The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimberly, the Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week, take a look ahead, and showcase our new treasures—I mean books!


This week I’m also participating in The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz, and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.
The Past Week
In real life: The news goes from bad to worse. I try to limit my exposure while still remaining reasonably well-informed, and try to stay grounded in the moment and the small joys and connections of each day. But it’s hard. I broke down in tears on Friday, not over anything specific, just (gestures vaguely) everything. But there were some positives this week, even so.
5 Good Things:
- I got a clean bill of (skin) health at my yearly dermatology check. (No, I don’t have a history of cancer, just very fair skin that burns easily—and I’m old enough that we didn’t understand the importance of sunscreen when I was a child and teen. So it makes sense to keep an eye on it.)
- The vest I’m knitting for my dad is going well, if more slowly than I would like.
- I found a paperback copy of a Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea on the library’s sale bookshelf. It made my day!
- Mr. Bookwyrm secured the bookshelf wall anchors in place, so I can begin reshelving my books.
- We put up a new curtain rod in the living room, with new curtains. They’re cotton white, so they coordinate with the new bookshelves and contrast nicely with the blue couch cover and recliner.
Recent Posts





- Sunday Post – 1/26/2025
- It’s All a Game, by Tristan Donovan – review
- Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024 – Top 10 Tuesday
- Buried Deep and Other Stories, by Naomi Novik – review
- News & Notes – 2/01/2025
- Sunday Post – 2/02/2025 – this post
Looking Ahead
- 2024 Releases I Was Excited About but Still Haven’t Read – Top 10 Tuesday
- Monthly Wrap-Up – January 2025
- The Teller of Small Tales, by Julie Leong – review
- Sunday Post – 2/09/2025
What I’ve Been Reading/Watching (since 7/14/2024)








Reading: I reread Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz (ARC), so I could write the review. I read The Changing Door (a collection of extra scenes for two of Celia Lake’s novels; it’s novella length). I started Murder at King’s Crossing by Andrea Penrose, and The Happy Writer by Marissa Mayer (ARC). I’m still reading Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews for the read-along hosted by Books of My Heart… although I recently realized I won’t be able to attend the live chat for this one, because it’s at the same time as my dad’s birthday party.
Listening to: I finished The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal, bu I’m still listening to The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd. My second library hold for Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent (Dame Judi Dench) did not come in (as I believed last weekend); the email informing me it had was apparently a library error.
Watching: Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 2 (rewatch)
Playing: Pokemon Go, occasionally. Also Wordle, Connections, Strands, Spelling Bee, and Sudoku (all from the NYT.) And Wingspan on Steam or on my phone or iPad.
Added to the Hoard
(Click title for Goodreads page or my review.)
For Review or Consideration

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for Look Before You Leap!
Purchased (Kindle, print, or audio)







Kindle: Murder at King’s Crossing; Candle & Crow; The Changing Door (collection of extra scenes for two of Celia Lake’s novels; novella length); Ordeal by Innocence; The Cold Light of Day; The Little Lost Library; A Midnight Puzzle
Anne - Books of My Heart
I’m sorry you won’t make the chat but of course wish your dad a happy birthday. Bayou Moon has more of the “body horror” you talked about but it gets better after this one I think. I feel the need to support William as he has gotten precious little love in his life.
yes the news is SO bad. I need Congress to stand up for the people and the constitution. It’s their job and why they get the perks they do, especially the special free healthcare that is difficult for so many.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…A Play of Piety by Margaret Frazer #MargaretFrazer @sophiarose1816
Lark_Bookwyrm
I do like William, and I’ll finish the book because I want to know how he & Cerise get together. But I’m relieved that there’s less body horror in the next one. (shudders)
I’m just gobsmacked that Congress isn’t doing more to stop this power grab by an unelected, technically unappointed and therefore nongovernmental individual.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
Reshelving books is one of my favorite things to do. Yay about the clear skin check. I’m very fair as well and while I did know the importance of sunscreen even now I’m not the best about keeping up with it on myself. I need to get back to the dermatologist pretty soon. Thanks for the reminder! I hope you have a good week filled with lots of good books.
Lark_Bookwyrm
I hope you get a clear skin check, too! And that you have plenty of good books in your week, as well.
Nicky @ The Bibliophibian
Hurrah for finding good things to celebrate despite all the news. Sometimes that’s all we can do, to save our energy for the stuff we can affect.
Nicky @ The Bibliophibian recently posted…Review – Star Collector, vol 2
Lark_Bookwyrm
You’re so right. Though I would like to do more, be more active. Even if it’s just reaching out to someone who is struggling. Every small bit of light we bring into the world helps.
Space Station Mir
Oooo–a secondhand sale copy of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is quite a bright spot in a grim week!
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I’ve been trying to avoid the news reports, since it stresses me out, but I skim sometimes. Focusing on the positives in life certainly help and you had some great positives for the week! Good health news, a successful knitting project and stable bookshelves. Yay! I’m sorry to hear you won’t be at the next read-along chat! I enjoy your observations! I love the Verity Kent series, plus the covers are gorgeous! Shattering Dawn was a fun conclusion to the series. I need to start Bayou Moon soon. Have a great week!
Rachel @Waves of Fiction recently posted…Sunday Post #282
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’ll miss being at the read-along chat, too. But it’s an important milestone birthday for Dad, and we’re having a big party.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
I decided to order The Happy Writer after seeing it here. I am looking forward to reading it.
I understand completely how you feel about what is going on in real life. I keep thinking, What now? It’s almost as if these people want to take down America!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…The Sunday Salon: Taking a Deep Breath
Lark_Bookwyrm
I suspect in some respects, that’s exactly what they want to do: take down the America we know and love (despite its faults) and replace it with something much more authoritarian and oppressive, with power and money both concentrated at the top. I do think there are conflicting aims in the various factions, but between them, they’re doing a good job of destroying what works in American government. And once things aren’t working, they can say, “See? This or that department or agency isn’t functional, so therefore we don’t need it.” They’re already trying with the Department of Education.
Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews
Congrats on the good health report. I’m the same way – I burn easily and try not to go out in the sun too much. I’m trying to stay away from the news, but it’s not easy and it’s really hard to hear these days.
I hope you enjoy your books. They look really good. Have a great week!
Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews recently posted…The Weekend Review – February 1st-3rd
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’ve gotten to the point of literally feeling queasy or nauseous when I read the news. And it’s so hard to avoid. (Plus, I don’t want to hide and pretend nothing’s wrong. Or rather, part of me wants to, but the responsible, patriotic part of me knows better.)
Thank heaven for books! Reading is one of my lifelines in stressful times.
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Good luck with your projects! I badly want a new bookshelf, but I don’t have any more space. 🙂
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…The Sunday Post #379
Lark_Bookwyrm
I think we’re now at that point, too.
Literary Feline
I had a meltdown yesterday, finally unable to hold it in. Sending you a virtual hug. I am so glad your dermatology appointment went well. And yay for getting those bookshelves anchored. We made sure my daughter’s new shelves were anchored in. She didn’t think it was necessary, but given we live in earthquake territory, I told her it’s best to be cautious. I hope you are enjoying your reading! I realized today that I have a book club meeting next Sunday and I haven’t even started the book. I hope I can finish it in time. I hope you have a good week!
Literary Feline recently posted…Weekly Mews: January Wrap Up (the one with all the books) and It’s Time Again! (Vote in my TBR Poll!)
Lark_Bookwyrm
And a virtual hug right back at you. It’s important to give ourselves the time and space to feel the feelings.
You’re absolutely right about needing those bookshelf anchors in earthquake territory! You’re in an area more prone to it than we are, but it’s definitely a concern here since the Virginia earthquake of 2011. I’m so thankful we had anchored the shelves before then. (The ones we had back then, I mean.) We’re only about 40-45 miles from the epicenter, and because of the age and type of rock in the East, the tremors travelled all up and down the East Coast. Our whole house shook like a freight train was coming through, for over a minute. Luckily, although some light, unbreakable items fell off shelves, nothing heavy fell or broke.
Anne@HeadFullofBooks
I loved the Judi Dench Shakespeare book. I listened to it so it was a double treat.
Anne@HeadFullofBooks recently posted…Sunday Salon — Feb. 2, 2025
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’m loving it! I’m listening to it, too… or at least, I will be once my library hold comes in again! I borrowed it in early January, but didn’t finish it before my checkout time was up, so I put myself back on the hold list. I wish Ms. Dench had been able to “read” her own lines, instead of just the Shakespeare quotes (which she has in her prodigious memory.) But she’s very nearly blind at this point, so that wasn’t an option.
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
Even though I’m half a world away way I sympathise, it’s such a worrying time. I’m glad you found some books to cheer you up.
You’ll have to share a photo of your finished room.
Wishing you a happy reading week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out recently posted…It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #SundayPost #SundaySalon
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thank you, Shelleyrae. I imagine the rest of the world is looking at us in mingled disbelief and dismay. I’m deeply sorry for all the ways in which what’s going on here is likely to negatively impact people and countries and economies around the world.
Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits
Sending virtual hugs! I at least have some comfort being in a very blue state (so my state and local governments generally do what they can to fight the mess on a small scale) but there’s so much awful national news lately. And yes, I agree, while I would love to pretend that nothing is wrong, that is not the right way to handle this. Do you subscribe to Courtney Milan’s newsletter? Her most recent one (I think) talked about how we have to avoid pretending like everything is normal.
Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits recently posted…Mini Reviews: Knitlandia, Cards on the Table, & The Girl With Ghost Eyes
Lark_Bookwyrm
I do! I have been saving her recent newsletters, because they really speak to where we are (and where I am) right now. I’m glad you’re in a blue state. I’m in a purple one, which I’m afraid may be moving further right. (I hope not, though.) Virtual hugs to you as well. And thank goodness for knitting and other creative ways to find small moments of joy or at least calm within the storm.