I’ve been away so my October page is late since I haven’t yet perfected a means of using my computer comfortably while traveling. I’m happy to be home again where I’m starting to analyze my trip and my traveling inclinations. October reading is going to be a lot like September reading since for the 17 days away, I didn’t open even one of my paperbacks, but listened solely to audiobooks instead, while driving.
My October Word of the Month
Humble
My October Haiku of the Month
Tireless I’m not.
I find myself at peace now,
His love inside me.
Bible Verse of the Month
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
My October reading diary is at the bottom of this page, after the book list.
My Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/lindajm
☆ – I own the book and am ready to read.
★ – I’m reading it.
✓ – I finished reading it. Yay!
⇗ – Still reading at the end of the month.
DNF – I did not like it or finish it.
∅ – Stalled – I started but didn’t finish.
↓ – I didn’t even start. Complete fail!
My Personal Challenge This Month
Last month I reduced my “currently reading” list at Goodreads to only eight titles at a time. This month I’d like to reduce that further, to only five titles. I’m trying to be reasonable with my reading life.
Getting Serious About the 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge
I have only three more months to finish this challenge!!
Right now I’ve read 38 books out of 50 – so, 12 more to read. These are the books I want to read this month. Here’s my Goodreads list of PopSugar Reading Challenge books.
★ Juvenile Fiction: Whittington, by Alan Armstrong
I’m reading this for prompt 40: Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge [2017 prompt 10: A book with a cat on the cover]. Besides which, who wouldn’t want to read a book about a beautiful cat? Right?
★ Christian Fiction: Jewel of the Nile, by Tessa Afshar
I’m reading this book for the 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt 1 – A book published in 2021. I’ve enjoyed the Christian romance fiction I’ve been reading the last few months (by another author) and decided to branch out and try a Christian novel by someone else – Tessa Afshar! Reviews are good, and I’m adventurous, so I bought a paperback copy of this book.
★ Juvenile Fiction: The Headless Cupid, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
I had this on my August list but didn’t manage to start reading it yet. Now it is at the top of the TBR list. I’m reading this for 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt 23 – A book with something broken on the cover. I chose this Newbery Medal winning book for the older cover:
Obviously, something’s broken.
☆ Juvenile Fiction: Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
This is for 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt #32: A book whose title starts with “Q,” “X,” or “Z”. Those are few and far between so I was thrilled to find one on the Newbery list. This is a Newbery Honor Book from 1967.
☆ Juvenile Fiction: The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelly Barnhill
This book won the Newbery Medal in 2017. I’m reading it for 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt #43: The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover. I think this cover is beautiful. Do you?
☆ Juvenile Fiction: The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread, by Kate DiCamillo
Conversely, this is being read for 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt #44: The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover, because I’m not fond of mice. It won the Newbery Medal in 2004.
☆ Juvenile Fiction: Bright Island, by Mabel L. Robinson
This is a random book pick. I’m reading this for 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt #48: A book from your TBR list chosen at random. I used a random number picker to choose this from the Newbery list. It was a Newbery Honor Book in 1938.
Still reading from last month:
★ California Fiction: California Gold, by John Jakes
I was SO EXCITED when this book was chosen. STILL excited. Even though this is the longest book on my list of twenty books, it is the one I wanted to read the most. Bill Ruttenberg, another Booktuber, inspired me to want to read this with a bookshelf tour video a year ago. FYI – I didn’t start reading this in July. Saved it for August and September.
★ California Nonfiction: The Barbary Coast, by Herbert Asbury
I started reading this book years ago for novel research. Then it sat on my shelf neglected for years. Then it burned in the historic forest fire of September 8, 2020… just as I was considering picking it up again to read the rest. Well, I put it on my list for the Booktube Spin and sure enough – I had to buy another copy. I’m happy to be able to read it. I started from the beginning again and am currently in chapter five. This fits for 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge prompt 49: A DNF book from your TBR list.
✓ Juvenile Nonfiction: All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, by Christina Soontornvat
This book is a 2021 Newbery Honor Book. It is full of photographs. This is about a group of thirteen boys – mostly teenagers – who were trapped in a cave in Northern Thailand, behind flood waters. The book tells about every aspect of the rescue. I’ve been doing the Newbery Variety Challenge with a small group at Goodreads. So far I’ve read 16 books for the challenge this year. This is my 17th, and final book for that challenge.
Christian Books I Want to Read
★ Christian Nonfiction: Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, by Jen Schmidt
I joined the Sisters in Christ Book Club at Goodreads and this is the August monthly selection for a group read. I didn’t finish it and am still reading through it now, trying to finish it. Currently in chapter twelve as of October 10. It is slow going for me. The book has become a slog, since I have no interest in hosting parties or the issues affecting young families. I think I’m the wrong age for this book. I’m a senior citizen living alone in a travel trailer right now!
★ Christian Nonfiction: Discovering the Joy of Jesus, by Stonecroft Ministries
I’m reading this for a local women’s Christian book study group.
★ Christian Devotional: Let Go, by Fenelon
The new pastor in town recommended this book.
★ Christian Historical Fiction: A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness, by Gene Edwards
The new pastor in town recommended this book.
☆ Christian Fiction: Home to Holly Springs, by Jan Karon
I’m still participating in the “A Year in Mitford Readalong” and this is the tenth book in the series.
☆ Christian Nonfiction: Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him, by Jackie Hill Perry
This is the September group-read for the Sisters in Christ Book Club at Goodreads.
Random Audiobook Selections
I always have to have an audiobook in process and never plan this out ahead of time anymore. When I finish one I’ll seek out another for entertainment.
✓ Christian Fiction: A Voice in the Wind, by Francine Rivers
Book one in the Mark of the Lion trilogy. Audio-reading….
✓ Juvenile Fiction: Dogsong, by Gary Paulsen
A coming of age novel set in Alaska. This was a Newbery Honor Book in 1986.
★ Biography: Wolf: The Lives of Jack London, by James L. Haley
It is literary. It is largely about California, where Jack London was born and raised. Win-Win.
My October 2021 Reading Diary
October 1 through 9 – still traveling
October 10 – At home in a travel trailer… a stationary spot. I read a few chapters of Jewel of the Nile and I made this page. I also wrote a short article for another blog.
October 11 – Time to re-evaluate my life. I want big changes. Today I audio-read chapters five and six of Wolf: The Lives of Jack London. These chapters were about his time as a student at UC Berkeley, and his Klondike gold-seeking adventure that ended abruptly when he developed scurvy and had to go home or die. Choices! While listening I created a mesterpiece in my large sketchbook. Mixed media drawing disaster… but fun and relaxing while listening to an audiobook!
October 12 – I read a few chapters of Jewel of the Nile, by Tessa Afshar. Currently at the start of ch.17, nearly half-way through the novel. Still not a huge fan. Discovered 4 seasons of Survivor Australia at CBS.com. Barely making it through each day… took a nap then went to sleep early. Even vitamin supplements don’t seem to restore my vitality. Went off the vegetarian diet due to my hair falling out. Now eating chicken. This has nothing to do with my reading, except maybe a reason why I’m not getting enough reading done these days. I spent much of the day bringing my 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge page up to date. Did not even finish that, but most of the updates are done. I discovered I failed to review two of the books I read this year.
October 13 – I read a little from three books: Just Open the Door, Whittington, and Jewel of the Nile. Now I’m so very tired, I can’t continue.
October 14 – I spent most of the day creating this video. It was COMPLEX and time consuming. Still, I had time to read 2 chapters of Whittington and to watch 2 episodes of Australian Survivor at CBS.com. This video link will be active tomorrow morning.
October 15 – What did I do all day? That is the question. Oh… yes, I remember. I spent HOURS binge watching old Australian Survivor episodes, and very little time reading. Let’s hope this isn’t a trend. Maybe it is good that there are only three full seasons of this program available at CBS.com right now.
October 16 – I made this video today:
October 18 – Yesterday was church day. Today was errand day. I also worked on developing plans for a couple videos. Reading? I’ve made progress with Wolf: The Lives of Jack London.
October 19 – I worked most of the day on filming and editing a video then scrapped the project by the end of the day. I hope I learned something. I read more of Whittington and am now nearing the end of the novel.
October 20 – Not the best reading month ever. Also making videos… problematic.
October 21 – Struggling. I’m spending more time binge watching old seasons of Australian Survivor than reading.
October 22 – A better day. I finished reading All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. Great book!
October 25 – Today I finished reading Whittington by Alan Armstrong. I reviewed it at Goodreads. I also started reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
October 26 – I published a book tag video today.
October 28 – I’ve read through chapter five in The Outsiders and started a re-read of The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer via audiobook. I’m also reading The Kneeling Christian, currently starting chapter four, and Let Go by Fenelon… I’m at letter 22 out of 40.
October 29 – I finished reading Let Go by Fenelon and reviewed it at Goodreads.
October 30 – I read a few more chapters of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Currently on page 130 which is about 2/3 through the book. It is a short novel. I made this video today:
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