Tag: book-blog

Top Ten Tuesday: My Winter TBR

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized36 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Today’s Prompt is all about that Winter TBR. I have not quite finalized mine yet, but these are the titles that are in contention. I am feeling like I need a bit of middle grade, a little historical fictions, some nonfiction, some peaceful reads this winter. And maybe one horror. Also, one of these is a book I told my husband I would read. I bet you can guess which one!

On the list for potential nonfiction reads, I have The Indifferent Stars Above, about the Donner party. In contrast, I have While The Earth Holds Its Breath on my list as well, which is a much more peaceful look at winter. I also stumbled upon the Tip of the Iceberg, which sounds fantastic too!

I also think I want to reread Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie Brink. I simply loved this heartwarming book. I am also hoping to read Ghosts of Greenglass House, as I really loved Greenglass House when I read it. And then for of course for some more lightheartedness, Secret Nights and Northern Lights. I am obsessed with the aurora borealis and traveling to Iceland (a top five on my bucket list!) so I am looking forward to this one.

I keep running across this series, the Highland Bookshop Mystery series, and I feel like I need to try it. Plus this cover is beautiful.

And you may have guessed it. Dungeon Crawler Carl is the book I am reading for my husband. Who knows, I may love it!

And I have heard the best things about The Frozen River. I don’t read too much historical fiction anymore, but this one sounds like I need to at least try it!

Moon of the Crusted Snow is one I have had on my TBR for YEARS. Maybe this will be the year I actually read the whole thing.

I want to say, I know next week is wish list week, and I know a lot people feel weird about posting their lists. I am not here to change anyone’s mind, but I am really excited about buying a gift for a blogger or two that posts. I am just going to throw everyone in a hat and have Wyatt pick two. I feel like this is such a great community, the TTT crew, and I want to just spread some Christmas cheer.

And, I can’t wait to see what you all are planning! Who knows, my list might change after I see what is on your plate!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized44 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Today’s Prompt: Books I wish I could read again for the first time

Do you remember the books that made you love words and writing and books, landscapes and characters, books that stopped time as you read them? That formed your thoughts and helped you escape? I feel like those are the books I would like to read again, that had such a profound effect on my life as I grew up. To feel that magic all over again.

A Prayer for Owen Meany || The Prince of Tides || All Creatures Great and Small

These three books were given to me by my mom, my dad, and my uncle, and I think that helped make them special as well. My mom gave me the whole James Herriot collection when I was probably 10ish, and I adored them. I didn’t always understand them, but it didn’t matter. I understood what these stories represented – kindness, love, and caring for all of our creatures that we share this planet with.

The Prince of Tides was a book given to me by my dad. He loves Pat Conroy (and now me too!) and despite some tough subject matter I was wrapped up in this world. I remember I even stayed home “sick” from school one day so I could finish it. I went on to read the rest of his books, and each were as amazing but none could take the place of Prince of Tides.

A Prayer for Owen Meany was from my uncle. Another book that has stayed with me all through my life, that I think about all the time. I wish I could read it again just to see how masterfully Irving had the ending all planned, right from the very beginning.

The Lake of Dead Languages || King’s Oak || On the Banks of Plum Creek

The Lake of Dead Languages was Dark Academia before that was a thing. I remember reading it and thinking about how I wanted to throw myself into academia the way that these girls did – minus the big secret in this book of course. I love Carol Goodman still, she was my entrance into a world beyond my little town in Michigan, that was all about steel mills and auto factories.

King’s Oak took me down south again, this time introducing me to Tom Dabney, a character I would love to meet and hang out with. Like Luke in the Prince of Tides, he burned a bit too brightly for his world.

On the Banks of Plum Creek of course has to be on here. Who didn’t want to be Laura when they were younger? All those adventures and animals and running wild and living in a sod house! What! I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Franny and Zooey || Remembering Blue || Charlotte’s Web || The Great Gatsby

Franny and Zooey was probably the first book by a classic author that I read and really loved. I know Salinger gets a bad rap but I always liked his work. Franny and Zooey is my favorite though.

Remembering Blue is just like a lovely romantic sad fairy tale. I attended a writing class, a small group of maybe 10 other people, with my dad at Connie May Fowler’s house in Florida (her husband made us dinner!) and it was so cool to talk with her about this book. I wish I wouldn’t have been so young honestly when I went; I feel like I could make more of the whole experience now as an adult. It was an awesome time though.

Charlotte’s Web. Yes, I know reading it all over again for the first time will be tragic but it still makes me cry anyway. Just the love that was in these pages between Charlotte and Wilbur. I read it with Wyatt a few years ago, and it struck me just how much Charlotte was like a mother to Wilbur, protecting him. And reading it with Wyatt for the first time was almost like reading it again myself for the first time, as I was reading it with a different perspective.

The Great Gatsby is another one of the first classics that I read and loved. I wanted to go back and live in the Roaring ’20s so badly, to be a flapper and dance all night in a fringed dress.

And that is it. These books worked magic on me that is not lost, but it would be amazing to feel that first wonder all over again.

My Sunday-Monday Post

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized6 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone! Last week was pretty nondescript around here – it was just busy with a lot of just life things which were not super exciting. I barely even got a chance to read.

I did read one book!

It was cute, but not…I am not sure. It was cute. I love the concept of a baby dragon cafe in a cozy fantasy, but it was not the best written book I have read in this genre. Perhaps the author is still finding her voice. I am willing to give this series another chance with the second book, which comes out I think next week, although I probably won’t be reading it for a while, since I will be moving on to my fall TBR!

This week:

My goal is to finish these two books this next week or so, to finish up my summer reading.

Posted Last Week:

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With a High Page Count

Short Classic Reads for Autumn Eves

Our Cozy Little Life

Watching:

What have we been watching? Hmm. Not much. Billy worked a lot this past week because of some big project they had to finish, and I hate watching shows without him honestly. So I watched a lot of YouTube at night. I should do a big round up of YouTubers I like soon, maybe. I am actually getting closer to the idea of starting my own, but I am having a hard time deciding on what all I want to do with it, and I don’t think I have the right equipment. That is something I am going to explore this fall.

And that is it from me today. Not the most exciting update! I hope that whatever you do today you do something that makes you smile!

Top Ten Tuesday: Feeling Salty

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized24 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week’s prompt: Freebie!

I decided on doing books with a salty, watery theme for this post. I am feeling the coastal vibes and this spring and summer I have been picking up books here and there that are in that vein. This list will be both books I have read and books on my TBR.

House of Salt and Sorrows || The Wicked Deep || All the Murmuring Bones

I loved both House of Salt and Sorrows and The Wicked Deep! They were excellent and I would read them again if my TBR wasn’t so long. All the Murmuring Bones is one I have not read but looks fantastic.

The Amalfi Curse || Saltwater || Wild Dark Shore

I have all three of these on my hopefuls for summer but I will only get to one of these. I am not sure which one will be the winner! If you have read these, let me know your vote!

The Lamplighter || Wait for What Will Come || Tidepool || Malamander

I got to ten way too fast. I have so many more!! For my last few though, I chose two that I have read, and two on my list. The Lamplighter and Tidepool are lingering on my TBR, waiting for their time to be read.

Wait for What Will Come is one of my very favorite Barbara Michaels books! It takes place in a crumbling old home on the cliffs of Cornwall, and I reread it at least once a year. Barbara Michaels is one of my comfort authors.

Malamander is a middle grade I read for the first time this year, and it was so atmospheric. I felt like I was in a Scooby Doo episode, or in Innsmuth, or somewhere equally creepy and coastal. I absolutely loved it.

And I still can’t believe how quickly this post went together. I may have to do a part two!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized36 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone! I hope you had a good week! We took it pretty easy around here last week, between the heat wave and just needing a slow down. It was nice to be summertime lazy with Wyatt.

We have been amassing books for his post-surgery recovery, and I feel like we have a good start! Wyatt is pretty into dragons now and his reading material reflects that… lol.

What I Am Reading:

This is my current slow read. I am reading it now, but I read nonfiction sooo slowly for some reason. So I am going to have to add in some fiction while I am reading it. I am really enjoying it, and learning a lot more about British books about Otters than I could have imagined, specifically Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell. I had never heard of this book or movie, but it is one of the books that Darlington read that formed her lifelong love of otters.

It also seems like the perfect time to start Pat of Silver Bush. I am looking forward to retreating into the world of L.M. Montgomery again.

Posted Last Week:

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

Books That Feel Like a Heat Wave

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in 2025

Watching:

Billy and I finished season 1 of Yellowjackets and are pressing pause on it until fall. We are loving it though.

We have been watching Sirens with Kevin Bacon and Julianne Moore, and it is really good! I also love seeing the shots of the interior design in this show. Everything is like a visual feast. I loooove Simone’s bedroom, and I love Peter’s study. The interior also serves to reflect the secrets of the show, the tone, the weirdness. This article explains it a bit. Anyway, the cool coastal interiors are perfect for summer tv watching.

When we finish this up, I think we are going to start the new season of Dark Winds.

Wyatt’s been watching a lot of cartoons on Apple TV+ mainly Frog and Toad and Camp Snoopy. I have to admit I like when he watches these because I enjoy them too.

Online Things Happening:

Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are still hosting our Drop In Crafternoons once a month. Lisa and I have been hosting crafternoons for fellow bloggers on Zoom since January, and it has been so fun. It is nice to meet the person behind the blog, hear their voices, and share more stories – all while we work on whatever craft we choose! There is no right or wrong activity, you don’t even need to craft if you don’t want to. Just hang out, that is fine too! I need to update the dates for this – hopefully I get to that today.

I am also participating in 10, 15, 20 Books of Summer which is hosted by Emma over at Words and Peace, and Annabel at Annabookbel. I am glad that one of the “rules” is that we are allowed to switch up the books from our list at anytime, because I have already done that a few times since the beginning of June. I hope to post a few reviews this week! I went with 10 books but who knows? Maybe I will hit 15!

And that is it for me today! I hope that whatever you do today, that you do something that makes you smile!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized48 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week’s prompt: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025

Hello everyone! Wow, here we are already, looking at the second half of the year. I had to go look books up to get up to ten; the first few are books I have been anxiously awaiting, the others are books I read about on NetGalley that I am definitely putting on my TBR.

The Lady on Esplanade: I love this series by Karen White and I have been waiting and waiting for the next book to come out. It felt like a super long wait! It is the third in the Royal Street series, which is all about fixing up historical old houses – and some that have ghosts…. (Nov. 4)

The Enchanted Greenhouse: I LOVED The Spellshop so I am super excited about The Enchanted Greenhouse! (July 15)

We Love You, Bunny: This is a sequel to the 2019 book Bunny by Awad. That book was a crazy fever dream of a book, and I am super excited to read this one. (Sept. 23)

Legendary Frybread Drive-In: This is another one I had on my list. I really enjoyed Ancestor Approved, which is another compilation of stories by Indigenous authors. (Aug. 26)

A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Solving a Murder: This is one I found on NetGalley that is immediately going on my TBR! A cozy mystery with ghosts! That has my name written all over it. (Oct. 2)

The French Bookshop Murder: Another cozy on my radar! (Sept. 18)

A Land So Wide: I love Erin Craig’s worlds! This one sounds like it will be fantastic. (Sept. 9)

The Keeper of Magical Things: I love love loved The Teller of Small Fortunes and I am excited to read this new book by Leong. (Oct. 14)

The Whistler: I read a Medina last fall, Sisters of the Lost Nation, and I loved it. I am looking forward to this new book! (Sep. 16)

Brigands and Breadknives: Because, Baldree. Buy all the Baldree is my mantra. (ok it’s not but you get the idea, I really like his work) (Nov. 11)

And I can’t wait to see what you all are looking forward to!

I hope that whatever you do today, that you do one thing that makes you smile!

10 Books of Summer

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn reading challenge23 Comments

10, 15, 20 Books of Summer is hosted by Emma over at Words and Peace, and Annabel at Annabookbel.

Annabel states the challenge over on her blog as:

  • The #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge runs from Sunday June 1st to Sunday August 31st
  • The first rule of 20 Books is that there are no real rules, other than signing up for 10, 15 or 20 books and trying to read from your TBR.
  • Pick your list in advance, or nominate a bookcase to read from, or pick at whim from your TBR.
  • If you do pick a list, you can change it at any time – swap books in/out.
  • Don’t get panicked at not reaching your target.
  • Just enjoy a summer of great reading and make a bit of space on your shelves!

I have been seeing this around in the blogging world and thought I would add a small list myself! I like the flexibility of this challenge, since I often make a list then change my mind halfway through.

Also, since my son is having a major surgery in July, I am not sure what to expect at all in terms of anything but taking care of him. I figured though I would aim small and see what happens! I will be reading him a few books while he is recovering, so I am including those as well on here.

First, my own reading choices. I am throwing a bunch out here to choose from.

And then for books I am thinking about reading to Wyatt – some are ones he has had on his shelf, a few are some books I am just throwing in there. I wanted to find some quiet gentle type books for when he is home and not feeling that great but not wanting to sleep either. He loves being read to so that is always a win to make him feel comforted and better.

I guess we will see where summer reading takes us this year!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized28 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone! Last week Wyatt and I took a break for spring and it was a very busy, very full, very fun week. I might still be recovering from all the activity! Today is my mom’s birthday party, and then I am not making anymore plans for this week. We need a break from our break, and by break I mean getting back to our routine!

Read Last Week:

I started two nonfiction books last week, and have been reading through them slowly. They are very different, and I am enjoying them both. One thing they have in common though, is that they both focus on how we view ourselves and our bodies and even how we keep house, and how we have been influenced to always regard ourselves as coming up short, how wrinkles or a few extra pounds or dishes in the sink can sometimes trigger negative thoughts about ourselves. I actually really didn’t know what either of them were about when I got them – I loved the cover of Women Living Deliciously so I picked it up, and then I’ve seen the book about keeping house around and thought I would read through it, since Wyatt’s surgery is coming up soon. I will be very busy for at least a month afterward caring for him and I thought this book might be a good read in preparation for that time.

Reading This Week:

This week I will still be reading my two nonfiction books, but adding in a fiction book too.

I am behind on this series. It seems like a good time to catch up!

Posted Last Week:

Springtime in Paris: Hugo

Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Watching:

We are watching a few different things. We recently finished up Our Flag Means Death, which we both enjoyed for its silliness, and we are also watching The Wheel of Time S3. We also started the new Brokenwood Mysteries. I wait so long for each season and I really love it.

Wyatt and I also are watching our YouTubers at night. We watch a video, read a book, then he goes to bed. Wyatt would love to have his own booktube channel, but that feels weird to me, for many reasons. However, I do wonder if it would help him to use his words more, because they are in there and we need to just encourage him to use them. Lisa at Boondock Ramblings mentioned that I could make a private channel or just share with specific people, so I am considering that. Maybe as his surprise after surgery, we can try one.

Anyway. Lately we have been watching a few different people, in addition to book people as he calls them.

In order, left to right: Real Vintage Doll House, Jay Lee Painting, and Plant Based Bride.

Real Vintage Doll House is a fun, realistic look at someone who enjoys vintage but also does not live it constantly. She has a job in the medical field, so her love of a vintage life is only part of her life, and I like that. She has a house that is circa 1940s and is so cute and apparently very small. She dresses vintage, keeps pigeons which I love, and has very interesting videos about British history mixed in.

Jay Lee Painting is just what you think – he shares different painting techniques and they are just calming and inspiring to watch.

Plant Based Bride is a booktuber. I love her videos, she has very in depth reviews, that are well thought out. I think she is interesting because she often does not like books that are getting a lot of love on YouTube or TikTok, and I like hearing another perspective.

And of course, we are watching our Springtime in Paris movies! We just watched Hugo, which I thought led to some great discussions and reviews. Next up we are watching The Intouchables!

And that is it from around here! I hope that whatever you do today, that you do something that makes you smile!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized22 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello all! I hope life is being kind to you right now. I am currently enjoying all the new growth my plants have had recently – and I think my violet might even pop out a flower! It never has before and I would love it! I just see this little shoot getting ready to unfurl, and I am hoping it is a flower. I have been using the water from our aquariums to water all my plants and I think it has been giving them some extra nutrients!

Read Last Week:

I loved both of these reads! Malamander was so cute and fun, and Gladwynn took me along for another unputdownable mystery! Book reviews will be up this week.

Reading This Week:

I am looking forward to reading both of these! Then next week, I am starting my annual reread of Watership Down!! I have been waiting for it to feel a bit more spring, and I think it is finally feeling less winter around here. And, I hope I didn’t just jinx Michigan!

Posted Last Week:

Monday Morning Coffee Catch Up

A Severance Style Get To Know Me Post

Watching:

Billy and I finished up Season 2 of Severance! It was such a ride from start to finish. The whole show is so well conceptualized, well acted, and well written. It is also a bit weird. I love it!

I was afraid that we wouldn’t be able to follow it up, and have a bit of television hangover, but luckily we had episode one of Season 3 Beyond Paradise to watch! It was the perfect show for how I felt last night.

In My Blogging World:

 Lisa at Boondock Ramblings and I are hosting another film watching event for springtime. It is six weeks, six movies, and very easy going! If you want to watch one or all or a few, we would love to have you join in. Just watch along and comment on our posts or post your own thoughts and link up!

If you are interested, this is the schedule of movies! Our first post will be up this week!

Also, in January and February, Lisa and I were hosting Crafternoons and they turned out to be so much fun that we are continuing them on through the year. People craft, color, sometimes just chat, and we just have a lot of fun. They are drop in style, so no time commitment, just if you have some time to just craft or hang out one scheduled afternoon, drop on in! We will have our schedule up for spring this week!

Whatever you do today, try to do something that makes you smile! I am going to watch Wyatt bowl this afternoon and that always brings a smile to my face!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Take Place in Another Time

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized51 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This Week’s Prompt: Books Set in Another Time (These can be historical, futuristic, alternate universes, or even in a world where you’re not sure when it takes place you just know it’s not right now.)

I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to do this one! I decided to do a decade by decade book for each decade of the 1900s. The century that I was born in… lol. Most of these are books that I have read; a few are from my TBR.

A Reliable Wife (1909)|| Girl Waits With Gun (1914) || The Great Gatsby

A Reliable Wife was such a wild ride of a book! It is set in Wisconsin in 1909. All of Goolrick’s books blew me away when I read them.

Girl Waits with Gun is one on my TBR – and I am pretty sure I learned about it from TTT! It is set in 1914.

The Great Gatsby -because really, what better book to represent the Roaring 20s?

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek || City of Thieves || When Women Were Dragons

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is another TBR book. I had never heard of the Horseback Librarians until a few years ago when we went to a historical event at Greenfield Village near us and there was a woman dressed as one. She told Wyatt and I about these women and gave Wyatt a library card. It was really cute. Anyway, this book is set in 1936. I need to get to it.

City of Thieves is one of my favorite books ever. I recommend this book over and over and over again. It is is set in 1942 in Russia.

When Women Were Dragons is physically sitting on my shelf and I need to read it. Maybe I will this spring. It sounds amazing. It is set in 1955.

The Girls || Joyland || My Best Friend’s Exorcism

The Girls has been on my TBR for a long time. I really need to get to it eventually. It seems like a good summer book so maybe this summer. This book is set in the 1960s.

Joyland is another favorite of mine. I have found that my favorite books by Stephen King are sort of weird compared to other people lol. This is one of them. I just love the whole story- the new adultness, the summertime working at the amusement park, a haunting, a mystery, some supernatural things. It was fantastic. It is set in the 1970s.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism is such a creepy gross book! I loved it though. It is so 1980s that I had to list it here.

The Mall

I am a Gen Xer and yes, so much of my young adulthood centered around the mall. I haven’t read this but it is on my TBR. It sounds like a good read! (if you have read it let me know what you thought!)

And there is my list! I am super excited to see where everyone else is taking us today!