It has been a little while since I’ve posted here so let’s catch-up! Here are some highlights from my year so far and I’d love to hear yours too!
I made my summer reading list! I’ve already started reading some of these and have lots more to look forward to reading as the summer progresses. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld was a surprise hit for me! I read it for the MMD Book Club and want to read more by her. I’m in the middle of The Stand by Stephen King. It’s a long one and I’m splitting the reading between the paperback version and a digital library version. I’m saving Happy Place by Emily Henry and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros for a time I can binge read.
One thing I really wanted to do this year was start a series. I had lots in mind as possibilities, but ultimately settled on the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny. Since I must read series in order I started with book one, Still Life. Have you read this one? I loved it and look forward to reading the second book in the series soon!
There were two big reasons to start this series. One of my dearest reading friends just read it and had lots of opinions! I can’t wait to discuss it in person with her later this month. One of my favorite bookish podcasts, The Currently Reading podcast, started a spin-off series called A Journey to Three Pines and it’s spoiler filled so I had to start reading!
I’ve started working part-time at a local indie bookstore which is a dream come true! Talking to customers, seeing what people are buying and ordering, recommending books, organizing and sorting books, being surrounded by books, helping with events and bonding with the bookstore kitten are just a few of my favorite things about working in a bookstore!
I’m “behind” on my reading goal according to goodreads, but I’m okay with that. My reading ebbs and flows, I’m a seasonal reader and I’m reading some long books (hi Stephen King!).
I’ve gotten to attend lots of author events this year. Give me all the author events! I love them!
- Alison Zak: Author of Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting our Practice to the Natural World at The Open Book
- Virginia Hume: Author of Haven Point at The Open Book
- Rainn Wilson: Author of Soul Boom at Sixth & I
- Jonathan Reynolds: Author of Right Seats, Right People: A Leader’s Guide to Hiring and Developing Top Performers at an HR conference in Richmond.
- Katie Porter: Author of I Swear: Politics is Messier than My Minivan at Sixth & I
In non-bookish news, I went white water rafting for the first time ever! We went on a light, easy for beginners trip in Richmond, Virginia. My favorite part were all the birds! I got very distracted with all the bird sightings. We saw several blue heron, lots of ducks and geese of course, an osprey and an osprey nest, and a cormorant. It was such a joy!
Some other highlights of the year so far include lots of travel, visiting new bookstores and time with close friends and family.
- My mom and I went to the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience to celebrate her birthday in January.
- I met up with a bookish friend in Richmond at the end of January and got lots of book recommendations along with a great new series to start by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I devoured The Inheritance Games once I got home.
- We went to NYC with friends in February and visited four bookstores that have been on my bucket list to visit for a while! We stopped at Books Are Magic, the Strand, Cafe Con Libros and The Mysterious Bookshop. I bought a lot of books, obviously.
- In March I did a screen free day that was heavenly! It was so awesome that I extended it an extra half a day to bask in the joy of my cell phone being off for the first time in a very long time.
- I had so much fun celebrating Independent Bookstore Day in April!
- We took a family trip to Connecticut which was full of fun events including a visit to Mystic Pizza, Title IX: A Bookshop and lots of family time.
I also got to see everyone’s mother Taylor Swift in concert on Mother’s Day. The best show I’ve ever attended! We made friendship bracelets, had VIP seats, bought so much merch and sang our hearts out. I’m also a new fan of Phoebe Bridgers!
There is a lot more excitement planned for the rest of the year and that includes lots of reading!
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