Weekly Update

Welcome to my weekly update for December 28, 2015! I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Christmas and everyone else had a great week! Did you get some goodies? I got quite a few bookish gifts. The Dictionary of Imaginary Places by Alberto Manguel; an adult coloring book; a puzzle featuring a bunch of book covers; The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell; Lonely Planet's Beautiful World; and then in front a Pop! figure of Tyrion Lannister and some book earrings. I used one of my Barnes & Noble gift cards today to buy The Martian by Andy Weir and Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger. Posted: Nothing, but if you missed it, check out my Books in Translation Reading Challenge. You only have to read one book to be successful in this challenge! You can definitely read more if you choose though. I'm planning to get my Southern Literature and Nonfiction Reading Challenge Sign-Up Posts up this week. Read: Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand, read by Erin Bennett Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, read by Michael Madsen, Sandra Oh, Edward Herrmann, and others Currently Reading: The Discreet Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Edith Grossman Up Next: The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly is still a strong possibility. What are you reading this week? Hosts: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Welcome to my weekly update for December 21, 2015! Merry early Christmas to those who celebrate! I hope you each receive a book or two off your wishlists! Last week was spent on final Christmas preparations. Last-minute shopping, a party, remaining decorations put up--it went by in a whirlwind! I love Christmastime but I'm also glad when January rolls around and I can curl up with a book and a mug of tea by the fire and relax. Posted: Sign-up post for my Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2016. You can read only one book and still meet the requirements of this challenge. I hope you'll join me! Review: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury--4 Stars Review: Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer, read by Angela Brazil and Stephen R. Thorne--4.5 Stars Read: First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, read by Anna Fields Currently Reading: The Discreet Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Edith Grossman Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand, read by Erin Bennett Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks Up Next: I probably won't finish any of these but I have to say that The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly has been calling my name for a while now. I do tend to tackle bricks in the winter time, so this one is a strong possibility. What are you reading this week? Hosts: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Welcome to my weekly update for December 14, 2015! I've had a busy couple of weeks. My husband and I took off one Friday to drive to a choose-and-cut farm to get our Christmas tree. We've been going to the same place for most of the 14 years we've been together. We always have a good time wandering around on the hillsides [...]

Welcome to my weekly update for November 29, 2015! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving/week! We ate too much and had a great time visiting with family. I avoided the Black Friday crowds [...]

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I hope everyone had a great week! My husband and I volunteered to be balloon handlers in our local holiday parade yesterday through my job. It was a little windy so that made it a little interesting. Our hands are still cramped from hanging on to the ropes! It was a lot of fun though. Posted:Review: Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World by David Maraniss--4 Stars Review: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, read by Grayce Wey--4 Stars Read: The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak Currently Reading:Rex Libris, Volume I: I, Librarian by James Turner The House of Hades by Rick Riordan, read by Nick Chamian In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides Up Next:I'm going to focus on finishing these three books before I start something new. What are you reading this week? I hope all my fellow Americans have a Happy Thanksgiving and the rest of you have a great week! I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I haven't had too much going on lately. I had to travel to Denver last weekend for work. I always find these quick trips across time zones to be exhausting. I don't know how people who regularly have to travel like this do it! Posted:Review: He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson--4 Stars Review: Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett--5 Stars Read:In the Woods by Tana French The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh, read by Dorothy Dillingham Blue, Shannon McManus, and Sofia Willingham Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore Currently Reading:The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak Rex Libris, Volume I: I, Librarian by James Turner The House of Hades by Rick Riordan, read by Nick Chamian In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides Up Next:I don't expect to finish any of these books this week. What are you reading? I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's been a while. My husband and I visited the coast of Maine on vacation about a month ago and had a wonderful time. It was beautiful! The highlight of our trip was probably the biplane ride we took over Mount Desert Island/Acadia National Park. That was amazing! After that, my in-laws visited for a long weekend and then I came down with a cold that left me lazy and wanting only to curl up, nap, drink tea, and read books. I think I've finally kicked that to the curb (knock on wood), so here I am! Posted:Nothing. Read:I've been reading lots of October-y reads for RIP X. Here are the highlights. Rome, 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World by David Maraniss The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay Summer Knight by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters Cabal by Clive Barker The Empty House and Other Stories by Algernon Blackwood, read by Brian Holsopple He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson, edited by Christopher Conlon The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong Currently Reading:In the Woods by Tana French The Incorrible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren Educating Alice: Adventures of a Curious Woman by Alice Steinbach Up Next:I need a spooky audio book to finish out the month. Any suggestions? My library's selection is fairly limited. I have put a hold on Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore. I don't think it will come in before Halloween though. Oh well. Christopher Moore is a good read at any time of year. What…

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Posted:Review: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts--3 Stars Read: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley Currently Reading:Rome, 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World by David Maraniss I've also been reading some of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. Up Next:I'm honestly not sure. Probably The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett. What are you reading this week? I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site. My opinions are completely my own.

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. She's taking a bit of personal leave so I'm also linking to Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I spent last week settling into increased responsibilities at work. It was nice to finally have a little breathing room to catch up! I picked up some books from a nonprofit I volunteer for occasionally, The POP Project, and on Saturday I delivered them to the community resource center in the little town where I grew up. Those books should make it into the hands of people who don't have the means to buy books for themselves. Then my husband, my mom, and I went to the fair, where we ate entirely too many things that are bad for us. I look forward to an apple dumpling from the same little booth every year. Posted:Nothing. I started a review of Shantaram but it started getting as long as the book. I scrapped it and never quite got around to starting over. Read:Also nothing, although that should change before I go to bed tonight. Currently Reading:The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley Rome, 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World by David Maraniss Up Next:My mom has been radically de-cluttering her house over the past month or so and a lot of old books that belonged to my sister and me have found their way to my house. Some have already been donated to the library or The POP Project, but there are quite a few more I want to re-read before I give them away and a lot I want to re-read before I place them on my shelves. I may start working on some of those. What are you reading this week? I have an affiliate relationship with…

Welcome to my weekly update for September 14, 2014! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I went to a conference for work at Myrtle Beach this weekend. My husband tagged along so he had a good time lounging by the pool and then [...]