I'm actually writing this on Sunday night because my husband and I are going camping at the beach for a few days this week for a mini spring break. Our college son just returned from a week on North Captiva Island, Florida, today, and our 17-year old son flew to the Bahamas this morning with his girlfirend's family! Yup, they are both livin' the high life, while we drive 2 hours to the beach with our camper. What happened?
Anyway, we had a nice two-day Easter celebration (Saturday with one son and Sunday with the other) and are stuffed full of delicious Ukrainian food...though I was very nostalgic for the Easters of my childhood, with our whole extended family together for the traditional feast. Time moves on!
We all enjoyed some good books this past week:
- I finished The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon for my neighborhood book group (well, I finished it the next day but got past all the plot surprises!). This was my second time reading it, and I enjoyed it much more this time - it's a fun, twisty story within a story set in Barcelona and perfect for book lovers. Everyone in the group enjoyed it.
- I also finished Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley, a graphic novel. It's a combination memoir and cookbook, all told with a wonderful sense of joie de vivre - right up my alley! I really enjoyed it.
- Now, I am reading The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley, which is our All-County Reads book this spring. It is a compelling novel about a 91-year old man who recovers his memory and sharp thinking for a short time. It pulled me right in, and I can hardly stand to set it down. I can't wait to hear the author talk in two weeks!
- I finished listening to Mosquitoland by David Arnold, a teen/YA novel about a quirky teen girl named Mim who takes an impulsive road trip from Mississippi to Ohio to visit her mom. It's a little confusing at times (one reviewer described Mim's narrative as kaleidoscopic!) but absolutely captivating and filled with interesting characters. I really enjoyed it.
- Now, I am listening to Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, a middle-grade audiobook about a girl named Ally who struggles because she doesn't fit in and is guarding a secret. It's been excellent so far.
- My husband, Ken, finished First Wave by J. T. Sawyer, a post-apocalyptic novel, on his Kindle.
- Now, Ken is reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, which thrilled me to no end since it is one of my favorites! I hope he likes it as much as I did. While we are reading at night, he keeps looking over at me and saying, "She died again."
- Jamie, 20, just finished Shadow of the Winter King by Erik Scott de Vie, Book 1 of World of Ruin series, a book that we gave him for Christmas. I asked him if he liked it, and he said he's already looked up the upcoming sequel!
- Now, Jamie is starting Mountain Man by Keith C. Blackmore, a book his dad lent him, to continue his Zombie obsession! But first, he has to read The Iliad for his World History class.
- Craig, 17, is reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald for his American Literature class, using my old copy from high school filled with my scribbled notes which he says is "just like the Half-Blood Prince!" He says it's pretty good so far, which is high praise from someone who claims not to like reading anymore.
Blog posts last week:
Review of Personal History, an autobiography by Katharine Graham
My Essay Published on Mamalode - "While They Are Sleeping," about checking on my sons while they slept when they were younger.
Review of Finding the Worm by Mark Goldblatt, a middle-grade audiobook
Saturday Snapshot - still suffering seasonal confusion here, but I am ready for spring!
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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| Happy Easter! We celebrated for two days! |
Lots of reading! I really need to get my hands on a copy of Mosquitoland. Have a great week & have fun at the beach!
ReplyDeleteMichelle @ Michelle's Minions
My It's Monday! post
I'm so glad you enjoyed Relish. I thought that was a fun memoir. I remember trying to read The Shadow of the Wind in Spanish many years ago. I had it in both English and Spanish. I honestly can't remember if I ever read the entire book in either language though. I may have to read that one again!
ReplyDeleteWow, you read it in Spanish? I'm impressed! Even if you didn't finish it - lol
DeleteI LOVED Fish in a Tree and Relish. I'll have to check into Mountain Man - thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time away. My daughter and I attended Phantom of the Opera on Easter Sunday.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful way to spend Easter! Hope you enjoyed it.
DeleteI've got An Age of License sitting in front of me. I started it and then misplaced it (our house has too many books) I'm hoping to finish it and then return it to the library and pay an outrageous fine. Have you read it? Which is better?
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Age of License before - who's the author?
DeleteLucy Knisley
DeleteOh! Relish is the first of hers I've read. Will have to look for the other one. Thanks!
DeleteYou still do Easter baskets. I told my 20-something daughter i was done with the baskets this year. We didn't even get them down and decorate with them. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAnyway...books. I am so glad you liked The Shadow of the Wind better second time around. I listened to the audiobook and was captivated.
Now I want to listen to Mosquitoland after your review but I don't think my library has the audio version yet. Maybe I will request it and see if they will purchase it. I hadn't heard of the Ptolmey Grey book before but it does sound good. Do you think it would make a good book club selection?
Happy spring.
Yes, Anne, we still do Easter baskets! But remember, our 20-yr old is the oldest and comes home every Sunday. We also have a 17-yr old still at home. But even without the kids, my husband and I like to give baskets to each other :) It's gotten a bit challenging since my son and I can't have sugar, but we managed.
DeleteThe Last Days of Ptolemy Grey would be a GREAT book club selection - so much to talk about re: family, memory, and aging. As our All-County Reads selection, it is being used for all the library's book club discussions this month.
I remember loving Shadow of the Wind the first time I read it. I do have a few more of Zafon's novels, and I can't wait to read them. Sounds like you have a lovely Easter celebration with your family. I hope your son has fun at the Bahamas. :)
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