After a couple of sunny, springlike days in central New York, winter has returned with a vengeance - snow, cold, and howling winds. In other words, today is a perfect day to grab a cup of coffee, burrow under a favorite blanket or afghan, and read. And that's exactly how I spent my morning.
Current reading//
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
Part 2 of our #6Barsets Project is underway. I've decided on a print/audio combination again (Simon Vance narration) and am loving this novel.Finished this week//
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
I just finished this morning and will definitely continue with the series.
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
A wonderful book and outstanding audio performance by Suzanne Toren, but I wish I had read it instead. There were many places I wanted to pause, reread, and think for a moment, but that it difficult to do when listening.
Up next//
My library hold of The Girl on the Train arrived but, after finishing My Brilliant Friend, I am tempted to immediately move on to the second book in Ferrante's series, The Story of a New Name. Or maybe I'll spend the entire week with Mr. Trollope.
Decisions, decisions...
On the blog//
Tuesday Intro: Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
Review: The Warden by Anthony Trollope
In the kitchen//
It been a soup kind of week. I made both split pea and baked potato soup last week. Menu planning is next on today's agenda, so I'll have a better idea of what's cooking this week a little later.
On the homefront//
Twin A is home for spring break this week and Daughter #1 will take the train up from NYC on Thursday. I'm looking forward to a full house by the end of the week! There will be an early birthday celebration for the twins and we have a few other family activities planned. I'm not sure how much time will be available for reading and blogging this week.
What are you reading today?
This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
Today is my brother in law's birthday but I totally forgot it coincides with the Ides of March! I'm sorry you're still suffering with winter - it's gorgeous here!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I am really missing Florida today!
DeleteJust beginning "Euphoria" by Lily King. Since having read many, many moons ago about anthropologist Margaret Mead and her sojourn in the wilds of New Guinea and Samoa, I was curious to read a novel inspired by the events of her personal life during that time. The book has received very good reviews.
ReplyDeleteSorry you're still suffering the cold weather. In my neck of the woods, today is mid-70's, sun and blue sky, and the parks are full.
JudyMac - I listened to Euphoria a few months ago and, while the narration was spectacular, it might have worked better for me in print. I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteHad to look at your profile to see where mid-70's and sun are today. Wish I could be in Georgia today, too :)
Don't do eBooks or listen; gotta have the real thing in hand. Forgot to mention ... Just finished the excellent My Brilliant Friend ... Flew through it ... Now ready for the next two!
DeleteJudyMac - I'm going to try to read The Girl on the Train first (since I waited so long for the hold), but if it doesn't grab me right away I'll turn to The Story of a New Name.
DeleteI bet you are missing Florida. Wow. Good luck with your meal planning and I know that having all your family around will be a good time. Take care and here's hoping that this will be the last snowstorm???
ReplyDeleteKay - I certainly hope this will be the end of the snow, but you can never be sure around here. Still remember the year we got a few inches on Mother's Day - yikes! There's a chance I will go back to Florida in 10 days... fingers crossed!
DeleteBRRR! I need to put on a sweater just looking at your picture! We've had rain and 40's-50's but today back down in the 30's but no snow, thank heavens! I want to read The Girl on the Train! Can't wait to see what you think.
ReplyDeletePeggy Ann - It was in the upper 40's early in the week... and sunny! Today was definitely a setback. I was hoping to put the snow shovel away. Think I read a little of The Girl on the Train tonight.
DeleteI'm looking forward to hearing about the My Brilliant Friend series. I don't know which one I would pick either if I were you. How wonderful that your kids are coming home this week - hope you get plenty of family time!
ReplyDeleteAthira - It seemed to take me a little longer to get into My Brilliant Friend, but I ended up liking it a lot. There are two other books in the series, but I understand a fourth is on the way.
DeleteI'm so happy to have all the girls home this week! Now that they're all in their 20s, it doesn't happen quite as often.
Ohhh... not much time for blogging and reading, I'd then go with The Girl on The Train. I enjoyed it quite a lot but others are LOVING it!
ReplyDeleteDeb
Deb - I have a feeling The Girl on the Train will be a quick read, too. Just what I need this week!
DeleteAt some point I will have to make room in my reading schedule for the Trollope chronicles - they sound like my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteA friend has just started the Ferrante book & has started raving about it already :-)
I hope you get some warm spring weather soon JoAnn!
Brona - I'm enjoying Trollope so much, but it seems like there are always way too many books I want to read and never enough time. The Ferrante book is unlike any "friendship" story I've ever read. Looking forward to the second installment.
DeleteHard decisions for your next book! I'm *still* waiting for my copy of "The Girl on the Train to come in from the library!
ReplyDeleteMelinda - It seems like I waited for ages to get The Girl on the Train. I'll probably give that a read first before it disappears from my kindle ;-)
DeleteI found reading two Trollopes heavy going! Like them very much with an interval between.
ReplyDeleteMystica - So far, I'm finding one book every other month very manageable. Fingers crossed it continues that way!
DeleteI've never read any Trollope. An Unnecessary Woman is going to get me based on looks alone. That is fantastic. I want to read Girl on the Train but since I don't have my hands on it I am going to wait until the hype dies down.
ReplyDeleteBecca - I usually wait until after the hype dies down, too. Not sure how I've succumbed to The Girl on the Train ;-)
DeleteThose are some tough bookish choices :) I am between books myself & having a little trouble settling. You are certainly tempting me back to Barchester. Your cozy Sunday sounds like a wonderful day. I hope your week is equally good!
ReplyDeleteLisa - Yes, yes, yes! Come to Barchester with us. Did you see Audrey's post on meeting Mrs. Proudie? Today I'm getting acquainted with Mr. Arabin.
DeleteWhen I lived in Upstate NY (near Albany) I think we had several feet of snow on Easter one time. It will be in the 50-60 this week in VA. You have given me a lot of good books to consider reading. I'm glad you are enjoying them. I'll look forward to what you have to say about The Girl On The Train.
ReplyDeletePat - Unfortunately, White Easters are all to common around here. I think we left Florida too early! It's nice to have so many great books while the weather is bad.
DeleteBaked potato soup sounds gorgeous! I hope you enjoy whichever of the books you plump for! I am reading Station Eleven. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteLinsday - I read Station Eleven earlier this year and was surprised at how much I liked it. Anything post-apocalyptic usually turns me off.
DeleteJust noted that my library has 566 on the wait list for Girl on the Train. Maybe 2017? Guess I, too, will have to wait for the hype to die down. Odds are I will find a copy at the estate sales long before then. :-). In the meantime, plenty of other good books out there.
ReplyDeleteJudyMac - 566 on the hold list?? I sure hope they have many, many copies or it really could be 2017, lol! Definitely plenty of other good books out there though.
DeleteWow! I looked ... 57 copies in circulation, at least 3 per library branch. Maybe I'll sign up after all.
DeleteJudyMac - Who knows, you may even get it before Labor Day ;-)
DeleteYou've got a few great books at hand. I'm waiting for a copy of My Brilliant Friend to come from the library. Enjoy your week and all the family activities ahead.
ReplyDeleteCatherine - Yes, lots of great books right now. My reading slump is finally over! Hope you don;t have to wait very long for My Brilliant Friend.
DeleteMy Brilliant Friend sounds interesting. I'll have to look for that one. I'm curious about The Girl on the Train. I definitely plan on reading it but I'm just trying to decide if I want it in book form or audio. Baked Potato soup sounds heavenly! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Print or audio can sometimes be a tough decision, but since the print came from the library first it was easy this time ;-)
DeleteOh, I love soups, and the ones you were making sound so tempting! Maybe I will actually cook someday...LOL.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your reading....I loved The Girl on the Train...and I am curious about the Ferrante books. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain Snow - The Girl on the Train sounds like it will be a quick and compelling read... perfect for the week ahead here. The Ferrante books offer an interesting look at female friendship.
DeleteAnthony Trollope, have wanted to read him for such a long time. Classic.
ReplyDeleteTopazshell - Definitely a classic, but also an excellent story. I'm loving Barchester Towers.
DeleteI am SO in the mood for a big bowl of soup right now. Mmm.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing good things about the series you're reading :D I read and loved The Girl on the Train. Such a page turner!
Have a great week!
Jennifer - I missed my winter soups while we were in Florida, so am making up for it now! Can't wait to get started with The Girl on the Train.
DeleteI just put a hold on the first Ferrante book. Perhaps I should go ahead and get the whole series!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and I hope it warms up by you! :)
Lindsey - If I had the second book in front of me, I would have started it immediately!!
DeleteI just finished The Girl on the Train (Goodreads thoughts coming soon) and it is entertaining. Maybe not as mind-blowing as the best seller list would indicate but worth your time for sure. And I guess it goes without saying, but Simon Vance is so incredible on just about anything he does. I almost don't even care what it is, I'll pick it up. So come on back down to FL when you get tired of the cold. It is just plain STEAMY already.
ReplyDeleteSandy - I'm loving The Girl on the Train so far. I don't read many thrillers and don;t have much to compare it to though. Simon Vance is simply the best. He is "the voice" of British classics as far as I'm concerned.
DeleteWe definitely came back up here too early! Luckily, we'll be back in Florida for a few more weeks soon:)
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on Girl on the Train!
ReplyDeleteSarah - It's very good so far (at the 30% mark now)
DeleteWet here ... I made split pea soup last week too! Great minds.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I'm in a roast chicken mood this week:-)
DeleteI just bought the Girl m on the Train as I have heard so much about it. The cover alone on My Brilliant Friend is enough to make me crave this book. Just caught up with all of your reviews over the last couple of weeks. All of them so good.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam. I have gotten so far behind on reviews again and am having trouble finding motivation to write them.
Delete