(P.S. All that computer stuff meant I had neither the access nor the time to visit blogs last week - sorry! Hope to get around to visit this week.)
Of course, through all of this, we love our books, and reading provides a welcome respite from all the craziness. Here's what we've all been reading this past week:
- I finished reading - and absolutely loved! - Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. It's based on the true story of how Maud, the wife of the late L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, got involved as a consultant (she basically forced her way in!) on the famous movie adaptation in 1939. There are all kinds of entertaining details about the actors and the production, and especially about 15-year old Judy Garland in the lead role, but the novel also goes back to Maud's own childhood in New York State (where I grew up) and recounts her experiences with a strong, suffragette mother (she called Susan B. Anthony "Auntie Susan"), how she met Frank, and her own experiences as a mother. It's a delightful, fascinating book that was great fun to review (it comes out February 12).
- Next, more than a little behind, I started the first of two books for two different book group meetings this week! First up is The Rent Collector by Camron Wright, a novel set in Cambodia. It's based on a true story about a husband, wife, and baby son who live at the largest garbage dump in Phnom Penh (with many other people). The author took this real-life family and imagined what might happen if the wife learned to read, and how that might affect them and the people around them. It's wonderful so far, filled with both sorrow and joy and the light of literature.
- On audio, I finished listening to a middle-grade book, The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. It's the story of a young girl named Candice in South Carolina whose recently deceased Grandma leaves behind a puzzle for her to solve that could lead to a fortune. Candice befriends the boy across the street who loves to read as much as she does, and the two of them learn about the town's history while following the clues. It's a wonderful mix of mystery and history, and I enjoyed it very much.
- Now, I am listening to a YA novel on audio, The Beautiful Lost by Luanne Rice. It's about a teen girl who's suffered from depression since her mother left and how she connects with a boy in her class who also lost his mother. The two of them go on a road trip from CT to Canada. I didn't realize it was a road trip novel when I started it, so I am enjoying it!
- My husband, Ken, finished one of his Christmas gifts from our son, Past Tense by Lee Child, the latest Jack Reacher novel. This is his favorite series and his favorite author, so he loved it and easily finished it before his trip.
- Now, while he's away, Ken is reading a long but lightweight paperback I put in his stocking, Edge by Jeffrey Deaver. Though we both love Deaver's Lincoln Rhymes series, this is a stand-alone novel, so we were intrigued by it. I suspect he won't have a lot of time to read on this trip, though!
- Our son, Jamie, 24, is now reading the FINAL book 14 of The Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. I was wrong when I said he finished the series with book 13 - there is one more, weighing in at a hefty 1168 pages! He loves this series and has been looking forward to the conclusion.
Fiction Review: Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich - a beautiful, warm novel with a bleak dystopian/apocalyptic setting
My Summary of Books Read in December - a good end to a great reading year!
2018 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up - see how I did on my 2018 challenges
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.
You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.
What are you and your family reading this week?
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| Go, Saints! I think with last night's win, we are headed for the Superbowl! |
Oh how awful to deal with such computer problems. It always makes me nervous to change systems! Hopefully you have things sorted out by now. I'm so glad you enjoyed The Parker Inheritance, Sue! I'm happy to learn of The Beautiful Lost as I haven't heard of this one, before. Going to look it up right now. Thanks for all the shares and I hope this week feels a bit more normal for you all!
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly, Shaye - I upgraded kicking and screaming! lol I was pretty much forced to - my 10+ year old MacBook Pro still worked great hardware-wise, but it wouldn't run newer software which was causing major problems, especially with web browsers :( Very painful process!
DeleteSue
Oh no!!!!!!!! We bought my MacBook Pro just a few months ago (in August 2018). It's a used 2012 model (since that's what our budget was) and so far it has been really great. This is my first switch from PC to Mac. I wish I hadn't waited so long...
DeleteCongrats on the MacBook! You'll never want to go back :) It's a problem with all computers these days - they are constantly upgrading systems and software, and it gets to the point where your older computer just won't run the newer stuff. Be cautious with automatic updates - you want to update as far as you can but without going so far that the software won't work anymore. It's tricky. Also, I loved my old MacBook and the newer ones now only have these silly little USB-C ports (and nothing I own has those), so I also need an adapter plugged into it, and newer laptops now have no DVD/CD drives - which I still used!! - so I had to by a separate one of those, too. Believe me, I was not eager to upgrade! It's nice now that everything is so much faster, though. On the plus side, Apple has excellent free customer service. Start with phone or online chat (which they encourage now), but if that doesn't do the trick, lie and say it's a hardware problem and make an appt with the closest Genius Bar (in an Apple store) - works every time! Enjoy the Mac!
DeleteMy husband is from Philly, so we had a different view of the game. LOL. How frustrating about the computer. HOpe you can get it all worked out.
ReplyDeleteha ha Yeah, I wouldn't normally have even turned the game on, especially with my husband out of town, but the one time in my life I got into football was when I lived in New Orleans - it was in the 80's just when the Saints (whom fans used to call the Aints) turned things around and had their first winning streak in ages, so I got caught up in the excitement :) Besides, ALL celebrations are more fun in NOLA.
DeleteThe Beautiful Lost seems to be one I will enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteHope you'll try it! I'm enjoying it so far.
DeleteI've had some of the symptoms with mine as well although not to the plague you seem to be having. Upgrading the OS seems to have helped in my case, Good luck! My weekly update.
ReplyDeleteI had upgrade the OS on my 10+ year-old Mac as far as I could without causing software problems...it was time to get a new one, unfortunately! We tend to keep and use our cars, electronics, etc. for a LONG time, but that doesn't work so well with computers anymore!
DeleteMy word what a lot of hair pulling must have gone on over the new laptop. I like Luanne Rice and she seems to be writing YA at the moment. I believe she too has suffered from depression so would bring experience to the book. Must look out for it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't realize Luanne Rica also wrote for adults. I'm enjoying this YA so far, so I will have to check out her grown-up novels.
DeleteMy reading time seems to be dominated with the CYBILS graphic novels, which is really fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous, Helen! That sounds like fun - I always enjoy graphic novels. I had a very funny conversation with family members during Thanksgiving week - they thought "graphic" novel meant it was very violent! lol They didn't understand why I liked them so much - ha ha They seemed a but confused when I explained. Enjoy!
DeleteI upgraded my mac this year also when the image thingy died and couldn't be replaced. It had lasted 8 years. I had a long conversation with my computer guy about what to do and he recommended a newer to me used model. It's worked like a charm from the get go, but he transferred the files and set everything up for me!
ReplyDeleteFinding Dorothy sounds good. Maybe someday I will find time for it. I'm glad you enjoyed The Parker Inheritance.
Sounds like it worked out perfectly for you, Cheriee! I kept mine for 10+ years, so my problems (before and with the transition were all due to the computer outliving its software! The newer versions just wouldn't run on it. Happy to report that after another trip to the Genius Bar, everything is working fine now!
DeleteI think you'd like Finding Dorothy - I really enjoyed it!