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Welcome to my weekly update for December 8, 2024!
My husband and I picked up lingering colds the week of Thanksgiving so we’ve been taking it easy for a couple of weeks. We’re planning to start exploring again this weekend. There’s so much to see around Arizona!
One of our first excursions when we arrived in the Phoenix area was to Lost Dutchman State Park. We hiked to the base of these rocks and back down. When I flew home to NC a few weeks ago, my husband decided to hike/climb to the very top of the rocks (Named the Superstition Mountains). I knew that was more than my creaky knees could handle!
All images © Jennifer G. at Introverted Reader 2024
Posted:
Sign ups for my 2025 Books in Translation Reading Challenge
and
2025 Southern Literature Reading Challenge.
You can read one book for each of these challenges and be successful or you can choose a different level to make it more difficult if you’d like. I’ve pinned the images in my sidebar for easy reference. Just click the button and you’ll be taken to the challenge page. I hope you’ll join me!
Read:
I was almost finished with a couple of these last week and a week of lying low gave me plenty of time for reading. Would you believe that all of these links go to my reviews on GoodReads? I’ve been in a definite review slump. I won’t promise you that they’re stellar reviews but they’re something!
The Hush (Johhny Merrimon #2) by John Hart, read by Jeremy Bobb–4 Stars
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck–4 Stars
I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers–3 Stars
Cute Toot by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Olivia de Castro–4 Stars
Christmas Bliss (Weezie and Bebe Mysteries #4) by Mary Kay Andrews, read by Kathleen McInerney–4 Stars
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop (The Christmas Bookshop #2) by Jenny Colgan–4 Stars
Currently Reading:
A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter, translated by Jane Degras
Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Wally Lamb, read by the author
Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Matt Patterson
Up Next:
I stopped by the library on Tuesday and checked out 11 graphic novels and picture books. I dislike reading those on my Kindle or laptop so I try to pick up physical copies when I can. You’ll see those show up over the next couple of weeks
What did your week look like?
Hosts:
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?
32 Comments
Arizona is beautiful country to hike around in!
I haven’t read Cannery Row, but I have read other John Steinbeck titles. I didn’t read his work until my adult son turned me on to The Pastures of Heaven. I try to read at least one of his books a year now.
Thanks for the heads up about the Wally Lamb title. It will be my adult Christmas read this year.
I had to read two of Steinbeck’s books in high school and loathed them. But my old book club chose The Grapes of Wrath as one of our monthly reads several years ago. That was one of the books I had to read in high school. I decided to re-read it and loved it the second time around. I’ve read a few more of his books since then and I’ve really liked all of them. I’ve reached the conclusion that most teenagers (or maybe it was just me) simply don’t have the life experience to appreciate him.
My husband and I are really enjoying the Wally Lamb book on audio. I hope you do too!
I would love to do some hiking in Arizona, although I’d be nervous about rattlesnakes. Ugh! How are you enjoying Sy Montgomery’s new book? It’s on my mental TBR list. Enjoy the warm sunshine!
I have a phobia of all snakes but do my best to just put it aside while we’re hiking. I have a figurative heart attack on the rare occasions when we come across a snake on the trail and then I move on. But we haven’t come across any so far in the desert, knock on wood. They tend to surprise me more on wooded trails where they’re harder to see in the brush and fallen leaves.
I like the turtle book so far but somehow it’s moving a bit slow for me. That seems appropriate, given the subject though.
I am looking forward to seeing what graphic novels you are reading and what you think of them. Have a great week!
I haven’t even made time for any of the graphic novels this week!
Ah Arizona, that must be an amazing state. Great you got so much read in the past week. Hope your challenges go well. I am always surprised by how many southern lit authors there are.
Southerners love to tell a good story! It’s practically our regional pastime.
Coincidentally, I just read a book the included the Lost Dutchman State Park (A Killer’s Code by Isabella Maldonado) which made me curious about the area. You read an interesting assortment of books. Come see me week here. Happy reading!
How cool! I’ll have to look for that book.
I read the new Jenny Colgan short Christmas story but I need to read both of her Christmas bookshop novels still.
I will be joining you for the Books in Translation challenge again next year! Will do my post closer to the end of the year.
I loved the first Christmas Bookshop! The second was good but not quite as good as the first. I still need to create my own reading challenge page. Well, I actually need to decide which challenges I’m doing first!
Arizona sounds like fun! Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is on my wish list. Hope you enjoy your week.
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2024/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-dec-9.html
We’re having a good time in Arizona!
Have fun exploring Arizona! Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop Sounds good. I liked your review.
Thank you!
The Sy Montgomery book sounds so good! And I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you!
I hope you both are feeling better! Colds over the holidays are even less fun than regular colds.
We’re both feeling better, I’m just eager for the lingering few sniffles to dry up. Thank you!
Phoenix sounds ideal for this time of the year. I love the photo from Lost Dutchman State Park.
It’s a great idea to check out graphic novels instead of trying to read them on the Kindle.
I haven’t even attempted a graphic novel on my Kindle since it’s a Paperwhite and I would lose all the color. I’ve read one or two on my laptop but I don’t find that enjoyable. So the physical library it is!
Oh, you’re in Phoenix… what a great spot for the winter months! It’s been a few years, but I remember enjoying Wishin’ and Hopin’.
My husband and I are giggling or outright laughing all the way through as we listen to the audiobook. It’s a lot of fun!
I would love to get to Phoenix someday! Enjoy!
It’s a different kind of beautiful!
I’m a big fan of Sy Montgomery so I hope you are enjoying Of Time and Turtles.
Hope you feel better soon, have a wonderful reading week
I’m enjoying it but I think I need to sit down during the day and spend some time with it. Reading it while I’m trying to fall asleep seems to be taking forever.
Arizona is beautiful and you are there at a good time of year when it won’t be too hot. I hope you are feeling better and able to get out more and see it.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Yes, we’re both feeling better with just the occasional residual sniffle. We were able to get out last weekend, which was nice.
With so many 4 star books, it looks like you’ve had some great reading recently!
Four seems to be my default rating but I definitely can’t complain about my recent choices!