April is one of my favorite months! The weather is starting to warm up and the days are getting longer. With the exception of a few tornadoes in the area, it's been great. I've been running, walking my dog at new-to-me parks, visiting Chicago with my husband and friends, studying for final exams, and trying... Continue Reading →
February 2023 Book Update
Happy end-of-February! We made it through the shortest month of the year and read some good books along the way. In a mere 28 days, I finished another 6 books for the 2023 Reading Challenge! I was pleased to read one of Neil Gaiman's classics that I regret not reading sooner. I also spent half... Continue Reading →
2022 Reading: A Year In Review
I Read 100 Books in 2022 2022 was an amazing year of reading for me. I created and participated in the 2022 Reading Challenge. I read a total of 100 books in 2022. I consumed over 30,000 pages. I read 95 new-to-me books. I found a new top 10 favorite author. I discovered that I... Continue Reading →
December 2022 Book Update
It's the end of the year and that means this is the last monthly book update for 2022! It has been a wonderful year full of amazing books and I have been so happy to find some new favorite authors. December's book list took me to my goal of reaching 100 books in 2022. I... Continue Reading →
Reading by the Season: Winter
Welcome to a new Spine & Leaf Books segment: Reading by the Season! Four times a year I’ll be releasing a new list of 12 books inspired by the season. Sometimes the setting will take place in a particular month or time of year, other times it’s just a vibe. Some are based on the title... Continue Reading →
6 Minutes a Day
Did you know you can reduce your stress by 68% in just 6 minutes a day? Want to know how? Reading. That's right. Reading for just 6 minutes a day can reduce your stress more effectively than exercising or listening to music. A 2009 study from Sussex University revealed the powerful benefits of reading when... Continue Reading →
July 2022 Book Update
July was a great book month! I had a lot of fun choosing books from my public library. The weather was beautiful and I spent a ton of time reading on my balcony or by the pool. I think I did more hardback books than anything else. There's just something so satisfying about having a... Continue Reading →
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Nora wants to die. She tries to die. But she ends up in a library at midnight. It's not a typical library though. Sure there are shelves. They're lined with books. There's even a librarian. But all of the books are about her. Every book is a life she could have lived. Every version of... Continue Reading →
June Book Update: 2022 Reading Challenge
Well, readers, it looks like I've finished the 2022 Reading Challenge a bit before 2022 has finished. Oops. I got a bit carried away reading books to finish the challenge and spent the first 4 months reading nothing BUT books for the challenge. Then in May and June, I sprinkled in a few extra books... Continue Reading →
20 Breathtaking Quotes About Life That Will Make You Feel Inspired
"In three words I can sum up everything I've ever learned about life: it goes on."Robert Frost "If I were a tree, I would have no reason to love a human."Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."Robert Louis Stevenson "You will... Continue Reading →