It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 26): 08/26/19

Hosted by Kathryn of Book Date.

Tuesday is my birthday. We have a tradition where my husband bakes my favorite cake for my birthday and I bake his favorite pie for his birthday. If our birthdays fall in the middle of the week we do the baking and celebrating the weekend before.

The cake is a chocolate chip bundt cake with peanut butter frosting. It's a family recipe that has seen a few modifications over the decades. Originally it was a hazelnut cake with chocolate frosting in my grandfather's family. When he and my grandmother married, hazelnuts were impossible to come by in California. So for their first anniversary (which was also his birthday), my grandmother made-do with a chocolate chip cake and peanut butter frosting. That bit has stayed the same but how the cake is made and the other ingredients has evolved.

No artwork to share this week. I've had to put my art table away because we're expecting a delivery of a new chest of drawers to hold my art supplies. I've never lived in a big enough place as an adult to have a dedicated spot to keep my supplies. They've either been kept in a tool box or a box. I'll get to painting tomorrow once the the supplies are moved to their new home.

What I read:

Reading-wise, I had a splendid week. Many of these books were on the short side. We also have been going to bed early to read, instead of watching animé like we sometimes do. I'm in the final push this year to catch up with my reading. I hope to get through all my 2018 purchases, and most of the 2019 ones by year's end.

• When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri; personal collection
• The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante; personal collection
• See You on a Starry Night by Lisa Schroeder; personal collection
• A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelley Armstrong and Xavière Daumarie; personal collection
• Vancouver Island: Sketches And Trip Notes by Albert Frederick Ranger; personal collection
• The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara; personal collection
• This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone; personal collection / research
• Space Unicorn Blues by T.J. Berry; personal collection

What I'm reading:

• A Killer Edition by Lorna Barrett and Cassandra Campbell (narrator); personal collection
• Clock Dance by Anne Tyler; personal collection
• Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert; personal collection
• Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage; personal collection

Up Soon:

• Midnight Radio by Iolanda Zanfardino; personal collection
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead; personal collection
• The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman; personal collection

Comments  (20)

Comment #1: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 02:52:27

Kathryn

The cake looks very tasty. A very happy birthday month. I have Clock Dance sitting on my shelf to read one day!

Comment #2: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:01:00

Pussreboots

I might not get to Clock Dance until next week. I'm looking forward to it.

Comment #3: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 07:43:07

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

Won't it be delightful to have a dedicated spot for all your art supplies? I'm eager to see how your work progresses.

You have read some great books. This is How You Lose the Time War came in for me, but I'm still finishing up Moby Dick, so I probably won't get to it until we get back from Utah.

Have a wonderful week!

Comment #4: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:03:00

Pussreboots

The chest is here and it's perfect for my supplies. It makes everything so much more convenient and easy to reach. This is How You Lose the Time War is short, delightful and still churning around my head.

Comment #5: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 08:08:16

Laurel-Rain Snow

The cake looks yummy!

I loved Clock Dance. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.

Comment #6: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:08:00

Pussreboots

I need to focus on my 2019 books, so I might now get to Clock Dance until next week. The cake is yummy.

Comment #7: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 08:23:27

Beth F

Happy birthday! I like Anne Tyler. Hope you like Underground Railroad as much as I did.

Comment #8: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:13:00

Pussreboots

I'm looking forward to both books.

Comment #9: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 09:18:43

Yvonne

Happy Birthday! What a nice idea to bake cakes for each other. The bundt cake looks delicious. Have a great week!

Comment #10: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:14:00

Pussreboots

He bakes me a cake and I bake him a pie. The cake is delicious.

Comment #11: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 10:21:39

carol

Happy Birthday! That cake looks yummy.

Comment #12: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:17:00

Pussreboots

It is a yummy cake.

Comment #13: Monday, August, 26, 2019 at 12:55:25

Kathy Martin

Happy birthday! The cake looks good. I have been trying to fit in my 2019 purchases but I'm sure I'll still have quite a few lingering into 2020. Of course, I still have 2008 purchases lingering. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

Comment #14: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:18:00

Pussreboots

The cake is good. I have purchases from pre 2018 to read too. They are still in storage. If I can get my current situation under control, I can start bringing home the storage books to read.

Comment #15: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 16:13:24

Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life

That cake looks delicious! Happy Birthday early!

Comment #16: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:26:00

Pussreboots

It is delicious.

Comment #17: Monday August, 26, 2019 at 21:37:36

Stefanie

A big happy birthday to you! Glad you got your favorite cake to eat tonight.

Comment #18: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:28:00

Pussreboots

Thanks! It's been a nice birthday.

Comment #19: Monday, August 26, 2019 at 22:17:46

Wendi

Happy belated birthday! Your cake looks delicious!

Comment #20: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 21:29:00

Pussreboots

You're right on time. Today is my birthday.