Monday, September 26, 2022

It's Monday 9/26! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

 Life

 Life last week was more of the same for me. My chronic illness is still stuck in a severe relapse. The first treatment protocol didn't work, even though it has in the past. This week, I am trying something new, based on recent research. It's only Day 3 on that, but for the first time in about seven weeks, I woke up this morning at my "normal" time, about 7:45, and felt well enough to get right out of bed! Symptoms began creeping in again by 10 am, so I am back on the couch--but sitting up!--and hoping this is a sign of better days ahead.

I was determined to break out of my rut this weekend. My husband took me on a lovely drive Saturday, out to a favorite farm market in rural Pennsylvania. It was a gorgeous fall day, and it was wonderful to be outside, looking at the blue sky! And, bonus ... we got hot, fresh apple cider donuts at the market, sat on rockers outside, and even enjoyed some live music. It was a wonderful outing and a nice change of pace!

Local apples & fresh donuts!

A lovely fall day!

Saturday evening, our oldest friends (we all used to live in New Orleans back in the 80's) came over, brought takeout from a local brewpub, and we had a campfire in our firepit. I was able to lie down in a lounge chair, and I SO enjoyed their company (and being outside).

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 On the Blog

One review last week:

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill - a dark, historical family drama 

 

And some big news:

I started a monthly newsletter in September!

It includes a book quote of the month, a blog of the month--someone new to discover, an update on my reading life, a look back at my blog from previous years, and more bookish fun!

To receive my once-a-month newsletter, you can sign up here or by clicking the Subscribe button in the blog's sidebar. Sign up now, and you'll get October's newsletter next week.

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On YouTube

Two new videos:

Traveling with Books Tag - a fun video all about traveling & reading - including some travel pics!

Friday Reads 9/23/22 - my brief weekly wrap-up 

 

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What We're Reading: 

Totally immersed in the R.I.P. Challenge for fall!

 

I finished reading The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais, a friend, two-time Booktopia author, and one of my favorite authors! I absolutely loved Bianca's first two books, Hum If You Don't Know the Words (in my top 10 of all time) and If You Want to Make God Laugh. This new novel is quite different but just as fabulous! It's about five octogenarian witches trying to save their beloved home and land, as both the bank and an angry mob threaten them. It's about witches and magic, yes, but it's also about friendship, aging, sisterhood, and feminism. As with all of Bianca's novels, she tackles some difficult topics with a wonderful (one might say wicked) sense of humor. This book is lots of fun and was the perfect pick-me-up for a sick week! 

 

Now I am reading The Falcon and the Owl by Matty Dalrymple, book three in her Ann Kinnear Suspense series. I don't often read series, but I love this one! I previously read books one and two, The Sense of Death and The Sense of Reckoning, and I enjoyed them both, as did my husband. Ann, the main character, can sense spirits and gets hired--sometimes by the police and sometimes by a grieving loved one--to learn what secrets someone took to the grave. This time, two men, both excellent pilots, have died in a plane crash. Ann gets hired by the business partner of one of the men to find out where he hid a contract, but the man's wife is also interested, since she has secrets to keep related to her husband's death. I love the suspense and the unique mysteries in these books, with a supernatural twist.

 

I started a new audiobook for the R.I.P. Challenge: The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. I've been meaning to try out his unique series of mysteries for adults for ages. He himself is one of the main characters! His real self, with his real writing credits and history, has in this novel agreed to work with a fictional detective, Hawthorne, to write a true crime book about him solving his latest murder case. A woman walked into a funeral home, planned and prepaid her own funeral, and then was murdered six hours later. Horowitz and Hawthorne move around London, interviewing witnesses and suspects and visiting crime scenes. The two have a kind of Sherlock-Watson vibe. I'm enjoying it so far.

 

My husband, Ken, is still reading This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, which I loved this spring (my review at the link). In fact, it is one of my top books read this year so far. This is the story, beautifully told, of four orphans who escape from an abusive facility during the Depression and make their way downriver in a canoe. They encounter all kinds of people and situations as they head toward the Mississippi and uncertain futures. This wonderful novel includes history, suspense, family drama, humor, and so much more. So far, he's enjoying it as much as I did.

 

When our son, 28, was visiting last week, he went to the used bookstore and bought books eight through eleven of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind - he obviously likes this one! I'm sure he's well into book eight, Naked Empire, by now, and maybe even further!

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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?















12 comments:

  1. Do hope that sign of improvement continues Sue. Nice to get out via you hubby to the farm market, it would lift your spirits. Take care and enjoy your reading.

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  2. The Horowitz book sounds interesting. Hot apple cider donuts must have been delicious!

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    1. Yummy! Enjoying the Horowitz mystery on audio :)

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  3. I hope Ken is liking This Tender Land, I agree with you that it is a wonderful book. I am glad you're having glimmers of feeling better. I hope this treatment kicks in and works well.

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    1. He is enjoying it! I was a bit worried because he normally reads thrillers, but he's open to other stuff and it's just such a great book! I think reading Iron Lake, the first of Krueger's mysteries was a good intro to his excellent writing for him.

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  4. I love the Anthony Horowitz books! I listen to them on audio. I used to listen to some of his YA books way back, and they were good, too. Sorry you've been feeling sick, and hope you continue to feel better as the week goes on!
    I love hearing your news on your blog, so I signed up for your newsletter, too! I don't watch videos much, even bookish ones, but I love newsletters!

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    1. Yes, my son used to enjoy the Alex Rider books. Thanks for signing up for the newsletter! I better get to work on October's - ha ha

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  5. Sue, I am so sorry to hear you're having such a severe relapse and recovery has been so tricky! I really hope that you continue improving and get back to normal soon, and I hope you're emotionally doing OK—I imagine it's very demoralizing to be going through this right now.

    I did see your new newsletter, which is so cool—I was excited to see that as a subscriber! And it looks like you've been reading some great books—I wouldn't click well with the R.I.P. Challenge (not one for scary books!), but I'm really glad you're enjoying it. Thanks so much for the wonderful post, and feel better!

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    1. Thanks for your incredibly kind and empathetic comment, Max - you are right - it's very demoralizing. But that little outing and seeing our friends did lift my spirits! This week, I am trying to get outside every day, even if it's just reading in a lounge chair on our deck :) Glad you enjoyed the first newsletter! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see in it. I don't read really scary stuff for R.I.P. - suspense and mystery and thriller is more up my alley than horror. It all counts, though - even cozy mysteries! And I admit to a strong affinity for the mildly supernatural stuff, like these mysteries about the woman who can sense spirits - fun!

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  6. I started the Horowitz book and must get back to it before I tackle his newest one!

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    1. This is my first of his, but I'm enjoying it!

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