So happy to join in on this new challenge, hosted by bloggers Sue Loncaric, Debbie Harris, Jo Tracey and my IRL buddy Donna! I’ve loved reading since I first learned how, and surprise, surprise: my favourite childhood gifts were books. And – just to confirm that you can teach this old dog new tricks – I’ve recently cultivated a love for audiobooks as well. Yeah, yeah…I know I am super late to the audiobook game…I remember my mom borrowing “books on tape” from the library decades ago…but it was something I couldn’t get into, until now. Thank you, retirement!
Anyhoodle…I have a goodreads account (see sidebar for widget), to keep track of my reading and you can find what I am currently reading right now right there! I do love goodreads, and recommend it to all my reading friends. Very handy for keeping track of what you have read and when, and for getting ideas of what to read next and what people thought of books you are considering to read/have read.
I usually read digital downloads from the library because your girl is kinda voracious when it comes to reading, and the book budget only stretches so far, ya know? I love the Libby app for this. It means I can always have a book with me – and at the ready – on my phone (and tablet). So handy for those times you are stuck waiting somewhere. And now that I have begun a love affair with audiobooks, it means I can listen from that same device either on my AirPods (when walking or hausfrau-ing) or through Edward’s speakers while driving.
But you can’t always find the books you want at the library…or in digital format. So lately my book journey has involved buying…gasp!…actual books. Here is the pile I have going at the moment:
If you can sense a theme in my purchases, you are 100% correctimundo!
I’m trying to get a more complete sense about the new land I call home, and how better to start than with stories from its original peoples?
That’s it for me, for this month. What are you reading or planning to read? Looking forward to seeing what’s on your bookshelf!
Rock (and read) on,
The WB
Hi Deb, you might try The Orenda by Joseph Boyden. I believe it won a literary prize. It was very good. I’m currently reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I’m on the sixth book and it is very compelling. Character development is excellent and these books are real pager turners.
Leslie xoxo
Thank you Leslie 💕 I have read The Orenda and agree – it is a very good book! I’ve only read one of the Outlander books…maybe I should give the rest a go.
I’m on the sixth and can’t put it down. I thought she would runout of ideas but she hasn’t…..
I found your book choices interesting, a nice reminder of how wide the choices are. BTW – love your decorations and lamp. oooh la la. ♥ I think it’s time I add a book post also.
Thank you 💕
The 1421 book looks interesting to me. I like history presented in a very specific way, not like in textbooks in other words.
My friends were talking about this book a lot, and gave me their extra copy to bring back with me. I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks, Ally 💕
Congratulations Deb, this is a welcome addition to the variety of blog challenges out there and one that will encourage reading beyond our favorite genre. I can recommend “This Tender Land” as a very good read. It follows the adventures of a band of orphans in search of home and identity across the Midwest during the depression. Depressing subject, but satisfying ending and a little American Indian history thrown in for good measure. Thanks for sharing your picks.
Thanks, Suzanne 💕 The title sounded very familiar so I looked it up on my goodreads account and sure enough, I have read it. I did enjoy it.
Hi Deb! being new to the west coast like you, I wanted to learn about the flora and fauna here. Briony Penn (from Salt Spring) has a terrific book called A Year on the Wild Side – A West Coast Naturalist’s Almanac. It follows the months of the year, pointing our flora and fauna native to the Salish Sea area. She also did illustrations for each entry. Not only did I enjoy it, I refer back to it often. AND if you are lucky and the course is offered again, Elder College at VIU did a book study of it which included the students doing some fun projects and a couple of visits by the author herself. Wonderful way to get to know our new surroundings. Have fun on your reads!
Thank you, Brenda 💕 I did take that course last fall (on Zoom) and love this book. Were we in this class together? Briony emailed everyone her artwork on the 13 moons of the WSANEC people, and I had it put on a canvas and it’s hanging up in my main living space.
Lol, how soon I forget!! yes I loved that piece and have it up on the wall by my computer.
Hi, Brenda – I was on the Waiting List for that course, but never got off the list (even though I was first on the waiting list). I did buy the book and enjoyed it. Great recommendation!
Hi, Deb – Thanks so much for joining in. I love the seleciton of books that you have shared here. I especially love that you are reading so widely about the indigenous people of your new home. I hope that the ‘From Oral to Written’ book is a good one. It must have been a GREAT friend who gave it to you. Heck, that friend probably also made you lunch! 😀
I seem to recall SAID FRIEND making me do all the work at lunch 😉🤣. My, my, my…what a short memory we have 🤔. All kidding aside, I am really looking forward to reading the book you gave me once I finish with a book on loan from the library 💕.
OK – I just did it. I uploaded Libby finally. Now I too can read my book while waiting or on my break at work. I am still a paper book fan but like getting free stuff from the library because I am cheap– oops I mean frugal. I don’t read as much as I thought I would when I hit semi retired.
Yay, Bernie! I hope you love it as much as I do. 💕
You’ve got an impressive bunch of books there! should keep you out of trouble for awhile.
Glad your found audio. I want to get back in them again. I used to spend a lot of hours in my pick p truck and always had a book going in the cassette player,,,the good old, olden days.
I’m sorry I didn’t take to audio books sooner! Thank you, Jean 💕 Yes, these books “should” keep me out of trouble 😁
Thanks so much for linking up with us. I love the idea of your theme. I’m trying to learn more about our First Nations people, but there is very little written down – especially in regards to what they call Creation Stories. Some of the cultural tours I’ve done of late have touched on this oral history, but is also more of what we want to hear than what we need to know (and are open to knowing). There’s a difference.
Most of these books in my pile are oral histories or folk tales that were collected and written down by researchers in the 1930s. Hopefully they are true as told, and not as viewed through a white filter (I don’t think so, based on reviews). Good luck with your quest for knowledge, Jo! Thanks 💕
Hi Deb – interesting to read … I’ve got 1421 here and must get to read it … I’ll understand it better – now I’ve read more of your part of the world, since I had that year on the Island and read some different books of the area … and how it developed …
These bookshelf posts are going to be fun – we’ll be expanding our reading ideas rather a lot – I like the look of Oral to Written –
Cheers and thanks for these – Hilary
I’m intrigued by the premise of 1421, as described to me by the lenders of the book. I’m looking forward to the learning journey I’m going to undertake with all of these books (even the Bianca del Rio one 🤣). Thank you, Hilary 💕
I have a new collection from the Free store here on Hornby. Now it is a luxury to read a paper copy.
See my list on Goodreads
I will check it out! Thanks, Ann 💕
You seem to be on a mission to learn about native people. I like the variety of the books you chose for your reading pursuit. It will be interesting to reading your follow ups.
Yes, I guess I am on a mission. I am trying to get a sense of this land I now live on. Thank you, Bernadette 💕
I’ve been in quite the reading slump for the past couple of years – just not able to concentrate, even having trouble enjoying light reading. But I’m back on the horse again and have been reading my way through the Brooker Prize long list – something I’ve long wanted to complete before the winner is announced, and never succeeded at doing. I’ve read 8 out of 13 so far, although one is yet to be released, so am making good progress. Once I’ve finished those, I’ll be on the look out for a new vein of reading and yours is very different to anything else I’ve seen, so I shall be bookmarking some of them – thanks Deb 🙂
Wow, Debs! That is an ambitious way to break out of a slump. Thanks for giving me yet another idea of what to tackle when I run out of things to read 💕
My taste in reading tends towards Booker prize winners anyway, so although ambitious, the candidates are usually my highest scoring reads (I’m a Goodreads fan too).I think I’m also going to give the Women’s Prize for Fiction list a go too, if not with the same time constraints 😀
Look what I found buried in my inbox!! – this post. Not sure how it managed to get away from me, but now I feel like I found buried treasure 🙂
Ahhh, books. Intellectual sustenance, and emotional balm after a long, hard day. Thank you, my friend, for introducing me both to audiobooks and Goodreads. Is there anything more glorious than the written word wielded by a talented author!
Ignoring the large pile of tarot books in various states of completion, right now I’m reading The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab, and listening to book 2 of the Gameshouse, The Thief, by Claire North.
Oh, I have placed a hold on The Invisible Life…hope to get it soon. Nope, there is nothing better than losing yourself in a good book. The words (and the ideas) stay with you long after the book is done. Thanks, Joanne 💕
Is it possible you are one of the six people Libby keeps telling me are waiting for me to finish? 😉
🖕🤣