It's Monday 3/16! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

Life 

Whew, last week was another one packed full with medical appointments (as are this week and next, too!). I had my mammogram, went to the orthodontist (I am back in Invisiline for another 2 months, much to my dismay), and had phone appointments with my ME/CFS specialist in NYC and a company that does home mold inspection and testing. 

I am still struggling to emerge from the winter relapse of my immune disorder. I normally feel much better by March, so I'm getting pretty discouraged. My energy was low all week, with intermittent flu-like aches (an immune symptom) continuing. My specialist is sending me for a bunch of labs, so I am hoping those provide some insight into what to try next.

We experienced all four seasons last week! Monday, it was in the 70's here, so I opened up all the windows in the house and did a little garden clean-up (sitting down). 

 

Tuesday, it went up into the 80's, and I did a short hike on a new-to-me trail near where I got my mammogram. The sunshine felt so good, though I paid for the walk the next day.

Love to see those blue skies

Skunk cabbage starting to open up - sure sign of spring!

Sunshine, peaceful woods, and birdsong make me happy

 

I was driving my convertible Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - first time this year with the top down!

 

This red fox visited our backyard (there are lots of them in the woods behind our house).

 

And Thursday, the temperature dropped 50 degrees and it snowed! It was actually coming down pretty hard and covered our yard, though it melted by evening.

 

We have plans to paint and install new flooring in our family room soon, so we began (slowly, baby steps!) clearing out some of the clutter since we will need to empty the room to rip out the old carpet. This is the room where we spend the most time, so it's gotten very cluttered over the past 31 years! 

And we enjoyed a lovely dinner at friends' house on Saturday. My stamina wasn't great, but it was wonderful to see them and catch up. I am so grateful to the friends I've had for decades who have stuck with me through the past 24 years of illness, even though I'm such a party pooper now!

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 On Video 

 

Bookish Bucket List Tag - I answered some fun and intriguing questions about my book and reading bucket lists ... and I realized I'm not much of a bucket list person! (but I still came up with some good answers)

Weekly Reading Wrap-Up - Outstanding fiction, sci fi thriller, middle-grade mystery, romance, and more!  

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 What We're Watching

We finished the first season of Plur1bus (created by Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad fame) this weekend. We both loved this twisty, darkly funny show with an intriguing sci fi premise. Some sort of alien species comes to Earth and takes over the entire population, joining every single person on the planet into a single consciousness. Carol, a misanthropic best-selling author of a wildly popular romantasy series, is one of only 13 people in the entire world who is unaffected and remains an individual ... and she wants to stay that way. "The Joining," as they call the moment they took over, resulted in some deaths, including Carol's beloved partner and agent, Helen. As Carol grieves and tries to deal with Helen's death, various people (all of the single consciousness) try to answer her questions and convince her of the positives of the new reality: no more war, violence, or negative emotions. Everyone is happy, everything is peaceful, and each person has all the knowledge of the entire population available to them (so, for instance, anyone can perform surgery or fly a plane). Carol tries meeting with the others like her, seeks to learn all that she can about this new hive mind, and tries to formulate a plan to overturn it all. Details of "the joining" and the new world are gradually revealed. We both loved this show; it's intriguing, funny, moving, and tackles thought-provoking issues of individuality, consciousness, loneliness, and free will. Rhea Seehorn is fabulous as Carol.  

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 What We're Reading

 

Last night, I just finished reading Double Shadow, the sequel to Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington that I enjoyed last fall. This series is about a time-traveling archeologist (and you know how much I love time travel!). In 2019, Rabbit Ward works for the Smithsonian, traveling to places and times where ancient artifacts were lost to history (like the fire in 48 BC that destroyed part of the Library of Alexandria) to save them. In this second book, Rabbit impulsively responds to a call for help from a fellow time-traveler named Helen (who is either his nemesis or his love, he's not sure which). He pulls together a last-minute expedition (breaking several of the Smithsonian's rules and international laws) to 68 CE Jerusalem, hoping to find what he needs to save Helen. It was just as good as the first book, filled not only with action and suspense and surprising twists but also with fascinating historical detail. I really love this series! I read an ARC; the book will be released on April 21.  

 

 After I finished listening to The Free State of Jax by Jennifer Nielsen, for Middle-Grade March and March Mystery Madness, I listened to another review book, Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan, a lesbian romance that is one of the picks for Booktopia this year. That's the fabulous book-centric weekend I attend in Vermont the first week of May every year (link to my vlog from last year). Ann is a talented floral designer working in a tiny, seaside town in Maine. Five years ago, she ran away from Hollywood, where she was Anderson Ducharme, one-half of the hit kids' TV series, The Nikki and Andy Show. The two child stars grew up on the show and eventually fell in love (by the end of the series, they were each in their 20's but playing 16 year olds). Andy, now Ann, escaped all the issues inherent in the Hollywood spotlight, as well as her by-then-toxic relationship with Nikki for the peaceful anonymity of the Maine coast. And she's been happily building a new life for herself ... until she sees an announcement that Nikki is writing a tell-all memoir, including their time on the show. After she drunk-texts Nikki in a rage, Nikki shows up at the flower shop, looking for answers. I don't read much romance, but I enjoyed the characters and the backstory here. The novel provides an inside look at child stars and Hollywood, plus the added interest of Andy/Ann's obsession with the meaning of flowers. It's a spicy enemies-to-lovers romance, with in-depth characters and an intriguing Hollywood backdrop.

 

My husband is reading a gift from me, God of the Woods by Liz Moore. He hadn't heard of it before, but I've heard nothing but rave reviews! It was one of the hottest books for Big Book Summer the past two years in a row, and I thought he'd enjoy this thriller set at a camp in upstate NY (an area we're both very familiar with). He says that although it is billed as a thriller, it is a slow burn. I will definitely be reading this one, too!

 

I got a reading update from our son, 31, a couple of weeks ago. For his birthday last year, we gave him The Light of All That Falls, book 3 in the Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. So, he is currently rereading book 2, An Echo of Things to Come. He often does this, but also, in this case, a friend told him he'll want to reread book 2 before he dives into this latest book. He always enjoys this author and this series.  

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What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on:

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 What are you and your family reading this week?

It's Monday 3/9! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

Life 

It was kind of a quiet, catch-up week. We had one trip to Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia (just a day trip), I had one medical appointment for myself, and I met a friend for a walk, something I hadn't been able to do in months! I'm still not fully out of my winter relapse yet. I had a couple of good days this weekend, but the flu-like aches are back today (though mild). 

The sun is finally shining today, for the first time in over a week! This is exactly what it looked like every day last week (though sometimes it was raining, too):

 

Despite the dark, gray, gloomy days, I am seeing encouraging signs of spring all around: buds on our forsythia tree, daffodil shoots just beginning to peek out of the soil, the first skunk cabbage emerging (that's a big deal around here), and hundreds of robins all over the yards in our neighborhood. 

 

Buds on the forsythia bush (taken at noon!)

Snowdrops almost ready to bloom

I spotted the first skunk cabbage on my walk!

Daffodils starting to poke out of the soil

They're back! So many robins in our neighborhood!

Last night, we finally saw a glimpse of light as the sun set. And today is sunny and 70! It feels great to have the windows open.

What is that strange brightness in the sky?

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 On Video 

March Reading Plans - a quick overview of the books I plan to read this month, as I juggle March Mystery Madness, Middle-Grade March, Murderous March, plus books for book group, review, and Booktopia! 

Weekly Reading Wrap-Up - Outstanding fiction, middle-grade mysteries, and more. 

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 What We're Watching

 

 

Several of our favorite shows have come back, either with a late-season start or a restart after a mid-season break (when did that become a thing?). We're enjoying getting back into the worlds of (links go to my reviews & trailers, where available): 

• Tracker, an outdoor mystery thriller series about a guy who finds missing people.
• The Rookie, back for its 8th season, a cop show that mixes action, suspense, humor, and drama with in-depth characters and great acting.
• Matlock, a re-conception of the classic legal drama, featuring a twisty plot, lots of secrets, and the fabulous Kathy Bates. 
• NCIS Origins, a prequel to NCIS (now in its 23rd season!), focusing on the early years after Leroy Jeffrey Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) lost his family and first joined NCIS in San Diego. 
• NCIS Sydney, another spin-off of the popular series, set in Australia, with a great cast.  

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 What We're Reading

 

I finished reading White Teeth by Zadie Smith, a pick for Black History Month and my first by Smith. Wow, it was an outstanding novel that had everything! It centers on two men from two very different backgrounds who become friends because of their trials together during WWII; the women they marry; and their children. Archie is a white British man who is very middle-of-the-road about everything in life (he often relies on a coin toss to make decisions). His war buddy, Samad Iqbal, is a Muslim originally from Bangladesh who fought for the British during the war. Samad is thoughtful and philosophical, so sometimes Archie's lack of an opinion drives him crazy, but the two are lifelong friends. In the 1970's, late in life, they both marry. Samad marries his arranged marriage partner (he had to wait for his bride to be born!), and Archie impulsively marries a tall, beautiful 19-year-old Jamaican woman he just met who wants to escape her strict religious family. Their children, twin boys for the Iqbals and a daughter for Archie and Clara, grow up together. I absolutely loved this delightful novel. The writing is bright, playful, and vibrant, the characters are unique and fully-drawn, and I love the way the reader gets the perspective of each of the characters, including the children as they grow up, plus their ancestors. It's warm and funny but also tackles issues of race, class, religion, history, and more, with a fabulous suspenseful climax that brings every single character together. 

 

Now I am reading Double Shadow, the sequel to Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington that I enjoyed last fall. This series is about a time-traveling archeologist (and you know how much I love time travel!). In 2019, Rabbit Ward works for the Smithsonian, traveling to places and times where ancient artifacts were lost to history (like the fire in 48 BC that destroyed part of the Library of Alexandria) to save them. In this second book, Rabbit impulsively responds to a call for help from a fellow time-traveler (who is either his nemesis or his love, he's not sure). He pulls together a last-minute expedition (breaking several of the Smithsonian's rules) to 68 CE Jerusalem, hoping to find what he needs to save Helen (though he doesn't know what he's looking for). It's excellent so far, just like the first book, filled not only with action and suspense but also fascinating historical detail. I'm reading an ARC; the book will be released on April 21. 

 

 

I finished my first audio book for Middle-Grade March, Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson. I enjoyed her novel, White Smoke, last fall on audio (mini review at the link), and this one also works for March Mystery Madness. Kaylani lives in Brooklyn and has been struggling with her father's arrest and imprisonment for a white collar crime he says he didn't commit. Her mother sends her to Martha's Vineyard to spend the summer with a family her grandma knows from church. The Watsons live in an enormous house, but the girl her age, London, whom Kaylani knew when she was 5 years old, has no interest in spending time with her and the whole family seems very snobby. They've barely been on the island a few days when a local teen boy, who used to date London's older sister, shows up dead. Was it a shark, an accident, or murder? Since there is a lot of focus on London's sister, she and Kaylani begin to investigate on their own. It was excellent--a suspenseful mystery with in-depth characters that also explores issues of class and history. 

 

 And I am almost finished with my next audio book, The Free State of Jax by Jennifer Nielsen, another middle-grade novel with a mystery at its heart. Jax's parents died a long time ago, and he's been raised by his grandma. But when she develops dementia and has to live in a care home, Jax is sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and six cousins. They're all (expect for one cousin, Daisy) really mean to Jax, don't treat him well, and barely feed him. So, Jax forms his own micronation on a raft in the lake near their house. Based on everything he's learned in school, he writes a constitution and declares the Free State of Jax. The next-door neighbor (who owns the property) is kind to Jax and allows him to stay (after Jax claims Eminent Domain), but Jax discovers he's a hermit who is despised by the rest of the town because they suspect him of stealing money donated by the townspeople and of killing his own brother. Gradually, other kids come to help Jax, and Jax must make his own decisions about the next-door neighbor, as the law tries to force him to return to his aunt and uncle's house. There are multiple mysteries here, about the next-door neighbor, the disappearance of both the money and his brother, and why his aunt and uncle are so eager to officially adopt him when they don't even seem to like him. While it seemed a bit silly and farcical at first, this novel has some pretty deep roots, delving into bullying, dementia, found family, and lots of interesting details about how government works.

 

 

My husband, Ken, finished reading Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney, edited by Ted Widmer, a Christmas gift from me (it's a chunkster!). Like me, he usually reads just one book at a time, but he decided to try reading nonfiction during the day and fiction at bedtime, and he enjoyed it very much. He's also interested in watching the new documentary, Man on the Run, when he finishes the book. He hasn't picked his next daytime book yet.

 

At bedtime, he is reading another gift from me, God of the Woods by Liz Moore. He hadn't heard of it before, but I've heard nothing but rave reviews! It was one of the hottest books for Big Book Summer the past two years in a row, and I thought he'd enjoy this thriller set at a camp in upstate NY (an area we're both very familiar with). I will definitely be reading this one, too!

 

I got a reading update from our son, 31, last weekend. For his birthday last year, we gave him The Light of All That Falls, book 3 in the Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. So, he is currently rereading book 2, An Echo of Things to Come. He often does this, but also, in this case, a friend told him he'll want to reread book 2 before he dives into this latest book. He always enjoys this author and this series.  

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What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on:

Facebook on my blog's page

Instagram

Threads 

Twitter 

 

 What are you and your family reading this week?