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No Book Buy July

book tbr pile with a statue of a woman reading on topConfession time: I buy books faster than I can read them. At last count, I have around 100 physical books that have gone unread.

How does this happen? Well, for one thing, I have a hard time resisting an indie bookstore. Window shopping is not enough for me. I need to go in and say hello to the friendly booksellers, peruse the staff picks section, explore the entire store, absorb its charm, and then select a book I deem a “must-have.” Leaving empty-handed is not an option.

Barnes & Noble has three stores within a 10-mile radius of my house. Amazon Prime is at my fingertips. And it’s impossible to avoid all the Bookstagram accounts I follow. Thank goodness Costco stopped selling discount hardcovers.

As you can see, the odds of my buying a few books during the week are high due to their availability and my inability to control myself.

But every July, I make a valiant effort (and have been successful) in not buying any books. Instead, I shop my bookshelves for current and backlist titles, and I read them. Shocking, I know. 😲

Today, I selected four books that I plan to read this month. Here is why I chose them.

  • Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts – I love The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, but it’s time to read someone else’s backstory. What better place to start than with the wife of the author, Frank Baum. This historical fiction book dives into how his widow, Maud, helps bring his story to the big screen.
  • Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee – Staying with historical fiction—my favorite genre—this book appears on many 5-star lists. I remember buying it from an indie bookstore a few years ago because I heard great things about it. It’s been collecting dust on my shelves ever since. It’s time for me to find out what the fuss is about and dive in to this Korean family saga that spans four generations.
  • Lean Learning, by Pat Flynn – I found out about this book from another source I have yet to mention—LinkedIn. See, I told you LinkedIn is awesome (see yesterday’s post). The subtitle is what sold me on this title. “How to Achieve More By Learning Less.” I could spend my life trying to be an expert on the latest marketing trends, but I don’t want to. I want to learn just enough to use it intelligently and efficiently. AI, for instance, is not going away anytime soon. As a writer, it’s my biggest competitor. But I’m not going to learn everything about it, just enough for me to understand it and maybe convince people that I’m a better option.
  • Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt – I bet many of you have read this book. Even if you aren’t a big reader, I bet you or someone you love, loved this book. It was a HUGE hit last summer, and I didn’t read it. Sometimes, I get severe FOMO for books that I wouldn’t necessarily read but must have. This is one of those titles. I hope I like it.

Okay! There are 31 days in July, and in addition to the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I will not buy any books this month. Books that I borrow from the library or other people don’t count, but clearly I have enough here to stay out of trouble.

What books are you reading this summer? 📚📚

XO,
Elisa

No Concept of Time

A few weeks ago, the freezer in our kitchen stopped working. Costco-size packets of chicken breasts and ground turkey were defrosting. My favorite Trader Joe’s frozen meals turned to mush, and the carton of Moose Tracks frozen yogurt melted.

This was not the best start to my week. The repairman told us the cause was likely a faulty compressor. He recommended adding Freon to see if it solved the issue, but he also suggested we check the warranty first.

“When did you buy this refrigerator?” he asked.

“Three or four years ago when we redid the kitchen,” I replied quickly, not factoring in the pre/post COVID-era formula.

Turns out, it was seven years ago. 2018 was seven years ago!

How did that happen? Where did the time go?  I’m beginning to consider other milestones in my life and how long ago they took place.

For instance, my husband and I are celebrating 28 years of marriage this September. I still remember that wonderful day as if it were yesterday. My junior bridesmaid is married. Today is her birthday. The flower girl is currently pursuing an acting career in California, and the ring bearer now works for the federal government. 🤯

My daughter graduated from college two years ago (five years after the kitchen was remodeled). My son is in his third year at Drexel University. And nine years ago this month, we rescued our fur baby, Chloe.

Side note: I remembered all of the above without checking my Facebook Memories. By the way, this is an excellent tool for seeing how much time has passed me by. I look at it for the photos. I don’t pay much attention to the years.

I don’t want to think about these things too hard. It’s why I never do the math to answer the question, “How old will I be when…” It’s too depressing.

I have great sense of timing when it comes to arriving promptly (even early) for appointments. My calendar is up to date, and I check it regularly. But I must be using a different part of my brain for these tasks.

Because, I could swear we had that kitchen redone three years ago. 😉

XO,
Elisa

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