Monday, February 08, 2016

It's Monday 2/8! What Are You Reading?

Whew, what a busy - but fun - weekend! We had our annual Mardi Gras party Saturday - just a small gathering of friends, mostly people we met when we lived in New Orleans (yes, we are now almost all in Delaware - a quirk of working for DuPont). Lots of food, music, and good company...but even a small gathering is tiring for me! Then, of course, we had Superbowl on Sunday. That was a very small party - just me, my husband, and my 90-year old father-in-law. Both of our sons had their own parties to go to. So, I was up until 11:30 pm two nights in a row! Seriously, that is really crazy for me.

In all the excitement (plus our recent acquisition of Netflix which has us watching Orange is the New Black every spare moment), we still made time for relaxing with our books, as always:
  • I quickly finished This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen, a book of essays for middle-grade readers. We used to LOVE to listen to Paulsen's novels (especially the Hatchet series) on audio with our sons when they were younger. This collection of essays is all about encounters with wild animals (and some domestic). It was nominated for the National Book Award last year, so I'm glad I finally got  to it - it was fascinating, fun, and laugh-out-loud funny! A perfect palate cleanser between longer books.
  • Now, I am reading The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion, the sequel to The Rosie Project, which I read and loved during New Year's week. I liked the first book so much that I requested this one from the library, even though I have enough books here at the house to keep me busy for years! It's great so far - warm and very, very funny.
  • I am listening to The Cage by Megan Shepherd, a teen/YA novel which has been called "The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld," about humans being held in zoo-like places by an alien race. It's really engrossing so far and pulled me into the story from the very first chapter. The audio is well-done with different actors.
  • My husband, Ken, is reading a Christmas gift from me, The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling), the first of her Cormoran Strike series. He's enjoying it so far, and he and I are having fun trying to translate the Britishisms (a fun game I like to play with my British Facebook friends!)
 Lots of blog posts last week - I finally finished all of my year-end wrap-ups (except I still need to sign up for 2016 reading challenges so let me know if you have any ideas)...but now I am falling behind on reviews. Maybe someday I will catch up on everything! Here's what I posted last week:
Favorite Movies Watched in 2015, by genre, with the full list in the tab Movie Reviews

TV Tuesday: Orange is the New Black, our latest TV addiction!

Favorite Books Read in 2015 - what a great reading year! See the full list of what I read in the Books Read in 2015 tab

Saturday Snapshot - Big Birds - a hawk and vultures that visited after the storm

Weekend Cooking: Happy Mardi Gras! - still plenty of time to cook or eat some delicious foods to celebrate tomorrow!

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
 

19 comments:

  1. I've been searching for some either short stories or brief essays to read to tweens in the next week or two and the Paulsen book may be just what I've been looking for! Thanks for sharing about it. Megan Shepherd did an author visit at my library a few years ago. She is super sweet and such a talented writer!

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    1. Oh, these would be perfect for that, Hannahilly! If you can read these stories aloud without totally cracking up - ha ha - the kids will love them, and so will you!

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  2. Hope you recover from the couple of big nights. I enjoyed The Rosie Effect too, perhaps not as much though as the first. Wonder if there will be another!

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    1. I've heard a few people say that. I'm excited to see the movie adaptation!

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  3. Your Mardi Gras party sounds so fun. I peeked at the post and love how you go all out in menu. I haven't finished my books now for a few weeks so it's the same British history/literature mystery + a HP + a classic on audio. My little one hasn't read much lately b/c she was sick all weekend. The tween has been going through her books fast. It's hard to keep up w/her and she's logging in her own books now into GR.

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    1. Sounds like you have a reading family like I do! Though I had no idea what my 21-year old was reading this week - too busy to ask! Sorry your little one is sick.

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  4. The have the sequel to The Cage on my review stack and can't wait until its turn comes up on my reading list. I still have The Rosie Project on my Kindle. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Wow, a sequel coming up already? I better get moving! It's been really good so far.

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  5. I'm reading (well, listening to) The Rosie Project this week and enjoying it. I've been on the fence about The Rosie Effect, but I think I'll end up giving it a go.

    Happy Reading!

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    1. Enjoy The Rosie Project! It's light but lots of fun and plenty of laughs. I liked the characters enough to want to read the sequel.

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  6. I love Gary Paulsen's work and him as a person--such an important part of Children's, MG, and YA literature!

    Happy reading this week! :)

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  7. I love Gary Paulsen but have missed this collection of essays. It sounds fantastic. The Cage also sounds good.

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  8. I know about having enough books to read to last you for years - sounds like my home library! I have The Cuckoo's Calling too - and hope to get to it soonest.

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    1. When my husband finishes it, I'll have to move it to my side of the TBR bookcase - I have about 80% of it, and he has about 20%! ha ha

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  9. I loved The Rosie Project and recently read "The Rosie Effect" (I *think* my review is going up this week--I can't always remember when the reviews are being posted!) I'll be interested to read what you thought of it!

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    1. Can;t wait to see your review, Melinda - I;m enjoying it so far!

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  10. I am enjoying your updates about Cage and look forward to your final review! I loved The Maze Runner! I hope you have a happy and healthy week. Send your sick son my best wishes!

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