We've had another beautiful week in Florida - cool by local standards, but total bliss if you're from upstate New York. Highlights include more beach walks, bike rides, a trip through the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, an armload of books from the local library, and a delicious spinach salad with shrimp complimented by this gorgeous view.
I slipped into a mini-reading slump after finishing Tolstoy and the Purple Chair last week (my review)... the book was a real downer. After several novels didn't seem to work for me, I perused the library shelves for some light nonfiction. That seemed to do the trick!
Read this week//
Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality
by Jacob Tomsky
Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris
by Jennifer L. Scott
Neither book is worthy of an entire review, but I plan to write one post with two minis.
Listening to//
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine, narrated by Suzanne Toren
Good so far, but I'm not really listening much these days.
Current reading//
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
This book arrived yesterday in a big batch of forwarded mail from home. I sampled a few pages last night and plan to read the rest of it over the coming week.
On the blog//
Tuesday Intro: Heads in Beds
West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan: Pick or Pass?
Review: Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch
Looking forward to//
- The SU/Duke basketball game tonight. The season has been awful, but I'm a diehard fan.
- The Sunday Farmers Market and Arts & Crafts Festival
- Spending time with my sister
Hoping//
My family and friends in the northeast stay safe and warm during this latest blast of winter.
Have a great weekend.
This post will link to It's Monday, What are you Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
Enjoy your break! I am certainly looking forward to any kind of winter break, but may have to wait a while for that.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Athira. It's been such a miserable winter for anyone north of Florida, it seems.
DeleteEnjoy your company!
ReplyDeleteKathy - We're having a great time :)
DeleteSounds like you've had a lovely week! I'm curious about Heads in Beds so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed even though it wasn't amazing. I'm in an audio slump so that might be a good choice to help get me out of it. Enjoy your visit with your sister and brother-in-law!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - If you're still in an audio slump, I highly recommend Dollbaby!
DeleteSo glad to see this reply, JoAnn! I've been trying to get Dollbaby on audio from my library, but they haven't had it available to download... until today! Woot!!
DeleteLes - Hooray! Can't wait to hear what you think... hope you love it as much as I did:)
DeleteLovely view. Sounds like your time in FL is turning out great. Enjoy your family time.
ReplyDeleteKay - I'm very happy to be here :)
DeleteYour Florida stay sounds wonderful! I just escaped from NY to Virginia and the snow followed me!! Seriously?!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Hausfrau...I hear the writing is gorgeous. Also - I'm reading A Touch of Stardust right now and it's turning out to be a more appealing novel about 1930's Hollywood than West of Sunset was for me.
Sarah - My daughter was supposed to run a race in Brooklyn and they cancelled because of the frigid temps. It's hard to get far enough south to escape this winter!
DeleteI'm going to investigate A Touch of Stardust and, unfortunately, I have not gotten back to Hausfrau (or anything else) yet this week.
I bought my daughter a copy of Lessons from Madame Chic a couple of years ago. She's really not a reader, but I thought she'd enjoy the book since she's such a fashionista. If anything, she can use the book as a prop for her blog. ;)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your visitors and your beautiful weather!
P.S. I'm currently downloading the audio of Heads in Beds. Can't wait to give it a listen!
DeleteLes - I did pick up a couple of tips from Madame Chic! Hope Heads in Beds is entertaining on audio... I see it is narrated by the author.
DeleteHeads in Beds looks like fun. Enjoy your company!
ReplyDeletePat - It was definitely fun nonfiction. Probably a category I need to explore more fully ;-)
DeleteOooh, Hausfrau. I really, REALLY liked that book and can't wait to hear what you think of it!
ReplyDeleteJennifer - I'd recently seen your comment on goodreads,so I was even more excited when Hausfrau appeared in my mailbox!
DeleteSeems you've found a good way to get out of the reading slump. And that sunny weather is a great inducement. Enjoy your snowbird status, upcoming reads, and of course, SNL and DA. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteCatherine - I'm going to keep light nonfiction in mind for the next slump. I ended up watching SNL last Sunday and still need to watch Downton before this weekend :)
DeleteHeads in Beds looks like a fun read - I always rather like hotels - even the chain ones where each one looks the same.
ReplyDeleteHeavenali - I'm a fan of hotels, too, so this was an entertaining read.
DeleteIt is always so much fun going to local libraries, wherever you are. There's something new to be discovered about the place you're in. And glad to hear the weather there is great and safe!
ReplyDeleteJillian - The library here was one of the nicest I've visited :)
DeleteHeads In Beds sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteSheila - It's a fun read!
DeleteWell, at least you are still reading. I know how a book can turn you off to others. I hate that slump, but a good time to catch up with other venues. I'm thinking Heads in Beds is on my list. Still reading off my shelves. Have it down to one shelf and one basket. Not saying that leave 30+ books to be read. Enjoy your days in Florida.
ReplyDeleteMidlife Roadtripper - I'm impressed you're still reading from your shelves. That takes a lot of discipline! Hope you've found some gems there.
DeleteI swear if it just got to double digits, I'd feel as if I were in a heat wave! Enjoy the warmth.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I know! My mother was just saying how wonderful it felt at 15 degrees with the sun shining. :(
DeleteHausfrau intrigues me with that old fashioned Victoriana cover.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth - That is a beautiful cover!
DeleteYou are really enjoying your Florida escape, aren't you? It looks lovely....I've never been, but hope to go someday. Meanwhile, Sunny Cali works for me...LOL.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of Hausfrau...hope your reading slump is over. Thanks for visiting my blog, and have a great week.
Laure-Rain Snow - We'll be heading home for 2 1/2 weeks in March. I'm kind of dreading it...
DeleteGreat choices! I wish I had enough time to read everything on YOUR list as well as mine. LOL
ReplyDeleteDebbie - LOL!
DeleteGlad you have a visit, and nice weather. That view looks nice...enjoy your time, and have a great week. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Greg.
DeleteI hope you get time to read the beautifully covered Hausfrau even though you have visitors :-)
ReplyDeleteBrona - No reading time yet this week, but I still have a few more days ;-)
DeleteI have that Madame Chic book too - I flipped through it and it looked interesting. Glad you are having a nice break from this winter weather - it has been brutal this week!
ReplyDeleteColleen - Madame Chic was light and fun... made me want to go out and back make-up setting spray ;-)
DeleteNadia (at A Bookish Way of Life) was loving Hausfrau...I'll have to open my edition. Glad you've found something appealing to read, it's hard after a downer. Hopefully, sunny Florida will also help!
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I decided to save Hausfrau for later this spring. Don't think I can fully appreciate it while in this reading funk.
DeleteI have officially had it with winter. Gage needs warm weather. And we all need a vacation. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteStacy - You are not alone in that feeling! We couldn't have picked a better year to escape.
DeleteI swear you add more books to my wish list than anyone else!
ReplyDeleteLisa - Sorry ;-)
DeleteLooking forward to your thoughts on Hausfrau! I'm currently reading it.
ReplyDeleteMelinda - I have been in a horrible reading slump this month and could tell I was in no mood to appreciate Hausfrau. Decided to put it aside for now and try again later in March, but will be very curious to hear what you think.
Delete