Happy President's Day (in the US) and Happy Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras Day is tomorrow, but that is the end of Mardi Gras season, which started on January 6. We had some close friends over for a small Mardi Gras party Saturday, our tradition since we moved from New Orleans to Delaware in 1990. Lots of fun, and our house is still all decorated. If you want to celebrate, too, here are some tips and recipes I posted in Weekend Cooking last year.
So, it was a busy week, but we still found time to read:
- I am still reading A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra for my neighborhood book group this month. It is excellent so far, completely engrossing with characters I care about. Plus, I am learning a lot about Chechnya and the wars there that is both fascinating and horrifying.
- I am still listening to I Was Here by Gayle Forman, about a teen girl named Cody who is trying to cope with the sudden and unexpected suicide of her best friend. It's part emotional drama and part mystery, as Cody tries to find out why her friend did such an uncharacteristic thing. It's very compelling so far.
- I finished reading a graphic memoir, Fun Home by Allison Bechtel, that I loved. This was definitely my favorite of the adult graphic novels/memoirs I have read so far. It is due back at the library (only 1 copy in our state!), so I will review it early this week.
- My husband, Ken, finished Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff. It's a nonfiction book that he said was fascinating.
- Now, Ken is reading a book we are both very excited about, Undivided by Neal Schusterman, the fourth and final book in the Unwind Dystology (when he couldn't wrap up the story in 3 books, they created a new term for it!). This is one of our all-time favorite series in our household, and we have been eagerly waiting to read the finale.
- Jamie, 20, has been on a zombie kick in honor of The Walking Dead coming back to TV last week. At last count, he had read the first 5 books of the Dead series by T.W. Brown. I'm not sure if he had much reading time last week, since he moved back to college.
Only one review last week but several other posts, too:
My 2015 Reading Challenges (yes, finally!)
Review of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, audiobook
Summary of Books Read in January
Saturday Snapshot, with pics from the real Mardi Gras in New Orleans in the 80's
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.
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| King Cake & Bread Pudding for dessert at our Mardi Gras party |
Fun Home is SO good. I really need to read I Was Here. it's being talked about quite a bit!
ReplyDeleteYes, I loved it - best graphic novel/memoir I've read so far!
DeleteHope you enjoy I Was Here - it's good on audio so far.
Sue
Last year, I was on the hook for making the king cake for our neighborhood Mardi Gras party. Luckily, I made sure my kids didn't get the baby again so I can just attend this year instead of baking too! :-)
ReplyDeleteI picked up a graphic novel at the library and thought of you. It's called Relish and it's a food-related novel. I figured I'd join in a Foodie February challenge that I saw, but not sure I'm going to get to it in time!
Have a great week!
Julie, we buy our King Cakes!! Check around with your local bakeries - no matter where you live, some offer King Cakes this time of year - a lot easier than making them!
DeleteRelish sounds intriguing - I will have to look for that one. Yes, February is awfully short, isn't it? Then again, with this weather, we might just go crazy if it were any longer!
Sue
Ken is on a roll! I never got to Undivided. I am not sure why--because I loved the others! Send my love to your family, and happy reading this week! I can't wait to hear your final review of I Was Here!
ReplyDeleteRicki - you have to see how the series ends! Ken says the final book is just as good as the first 3 - I can't wait!
DeleteSue
I really need to read the rest of the Unwind series. The first one was so brilliant!
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your Mardi Gras picture!
Happy reading this week! :)
The whole series is just amazing, Kellee - he's a genius!
DeleteWe're all Walking Dead fans in our household too - delighted that it started up again last week on my birthday :-D
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday, Brona! Even my 89-year old father-in-law likes the show!
DeleteI don't know about King Cake. What is it? What is the tradition?
ReplyDeleteHere's a little blurb I wrote for my Mardi Gras recipe feature for Family Fun:
Delete"Mardi Gras season begins on the Twelfth Night after Christmas, and King Cake celebrates the three kings who came bearing gifts. Each cake is baked with a tiny baby inside. In New Orleans, the tradition is that whoever gets the slice with the baby has to host the next party. "
The cake is always covered with piles of purple, green, and gold sugar crystals, in true gaudy NOLA fashion!
Sue
I hope you are enjoying your books. I haven't picked up Gayle Forman's new books, but I've always enjoyed her books. I think she's very good with her emotional scenes!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first Gayle Forman that I have read/listened to, Jillian - it;s been very good so far.
DeleteMy extended family picks a book to read jointly at our twice-yearly gatherings, and this year we're doing Unwind. Should be a fun topic for a multi-generational gathering :-).
ReplyDeleteBeth, what a great choice! It's perfect for a wide range of ages and great for discussion. Sounds like fun!!
DeleteI loved your blog post about Fun Day. I went to add it to my to read list, only to discover it was already there. There are few things as powerful as a graphic novel well done.
ReplyDelete