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Welcome to my weekly update for January 18, 2026!
We’re still settling in to our new location north of Tampa, Florida so I don’t have much to share. We did go down to Clearwater for a long walk on the beach on Saturday and it was so nice to soak up the warmth and sunshine! I always tell myself that I have more than enough seashells but I bring a few home with me anyway. I grew up going to the beach in North Carolina, on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf coast beaches have much nicer shells. Maybe the waves aren’t generally as rough on this side? I added four shells to my collection on this walk. I stood strong until the orange one winked up at me. And I can never resist a snail shell. If you love shells too, let me recommend Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells by Helen Scales. I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it.
All images © Jennifer G. at Introverted Reader 2026
Posted:
2025 Reading by the Numbers–I shared some of my reading stats and favorite books of the year from multiple genres
Read:
Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause by Tom Gjelten–4 Stars (Link to my review on GR)
Ink and Shadows (Secret, Book, & Scone Society, #4) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart–4 Stars (Link to my review on GR)
Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland by Dave Barry–4 Stars (Link to my review on GR)
Currently Reading:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Above Ground: Poems by Clint Smith
Firekeeper’s Daughter (Firekeeper’s Daughter #1) by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong
Up Next:
We’ll see what I’m in the mood for.
What did your week look like?
Hosts:
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday Post. Kathryn at Book Date hosts It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
21 Comments
I was thinking that Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba seemed pretty timely. After reading your GR review, I see I was correct, but in the wrong way. I had been thinking timely because the US has its eye on regime change in Cuba, but it’s timely more because it portrays, as you put it, “a democratic country that suddenly found itself living under a dictator”.
I haven’t read any of your current books/authors, but it’s a nice variety!
I thought about the current interest in Cuba too but I found their slide into a dictatorship more concerning and chose to mention that.
I’m in the north part of Florida and it’s 28 degrees this morning, yikes! I like the Tampa are and if you get chance go see Ybor City there. It;s a cool place to walk, chicken run around in part of the city, and great Cuban food. My brother-in-law lived there and we would go visit. Sadly he passed away last July and we’ve not been back in a while
Lovely shells you picked up!
Happy reading!
We’ve been in the mid-30s. This is not what we came to Florida for! 🙂 We’ve been to Ybor City once but it was years and years ago. My father-in-law is Cuban so my husband is always on the hunt for good Cuban food. It’s hard to find in most states. We’re planning to go back while we’re in the area. I’m sorry to hear about your brother-in-law.
Happy Monday, Jen! So glad you are liking Florida. The one thing I enjoy about Cape Cod is that the shells are in better shape. On the Outer Banks, I tend to see more partial shells. We have so many here, but we still grab more shells when we are down south.
Thanks for reminding me about The Fire Keeper’s Daughter. I had wanted to read that when it came out. Enjoy your reading.
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2026/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-mailbox_01363821565.html
We’ve never been to Cape Cod but we’d like to go sometime.
I’m glad you are enjoying your time in Florida
Wishing you a wonderful reading week
It’s nice to be warmer, that’s for sure.
What a nice collection to have! Have a great week! 🙂
Thanks!
I bet Florida must be lovely especially as its your winter. I see you are reading Fire Keeper’s Daughter, I enjoyed that but I wouldn’t mind listening to it as well. I read Ten Thousand Doors of January as well but have not as yet read anything more by Alix Harrow.
I like hearing all the Native American words pronounced in the audiobook of Firekeeper’s Daughter. They sound so melodic. I’m sure I would just skip over them if I read it in print.
Jen yes I didn’t know how to pronounce the words so maybe at some point I’ll listen to it too.
It’s great you get to walk the beach … the shells are so neat on the Gulfside. I heard the Ed Yong book An Immense World is pretty amazing … but I haven’t gotten to it yet. Enjoy.
I mostly read nonfiction at night so I’ve barely gotten started on An Immense World. I just finished the Introduction though and even that was full of amazing facts.
Hope you have a great week!
Thanks!
Collecting shells on the beach sounds so relaxing. I’m on the opposite side of Florida and we’ve been chilly this week. Now it’s warming up again. I hope you enjoy your books and have a great week!
It’s been chilly for a couple of days too. I’m ready for it to warm back up.
It’s great that you are getting some good weather in Florida. I love to walk on the beach in Galveston and collect shells. I have Spirals in Time in my TBR, and I should read it this year.
I’m not sure what I’m reading next either.
I hope you enjoy Spirals in Time when you get to it.