Good morning! Our family adventure is over. We returned home late Friday night, spent Saturday tackling the mountain of laundry and packing Daughter #1 for her return to college, and will be leaving shortly to drive her back. The week went far too quickly. We spent the first night in Boulder, Colorado before moving on to Vail. The drive through the Rocky Mountains was absolutely spectacular! It's been over 25 years since I listened to John Denver but, much to my family's dismay, it was impossible to resist the urge to sing a chorus or two along the way. Being the off-season, Vail was fairly quiet but we enjoyed the mountain views, hiking, and great restaurants. From there we took the scenic route south to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The picture above was taken as we were leaving the Rockies.
Santa Fe is a very artsy city in the high desert. The Native American crafts and galleries long Canyon Road were amazing. We also enjoyed a few museums and, of course, the great restaurants. There will be some photos to share for the next few weeks of Wordless Wednesdays.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was the only book completed on this trip. It's the first YA title I've read since I was a young adult (did they even have this designation back then?)... and what a great starting point it was! My 16 year old daughter will be reading this shortly and I look forward to discussing it with her. It is also my book club's September selection, so I'll wait and combine a review with the group's reaction. Let's just say high school is a lot different now than it was 30 years ago!
Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, a Persephone Classic, is my current book. I only managed about 75 pages while on vacation, but can't wait to pick it up again later this evening. Paperback Reader and Verity did a marvelous job hosting the Persephone Reading Week Challenge. Hopefully I can carve out some time later in the week to visit all the participants and read their reviews. It was certainly bad timing on my part to be away all week. Next time, I will schedule my travels around it!
A quick reminder - I will draw a winner in the Two Guys Read Jane Austen giveaway on Tuesday. You can still enter here.
For the week ahead, I will be reviewing That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo, wrapping up the summer vacation reading challenge, reading Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, and getting the twins ready for the start of their school year. My blogging routine should begin to return to normal this week and, once school starts, the rest of my life should fall back into place too.
Enjoy your reading time today, and I look forward to visiting all your blogs again soon!
Welcome back JoAnn! I'm so looking forward to reading what you thought of Someone at a Distance. Not to mention what you'd like to say to Louise given half a chance! Your photo reminds me of how vast certain landscapes are, lets hope they stay that way, it's breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! I hope you manage to catch up on all of the PRW festivities and manage to finish Someone at a Distance once you've settled back into home and school life.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you and your family had a wonderful trip. I also look forward to seeing your thoughts on Whipple's book as well as the Russo book.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Welcome home. I can't wait to hear what you think about That Old Cape Magic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great vacation! We went through the same places last summer and the kids had a ball. Snow in July over the Continental Divide and staying at The Stanley in Estes Park were some highlights for them. I will be on the lookout for that Russo review this week. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteDarlene - Someone at a Distance is wonderful, but I have a very bad feeling about Louise. She and I are not going to get on well at all, I'm afraid. Looking forward to my reading time tonight!
ReplyDeletePaperback Reader - Thank you! I'm loving Someone at a Distance, and looking forward to reading through all the reviews and comments. You and Verity did an outstanding job last week!
Book Psmith - I feel like I've been away for ages...can't wait to catch up with everyone!
Lezlie - Thanks!
Diane - I loved That Old Cape Magic...just need to concentrate on getting a review written!
Frances - It was a great trip! I would have liked to stay in each place a little longer, but am so happy we got to see it all. Now I'd really like to visit Colorado in the winter, too!
Sounds like a wonderful trip--welcome back!
ReplyDeleteds - Thanks, it was great. Now I need to catch up with all my blogging friends!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, JoAnn! I'm glad to hear you had such a great vacation. I'm looking forward to your review of Speak - that's definitely an excellent introduction to contemporary YA.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had fun! That picturee is amazing.
ReplyDeleteNymeth - I thought Speak was excellent. My next YA will probably be Wintergirls, by the same author...but probably not until later this fall.
ReplyDeleteStacybuckeye - It's hard to believe the pictures I took that day came from a camera... they all seem to look like paintings.
Such beautiful country!
Yes, welcome back! So glad you had a wonderful vacation!
ReplyDeleteHmsgofita - Thank you! I just put your name in for the Two Guys giveaway, too... I'll draw it first thing tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed your trip. I loved Speak and I think you'll be amazed at all the things you and your daughter will discuss. It is a fantastic and important book. I chuckled when I read how next year you're going to schedule your vacation around the Persephone challenge!! ;)
ReplyDeleteYour vacation sounds lovely. The Native American art is also something I would really love - I really like Native American art and history - it's amazing. I also believe that the food probably rocked - I'm a huge fan of food too!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to all your upcoming reviews.
Staci - I was really impressed with Speak! It was not at all what I expected from YA lit. I'll definitely be reading more in the future!
ReplyDeleteJusticejenniferreads - There was an outdoor 'Indian Market' where Native American crafts were sold. My daughters and I all bought jewelry, but pottery and paintings were being sold, too. Then we visited a new museum devoted to Contemporary Native American Art...it was quite a day!
I'm sure Speak will spark a fascinating discussion with your daughter. I listened to it on CD last year and found it just incredible, but really paingful at the same time.
ReplyDeleteEva - I'll bet Speak was great as an audio. Your description is perfect - incredible and painful at the same time! My daughter is almost finished with it.
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