Happy Friday!
This week I have so much to share with you: my August reading recap, reflections on walking 90 miles in 30 days, the benefits of a library card, a kid-friendly Boston itinerary, and why Reese’s Book Club September announcement had me in tears (in the best possible way)!
1. August Reading Recap. I read 3 books last month; two were for book clubs and one was “on my own” that had been on my TBR for several months! The first was No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. This was about how one single book impacts nine readers differently. It was similar to a series of short stories all tied together at the end. Everyone in book club enjoyed it, so if you love books about books, I recommend this one. (It is not a light-hearted read though!)
The second book I read was Part of Your World by Abigail Jimenez. AJ is all the rage in the romance world these days and her work is so fun to discuss with my IRL and bookstagram friends. (Did you know she also owns a bakery?) This was such a cute small-town romance begging to answer the question if women can really “have it all.” I borrowed this one from the library via Libby and have the next two in the series already on hold!
The third book was for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club: Dayswork by Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel. This was a fascinating novel about the pandemic and Herman Melville. If you are a fan of Moby Dick, you must read this. (There was also a Taylor Swift reference mid-read that I was very surprised by!). I would not have picked this one up without a book club nudge; I’m grateful for the broadened perspectives that enhance my literary life and look forward to the discussion in late September with the authors!
2. 90 miles in 30 days. It’s the most I’ve ever walked in 30 days! I thought I’d reflect on why it’s working for me right now. First, and probably most important: I don’t take a sip of my morning coffee until I’m out the door or after I walk. Sometimes it’s after five miles and sometimes it’s after twenty minutes – it just depends on how much time I have between kid activities and work. I’ve also been jamming out to Taylor Swift’s entire discography from “Tim McGraw” to “So High School.” I did my first Conqueror Challenge a few years ago and now I’m back at it. So far, I’ve finished The Flower Route, Paris, Rome, and London challenges. If you are trying to start a walking routine, highly recommend looking into these!
3. September is library card sign-up month. Of course I’m a fan of libraries, but you may be curious about how I actually utilize them. First of all, my family takes advantage of all the books: physical books, e-books, and audiobooks. I’ve also found local volunteer opportunities through the library where I have provided literacy services to folks who needed some practice in conversational English. I’ve even used the library printer when mine was broken (or let’s face it, I’m a Millennial – the ink had dried out because I rarely use mine!). My son has attended movie nights, craft activities, and LEGO events at libraries. The library is one of the last public indoor places where people are welcome and are not expected to buy anything. Get your library card today!
4. Fall in Boston. In October 2022, my family traveled to Boston for a weekend getaway – the weather was perfect, the fall foliage was beautiful, and my five-year old loved it! We arrived on a Thursday evening and left on Monday morning. Check out our kid-friendly itinerary:
- Day 1: Old North Church, Mike’s Pastry, Museum of Science, Duck Tour, Regina Pizzeria, North End Creamery
- Day 2: Boston Public Market, Boston Common and Boston Public Garden, New England Aquarium, Davio’s Italian Steakhouse
- Day 3: Charlestown Navy Yard, Paul Revere Park, A&B Kitchen, Night Shift Brewing
We stayed at The Boxer hotel and took “The T” or walked everywhere!
When I got back home, I picked up The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. It really was the perfect way to “extend” my trip (and the audio book is fantastic).
5. Thankful for high school English teachers. As I was scrolling through social media last week, I spotted Reese’s Book Club pick for September and watched the endearing story behind it. For her 100th book, she selected The Comfort of Crows written by her high school English teacher, Margaret Renkl. Did this announcement make me tear up? Yes. I thought of my own high school English teachers and how much of an impact they had on my life. I keep in touch and we swap book recs to this day! Even though I don’t work in the world of publishing or literature, I’m so grateful for all the people who influenced my love for reading and stories!
Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading!
Leave a comment