Reading Your Shelves Update #1

In typical Lisa fashion, I’ve read or listened to 6 books for the Read Your Shelves project, none of which are the first book I unwrapped. I’ve been on an audiobook kick lately and have listened to 6 audiobooks from my collection (one of which is also in a wrapped present, which I shall look up on my spreadsheet and unwrap immediately). I’ve also read one novella that I had previously purchased, in the kindle app on my phone.

The titles so far, including format in which I read them, and my rating of them are (with a note that I tend to be generous in my ratings, because I’m largely looking for happily ever after and a bit of humor from my reading life):

1. The Shippers (Katherine Center), read in audio format, 4.5 stars
2. The Last Mandarin (Louise Penney and Melissa Fung), read in audio format, 5 stars
3. Dolly all the Time (Annabel Monaghan), read in audio format, 4.5 stars
4. The Bodyguard (Katherine Center), read in audio format, a re-read for me, 5 stars
5. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (Sangu Mandanna), read in audio format, 4.5 stars
6. Save a Horse, Keep the Cowboy (Jessica Peterson), read on Kindle app, 3.5 stars

All in all, a quite successful start to the project. Because I reached the first milestone of 4 completed titles, I gave myself a small reward. In this case it wasn’t a reward off my menu, but rather a set of highlighters that purport to not bleed through even the thinnest paper like that used in Bibles. They just arrived this afternoon, and I haven’t tested their claim yet, but the pretty colors make me happy, and I’m excited to use them in various books, including my Bible.

I’ve currently got another audiobook on the go – one which I also own in paperback (gift wrapped) format. I’ve borrowed several books from the library which I plan to at least make an attempt at reading, and I still have the first book that I unwrapped, which I’m also excited to read, though I admit that I’m struggling lately to read in the hard copy paper format, which is perhaps what has contributed to the glut of books that I’ve purchased and not read, and subsequently gift wrapped to set this challenge for myself.

In terms of rewarding myself every 4 and every 12 books, I’m giving myself credit for reading or listening to anything purchased before June 7, 2026, as well as any library or borrowed books I complete. Basically I’m trying to encourage the habit of reading that doesn’t cost money, and ideally the reading of a more traditional hard copy book, since I’ve got so many of those already purchased and backlogged, waiting to be read.