Reading: I finished TWO books this week. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, a read/listen combination which I loved, and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, my classics spin book which was just okay.
Yesterday I started We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and will finish later today... perfect holiday weekend reading.
Up next is Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr. for book club.
Listening: Nothing... but wondering if I should make Empty Mansions a read/listen combo or just start something new on audio today.
Watching: I walked outside this week, but did sneak in an episode of Orange is the New Black on a rainy day.
In the kitchen: A couple of new seafood recipes (Weekend Cooking post to follow), a roasted cauliflower salad, and chicken barbecue.
Later today I'll be planting a small herb garden in an old wooden wine crate.
In other news: I bought a fitbit one last week and love it...such a great motivational tool. I've surprised myself by averaging 13,000 steps, but have learned that without my daily walk or treadmill time it's awfully hard to meet that 10,000 step goal.
This post is linked to It's Monday! What are you Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
I'm reading We Were Liars, too! I hope I can finish it today, but The Name of the Wind is first priority. And I hope you love Empty Mansions as much as I did!
ReplyDeleteAndi - Seems like lately I've been noting all the books you enjoy and adding them to my list ;-)
DeleteI am so sedentary that I have a 5000 step goal. Most weekends I don't get there. Too much reading and computer time! Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I think my fitbit came with the 10,000 step goal pre-programmed. I recently read Eat Move Sleep, which recommended that level, so decided to give it a try. As long as I do some sort of walk/dog walk/treadmill, I can hit it... but my natural instinct is to read and hang out on the computer, too. Motivation seems to be key for me ;-)
DeleteI have The Interestings on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteJackie - The Interestings was excellent... probably my favorite book of the year so far!
DeleteI love my Fitbit too - it's totally addicting!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I should have gotten a fitbit a long time ago!
DeleteLove your choices of books and other weekend activities. That roasted cauliflower salad sounds delicious. Enjoy it all!!
ReplyDeleteMy post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/05/weekly-book-recap-68.html
Catherine - I've been on a roll with great books lately... fingers crossed it continues!
DeleteYou've got some amazing books there. I saw another blogger rave over 'The Interestings' and now that you liked it as well I feel I might have to check it out! Also, a herb garden in an old wine crate is a genius idea! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you enjoy all of them!
ReplyDeleteMy Monday posts
Juli @ Universe in Words
Juli - I think The Interestings may be my favorite book of the year so far!
DeleteNice books and week for you.
ReplyDeleteENJOY!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading
Elizabeth - Thanks. Hope you have a good one, too.
DeleteInteresting that you had a lukewarm reaction to The Bell Jar--definitely will read that this summer, and get it out of the way!
ReplyDeleteEmpty Mansions sounds like the kind of book I will like--never heard of Huguette Clark, I can't even tell if it's a man or woman by the name.
I have no idea how many steps I take in a day, but I do now my RunKeeper monthly miles goal keeps me on track walking wise.
JaneGS - I can't help but wonder if I would have appreciated The Bell Jar more in my late teens or twenties. It was a good enough book, but I was expecting to love it.
DeleteHuguette Clark was a woman and she died several years ago just shy of her 105th birthday. The author claims she was a member of the wealthiest family nobody has heard of. I have both the paperback and audio... think this will be a good book.
Fitness/activity goals really keep me motivated. Don't know why I waited so long to get a fitbit!
Loved Bell Jar and need to read Interestings. I love my Fitbit too but I need to work on being more active.
ReplyDeleteAthira - I think I may have liked The Bell Jar better if I'd read it in high school or college, but maybe my expectations were just too high. The Interestings was excellent though.
DeleteI've added The Interestings to my To Read list, I think I may recommend for my book club when it's my turn. Your herb garden sounds like a nice idea. Have a great week.
ReplyDeletePat - I think my book group would like The Interesting, too. I'll definitely mention it at our next meeting. I got the herb garden planted this afternoon... it looks very nice. Hope the plants thrive in that container.
DeleteChicken barbeque sounds good, we've had beautiful weather but did not grill out this weekend... too much running around. The Interestings does sound like a good read, I've been curious when I've seen that one pop up. Happy Memorial Day!
ReplyDeleteGreg - The Interestings was a great read for me... especially since I'm about the same vintage as the characters ;-)
DeleteYou and I would get along swimmingly in real life. I couldn't stop myself from binge-watching OITNB while my husband was away. I love it...and the new season comes SOON! We Were Liars is probably the fastest read this summer, and the most compelling. And LOVE my Fitbit. My goal is always at least 15K, but I don't always make it. Even have my husband asking me "how many steps do we have so far". Today, however, I have 3K!!! It was that kind of day.
ReplyDeleteSandy - I've got to watch the rest of the OITNB episodes before season 2 starts... think we're in for a rainy day or two this week so I'll be looking at the treadmill again. I finished We Were Liars this afternoon - so good!! I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to get a fitbit.
DeleteIt's interesting about The Bell Jar - I did read it as a teen and it made no impression, but when I read it last year I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI adore the wine crate herb garden idea - I might steal it from you. :-)
Anbolyn - Be my guest... the herbs seem happy in their new container.
DeleteI've been curious about The Interestings for a while. I just grabbed the audio from my library so maybe I'll give it a go.
ReplyDeleteWe finally got our garden in last week and surprisingly enough some stuff is already popping out of the soil. With the rain we're getting it should really grow.
Hope you found something good to listen to!
Darlene - It took me a while to get used to the narrator , but once I did it was amazing.
DeleteI've been hearing so much about We Were Liars and so far it has been all good. I really want to read that one!
ReplyDeleteKathleen - I posted review today - you could easily read it in a day.
DeleteI had a fitbit flex and LOVED it, but it quit working. :/ Most reviews make the fitbit one sound the best, but a lot of folks lose theirs so hang on tight to it! I have a desk job so I have to really work for those 10,000 steps.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Jennifer - The clip on the fitbit one seems very secure. I really have to work to get 10,000 steps, too... the dog loves it when I need a few more steps in the evening!
DeleteI've heard good things about We Were Liars. I should probably get a Fitbit - I need some motivation!
ReplyDeleteStacybuckeye - If you can, get a fitbit now! Such great motivational tool - I love it.
DeleteI started listening to The Interestings, but now that I'm on vacation, I don't have any time to plug in and listen. I'll get back to it next week when I return to work.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Fitbit, but my Nano tracks my steps. I usually hit my goal of 10,000/day and was surprised a few weeks ago when I hit 13,000+. That's pretty much all at work since I don't walk on the treadmill or bike trail during the week. Thank goodness for a job that keeps me active!
Les - I never seem to listen to audiobooks when I'm on vacation! I was both reading and listening to The Interestings... absolutely loved it!
DeleteThe fitbit sure makes me a lot more conscious of my daily activity. I can't seem to hit 10,000 without going for a walk or hopping on the treadmill, but when I do, then 12 - 14,000 steps is a given. I would love your job ;-)