Good morning, friends. How are you this last weekend of summer? My week was full of fall activities - apples, mums, and the first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Much of it reappeared on Instagram as my #100HappyDays project enters the home stretch. Just over 2 weeks to go.
On the reading front//
I didn't read much during the week, but yesterday morning I sat down and read the first half of The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. It's the R.I.P. IX readalong selection (hosted by The Estella Society) and much better than I was expecting. I'm reading an old paperback from the library, but am planning a trip to the bookstore this afternoon. Have you seen the gorgeous Penguin Horror Series edition? I had it in my hands a couple of weeks ago and have seriously regretted not buying it ever since.
Agatha Chrisitie's A Murder is Announced is still my bedtime reading but, since we watched more television this week, I'm only at the 50% mark.
Listening//
It's been ages since this happened, but I started and finished an audiobook this week! My recent books have been pretty long, so it was a pleasure to listen to a book under ten hours. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell has been on my wish list for ages and was a good follow-up to An American Tragedy - a very long classic.
I'm not quite sure what's up next... maybe the ultra-short Breakfast at Tiffany's ( a recent daily deal) until I make a decision.
On the blog//
Tuesday Intro: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Bring on the Backlist - a list of authors I've read once, but want more
At Last! - announcement of new kindle software that will let us share books
In the kitchen// We're hovering between seasons... grilling most evenings, but the slow cooker has been out for a couple of batches of soup, too. I'm making an effort to get back to our Meatless Monday routine and have turned to Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table for inspiration. More on this in the coming weeks.
Watching// The Roosevelts: An Intimate History occupied our viewing time this week. After watching the first couple of episodes, we turned to the DVR for the next couple of nights and are still playing catch-up.
Other stuff// I replaced my ancient first generation iPad last week. Why did I wait so long? The difference is incredible!
Later today// A long walk is next on the agenda. The rain should hold off for the next couple of hours, I hope. Later some browsing at the bookstore, maybe a little football, then family dinner at my sister's house. We'll get back to The Roosevelts this evening.
What are you up to today? Have you read anything good this week?
This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
It looks like fall is in the air! I hope you loved Eleanor and Park as much as I did.
ReplyDeleteKathy - I was pretty impressed with Eleanor & Park and have added Fangirl to my audible wish list.
DeleteI'm not quite ready for fall and was very pleased with our 87 degree temp yesterday! I sat on the porch, in the sun, while thumbing through cookbooks, working on my weekly menu plan. It was lovely to bask in the sun! However, I did pick up a couple of cans of pumpkin so I can start making my pumpkin smoothies for breakfast again. I'll probably rotate them with my green smoothies since I tend not to eat a lot of fruit in the winter. (I add quite a bit of fruit to mask the spinach flavor!)
ReplyDeleteI sure have enjoyed your 100HappyDays project on Instagram. My new phone has an awesome camera, so I need to make an effort to take more pictures this fall.
I might pick up a copy of The Haunting of Hill House. Is it super creepy? Stephen King creepy?
I read Eleanor & Park, but have the audio on my Nano for a future listen. I have so many books ready to listen to right now that I may wait until the story isn't quite so familiar.
I still have my first generation iPad, too. I rarely ever use it, though, since I have a nice Acer laptop and my new Galaxy S5 phone.
Have a great week, JoAnn!
Les - I'm glad you're enjoying my 100Happy Days and I love finding the little things that give me pleasure throughout the day.
DeleteThe Haunting of Hill House isn't as creepy as Stephen King, but I'm only half way through. The worst is yet to come, I'm sure. Will get back to you with the final verdict.
Eleanor & Park was great on audio - excellent narrators! I may need to add more YA to my reading after all...
We use the iPad primarily for travel. The first generation was incredibly frustrating last winter in Florida when it was our primary internet access. I'm so hoping to spend even more time there this year, so replacement felt like a necessity. Still not sure of our plans, but my fingers are crossed. Winters are far too long here!
Hope you have a great week, too!
I love the Moosewood Kitchen cookbooks - they get a lot of use in my house. :)
ReplyDeleteI also loved Eleanor and Park, although it made me so frustrated in parts. Looking forward to your review!
Quixotic Magpie - I agree about the Moosewood Kitchen. Love there recipes! Hope to gather my thoughts on Eleanor & Park this week, but the review might not post until the following week.
DeleteGreat reading. Last weekend of summer? ooh... thats depressing. I am hanging out at home laying low after a busy week and weekend and another crazy week about to start :)
ReplyDeleteSheila - Sounds like a perfect weekend to me!
DeleteBeautiful photos - I love following them on instagram too! Enjoy the new ipad - I replaced by 1st generation earlier this year and the difference in weight alone has been a pleasant surprise!
ReplyDeleteColleen - Glad you like the instagram photos! The new iPad is so fast and so light... I'm loving it!
DeleteOkay, now I have to go to the Barnes & Noble in my neighborhood and get a Pumpkin Spice Latte....love this time of year! Your photos at the top are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog. I haven't read Eleanor and Park, but loved Landline and Attachments by this author.
Laurel-Rain Snow - Glad to know you loved Rainbow Rowell's other novels... I want to read them all now! Hope you get to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte this week.
DeleteSimple Suppers looks great. I love my Vegetarian Times cookbook but it takes a long time to cook many of those items. I'm not a vegetarian but I love cooking vegetarian.
ReplyDeleteHeidi - We're not vegetarian either, but I'm embracing the Meatless Monday concept. The Moosewood Restaurant cookbooks are always a source of inspiration.
DeleteSimple Suppers sounds interesting. I have the audio for Eleanor and Park on my library list and am looking forward to getting to it. I've heard fantastic things about the Roosevelt series. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it. I'm hoping it will show up on amazon or netflix since I missed the beginning few. Simple Suppers sounds interesting. I love simple meals with fresh ingredients. So often so satisfying. Can't wait to hear what you thought of Haunting of Hill House. I've added American Tragedy to my TBR though it will probably be awhile before I get to it since I can't seem to stop pressing request on NetGalley! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I'm surprised at how much I like The Haunting of Hill House! It's not as scary as I'd feared (yet) and I'm enjoying the writing, too. Your posts tempt me to return to Netgalley, but all I have from them at the moment is a cookbook. Hope I can stay strong ;-)
DeleteE&P is precious. If you haven't listened to Fangirl, that needs to be on your list. I love the fall, and all the pumpkin flavors but it is hard to get into the mood when it is 90 degrees. We've been going on walks but it is honestly just miserable. I'm dying for cooler weather. Haunting of Hill House is great. You should look on Netflix...there are a couple of movies made based on that book.
ReplyDeleteSandy - I've added Fangirl tony audio wish list. E&P is the second great YA title I've enjoyed this year (We Were Liars is the other)... starting to think I should read more on a regular basis.
DeleteI've become obsessed with following Florida weather now. Sanibel highs are in the 80s most of this week... maybe a corner has been turned? Hope you get some relief soon.
Looking forward to the Hill House movies when I'm done with the book.
I am watching and enjoying The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. I really liked Eleanor and Park and agree with Sandy Fangirl is a must listen, I brought home beautiful mums, put them on my deck and a nasty storm came through and they are looking sad. I hope they recover. I should have brought them in the garage.
ReplyDeleteNise' - You recommendation added to Sandy's makes Fangirl a MUST LISTEN!
DeleteWow--I love those Penguin Horror Series covers! And only two weeks left in your 100 days--that's awesome! Think you're going to miss it?
ReplyDeleteDebi - Aren't those covers of the horror series gorgeous? I was so disappointed that B&N didn't have it yesterday. May head to the college bookstore in the opposite direction later today...
DeleteOne of these days I'll read Hill House! Saw the movie many times. Enjoying the Roosevelt's also. Fall is my favorite time of year!
ReplyDeletePeggy Ann - Hill House is a very pleasant surprise so far... we'll see how scary the second half is.
DeletePumpkin is not my favorite flavor, but I do like seeing how many things can be flavored with it :) I am still planning on reading The Haunting of Hill House for RIP. I just checked & I have the same Penguin edition. I saw some new-to-me Shirley Jackson titles at B&N this afternoon but haven't collected any of them yet. I hope you have a lovely week!
ReplyDeleteLisa - Two of my daughters love pumpkin and one is not a fan... I always feel sorry for her this time of year ;-)
DeleteI went to B&N yesterday looking for that Penguin Horror Series edition and was disappointed when they didn't have it. Also wanted to get a DuMairier title other than Rebecca, but nothing was available.
Pumpkin spice latte- love this time of year. We've been watching football and The Roosevelts too all week...
ReplyDeleteGreg - Football and The Roosevelts pretty much sums up our week :)
DeleteHope you enjoyed your weekend -- and all the fun activities you had planned. Lovely mums photo -- it's so nice to see pots of them and bins of pumpkins everywhere. They are some of my favorite things about this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog -- have a great week.
Catherine - As much as I love summer, the colors, scent, and taste of fall is always so welcome. Too bad it all leads to winter ;-)
DeleteI really enjoyed reading Eleanor & Park, but I bet the audiobook is really enjoyable to listen to. I've been having a great time with the Roosevelts, too, and have to admit I'll be a little sad to see it end!
ReplyDeleteShannon - The audio version of Eleanor & Park was wonderful - excellent narrators! I was at B&N yesterday and sat down for a little while to reread the end.
DeleteI'm a Moosewood addict (well, the newer books; the originals were full of unnecessary fats). I love fall and the farm-fresh apples.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I agree about the early Moosewood books, but this one is very good. Just wish they'd include more photos.
DeleteI love fall - the cooler weather and all the fun stuff you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Yvonne - Me, too.... but too bad winter is so close behind ;-)
DeleteWonderful Fall photos! I love this time of year. It looks like you had a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat. I just love fall and everything that goes along with it. Just wish it was followed by spring instead of winter ;-)
DeleteI need to replace my old, old iPhone....esp now that the new one is just out! My brother saw mine this weekend and said he was amazed that I never even updated the operating system...haha!
ReplyDeleteSarah - It's not easy to keep up with technology, lol!
DeleteYou have just two weeks to go with your happiness project?! That's awesome. I stopped after day 10, but I really need to get back on the saddle. It'll probably make me feel better. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteVasilly - Yes, I've skipped a few days so it's taking me longer than 100 days but I'm very glad I stuck with it!
DeleteEleanor and Park on audio was very good. I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone, everywhere is buying flowers to plant. Everyone except those living in drought-ridden California! I am jealous.
Ti - E&P was very good. I've added Rainbow Rowell's other books to my audio wish list! Sure hope you guys get some much-needed rain soon.
DeleteI really like the Penguin horror series, but I have not yet seen them in person. Eleanor and Park was great.
ReplyDeleteHere's my week: http://www.alwaysreiding.com/manic-monday-09222014/
A. Reiding - I saw them at a college bookstore at the beginning of the month and am kicking myself for not buying at least one of them... don't seem to be able to find them closer to home.
DeleteHave you read A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly? I love that book and it obliquely ties in to An American Tragedy. The horror books are gorgeous! Now I want them to! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteIntroverted Jen - I had no idea A Northern Light was at all related to An American Tragedy until after I started googling information about the actual trial AT is based upon. I've read another of Donnelly's books and would like to read A Northern Light, too... my daughter has it on her shelf upstairs. She loved it!
Delete