Story Graph June 2025

It is gardening season, I have been quilting, I was gone for a long weekend, I am watching Law and Order archives, I do the NYT crossword and other NYT games every day. My book count decreased, my number of pages is about half of what it was in May.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah earlier in June for one of my book groups. I thought the writing was a little immature in the beginning, but liked the telling of the historical fiction story in the end. Hard subject matter, occupied France WWII. My husband’s currently listening to this book and finds it interesting. 

Youngest’s group is discussing Night Road also by Kristin Hannah at their July meeting. 

End of June, we both listened to Night Road on our Audible account, at the same time, by both turning off the Sync function (settings, player).

Overall, I enjoyed this book, Night Road (2011), it was an interesting concept/read. 

I have two “buts”. 

One - I found Night Road to be predictable. I could have nearly outlined the whole book after the first couple chapters. I absolutely was not surprised by the injustice/dilemmas as they happened. In a way the overt foreshadowing helped soften the blows.

Two -  I was very eager to get through it. Happy ending, sad ending, I just wanted all the injustices resolved. Like Gretchen Rubin, I have a hard time with injustice. 

In talking to youngest about the predictability of this book, I could see the writing outline pretty clearly, she mentioned Chekov’s Gun. She was surprised I had not heard that expression. Apt theory for the writing style of this story. Very tidy.

I would read another assigned book by this author, for a book group, but probably not on my own. 

That being said, she is a very popular modern day author. The Women (2024) by Kristin Hannah is a common/frequent book group assignment this year. 

If you like this author, and I think a lot of people do, she has a nice long list (below) of published books.

   

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Blooming today

These are in the order I took them, walking around the house. 

Day Lilly 

White Bee Balm 

Pink Bee Balm 

Day Lilly

Day Lilly 

Purple Bee Balm 

Day Lilly 

Red Bee Balm 

Day Lilly 

Day Lilly 

Day Lilly 

Day Lilly 

Day Lilly 

Hosta 

Lillies

Day Lillie’s 

Clematis 

Clematis 

Lavender 

Stella (yellow) Day Lillies with a few other (orange) day Lillies.

These are the Lillies that the bunnies ate last year. 

My second read of East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Here is the assigned book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, that started my Summer of 2025 Steinbeck Project. 

It was in my Audible library from my last read in 2012.

In the beginning, I increased the speed to 1.20. After a bit, I was able to increase it more to 1.35 with no chipmunks. That reduced the time from 25.5 hours to just under 19 hours.  I also started a few days earlier than I normally do. Both strategies helped to finish this book before my Wednesday discussion meeting deadline. 

When I began, I realized I did not remember the story (at all, other than to recognize Steinbeck really does not do happy stories). Reading it this second time, was pretty much like reading it for the first time. So it was wise of me to reread this book to freshen in it my mind for discussion. 

The first chapter is pure description. If description is not your thing, skip to the last couple sentences of chapter one and then proceed with the rest of the book. 

I have read a lot of classics. East of Eden is definitely in my “top five” important classics. Grapes of Wrath is too. 

I will continue to work my way through Steinbeck’s fiction, in between my regular book group assignments. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Christmas quilts

These Christmas panels are really lovely. 

Originally I had five.  I think these were purchased over 22 years ago, at the old house. 

At that time, I sewed borders on all five of them to make wall hanging size quilts.  

Two were quilted and finished as wall hangings.  

Three were left unfinished.  

I committed myself, a couple years ago (maybe 2023), by buying fabric (below) to turn the three unfinished tops into full size quilts.

June 2025, I asked my three kids if they wanted Christmas large/lap size quilts. 

At that time, neither of the girls did. But oldest wanted one, probably with granddaughter in mind.  That solved one. 

I planned to send the other two to my niece and nephew, as surprises.

Originally I planned to do something fancy, liked pieced blocks, to finish these. Nothing came to mind. 

Utilizing the fabric I bought in approximately 2023, I added three borders to the outside of two of the quilts. I cut very carefully. These two tops are identical. They measure 63” x 79” each.

I bought green fabric for the outside border of the third quilt top.

Then a funny thing happened, both girls decided they wanted a Christmas quilt. Middle wanted the green border. Youngest wanted a buffalo check. Oldest/DIL/granddaughter are getting a buffalo check too. 

All three tops are done and in my long arm quilter pile.