Lori (thornton37814) keeps it simple in 2026

Fall 2025 has been stressful. I haven't had time to really think through a theme for 2026 to come up with creative categories, so I've decided to just keep it simple in 2026. I'll just name the categories for the months, and what I read in a certain month will fill that category.

For those who don't know me, I'm Lori. I am a librarian in a university setting. I am also a genealogist and take an occasional client. I spend a lot of my free time cross-stitching which gets me off a screen.

This is my largest WIP (work in progress):


It's called Pandemic. It's designed by Long Dog Samplers. It's stitched on 40 count antique white linen with Anchor 102 (a deep purple). I finished the 14th out of 20 pages in early December. Hoping for a summer 2026 finish!

I'm also a crazy cat lady. I have 3 very energetic boys (for 10-year-old cats). Here are my boys:



Front to back: Barney, Mr. B, and Sherlock

They are entertaining, and as my friend cbl_tn will tell you, they know how to line up alphabetically.

Mystery remains my favorite fictional genre, followed closely by historical fiction. You'll probably see lots of both of those. I also enjoy an occasional Amish fiction book or Christmas book when I need "brain candy." I suspect I'll read quite a bit of non-fiction in 2026. Some of it will be Christian-themed. I'm also enjoying a lot of the Japanese literature in translation which is gaining popularity in the United States so I suspect you might see a few of those books come through my feed.

Just in case I need this one early on:
Books I did not finish:

I'll add other months near the first of each month to the thread and try to remember to enter them as I read them--even if I don't quite get around to reviewing them on time! I will number books consecutively for the year rather than starting over with 1 each month.

I've had time to visit all the CAT and KIT threads. I think I'll try to do all the cats--HomeCat, NonfictionCat, DecadesCat, and ArtsCat. I think they all fit in well with my tentative reading plans for the year. I'll probably do MysteryKit and perhaps CultureKit and RandomKit, and AlphaKit as I can make them fit. The trick is going to be getting that many books read per month, so here's hoping I can sometimes "double-up" with one that fits more than one category.

Glad you were able to make it, Lori! And I hope the coming year will be less stressful. Your stitchery project is amazing! Beautiful!

Your cross-stitch is breathtaking! And your cats are adorable!

>6 VivienneR: Thanks! I don't really think this next semester will be any less stressful. The inadequate staffing at work is what i driving it--and we're having to reopen a failed search after the leading candidate withdrew just hours before flying to our campus. (That's just one of the open/lost positions.) I just keep reminding myself that God is with us, and He'll meet our needs.

>7 Charon07: Thanks! I'm enjoying the stitch, and my cats are good stress relievers.

Sometimes simple is good. I absolutely love your cross-stitch. And on 40 count! I haven't been doing any cross-stitch for a few years - the old eyes aren't what they used to be. But I've picked a project to take when we go to Fla for a couple of months. I'm just using 22 ct. We'll see how it goes.

Great blessings to you and your reading in the new year

As I age, no, make that mature, I find that simple is usually best! Your work of art is amazing!

>9 dudes22: I'm sure it will be lovely. They do have some great lights and magnifiers (combos and otherwise) now so a lot of people can keep stitching on higher counts longer.

>10 lowelibrary: Thanks!

>11 Tess_W: Glad you like the cross stitch. I never dreamed I'd ever do a piece so large, but it is coming together nicely. I'm looking forward to simpler. I don't need to remember category names this year because they correspond with the month.

Keeping it simple is a good idea, Lori, and I hope the new year treats you more kindly than this one. That is an amazing piece of cross-stitch!

Happy reading next year Lori! I love your crosstich, purple is my favorite color. I think your efforts to keep your categories simple is a good one, I found it much easier for me to handle.

Your cross-stitch is beautiful.

>1 thornton37814: Ooh, as soon as I saw that I knew it was a Long Dog sampler. I think I want to do them all! I live cross stitching too. And happy reading in 2026!

Lovely to see a familiar face over here, Lori. xx

>13 MissWatson: Thanks! I hope I can find a little more time for reading and LibraryThinging in 2026.

>14 lsh63: I think I just need it at least for this year!

>15 pamelad: Thanks!

>16 JayneCM: Yes. It's a Long Dog. Six of us in the local group started in January 2024. (Most of us stitched on other things too.) The retirees are all done, of course. There are three of us still working on ours. I think Christine is further along than me, but I'm probably putting more stitches in right now than she is. Sandra is behind us both. I put in at least one thread per day, and many days I get more than that.

Hi Lori, it's great to see you setup for 2026! I've missed you over these last few months (although I see you are catching up with your reviews now). Your cross stitch project is stunning and I enjoyed seeing your three "boys" again. Here's hoping your 2026 reading is pleasurable!

After you mentioned Long Dog, I went down a rabbit hole looking at their designs. If the project I'm taking with me when we do away goes well, I may look at doing one of the smaller ones.

Oh I like your plan for this year...posting as the month is upcoming. I will watch how this plays out and perhaps adopt it for 2027! I am looking forward, as always, to your posts. Have a wonderful reading year!

>1 thornton37814: It's always good to see your boys. Amazing to think that they are ten now. I remember when you drove home with them. They look handsome and very healthy.

I love to cross-stitch, but haven't done any in the longest time. Yours is stunning. Looking forward to following along with your reads. I try to make it simple and every year I get behind. You must have a secret!

Happy reading in 2026! Your cats are beautiful and the cross stitch is impressive!

>20 DeltaQueen50: I will try to do better. I dropped off the last 10 days or so while I was in Mississippi. I don't really have a great place to set up my computer when the house is full with all Jim's kid's, their spouses, and grandchildren (and dogs--my cats have their own place in the shop--and I make several trips out to spend time with them each day--still they are happy to be home today).

>21 dudes22: I definitely recommend trying one. Even though it is huge, I'm really enjoying the stitch itself. It's quite relaxing. I should finish page 15 either tonight or more likely tomorrow.

>22 beebeereads: I hope to post books read as I go, but I'll have a post at the start of the month to list everything for that month so it will be easily transferable to additional threads. I hope it works too.

>23 RidgewayGirl: My nieces and sister-in-law brought them to me at the library, so I didn't have a long drive home with them. I do really love those boys! They have filled my life with joy. One of them is glaring at me right now wanting me to come pet him.

>25 MissBrangwen: I do think my cats are handsome fellas! Glad you are enjoying my cross-stitch.

>24 mysterymax: I got way behind this year. Cross stitch is on the rise at the moment because of FlossTube. (YouTube Cross-Stitch channels)

Love the cross-stitch! I started a large one many years ago and put it aside. I plan on finally getting it completed this year.

Your kitties are very handsome. Out of curiosity, what does the "B" in Mr. B's name stand for?

The sampler pattern is so pretty. I love samplers and have done too many! I thought that while taking care of my sister I would be able to get a lot of stitching done and now I know that's laughable. I have a large pattern of a painting by Diego
Rivera that I I'd like to try to start during this winter if I can get some daytime hours free. We have an aide 4 hours 4 afternoons a week, but they aren't always reliable and I usually need to use the time for shopping and appointments. Still, I can give it a try.

I'm sorry to hear things are so tough at work. When that stress goes on and on I now all too well it's really hard on those carrying on. My nephew works in the trucking sector, had worked for his company 15 years but was laid off recently. Luckily he found another job in 2 weeks and even gets to work from home. I just hope it lasts! Our city was recently hiring a City Manger and the personn selected did the same thing your candidate did, called at the last minute to withdraw. My friend who is in city HR was teary eyed when she told me.

Best of luck with your 2026 reading!

>32 beccac220: Mr. B's name--that's a story, in and of itself. But I'll just say, it's "Blessing." He likes to snuggle and sit in your lap. I need to transfer the photo to this computer, but I did finish page 15 today! Only 5 pages to complete in 2026!

>33 clue: I hope you can find some time to stitch. Your design sounds lovely. I suspect we won't be able to hire before August at this point--just because of the way contract years run--unless we can get the administration to offer some sort of a special summer contract for the new person. Summer isn't an ideal time to bring anyone on because we will probably only have one librarian/week a full-time and very part-time support staff person.

I finished page 15 tonight!

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026

>36 PaulCranswick: I sometimes get Google street view maps of Kuala Lampur in GeoGuessr. I always wonder if one of the buildings is yours. I kind of think I've had that building before--but if I see it, I'll know that it's the one!

>35 thornton37814: how stunning! happy and healthy 2026!

>38 Cecilturtle: Thanks!

Here's the annual meme most people do. I'll try to do the dinner party one next.

Describe yourself: Botched Butterscotch

Describe how you feel: Out of Circulation

Describe where you currently live: Kittybunkport

Your favorite time of day is: The Blue Hour

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: National Parks A to Z

Your favorite form of transportation: A Pair of Wings

Your best friend is: The Impostor Heiress

You and your friends are: The Secret Guests

Describe your job: The Peacemaker

What are you eating: Who Moved My Goat Cheese?

What’s the weather like: The Rising Tide

You fear: The Grey Wolf

What is the best advice you have to give: We'll Prescribe You a Cat

Thought for the day: Don't Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah

How you would like to die: Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle

Your soul’s present condition: Deepening Your Prayer Life

What is life for you: A Curious Incident

Thanks for getting it posted. I look forward to it each year.

Did you have guests during the holidays, Answer the questions with titles of books you read in 2025

What would you call the event? Cat Trick

How did they find their way? The Crow's Call

How did they know they'd arrived? Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

Any special activities? Baseball Saved Us

Did your guests stay over? Happily Ever After

Were there servants to help? The Boardinghouse Women

Was there turn down service? The Nature of Rest

How were the guests greeted? Followed by the Lark

Was dinner held for late comers? Penne Dreadful

And dinner was? Cooking from China's Fujian Province

Afterward? Aftermath

Top Books of 2025:

1. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman (5 stars)
2. Deepening Your Prayer Life by Charles F. Stanley (5 stars)
3. The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves (4.5 stars)
4. We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida (4 stars)
5. Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose (4 stars)
6. A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders by Jonn Elledge (4 stars)
7. Simon's Cat vs. the World by Simon Tofield (4 stars)
8. Always Italy by Frances Mayes with Ondine Cohane (4 stars)
9. Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber (4 stars)
10. The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler (4 stars)

>41 mysterymax: Thanks, Max! It's one of the highlights of my year too. I love to see what everyone comes up with from their reading choices.

>45 Tess_W: Thanks for the greetings!

My furry overlords are demanding that I take a petting break, so I'm off to pet cats and finish a book! I'll probably be back to report it in a bit!

>35 thornton37814: It's Gorgeous!

>1 thornton37814: Your boys are very handsome
>47 thornton37814: Overlords must be obeyed at all petting and feeding times.

January Reads

1. Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada - completed 1 Jan 2026
2. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - completed 3 Jan 2026
3. The Solo Travel Handbook: Practical Tips and Inspiration for a Safe, Fun and Fearless Trip by Sarah Reid - completed 4 Jan 2026
4. Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - completed 8 Jan 2026
5. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt - completed 10 Jan 2026
6. Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - completed 11 Jan 2026
7. A Stinky History of Toilets by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson; illustrated by Ella Kasperowicz - completed 20 Jan 2026
8. The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - completed 20 Jan 2026
9. Candy Cane Crime by Amanda Flower - completed 21 Jan 2026
10. Renoir by William Gaunt - completed 22 Jan 2026
11. Pierre Auguste Renoir by Milton S. Fox - completed 22 Jan 2026
12. Selected Poems of Gabriela Mistral by Gabriela Mistral; translated by Langston Hughes - completed 24 Jan 2026
13. A Guide for Life through the Eyes of the Book of Esther by Mordechai Hasofer - completed 25 Jan 2026
14. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen - completed 25 Jan 2026
15. The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art & Science of Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht - completed 25 Jan 2026
16. The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton - completed 25 Jan 2026
17. Mt. St. Helens: The Volcano Explodes! by Leonard Palmer and KOIN-TV (Television station : Portland, Or.) - completed 25 Jan 2026

Abandoned:

1. Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips - abandoned 14 January 2026
2. 365 Prophetic Revelations from the Hebrew Calendar: Experience the Power, Blessing, and Abundance of Aligning with God's Times and Seasons by Candice Smithyman - abandoned 31 January 2026

Book 1.

Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

>48 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

>49 lowelibrary: Yes. They must be obeyed. Fortunately they let me finish the book and get a few stitches in on an ornament I want to finish soon.

>35 thornton37814: It looks fabulous! Would that be more than halfway?
I am currently in a Youtube rabbit hole watching WIP parades for 2026. I always add way too many more potential projects to my list watching these but they are fun.

Hi Lori! I always enjoy seeing your kitties. Thanks for posting the memes. Dropping off my star, hoping for a good new year.

>53 JayneCM: It's 3/4 of it. I'm making progress on page 16, but these pages have more stitches than many pages do. It's also very hard to see the "10 grid" on the charts. I wish they did a better job of emphasizing those 10 lines.

>54 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks! The kitties are doing well. They are lined up in alphabetical order while sleeping on my bed at the moment.

Book 2.

Source: Knox County Public Library Digital Audiobook

>57 thornton37814: - I'm way behind in this series. Maybe I could fit in a couple this year.

>58 dudes22: I do like it but I like a little distance between installments (as I do with most series) so I'm not sure how many I'll get in this year. I'll add the next one to my audiobook options though.

3.

Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Finally catching up with the 2026 group...your cross-stitch is beautiful! Also >60 thornton37814:, I'd love a "solo travel" book for more mature folks...I'm 40 and am definitely not sleeping in a hostel at this stage of my life! :)

>61 christina_reads: I'm glad I didn't order that one from Amazon. I'd thought it might be nice to have, but I'd done nothing with it. Then I saw it on the new book shelf at the library and decided to grab it. Like you, I'm not sure I want to stay in a hostel. I think it would have been fine when I was younger.

I think I'll go read for a bit this evening. I got some stitches in on one of my cross stitch projects. I should have put some in on my blessing sampler because I skipped it yesterday evening too, but I'm so close to finishing one novel. If I hadn't had to go to work this morning, I would have probably stayed up last night to see how it turned out, but another half hour would have made me tired all day. I can still finish that blessing sampler this month! It will just get more stitches over the weekend!

Book 4.

Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - E

>60 thornton37814: thanks for your review! I saw it and almost bought it. I'm glad I didn't. I'm passed eating ramen in a common kitchen lol

>65 Cecilturtle: As I said, I'm glad I didn't spend money on it. Another reason to be grateful for libraries!

Book 5.
Source: Knox County Public Library Digital Audiobook

Book 6.
Source: Purchased (and will be donated to the university library where I work)

>64 thornton37814: This sounds lovely and my library has a copy.

>69 JayneCM: Hope you enjoy it.

Abandoned Read #1:
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook

>71 thornton37814: Good to know as I have this on my to read list. That would have put me off too.

>72 JayneCM: You might like it better than I did. Go read Ridgeway Girl's review of it. She liked it better than I did and said the last chapter provided unity. I just have a low threshold for sex scenes.

Book 7.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library juvenile collection
Challenge: HomeCAT

Book 8.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library Juvenile Collection
Challenge: CultureKIT

Book 9.
Source: Tennessee Reads digital audiobook
Challenges: MysteryKIT, AlphaKIT - F

Book 10.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: DecadeCAT, ArtsCAT

Book 11.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: DecadesCAT, ArtsCAT, AlphaKIT - F

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378083

>79 SilverWolf28: Thanks

>76 thornton37814: Thanks, a BB for me on this one.

>81 LadyoftheLodge: It's a quick read or listen. I haven't read or listened to the installment right before it, but since it was Charlotte rather than Bailey solving it, I didn't miss anything. I just needed something I could use for "F" in the AlphaKIT and decided to try it since it was a novella.

Book 12.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: Roads Less Traveled (Americas Off the Beaten Path)

Book 13.
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Challenges: AlphaKIT - E

Lori, I hope you are home warm and safe with your fine boys and that the power will stay on without interruption.

>85 RidgewayGirl: Considering that we mostly just had plain old rain, it hasn't been too bad here road-wise. With no ice, we've had no power issues either. We did get a little snow at the beginning--maybe up to an inch, depending on where you were in town elevation-wise. Then we had 10 to 15 minutes of sleet. Then it turned into just plain rain--no freezing to it. Talk about disappointment! They do anticipate possible conditions in the morning because it is supposed to cool back down below freezing. They are also saying we might get a little frozen precipitation and snow before it all moves out. Where I work is waiting until in the morning to make a call based on road conditions. I suspect a delay is the best we can hope to get, but since I have the evening shift tomorrow, I'm hoping they'll also move night classes to online. That way I can do reference from home. We have enough student worker coverage that we should be able to get by with me leaving before I'll be dealing with any refreeze on the roads. As long as I leave at a time there is still enough road traffic, I should be okay.

>86 thornton37814: While it's not fair that you don't get a snow day, driving on ice-covered roads is no joke.

>87 RidgewayGirl: I wasn't planning on driving anywhere--just staying home and snuggling with the cats. I guess I'll see what road conditions are like tomorrow. If it is icy, I won't be going anywhere until it is safe.

14.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Categories: AlphaKIT - E
Note: This is a re-read for me. (I'd forgotten I had read it in 2015 because I failed to delete it from my wish list.) This is my original review.

Book 15.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: NonfictionCAT, RandomKIT

Book 16.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - E & F

Book 17.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: NonfictionCAT

>51 thornton37814: Think I'm going to try that one. I need some quirk!

>Yes, I got hit with your BB for that one. It came the other day and as soon as I finish the VI Warshawski book I'm starting it! I like the concept of a 'cozy literary' read. Sweet Bean Paste was another that fits in that description and I enjoyed it.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378251

>93 Tess_W: I've really been enjoying a lot of Japanese books that have been translated recently.

>94 mysterymax: Hope you enjoy it when you finish your current book.

>95 SilverWolf28: So far I've mostly been stitching. Then I got distracted with some research related to the sampler I finished stitching.

Abandoned Book 2.
Source: Kindle

Note: I don't think I'll try to find a 365-day replacement for this as I'd have to make up an entire month. The last day I read from it was January 31. I think I'll use some shorter period devotions or other Christian non-fiction books to fill the gap left by this one in my daily devotional period.

January Reads

1. Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada - completed 1 Jan 2026
2. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - completed 3 Jan 2026
3. The Solo Travel Handbook: Practical Tips and Inspiration for a Safe, Fun and Fearless Trip by Sarah Reid - completed 4 Jan 2026
4. Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - completed 8 Jan 2026
5. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt - completed 10 Jan 2026
6. Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - completed 11 Jan 2026
7. A Stinky History of Toilets by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson; illustrated by Ella Kasperowicz - completed 20 Jan 2026
8. The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - completed 20 Jan 2026
9. Candy Cane Crime by Amanda Flower - completed 21 Jan 2026
10. Renoir by William Gaunt - completed 22 Jan 2026
11. Pierre Auguste Renoir by Milton S. Fox - completed 22 Jan 2026
12. Selected Poems of Gabriela Mistral by Gabriela Mistral; translated by Langston Hughes - completed 24 Jan 2026
13. A Guide for Life through the Eyes of the Book of Esther by Mordechai Hasofer - completed 25 Jan 2026
14. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen - completed 25 Jan 2026
15. The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art & Science of Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht - completed 25 Jan 2026
16. The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton - completed 25 Jan 2026
17. Mt. St. Helens: The Volcano Explodes! by Leonard Palmer and KOIN-TV (Television station : Portland, Or.) - completed 25 Jan 2026

Abandoned:

1. Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips - abandoned 14 January 2026
2. 365 Prophetic Revelations from the Hebrew Calendar: Experience the Power, Blessing, and Abundance of Aligning with God's Times and Seasons by Candice Smithyman - abandoned 31 January 2026

February Reads

18. Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice: All the Flavors of the World by Jacques Pasquet; illustrated by Claire Anghinolfi; translated by Ann Marie Boulanger - completed 1 Feb 2026
19. Riding Through Rice A Trip to the Philippines by Michelle Sterling; illustrated by Bianca Austria - completed 1 Feb 2026
20. From the Farm, To Our Table by Sarah Rowe; illustrated by Amanda Morrow - completed 1 Feb 2026
21. Rescue Cat by Stephen Savage - completed 1 Feb 2026
22. Forgive Us Our Prayers: The Secret of Effective Prayer by John A. Huffman - completed 1 Feb 2026
23. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center edited by Beatrice Katz - completed 2 Feb 2026
24. Why Should I Pray?: How God Shares His Heart with Us by Scotty Smith - completed 3 Feb 2026
25. Famous Once by Jane Green - completed 5 Feb 2026
26. Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger - completed 5 Feb 2026
27. The Jewish Hospital & Cincinnati Jews in Medicine by Frederic Krome - completed 6 Feb 2026
28. Zoo Animals by Eileen Spinelli - completed 8 Feb 2026
29. A Sampler View of Colonial Life by Mary Cobb; illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis - completed 8 Feb 2026
30. Sea Grapes by Derek Walcott - completed 9 Feb 2026
31. The X Factor by George Plimpton - completed 11 Feb 2026
32. Saint Peter's Fair by Ellis Peters - completed Feb 2026
33. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear - completed Feb 2026
34. Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy by Damien Lewis - completed Feb 2026
35. Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy by Marc H. Miller and Donald Bogle - completed 25 Feb 2026
36. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; illustrated by Christian Robinson - completed 28 Feb 2026
37. City Cat by Kate Banks; illustrated by Lauren Castillo - completed 28 Feb 2026
38. The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks; illustrated by Georg Hallensleben - completed 28 Feb 2026

Book 18.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Book 19.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Book 20.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Book 21.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Book 22.
Source: Carson-Newman University library

Book 23.
Source: My library

Book 24.
Source: Gifted by Publisher at a Conference

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378417

>109 SilverWolf28: Thanks.

Book 25.
Source: Kindle (Amazon Prime freebie)

Book 26.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook

Book 27.
Source: My Personal Library

Book 28.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library

Book 29.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Note: This was a re-read, and I'm posting my review from 2024 here rather than writing a new one.

Book 30.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library

Book 31.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: AlphaCat - X

Here's the Valentine's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378586

>118 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378812

Happy 2026 reading and glad to finally be catching up on your thread! I love the sampler you are making and glad that there is a cross stitching channel now on YouTube. I know Ravelry exists for knitters and I have always wondered how the cross stitchers were served.

And congrats as well on simplifying your reading categories. I kept mine pretty much the same although I still haven't come up with nice pictures for each of them. Maybe someday soon.

Hope your work troubles become resolved and you are able to hire within the budget/contract period. Surely *they* will allow that for your situation?! Work stress is the worst and I've been experiencing some myself these past few months. Envisioning pushing back instead of feeling pushed, and that seems to be helping.

Looking forward to more reading and cat and stitching adventures this year!

>120 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

>121 threadnsong: We do have a candidate coming for an interview for the library position. I guess we'll see if we all like each other first and then go from there. However, we lost a support staff person at the end of the day yesterday so we will have another position to fill now too.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379026

Book 32.
Source: Tennessee Reads e-book
Challenges: MysteryKIT

Book 33.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook

Book 34.
Source: Knox County Public Library ebook
Challenges: NonFiction Challenge--All that Jazz (75 Group)

Book 35.
Source: Carson-Newman University print book
Challenges: ArtsCAT, NonFiction Challenge--All that Jazz (75 group)

>126 thornton37814: - I was half-way through listening to this but couldn't renew it on Libby because someone was waiting for it. So I made a note of where I am and put myself back on the hold list. Hopefully it won't be too long until I get it again.

>129 dudes22: I hope you'll be able to get it again soon! I've noticed a lot more holds on things I'm reading or listening to lately myself, so I empathize! I was pushing it on one of my recent reads because I'd checked it out too early!

>130 thornton37814: - I usually listen when I'm driving or walking but we were away and I didn't get as much walking in as I wanted. We're still away and not due home til the end of next week. I don't think there's anyone ahead of me and Libby won't let you renew if there's someone with a hold so I should have it within 3 weeks.

>131 dudes22: Glad it's a short line then!

>127 thornton37814: - I have a different book about Josephine Baker in my TBR pile - Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones which I think is historical fiction. So I'm going to take a BB for this one and maybe read them both around the same time.

>133 dudes22: Betty - Carrie (cbl_tn), Meg (familyhistorian), and I are all part of book club that read this. I actually couldn't get it in time because of holds, but I did manage to read it this month. Since I had to work the night of the book club meeting, it's probably okay that I was late.

Book 36.
Source: Tennessee Reads ebook
Challenges: DecadesCAT, ArtsCAT, 75 Nonfiction Challenge: All That Jazz

Book 37.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library Children's Books
Challenges: AlphaKIT - B; DecadeCAT

Book 38.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - B

January Reads

1. Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada - completed 1 Jan 2026
2. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - completed 3 Jan 2026
3. The Solo Travel Handbook: Practical Tips and Inspiration for a Safe, Fun and Fearless Trip by Sarah Reid - completed 4 Jan 2026
4. Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - completed 8 Jan 2026
5. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt - completed 10 Jan 2026
6. Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - completed 11 Jan 2026
7. A Stinky History of Toilets by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson; illustrated by Ella Kasperowicz - completed 20 Jan 2026
8. The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - completed 20 Jan 2026
9. Candy Cane Crime by Amanda Flower - completed 21 Jan 2026
10. Renoir by William Gaunt - completed 22 Jan 2026
11. Pierre Auguste Renoir by Milton S. Fox - completed 22 Jan 2026
12. Selected Poems of Gabriela Mistral by Gabriela Mistral; translated by Langston Hughes - completed 24 Jan 2026
13. A Guide for Life through the Eyes of the Book of Esther by Mordechai Hasofer - completed 25 Jan 2026
14. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen - completed 25 Jan 2026
15. The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art & Science of Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht - completed 25 Jan 2026
16. The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton - completed 25 Jan 2026
17. Mt. St. Helens: The Volcano Explodes! by Leonard Palmer and KOIN-TV (Television station : Portland, Or.) - completed 25 Jan 2026

Abandoned:

1. Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips - abandoned 14 January 2026
2. 365 Prophetic Revelations from the Hebrew Calendar: Experience the Power, Blessing, and Abundance of Aligning with God's Times and Seasons by Candice Smithyman - abandoned 31 January 2026

February Reads

18. Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice: All the Flavors of the World by Jacques Pasquet; illustrated by Claire Anghinolfi; translated by Ann Marie Boulanger - completed 1 Feb 2026
19. Riding Through Rice A Trip to the Philippines by Michelle Sterling; illustrated by Bianca Austria - completed 1 Feb 2026
20. From the Farm, To Our Table by Sarah Rowe; illustrated by Amanda Morrow - completed 1 Feb 2026
21. Rescue Cat by Stephen Savage - completed 1 Feb 2026
22. Forgive Us Our Prayers: The Secret of Effective Prayer by John A. Huffman - completed 1 Feb 2026
23. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center edited by Beatrice Katz - completed 2 Feb 2026
24. Why Should I Pray?: How God Shares His Heart with Us by Scotty Smith - completed 3 Feb 2026
25. Famous Once by Jane Green - completed 5 Feb 2026
26. Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger - completed 5 Feb 2026
27. The Jewish Hospital & Cincinnati Jews in Medicine by Frederic Krome - completed 6 Feb 2026
28. Zoo Animals by Eileen Spinelli - completed 8 Feb 2026
29. A Sampler View of Colonial Life by Mary Cobb; illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis - completed 8 Feb 2026
30. Sea Grapes by Derek Walcott - completed 9 Feb 2026
31. The X Factor by George Plimpton - completed 11 Feb 2026
32. Saint Peter's Fair by Ellis Peters - completed Feb 2026
33. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear - completed Feb 2026
34. Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy by Damien Lewis - completed Feb 2026
35. Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy by Marc H. Miller and Donald Bogle - completed 25 Feb 2026
36. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; illustrated by Christian Robinson - completed 28 Feb 2026
37. City Cat by Kate Banks; illustrated by Lauren Castillo - completed 28 Feb 2026
38. The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks; illustrated by Georg Hallensleben - completed 28 Feb 2026

March Reads

39. The Red Bird by Astrid Lindgren; translated by Patricia Crampton; illustrated by Marit Törnqvist - completed 1 Mar 2026
40. The Tsunami Quilt by Anthony D. Fredericks; illustrated by Tammy Yee - completed 1 Mar 2026
41. No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons - completed 1 Mar 2026
42. Mandie and the Forbidden Attic by Lois Gladys Leppard - completed 2 Mar 2026
43. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein - completed 4 Mar 2026
44. Peril at the Exposition by Nev March - completed March 2026
45. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman - completed March 2026
46. My Venice and Other Essays by Donna Leon - completed 14 March 2026
47. Saint Paul at the Movies: The Apostle's Dialogue with American Culture by Robert Jewett - completed 15 March 2026
48. The Great British Food Tour by Jenny Linford ; illustrated by James Oses - completed 16 March 2026
49. Church and Cinema: A Way of Viewing Film by James McKendree Wall - completed 18 March 2026
50. Murder at Queen's Landing by Andrea Penrose - completed 20 March 2026
51. Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson - completed 26 March 2026
52. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming - completed 27 March 2026
53. Windows on the Past: The Cultural Heritage of Vardy, Hancock County, Tennessee by DruAnna Williams Overbay - completed 28 March 2026

Book 39.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - R

Book 40.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book

Book 41.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book

>143 thornton37814: Taking a BB for this one. I can see myself loving it.

>144 lowelibrary: It was nice. I love libraries and cats so I "had to" read it when I saw it in the catalog.

Book 42.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen County Public Library Juvenile Fiction
Challenges: HomeCAT--Attic; DecadeCAT - 80s

>145 thornton37814: Exactly the reasons I took the bullet.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379251

>147 lowelibrary: :-) LibraryThing needs to get some of those cat emoticons! LOL

>148 SilverWolf28: Thanks. I did listen and read this weekend, but I wasn't online much.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379488

Book 43.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenges: HomeCAT--Attic; DecadeCAT - 80s

Book 44.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook
Challenges:

Book 45.
Source: Tennessee Reads digital audiobook
Challenges:

>153 thornton37814: I thought the same about the location and only gave the book 2.5*. I looked to see if there are others in the series now and there are two more. I may give the next one a try but it takes place on a ship so I may not like it as much as the first either.

Book 46.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - V
Note: This was a re-read. The review is mostly from the ARC I read, but I've updated it.

Book 47.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenges: ArtsCAT--Let's Go to the Movies

Book 48.
Source: Christmas gift to me
Challenges:

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379749

>152 thornton37814: Was that the book with the poem about Captain Hook, or was it in Where the Sidewalk Ends? That poem has stayed with me although it has been decades since I read it with the kids.

>159 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

>160 RidgewayGirl: I don't remember the Captain Hook poem in it, and I think our students have already reshelved it.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383150

>163 SilverWolf28: Thank you!

Book 49.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenge: ArtsCAT - Let's Go to the Movies!

Book 50.
Source: Tennessee Reads Digital Audiobook

Book 51.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenges: MysteryKIT - Nordic Mysteries, AlphaKIT - R

Book 52.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: Nonfiction - Know Little But Want to Know More; 75 Nonfiction - Off the Beaten Path: Religious Sects

Book 53.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen County Public Library print book
Challenges: CultureKIT - Close to Home

Here's the Easter readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383354

>170 SilverWolf28: thanks

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383511

>172 SilverWolf28: Thanks

January Reads

1. Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada - completed 1 Jan 2026
2. Copper River by William Kent Krueger - completed 3 Jan 2026
3. The Solo Travel Handbook: Practical Tips and Inspiration for a Safe, Fun and Fearless Trip by Sarah Reid - completed 4 Jan 2026
4. Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - completed 8 Jan 2026
5. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt - completed 10 Jan 2026
6. Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - completed 11 Jan 2026
7. A Stinky History of Toilets by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson; illustrated by Ella Kasperowicz - completed 20 Jan 2026
8. The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - completed 20 Jan 2026
9. Candy Cane Crime by Amanda Flower - completed 21 Jan 2026
10. Renoir by William Gaunt - completed 22 Jan 2026
11. Pierre Auguste Renoir by Milton S. Fox - completed 22 Jan 2026
12. Selected Poems of Gabriela Mistral by Gabriela Mistral; translated by Langston Hughes - completed 24 Jan 2026
13. A Guide for Life through the Eyes of the Book of Esther by Mordechai Hasofer - completed 25 Jan 2026
14. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen - completed 25 Jan 2026
15. The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art & Science of Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht - completed 25 Jan 2026
16. The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton - completed 25 Jan 2026
17. Mt. St. Helens: The Volcano Explodes! by Leonard Palmer and KOIN-TV (Television station : Portland, Or.) - completed 25 Jan 2026

Abandoned:

1. Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips - abandoned 14 January 2026
2. 365 Prophetic Revelations from the Hebrew Calendar: Experience the Power, Blessing, and Abundance of Aligning with God's Times and Seasons by Candice Smithyman - abandoned 31 January 2026

February Reads

18. Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice: All the Flavors of the World by Jacques Pasquet; illustrated by Claire Anghinolfi; translated by Ann Marie Boulanger - completed 1 Feb 2026
19. Riding Through Rice A Trip to the Philippines by Michelle Sterling; illustrated by Bianca Austria - completed 1 Feb 2026
20. From the Farm, To Our Table by Sarah Rowe; illustrated by Amanda Morrow - completed 1 Feb 2026
21. Rescue Cat by Stephen Savage - completed 1 Feb 2026
22. Forgive Us Our Prayers: The Secret of Effective Prayer by John A. Huffman - completed 1 Feb 2026
23. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center edited by Beatrice Katz - completed 2 Feb 2026
24. Why Should I Pray?: How God Shares His Heart with Us by Scotty Smith - completed 3 Feb 2026
25. Famous Once by Jane Green - completed 5 Feb 2026
26. Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger - completed 5 Feb 2026
27. The Jewish Hospital & Cincinnati Jews in Medicine by Frederic Krome - completed 6 Feb 2026
28. Zoo Animals by Eileen Spinelli - completed 8 Feb 2026
29. A Sampler View of Colonial Life by Mary Cobb; illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis - completed 8 Feb 2026
30. Sea Grapes by Derek Walcott - completed 9 Feb 2026
31. The X Factor by George Plimpton - completed 11 Feb 2026
32. Saint Peter's Fair by Ellis Peters - completed Feb 2026
33. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear - completed Feb 2026
34. Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy by Damien Lewis - completed Feb 2026
35. Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy by Marc H. Miller and Donald Bogle - completed 25 Feb 2026
36. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; illustrated by Christian Robinson - completed 28 Feb 2026
37. City Cat by Kate Banks; illustrated by Lauren Castillo - completed 28 Feb 2026
38. The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks; illustrated by Georg Hallensleben - completed 28 Feb 2026

March Reads

39. The Red Bird by Astrid Lindgren; translated by Patricia Crampton; illustrated by Marit Törnqvist - completed 1 Mar 2026
40. The Tsunami Quilt by Anthony D. Fredericks; illustrated by Tammy Yee - completed 1 Mar 2026
41. No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons - completed 1 Mar 2026
42. Mandie and the Forbidden Attic by Lois Gladys Leppard - completed 2 Mar 2026
43. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein - completed 4 Mar 2026
44. Peril at the Exposition by Nev March - completed March 2026
45. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman - completed March 2026
46. My Venice and Other Essays by Donna Leon - completed 14 March 2026
47. Saint Paul at the Movies: The Apostle's Dialogue with American Culture by Robert Jewett - completed 15 March 2026
48. The Great British Food Tour by Jenny Linford ; illustrated by James Oses - completed 16 March 2026
49. Church and Cinema: A Way of Viewing Film by James McKendree Wall - completed 18 March 2026
50. Murder at Queen's Landing by Andrea Penrose - completed 20 March 2026
51. Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson - completed 26 March 2026
52. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming - completed 27 March 2026
53. Windows on the Past: The Cultural Heritage of Vardy, Hancock County, Tennessee by DruAnna Williams Overbay - completed 28 March 2026

April Reads

54. Meeting God In Quiet Places: A Devotional Journey Through the English Cotswolds by F. LaGard Smith - completed 2 April 2026
55. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II : Platinum Jubilee Celebration : 70 Years, 1952-2022 by Brian Hoey - completed 7 April 2026
56. The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney - completed 9 April 2026
57. Target: Tinos by Jeffrey Siger - completed 11 April 2026
58. Skillet Love: From Steak to Cake: More than 150 Recipes in One Cast-Iron Pan by Anne Byrn - completed April 2026
59. The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson - completed April 2026
60. Glorious American Quilts: The Quilt Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art by Elizabeth V. Warren and Sharon L. Eisenstat - completed April 2026
61. You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior - completed April 2026
62. Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini - completed April 2026

Book 54.
Source: Christmas gift from my niece's family

Book 55.
Source: Tennessee Reads ebook

Book 56.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen County Public Library book

Book 57.
Source: Tennessee Reads digital audiobook

>178 thornton37814: - I'm making a note of this one. I might`try to get it for later this year. I like to take a smaller devotional when we travel.

>182 dudes22: I really enjoyed this one!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383730

>180 thornton37814: Too bad that one wasn't more compelling. I read one about a feather thief who stole from a collection and I had great hopes for it, but it wasn't compelling, either.

>184 SilverWolf28: Thanks.

>185 Tess_W: cbl_tn liked it far better than I did.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383891

>188 SilverWolf28: Thanks

>157 thornton37814: "Amadeus" was one of my favorite movies and it had such a strong message to it about good and evil, right and wrong, and certainly mis-guided intentions. These are good movies and I think you're right that an update for the 21st century would be a good idea.

>168 thornton37814: Oh yay for writing a book for a YA audience for this tragedy! I was just starting 9th grade when it happened and this age is one that events shape us for our lives.

Thank you as always for your thorough and wide-ranging interests! I enjoy learning about books through your reviews.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384064

>190 threadnsong: Thanks! I need to get caught up on reviews, but it won't be this weekend. We had graduation today. I have a high school reunion in another state tomorrow night, and then I have to drive back Sunday with a time change not in my favor so I can be at work Monday.

>191 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384205

>194 SilverWolf28: Thank you!

Book 58.
Source: Knox County Public Library ebook
Challenges: HomeCAT - The Kitchen

Book 59.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: 75 Group's Nonfiction - Internal Matters

Book 60.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: ArtsCAT - Museums

Book 61.
Source: Gift (which I'm adding to our library's collection)
Challenges: AlphaKIT - P

Book 62.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook
Challenges: DecadesCAT - 00s (2006)

I'm going to pause on posting for a bit. I have three May finishes to post, including one I had hoped to finish in April but finished on May 1 for an April challenge. I'll get to those either later this evening or tomorrow.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384299

>202 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

Here's the Memorial Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384526

>204 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384644

>206 SilverWolf28: Thanks

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384773

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/384866

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385027

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385137

>208 SilverWolf28: >209 SilverWolf28: >210 SilverWolf28: >211 SilverWolf28: Thanks. As you can see I'm behind on everything!

Here's the Fourth of July readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/385250

>213 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver. I'll be reading on The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. After I finish it, I have a couple of digital ARCs won last month to read--well, one of them has arrived, the other hasn't.