I started these lists in a different time and place, it seems. A time when libraries and bookstores were open, when I drove places and needed audiobooks to listen to in the car.
Now, I am thankful to be able to still work, albeit from home. So my commute is all of five steps. And I’ve been listening to so many podcasts that even while cooking, which I do spend more time doing now, there’s been a lot less readin’ goin’ on ‘round here.
In other words, this will be short.
TBR Novel for April
This book has been here before. I’m afraid to start for fear I won’t want to put it down. And also for fear that I’ll finish it, which I will. And then I won’t have it to look forward to anymore. I may be building up too much anticipation for this book, but sometimes that’s how it goes.
Transcription by Kate Atkinson – if this comes close to Life After Life or Behind the Scenes at the Museum, I’ll be so happy. Atkinson’s way with words is just as enjoyable as her way with characters and plotting. Almost more enjoyable.
TBR Nonfiction for April
Sigh. I really am not in the mood for nonfiction. Things are serious out there. Nonfiction is serious.
The little nonfiction reading I’m doing is along the lines of thinking about work related issues in a virtual workplace and how my skills and industry can adapt to whatever happens with the economy.
So I’ll list a book that I picked up on my, unbeknownst to me at the time, last visit to my library. I stare at this book every time I sit down to eat and scroll over to something else on my phone.
Maybe if it weren’t so thick. Or, come to think of it, this might be a good book for me to read right now after all.
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser – I saw this book mentioned on a women’s writer Facebook group (I think) and it gives the real story behind the classics of pioneer spirit so many of us grew up with. I can see a direct tie between Wilder’s story of becoming a teacher in her novel These Happy Golden Years and my own misguided but fulfilled dream to teach. Did you know she didn’t write the books until she was in her sixties? And hers was a real life rags-to-riches story? So maybe now is a good time to read this book.
On Audiobook for the Commute
It took a very long time, nearly a month, but I finally finished Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory. Not one of my favorites of hers, but a solid book. I like how she’s written about women in the same general era. As I listened, I recalled having read another Gregory novel about Catherine of Aragon, who is one the three queens in this one, as well as her novel about Henry XIII’s grandmother, who has a short appearance in this book.
There’s a CD in the car (see last visit note above), but since I’m not going anywhere at all, I don’t think I’ll even crack it open this month. It’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. My library has online audiobooks, maybe I’ll see if I can listen to it that way.
I’m linking this month’s books to Indiebound Bookshop. Order books from your local bookstore to support them in this time. Plus, Amazon is de-emphasizing books right now. (And none of these are affiliate, I don’t get paid by anyone for these links.)
Have you read or even heard of any of these? What are you reading this month?
And no, you don’t have to spend all this extra time everyone is harping on about learning Latin or composing a symphony. Be kind to yourselves. Neither your worth – nor your health – is based on how productive you are.
