January proved to be a five star month. Most of my choices became memorable reads, whetting my appetite to search out more good great reads for my 2026 Good Reads reading challenge. I almost hit my wishful thinking number of 200 books last year. January’s five star reads:
The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso
sci-fi/magical/romance/adventure
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (4 out of 8 read and now waiting patiently for the others to get returned)
Witty, captivating, and addictive
Time and Again by Jack Finney
cult classic time travel set in 1970s/1882 New York
Last year proved a banner year for my Good Reads reading challenge having far surpassed my usual 101 books with 191 books. Will 2026 be the year of 200? 201?
December ended on a high note of 5 five star reads—a mixture of kid lit to popular requests.
City Spies by James Ponti
image: Goodreads
The usual trope of orphaned children with exceptional skills being recruited as M16 operatives has been popularized by books such as Horowitz’s Alex Rider series making it difficult to provide something unique to the middle grade genre. And yet Ponti does add enough twists to create a creative read.
The Unselected Journalsof Emma M. Lion by Beth Brouwer
image: Goodreads
Understated humor, Victorian culture, British class/historical fiction, with a smidge of mystery all come together for a charming read that is less journal entry and more novel in approach.
No wonder the library can’t keep them on the shelf.
The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox
image: Amazon
A story how birds, one of God’s most precious creations, can help restore faith in oneself and in others.This reader gladly endured the hold list wait as it was a lovely read.
Marshmallow and Jordan by Alina Chau
image: Amazon
An uplifting graphic novel that features Jordan, a middle-school girl in a wheelchair who used to be a basketball star. She befriends a stray baby elephant and they become inseparable, naming him Marshmallow. Marshmallow helps Jordan boost her swimming skills enough to join the school’s water polo team.
Your Inner Hedgehog by Alexander McCall Smith
image: Goodreads
This fifth entry into the series captures the subtle wit and charming irony McCall-Smith is known for. As he continues his gentle poke at academia the story takes on the sublime found in books by Jasper Fforde and Douglas Adams.
Reading books continues to be the fundamental enjoyment of retirement. It even rates higher than dark chocolate.
Well into the new year I am now reflecting on past accomplishments of last year. While I could ruminate on aspects of my writing life I will instead gloss over the fact I did not attain my goal of securing an agent or getting another manuscript accepted by a publisher. I did, however, get several articles published in Sandpoint Magazine, a regional publication that emphasizes Sandpoint and the amazing surrounding area. You can check it out here.
Instead, I will gladly share my reading accomplishments (much more impressive). For the past few years I have set a reading goal of 101 books. I have managed to meet and surpass that number and thought, “Why not go for 200 books?”
I managed 191. Close. So close.
Goodreads puts together a dandy graphic summary and here are a couple of highlights:
That is a lot of books!I wonder why October was busier?There were some really good reads last year.
Of course there are no Thanksgiving scenes in any of Shakespeare’s works since that holiday was not on his creative road map. However, he did have several worthwhile lines about giving thanks. Feel free to share as you gather round your table on Thursday.
“O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!” — 2 Henry VI
“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” — The Winter’s Tale
a. At the store you see one aisle over that person from (fill in the blank) and want to say “Hi” but forgot their name, so you avoid their aisle and suddenly become interested in something to avoid meeting up with them.
b. You are watching a movie and an actor steps into the scene, you know who they are, and can even recall all the other movies you’ve seen them in, but their name is just out of reach.
c. You’re out in the garage looking for that one tool needed for your project and can’t locate it so you ask if anyone has seen it but right then you’ve lost the actual name of it so you invent a close facsimile like “air blower” for the “leaf blower.”
Any of these ring true for you?
I call them BMW moments. Not to be confused with this:
Not the BMW for now
It’s more like this:
Yeah, definitely
A BMW moment is what I have come to call “Brief Missing Word” moments. It’s where for a nanosecond (or sometimes longer) the name or term, that needed word that is hovering just out of reach cannot be reeled in by those little grey cells (Poirot no doubt had those brain glitches now and then).
In my younger days, about ten plus years ago, I noticed this would happen when I was teaching. I’d merrily be explaining something to my students and suddenly the word I needed evaporated right when I needed it. Most perplexing and vastly irritating.
My hubs eased my concern saying my brain is a computer and like a computer its memory files just needed some defragmentation. Plus being tired no doubt also affected my memory recall.
I bought it and learned to adjust becoming adept at word switching or talking around the missing word through descriptive embellishments.
Once retired, I thought with my mind less filled with lesson planning, grading, evaluation demands, etc. my brain files would have more space. And sleeping in, along with naps, meant being less tired. Right?
Nope, BMW moments were becoming more of a regular feature of my life. So, I naturally think dementia and go to my doctor. He gives the test.
I pass.
His comment is that I shouldn’t worry about those missing word moments unless I start forgetting the names of my children or husband or start putting my car keys in the refrigerator.
Okay. I can accept that. I’m learning to live with those brief missing moments.
Now as soon as I find my keys I can go to that one store so get that thing. Maybe what’s his face has seen my keys.
I reluctantly packed up my hammocks at the end of October which means entering into the long season of more indoor reading time. Reading by lamplight is not as fulfilling as reading by sunlight. My reading stats will definitely decrease. *Sigh*
Isola by Allegra Goodman
image: Penguin Books
Marguerite, a young French girl born into privilege, is betrayed by her protector, Roberval, who has mortgaged her wealth and lands to finance his travels to make a name for himself.
As an orphan, a a woman living in the misogynistic times of the Middle Ages, she has no choice but to obey her patron. When he demands she accompany him on his ship to colonize New France she and her maid reluctantly board, apprehensive of their future.
In a scheme to ensure her death, Roberval, in order to inherit her remaining assets, declares treachery against Marguerite and his secretary and abandons them on a wretched island.
The novel is based on a snippet of historical interest and is expanded into a tale of transformation and spiritual journey. Marguerite’s voice is stilted, representing the subservient attitude women had to adopt during that time period, yet she projects the independent attitude of a contemporary woman, angry at the injustice dealt her.
The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed
image: Amazon
Definitely not the usual YA read as it mixes together quantum theory with a coming-of-age romance along with a mystery plot, all based on a poem inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
At this point you are either in or out.
Fans of John Green and Dr. Who will appreciate the intelligent chaos that is interpersed with Aria’s humor.
Only 2 books rated five stars out of the 20 read in October. Some were, as Maxwell Smart used to say: “Missed it by that much.”
If you identify with parent of school age children, then I commiserate with you for the back-to-school shopping marathon. Well, yes, it is exciting getting the kiddos ready for another (or their first) foray into the classroom routine. But it is tiring and expensive.
If you are a student, you are either bummed or excited, or perhaps a bit of both, since it means put a pause on summer fun in order to focus on the mojo needed to get into the school routine.
As a teacher, you are no doubt either already back in the classroom (depending on where you teach) or bum-weary from having to sit through endless admin-led meetings while you would rather be preparing your room.
None of the above? You are probably then retired or an empty-nester or perhaps neither a parent or teacher, although you vaguely remember your September back-to-school days.
This marks my fourth September I will not be returning as a teacher, yet I found myself back on campus anyway. My retirement days are centered around books: I’m either reading them, writing them, or doing something with them that is library related. Today I dropped off a box of donated of books to a couple of schools, one of which was where I formerly taught English.
Yes, it was strange.
No, I didn’t miss it.
Yes, I briefly said “howdy” to some former compadres. And yes, I delivered my usual line of “I highly recommend it!” when asked how I like being retired.
Okay, fine–I do miss some aspects of being a teacher, such as getting to know my students, watching them catch the spark of appreciating literature, lunch time sessions with teacher chums, and staff meetings (just kidding on that one).
So, here is hoping your back-to-school blues aren’t severe, and hoping the school year is fabulous, whether you are in a school desk, behind the teacher’s desk, or planning a cruise since everyone else is back in school.
I’ve experienced Shakespeare plays (one experiences his works, versus watches them—a bit pompous sounding,sorry) in a variety of forms: live on stage (several as an audience member and once as Horatio—very brief); large screen theater; small screen TV; reading, and teaching.
One favorite form is watching a performance in the park, as it is open air, much like a Globe performance. Plus there is the anticipation of lively audience response, the atmosphere being one of shared spaces and camaraderie. And the plays are usually free, at least the one that comes to our fair city is.
Every year in August the Montana company arrives and performs one of Shakespeare’s popular plays in a local park. This year they presented a As You Like It, which is one of Shakespeare’s more popular comedies.
Laughing Out LoudBard in the Park
Arriving at the park 40 minutes early I discovered the space already teeming with people, but no matter since I prefer the back for that quick exit to avoid the parking lot tangle.
As the sun drifted behind the trees the temps cooled down and the stage action heated up with runaway sons and daughters, tangled romance, and character arcs. As You Like It is a fun romp and the audience showed its appreciation with plenty of applause and laughter.
Bard in the Park signifies the transition from summer fun to back to school readiness. And Jacques mentions going to school in his famous “All the world’s a stage” soliloquy.
Anyone catch a Shakespeare in the Park performance this summer?
Today is Cow Appreciation Day. And I really appreciate our bovine friends. They are noble, as well as humorous. They are inspiring with their ability to placidly spend their days grazing while they are producing milk for the masses.
Cows are so amazing they deserve the Pulitzer Prize for being outstanding contributors in their field.
Next time you quench your thirst with a cold glass of milk, or sprinkle some cheese on your pizza, or dip into that bowl of ice cream be sure to thank a cow.
I have been a library fan since elementary school. I think my high school year book proclaims I wanted to be a librarian when I grew up. Although my degree ended up as a writing teacher I was a librarian for the first half of my work career and when I switched into the classroom reading and library skills were part of the curriculum.
Now that I am retired I’m a Friends of the Library volunteer and I’m there two-three times a week working with donations.
When I go on vacation I always check out the library. Hawaii, Washington DC, Seattle, Okinawa—I visited all of them.
So, I’m combining National Library Week with National Poetry Month with a POM (Poem of the Month). Emily D recognizes how books are like a ship that sails us to different shores.
There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away, Nor any Coursers like a Page Of prancing Poetry – This Traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of Toll – How frugal is the Chariot That bears a Human soul.
Pam Webb 