Up (July 13, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

It has been a warm week in eastern Arkansas. Heat indexes reached the 100s this week and the only thing I wanted to do was find a cool corner and read. Despite having several trips to see doctors and physical therapists for Dad, I still managed to complete two books this week. In keeping with the summer vibes, they were both fluffy beach reads that kept me relaxed and my mind off of the other pressures of the day. Right now, that’s just what the doctor orders!

What I Finished This Week

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. I took a mental health break on Wednesday afternoon since Mom was taking the afternoon off. I had a doctor’s appointment early in the afternoon, so she told her co-workers that she would just take the entire day. After getting a good report from the cardiologist, I took the afternoon as a reset and made this audio book as my soundtrack for my drives around the city. I really enjoyed the story of Jack and Elsie against the backdrop of academia. Hazelwood’s writing was witty, sharp, and concise. I especially enjoyed Elsie’s struggles with honesty in uncomfortable situations because of her fear of abandonment. (I might have seen a bit of myself in this aspect of her.) My only issue with this reading experience was the lack of listening time. Even though I have been in the car quite a bit lately, I haven’t been alone — so I don’t listen. I think my inconsistent listening might have impacted my overall enjoyment of this story. 3.75 stars.

I Loved You First by Cate Beauman. Jack is a single father raising his soon-to-be five-year-old son. Although his son was the result of a drunken night, Jack has no regrets because he adores the child. What he does regret, however, is that Fiona got away because of his poor choices. When her mother suffers a car accident, Fiona returns to her small Vermont home to care for her parent — and quickly runs into Jack. Their friendship blossoms, largely due to the charming five-year-old. I Loved You First handles discussions of fertility issues, unwanted pregnancies, and adoption tenderly. Even though it fell into typical plot lines, I found myself loving the characters in the novel and rooting for their happily ever after ending. 3.75 stars.

What I DNF’d This Week

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. This is not a “will not read” choice for me; instead, the message is “not right now.” In the middle of summer while watching baseball and World Cup soccer, I am not enthralled by the story of a hockey town and the difficult relationships of the players and coaches. I think I will ultimately enjoy Backman’s writing, but I wasn’t in the headspace right now to connect. Until later, Beartown.

What I’m Currently Reading

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham (p. 252 of 346). My latest prompt in the Summer Beach Read challenge called for a judicial procedural with a red spine. After lots of searching through cover art, I finally landed on Rogue Lawyer. The novel has been a little different from what I have come to expect from Grisham’s writing. The book features several cases that are connected by the lawyer defending each. As I am entering the last third of the novel, an earlier client is making a reappearance — possibly to tie the different stories together. I just don’t know yet. This has been an easy read and I am enjoying the writing, but the lack of a continuous story line has left we wanting a little more.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (p. 150 of 314). In the middle of the week, I made a trip to the bookstore simply to browse. While there, I decided to look for books that would fit two of the prompts of the 52 Book Club’s 2026 challenge that I am most nervous about — 1) a book set in either the Arctic or Antartica and 2) a book with a diacritical mark on the cover. I was especially pleased when I found something that would work for both prompts that grabbed my attention. (I’ll tell you more about the second novel next week once I start reading it.) Burial Rites is set in the northernmost section of Iceland — just inside the Arctic Circle — and focuses on Agnes, a young woman convicted of murder. Her punishment? Death by beheading. While awaiting her execution, Agnes is sent to live on a family farm. Outcast by her hosts, Agnes must come to terms with her own feelings about death, her past, and how the community views her. To help her in her quest for peace, Agnes receives spiritual guidance from a young priest. I was intrigued by the premise of this historical novel, but didn’t expect to enjoy the work as much as I am.

Breaking His Rules by Layla Hager (0:37 of 7:28). I had several errands to run this weekend and I thought I would have time in the car alone to start a new audiobook. I chose this one on a total whim because it was included with my Audible membership and I have already used this month’s credits. Turns out that Pop was going a little stir crazy on Saturday and decided to tag along with me on the afternoon errands — so I only listened to 30 minutes of the book. Honestly, I’ll probably start from the top when (if?) I end up making a frantic dash back to Texas this week to tie up a few loose ends there that just can’t wait until August.

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Jul 6

Celebrating 250! (July 6, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

This week was rather normal here in the Geriatric Ward. Lots of doctor’s appointments, caring for my parents, making dinners, and preparing for the family to gather and celebrate the July 4th holiday together. Somehow, I also managed to get some reading done along the way. (It sort of helps when you don’t have to do a regular job at the moment as well…..taking care of the patients is enough of a full time job!) It’s been a really good week and I’m please with the results.

What I Finished This Week

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly. For some reason lately, I’m reading all of the books about loved ones who have passed and the awkward ways of saying goodbye. While I hope that the Universe is not trying to prepare me for something upcoming, I will admit that the stories have been lovely and somewhat comforting. In Connolly’s novel, Maddie has lost her brother to cancer. At the funeral, she receives instructions that she is to visit the 8 states that her brother did not get to during life and spread his ashes in beautiful locations. There is a catch though — she is to be accompanied by Dominic. Dominic was her brother’s best friend and the guy that broke her heart. In the typical enemy-to-lovers fashion, the adventures are filled with anger and lots of sexual tension. Overall, this was a charming look at the idea of a chosen family and the importance of building relationships while balancing our moral responsibilities. 4 stars.

The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham. Published in 1919, this classic novel is an exploration of the line between focusing on material wealth and security and following our passions. Charles Strickland was a successful stock broker in London who had it all — wealth, success, and a loving family. Despite it all, he was not happy. Strickland announces that he is done, packs up and moves to Paris to pursue the life of an aspiring artist, leaving his wife, children, and job behind without a second glance. Strickland does not find success and continues to run, making his way to Tahiti. There the artist will live in poverty and ultimately succumb to a horrific disease that will take his life. After his death, Strickland is finally appreciated as a genius and master of his craft. Maugham presents a tale that teaches that moderation is more important than total devotion to either extreme. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (8:57 of 12:33). A romance set in the cut-throat world of academia? Yes, please! I’m really enjoying this story of the grumpy experimental physicist who falls for the lovely theorist who has been posing as his brother’s “fake date.” Confused? It’s a fun puzzle to unravel.

I Loved You First by Cate Beauman (p. 50 of 330). Another romance for my summer challenge. This one features Cam, a single father who has never left his quaint New England hometown. After her mother’s car accident, Fiona returns home for the first time since Cam broke her heart, announcing that he was going to marry her rival who was now pregnant with his child. Fiona intends to avoid Cam at all cost, but once she meets his precocious 5-year-old son…all bets are off. I’m certain this is going to be very predictable, but it’s proving to be an enjoyable read so far.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman (p. 60 of 415). A murder in a small town obsessed with hockey. That’s all I really know at the moment. Reading this one because of the many rave reviews it has received. At this point, the jury is still out for me.

June 2026 in Review

June has been a very productive reading month for me. Reading was my escape during long days visiting hospitals and rehab centers. For the most part, I didn’t read “hard-hitting” literature, but it was what I needed in the moment. Here is the month by the numbers.

  • Books read in June: 9 (up 1 from May)
    • 2 physical
    • 3 audio
    • 4 ebooks
  • Pages read in June: 2,650 (up 795 from May)
  • Highest rated book: This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page – 5 stars
  • Lowest rated book: Protected by the Biker by Logan Chance – 2 stars

The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress

I made six additions to the main challenge this month, bringing me to the 40% mark with 21 finished books. I would like to be a little closer to the halfway point, but I think I can continue to make some serious progress toward my goal in the remaining few months of summer vacation. I’m not worried (yet!) about completing the challenge by the end of the year, but I am certainly reading with a little more focus now.

The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge

The summer reading challenge began this month and I’ve had a lot of fun with the board game element. I’m currently reading my 5th book for the challenge and about to make my way along the bottom border of the board. As you can see, my reading has been dominated with romances with a bit of historical fiction and classics thrown in. Realistically, this challenge will extend past Labor Day for me, but I’m not too upset about that. I’d like to get done early in the Fall, but my focus will remain on the main challenge…until a new batch of mini-challenges begin to appear, at least!

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