Tag: bookish

Top Ten Books I HAD to have But Still Haven’t Read

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading, top-ten-tuesday11 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

If you are new to my blog, I just wanted to share with you that I co-host a monthly bookish link party called A Good Book and A Cup of Tea (no, you don’t have to drink tea to participate) with Erin (Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs) and Cat (Cat’s Wire). You can find a link to it at the top of the page. The link party is for all book-related posts from reviews and recommendations to …well, anything related to books at all. Including Top Ten Tuesday, if you want to link your top ten there too!

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is:  Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t Read (this is a throwback topic from 2022)

Note: I read a lot of older books, so I don’t necessarily yearn to have new release books. That’s why this list will include older books, which will probably confuse some of you. Yes, I desperately want older books and then don’t read them when I get them, which my son scolds me about.

So here are ten books I wanted and bought (used of course) but still have not read.

A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain

I was very excited for this one and planned to read it this summer. I’m not so sure that is going to happen.

Bombs on Aunt Dainty by Judith Kerr

I read Judith’s first book in this series, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, and was excited to find this one on Thriftbooks. I also planned to read this one this summer. It’s also not happened yet. Just distracted by mysteries.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

I know this one is going to be hard to read so I want to read it but I’ve put it off a bit.

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

I’ve been so busy reading her mysteries, I haven’t gotten to this one yet.

Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death by James Runcie

This is the first book in the series that the show Grantchester is based on. I was excited to get in great shape at a used book sale but still have not read it.

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

I read this one in sixth or seventh grade and have wanted to reread it the last few years but just keep getting distracted by lighter reads. I hope to read it this autumn or winter.

Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie Brink

This one cost a bit because apparently no old copies exist anywhere and the estate re-released it themselves. I broke down and bought it new and am excited to read it but am holding on to it for winter to read with my daughter.

The Black Dudley Murder by Margery Allingham

I actually have this on Kindle but really wanted to hold an actual paperback copy because I just like reading the Golden Age Mystery writers’ books. It feels like the best way to read them. So now I finally have a copy of it and I haven’t read it yet. In my defense, I did just get it a week or so ago.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

I’ve had this book on my list to read probably since high school but never seem to get around to it because I got distracted by mystery books and gentle fiction. I think this year might be the year for it!

Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery

I keep saying I am going to read this one, but I’ve also heard it is a little depressing so I’ve been avoiding it. I’ll probably read it this fall or winter.

On Thursdays, I am part of the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot blog link party. You can find the latest one in the sidebar to the right under recent posts.

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I am a blogger, homeschool mom, and I write cozy mysteries.

You can find my Gladwynn Grant Mystery series HERE.

You can also find me on Instagram and YouTube.

If you would like to be the first to get news about my books or just have access to special posts for supporters, you can do so here for $2.99 a month : https://lisahoweler.com/support-my-writing/

Ten books I want to read by New To Me Authors

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading, top-ten-tuesday12 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

If you are new to my blog, I just wanted to share with you that I co-host a monthly bookish link party called A Good Book and A Cup of Tea (no, you don’t have to drink tea to participate) with Erin (Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs) and Cat (Cat’s Wire). You can find a link to it at the top of the page. The link party is for all book-related posts from reviews and recommendations to …well, anything related to books at all. Including Top Ten Tuesday, if you want to link your top ten there too!

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is: Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors (Share books from your to-read list that are written by authors you’ve never read before.)

A couple of months ago, I could have written this list with a bit more ease, but I have since read at least one book by many of the “new-to-me” authors on the suggested author’s list I’ve made in my reading journal.

I had to dig a little bit to pull out these ten books by authors I haven’t read, yet, but it was worth it because it reminded me of the books I want to read.

Also, when I write “new-to-me” authors, it doesn’t mean I have never heard of these authors. It simply means I have yet to read a book by them.

Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher

I follow a Booktuber who often talks about Rosamund Pilcher and her books do sound good (maybe a bit depressing) so I am going to eventually get to her books.

Arabella by Georgette Heyer

That’s right. I have never read a Heyer book. Keep in mind that the main genre I read from is mystery.

Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart

I started this, I did not like it. I think it was the mood I was in. I’m going to try again.

Give Me One Summer by Emilie Loring

This one just looked good to me.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

I’ve been wanting to read her for awhile, but not sure her “regency” genre is really my thing.

A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh

This is a Golden Age mystery author that I have not yet read anything from, but want to.

Foster by Claire Keegan

This one just popped up on a Booktuber’s video and I though it sounded good. I don’t know anything about it or the author.

Lending A Paw by Laurie Cass

Laurie is a cozy mystery writer and I keep saying I am going to read the book by her that my husband purchased for me a few years ago, but I want to read the first book in the series, this one, first.

The Queen and I by Susan Townsend

This book about an alternative reality where the monarch from England is forced to leave the palace and become like common people.

The Corner Shop by Elizabeth Cadell

I just heard about this one today as I was writing this and trying to jog my memory of authors I want to read and this one popped up. I’ve heard of her before and the books sound good.

Have you read any of these books or authors? What did you think of them?

On Thursdays, I am part of the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot blog link party. You can find the latest one in the sidebar to the right under recent posts.

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I am a blogger, homeschool mom, and I write cozy mysteries.

You can find my Gladwynn Grant Mystery series HERE.

You can also find me on Instagram and YouTube.

If you would like to be the first to get news about my books or just have access to special posts for supporters, you can do so here for $2.99 a month : https://lisahoweler.com/support-my-writing/

Top Ten Books with the word secret in the title

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading, top-ten-tuesday20 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

If you are new to my blog, I just wanted to share with you that I co-host a monthly bookish link party called A Good Book and A Cup of Tea (no, you don’t have to drink tea to participate) with Erin (Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs) and Cat (Cat’s Wire). You can find a link to it at the top of the page. The link party is for all book-related posts from reviews and recommendations to …well, anything related to books at all. Including Top Ten Tuesday, if you want to link your top ten there too!

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is: Top Ten Tuesday July 7

 Book Titles That Include the Word “[insert word of your choice here]” (Pick a word and share ten book titles that include that word!) I chose the word “secret.”

This is a list of books I have read, want to read, would very likely, or possibly, read.

I should note that I could make this entire list out of just Nancy Drew titles alone, since a ton of the books in that series have secret in the title, but I decided to give some variety to the list and instead have three Agatha Christie titles. Ha!

|| The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett Hodgson (have read) ||

|| The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (a Nancy Drew Mystery. Have read) ||

|| The Secret Adversary (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #1) by Agatha Christie (haven’t read but sure I will at some point) ||

|| The Secret, Book & Scone Society (Secret, Book, & Scone Society, #1) by Ellery Adams (haven’t read but will probably soon) ||

|| The Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle, #1) by Agatha Christie (have read and enjoyed) ||

|| The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman (haven’t read but it looks good) ||

|| Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells (haven’t read but probably will eventually) ||

|| The Secret Life of Walter Mitty James Thurber (haven’t read but it interests me because I’ve seen one of the movie adaptations) ||

|| The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad (never read it, think I’ve heard of it. Probably will read some day.) ||

|| The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden (I don’t know anything about it but it popped up when I was searching for books with the word secret in the title and it looks good.) ||

Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments, especially for the ones I have not read yet.

On Thursdays, I am part of the Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot blog link party. You can find the latest one in the sidebar to the right under recent posts.

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I am a blogger, homeschool mom, and I write cozy mysteries.

You can find my Gladwynn Grant Mystery series HERE.

You can also find me on Instagram and YouTube.

A Good Book & A Cup of Tea Monthly Bookish Blog Party Link Up for July

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn A Good Book and A Cup of Tea Link Party2 Comments

Welcome to the A Good Book & A Cup of Tea (A Monthly Bookish Link Party)!! This link-up is for book and reading posts or anything related to books and reading (even movies based on books!).

Each link party will be open for a month.

My co-hosts for this event are Erin from Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs and Cat from Cat’s Wire.

You can link up with any of us!

Here are a few of my favorite shares from the June link party:

Bemused and Bookish shared with us ten books she can’t believe she hasn’t read yet.

Is This Mutton shared the books she read in June.

The Intrepid Reader and Baker shared a review of Hot Chocolate on Thursdays.

My Slices of Life shared the books she read in May

Dark Shelf Wonders provided us a list of new July releases!

Now it is your turn to share!

Some guidelines.

1. For Bloggers, you can link unlimited posts related to books and reading. They can be older posts or newer posts. These can be posts about what you’re reading, book reviews, books you’ve added to your shelf, reading habits, what you’ve been reading, about trips to the bookstore, etc. You get the drift.

2. Link to a specific blog post (URL of a specific post, not just your website). Feel free to link up any older posts that may need some love and attention, too.

3. Please visit at least two other bloggers on this list and comment on their posts. Have fun! Interact! Get some book recommendations.

4. Readers can click the blue button below to visit blog posts.

5. If you add a link you are giving me permission to share and link back to your post(s).

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

15 Books I Hope To Read This Summer

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading14 Comments

I have a list of Summer hopeful reads to share today.

Yes, I call my list “hopefuls” because a “to be read list” sounds too much like school to me and takes the fun out of reading.

I need to add that I am a mood reader, so I don’t often stick to the list, even though I have fun making it.

Here is my list for now:

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stewart

Clouds of Witness by Dorothy Sayers

The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink

Thank you, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Murder, She Wrote: Slaying in Savannah by Donald Bain

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun

By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie

ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Miss Buncle’s Book by D.E. Stevenson

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

A Good Book & A Cup of Tea (Monthly Bookish Blog Party) for June

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn A Good Book and A Cup of Tea Link Party, book reviews, books and reading11 Comments

Welcome to the A Good Book & A Cup of Tea (A Monthly Bookish Link Party)!! This link-up is for book and reading posts or anything related to books and reading (even movies based on books!).

Each link party will be open for a month.

My co-hosts for this event are Erin from Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs and Cat from Cat’s Wire.

Here are a few of my favorite shares from the May link party:

The Intrepid Reader wrote about some classics and got me thinking about classics I still need to read.

Grace Filled Moments shared a review of a devotional written by someone related to someone I know, so that was cool to see.

Homemade On a Weeknight shared what they read in April.

Thistles and Kiwis shared what was on her bookshelf in April.

I really enjoyed Cat chatting about Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. I have not watched a movie with her yet, but hope to soon!

You can link up with any of us!

Some guidelines.

1. For Bloggers, you can link unlimited posts related to books and reading. They can be older posts or newer posts. These can be posts about what you’re reading, book reviews, books you’ve added to your shelf, reading habits, what you’ve been reading, about trips to the bookstore, etc. You get the drift.

2. Link to a specific blog post (URL of a specific post, not just your website). Feel free to link up any older posts that may need some love and attention, too.

3. Please visit at least two other bloggers on this list and comment on their posts. Have fun! Interact! Get some book recommendations.

4. Readers can click the blue button below to visit blog posts.

5. If you add a link you are giving me permission to share and link back to your post(s).

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

A Good Book and A Cup of Tea (or coffee) Bookish Link Up for February

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn A Good Book and A Cup of Tea Link Party, books and reading7 Comments

Welcome to the A Good Book & A Cup of Tea (A Monthly Bookish Link Party)!! This link-up is for book and reading posts or anything related to books and reading (even movies based on books!).

Each link party will be open for a month.

My co-host for this event is Erin from Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs! You can link up with either of us!

Some guidelines.

1. For Bloggers, you can link unlimited posts related to books and reading. They can be older posts or newer posts. These can be posts about what you’re reading, book reviews, books you’ve added to your shelf, reading habits, what you’ve been reading, about trips to the bookstore, etc. You get the drift.

2. Link to a specific blog post (URL of a specific post, not just your website). Feel free to link up any older posts that may need some love and attention, too.

3. Please visit at least two other bloggers on this list and comment on their posts. Have fun! Interact! Get some book recommendations.

4. Readers can click the blue button below to visit blog posts.

5. If you add a link you are giving me permission to share and link back to your post(s).

Please be sure to visit other posts in the link-up and support each other!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

Top Ten Tuesday: My Bookish Goals for 2025

On By Lisa R. HowelerIn books and reading, top-ten-tuesday30 Comments

|| Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. ||

Today’s prompt: Bookish Goals for 2025 (How many books do you want to read this year? Are you hoping to read outside your comfort zone? Are there books you meant to read last year but never got to? Are there new-to-you authors you’re hoping to read?)

I haven’t set bookish goals in the past, but I do have some bookish goals this year, including reading whatever I want to read – not what I feel like I should read. Here are some of my other book or reading related goals this year.

  1. I hope to read at least 30 books. I originally planned to write down 50 since last year I had a goal of 30 and read 68 but I decided to keep the number in the conservative range and then be excited if I read more.

2. I hope to try out some new authors this year, but also some “old” authors — as in classic authors. I want to try books by Terry Pratchett and other fantasy writers, for one, and I really want to try to get through one Jane Austen book all the way through and not only on Audible. Other authors I want to try are Alan Bradley, Matt Haig, Beth Bower, T.I. Low, John Connell, Maya Angelou, and Wendell Berry

3. Reading outside my comfort zone will be on the list year too because I want to try more fantasy. I won’t be trying erotica or horror, however. Just fantasy and maybe a couple more thrillers. I read mysteries but not always “thrillers”.

4. I hope to read more Christian fiction and non-fiction this year. I have a physical stack of C.S. Lewis books I want to read, non-fiction and fiction. I also want to read Charles Martin, Coleen Coble, Joel C. Rosenberg, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Tessa Ashfar, and Francine Rivers.

5. I mentioned above I want to read more classic authors and I do. Some of the books I want to read this year include The Count of Monte Cristo, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Middlemarch, A Tale of Two Cities (because I bailed on it before), and Wuthering Heights. Will I get to them? Probably not but … I can try.

6. Plan to read more Nancy Drews. I’ve already read a handful of the early Nancy Drews and hope to read more of them and some of the later ones this year.

7. I want to read more of whatever I want to read and not what I think I need to read for book tours or book reviews or to return favors to other authors. I know that sounds horrible but last year I ended up reading books I would not have normally read and it turned out not to be a great idea. There were other times I read books I wouldn’t have normally read and it was a good idea so I don’t want to say I won’t try books that I would normally not read, but I will say that I won’t feel guilty anymore if I turn a book down because there is another book I want to read more. Reading should be fun, not a chore.

8. I hope to read more overall. Sometimes I get so distracted with writing my own books, or blog posts or making social media posts or just goofing off on social media that I don’t read. Reading is such a nice escape and I want to choose it over watching TV or doom scrolling much more this year.

9. I really hope I can read more books that are already on my TBR/bookshelf instead of adding new ones, but I know that I’ll still be buying some to add to that list because buying books is better than buying drugs.

10. I want to read a couple biographies this year because that is a genre I rarely read. I am reading one about Anthony Bourdain right now. If you have any suggestions of other biographies I can read, let me know. I tend to steer clear of political figures on any “side” so I don’t really need those kind of suggestions.

So what are your bookish goals this year, if you have any? Let me know in the comments.