Monday, February 13, 2017

It's Monday 2/13! What Are You Reading?

Whew, I'm glad THAT week is over! Just one of those weeks when things kept cropping up unexpectedly, which just made me feel even more overwhelmed than I have been lately. Took my father-in-law back to the doctor again for a recurrent infection, spent most of the week negotiating between two companies for a mortgage refinance (lots of work but it paid off with a great deal!), our college sons temporarily thought our car had been stolen, so that was a good 18 hours of stress and panic (they forgot where they parked it), and by Friday, both sons were very sick with a stomach virus. One came home immediately; the other stayed in the dorms until yesterday, when he came home and slept 14 hours straight! Now, he is back to campus, and the other is still asleep but hopefully will be also heading back today. Like I said, whew!

The good news is that I did end up getting a LOT done over the weekend, so I feel less "everything is late" kind of overwhelmed. And there's that awesome refinance I negotiated, too! Quite proud of myself for that.

Whether the week was good or bad, we always enjoy our books! Here's what we've been reading:
  • I am still reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith, JK Rowling's pen name for her mystery series starring private detective Cormoran Strike. I gave it to my husband for his birthday and am glad to have finally gotten to it myself. It's excellent - as you'd expect! Engrossing and suspenseful novels are perfect for hectic times like this. I am almost finished.
  • I finished listening to a middle-grade audiobook, The Scourge by Jennifer Nielsen. It's about a fantasy dystopian world where a disease is ravaging its citizens and one young girl learns some secrets while being held in a quarantine colony.
  • Now, I am listening to a teen/YA novel on audio, The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron. It is turning out to be somewhat similar to the one I just finished, but it's intriguing so far, about a fantasy dystopian world where everyone forgets everything every few years...except the main character who remembers everything but keeps that a secret.
  • My husband, Ken, is still reading a Christmas gift from me, The Trespasser by Tana French, the latest (#6, I think) in her books about the Dublin Murder Squad. He loves her literary murder mysteries, though he's been laughing over some of the Irish slang! Skangers, jacks, gaff,  gaffer, and bickied! It's weird that he and I are both reading Irish/British mysteries right now.
  • 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. Even though he's been sick, I think he's been watching more TV than reading this week.
As promised, I focused on some book review catch-up last week (though I did not have time for my usual movie and TV reviews). I enjoyed all of these:
Middle-Grade Review: Friends for Life by Andrew Norriss, a moving novel about friendship, bullying, and ghosts.

Fiction Review: Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill, a story about a marriage, uniquely written

Middle-Grade Review: Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke - an exciting graphic novel

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.

What are you and your family reading this week?  

16 comments:

  1. Last week sounds like it was more than crazy; I hope your sons are feeling better! I am reading Hillbilly Elegy and so far it's pretty interesting. And it certainly explains much about our latest election

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    1. It was! They were both back on campus by Tuesday (though one came back today but not sick!).

      I've heard such good things about Hillbilly Elegy - think one of my book groups will tackle it when it comes out in paperback.

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  2. What was with last week? HOping this week is much calmer. Glad you got reading time in, though.

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  3. Whew is right! The story about the missing car sounds like my son...

    I'm interested in reading The Cuckoo's Calling myself--glad to hear you liked it. There's nothing like a tense novel to make you get out of your world and relax--I know that sounds weird, but it does work.

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    1. You're absolutely right - that fictional suspense helps you relieve some real-life stress! The Cuckoo's Calling was very good.

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  4. Congrats on persevering with the mortgage deal and getting a great one that will affect your future! Hope you don't catch your sons stomach virus.

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    1. So far, so good, Kathryn - we've been wiping everything down obsessively!

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  5. Oh my goodness, I can imagine your boys were so relieved when they found the car! I hope this week is a little less eventful for you. :)

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    1. Nothing like a little drama, huh?

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  6. Whew. That sounds like a crazy week. I loved the story about your sons thinking the car was stolen. That made me giggle (only because it wasn't stolen). I hope they get well soon. The stomach bug hit one of my boys a couple of weeks ago, and it isn't fun!

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    1. Yeah, it's funny now - not so much at the time!

      Those stomach viruses are nasty, aren't they? Glad your family is healthy again!

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  7. I haven't read any Nielsen books, and I know I need to remedy that. Everyone loves her books!

    Happy reading this week :)

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    1. Yeah, I'm not a huge fantasy fan, and many of hers are fantasy. I REALLY loved the one of hers I read last year, about the Berlin Wall - excellent.

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  8. I laughed out loud about your boys losing the car! I loved Mighty Jack and am looking very much forward to the next in the series. I became a fan of Tana French last year but have only read a couple in the series. They are intense!

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    1. Funny now - not so much at the time when we were talking to the police! ha ha

      You're ahead of me on Tana French - I've only read the first one.

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