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| Hosted by The Book Date |
Life
Ahhh ... it was nice to return to "normal" life last week after our hectic, last-minute travel week. Even better, with all of my medication changes and my doctor's help, I think my thyroid and other hormones are finally stabilizing. Last week was the best I've felt in many months! I am gradually trying to regain my stamina by walking a little bit every day and very slowly re-starting some light weight work.
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| #sky365 Day 20 - this was one of our better days last week! |
Even better, I am able to do some things again! I went to my neighborhood book group last week for the first time in eight months--victory! And I had the energy to plan meals and cook more (instead of the afternoon agony of "what are we going to make for dinner?"), including a belated birthday dinner for our son, who turned 25 while we were in Texas.
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| Happy 25th! |
Last night, we celebrated Chinese New Year with delicious takeout. This is one of many "small celebrations" we enjoy this time of year, in the doldrums between the December holidays and spring. You can check out my video, Celebrate Everything, Big and Small!, for more ideas (it's taken from a chapter in my book about living with chronic illness, but this is a great way to add joy to any life!).
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| Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year! Year of the Rabbit |
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On the Blog
Lots of end-of-year catch-up last week! New posts:
Best Books Read in 2022 - includes some fun facts & stats about my reading, my top picks in different categories, and my Top 10 (or whatever) Lists.
2022 Reading Challenges Wrap-Up - a great reading year with lots of fun challenges!
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On Video
2022 Reading Wrap-Up and Best Books of the Year! - a video version of my year-end wrap-up
Friday Reads 1-20-23 - brief weekly recap of what I'm reading
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On audio, I am still listening to Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, one of my all-time favorite authors. It's a novel about a boy named Damon (nicknamed Demon), based loosely on David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Instead of London, it's set in modern-day Appalachia in the mountains of southern Virginia. Like Dickens, it delves into important issues of poverty (only in America) while also being very entertaining. Kingsolver is a great storyteller, and this is definitely one of her best! I'm loving it so far and having fun recognizing the parallels to David Copperfield (though you don't need to have read that to enjoy this). I'm close to the end now, rooting for Demon in spite of his awful circumstances. This is a must-read novel!
My husband, Ken, finished reading Sand by Hugh Howey. We are both huge fans of his Silo trilogy (Wool, Shift, Dust), which was excellent. Here he explores a different post-apocalyptic world, one buried in sand, with four siblings who get lost after their father dies. Ken says it was excellent. Howey is such an incredible writer--I can't wait to read this one, too!
Now, Ken is reading another Christmas gift from me, No Plan B by Lee Child and Andrew Child (his brother). This is Ken's all-time favorite series, and I get him the latest book each Christmas. He is, of course, enjoying it!
Our son, 28, finished Enchanter by Terry Mancour, book 7 in the Spellmonger series. He discovered this series last year and has been quickly devouring it! Next, he read The Silence of Unworthy Gods by Andrew Rowe, book 4 in Arcane Ascension, another favorite series. And now, he's rereading The White Tower by Michael Wisehart, book 1 in The Aldoran Chronicles, in preparation for book 2, which he just bought with a Christmas gift card.
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What are you and your family reading this week?
It's lovely to hear that you are feeling better and have more energy; what a relief for you. I have been trying to do 2 books at once, sort of: one audio and one physical copy. It usually works if they are really different from one another though the audio book takes me much longer to finish.
ReplyDeleteAh, well, I already read print books and listen to audios at the same time - I always have an audio going. That works because they are enjoyed in such different ways and at different times of day for me - I listen to audios while cooking, doing laundry, brushing my teeth, walking, etc.
DeleteI'm tryimg to read more than one book at a time - one print (kindle) and one audiobook. I was thinking of also trying to add in a nonfiction book or a short story collection that I would read bits of each week. I'm not sure how that will go. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI should have clarified, Kathy, that I DO already do that - I always have an audio going. But I listen to those at times when I couldn't be reading in print - while doing other things. Let me know if you decide to try a nonfiction or short story collection at the same time.
DeleteOh so good to hear you feeling more energy gifted. I like a non fiction book on the go too, usually just before sleep if not too tired but if so then it goes out the window! I love Happier and Happier in Hollywood as well which even though it seems Hollywood oriented, its not really and Gretchen's sister and her friend are fun.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy both podcasts, too, even though I don't work in Hollywood! Not making much progress this week on the nonfiction - ha ha
DeleteI’m glad you are feeling stronger this week, I hope the improvement continues
ReplyDeleteI only read a book at a time, usually I’m able to finish a book in one sitting.
Wow, I don't think I've EVEr read a book in one sitting, except maybe for a graphic novel (though even though I usually read a bit at a time)
DeleteI just finished listening to Demon Copperhead. What an excellent choice to listen to this disturbing Kingsolver book. Hope you are enjoying it. / I purchased my own copy of The Good Earth. Having read it as a young teen and remembering only snippets I thought I should revisit it as an adult. Haven't gotten to it yet. But I will. / Check my blog later today for my Demon Copperhead review. I'm just getting it ready for publication.
ReplyDeleteLOVED Demon Copperhead! In spite of its long length, I was sorry when it ended. Really enjoyed The Good Earth, too.
DeleteI'm so glad to read that you are feeling better! I think it will be about a month before Demon Copperhead is available for me to listen to. If only I had time, I would download and start listening to The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections now.
ReplyDeleteDemon Copperhead was SO GOOD!!! Hope you get to enjoy it, too.
DeleteGlad to see that you are feeling better. I hope it continues. I love looking at the variety of books that you post about. So interesting. I have been trying something different since the first of the year. I have an e-book, a print book (usually from my TBR shelves), and an audio-book going at the same time. Depending on what I am doing and where I'm at, I pick up the one that works at the time. Hopefully I can get more off of my shelves this way. Have a great reading week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. Sounds like a good plan for you! I don't leave the house all that much, so my print book is usually nearby. That's my goal too - to catch up a bit on what's stacked on my shelves!
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