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Welcome to my weekly update for January 23, 2022!
This has been a low key week. Last weekend was cool and rainy here in Charleston. Back home in Asheville, they did get that 8+” of snow in the forecast so we’re glad we cancelled that trip. As I prep this post on Thursday night, we’re expecting freezing rain on Friday night/Saturday morning. Frozen stuff is rare this far south so we’re not looking forward to that.
My husband has to work all next week and he’s on call next weekend so I’m planning a visit home alone for a few days to celebrate my mom’s birthday (Happy birthday, Mama!).
Slideshow:
Charleston is nicknamed “The Holy City.” That’s either because of the many, many church spires or because of a history of religious tolerance. Whatever the reason, it’s certainly refreshing to see these steeples across the skyline instead of huge, blocky skyscrapers. Here are a few pictures my husband and I have taken on our trips downtown.
All images © 2022 Jennifer G. at Introverted Reader
- Citadel Square Church
- St. Philip’s Church
- St. Michael’s Church
- French Huguenot Church
- St. Matthew’s Church
Posted:
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (Young Readers Edition) by Jeanne Theoharis, adapted by Brandy Colbert: Book Review
Ten Anticipated Book Releases in Early 2022
The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales, edited by Maria Tatar: Book Review
Read:
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.
I had an unconscious theme this week!
Hello, Star by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic, illustrated by Vashti Harrison–5 Stars
Navigate Your Stars by Jesmyn Ward, illustrated by Gina Triplett–4 Stars
The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner, read by Ana Clements–3 Stars
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by David Roberts–3.5 Stars
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall, illustrated by Hugo Martínez–4 Stars
My Family and Other Animals (The Corfu Trilogy #1) by Gerald Durrell–2 Stars
Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, written and read by Chelsea Handler–1 Star. This has aged so badly, I’m not going to review it separately or even include the cover here. I know comedians have to walk a fine line between giving offense and being funny, but Ms. Handler crossed the line into racism and other inappropriate comments way too often. I’m honestly disappointed with myself for finishing it. Skip it.
Currently Reading:
Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World by Andrea Wulf
Up Next:
I downloaded The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan but I haven’t actually pushed play yet.
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?
Ooh, gorgeous photos! I’m glad you didn’t get caught out in the snow 🙂
Thanks! Us too.
I’m not a churchgoer, but I’ve always loved the architecture of churches and cathedrals. Those are some beautiful photos!
Too bad my husband’s book isn’t out yet. You could have read it with your “star” themed collection. 🙂
I hoped that their architecture would be appreciated for the beauty it presents.
Your husband’s book would have fit right in!
I remember really liking Wind in the Willows as a kid, but I never managed to read it aloud to my children and now I’m a little afraid to reread in case it doesn’t live up to my memories.
I know what you mean. I’m normally a re-reader but I’m afraid to re-read The Book Thief for the same reason.
I wouldn’t blame yourself for finishing a book that aged so poorly… I know that sometimes I’ll keep reading because “it has to get better…” Nice to see you enjoyed Wake! I picked that one up a while ago (I’m planning to read it next month) and have been looking forward to it.
There were parts of Are You There Vodka that were funny without being racist so they kept me going. But in the end, it just tilted way too heavily the wrong way.
I hope you like Wake!
Ah, yeah, there are books I’ve read like that too then. Where the racist (or sexist, or whatever) pieces just add up to be too much by the end, even though they weren’t enough to make me DNF while I was reading.
Yes, exactly.
I hope you enjoy your trip home to see your mom. Any skyline that isn’t full of skyscrapers is a good one in my opinion! Of course churches always seem to have such amazing details, and each denomination has their own style.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
I agree that I’d rather not see skyscrapers on the skyline.
I am loving the cover to Hello, Star
And that Charleston sky is to die for
Here is my link today:https://twogirlsandtheirbookishlife.blogspot.com/2022/01/it-is-monday-what-are-you-reading.html
The artwork in Hello, Star was beautiful, as was the story.
I hope the freezing rain wasn’t too bad. I’d rather have a foot of snow than that. Great pictures too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Luckily the ice melted by noon. It refroze over night but melted again by noon the next day. I agree that I would rather have snow than ice any day.
I enjoyed the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series very much. I loved all the old pictures she included. Hope you have a great week.
The old pictures are a lot of fun.
I love the photos!
Your books look good, too; enjoy your week! Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
Thanks!
Winter weather is always a roller coaster, isn’t it! Ice storms are now fun, so I hope it isn’t too severe for you!
Luckily it had all melted by about noon and we were able to avoid it.
I really dislike comedians that rely on over the line material, to me its not funny. I prefer someone like Trevor Noah. Those church spires and photos are gorgeous.
The sad part is that she can be really funny without going over the line! That was what kept me listening. But in the end, there was just too much of the inappropriate material.
Happy birthday to your mom and enjoy your visit home. I need to read more nature books. There are so many I want to read. I don’t know where to start.
I loved Braiding Sweetgrass and World of Wonders last year if you’d like recommendations for a place to start. And thanks for the birthday wishes for my mom!
Hope the freezing rain wasn’t too bad. And that is so cool about the city!
Take care and safe travels this week!
Luckily the freezing rain melted by noon on Saturday and then again on Sunday after it refroze over night. We were able to avoid being out in it.
I very much enjoyed The Invention of Nature — just loaned it to a friend and he also enjoyed it. Miss Peregrine was very loved by my granddaughters when the first one was new (maybe 8 years ago?) I read the second one also but by that time, they moved on and I don’t think they ever read it. I didn’t like it as well as the first one.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I haven’t been in a hurry to read Hollow City but I did make a resolution to slow down my reading this year. We’ll see what I think.
I didn’t know Charleston was nicknamed “The Holy City”, but some of those steeples look familiar… especially St. Micheals. Sounds like you made the right decision postponing that trip… glad you get to celebrate with your mom! Enjoy your books this week.
There’s a local bike rental place that’s called “Holy Spokes.” The name makes me smile.
I hope you enjoy celebrating with your mother!
Wishing you a great reading week
Thank you!
I have not read Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children and wonder if we would enjoy them. Have a great week! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2022/01/stacking-shelves-7sunday-post-4.html
I think the idea is fun. The author sort of wrote a story around old trick photos. I enjoyed the first one but haven’t made much progress on the second one yet.
I just found your blog and am excited to find a book- loving South Carolinian. I just moved to the state this past summer and our home in September. We had about 2.3 inches of snow this weekend, which i could have done without since we moved from Northern Illinois and have seen enough snow to last a lifetime. Since the snow is just about gone, I guess that’s better than back in Illinois, where it lasts weeks or months.
Welcome to the Carolinas! I’m actually a North Carolinian but my husband is a travel nurse. We’re honorary South Carolinians until April. You must get a kick out of our endless complaints and complete inability to drive on snow!
I am glad you read Wake, I think it’s an interesting read. I had no idea the role women played in slave revolts, especially the idea that slave runners allowed women near ammunition and up on deck since they “weren’t a threat.”
I know! That part really surprised me.
The Invention of Nature is a book I’ve been hoping to read. I’ve just joined the Nature Reading Challenge so I think I’ll add that one to my list for the year. And I’m always on the lookout for new picture books, so I hope to read Hello, Star soon.
I love all the photos of church spires.
And the book of annotated fairy tales sounds great.
I always think of you when I read picture books.
I’m reading The Invention of Nature on my Kindle Paperwhite because I didn’t realize how many illustrations there are. I can’t remember if you have an e-reader, but I recommend this one as a physical book.
I feel like I need to add every book you have shared here! They all look amazing!
I’ve had lots of good reads!