Weekly Update

Welcome to my weekly update for January 17, 2021! This week we'll finally be inaugurating Joe Biden as our 46th president here in the US. I pray that this week passes uneventfully and the transfer of power is peaceful. We took the picture on the left at Strand Beach on a walk last week and the picture on the right was taken at Oceanside Pier. Posted: Goldie Vance Volume Two by Hope Larson, illustrated by Brittney Williams Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, read by Amir Abdullah--4 Stars Read: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, read by Amir Abdullah The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey Goldie Vance Volume Four by Hope Larson, illustrated by Jackie Ball Currently Reading: Circe by Madeline Miller Deep Storm by Lincoln Child, read by Scott Brick Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams Up Next: I need to choose a book for the Nonfiction Reader Challenge this month. I'm thinking about reading one of Isabella Lucy Bird's travel memoirs. I read her stories of the Rocky Mountains several years ago and thought Ms. Bird was a fantastic travel writer, especially considering that she was a woman traveling alone in the mid-1800s. What did your week look like? Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday Post. Kathryn at Book Date hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in beautiful Asheville, NC. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase merchandise through links on my site. 

Welcome to my weekly update for January 10, 2021! Well. This week in the US was more exciting than I would have liked. I don't even know where to start. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the Capitol Police officer who was murdered in the line of duty and also the families of the other people who died there. I hope all those hate-filled faces that have been splashed across my TV for days now are found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I hope that President 45 is stripped of power, hopefully formally but at least behind the scenes. I hope that law enforcement officials have realized that the threat we've all seen growing for months and years is real and have ample security in place for the inauguration. I pray that Biden and his team find a way to heal our country and lead us forward. Together. Posted: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, read by Wil Wheaton Top Ten Adult Audiobooks Read: Homelands: Fables Volume 6 by Bill Willingham Goldie Vance Volume 3 by Hope Larson, illustrated by Noah Hayes Currently Reading: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, read by Amir Abdullah Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day by Clemency Burton-Hill Watching: Scrubs on Amazon Prime--My husband and I both worked night shift when Scrubs was on network TV so we weren't able to watch it then. We've managed to watch seasons here or there as our streaming platforms have picked it up and dropped it. We recently found it on Amazon Prime so we're busily trying to finish it before it disappears from us again! Up Next: I need to read…

Welcome to my weekly update for January 3, 2021! Well, here we are in 2021! The year that felt like it might never end is finally behind us. With the arrival of the vaccine, I'm choosing to view the new year with hope that life will return to a new normal. Posted: Top Ten Books of 2020 2020 Reading by the Numbers--My reading stats for the year and favorites in various genres and categories Around the World: Three Remarkable Journeys by Matt Phelan Read: The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, read by Imogen Church The Blood: Monstress Volume Two by Marjori Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda Currently Reading: Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs Homelands: Fables Volume 6 by Bill Willingham Reading Challenges: I announced 2021 sign ups for several challenges I hosted prior to my long blogging break. I hope you'll join me! Books in Translation Reading Challenge Southern Literature Reading Challenge New (To You) Narrator Reading Challenge I also signed up for several other challenges. I may not complete them all but at least they're nudging me in new directions. The buttons above and the links below take you to the information page for each challenge if you'd like to know more and/or sign up. Uncorked Reading Challenge Nonfiction Reader Challenge Diversity Reading Challenge Audiobook Reading Challenge Book Voyage: Read around the World Challenge Watching: Mulan on Disney Plus was beautifully filmed and an empowering tale. We enjoyed it quite a bit. Up Next: I decided to return the ebook version of The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey since I couldn't download it on my Kindle. I requested the physical book instead and I'll be picking it up from the library on Monday. What did your week look like? Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The…

Welcome to my weekly update for December 27, 2020! I hope all who celebrate had a merry Christmas and everyone else had a wonderful week! We noticed these beautiful Christmas lights at the San Diego California Temple as we were driving around and had to stop for a few pictures. I received a few bookish/blogging gifts. I got this really cool wooden book thumb page holder, the baby Yoda "Read" shirt I asked for, a Travel Listography journal, a bluetooth keyboard, a case for the keyboard that doubles as a tablet/Kindle stand, and the very first edition of a new magazine called Oh Reader. I'm excited about all of these! I hope Santa was good to you as well! Posted: A Promised Land by Barack Obama--4 Stars Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber, read by Laurel Rankin and Luke Daniels--2.5 Stars Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings (or the library delivers) Read: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, read by Christian Coulson The rest of these books are graphic novels, so my reading speed is not as impressive as it might appear. The Mean Seasons: Fables Volume 5 by Bill Willingham Giant Days Volume Two by John Allison, illustrated by Lissa Treiman and Max Sarin Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis, illustrated by Brooke Allen Goldie Vance: Volume Two by Hope Larson, illustrated by Brittney Williams Wires and Nerve: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee Currently Reading: The Blood: Monstress Volume Two by Marjori Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, read by Imogen Church Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs Reading Challenges: I announced 2021 sign ups for several challenges I hosted prior…

Welcome to my weekly update for December 20, 2020! I hope all who celebrate have a merry Christmas and happy holidays! My husband and I went to a Christmas drive-through light show on Friday night. It was a lot of fun! They even blew soap bubble "snow" on our car as we reached the end. Posted: Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy, read by Val Toomey, George Newbern, Marin Ireland, and Joel Froomkin--4.5 Stars Goldie Vance by Hope Larson, illustrated by Brittney Williams--5 Stars Top Ten Winter Book Covers Read: A Promised Land by Barack Obama Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy, read by Val Toomey, George Newbern, Marin Ireland, and Joel Froomkin Around the World: Three Remarkable Journeys by Matt Phelan Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber, read by Laurel Rankin and Luke Daniels Currently Reading: The Mean Seasons: Fables Volume 5 by Bill Willingham The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, read by Christian Coulson Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs Reading Challenges: I announced 2021 sign ups for several challenges I hosted prior to my long blogging break. I hope you'll join me! Books in Translation Reading Challenge Southern Literature Reading Challenge New (To You) Narrator Reading Challenge I also signed up for several other challenges. I may not complete them all but at least they're nudging me in new directions. The buttons above and the links below take you to the information page for each challenge if you'd like to know more and/or sign up. Uncorked Reading Challenge Nonfiction Reader Challenge Diversity Reading Challenge Audiobook Reading Challenge Watching: Jingle Jangle (Netflix)--We really enjoyed this movie featuring catchy songs, colorful costumes, steampunky toys, and a whole lot of holiday magic. Up Next: I have a big pile of graphic novels to read so I'll be working…

Welcome to my weekly update for December 13, 2020! I believe I finished my Christmas shopping last week! Yay! Now I just hope everything gets delivered on time. Posted: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia--4 Stars My Top Ten Christmas Books Read: I've been trying to focus exclusively on A Promised Land (see below) but I mentally had to take a break and read a few of the graphic novels I checked out from the library. Goldie Vance by Hope Larson, illustrated by Brittney Williams Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings by Sarah Graley Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer, illustrated by Douglas Holgate and Stephen Gilpin Currently Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama (54% complete as I write this on Friday) Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy, read by Val Toomey, George Newbern, Marin Ireland, and Joel Froomkin Reading Challenges I Host: I announced 2021 sign ups for several challenges I hosted prior to my long blogging break. I hope you'll join me! 2021 Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2021 Southern Literature Reading Challenge 2021 New (To You) Narrator Reading Challenge (which dovetails nicely with Caffeinated Book Reviewer's yearly Audiobook Challenge) Speaking of reading challenges, I used to follow A Novel Challenge to find my yearly reading challenges. Since it looks like that site is on hold, Susan at Bloggin' 'Bout Books started a new aggregator for reading challenges called Ready for a Reading Challenge? Head over to share a challenge you're hosting or find a challenge to participate in! Watching: The Great British Baking Show: Holidays. Yes, we discovered the joy of this show that we've heard so much about and we've been binging the holiday episodes. Up Next: I will be very surprised if I finish either of the books I'm currently reading. I will probably take another brief break from…

Welcome to my weekly update for December 6, 2020! Southern California has a stay-at-home order that goes into place tonight (December 6) at midnight and will last for at least three weeks, taking us past Christmas. Ugh. At least it should keep hospitals from being overwhelmed. We experienced our first California earthquake on Friday night! Californians will probably laugh at me since it was just a magnitude 3.7 but we felt the shake so we feel like we've been initiated. I have experienced one other little earthquake several years ago back home in NC. It just felt like my office chair dipped a little bit and that was it. But since I was in a 7-story brick hospital building that proceeded to get noisy as it settled afterward, that one actually scared me more than this one. We did get our tiny little Christmas tree decorated on Wednesday (For those who don't know, we live in our RV while we travel with my husband's job). We also went to see the California Center for the Arts' Northern Lights display on Thursday, so I'm starting to get a little Christmas spirit! I still need to do lots of Christmas shopping though. Between warm, sunny weather and my general 2020 malaise, I haven't really gotten started yet. Posted: Review--Brave Chef Brianna by Sam Sykes, illustrated by Selina Espiritu--4 Stars Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret to The Wind in the Willows--6 Degrees of Separation Post Also three reading challenge sign-up posts (See below) Read: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, read by Wil Wheaton Currently Reading:  A Promised Land by Barack Obama Reading Challenges I Host: I announced 2021 sign ups for several challenges I hosted prior to my long blogging break. I hope you'll join me! 2021 Books…

Welcome to my weekly update for November 29, 2020! I hope all my fellow American readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving and the rest of you had good weeks as well! We had a very lowkey holiday because my husband was on call at his hospital. When he's on call he has to be able to get there within 30 minutes. That makes dining out or exploring difficult. He did get called in for one procedure but the rest of the day we relaxed and ate and watched TV. No complaints here! Last Saturday, we met my husband's cousin and his wife in La Jolla for brunch. We went for a walk along the shore while we were there and got to see beautiful coastline, lots of birds, and even sea lions! Posted: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik Book Review--3 Stars True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News by Cindy L. Otis Book Review--4 Stars New to My TBR: Nonfiction November Ten Things I'm Thankful For Read: Hounded by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles #1) by Kevin Hearne Brave Chef Brianna by Sam Sykes, illustrated by Selina Espiritu No Country for Old Gnomes (The Tales of Pell #2) by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne, read by Luke Daniels True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News by Cindy L. Otis Currently Reading: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, read by Wil Wheaton Watching: Star Trek: Picard--We've never been huge Trekkies but we do watch the movies. Eventually. Star Trek: The Next Generation is the exception. I used to watch that with my sister back in the day. It's the only iteration of the show that I've ever watched with regularity. When my husband and I signed up for a free…

Welcome to my weekly update for November 22, 2020! We've been cautiously exploring the San Diego area now for a few weeks. San Diego County was returned to the most restrictive coronavirus tier last weekend so our options are a bit limited. Luckily, my husband's cousin and his wife are nearby so we've been spending time with them. Everyone needs a circle, right? We're all comfortable with the precautions each of us is taking. We visited the San Diego Botanic Garden and Cabrillo National Monument last weekend. Masks on, of course. We haven't made firm Thanksgiving plans yet because my husband is on call the whole weekend. I hope the rest of you who celebrate have a wonderful, healthy holiday! Posted: Review: Out of the Silence: After the Crash by Eduardo Strauch with Mireya Soriana, translated by Jennie Erikson--3 Stars Review: Hiking Oregon's History by William L. Sullivan--4 Stars For Nonfiction November, I asked for recommendations for exciting nonfiction titles about geographical explorers and their expeditions. Ten Characters I Would Name a Pet After--I made myself laugh a few times with this topic! Read: Turn Coat (The Dresden Files #11) by Jim Butcher Viva Jacquelina! Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Over the Hills and Far Away (Bloody Jack #10) by L. A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren Currently Reading: Hounded by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles #1) by Kevin Hearne No Country for Old Gnomes (The Tales of Pell #2) by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne, read by Luke Daniels True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News by Cindy L. Otis Don't ask me how I ended up reading two books by the same author (Kevin Hearne) at the same time. That's normally something I wouldn't even consider doing. It just slipped…

Welcome to my weekly update for November 15, 2020! Posted: Book Review: Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (2018 edition) by James W. Loewen--4 Stars Book Review: The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained by Colin Dickey--4 Stars Book Review: Hole in the Sky by William Kittredge--2 Stars Nonfiction and Fiction Book Pairings for Nonfiction November Top 10 Book Titles as Song Titles Read: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik The Last Astronaut by David Wellington, read by Megan Tusing The October Country by Ray Bradbury Currently Reading: Turn Coat (The Dresden Files #11) by Jim Butcher Viva Jacquelina! Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Over the Hills and Far Away (Bloody Jack #10) by L. A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News by Cindy L. Otis Up Next: My hold for Hounded by Kevin Hearne became available at the library yesterday so I just downloaded it. Hopefully it isn't too similar to The Dresden Files. What did your week look like? Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon and Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosts Sunday Post. Kathryn at Book Date hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in beautiful Asheville, NC. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase merchandise through links on my site.