Reading In/Out 9/22/2026

I did it! I finished two books this weekend! Let's discuss.

OUT

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - I think I mentioned in a post before this that this book was stressful because it is so fast-paced that I get exhausted just reading it. Well, that didn't let up. Just when one harrowing situation gets worked out, another one comes flying in. Luckily, the witty banter and hilarious conditions make it a pleasant roller coaster.

Back on the Rez: Finding the Way Home by Brian Maracle - This was originally published in 1997, but is available for the first time on audio now. I enjoyed it. The author decides to blow up his family and move to his Iroquois reserve in Canada. His daughter moves to Toronto for college, and his wife moves to her home reserve. He moves into this log cabin that needs A LOT of work, and attempts to figure out life with his people. He has a lot to say about Indian politics. He also makes a lot of mistakes in regards to fixing up the house. He's pretty funny, so even the political stuff is entertaining, despite the fact that it is 30 year old politics and in another country.

CONTINUING

Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker - I managed to get to page 52 on Saturday. I haven't read any more because I am working from home today and tomorrow. I won't see this book again until Thursday.

IN

Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot by Zibby Owens - I grabbed this book on audio because I have listened to her podcast and she was on What Should I Read Next. I've listened to the first two chapters and I gotta tell you, I don't love it. It's a memoir. So it starts off with her telling her mom friends that she and her husband of 10 years are getting a divorce because she fell in love with her tennis pro at the country club in the Hamptons. I find this off-putting in so many ways. File under: how to be a cliche. Then it talks about how blissfully happy she is with the tennis pro who is now a film producer or something. And how much her 4 kids love him. And how much she hates not being with her kids when they are with their dad. Wait. What? Anyway, I'm holding out hope that she redeems herself in some way. I hope it's not a memoir about how I did this really hard thing that messed up a bunch of people's lives, and I cried a lot, poor me, but it's all okay now.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones - Sunshine Vikram is the new sherriff in her hometown of Del Sol, NM. She won an election she didn't know she was running in. Her parents maneuvered this situation so that she and her daughter would move back. It worked. Anyway, so now the daughter is dealing with mean girls at the new school on the first day, and Sun is dealing with a Mayor that is blackmailing her to get information about the Dangerous Daughters, whoever they are. I'm on page 36. So far, I love Sunshine. She's mouthy and gives no fluffs for authority figures. Unless they blackmail her, I guess.

So there you go. I almost completely overhauled the whole program this weekend. Feels good, since it's the 22nd of the month and I have now finished all of 3 books. Ugh.