#JenBsBooks ~ 2024 Reading Recap

 

Another year in the books ... my highest yet. I don't set a reading goal per se, I just enjoy books. I do TRY to get in a couple non-fiction each month, switch up genres and topics. Popular and obscure. Various lengths. While I am dominantly audio, I get the ebook also for 95% of my listens. I like having the text for reference, and to see if there's anything (author's notes, discussion questions, pictures, setup) that isn't available or or doesn't translate to audio.  I do try to read a little (with my eyes) as well. 

45 of my books on Goodreads got a 5* rating from me (fewer on Storygraph, as they allow half/quarter stars). The ratio of ratings looks quite similar to last few years. Mostly 3 and 4*, with a few 2* and at least one 1* ... I'm not afraid to DNF (did not finish) either ... so many books, so little time!

The Storygraph stats are slightly different ... showing 300 books (to GoodReads 307).  I guess Goodreads went ahead and put the DNF books (unrated in the chart above) in the total, when Storygraph did not. Honestly, I'm not sure which I feel is "correct" or which I prefer. Storygraph actually indicated I had 10 books that I started but didn't finish. 

It's interesting to compare the starts from year to year (I just started Storygraph last year/2023) ... the Mood Map is very similar, the pie charts for fiction/non-fiction, page# and format look almost the same. I like to track WHERE I got the books (library, KU, Audible, etc), and then a few other items.

 

Some additional Storygraph Stats ...

• Average length of books was 326 pages
• 24 5* reads
• May had the highest average rating (3.91)
• December had the lowest average rating (3.17)
• August had the most pages read (10057)
• New authors ... 196
• 86 books part of a series 
• 7 books were re-reads
• 10 books were DNF

Other 2024 book memories ...

• Continued on with two local book clubs, only missed one month 
• Had Audible, cancelled Audible, joined again when they had a sale, cancelled again, joined again. Have MORE than enough in my library (in addition to using the actual library) but ... deals! Sales! I don't use the PLUS catalog that often, but I like having access ;)
• Grabbed a KU deal (3 months free), then paid for one month(December).
• Did a few "tandem" reads with Hubs
• Book Notes - as I listen to audio, if there is something ... one of the words I track, a thought I want to highlight/remember, etc ... I'll pull up the NOTES app on my phone and jot it down (if I'm able to stop quickly to do it, not always possible, if I have more time/I'm home, I might pull up the Kindle copy and make the note there instead). I try to remember to check my notes when writing up a review (sometimes also adding the notes into the Kindle copy). But I thought I'd transfer my notes here for reference too, a quick reflective look at the year. 2024BookNotes. 
• Added a Little Free Library in front of the house. I HAD switched almost entirely to digital (audio and ebook) but now love shopping library and thrift stores for books. Had to buy some more bookshelves for storage, and love frequenting other LFLs. It's affected how I pick what to read next (if I have a physical copy, it gets moved up my TBR, even if I still go with the audio). 
• Room re-arrange at home, so we now have a little book nook/library ... book shelves, a comfy chair and lamp.

I continued to create my "cover collage" each month ... I would share those on Facebook and I created a compilation of them for the family blog (JenBsBooks ~ 2024). Here's a look from Storygraph ... it's fun to just look back over the covers, see which ones I really remember. 

What I Was Watching Q4 ~ October, November, December

 Movies and TV series ... they keep me entertained and motivated when down in the gym, walking on the treadmill or hitting the elliptical. A good show can make the difference in me getting more time in. I don't really ever just sit and watch a show, except with Hubs as a wind-down from the day.  Here's what I was watching during the last three months of 2024.

Starting with shows ...

Upstairs, with Hubs, we started The Good Place and went through all four seasons. It was a light/fun (and short, when Hubs would only last 20minutes before falling asleep) and super enjoyable. I'd caught a few glimpses of some episodes, as #1 son had come and watched some during lunch breaks in years past, but not enough to have spoiled it for me. 

Down in the gym, I really struggled to connect with a series that kept my attention. I was happy when I found another Kristen Bell show, and enjoyed Nobody Wants This. I'd read Black Cake a while back, and didn't love it, so I was pleasantly surprised by the series. I'm a sourdough gal, so I checked out World Eats Bread. Fleabag was different ... Workin Moms, I finished the first season and will continue on. 

I was more into movies this quarter ...

Only a couple of movies with Hubs ... the top/left: Rebel Ridge and Focus. We started Furiosa, but it wasn't clicking. I finished it downstairs. The top/right three were ones my #3 son recommended. The others I watched while walking. I did not care for "And So It Goes" but the rest were easy entertainment.

... after Thanksgiving was over, I went ahead and indulged in some "Christmas Movies" ...

Now, Carry-On is a "Christmas Movie" the same way Die-Hard is. It's set at Christmas, but it's action/thriller. It was decent. Red One ... um, dumb. That Christmas was cute! The other were your basic "Hallmark" Christmas movies (even though only one technically had that label). 

That wraps up 2024!

Q4 ~ October, November, December

 

I had success in the final quarter of the year back in 2020 ... I was hoping to try again this year. October pretty much continued per usual, but there was something about the Daylight Savings time switch (Nov3) that seemed to snap me into gear. I got back to counting calories on MFP and fasting/IMF and have seen some success on the scale. Had some stuff going on in November, and caught Covid (again) at the end of December (can be seen more in the sleep section than the steps). 

I didn't count calories in October, but counted consistently for Nov/Dec.

Kept calories in control for the most part, a couple uber over days.

My first FULL fast (24+ hours) ... no calorie days.

Playing around with different fasting apps ... I had paid for an annual subscription to Window (left/November) but my subscription was up for renewal, and the price had more than doubled ($90 annually! No thanks!) I like FastHabit (free/right 90day graph), but also found Easy Fast for the monthly calendar look (middle/December, started it mid month). 

Fell off the fasting at the end of December with the holidays and being sick.

A look at Lifecycle ... copied in the day to day calendar as well as the monthly report. 

Yes, I'm a homebody.

... had some strange sleep schedules at the end of December (Covid time). 

My Oura Ring tracks sleep (I think that is the info passed on to AppleHealth for the graph above). Fitbit tracks sleep as well (below//duration and schedule charts).  Interesting to note the similarities and differences. Once upon a time, I thought I was an "early to bed early to rise" girl ...

Oura gave a quarterly report on sleep ... Interesting to see the different graphs

... I was switching out the phone I track my snore score, and trying some multiple devices with results being quite varied. I don't think October was as low as it looks, that phone just wasn't really recording correctly. I switched to a different device for Nov/Dec. Snore score has gone down. A few nights in November where I was on Ambien (which consistently ups the score). Super surprising how low it dropped while I had Covid (in 2022, that is when it soared!)

One more set of Oura info for the quarter ...

Family Stuff~ October/November/December

October still had some outdoor activities; pickleball, races, hikes. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Christmas. Birthdays. Leg Lamp Lighting. Light snow. HUGE Santa. Spotify Unwrapped and music stats obsession. Sick (two boys and Hubs before I got it). Clackamas visit (which I had to sit out due to Covid). 

I'll get up a separate "What I Was Watching" post ...

Here's what I was reading.

What I Was Watching Q3 ~ July, August, September

 

Not as many shows ... especially not as many downstairs in the gym. There has been less gym time happening. My motivation and energy just hasn't been enough to get me there. It is what it is ...

Television Series ...

• Cult Massacre: The story of Jim Jones, lots of real footage. Hubs had watched this during his workouts, so I figured I'd watch it to. Interesting and sad. 
• Aftershock: My son had watched this, it was interesting. Sometimes I have to wonder where I was, if news of this breached out little world when it happened. I don't really remember it ...
• My Lady Jane: Heard some good things, and this was cute ... and lots of sex!
• From: October/Spooky show ... I started it and got a notification that season 1 was leaving prime in eight days. There were 10 episodes. Could I finish it? This provided a little push for a few extra workouts. The show annoyed me though, too many out-there, unanswered questions (there are further seasons). I felt little like it was trying to be a new "Lost" (which I loved). 
• Your Honor: Seasons 1 & 2 ... Hubs really likes "Walter White" and this was a sad/tense story.
• The Boys: Season 4 ... I had erroneously thought this was a series end this season, but no, totally ended on a cliff-hanger.
• Kaos: Heard some buzz and this captured my attention. Very different Greek mythological story!
• Baby Reindeer: Not a pleasant watch, and there's some controversy about how "true" it is and damage to the people who "inspired" it ... Hubs and I watched some of an interview from the "real Martha" ...

Movies ...

• Anyone But You: That was over the top silly and crude. Makes me NOT like the main guy and I don't think I can take him seriously in anything else now!
• The Idea of You: Older woman, younger man ... of course Anne looks great!
• A Family Affair: Older woman, younger man ... of course Nicole looks great!
• The Boys in the Boat: I'd read the book and remember really liking it, but not really remembering the "story" per se. Liked the movie.
• Unbroken: I'd read the book and actually hadn't loved it ... didn't love the movie. So much misery, and I just wonder how much has corroboration. 
• Bank of Dave: Random one I'd heard about, again, based on a true story. Very low-key but enjoyable and inspirational.
• The Spiderman Across the SpiderVerse: #4 encouraged me to watch this (as he had the first one). It was good, and tied in with a bookclub read "Dark Matter" (multiverse). 
• Mean Girls - The Musical: I remember seeing some buzz about this (mostly negative) and I had just thought it was a remake, hadn't realized it was a musical (although I had seen there was a stage musical). Going in knowing what to expect, I liked it. 
• Everyone Says I Love You: A rewatch for me, whilst in a musical mood.
• Ford vs Ferrari: I saw this pop up on one of the streaming services and recommended it to #3 who hadn't seen it yet, and gave it a rewatch myself. Good show.
• The Martian: I'd seen the movie years ago, since then read the book ... figured I'd get some back to back Matt D. 
• Everest: This was actually a rewatch for me too (I forgot to include it in that count). I watched it on my own downstair after reading "Into Thin Air" ... and as Hubs read the book too, we then watched the movie together upstairs. So double re-watch for me.
• The Dawn Wall: Hubs went on to read a book PUSH a memoir from climber Tommy Caldwell, and then we read another memoir (from his first wife/fellow climber), so we followed that up with this documentary about his most well-known climb. It wasn't streaming anywhere, we had to get the DVD from the library. It had been a while since we'd used our DVD player!

Shows CAN really motivate me to spend a little extra time in the gym ... but now it's usually just 30-40 minutes. Once upon a time, I'd get an hour of elliptical in early (three 20min sessions) and then do a treadmill later. I could generally finish a full movie in a day. But that was once upon a time, in my younger years, pre-health issues. Screen time with Hubs is more about a little bit of together time, holding hands, than really caring about what we are watching. 

Q3 2024 ~ July, August, September

 I'm actually putting up this post in a timely manner ...

Well ... I flirted with dropping back into "ONEderland" ... even did a time or two on the scale, but still tipping at 200. Back in the day, I never thought I'd be here. I thought my "high" was 180 (other than pregnancy). 

I caught Covid again in July, which didn't affect steps/minutes as much as a "spinz" did in August.

A look at Lifecycle ... I do need to double check things. I had to go in and correct a couple items in September that hadn't logged, or logged incorrectly (I knew I'd hit ONE basketball game ...)

Sleep ... Zzzzzz. I got a new bed mid-September ...

... still snoring, but down a little? June was in the 50s too (lower)

Family Stuff ...

Blackham Update

... and books.

What I Was Watching ~ Q2 2024

Got in quite a few movies during the second quarter of 2024 ...  Half with Hubs upstairs (left side, checked out some Oscar nominees), and the rest (right side) in the gym while walking. We also saw Come From Away as a live play production (then I watched the filmed Broadway version myself) ...

• LongShot: This was cute, had been recommended by son #3.
• Unfrosted: We were Seinfeld fans, and this was all about the 80s ... we grew up in those years. Silly, but fun and nostalgic. 
• Air: We liked this a lot. I remember we started it on a Monday night and I thought for sure we'd be breaking it into to showings (because ... sleep) but ended up watching it all in one night. 
• Oppenheimer: Interesting.
• Poor Things: Um ... that was so weird.
• The Holdovers: Just okay
• American Fiction: Just okay.
• The Beekeeper: Bad ... so bad. I was honestly trying to keep from laughing out loud at how ridiculous is was and kept waiting for Hubs to shake his head and turn it off. Unfortunately he didn't ... we finished it. Oye.
• Encanto: I'd seen this myself, we watched it together. I think I liked it more than Hubs.
• The Banker: Interesting, based on a true story.
• Chowchilla: A documentary-ish production, with interviews (the kids now grown), actual pictures and footage, and recreations. I hadn't heard of this happening. I would have just been six at the time.
• Zodiac: Another "based on a true story" Hollywood-ized.
• Free State of Jones: Whatever service I was watching this on pulled it early. I went to finish up the final 20min or so at 10:00 at night, and it was gone. I actually didn't care much. But then it popped up on another platform, so I was able to finish (not that night, but a few days later). 
• The Departed: Several Matt Dameon movies this month! Another one #3 had watched.
• A Simple Favor: Um, dumb ...
• Mr & Mrs Smith: I have to admit how things have gone between the real life actors affects my enjoyment of the film somewhat. 
• The Storied Life of AJ Fikry: I'd read the book. It had been long enough that I didn't really remember it to make comparisons. Just not sure how much story there is here ...
• Leave The World Behind: I haven't read the book ... and don't think I will. Just blah. I liked "Done Look Up" but this, just blah. 
• Come From Away: I'd really enjoyed the play, and was pleased to find a filmed version on Apple TV. It was pretty much identical to the production we'd seen, several of the same actors in fact. I loved having subtitles and closeups and angles not seen when in the audience. Upped my appreciation a lot!

... onto some series. Nine shows. Ten seasons.

(bottom row was watched with Hubs)

• Daisy Jones and the Six: I'd read the book, liked it. The series dragged for me though. Had a "How I Met Your Mother" feel that honestly I hadn't really remembered from the book ... more memorable in the mini-series (at least for me). Interesting how they'd have to come up with actual songs for the show (not the book). 
• Masters of the Air: I'd started watching this, then given up on it ... then came back and pushed to finish just to have closure. Didn't like the leads for some reason. Sorry ...
• Calls: Very different production. Some big names/voices, but no faces. Just talking, and some simply imagery. Short "episodes" felt very "Twilight Zone" and yet then they were all tied together.
• All The Light We Cannot See: Read the book for June bookclub. Liked the tv adaptation fine (they switched up the ending some). I have to say that Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things ruined Mark Ruffalo in this one (both with a French accent). 
• Bridgerton S3: Back to Bridgerton. Quite a bit of buzz this season over a "larger" actress/character getting the guy and having sexy screen time.
• Queen Charlotte: As I enjoyed Bridgerton more than I thought, I added this one. Liked it.
• The Gentlemen: The original movie had just been okay for me (actually had to try it twice before finishing). Hubs and #3 really like it. The series was more a prequel. Some super strange. Very dark. 
• Resident Alien S1 & S2: Very quirky, but a nice shift from some of the darker shows.
• 3 Body Problem: I like Sci-Fi ... this was quite complex and Hubs lost interest. I finished up watching down in the gym. 

It's just interesting to have a recap and record.

Q2 2024 ~ April, May, June

 I can't even keep up with the quarterly posts ... here's a look at Q2

Weight - I just can't seem to do anything about it.

Just being under 200 would be better mentally.

Steps/Minutes ... totals and averages from Stridekick

I checked my journal - April 7th was a "dizzy day" with no exercise minutes.

A look at Lifecycle ...

My pickleball and Zumba top the activities ...

Zzzzzzzz... I like sleep

... sleep ala Fitbit ...

Still snoring ...

... still getting my books in ....

#jenBsBooks

What I Was Watching ~ Q1 2024

 

Five series/seasons watched downstairs while walking, seven series upstairs with Hubs ... our "together time" wind down watch in the evenings. We'd been waiting for the third season of The Morning Show to drop in its entirety, and I was looking forward to Lessons in Chemistry. I was able to snag a "Three Months AppleTV+ free" with a recent Best Buy purchase. Definitely binged on the Apple offerings. 

• The Morning Show S3 ... we'd actually started this last quarter, finished it up here.
• Severance S1 ... I'd watched this on my own (downstairs) a while back but thought Hubs should get in on it. I didn't mind watching it again.
• Slow Horses S1 ... liked this fine. Our Apple subscription was up and I didn't like it enough to continue paying just to watch more.
• Billions S1 ... on Amazon, very dark! Maybe we'll watch more seasons? 
• True Detective/Night Country ... I actually wish they didn't say this "True Detective" was a series, when they really aren't related at all. This reminded me of Fortitude (another mystery in the arctic). While it hooked me at the start, it went off the rails, I didn't like it in the end.
• Reacher S1 ... boy he's big! Reminded me a bit of Banshee. Just okay for me. Not sure if we'll continue on with further seasons. 
• Jury Duty ... this was my suggestion. I'd been interested in it a while back when it was on "freevee" but that had commercials. I can't do commercial breaks. Then it was adopted into Amazon Prime (ironically then Prime added commercials, but you can pay an additional $3 a month for ad-free).  Hubs laughed SO hard at times during this one!
• Lessons in Chemistry ... I'd read the book long enough ago that I didn't remember too many details (and therefore wasn't thinking "wait that was different than the book!") ... really liked it!
• HiJack ... this started strong ... and then just became more and more unbelievable, until I had to push to finish and was left not liking it at all. 
• Five Days at Memorial ... I thought this was excellent. I know it's based on a book, and now I'm debating reading it. This presented all sides well in my opinion, made you feel for everyone involved. Tough decisions, horrible situation. This will definitely stick in my memory.
• Monarch ... I'd watched most of the "monster" movies, although I don't remember them much. I didn't end up caring for this much, had to push to finish. 
• Silo ... I'd read the book ages ago and really liked it. I'm not sure why this adaptation didn't grab me, but it didn't. Had to push to finish. 

I alternate between movies and shorter shows downstairs, and we do that upstairs too ... 

I got in 12 movies while walking, and three movies upstairs with Hubs. 

• Reacher: As Hubs and I had watched the Amazon series version (which I know people like the casting better, as he is big as described in the books) ... I figured I'd give the movies a try. I haven't read the books, so didn't have preconcieved notions of what Reacher "should" be like. I liked the movie. Enough to watch the second ...
• Reacher/Never Go Back: I liked this one too.
• Mission Impossible/Dead Reckoning: I actually spaced this one out with a few different movies in between, as Reacher and Hunt are similar (lots of action and such) beyond both being played by Cruise. I liked this. 
• Lone Survivor: Well the title is a bit of a spoiler, isn't it!? That, and we get a peek at the "end" right at the start, so not only do we know only one survives, but we know who it is. Still, pretty good. Sad.
• FinestKind: Gritty and dark, decent. 
• Safe House: Basic action flick, I liked it.
• Joy Ride: Super crude, kind of funny. 
• The Family Plan: Super silly, over the top, but enjoyable enough. 
• Captain Phillips: This kept my attention more than I would have thought. Liked it a lot.
• The Whale: Super sad ... impactful.
• Speak: I was re-reading the book for book club. I thought they did a good job with the movie.
• Past Lives: Just okay.
• No Hard Feelings: Hubs had watched this and liked it, so I gave it a go. Crude and crazy, I don't think I liked it as much as he did ;) 
• The Equalizer 3: I liked the first, I think the second ... third one struck out for me though.
• Killers of the Flower Moon: I'd read the book, it was interesting enough. The movie dragged for me.
• Barbie: Finally got around to watching this. Cute enough. 

That's what I was watching...

Q1 2024 ~ January,February,March

 Quarterly review and recording of stats ... 2024, a new year

Wish I could get a handle on the weight, even just to drop and stay below 200.

Can't seem to find the motivation to do it.

Steps and Active Minutes ...

... calendar notes (steps and recorded activity)

... a look at Lifecycle

Sleep ...

The graph above comes from AppleHealth, and I believe it pulls data from my Oura ring.

Here's the Fitbit sleep chart (below) ...

... and Snoring

... I am behind on the family calendars. JANUARY: Basketball season for #5 ... start of a winning streak! #1 ACL diagnosis and move into his own apartment. Room rearrange at home. Hubs to SanDiego. AuntDiane funeral. FEBRUARY: Basketball senior night and state playoffs. Valentines and the Superbowl.  MARCH: Car repairsRZR wreck. ACL surgery for #1. Track season for #5. New digs for #3. Basement bathroom renovation. Hubs half marathon. Moab & St. George getaways. Fiddler on the Roof at Hale Theater. Passport for #4. 

Books ... always have an audiobook in. 

Set up a Little Free Library at the end of March ...

#jenBsBooks

(1st quarter review ... finally posted as Q2 ends ...)