Monday, January 23, 2017

It's Monday 1/23! What Are You Reading?

Ugh - had a rough weekend. Stressful, too busy, and feeling overwhelmed & exhausted! Trying to make a fresh start this morning, focusing on the positive, and not letting the overflowing to-do list overwhelm me. Thinking about books is a good start to a healthier, positive mindset!

Here's what we read last week:
  • I am in the middle of a new review book (due out in May), 'Round Midnight by Laura McBride, author of the highly acclaimed We Are Called To Rise (which I haven't read yet). This new novel is about four women in Las Vegas whose lives are intertwined. I was enjoying it but had to set it aside temporarily (which I NEVER do!). I will get back to it later today.
  • I set that one aside to read a novel for my neighborhood book group meeting this Wednesday. My library request has STILL not come in, but a neighbor lent me her copy. We are reading The Whip by Karen Kondazian, a novel based on the real-life story of Charley Parkhurst, a woman who moved out West in the 1800's and pretended to be a man in order to work as a stagecoach driver. It's been very interesting, though also heartbreaking to read about the losses she suffered.
  • I am still waiting for an audio copy of Anne Frank Remembered: the Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family by Miep Glies and Alison Leslie Gold from the library (my own downloaded audio quit partway through!). 
  • In the meantime, I just started a new middle-grade audiobook, The Scourge by Jennifer Nielson. I've only just started it, but it's about a dystopian world where a disease is ravaging its citizens and one young girl learns some secrets while being held in a quarantine colony.
  • My husband, Ken, finished the latest Jack Reacher book by Lee Child, Night School, from his favorite author & series.
  • Now, Ken is reading another Christmas gift from me, The Trespasser by Tana French, the latest in her books about the Dublin Murder Squad. He loves her literary murder mysteries. I have only read the first one so far - I have some catching up to do!
  • Jamie, 22, has been reading The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. He is up to book 3, The Dragon Reborn, and enjoying it, though his reading slowed down last week as he got hooked on the TV show Quantico and binge-watched all of it! 
 I TRIED to catch up on blog posts & all my 2016 wrap-ups last week, I really did! I managed a few posts & hope to finish my 2016 summary & sign up for 2017 challenges this week:
TV Tuesday: Good Girls Revolt, a stunningly good show set in 1969.

Summary of Books Read in December - a good reading month!

Summary of 2016 Reading Challenges - win some, lose some, they were all fun!

Saturday Snapshot: Rare sunshine on a winter hike

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.

10 comments:

  1. I'm so behind in my blog reading it's not funny.

    Lots o reading going on in your house!

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    1. Can't be as far behind as I am!! No worries. It's so hard to fit it all in, isn't it??

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  2. Just take your time to recover, one thing at a time and rest in between. If I could pick one book out of your list here today I think it would be The Whip it really does sound fascinating even if tough and sad.

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    1. Good advice - thanks, Kathryn.

      The Whip was fascinating - you are right!

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  3. The Whip sounds interesting. I tend to read a lot of WWII era historical fiction, so I could really branch out into some other time periods.

    I hope you have a great book club meeting!

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    1. I hear you, Lindsey - I have read way too much WWII fiction lately! Needed a break, for sure.

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  4. I, sadly, haven't read anything by Jennifer Nielsen yet. My kids who love False Prince always get so mad at me--I need to fix that!
    Hope this week is better for you! Happy reading :)

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    1. I haven't read a lot of Nielsen either, Kellee - she writes a lot of fantasy, which isn't really my favorite (in fact, this be might be in the fantasy realm - I'm not too far into it yet). But last year, I listened to a historical fiction middle-grade novel by her that was excellent - A Night Divided, about the Berlin Wall - wonderful story, fascinating, and a historical aspect we don't often read about. Highly recommended.

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  5. I've been meaning to read Anne Frank Remembered. It's been on my list! I am also exhausted. My entire house is filled with illness, and I am the only one standing. I am crossing my fingers that I don't fall!

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    1. Oh, Ricki - so sorry to hear that!! Those sick weeks are soooo tough. Hope everyone gets well soon & you stay healthy!

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