I just looked back at last week's Monday post where I said I was looking forward to getting back to normal - ha! My father-in-law moved here last week from Oklahoma, so the week was chock-full of helping him get settled. He arrived with a bad toothache, so he and I spent much of the week going to the dentist, oral surgeon, drugstore, etc. (he's fine now). And my husband and I spent the last few days helping him move into his apartment nearby. He seems very happy here so far, glad to not be alone anymore. He is enjoying time with us and getting to know the other residents in his independent living building. There is still a lot to do, but hopefully things will begin to settle down a bit this week.
We didn't have a lot of time for reading last week (and I had almost no time for blogging!), but here's what we're reading:
- I finished The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, though not in time for my neighborhood book group (I still went). It was an unusual sort of novel - kind of historical fantasy set in Malaysia in 1893 since it takes place mostly in the afterlife as defined by Chinese beliefs. It was unique and interesting and was my first book for the Travel the World in Books Challenge and Readathon.
- After reading several giant novels for various book groups this past 6 weeks, I was happy to choose anything I wanted to read next. I chose The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata, a middle-grade novel about a young girl spending the summer with her Japanese grandparents, harvesting wheat in the heartland. Although it's set in the U.S., I am also counting it for the Travel the World in Books Challenge since it is partly about a different culture. I am loving it so far - the grandmother is hilarious!
- I didn't have any time alone last week to listen to an audio book, so I need to start a new one today.
- My husband, Ken, finished The Magicians by Lev Grossman on his Kindle and enjoyed it. He's looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy.
- Now, Ken is reading Reaper's Run: A Plague Wars novel by David VanDyke and Ryan King. He says it's a twist on the typical apocalyptic series - here, the plague actually heals people.
- I'm guessing Jamie, 20, is still reading The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider, though I'm not sure since he is at college. He was sick last week so might have had more reading time than usual.
Review of In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang, a teen/YA graphic novel
What are you and your family reading this week?
What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Unleashing Readers.
Sometimes family is just more important. I'm glad your father-in-law can be close by. That's half the battle with aging parents.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, Heidi. We've been trying to convince him to come out here for several years, but it's hard to leave the home (and state) you've lived in for half your life...especially to move cross-country 2000 miles! He finally got too lonely and realized he couldn;t take care of the house anymore - he's 89! We're glad to have him close by now.
DeleteSue
It sounds like you are taking good care of your father-in-law. It looks like you've read some enjoyable books. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteBusy busy! Whenever I imagine you, I imagine your crazy life. You seem like an important woman to your family and friends. The Ghost Bride seems very peculiar, but I want to read it after reading your review. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteRicki - The Ghost Bride IS very peculiar! Some people loved it, some didn't enjoy it, and many, including me, rated it a 6 or 7 out of 10, at our book group.
DeleteSue
I've seen Ghost Bride around a lot--I've wondered how it was! Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with getting your father-in-law settled . . . but it sounds like he's lucky to have you and your family to help him!
Is FIL joining in on your family posts now??:) maybe one day soon you'll have some normalisms going on:)
ReplyDeleteHere's My Monday post!
Oh, good point, Kym!
DeleteMy FIL is reading a John Grisham novel we lent him while he was staying at our house last week...though I can't remember which one it is.
Sue
Glad you are getting your FIL settled and picking what you want to read. Great job getting twobooks done for the challenge. I got half way through Unbroken but was so busy blogging, I didn't have as much reading time. I look forward to catching up this week. I just got an autographed copy of The Magicians for mybirthday and do excited to read it. They had all three signed but I just bought the first one so far.
ReplyDeleteYes, Tanya, it seems like we can have reading time or blogging time but rarely both at once!
DeleteUnbroken is so amazing. Did you know Laura Hillenbrand has CFS? She's housebound and often bedridden and wrote Seabiscuit while lying on her back! She's an amazing person.
Hope you enjoy The Magicians!
Sue
I've always wanted to read The Thing about Lucky. It sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your husband liked Magicians. My dad really did, and I guess the others in the series are good as well.
Happy reading this week! :)
P.S. Good luck with your father-in-law's move. I'm sure he'll love being so close to you all!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kellee! So far, so good. We still have a lot to do to help him get settled, but he seems to be happy so far and enjoying being a part of our family life.
DeleteI enjoyed reading Kadohata's Kira Kira - although admittedly it doesn't seem like a book for everyone. I am intrigued by The Thing About Luck - looking forward to reading it.
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