July Reading Update

I can't believe we're already more than half way through yet another year. Where does the time go? This month has been quite busy for me. Very slow on the work side (since being cut back to only one day a week), but between trying to get all the physical work done for the full wall off shelving for the back room, I've been a bit of a busy camper. 

 

This, however, does not mean that my work has finished. Oh, no. I may already have the wall shelving up in the book room, but now I have to take down ALL the books that I had put on those shelves, and take the boards down to sand, stain, clear coat, sand, clear coat, and then do this for all 16 shelves (8 per wall) - and then put back all those books. I can't wait for this to be a completed project, but I'm not looking forward to starting this 2nd stage.

 

That said, my reading has been going at either a snails pace or I'm ripping through book after book. This is one DIY job that has really messed with my reading. I'm either so sore and tired that I can only manage a small cozy here and there, or I am taking a few days break from things and devouring all the books from my KU list. 

 

Currently I seem to be falling back into a Nora Roberts rabbit hole. I had to take all the books off the old bookcase and I was going to put them on the new shelving, but she takes up nearly 2½ shelves - and to put that into perspective, each shelf in the back room is 6ft long! - so, that's a lot of Nora Roberts/JD Robb. Anyway, so while I was trying to figure out where to put them I got caught up in musing over my favourite ones, and the books I haven't reread in more than a few years, and before I knew it I was curled up with The Search and contemplating picking up Black Hills, Birthright, Chasing Fire and a few more that are overdue for a reread.

 

"But what about your 2026 reading challenge books?" I hear you ask.  Well... as I said in my update video, I am currently reading Where Angels Fear To Tread by EM Forster. I haven't progressed beyond the 10 pages, but I am looking forward to making time in the next couple of days to knock that out. Sadly, my #bigbook2026 is still languishing on my shelves, untouched. I tell myself I have grand plans to begin, but so far I just haven't felt like picking either of them up. I do plan to pick up one of my "6 books to get off my tbr in 2026" offerings. It's chilly, windy and I think it's just the right time to read either Misery by Stephen King, or finally start the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin. Yes, I know. I'm a bad reader that I still haven't picked up any of the books in the series. I have owned them for nearly a decade, and I just found that by constantly hearing about them everywhere that it put me off reading them. I am still amazed that I have been able to stay spoiler free for all these years, so I will be going into this completely blind (a small miracle I know).

 

So, that's what's on my currently reading table. I just find that I've slowed down in my reading at the moment, or at least that's how it feels. It seems the older I get, the faster time seems to pass - and I can't say I'm a fan. I miss the summers of my childhood where every day seemed to last forever and the summer holidays seemed to stretch out like an endless dream. Perhaps it's that innocence of childhood that gives it such a magical quality, or that you're not worrying about the state of the world and paying the bills. I just wish I could still capture some of that magic every now and then.

 

Anyway, that's all for the moment. I hope you are having a wonderful reading month. Let me know in the comments what your favourite reads have been recently, and until I see you next time... 

Time for a Mid-Year Challenge Update

Well, hello there!

Just finished editing my Mid-Year Reading Challenge Update for 2026, and boy, was it rough. Didn't realise when I was filming it that my sinuses had given me such flat, almost goose-like dulcet tones. Between that and the internet network issues, you're even lucky to be seeing it today (uploaded) as Telstra, a national carrier, is having a nationwide meltdown today and my mobile phone and Internet connection has been absolutely abysmal. Took nearly 3hrs for my video to upload. Oh, the joys of living in a rural area.

That said, I have had a pretty decent first half of the year, reading wise. I got through a few Stephen Kings,  completed my #aclasssicamonth challenges, and have even psyched myself up to give HRCYED 3.0 a go (more on that in a future video). So, let me know in the comments if you have read any of these books, or if you can offer words of encouragement so I will pick up and read my big books for 2026.

Okay... new problem. Blogger is being a bit of a tosser, and won't let me even add a video or image to this post. Have had to just platforms (Safari to Mozilla) just to add the embedded video. What a day :/

Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time...

A new Stephen King Update for 2026

Hi, nice to see you so soon after the last post. After so long m.i.a, I can't believe I've managed to make 2 videos in less than 2 weeks! Go me ;D

In my latest ramble, I just thought that I'd catch you up on where I am with my Stephen King project. I've been reading his bibliography in publication order, and when I got stalled reading Christine (she was a problem), I honestly thought that I'd just have to give up on that plan and either pick the books up from another book further on, or just give up and read whichever book tickled my fancy - and considering I hate  TBRs, I really thought that I would end up choosing that path. However, I persevered with Christine, got through it... and then stalled on reading The Talisman. Ugh.

So, this was just a short (11min) video that I made to mainly remind myself where I am, and how much I enjoy making these kind of videos - even if I only have a small audience watching - and that this makes me want to get my home library finished sooner rather than later so I can have a consistent place to film and edit in (honestly, trying to find a nice bit of sunlight in this house takes work!).

That being said, I hope you enjoy the video, and let me know in the comments what you're currently reading, and if you have a favourite movie soundtrack. And until I see you next time, 

Victober Quickie & Bookmail

Okey-dokey, then.  Just thought that I'd put together a super quick (for me) video to chat a little bit about where I am with my Victober reading - keeps me honest! - and about the latest book I'll be adding to my TBR shelves after watching Mara's "Where to Start with Classics" video.

One of these days I really need to do a TBR bookshelf tour to see exactly how many books I have that still haven't been read.

Sorry to run off so quickly, but I can hear a bit of thunder, and where there's thunder, there are appliances to unplug ;-D, so a big thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Victober 2019 Update

I can't believe it's almost half way through October!  Where has the month gone?

 

Mid July Reading Update

Woo-wee, is it cold! Thanks to an Antarctic front that's blustering up from the south, I am freezing my butt off.  In an attempt to get a little bit of sun - and to try a different filming location - I rugged up and ventured out into the back yard.  By more dumb luck than good management I happened to choose a time where the winds had died down for a good half hour, but it was still colder than it looks.  Seriously, if the temperatures drop below freezing there should be mandatory snow.  Winter here in rural QLD looks no different than high summer, except for the winter woolies I'm sporting.

On the bookish front, I have been rereading some of my urban fantasy series that have new books coming out soon.  I also read a little bit more from The Count of Monte Cristo, which I'm hoping to finish next month, perhaps, and just listening to more audiobooks as I go about my daily routine.  As it's been so cold here, I haven't spent any time in the office/library. I really need to start filming and creating extra videos so that I have a buffer for times like this.

Anyway, my fingers and toes feel like they are about to drop off, so I'm going to say thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

June TBR

Hello, my lovelies!

Well. This feels a bit strange. I haven’t ‘blogged’ in so long that this feels a little weird 😉

I’m running a little bit behind this month, but I thought I’d take a moment to put up my June TBR. After May was a complete disaster on the reading front, Audible has been a great way to ease back into picking up books. I caved and bought the Kindle editions of Swamp Sniper and Swamp Team 3 by Jana DeLeon. These are books 3 and 4 respectively, and I am having so much fun with this light-hearted series. Full of comedy, murder, mystery, and a dash of Southern charm, I would recommend this series to anyone, but if you love Stephanie Plum I think this will appeal to you.

So, with my urge to read kickstarted, I am hoping to get to a few of the books that I neglected in May. I need to catch up on my #aclassicamonth by reading The Picture of Dorian Gray (April), Persuasion (May), and June’s classic which has yet to be decided. On the Stephen King front, I’m hoping to read Different Seasons, or at least one or two of the novellas, plus perhaps dipping my toes into The Talisman. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley - which hid from me for about 6 weeks, don’t ask - is also on my radar because of the upcoming Stan series, and last, but by no means least, I really need to get started on The Count of Monte Cristo. That sucker is over 1,400 pages and I have yet to read one sentence (really wishing I had joined in last years readalong).

 

So, I have officially committed. It is here for everyone to see, and will hopefully motivate me to get threw all these books.  If I get the time to film and edit a TBR video I’ll link it above, and I have plans to film and upload a few videos this week, including a ‘Meet Earl Grey’ update.

Anyway, that’s all for the moment. I hope you’re having a lovely day, and until I see you next time,

King-ly Reading Update: Part One

Hi, and welcome back!

I am so glad to be back at the computer, and finger's crossed, there will be no NBN or power maintenance holdups for the foreseeable future.

Now, as you can see from the title of the video, I've gotten back into my Stephen King groove and have been watching - and buying - a whole lot of King stuff.  Firstly, I blame this on finding Needful Things had dropped on STAN (Australian streaming service) and from there I bounced over to Netflix to partake of Gerald's Game.  I had been putting off watching Gerald's Game because I had wanted to read the book, as I mentioned in this video, but alas, I caved and on a hot afternoon I got myself comfy on the bed, snuggled down into the pillows with my iPad, and pressed PLAY... and OMG! did I love this adaptation.  Won't go into spoilers because I want to read the book and compare it to the adaptation in a video, but dang, it was amazing!

I have also been trying to track down some of the US hardcovers of Bag of Bones, Pet Sematary, Night Shift, Carrie, The Shining, and a few others that I just can't seem to find for a reasonable price.  I do have some more editions in the upcoming PARTS TWO and THREE of my King-ly Reading Update videos, because I got a little 'click happy' this month.

Anyway, I've got to get back to editing the new footage so I can get something up during the week.  Thanks for your patience, and until I see you next time,

 

Mid January Reading Wrap Up

Why, oh, why did I procrastinate and put off filming stuff for BookTube?

It's been such an effort to try and make this video as I had to do so much editing.  It is surprising how little time it takes to forget just how to talk to a camera.  Unfortunately, I had so many stumbles and moments where I couldn't find my big girl words that it's embarrassing, but I'm determined to get back in the swing of things.

Since I filmed and edited this on Wednesday, I wasn't able to add in my stats for the last couple of days.  So far January has been a massive month for reading.  As of this morning, Saturday 19th, I have read 30 book and have cracked the 9000 word barrier. Yep, 9000+ words have been read in 19 days.  I can't believe I have been quite that prolific. If I can keep up this pace for 2019 I think it will be my best ever year on Goodreads!

I have a few more (shorter) videos I hope to get up before the end of January, but until then thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

100 subscribers... really?!

Really.  Yes, I had to check my email twice, but it's true - I have now reached the milestone of 100 followers ;-D

I can't believe that I achieved even this small goal.  BookTube is just something I do for fun, and to connect with other book lovers.  To know that you are reaching other people who love books, and don't mind listening to completely unscripted ramblings is amazing!

Thank you (for the 100th time!) for watching, and subscribing to my channel.  I hope to be talking about all the bookish things for a quite awhile ;-D

And until I see you next time,

 

Bookmail, Funko's and a New Camera!

OMG!  I can't believe I actually spent so much 😵

Yes, I am now coming to you with the Canon EOS 200D, and I am beyond excited about finally owning a DSLR.  I've been wanting one for years, but could never justify the expense (soooo expensive in Australia!), however when my old trusty Nikon Coolpix started to fail I decided I needed to invest in a quality camera that was versatile and would allow me to use it for various projects.

Do I love it?  YES!  Am I freaked out by spending so much? YEEESSS!

Anyhoo, it will take me a little while to get myself sorted out with a filming setup, so don't worry if a few video's look funky, I'm working on it.

Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time

 

Reading Update, November 2018

Hello, my lovelies!

It's been a bit longer than I'd anticipated.  Things are just all over the place here.  At the beginning of last week I undertook the massive task of scrubbing all the floors in the house - and promptly started paying for it with my Achilles troubles flaring up, as well as my back issues roaring back to life... and we won't even talk about what happened with my carpal tunnel.  

Results... clean floor,  but I was stuck in bed for a few days.

This did, however, lend itself to getting some more books read.  I had already earmarked an Agatha Christie or two to pick up, and with some of my most anticipated books coming out, well I was perfectly content to become a hermit for a few days ;-D

Luckily, by the end of the week I was feeling pretty good, and was able to resume normal day-to-day activities.  Picked up some boxed sets of Poirot (series 4, 6 and 7&8 which are combined), and had a great weekend just flaked out on the couch with the AC running (mini-heatwave here in QLD), while I enjoyed revisiting with Poirot.  We won't even talk about the new remake of Murder on the Orient Express, because I just can't.

Anyway, I have some plans for future videos that I'm trying to nail down at the moment.  Still, there's always time to pick up a book, and I have quite a few I'd like to get read before the end of the year - but that's another video ;-D

Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time

 

October Reading Update

So, my October TBR is coming along pretty well.  I am taking part in #Victober this year, as well as my own Halloween Reads challenge.

Victober 

• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
• Wives and Daughters - Elizabeth Gaskell

Halloween Reads

• Thornyhold - Mary Stewart
• Pet Sematary - Stephen King
• Four Past Midnight - Stephen King

Of these five books, I have so far completed Thornyhold and Jane Eyre - both on the 1st of October - but since then I have not picked up anything else from my set TBR.  I did read Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness (which I bought on the 28th September), and one historical romance on my iPad, but since then I signed up for a trial of Netflix, and I have been hooked! ;-D

This weekend I am planning on starting one of the four short novels from Four Past Midnight, maybe Secret Window, Secret Garden?, anyway, I won't be missing out on any Stephen King because I can now watch Gerald's Game and 1922 movies that they adapted for Netflix.

A proper review video for Jane Eyre, Thornyhold, Time's Convert and whichever Stephen King I finish, will be up later in the month.  Until then, I'm heading back to catch up on some Netflix.

See you later,

 

Reading Progress July

Just keeping it short today.  It's been almost 2 weeks since I even turned on my computer, so getting it filmed and edited in a few hours was tiring.  I haven't read as much as I would have liked to, but what I did read I enjoyed, so that's a bonus.

I will be continuing on with my The Green Mile read-a-long next week.  Almost half way through and I'm loving it.  Will definitely have to watch the movie afterwards.  It's one of the few Stephen King film adaptations I've never watched - even though the blu-ray has been gathering dust on the dvd bookcase for nearly 18 months *hangs head in shame*

Anyway, I hope to start The Palace Job this weekend, or perhaps next week, and I have to film an unboxing because some bookmail arrived after I had edited this video.  Isn't that always the way? But I might start one of those books first.  Decisions, decisions....

So that's all for now.  I hope you're enjoying your reading and until I see you next time,

 

Making up for Lost Time

Apparently June was my reread Nora Roberts month!  Yep, once I hauled myself out of my reading funk with Shelter in Place, it opened the floodgates for rereading all my favourite NR novels from the last few years.

Birthright, Black Hills, The Search, The Witness, The Obsession. . . and Come Sundown?  I don't know how that snuck in there, but I didn't hate rereading it so. . . ?

However, this was only the first stop in my rereading binge.  Next I moved onto Ilona Andrews and had so much fun reacquainting myself with her Hidden Legacy books as well as the delightful characters in the Innkeeper Chronicles  *sigh*  Then it was onto Anne Bishop's A Novel of the Others series as I devoured all 5 books in two days - as well as ordering book 6,  Lake Silence - so I will have the complete set. 

I think I've gotten the rereading urge out of my system (for the moment), and have moved on to some new reads.  Last night I read Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer and found it to be a fun fantasy of manners book.  It's been sitting on my tbr shelves for at least 18 months, but I just haven't had the inclination to read it until yesterday.  So I struck while the iron was hot and read it while indulging by eating dinner in bed (yum!) and found it charming and sweet, in the nicest way possible.  Will definitely be looking for books 2 and 3 to add to my collection.

The weather here has been cooperating marvelously.  It's been very cold and foggy, with a couple of rainy days, which has lent itself to staying indoors and snuggling up on the couch with a couple of blankets - or making a nest in bed and whiling away the hours with a guaranteed comfort read, a couple of cats and a hot cup of tea.  Heavenly.

Anyway, that is all I have at the moment.  I need to get lunch in to oven so I'll say cheerio for now, and until I see you guys next time, 

 

Hey, I actually finished a book!

It's been a boring couple of weeks where I just have not had the inclination to pick up a book.  This does not happen often, but when it does, it's a real problem. Thankfully, my mum lent me her copy of Nora Roberts new book, Shelter in Place, and that did the trick.  Roberts is an almost guaranteed good read so... 'Thank You, Mum!'.

However, I only picked this up after finishing The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie.  I don't know what it was about this book, but it took me three reading sessions to get through this teeny, tiny, little book of 192 pages.  I know, right.  I've read three books in a day (1000+ pages worth) and done it again the next day!  Yet, trying to get through this Poirot was like pulling teeth.  Which is silly considering I actually liked it, and I can't wait to see the new BBC adapation.

Yes, April to mid June has just been the pits.

Thankfully it looks like that slumpy, grumpy, not-reading time is over and I've been enjoying rereading some old favourites which I will be talking about in my next video.

So until I see you next time,

 

Eff-all Reading Update

Well, hello there stranger!

Yep, once again I got caught up in real life and two weeks have flown by before I've had a chance to turn on the desktop computer to edit and upload a video.  Thankfully nothing much has been happening reading wise.  I've been more dedicated to watching the latest season of Wynonna Earp that I picked up at Sanity just over a week ago.

I have a few reads planned.  I need to read The Island of Dr. Moreau before the end of April for my A Classic A Month challenge, of which I have fallen behind, and then in May it's time for everyone's favourite Austen, Mansfield Park - saying yah sarcastically.

Thankfully it looks like the weather has finally decided to behave and act like we're heading in to Winter.  It's almost May and I'm still walking around in singlet tops and shorts!  Which means that it's nearly time to get comfy on the couch with a good book/movie, a warm cosy blanket, a cat - or three - and a hot cup of tea and spend some quality time indoors out of the cold.

So now that my video is finally up and live (after internet dramas this morning), I'm now going to catch up on some of the household chores I was supposed to be doing this afternoon.  So, until next time,

Reading Update

Well, hello there!

It has been a hot minute since I posted something here (or on BookTube), so after filming 2 other scrapped reading updates over the last couple of weeks, I finally sat down in front of the computer and just got to it.

I'd like to be able to say that my reading over the last couple of weeks has been amazing, and intellectually uplifting and that is why I've taken so long to post something... but the truth is that everyday life has been getting in the way of my bookish wants.  Had to call the plumber in last month - on a Sunday no less! - because the hose under the kitchen sink ruptured and I had water EVERYWHERE!  A complete nightmare.

Then the car had to go in for a service, and of course it needed stuff done (well, she's 17 years old so it's only to be expected).  I've had the battery replaced as well as the plugs and leads so we're good for the moment, but it is still stressful to have all this happen within about three weeks.  Never mind the damage it's doing to my bank account ;-D

Meanwhile for the most part, my reading has dropped of significantly and I've been watching more TV.  Free to air programing is abysmal, so I have been falling back on TV series like The Murdoch Mysteries and Threshold, with a little bit of Mapp & Lucia thrown in for good measure.  I'm almost through season 7 of TMM and I do love the releationship between Det. Murdoch and Dr. Ogden.  They are so perfectly suited.  Anyway, after I get this post up I'll be heading back to finish up a few more episodes so I can continue on to season 8.

I did manage to read the ILL copy of Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King that I ordered late in February.  I ordered it early because I thought that there may be some issues trying to get a copy for loan.  However, after a few problems locating a copy, it arrived early so I had to read it out of publication order, but that's okay because I've been putting off reading Cujo any way I can.  I so don't want to read about an animal in distress.  I am, however, currently rereading the Goddess with a Blade series by Lauren Dane and enjoying the hell out of it.  Ah, urban fantasy.  My comfort genre.

So that's it.  I haven't been terribly active online, or anything like that.  In fact, this is the first time my computer has even been on in over a month (and boy, did Norton not like that!) and I haven't missed it in the slightest.  Having said that, I am eagerly awaiting books in the mail as I may have gone a bit overboard over the weekend and ordered 13 books.... oops!  I'll haul them to BookTube, and post a link here, when I get them, so I have a week or so before I have to think about filming anything else.

Okay, I'm off.  Washing waits for no man. 

I hope you have had a great reading month, and until I see you next time,

 

A quick reading update

Yes, this is just a really quick update on what's on my desk at the moment.  I am currently rereading Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh for the umpteenth time (I adore this series, but the author is running out of characters to centre her books on!) and after I finish AH I'll be picking up Archangel's Viper, again.  This is one of those series that I can reread over and over again without becoming bored.

Also, I did walk up to the Post Office after filming this only to be told that they hadn't even opened the bag containing parcels, let alone got them sorted *le sigh*  I hate it when this happens.  Looks like I'll be making an extra trip.  Good thing my PO is quite close so it's only a few minutes walk, but still... I don't want to do it.

So, my video is edited and posted, I've put my laundry on the line and now I need to get my butt in gear and start some general cleaning so the bedrooms don't look like a bomb has gone off in them.

Cheerio for now, and until I see you next time

 

Bookish update (with free tangent included)

Hi there!  Welcome back to my not so short rambling update where I just talk about a few of the books that I read recently.  As it says on the tin, there is a free tangent on Anita Blake included (and about how the amped up sex in the series really ruined it for me), but it's short so don't worry.  But it gave me an idea, so this will be a topic I'll get more into in a future video.

My reading has been a bit all over the place lately, and with Summer fast approaching I think my reading time will be sorely interrupted with pesky chores like mowing and other necessary outdoor maintenance. Oh the joys of being a homeowner - not.

Anyway, I must dash.  I'm absolutely famished and need to make some lunch.  One small croissant for breakfast (before 7am) just isn't doing it.

Until I see you next time,