I Wish I Lived In a Library

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Bookish Wishes

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists. Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups! Today's topic is Bookish Wishes where you're supposed to list books I want to buy. I buy books like it's my job and between that and a really great library and a bit of a NetGalley habit I really don't need any books. So instead I'm going to make a list of general additions I wish I could add to my reading life.

1. More reading time - I read pretty fast and am usually able to read multiple books at a time. Unfortunately, I frequently have to do things involving my son's school, or work, or basic house stuff like laundry and cooking dinner. All of these get in the way of reading (or getting through my To Watch list which is getting pretty substantial)

2. To be instantly comfortable and alert when I sit down to read - This past month I've really struggled with migraines which has cut down on my reading. And there are times where by the time I get settled down to read I'm only able to read a few pages before falling asleep. I'd like that when I do pick up a book all of that goes away.

3. For the used bookstore to have the exact backlist book I'm looking for - I'll also be good with having the next book I need in a series every time.

4. For some of the authors that I enjoy but don't publish regularly to write faster without sacrificing quality - If an author writes one book a year I'm okay with that but there are a few whose books I enjoy who aren't quite as regular (Kate Morton comes to mind).

5. To see less miscommunication in cozies and romances - I hate when I spend half the book screaming at the characters to JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER

6. Time to organize my bookshelves - I've turned a guest bedroom into a library/reading room and I have a lot of bookshelves (though I could probably use another one or two) but I haven't really organized them exactly how I want them. However, the idea of clearing out all the bookshelves and redoing them is more than a little intimidating and there's always something else that needs to get done.

7. A book series based on solving cases with Investigative Genetic Genealogy - I have fallen down a rabbit hole with the DNA:ID podcast and the Paul Froncziak case (there's a podcast, a few books and tons of different episodes TV and podcast. If you're interested in cold cases look into it - you won't regret it) and I would love to see that fictionally represented better than I have so far. If you can think of any books that fit this description let me know.

8. Read faster- I read fairly fast but there are so many books I want to read that I really wish I could read faster so I could get to them sooner!

9. To be less distracted when I read - I'm starting to work on this but it's so hard to stay focused sometimes when I'm read during the day. The phone is definitely a problem though this is what I'm working on but there are all kinds of things that catch my attention and then once I put my book down I'm not very likely to pick it back up.

10. To have a full week where I don't have to do anything else and I can just lock myself in my reading room and just read one book after another. - I'm not sure if I could actually do this without getting a little stir crazy but it sounds like absolute heaven.

What are some of your bookish wishes?

Monday, June 15, 2026

Reading What I Love - Year One by Nora Roberts

The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read. There's no real rhyme or reason. I just go through my library list and my shelves and pick the books that are calling to me. My focus in 2026 is reading books I think I'll love - or at least really enjoy.

Goodreads: Year One (Chronicles of The One #1) by Nora Roberts

Blurb: The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed--and more than half of the world's population was decimated.
Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river--or in the ones you know and love the most.

As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.

In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.

The end has come. The beginning comes next.

Why I Think I'll Love This One: I typically enjoy Nora Roberts' books and I've been enjoying fantasy more lately, so I thought I'd revisit this one which I skipped when it came out.

My Thoughts: While I've been enjoying fantasy more lately I typically lean towards the cozier fantasy side of things or at least quest based. This was decidedly not that. There's nothing cozy about this book and the focus from start to finish is just survival. The world has ended, society has broken down and people with magical powers - stronger since the Doom started - are hunted on all sides. This is an ensemble cast who for the most part didn't know each other before but are all united by the goal to survive and create some kind of community. Because of the ensemble cast and the general grimness of the world I struggled to become invested with the story at the beginning, and it took me a bit to figure out who was who. I never wanted to stop reading it but I wasn't flying through it. And then everything came together. It took me 3 days to read the first 100 pages and then 1 day to read the final 300. This isn't my favorite Nora Roberts book and definitely isn't a book I'll reread but I will definitely be picking up the next book in the trilogy very soon. My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Saturday, June 13, 2026

All Creatures Great and Small - Classic Nonfiction Review

Goodreads: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Rating: Loved It (5 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description: Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic animal patients.

For over forty years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot's marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye.

In All Creatures Great and Small, we meet the young Herriot as he takes up his calling and discovers that the realities of veterinary practice in rural Yorkshire are very different from the sterile setting of veterinary school. Some visits are heart-wrenchingly difficult, such as one to an old man in the village whose very ill dog is his only friend and companion, some are lighthearted and fun, such as Herriot's periodic visits to the overfed and pampered Pekinese Tricki Woo who throws parties and has his own stationery, and yet others are inspirational and enlightening, such as Herriot's recollections of poor farmers who will scrape their meager earnings together to be able to get proper care for their working animals. From seeing to his patients in the depths of winter on the remotest homesteads to dealing with uncooperative owners and critically ill animals, Herriot discovers the wondrous variety and never-ending challenges of veterinary practice as his humor, compassion, and love of the animal world shine forth.

Genre: Nonfiction

Why I Picked This Book: I read this book decades ago and remember enjoying it but nothing about it. I've been wanting to watch the latest television adaptation but wanted to reread the book before I did so.

My Impression: This was my slow read for most of May and it was an absolute delight. I don't have any experience with livestock and this book doesn't have me wanting to run out and get cows or horses but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Herriot's experiences with caring for them and a wide assortment of other animals. Frequently this care takes place in inhospitable weather and quite often with helpers who offer more opinions than actual help.

Herriot has a slightly dry, somewhat self-deprecating but always present sense of humor. There are poignant moments, humorous moments, and tense ones but all very human. My favorite story was the little Pekinese Tricki Woo though there were a number of others that stand out to me. I did wonder how Herriot survived without throwing something directly at Seigfried's head as he is quirky and absentminded to the point of maddening. This was an interesting, entertaining and sometimes poignant read. Each chapter is fairly stand alone and it makes for a wonderful slow read.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I'm looking forward to reading more of Herriot's work as well as watching the TV adaptation.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would! This was a wonderful read that I really enjoyed.

Friday, June 12, 2026

Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists. Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1. How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin - I'm a big fan of cold case mysteries so this one appealed to me right from the beginning. I went with the audio version and I'm so glad I did as I'm not sure I would have gotten through it if I had physically read it. The beginning is slooooowww and while I liked the main character, Annie, it took me awhile to get into it. The 1960s timeline especially took me awhile to become invested in. However, as the book went on I slowly became more and more invested and really enjoyed the ending. I'm curious to see how the series (and Annie) develop and will be reading the next book. My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 1 by Beth Brower - I feel like I'm seeing this series everywhere and everyone is raving about it so I was super excited to pick up this first volume. At first I didn't get the hype. I liked Emma and the story was interesting but I wasn't fully caught in her world. As the journal went on that changed and while this wasn't a five star read for me it was thoroughly enjoyable and I'm so looking forward to reading the next book. My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - I'd been in a bit of a slump with audiobooks and so when I picked this one up, I was a little hesitant. It ended up being exactly what I needed. Right from the start I was pulled into the story and I really had no idea how it was going to all unravel. The audio was fantastic and contributed to my enjoyment. This was a good mystery with lots of twists and turns. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - This book is a slice of life in a small village in England just as the world is about to change with the beginning of World War I. Beatrice Nash has just been hired to be the new Latin teacher and is immediately immersed in small town politics. There's a large number of characters - some delightful, some awful, most a complicated and realistic mix. This was a little too long and sometimes I had trouble of keeping up with who was who but for the most part I enjoyed it - especially the ending. I think it would have worked better as a slow read vs reading it for long periods of time. My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

5. Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen - This is the first book in the Maple Bishop series, set in post World War II Vermont. Maple is inspired by Frances Glessner Lee and her Nutshell Crime Scenes that were used as an investigative tool. Glessner Lee and her Nutshells have always fascinated me and so I was super excited to try this series. It did not disappoint and I flew through this book. Maple struggles with dealing with people but she has an amazing eye for detail and a love of the security and control her dollhouses bring. When she accidentally stumbles on a crime scene she immediately notices things that the Sheriff dismisses or doesn't notice at all. The mystery really hooked me but I was especially pulled in by Maple's investigation. As well, I really loved the relationship between her and the Sheriff, his deputy Kenny, Ben, and a number of other townspeople. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Recipe Thursday: Crockpot Chicken Tortellini

One of my goals for 2026 is to sort through all the recipes I have laying around tucked into folders and notebooks as well as my gigantic Pinterest/food blog collection that hasn't been touched in years. I've been having quite a good time with it. I enjoy cooking but it can become a chore pretty easily and this has made it a lot more fun for me as I feel like I'm working on a project. Around here we've taken to calling it Recipe Thunderdome as all recipes have to be auditioned before earning their place in the final recipe binder.

*For context I'm a reasonably capable home cook but one who is often trying to multitask and who is pretty much completely self-taught. *

Today I'm sharing Crockpot Chicken Tortellini from Slow Cooker Recipes

Changes: I forgot the Parmesan at the last step but other than that made it just as the recipe directed.

Thoughts on Recipe Difficulty: This was pretty easy. You do have to fiddle with a little in the last 30 minutes or so of cooking but for the most part you just put the ingredients in and walk away for 4 hours.

Cook Time: Actual prep time is probably about 15 minutes though it does cook for 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Served With: a green salad and rolls

Results: It was good and easy but not remarkable. Basically, my husband and I decided we'd be fine having it again and fine not having it again. I really love tortellini but I have a baked tortellini recipe I'd pick over this one every time and I have a few more on deck.

Verdict: Exiled. There's nothing wrong with this recipe but it's not special enough for the binder.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

What I'm Reading Right Now - June 10

I always have a few books going. Here is what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about them.

Ebook:

When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams - I'm only a few chapters in but so far, I'm really enjoying it. I'm really enjoying that it's set in the same places as last year's book so I'm seeing some of the characters from that book.

Print Book:

White Hot by Ilona Andrews - I still hate the cover - especially because it just doesn't fit the story - but I'm really enjoying the book. It's not my usual genre but it's a fun story with snarky banter, teamwork, and some serious bad guys.

Audio Book:

Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman - This is a little bit biography but mostly a look at how Austen's work became as beloved and well known as it is today. I'm not the hugest Austen fan but I'm finding this pretty interesting.

Slow Read:

Code Name: Lise: The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy by Larry Loftis - This reads like a fast paced action story so far and I'm struggling to keep it as a slow read. Odette's story is fascinating and I really enjoy Loftis's story telling.

What are you reading right now?