We had a wonderful - though exhausting! - long holiday weekend with 3 different branches of my extended family in my hometown, Rochester, NY. And I squeezed in an hour with an old Junior High/High School friend, too. It was all very hectic, but it was great to see everyone and spend time with family. We stayed with my dad's wife - our first time back in the house since my dad died this summer. I was afraid it was going to be horribly painful to be there without him, but though I missed him terribly, it was actually kind of comforting to be in his house - he felt closer there. We went through some of his stuff and brought home old photos, some of his clothes for each of us, hats, and other momentos to remind us of him.
So, not a whole lot of time for reading last week - and no time at all for blogging! - but we each enjoyed our books:
- I finished reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, a YA novel whose cover is filled with award badges. It was just as good as I'd heard, and I'm so glad I finally found time to read it. It's the story of two teen boys in the 80's in El Paso, TX, who are each lonely until they meet each other and become best friends. It also deals with struggling with sexual identity. Just excellent all around.
- Now I am reading a novel my husband gave me for Christmas last year! I figure I better finish last year's gifts if I want more books this year. I am in the middle of Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian, the story of a teen girl in Vermont, on the run and homeless after a nuclear plant where both her parents worked melts down. It's been great so far - engrossing.
- I am listening to Echo, a middle-grade novel by Pam Munoz Ryan about a magical harmonica that links its users through time, though I didn't have much time to listen last week, since I was rarely alone!
- My husband, Ken is still reading A Dance with Dragons, Book 5 in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series and 1150 pages! He and our son LOVE these books. He says Book 5 is better than Book 4 so far. He definitely didn't have much time for reading last week.
- Jamie, 21, finished The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum, Book 2 in The Necromancer Chronicles series last night. Now he is reading The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, a gift we gave him for Christmas last year! Like mother, like son. He heard a movie adaptation was coming out soon and moved it to the top of his very long TBR list. I'm glad he finally got to it because I want to read it next!
Today is Cyber Monday, the day when I try to get almost all of my holiday shopping done, so I better get busy. In addition to all my online shopping, I will also be stopping by our little local bookstore with a long list of titles to order as gifts.
What are you and your family reading this week?
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.
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| My family on Thanksgiving (I'm on the far right, middle row) |
I'm glad you had a good time over Thanksgiving. I'm envious of your shopping plans. I'm still waiting to hear what people want. Here is my Monday Report. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI got most of it done on Cyber Monday - just a few small items left :) Though I just got a notice that 2 items won't arrive until 12/31! Uggh...
DeleteHope you had a good Thanksgiving, too.
Good that you had a busy Thanksgiving and staying at your Dad's home must have been bittersweet. Just took a peek at your Book Lover's Gift Guide. Isn't Brian Selznick so clever with his dual stories that intertwine, I loved Wonderstruck.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!! I loved Wonderstruck and gave it to my niece for Christmas that year. This one looks just as good!
DeleteIt always seemed so funny to me having Thanksgiving so close to Christmas, here in Canada we had it all the way back in October, so we have time to recuperate after all that turkey and prepare ourselves for another big family dinner! ;) Aristotle and Dante was such a wonderful book, heartbreaking but also inspiring, a powerful combination. Glad to hear you had a good week! :)
ReplyDeleteMore space between holidays would be good, Jane! Yes, I really enjoyed Aristotle and Dante - glad I finally got to it.
DeleteI love that your whole family is pretty much reading something!! Book 4 is better than book 5 in my opinion, but that's what's so great about those books. Every book has something for everyone!!
ReplyDeleteAnd a friend of mine just started the series this week! Glad you enjoy it, too.
DeleteI sure am glad that here in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. It sounds like a whole lot of stress starting to compound. I adored Aristotle and Dante and Echo. Such great reads!
ReplyDeleteEcho is just amazing on audio with all the music! Loving it.
DeleteI cannot believe Christmas is almost here!!! I have bought zero presents! And here in Florida it is still so hot, it definitely doesn't feel like Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you loved Aristotle and Dante. It is such a special book.
I have heard Echo is a wonderful audiobook--I may need to check it out.
Happy reading this week! :)
I got most of my gifts on Monday - a very long day! Just a few little things left to get. Yes, Echo is amazing on audio with all the music! Definitely check it out.
DeleteIt sounds like you had a very busy holiday. I hope you were able to get all of your shopping done today. I still have lots to do!
ReplyDeleteBusy but good to see everyone!
DeleteI got most of it done all on Monday - whew! Good luck with yours!
That sounds like a lovely Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteI've read one other book by Bohjalian and your description rather makes me want to add Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands to my tbr list!
I have read a bunch of his books, and every one is so unique! I don;t know how he comes up with such diverse ideas, but they are always good.
DeleteAw, my thoughts are with you. I'm so glad being I'm your Dad's home brought you comfort and joy having his spirit with you. I didn't read much last week but I finally finished reading a review book that took me a month to finish! I I just wasn't feeling it. Our library book sale us coming up next week and I was thinking I needed to start tackling some of them if I'm going to buy more!
ReplyDeleteI hate when a book drags like that! Yes, some books need to go out if others are to come in!
DeleteI took HUGE boxes and bags of books to Rochester last weekend to give to cousins, cousins' kids, my nephew, etc. The rest are ready to donate.
Sorry to read you had lost your dad recently but I'm glad you had a good Thanksgiving. There is great reading goin' on in your house. I think we parents just can't help but puff out our chests in pride when we see our babies (no matter how they are) engrossed in a good book, yeah?
ReplyDeleteYes! Our 21-year old son is an avid reader though he doesn't always have time with college. He loves vacations, holidays, and car trips so he can read more!
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