Tag: tbr

Top Ten Tuesday: My Winter TBR

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized37 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: The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized49 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Today’s Prompt: The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf

So today’s prompt is so random and fun! I unfortunately don’t own as many books as I once did, I use the library most of the time so I didn’t have as many books to choose from here but it was still a lot of fun!

We were supposed to “stand in front of your book collection, close your eyes, point to a title, and write it down. If you have shelves, point to your physical books. If you have a digital library, use a random number generator and write down the title of the book that corresponds with the number you generated. You get bonus points if you tell us whether or not you’ve read the book, and what you thought of it if you did!“

So, let’s get started!

Shady Hollow: I listened to this once on audio, and now I am excited to read the physical book. I want to read the whole series and need to remind myself about it.

A Natural History of the Hedgerow: I have not read this yet! Maybe this winter.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands: I have not read this yet either. I think I will next month.

Inkspell’s Enchanted Holiday: Not yet, I am saving it for December. I don’t know much about it but I bought it from a book festival of independent authors last month.

The Honey Witch: I did read this and I loved it!! This was a gift from an internet friend.

Nancy Drew The Bungalow Mystery: I did read it and I am going to read it again I think for Lisa’s Nancy Drew November. (I am not sure if this is linky event or if she is just doing it) Or maybe I will just get a new one since there are so many. Lol.

The Echo of Old Books: Jeesh, another no! But now that I have had it in my hand again I think I will soon!

Seacrow Island: Yes! I loved this book! I definitely recommend it.

The Blue Castle: Another yes, and another recommendation. And, another book gift from a friend!

The Salt Path: Yes, I read this and I enjoyed it. I did not however like the second book, sadly.

And there we have it!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set in Japan

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized57 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week’s prompt:  Books Set in/Take Place During X (Pick a place, time, era, etc. Examples: Books set in Europe/Italy/Australia/Chicago, books set in Regency England, books that take place during the 1900s, books set in imaginary worlds/post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds, books set on the ocean, books set it castles, books that take place during WW2, etc.)

So, a few years ago I read a book that changed my reading. I picked up the book, What You Are Looking for is in the Library, and I loved it. I was hooked. I needed all the cozy fiction/translated/healing fiction. I am so happy that I read a book outside my comfort zone because now it is a favorite genre for me. These titles are a mix of books I have read and books on my TBR for this year. These are all set in Japan, but some of the others that I have read were set in Korea. It was hard to choose the setting for this post!

The Kamogawa Food Detectives || What You Are Looking For is in the Library || The Full Moon Coffee Shop

The Kamogowa Food Detectives made me so hungry. The descriptions of the food, the memories that accompanied these dishes, made this book such a delight to read.

What You Are Looking for is in the Library is still one of my favorites. I could revisit this one over and over again.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop was… interesting. It was not my favorite of these but it was definitely unique!

The Easy Life in Kamusari || Butter || Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

The Easy Life in Kamusari is a gentle easy read set in the mountains. I loved this little mountain village and its inhabitants.

Butter is completely different and I still haven’t read it. It sounds crazy and is based on a true story! It is “about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case”. It is on my fall TBR list.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was another slow, gentle read. And I learned there is a whole area of Tokyo that is known as Book Town that has hundreds of bookstores!

Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop || The Convenience Store by the Sea || Dinner at the Night Library || The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop

These four are the tops of my list for this genre right now, with The Convenience Store by the Sea as the next up. I have a hold request in for it and I am waiting – hopefully this week! After that Dinner at the Night Library sounds fantastic for fall.

And that is it from me today! I look forward to visiting your posts all week and seeing what you all chose!

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!

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!

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!

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

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn books and reading35 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

It seems like there are so many good books coming out! Honestly, I found a lot of these through other bloggers on these Tuesday posts!

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson looks so good!! Bletchley Park, dark academia, dragons… I can’t wait! And do I have to? No, because this came out Jan. 2nd! I just need to get it!

The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshim. I know I have mentioned this one, and I think I actually saw it the first on another Top Ten Tuesday. It just looks so adorable!!

The Rainfall Market – that cover is just gorgeous.

The Green Kingdom: I love the plot of this story, where the main character needs to figure out botanical riddles!

Whale Eyes: This memoir comes out in March, and I am very much excited to read it. It is “told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James’s point of view, allowing them to see the world through his disabling eye conditions.” I have been trying to read more and more books that give voice to the disabled community, as my son is a part of it. I want him to read and see books that reflect this representation, because books are mirrors as well as windows.

The Secrets of Underhill: This one is a fantasy middle grade, and the main character is the daughter of a traveling arborist who treats magical trees.

The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen: I can’t wait, it just sounds so darn good. It also sounds like one that might me cry, but that is ok.

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man): I loved Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice to Murderers and I am looking forward to this next installment of her shenanigans.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales: I love love this cover! Little snail!!! Ok, and I love this series too.

And finally, the last one for this post.

Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill: Growing up, I love all books about faeries, and I remember just poring over the Brian Froud books over and over again, and reading the different tales of the magical creatures – like Jenny Greenteeth. I am excited to read this version about Jenny.

And that is it from me today my friends! I can’t wait to read everyone else’s posts and no doubt add a “ton of books” (as my son would say) to my list!