The Books of 2026

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I'm wondering whether you set reading goals for the year, or whether you just like to read whenever the mood strikes you never mind the idea of keeping track of the books you've read. Or maybe you really don't like to read at all.  I know a few people that don't read much. They usually try to read just before sleep and promptly nod off. I always try to encourage people to read more, even if it's just one more book than they might usually read.

I've always liked to read and I had the impression that I read a lot.  However until I started setting annual reading goals and tracking the number of books and pages read through Goodreads, I realized that I really didn't read much at all.  I started tracking my reading in 2009 and now read consistently though my reading drops off if I'm sick or travelling and there are some months when I just give myself a break.  I know you can read when travelling and people use their electronic devices to assist in this regard but I prefer reading paper books and I may only take 1 with me to read on the plane.  There are usually so many other things to keep one busy when travelling.

In 2026, I've set another modest goal of reading 50 books.  If you are a reader you'll know there are some books that only take 2 or 3 hours to read. Then there are books that take much longer to read. Most books I select have anywhere from 6 to 15 hours estimated reading time. I prefer to read books that are a more than 300 pages so that I am not having to go to the library every other day. I like going to the library but I usually try to work in a trip there for when I am needing to do other errands nearby.  I also enjoy historical fiction best but in the last 3 years I've tried to diversify my reading.  Consequently, I've read fantasy books, murder mysteries and contemporary books.

If you've read this far, I hope you will leave me a comment and let me know what books you are reading right now.  Perhaps I can add a few of them to my 'want to read list'. In the meantime you might be interested in knowing what I've been reading thus far in 2026.  Here are the books and a summary of what they are about.

I picked the book, Ring of Salt off the library shelf and was pleasantly surprised and happy with the book. In this memoir, Betsy, an American left the United States for Ireland to get far away from her rich, abusive parents.  She ends up dating and marrying an abusive man and having one child with him.  Throughout her marriage Betsy is working as a struggling but published author and her husband earns very little which only adds to the strain in their marriage. Ultimately she plots her escape and with the assistance of the local women's shelter she is helped to get on her feet again.  Betsy meets another man, who is supportive of her and wants to marry her but she declines. She has a vision for opening a retreat for abused women where they can also learn how to learn some crafts to help them earn an income.  Though her life continues to be a financial struggle, Betsy is able to see the beginning of her dream coming to life.

The Golden Spruce, was gifted to me for my birthday.  This non-fictional story is set largely on the northwest coast of British Columbia, the province where I live. It's a fascinating account of a man, Grant Hadwin, who cuts down a tree, known as the Golden Spruce.  The tree was a 300 metre high Sitka Spruce tree, revered by loggers and sacred to the Haida people of the Haida Gwaii, formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands.  The year was 1997 when Grant's used a chainsaw to fell the sacred tree from the old growth forest which was his act of protest against the logging industry. He felt people were too fixated on the one tree while the logging industry was decimating a huge part of the old growth forest. Just before he was scheduled to stand trial for environmental vandalism and eco-terrorism, Grant disappeared under mysterious circumstances and has never been found.

Aging Well with Diabetes,  is a good reference book for older adults who have diabetes. I didn't finish it because there were people on the waitlist before I could complete the reading.  I don't want to buy the book because I've already decluttered so many books over the past several years and don't want to accumulate more.  On the rare occasion I do buy a book, it's usually from the thrift store. I will add this book to my list to read later

I added Welcome to the School by the Sea, to my "want to read" list because it was recommended by the library based on other books I'd read. I enjoyed it but I would give it an average rating.  The book is the first installment of a 4 part series.  The setting for the story is a posh girl's boarding school in Devon, England, hence the title.  In this installment, young teacher Maggie leaves Scotland to begin teaching at the boarding school.  In doing so, she has to leave her boyfriend Stan behind and he's none too happy about it.  It's a bit nerve wracking for Maggie to settle in because she isn't from the posh set and has no experience of teaching children from a well to do background.  But she is determined to have a new adventure in life and is reluctant to return home though several times Stan asks her to do exactly that.  The book is basically about how Maggie adjusts to the school, Maggie making new friends, the school girls that get into mischief, and an attraction to male teacher at the neighbouring boys school.  There is also an overarching story about the school administrator, Veronica.  As the novel proceeds we learn of an unexpected connection between Veronica and the adopted son she gave up at birth.  Of course no one even knows she had a child as an unwed mother. Although the book was just average or a little better than average, I'm open to reading the other books in the series in the future.

I picked up The Last Thing He Told Me was a free book which I picked up at the local community center.  The book is easy to read and quite engaging.  As I started reading, it didn't take long to realize that the story line was familiar. I thought perhaps I'd already read the book but later realized that I'd seen a mini-series of the same name on Apple TV.   I enjoyed both the book and the mini-series.  In the story, Owen, is Hannah's husband.  Very early in the story, Owen disappears suddenly and very mysteriously. The police are looking for him in connection to major fraud perpetrated by his boss and the company for whom he worked.  Owen's boss has been arrested and Owen will also be taken into custody if the police investigators can find him.  Owen left so quickly that he hasn't let his wife, Hannah or his daughter, Bailey know what's going on, where he is. whether he will come back.  He's only left a note for Hannah to protect Bailey.  It's left to Hannah and Bailey to try to piece together what has happened to Owen and to try to have a life without him.  The majority of the story reveals that Owen isn't who he said he is and that much of what Hannah and Bailey know about him is untrue.  This is earth shaking news for the both of them and they are faced with monumental decisions about how they move forward.

This next book was on my 'to read' list. It appealed to me because I like bakeries and I like a lot of novels set in Paris. It turns out the book isn't set in Paris but in a suburb on Rue de Paris, lol. It's a magical, fantasy book that weaves together the secret bakery recipes and the lives of those who own the bakery or work in it. 

I picked up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo because the cover appealed to me.  The book title and summary suggested a story reminiscent of the late Elizabeth Taylor who I always found fascinating.  Not so much because of her many husbands but because of her great collection of precious jewellery and her air of old fashioned Hollywood glamour. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a well written story but if I had known a bit more about the content, I probably would not have read it. 

The Secret History of Audrey James is another book I picked from the shelves. It seems I read a lot of books about women heroines set in WW2 in England or France. I haven't read this book yet but will start soon.

I have a few more books that will be ready for pick up in the next few days.

I heard an interview on You Tube with the author of this book, Culinary Claims.  L. Sasha Gora did her Ph. D. in Canada which culminated in this book.

I tried listening to Andrew Lownie's Entitled on Audible but I have a hard time listening to a book. My mind wanders all over the place.  Even if it doesn't wander I just can't seem to focus on the story itself.  So I've put the paper book on hold and now it's ready.  In the period of time that I've been waiting for the book there has been so much information about these two former royals that has come out in the press, tabloid television and You Tube channels that whatever is in the book is probably "old" news.

I've only read one book by Carley Fortune who seems to be a very popular Canadian author writing about romance and contemporary themes.  The book is called, This Summer Will Be Different .  It's set in Prince Edward Island (PEI) which is clear on the other side of the country from where I live. I thought it was a little 'fluffy' or light for my taste but I'm going to read another book of hers to see if I like it better.

That concludes my January and February book selections so far.  Please let me know in the comments if you've recently reads any good books. I'll see if the library here has a copy.

Late to the Party ~ Skywatch Friday, November 7, 2025

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I'm late to the skywatch party today. It was a busy day for me because I've been sick for well over a week. Today I wanted to get out for a bit of a walk and though I was out and about for several hours I didn't walk far. I was not only trying to get some fresh air but wanted to do some errands before the rain started up again.  It's been pouring quite hard here these days. 

In the last shot you can't see the sky as such but I thought the colour of the leaves and of the neon banner colours made for a lovely shot.

The colours also match the cover design for the latest library book I picked up. Ken Follett is one of my favourite authors and I'm looking forward to reading this new book.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post. Wishing you a fabulous weekend.

October Reading ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome to Tuesday 4 in memory of our friend Toni Taddeo.

Most people love to read.  It opens other worlds to us.  Autumn weather is often conducive to reading as weather can be chillier and rainy. Cozying up with a book can be a lovely way to spend some time.

How do you relax in the evening after dinner? 

By watching television, working on the computer or by reading a good book.

Do you read in bed? What kind of books do you read?

I do read in bed but not that often as I don't find it comfortable. I usually sit and read on my sofa.  I try to read all kinds of books but I tend to read more historical fiction than anything else.

Do you have a list of books you look forward to reading?

I keep a very long list of books to read and I'm always adding new titles. I can get most of them at my local library or have them sent there from the city's inter-library system. I seldom buy books these days because there are just so many available through the library.  I do get the itch to buy a book but will only buy them used and if they are a very good price at the thrift store on a rare visit there.

What is the best book you've ever read and why?  Or how about the worst book you feel you wasted time reading?

I have several books and authors I've read that I call 'the best'.  Some of my all time favourite authors are Mauve Binchy (Evening Class), Rosamunde Pilcher (The Shell Seekers),  Abraham Verghese (Cutting for Stone), Khalid Hosseini (The Kite Runner), Rohinton Mistry (A Fine Balance), Sandra Gulland (The Josephine B. Trilogy), Ken Follett (The Century Trilogy), Lisa See (The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane),  Karen Blixen (Out of Africa), Jane Austin (Pride & Prejudice) & Leo Tolstoy (Anna Karenina).  There are many more and so you see it is difficult to choose one best book and author. 

There have also been a few books that I feel I wasted time on. Some of them I plodded on and read them anyway.  But in the last few years I've started shelving them rather than waste time especially if I've dawdled over reading it and it's due back at the library.  One book that I can clearly recall not liking is President Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope" (I own this one and recently gave it away). I was quite surprised because I really enjoyed his book "Dreams of My Father".  I'm afraid I didn't keep good track of the others I've more recently shelved including a cosy mystery I tried reading last month. It was very highly rated but I could not get into it.

Other

This is a Public Service Announcement for Canadians. If you haven't yet heard about several bills that are currently before the Parliament of Canada for consideration, please pay attention to the following short video 

and the particular legislative proposals mentioned therein. Also, share this information as widely as you can.  The rights of citizens in virtually every nation around the world are being eroded before our eyes and Canada is no exception.  We need to do what we can to protect our rights. Please investigate these items and contact your local Member of Parliament with your concerns.

C 2 - Would Allow Canada Post to open your mail at the border without your consent.

C 5 - Could pull funds that are paid to provinces affecting national unity.

C 8 -  Would give the government power to order the shut down of all your Internet and phone if you are deemed to be a threat.  

C 9 - Changing definition of hate speech and giving government the power to charge you without Attorney General approval.

The above descriptions are taken directly from the video above, not through my own research. The next step is for people to do their own research and contact their local Members of Parliament with their concerns.

Here is a link to the bills currently before Parliament including the Bills I've mentioned above.

This link will take you to a page showing you the current status of each bill and identifies the stage of the legislative process they are currently in.

Last, but not least, here is a link to find your Member of Parliament should you need assistance in finding your local MP.

 

Your Reading Opinions ~ Tuesday 4

Tuesday 4 welcomes you and hopes that you are enjoying the questions we ask each week. In spite of movies and television, reading is still a popular way to spend time for many people all over the world.

All kinds of people read all kinds of books.   I thought maybe we could talk about it a bit this week and get your personal opinions on the subject.

1. What are some essential classic books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime?

Books by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy and Margaret Atwood (new classic ?). There are many more wonderful authors who have written terrific classic books but I'll limit my list.

2.  Monday September 22 is the first day of Autumn.  Would you make up a list for us of books that you think would make great Autumn reading?

The Dutch House by Ann Pathchett, September by Rosamunde Picher, The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.

3  What genre will we find most in your library? Sci Fi, Romance, adventure, biography, non fiction, mystery?  What do you like most about the genre?

Historical fiction. I like history but have limited patience for reading detailed historical non-fiction books. Most of them are too dull. I like a good story tied into fact based history. One can't rely on the history shared in a novel but it gives a good starting point for more research if interested in digging deeper.

4  What book would you like to see made into a movie? Any idea on who should be cast in the roles?

September by Rosamunde Pilcher. I have no idea about the casting but it should be British actors and it should be a big budget film not a cheaply produced television series or made for television movie.  I'd also l like to see a movie based on The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.

What's on My Mind & In My Basket

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

Happy mid-week to you.  I hope you are all well and good.

I cannot believe how fast May flew by and now we are almost through a full week of June. How did that happen? I seem to say that the time flies by so fast but lately I hear everyone else saying it too! I guess it means we are all getting older.

In sad news there are so many wildfires burning across Canada. It is devastating for many smaller communities and for the people who live in them.  Not only does it affect Canadians but Americans have been saying how their air quality is being affected in various parts of the USA. Unfortunately it isn't even the official beginning of summer yet and the meteorologists are forecasting a hot, dry summer ahead. Hold on to your hats.  If you're the praying type, please keep in prayer for moderate temperatures and more rain.

Here at home in southern British Columbia, we are okay but in the northern part of the province wildfires are burning.  Here in Vancouver, I've found it quite cool.  Despite the local meteorologists forecasting hot weather for several. days I've only felt very warm temperatures on one day and that didn't last all day long.  If I had to choose though, I would far rather it stay on the slightly cool side.

While the weather has been cool, I've been keeping super busy and trying to get as many things done before hotter temperatures arrive.  When it gets too hot I really am not up to doing much except trying to stay cool.  Sometimes I wonder how come I'm always so busy and never seem to catch up to things.

I think it's a combination of getting older and having too many hobbies. When a person gets older, they tend to have more medical appointments and medical related appointments, especially if they have a medical condition. There is always a test to do, medicines to pick up, a specialist or doctor to meet. Then there are also the dental visits and eye doctors which most people have. I seem to have lost my eye doctor and have to find another one because I haven't had an eye examination for quite some.  In my case, busyness is also greater this year.  After several years identification cards need renewal including, government ID, driver's license and my passport.  Two gardens needed to be planted and 2 tax returns needed to be be prepared and filed.  All of it within the same month or two. On top of that, the building where I live always has major projects going on.  While these impact  all residents. My particular apartment has had 2 leaks from upstairs which needed investigation and repair. In fact, the 2nd one is not yet completed.  It's a good thing I don't have to go out to work every day or this would be a difficult situation to manage.

Last, but not least, I always find more work for myself.  For example, the decluttering and cleaning project I started long ago.  Related activities include the purchase of several new furnishings (patio conversation set, storage sofa and adjustable bed and mattress) all of which took time to research and compare options before buying, and the organization of delivery and haul away services. 

Honestly, there is never enough time in a day and I also don't want to waste time.  Time is going by so fast and it's such a precious commodity.  Does anyone else have the same issue with time and too many things to do?

Despite the busyness, I'm happy that I've kept up with some reading and I've also started making more time for hobbies. 

Here are the current books I'm reading or about to read.

An Ocean of Minutes was a of a genre I don't normally read, a dystopian, fantasy novel.  The books revolves around the relationship between Polly and Frank. Frank becomes sick during a pandemic and the medical care he needs is cost prohibitive.  Polly decides to help him by signing on as a bonded labourer into the future. The company she is employed  by will pay for Frank's medical treatment.  Frank and Polly promise to meet one another in Galveston, Texas in 12 years time but Polly ends up being re-routed an additional 5 years into the future.  When she arrives she can't find Frank and the city has changed enormously.  Polly must learn to survive in a totally changed America.  She has with no money, no friends or family and no status in the country.  This begins her search for Frank and the heartbreak that goes along with the search.

Reading this book, at this time, seemed very appropriate to this time and place with all the radical changes taking place right now.

Meet me at the Lake is the second book I've recently picked up by Canadian author Carley Fortune.  I picked it up quite randomly and didn't realize that the author is quite a popular author. 

T he book is about a young woman named Fern who lives and works in the big city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her mother dies and leaves her a Muskoka lakeside resort.  Unfortunately, the resort is in a tight financial situation.  Before her mother dies, she hires a consultant named Will to help get things on a more even keel.  Fern doesn't find out until Will arrives at the resort to begin his work. Will is a former boyfriend bof Ferns, one who ghosted her so there are lots of unresolved feelings.  Will doesn't know that Fern's  mother has died when he checks in to begin his consultancy.

I enjoyed several things about the book such as the settings for the book (Toronto, Muskoka Lakes, Vancouver) and the general story arc.  However, the writing  is a bit too graphic for me when it comes to the intimate situations between the characters.  It's probably quite tame for some people.  But for me, it's a little too much. 

In A House for Alice, Alice Pitt has been living in England for over 50 years. After her husband dies she yearns to return to Nigeria to live out her last years on earth. Her daughters however, are torn over whether their mother should return to Nigeria or remain in London.  Her youngest daughter Melissa, is not only coping with the loss of her father and her mother's departure for Nigeria but her marriage is also breaking down.  I haven't gotten too far into the book but it seems to be about how significant life events can have negative impacts on one's family foundations.

I haven't started the next two books but they look interesting.  I just picked them off the shelves because I was short of reading material at the time. Now I've got too much to read.

The Paris Express is based on a real life event, a French railway disaster of 1895. It's ready for pick up at the local library.

Some of you may know that I started a major decluttering & reorganizing project quite some time ago.  In between these tasks, there have been many interruptions so it's taken forever to make progress.  The main purpose of the project is to create time and space to for work on a number of hobbies. One of those hobbies is crochet.  

In May, I started making some crocheted dishcloths as gifts for friends. I also made an oversized cardigan for a friend who has a birthday coming up later this summer. Earlier in the year, I made a few cushions for a cousin's birthday. I haven't given them to her yet because she is supposed to visit this summer from a city about 1200 km from me. I will give them to her during her visit. I also made a few knitted dishcloths. Before the year ends I hope to work on other hobbies as well. If the weather remains moderate, I may be able to do some of my work outdoors on the patio. That would be ideal as I could play some nice music while I work. Not too loudly though as I don't want neighbours complaining. I suppose I could also just use my phone and wear earphones.

The Dishcloths

The Oversize Cardigan

The Cushions

How I Spend Some Rainy Days

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

How is the weather in your world today?

Weather here has mostly been like in the first photo below. Alternatively it's been raining and a bit cold. But we've had a few warmer days and in the next few days the forecast is for considerably warmer weather. We'll see if that comes to pass.

I've been quite busy but when I am at home I've been keeping busy crocheting these two sets of dishcloths. I made them for gifts for 2 different friends.  One can always use a dishcloth because they need to be replaced every 6 months or so though I know some people use them for much longer.

I've also picked up the pace with my reading once again.  But I feel I want to make more time for doing new crafts.  I have several projects around the home in order to get ready for summer guests so I'm not sure I'll be able to work in new crafts until the Fall and Winter though I'd dearly love to do so.

In the meantime, I read more books, make more dishcloths or do more cooking and baking when I want to do something creative but don't quite have the time to do something 'new'. I have some plans for new hobbies, or old hobbies that need to be picked up again. At some point I'll feature them in this space.

I'm still working on reading the books in the first photo above. I completed The Family Upstairs, the first book in a series.  I found it well written and it kept me guessing until the very end.  I recommend it if you like mystery thrillers.  

I also really liked Pamela Anderson's collection of recipes.  There are a number I'd like to try but there is now a long waiting list for this book at the library so we'll see if I get a chance.

What about you? Are you working on any crafts or projects or are you already into summer relaxation? I'd love to hear in the comments section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

One Friday in March

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I went to town on Friday. I had some business to take care of right in the heart of the city. Afterward, I walked through town all the way to Chinatown and took some photos along the way.

Each year I plant pansies.  I think they are a happy and hardy plant.  I haven't planted any yet but I saw these cute little pansies downtown.

I always like the 'lacy' effect of the bare branches against the sky.
 

The iconic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver 

The stained glass steeple caught my eye

A front view of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

The Vancouver Art Galley through the trees

The Holy Rosary Cathedral downtown

View to the North Shore mountains. It snowed overnight.

The Salvation Army Shelter downtown.

I was on my way to see the film "A Complete Unknown", a movie about Bob Dylan. It did not disappoint.

One of my recent reads. This book is set over 3 days in a Dublin maternity/fever hospital ward during the 1918 Flu Pandemic.  It's a very graphic book and quite gripping. I recommend it.

As always, I enjoy a bit of quiet time knitting these simple dishcloths.  The top one was made with 'good' cotton yarn. The bottom one was made with inexpensive cotton/polyester yarn purchased at the dollar store.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far. Thanks for visiting.