Friday Reads 11/14/2025
You may have noticed that I did not post a Reading In/Out this week. That is not because I didn't finish or start anything. It is because I was sick on Tuesday. Then Wednesday was chock full of work. Then I was sick again on Thursday. At that point I figured I'd just put it all here.
OUT:
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - I finished this on Wednesday in a power-mode reading binge. I got home from work a little early and plopped down in my chair and finished it up. We had a great discussion on it at book club Friday night.
Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff - So remember how I had varying dates on when this would be delivered? Well, apparently I ordered 2 copies. One came on Wednesday last week, so I sat down after dinner and devoured the last 60 or so pages. It was amazing! Chef's kiss. Plus I went through and admired all the artwork.
Cat + Crazy by Wataru Nadatani - Since the Cat + Gamer series ended I went ahead and requested the first in the next series. It's maybe not as cute, but I will at least read the next one in the series.
The Invention of Charlotte Bronte: A New Life by Graham Watson - I think the last time I updated you on this book, I was half way through and Charlotte had just died. The whole second half of the book was about how her "friends" manipulated her father and her husband to let them write her biography. Only Elizabeth Gaskell had an official head-nod from the family, and mostly the book is about her running around gathering intel, and how many people tried to sue her for defamation (namely the woman who seduced Branwell Bronte and ruined his life.) It sounds awful, but I rather enjoyed it. Patrick Bronte and Arthur Nicholls weren't really nice people, anyway.
IN
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree - I started this one the day after I finished Empire of the Dawn. It's still fantasy, but it's a complete opposite vibe. This is pretty cozy. I'm 83% through the audio, so I will most likely finish this one this weekend. I'm enjoying it very much.
Queen of All Mayhem by Dane Huckelbridge - This is so interesting. Belle Starr ran back and forth through this area between Texas and Missouri. Her first husband was Jim Reed. Who ran with Frank and Jesse James. Our Grandmother was a Reed. Her dad was somewhat suspect. Hmmm. Anyway, I'm a third through this one and Belle has 2 kids and her husband is being sought by some really nasty people from Arkansas. She hasn't gone totally rogue yet, but she was a Confederate spy during the Civil War.
It's the 15th of the month and I haven't picked up any of the books from my own shelves. Oh well. C'est la vie!
FRIDAY READS
A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer - This is the third in a series that I have read the first two of. I need to read this one before I can start the next series that is related to it. I own the first book in that series in paper and audio. The library has an audio version of this available, so it may be my next choice when I finish Brigands.
Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford - I know this wasn't on my TBR, but it is a Book of the Month book so it counts. It just happens to be the shortest book on my BOTM shelf, which may or may not have affected my choosing it. I'd like to get at least one of those BOTM books read this month.
What are you reading this weekend?