Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 48

Sunday, November 26th – Rest Day

Monday, November 27th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, November 28th – 4 miles of hills

Wednesday, November 29th – 1 mile run (gurgly stomach so had to stop after one...)

[no photo since I was high-tailing it to the restroom... sorry if that is TMI ;)]

Thursday, November 30th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, December 1st – 3 mile Christmas Light run with the hubby (our new weekly tradition in December)

Saturday, December 2nd – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Okay, okay, so 8 miles of running and sitting on my stationary bike for 3 hours might not be what I used to do, but with the busyness of the holiday season and being "off my game" for a while, I'll take the fact I'm trying to get in some activity every day and make it a routine again. We all gotta start (or restart) somewhere. Here's to getting back on the pony.

How were your workouts this past week?

November Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021 and 41 books in 2022). Recently, especially since going back to work outside of the house full-time, the majority of my "reading" has been through audiobooks since I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have two-ish hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb diggity and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So here are the books I finished in November:

• Choose Strong by Sally Mcrae - I had this on my "wish list" for a while and was finally able to trade something I wasn't using with someone else who had this book. As y'all know, if a book is about running, I'm all about it ;) Sally is such a force in the ultrarunning community, so of course I wanted to gobble up this memoir. Let me tell you, this is NOT an easy read. There should probably be some trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Sally's past is not unicorns and rainbows (not even close) and she gets pretty honest about it all. What I found even more impactful was that she wasn't telling her story to get pity or to explain away something in her life, she was sharing it as a way to point towards strength and hope - WOWZER! I was slightly bummed that there wasn't more about running in the book, but when I read [towards the end] that she had actually decided to split the memoir into two and the second one would be about her transition from collegiate soccer player to ultra phenom you better believe I made note so I can grab it as soon as it's released. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

It just so happened I was wear yellow the day I finished this at work.

• Radio Silence by Alice Oseman - Y'all hopefully know by now that I am a BIG fan of the YA genre and of Alice. I noticed there was another book of hers I hadn't read (I only get 8 downloads a month, so I haven't done her graphic novels because they are so short and I don't want to use one of my precious books on them, but assume they're amazing too), so I obviously had to download it. I have to say, I always appreciate how she never shies away from serious and important topics. Some of the subjects in this one were mental health (and reaching out to others when you are worried for them and their safety), exploring one's sexuality, abuse (both physical and emotional), death of an animal, etc. And, now that I read the list back it might seem like this book is a big "downer", but I did not feel that way at all. I felt as though the relationships were real and raw and relatable. I found it fascinating to have the vlog mixed in (and hearing snitbits of the episodes the characters were talking about). All in all, this was a great book that I could stop listening to. I would give it a 10 out of 10.

• Wade in the Water by Nyani Nkrumah - This novel popped up in the new and trending section of my Hoopla app and nothing I had saved at the time was catching my attention, so I gave this a go. As per usual, I had no idea what this was about but did notice there were two different names listed as the readers so assumed the story would be told from two different perspectives (which my assumption was correct). Let me start off by saying that although this was gorgeously written, there were a few points where I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish it. First, the N word is used often in this book. I'll be honest, when I hear it said (especially when it sounds like it's coming from a non-black person), it makes me cringe. Also, child sexual assault is very hard for me to sit with. I know, I know, this is a novel, but it was still uncomfortable (as it should be, right?!). I am glad I stuck with it though, because it was a very an intriguing story with such character development that when I was finished listening I had to remember it was a book and not a movie. I'd recommend adding a trigger warning at the beginning, but other than that it kept me on my toes until the end. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• You're the One that I Want by Simon James Green - My previous audiobook was pretty intense, so I decided to get a YA rom-com to lighten the mood a bit. This one definitely fit the bill. It was a cute story about a high school student who wanted to change their life so decided to start saying "yes" to everything. This challenge ended up with Freddie signing up to be in the school play and along the way finding love, drama, heartache, etc. (I would say that this one might skew a little to the older "young adult" since there is a bit of sexy time in the story ;)) I haven't read any of this author's books before, but if they're all like this, consider me a fan. This one was adorable, hilarious, heartwarming and exactly what I was looking for. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Nordic Theory of Everything by Anu Partanen - I figured it was time for more of a nonfiction read, so I scrolled through my saved "life" books and came across this one. I'll be honest, I may have originally saved it because I liked the graphics on the cover but whatever the reason, I'm glad I did ;) The author shares some of the recent (well, recent at the time, but this book was written in 2016) findings that the Nordic region is one of the best places to live and dives into some of her thoughts on why. Her main focuses were on healthcare, schooling and overall welfare (think child care, pensions, elderly care, etc). Anu had moved from Finland to New York, so she had an interesting perspective and helped compare the different cultures (not only from her vantage point, but also with statistics and facts to back it up). I know the United States will not adopt all (or probably any) of the policies that Finland has implemented, but I found it incredibly fascinating learning about them - and how easily a society COULD change if they WANTED to. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

With that, November has come to a close. My reading may have slowed down a bit (especially compared to years past), but I hope it never stops. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my "must read" list! 

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read so they're in one place. Feel free to check it out!

What's the best book you've read lately? 

Workout Recap - Week 47

Sunday, November 19th – Rest Day

Monday, November 20th – 45 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, November 21st – Rest Day

Wednesday, November 22nd – Rest Day

Thursday, November 23rd – Rest Day

Friday, November 24th – Rest Day

Saturday, November 25th – Rest Day

I'll be honest, I'm a bit disappointed in myself when I look at this recap, because I know how much I love running, but I've gotta be real. Recently my body has been a bit 'off' while trying to get my thyroid under control, so running (or even waking up early) has took a backseat to getting back to "myself" again. I'd say that it's slightly skewed because we were camping about an hour north of San Francisco from Tuesday night through late afternoon on Saturday, but this is still what it is. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 46

Sunday, November 12th – Rest Day

Monday, November 13th – Rest Day

Tuesday, November 14th – Rest Day

Wednesday, November 15th – Rest Day

Thursday, November 16th – 75 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, November 17th – Rest Day

Saturday, November 18th – Rest Day

Alrighty... so, let's be real, as soon as I pulled the plug on CIM I accidentally pulled the plug on running too. Honestly, I wanted to make sure I was running because it was a stress reliever, not a stress inducer... And when I was forcing myself to wake up after a bad night of sleep or with an upset tummy, it was becoming more of a guilted feeling than enjoying it. With that said, I am not NOT running, but I need to see how it will fit into my schedule better. Maybe I will be a lunchtime runner, maybe I will cut running down to 3 or 4 days a week, maybe I will add in more strength training so that I become a stronger overall athlete, who knows. With that said, I figured I'd probably wait till after we get back from our camping trip to set a better routine for myself. Here's to taking a break when needed, refocusing and figuring out what serves you best.

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 45

Sunday, November 5th – 4.44 mile run, 2 rounds of the hubby's kettlebell workout

Monday, November 6th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, November 7th – Rest Day

Wednesday, November 8th – Rest Day

Thursday, November 9th – Rest Day

Friday, November 10th – Rest Day

Saturday, November 11th – Rest Day

Welp... I guess it's time to announce that I have decided against running CIM at the beginning of December. A few things came up (my body possibly not fully recovered from the Detroit training, trying different medications for different issues and dealing with their side effects, an overall "blah" feeling about doing more long runs, etc) and I pulled the plug. Don't get me wrong, I am not pulling the plug on running, but I need to get back to a spot where I am enjoying it for what it is. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 44

Sunday, October 29th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, October 30th – 5 mile run

Tuesday, October 31st –  6 mile run [2 miles with the hubby, 4 solo miles]

Wednesday, November 1st – 5 miles of hill repeats

Thursday, November 2nd – 6 mile run

Friday, November 3rd – Rest Day

Saturday, November 4th – 12 mile run

Well, my workouts got swapped around this week because I was with one of my best friends in Palm Springs. When I got home on Sunday it was too late in the day to do my 12-miler, so instead I moved everything up a day (Monday became Sunday, Tuesday became Monday, etc) and then moved Saturday's 6-miler to Thursday and then my 12-miler I was supposed to do on Sunday became Saturday's run (since doing double digit runs before work calls for VERY EARLY alarms so I'd prefer not to have to do that if I can avoid it). Other than that, nothing much to report... Just chuggin' along.

How were your workouts this past week?

October Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021 and 41 books in 2022). Recently, especially since going back to work outside of the house full-time, the majority of my "reading" has been through audiobooks since I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have two-ish hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb diggity and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So here are the books I finished in October:

• The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros - A couple friends had mentioned they read this book recently and liked it, so I figured I'd give it a go. I didn't know anything about it, other than a few friends gave it a thumbs up, so I was intrigued when I found out it was a love story that switched between two timelines (the present day and then the history of the main character's family and how the two related and shaped the main character into the person she had become). Although I enjoyed it enough, it wasn't necessarily my jam. This may sound funny, but adult romances aren't my thing because there is a lot more sex in them than in the young adult genre (which means I feel like they are required to put more time and thought into character development in YA books because they can't just rely on passionate love making to show a connection). Anywho, this was a decent storyline, but I don't think I'd recommend it to others (but that might be because it's normally not my fave type of book to begin with). I had figured out some of the "surprises" along the way and although I stuck with it, wasn't too overly invested in any of the characters. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey - During "Banned Books Week", my Hoopla app had a section of banned books so I thought I'd check it out and see if anything caught my eye. I had never read this one (even though it was originally written in 1962), so figured it was time to give it a listen. I will say, this book is not for the faint of heart - although I'm not 100% sure why is was banned... The story is about a psych ward in the PNW in the 60s. Obviously some of the "treatments" have since been banned, but the story was a grueling look into the mental health sector during that era. Apparently the book has been deemed "bad" because there are some sexual encounters (let's be real, turn on the TV - even the news - and kiddos are subjected to much, much worse) and some of the imagery is too "provocative". It has been said that this book glorifies criminal activity and corrupts kids, and maybe in the 60s that could be believed, but nowadays I have a hard time buying it. I was fully drawn into the story, the characters and the emotions of the book. As I mention at the beginning of my book recap posts, I never really read the "old school" books, so I didn't know anything about this one (or the movie), but I can see why it's a classic.  I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli - Every once in a while I will click through different authors on my Hoopla app to see if they've written anything new or if there's a book I haven't listened to before. I noticed that this author had a book that I hadn't tried yet, so I grabbed it. I actually listened to it on the flight to Detroit (I had packed a physical book to read, but for some reason I wasn't in the mood, so popped in my headphones and flew through this one). This was a cute little "coming of age", young romance type story - nothing too earth shattering, but something that kept my attention. I would say the storyline was pretty predictable, but cute nonetheless. I've definitely liked some of Becky's other books more, but the typical high school drama was in full effect. (Note: I don't cuss, so hearing "f boy" pretty consistently was a little jarring [I know, I know, I'm a prude ;)], so in case that is something off putting for you, I figured I'd mention it.) I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Awakening of Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson - I had this in my "for later" list on my Hoopla app for a while and figured it was time. I want to start off with a couple thoughts... First, this is a novel, so there was some creative freedoms taken while writing it, but I truly believe the essence rings true. Second, this book was written by Malcolm X's daughter, which I find pretty awesome (along with one of my fave YA authors). If anyone has the authority to write about Malcolm X, I would say it's his family members. The story is about Malcolm's time spent in prison and his awakening (more specifically, into the Nation of Islam). The book is actually considered to be in the Young Adult genre and the reason Professor Shabazz gave as to why she wanted it written for a younger audience is because she felt as though many young people are going through a similar "awakening" and searching for themselves and their purpose. I know this isn't a memoir, but I feel as though it gives us a better understanding of Malcolm's adolescence and his inner thoughts and demons he may have been facing in his teens and early twenties. I'll be honest, I loved this book. Don't get me wrong, it is hard to listen to (especially since the treatment of BIPOC, especially in the justice system, hasn't changed much since the 1940s), but extremely important and impactful. I would give it a 10 out of 10.

• Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr. Julie Smith - I'm not sure what I expected out of this book, but what I got wasn't it. I was really wanting to like it (especially since on the app and on Amazon it had very high ratings), but I felt like it was very short snippets that didn't dive deep enough. It was sort of like an IG reel versus a YouTube video. It felt very surfacey and not super helpful (at least to me). Shoot, maybe this type of book is what our society needs because we tend to have a shorter attention span these days, but I didn't love it. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated all of the work she had done and the info she was willing to share. I guess when you are trying to be the most helpful to the most amount of people, quick soundbites of generalized info works best. Simple and effective points, but not enough "meat on the bones". I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison - This was another book that I saw on the "banned book" list. You know when you are told not to think about something and then that's all you can think about... Well, it makes me curious about what the book is so scandalous sharing that it needs to be banned, so of course it makes me want to read it. I was actually waiting for the shocking part to come and I never found it... This is a coming-of-age story about someone struggling with financial hardships, classism, racism, etc, all while trying to find out who he is and what he wants to do with his life. I really enjoyed this one and was rooting for everyone in the story - very inspirational. Sure, there might have been some criticism of the "American Dream", a few curse words and maybe a few "indecent" acts, but it is definitely nothing worse than what is shown on daytime TV... Not to mention, I don't see anywhere that it's targeted for little kids (or even considered a Young ADULT book), so I'm left shaking my head as to why someone would take the time to ban this one. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• My Hidden Race by Anyika Onuora - Let's be real, any book that has the words 'runner', 'race', 'marathon', etc in the title will usually grab my attention. When I saw this memoir from a British runner I wanted to download it right away (but, #RealTalk, since I am more in the distance world of running and Anyika is in the sprinting/ track world, I didn't know anything about her prior to 'reading' this book.). Although Anyika is an Olympic medalist, this book isn't about the nitty gritty of her races or training, but about the life she has led and how she has continually overcome the sometimes subtle but often times overt racism, starting from an extremely young age and during her running career. I am appreciative for Anyika's willingness to share some of the most painful periods and incidents of her life. She was willing to relive those terrible times in hopes that others won't have to go through the same trauma - if that isn't a hero, I don't know what is! I would give it a 10 out of 10. 

With that, October has come to a close. My reading may have slowed down a bit (especially compared to years past), but I hope it never stops. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my "must read" list! 

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read so they're in one place. Feel free to check it out!

What's the best book you've read lately? 

Workout Recap - Week 43

Sunday, October 22nd – Rest Day

Monday, October 23rd – Rest Day

Tuesday, October 24th –  Rest Day 

Wednesday, October 25th – Rest Day

Thursday, October 26th – Rest Day

Friday, October 27th – Rest Day

Saturday, October 28th – Rest Day

My game plan was to take ten days off after my marathon, but when my blood donation was scheduled for Day eleven, I decided to take two weeks off before heading back out to pound the pavement. Next week it's back into marathon training. Next up, CIM December 3rd. (Working backwards from the race and doing the final five weeks of training I did for Detroit.)

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 42

Sunday, October 15th – Detroit Free Press Marathon [recap coming soon]

Monday, October 16th – Rest Day

Tuesday, October 17th –  Rest Day 

Wednesday, October 18th – Rest Day

Thursday, October 19th – Rest Day

Friday, October 20th – Rest Day

Saturday, October 21st – Rest Day

Okay, okay, I don't want to spoil the recap (which I still need to write, oops!), but let's just say the marathon was a BLAST! Sure, I probably didn't fuel properly (pizza and soft pretzels at the stadiums the day before might not have been ideal) and my legs were definitely fatigued (going to a Michigan Football game at noon and a Detroit Red Wings game at 7pm the day before a race will do that to you), not to mention I had about zero sleep (we were still on West Coast time and had a jam packed scheduled even if we weren't jetlagged), but I wouldn't have changed the weekend for anything! #Memories

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 41

Sunday, October 8th – 4 mile run with the hubby

Monday, October 9th – 45 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, October 10th –  3 mile run 

Wednesday, October 11th – 4 mile run

Thursday, October 12th – 2 mile run

Friday, October 13th – Rest Day

Saturday, October 14th – Rest Day

The taper is in full effect! All of the runs this week were mostly to keep the legs loose and my mind not swirling into a downward spiral - #TaperMadness. As we know, with the schedule we have for our trip to Michigan, this marathon will NOT be a world record, but I do hope the body holds up and I have a fun time. Here goes nothing (well, let's be real, this will be the 31st time I've done this [marathon distance specifically], so it's not like it's my first rodeo or anything like that ;)).

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 40

Sunday, October 1st – 20 mile run

Monday, October 2nd – 50 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, October 3rd –  Rest Day 

Wednesday, October 4th – Rest Day

Thursday, October 5th – 4 mile run

Friday, October 6th – 4 mile run

Saturday, October 7th – 8 mile run

WHOO HOO! It's TAPER TIME! Sunday's 20-miler was my final double digit run of this training cycle. I took it easy (trying to keep my pace around 10 minute miles, rather than starting at 9 minute miles and then fading down to walk run that averaged 11 minute miles) and my final three miles of the run were actually my fastest (and mile 20 was my overall fastest), so I guess you could say I left enough gas in my tank ;) From here on out, it's just short runs to keep the legs loose and the mind clear. LET'S DO THIS THANG! PS This marathon is NOT going to be one I am racing... We'll be on our feet at the Michigan football game Saturday afternoon and then out "late" for the Red Wings season home opener Saturday night... But who really sleeps the night before a race anyway?! ["You can sleep when you're dead" - my mom]

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 39

Sunday, September 24th – Rest Day

Monday, September 25th – 10 mile run (at altitude)

Tuesday, September 26th –  5 mile run 

Wednesday, September 27th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, September 28th – 5 mile run

Friday, September 29th – Rest Day

Saturday, September 30th – 10 mile run

So this week is a little wonky because the hubby and I did our Sunday long run on Friday (so we could use the showers at the campground we were staying at) and then I shimmied my weekday runs around due to the days I had off and doctor appointments I had. FYI - running at altitude (coming from sea level to 8,000 feet above it) is TOUGH! After tomorrow's 20-miler I'm tapering - WHOO HOO! I would say my body definitely is feeling overly fatigued (but that could also be due to physical issues, which is why I went to the doctor and had bloodwork done). Here's to hoping my taper does me well ;) 

How were your workouts this past week?

September Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021 and 41 books in 2022). Recently, especially since going back to work outside of the house full-time, the majority of my "reading" has been through audiobooks since I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have two-ish hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb diggity and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So here are the books I finished in September:

• Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon - Remember last month when I mentioned one of the books I listened to had another one similar to it (with the same six authors collaborating on it), but I had run out of downloads and would have to wait until September? Well, you better believe this one was the first to be "checked out" this month. Just like Blackout, Whiteout is written by six amazing black young adult writers (and you know how I love me the YA genre). Each of them takes a different person (or couple) and tells the story of a few minutes in time during a whiteout in the city of Atlanta. Unlike the previous book, these stories were meant to be one continuous story (Blackout was individual stories that eventually meshed) - but, even still, I love how they intertwined. When I was pulling up the link for it I noticed one of the reviews said #BlackJoy and I couldn't agree more! I absolutely adore how black joy (and love) is at the center of this story. Don't get me wrong, BIPOC definitely have it harder in this society built on white supremacy, but not every story has to be about the trauma. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - I saw this title pop up in the "new and trending" section of my Hoopla app and it caught my attention. I mean, how big is said family?! If the family is only two people than this might not be as 'impressive' as if the family is rolling twelve people deep ;) Anywho, this is a entertaining "whodunit" book. The narrator is actually an author who writes "how to write books" books. There are definitely a lot of characters and stories to try and keep straight, but I think with all of the jumping from the different characters' perspectives it didn't give you enough time to really ponder who may have done what and why. I wouldn't say this is my typical type of book, but it was an interesting listen that helped distract me during a few hot and humid runs. I appreciated the humor that was sprinkled throughout the story, because otherwise it may have been a little too gruesome for me. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The One by John Marrs - This popped up on my "recommended" list on Hoopla, probably because I had just listened to a "mystery/ thriller". There was a sticker on the cover that said it was turned into a TV series, so I figured I'd give it a go. It was an interesting premise - a new technology was created whereas you could get your DNA tested and find "the one" (the person who is your perfect match). Obviously this was dependent on "your match" having taken the test as well so they were in the database. Anywho, the book followed a few different key characters and their experiences. It was definitely a "page turner" (I listened to the audiobook so obviously I wasn't physically turning the page, but you get what I mean ;)). It brought up an interesting conversation... would you want to know if your current partner was "the one"? If you took the test and they weren't, would you stay in the relationship or track down your match? Again, I would say this isn't normally my genre of choice, but I wouldn't have an issue recommending this one to others. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - When one of my best friends was visiting, she was reading this book and asked if I had read it before. I told her I hadn't and she left it for me to read (she had read it quite a few times before). Apparently it is also a movie, but I have heard of neither. Think of this as like the original true crime book. The author went to a town in Kansas where a gruesome (and senseless) murder took place in 1959. He shares about the four family members who eventually become the victims, tell the tales of the two men who eventually murder the family and includes information about the trial and subsequent outcome. After reading it I can understand why it is considered "iconic" (it's just apparently I've been living under a rock ;)). I go back and forth on my thoughts about true crime and if it's appropriate for people to find entertainment in other people's tragedies, but at the same time I find all of it incredibly fascinating because it is so outside of my realm. I know, it may sound strange, but this book reminds me why I am against capital punishment and the death penalty. PS I read this at work when we were slow and between customers. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg - I had this book in my "for later" list on Hoopla for quite a while and I figured it was time for something a little more lighthearted, so I downloaded this one. It was something that I have been privileged to never have had to worry about. Rafe, the main character, was an openly gay teen living in Bolder, CO. He was heading to boarding school across the country (near Boston, MA) and decided that he didn't like his sexual orientation being what he was known for. He decided when he went away to school for his Junior and Senior year, he didn't want to lie, but thought he would keep his sexual orientation to himself and focus on his studies. The YA novel is about his experiences doing this. As you can imagine, his family and friends from home were worried that he was "going back into the closet", whereas when some of his new friends found out who he "really" was were angry because they believe he was lying to them. The story brings up a lot of important topics to think about (whether you're a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or not). It won't be one I'll buy, but I enjoyed it for what it was (a cute, teen rom-com). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Honestly Ben by Bill Konigsberg - This was the follow up book to Openly Straight. The previous book focused on Rafe as the main character, but this one was from the perspective of Ben. I'll be honest, I've never really thought through my sexual orientation too much. Living in a heteronormative culture, it was assumed I was heterosexual and I never questioned it. This story was about Ben diving into what he wanted, who he wanted, who he was and exploring the way it all made him feel. I do have to say that I think I like Rafe's perspective (or maybe him as a character) more than Ben's, although I would say Ben's story was a little more intriguing. I also really like the cast of characters around these two too. As with the previous book, I appreciate the author going deeper and digging into sensitive subjects, especially seeing as this book is written for young adults (folks who may be going through this same type of exploration themselves). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea - A friend of mine had mentioned she just finished this book and really liked it, so I checked to see if it was available on my Hoopla app and gave it a download. It was another thriller (apparently a lot of my friends like that genre ;)). I really enjoyed seeing how all of the characters and storylines tied in together. The "twenty years later" is due to a victim of 9/11 being identified 20 years after the attacks. A news anchor decides to chase the story (while also having some ulterior motives as why she wants to head to NY) and that's when the drama and mystery unfolds. I guessed some of the plot twists along the way (minus the very last one, which was a good one), but overall it was entertaining. I wouldn't say it was amazing, but I liked the idea and I definitely got wrapped up in the story. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Up To Speed by Christine Yu -  I've been wanting to get my hands on this book since I saw it for pre-sale and I was finally able to not only acquire it but have time to read it ;) I was able to get through this one while we were in Mammoth for a long weekend. As you can see from the subtitle, this book is about the science of women athletes. Unless you've been living under a rock (or under the oppression of patriarchy), you probably can assume that the majority of research (whether on athletes or not) is done on men. Men are seen as "less complicated", so there tend to be fewer factors that need to be taken into account - which means research may or may not be accurate when it comes to women (FYI - women are NOT just smaller versions of men). Anywho, I found this read extremely fascinating. I was a little worried that it would be too technical or science-y, but everything was very easy to digest and understand. I feel as though I was underlining something on every other page (and I'm glad I read the physical book instead of listening to the audio version, because I will definitely be keeping this in my personal library and appreciated being able to take notes and mark up the pages). Honestly, as a female runner, I think this should be required reading (but I think it's interesting for non-athletes too). This is stuff we should've learned when we were younger. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

With that, September has come to a close. My reading may have slowed down a bit (especially compared to years past), but I hope it never stops. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my "must read" list! 

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read so they're in one place. Feel free to check it out!

What's the best book you've read lately?