Monday, January 03, 2022

It's Monday 1/3! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


It's 2022! Doesn't that sound like something from science fiction? We flew right past 1984 and 2001: A Space Odyssey and partied like it was 1989, and now here we are in the future! Crazy.

So after our crisis-filled Christmas (96-year-old father-in-law breaking a hip and a COVID scare the day after Christmas that cleared our house of guests in minutes), we had a relatively quiet holiday week. Our annual Cookie/Grinch party with our oldest friends had to go virtual, but we still enjoyed decorating cookies and watching the Grinch (the original, of course) "together" over Zoom. 

Our cookie creations!

Watching the Grinch together in the virtual living room

We got my father-in-law discharged from the hospital and set up in a rehab/nursing home facility that is just a mile from our house. My husband, son, and I have each been visiting him every day. He's been quite confused due to his dementia by the sudden change in surroundings and circumstances, but he was doing better, starting PT and enjoying our visits and getting his appetite back. Then, last night, we got the news that he tested positive for COVID. 

I don't know what it's like where you are, but it's been crazy in our region, with most families having a COVID scare like ours over Christmas, lines a mile long in the rain for temporary testing sites, and it being almost impossible to find at-home test kits anywhere (I ordered a bunch before the holidays, thank goodness). So, this is not a surprise but still a huge concern, for him and for us. We think it's not just him, but a good-sized breakout in the facility; they are meeting this morning to make a plan.

I spent 90 minutes with him yesterday and actually fed him his lunch, which I brought from home (now I understand why he seemed so lethargic and had no appetite). Of course, we've all been wearing masks there, but we are worried about him--and about me because recent tests showed that I didn't make many antibodies from the vaccines due to my immune disorder. We're in wait-and-see mode now, waiting to hear from the facility (we're hoping my husband can still visit because with the dementia, his dad really needs to see family to stay connected and lucid) and waiting until 3 days have passed to do our at-home tests. Not a great start to the new year, but I know many people are in similar situations.

So, let's get to the good stuff--books! I posted two short videos last week:


And here's what we've each been reading this past week (more about the first four in my Friday Reads video, above): 

 


I finished A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet, and wow, what a unique and engaging novel! It's about twelve kids and teens left on their own after an apocalyptic storm hits, and it's funny, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. It's hard to describe, so take a look at my review at the link!

 

I suddenly realized I have book group January 4! Luckily, I was able to borrow a library copy from a friend and am enjoying Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein, a nonfiction book about a town in WI that came back to life after a devastating GM plant closure.

 

I finished my last audio of the year, Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan, a YA novel about racial prejudice, immigration, and a teen girl just trying to live like any other American teen. It was excellent, and I enjoyed it very much.

 

My first audiobook of 2021 is one I have been eagerly anticipating: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. I love her novels, especially on audio since she reads them herself. In this one, a Native American woman named Tookie spent years in prison and is now working in a bookstore where she sees the ghost of a former customer.

 

My husband, Ken, is still reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, book one of The Malazan Book of the Fallen series, a fantasy novel recommended by our son. Once again, he didn't have much reading time this week!

 

Our son, 27, is almost finished reading Spinning Silver by Naomi Novak, a follow-up to Uprooted, which he loved. He said he'll probably finish it today.

I hate starting the new year already behind, so I wrote a lot of book reviews last week to catch up! As another simplification for 2021, I decided not to post monthly summaries anymore, so there won't be one for December, but I should be able to get my 2021 Year End Summary up later this week. Here are my posts from last week:

My Summary of Books Read in November - a great reading month for Nonfiction November!

Fiction Review: All Clear by Connie Willis - outstanding! One of my best books of the year and of all-time.

Fiction Review: Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune - funny, poignant, unique novel.

Middle-Grade/Teen Review: Friends Forever by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham - graphic memoir that finishes the trilogy - excellent!

Fiction Review: A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet - original, engrossing, funny, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. More in my Friday Reads video.

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?

 

26 comments:

  1. Oh no! COVID for your father in law sound dicey. I hope he doesn't feel too badly and that you continue to test negative. So many people are getting it now.

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    1. Thanks, Helen. He's doing a bit better. Our son has it, too (and lives with us). And I got very sick yesterday with all the symptoms but have had two negative tests so far. Hard to say with my messed up immune system.

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  2. Oh my gosh—I am so sorry that your father-in-law had COVID and that he might have exposed you! I'm glad you crammed at least a little fun in between crises, but still, I hope things improve for everyone, and I hope you stay well! All of these books sound great—I just took a look at your full reviews of A Children's Bible (which sounds excellent) and Friends Forever (which I had already written down thanks to you, but I wanted to see your full thoughts). The Sentence sounds really intriguing as well! Thanks so much for the great post, Sue, and I hope things stay relatively stable (or improve!) for you all!

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    1. Thanks! My son and I are sick now, too, so ... yeah, been a week! The Sentence is so wonderful!! I'm listening on audio and loving it.

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  3. Happy New Year to you too!
    Those cookies look so cute!
    Nice to see the whole family reading.
    Here is my post https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/02/sunday-post-47-1-2-2022/

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  4. Oh wow, Sue, you have had a rough few weeks. I hope that you do not get Covid and your husband can still see his dad. Happy New year and may it continue to improve as the year goes on! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2022/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-1-2022.html

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    1. Thanks, Cindy - there's nowhere to go but up! FIL is improving & my husband can still visit, but my son and I are both sick now.

      Happy New Year to you!

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  5. Ugh on Covid. I really hope things will go well on that front. We had a terrible family experience a few month ago, which I won't go into, but let's just say that even a young, healthy, and athletic person can be hospitalized and super sick. Those personal experiences can sure be eye-opening! I'm not sure what our local Covid numbers are right now, but we tried to get my daughter an appointment this morning and the soonest they had available was three weeks from now!! WHAT?! They didn't feel her illness was urgent enough. So it's a little scary to have such a doctor shortage at this time.

    I believe this is the second time I've noted A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet, so I'm hoping to get it from Overdrive this month. Sounds quite intriguing. Happy New Year, Sue!!

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    1. Oh, Shaye, I'm so very sorry to hear what your family went through, too. My son and I both have it now, too, so qwe are hunkered down, with my husband (Mr. Super Immunity!) caring for us. Yeah, impossible to get tested, get meds, see doctor - it's crazy. My NY specialist for my immune disorder called this afternoon, so that was great!

      Intriguing is the right word for A Children's Bible - it's very unique but I really liked it.

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  6. Your poor father-in-law--of all the luck. I hope he is doing okay. I love the of a Cookie/Grinch party. It's too bad it had to be virtual this year but completely understandable. The virus is running rampant here too. Lots of people at work have family who are sick or they themselves are sick. Tests are hard to come by and the wait at the testing sites are hours long. I hope you are feeling okay.

    I am really looking forward to The Sentence. I hope you have a better week! Stay safe.

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    1. Yes, my son and I now, too. And we're all vaccinated but still pretty sick. You're right - it's a crazy situation right now - stay healthy!

      I am loving The Sentence on audio - so good!

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  7. Oh yikes. Drama upon drama. Oh my I do hope you keep the Covid out - those care facilities are a trap for sure. Hope your hubby has some immunity but... he could still bring it to you. Take care. Love the cookies and the way you celebrated. Take care, I wish you well for the New Year.

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn! My son and I have it now, too, but my husband is still well!

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  8. Happy New Year!

    I'm so sorry to hear about your Father-in-law!

    I am so excited to read THE SENTENCE...then it ended up as a book club selection, which is fine EXCEPT we're discussing it in NOVEMBER! I like to read a book within a month of our meeting, so it will be a while before I get to that one! - Melinda @ A Web of Stories

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    1. Hi, Melinda -
      Oh, no - you have to wait until November!! Wow, your book group plans ahead - we do just 2 meetings ahead.

      Well, when you do get to it, you will love it! Something to look forward to -

      Sue

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  9. I'm sorry you had difficulties; dealing with older parents is weirdly stressful. Impressed by the fact you took videos. I still struggle with that. Hope you have a happy 2022.

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  10. I think my comments using the Name/URL option on some blogs are just going straight to spam or getting lost somewhere along the way, so I'm going to comment again with my Google account. (Pardon any duplication!)
    So sorry to hear about COVID hitting your family. It does seem as though Omicron is going to be nearly impossible to avoid. My MIL has just rebroken her hip that she had surgery four years ago and has been stuck in the ER for 36 hours. What a terrible time for health crises, for which there is no good time anyway! Lines at testing sites have exploded again here. Worry is making it hard for me to focus on reading and blogging after all the holiday distractions, too.

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    1. Hi, Laurie -
      Both comments came through just fine - I do have comment approval turned on so they don't show up until I OK it.

      So sorry to hear ab out your MIL - yes, a terrible time for health crises! We got lucky. We were complaining that only one person per day could visit him in the hospital, but 2 days after he got out, the hospital switched to NO visitors! he has dementia and didn't understand what was going on, so that would have been awful.

      I totally understand about distractions :( Hope your MIL is OK.

      Sue

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  11. I am so sorry to hear about your father in law. I hope that you manage to avoid getting this. I just got a message from one of my sons saying their family has it. Luckily it was after they visited with us over Christmas. I'm wishing you nothing but fabulous books for 2022

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    1. My son and I have succumbed, too, Cheriee! Somehow, my husband is still healthy, even with daily visits to the care home!

      So glad you were spared.

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  12. I haven't read any Erdrich and I think I need to remedy that this year!

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    1. Yes, definitely, Earl!! I have loved every Erdrich novel I've read.

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  13. I’m glad you were able to celebrate Christmas before it went sideways for you and your poor dad. CoVid just makes everything so much harder. Stay well x

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. Thanks, Shelley - it's been quite a few weeks!

      Books are the highlight of my life right now :)

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