According to the calendar it is officially spring, but when I look out my window it seems more like Christmas... and it's still snowing this morning. I posted this photo on instagram a few days ago with a caption "reindeer games in the back yard". I really want to see daffodils and tulips, but at this point even a little grass would be a welcome sight!
It was a good reading week though. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins was the right book at the right time. I found it to be entertaining, exciting, enthralling... an impressive debut!
Just past the 50% mark of Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope, I am really loving this book! The story, the characters, and the fabulous narration by Simon Vance (it's a read/listen combination) make this a contender for my favorite book of the first quarter. I'm already thinking ahead to the next #6Barsets book, Dr. Thorne, and am ready to pick up Anthony Trollope by Victoria Glendinning again.
I spent some yesterday perusing A Taste of Upstate New York: The People and the Stories Behind 40 Food Favorites by Chuck D'imperio, a recent acquisition from NetGalley. With so many familiar foods, stories, and memories, this book has been an unexpected treat. There will definitely be a Weekend Cooking post in the near future.
Up next//
I'd like to start a current fiction title in the next couple of days. A Little Life is a top contender. but may be a little dark or heavy for right now. The Neopolitan Novels Book 2, The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante is also under consideration, as are several recent kindle "daily deal" acquisitions including A Man Called Ove.
On the blog//
Tuesday Intro: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My Spring Reading List
Later today//
In an hour, two of my daughters, Zelda (our greyhound), and I will head to Rhinebeck. Twin A's classes begin again tomorrow (this week was way too short) and Zelda will be visiting her for a few weeks. We will have brunch together before Daughter #1 takes the train back to NYC .
This week//
We are going back to Florida! Our driveway needs to be plowed (again), snowbanks are still over 6 feet tall, and the thermometer reads 16 degrees. Maybe spring will come to central New York by late April...
Hope the week ahead is a good one for you.
This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
Oh, how terrible about so much snow again, but it's great that you can retreat to Florida. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed The Girl on the Train...I sure did. Thanks for sharing...and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Laurel-Rain Snow - The Girl on the Train made me remember how much I love psychological thrillers. I really should read more of them!
DeleteIf you're headed back to Sanibel, late March/early April is a great time to be there. If you do the Sanibel Stoop barefooted at water's edge, be sure to put plenty of sunscreen on top of your feet, and reapply frequently. I learned that lesson the hard way. Hurts not to be able to put your shoes on. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteJudyMac - Yes, back to Sanibel for another couple of weeks (maybe I can lobby for 3?). I have had the unfortunate experience of burning the top of my feet, but have been careful this year. I do, however, have a white V from my flip flops :)
DeleteYou're doing so much good reading! And as usual I find myself struggling to find a book to pick up next. Gah!
ReplyDeleteAndi - I still haven't decided on my next book... tomorrow for sure! ;-)
DeleteYay for going back to Florida! So sorry that there has been so much snow and not even a hint of spring flowers. But...there will be when you get back. Glad you enjoyed THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. It was something, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteKay - I would settle for just a little grass showing through the snow at this point, but happy my husband has arranged coverage so we can head back for another couple of weeks. The Girl on the Train was so good... I need to read more psychological thrillers!
DeleteI'm so glad you're enjoying B.T. I'm not as far in as you are but I am following happily in your footsteps. Our snow is half-melted away and half still piled up... it's almost part of the landscape now. Your week sounds nice, except for saying goodbye to the girls. :)
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Barchester Towers is SO good!! I finished volume 2 on the drive home today, but it was so hard to say good-by to the girls (and Zelda) for another month.
DeletePS I just read on one of the "You may also like..." links below this post that our record-breaking snowfall this year is a FOOT LESS than the average yearly snowfall in Syracuse. Thank you for not laughing at us (out loud, at least!) :)
ReplyDeleteAudrey - LOL! I try resist to that urge... 120 inches of snow may be "average" around here, but I know how crippling it is for cities not used to dealing with it. I wish I wasn't used to dealing with it...
DeleteEep, if you're worried about dark/heavy, I've heard A Little Life is a soul-crusher. Maybe hold off on that one!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Florida sunshine. :)
Shaina - Yes, soul-crusher sounds like an apt description from the reviews I've read, too. Don't think I'm up for that right now though. Can't wait to see the sun again!
DeleteI love the pic of the deer. I so miss not having any now that we live in a condo.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week. I am not even at a half way point with A Little Life, taking it slow, but it is excellent.
Diane - There are SO many deer and they have literally eaten all of our shrubs and trees this winter - I feel sorry for them. A Little Life sounds wonderful, but may be a little dark for me right now. We'll see...
DeleteI'd go back to Florida too! We have had a nice thawing here, but are expecting some snowy mix later this week.
ReplyDeleteNise' - I feel very fortunate to even have that option this year! We had some thawing early last week, but are right back in the deep freeze again :(
DeleteOh my goodness, yes - as soon as you get those girls settled, I'd be heading back to Florida. Your winter has been way to long!
ReplyDeleteLisa- Exactly! Everybody is where they need to be again and, come Tuesday, I'm out of here ;-)
DeleteLast Thursday night at my book club, we had an interesting discussion about The Girl on the Train. So many things to discuss about this book. I hope you have a wonderful time in Florida!
ReplyDeleteMonica - Not sure if you saw it already, but Sarah has a "spoiler discussion" post on The Girl on the Train. I enjoyed reading it, as well as all the other comments.
Deletehttp://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/mysteriesthrillers/the-girl-on-the-train-by-paula-hawkins-spoiler-discussion/
UGH about the snow. Glad you had some good reads though!
ReplyDeleteSheila - I think this winter has lasted long enough!
DeleteThe Girl on The Train is on my list, but I haven't had a chance yet to get to it. A Taste of Upstate New York sounds good!
ReplyDeleteBelle - The Girl on the Train was very good! I really should read more thrillers. Also finished A Taste of Upstate NY last night and was amazed when they mentioned the restaurant in Rhinebeck where we had lunch!
DeleteIf you're looking for spring don't come down here...it is already summer! I don't know what happened to spring weather. Ugh. Love the look of that cookbook, and I know what you mean. There was one published by some local ladies down here called Field to Feast, and featured recipes from farms and restaurants all over Florida. It is wonderful! The Girl on the Train is a fun, fast read. Almost everyone in our book club enjoyed it. Ove is also one I'd highly recommend...very poignant with some quirky humor added in.
ReplyDeleteSandy - I could do with a little summer! Didn't get much time to actually SIT on the beach and read when we were there in Jan/Feb. Finished the local foodie book last night - so much nostalgia, but was also shocked when they mentioned the restaurant we had brunch at yesterday. It was delicious! Read the first few pages of Ove this morning and think that will be next for me. Hope all is well with you... keep the Brody pictures coming on FB. He's gotten so big!
DeleteSnow! And it's spring! Crazy.
ReplyDeleteI finally broke down and got in line at the library for Girl. Happy to hear your recommendation.
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/03/sulking-through-spring-break.html
Deb - I won't mention the year we had snow on Mother's Day ;-) Hope your time on the hold list won't be too long.
DeleteI hope the sun comes out soon - the only good thing about all that snow is it must be easier to tell yourself it's okay to curl up in front of the fire with a good book :-)
ReplyDeleteBrona - Exactly! I think that's why I had such a good reading week last week :)
DeleteSuch a lovely photo though, JoAnn! We'd enjoy it so much better if it were say December than March right!? Can't wait to read Girl on a Train and so many have raved about Trollope I have to start one of his soon too! Enjoy FL.
ReplyDeletePeggy Ann - You've got that right, lol! The Girl on the Train is so entertaining... hope you get a chance to read it soon. Looking forward to some sun and warmth in Florida, then maybe it will be spring around here by the time we get back :)
DeleteNice photo! We had bare ground until 11 AM yesterday when it started to snow. Today we have 8 inches of the stuff and a snow day. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Sounds like we could both use a little spring weather! Enjoy the snow day.
DeleteWhat an interesting stack of books! It definitely looks like Christmas where you're at. Florida is having the same beach weather as California right now, so I know you'll enjoy yourself. :-) Have a safe trip.
ReplyDeleteVasilly - Thank you. I'm ready for a little beach weather. Hope you have a good week, too!
DeleteSorry to have to say this, but that photo up top looks lovely! (I live in NorCal and it's been a very warm winter - ok ok it's not like it EVER gets winter-y here!) Spring here is feeling like summer already…
ReplyDeleteAnd whee! Florida! Have a blast!
Olduvaireads - I think I've got the best of both worlds... enjoy winter for a while (it really is pretty, I know) and then head to Florida for a little sunshine and warmth!
DeleteOooh - definitely pick up A Little Life, but do it when you can be totally consumed by it! Its amazing. I'm glad you liked Girl on the train!
ReplyDeleteSarah - I read the first few pages of A Little Life (followed your lead and ordered some samples for my kindle) and immediately loved it. Hope to start very soon!
DeleteWish I had a view like that from my window. So jealous!
ReplyDeleteEmma - The view from my window is different every day, but always beautiful! I feel very fortunate.
DeleteYou've got some great reads, JoAnn. Hope all of New York's weather takes a turn for the better very soon. How nice that you'll get another trip to Florida. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteCatherine - My books have all been very good this month, I hope that continues. As for this crazy NY weather, I hope it sorts itself out by the time I get home ;-)
DeleteEnjoy your trip to Florida -- sounds like you deserve it. Hard to believe you still have over 6 feet of snow, wow. Even in western Canada we have snowflakes by nothing on the ground which I'm thankful for. Enjoy your week reading!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thecuecard.com
Thecuecard - It's so good to be back in Florida, despite the current thunderstorm. Winters are way too long in central New York. Thanks for visiting :)
DeleteI know what you mean. I was in Canada for two weeks and all I saw was snow everywhere. We came home early this week and it has been so satisfying to see sun, green grass, flowers. Glad to hear that you are going back to Florida - enjoy the trip!
ReplyDeleteAthira - There is no color at all in central New York right now, but everything seems to be in bloom here. Tomorrow we're going on a garden tour at the Edison-Ford Winter Estates... hoping there will be a blog post in there somewhere.
DeleteGlad you're enjoying Trollope -- I think he is my favorite author. Barchester Towers is one of his best, and I loved Doctor Thorne -- they're my two favorites from the Barsetshire series. Right now I'm reading Lady Anna and I just love it. It reminds me a bit of Downton Abbey (the first season) and also of Jane Austen. I'm so happy that he wrote so many novels.
ReplyDeleteKaren K. - I just finished Barchester Towers today and can honestly say it's been quite some time since I enjoyed a book that much! Lady Anna is a recent addition to my wish list and I'm already looking forward to Coctor Thorne.
DeleteI hope you're enjoying your return trip to Florida! How wonderful to be able to escape the cold and snow. Our temps are warming up a bit again, but would you believe we had flurries yesterday?! Craziness, I tell you! ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad The Girl on the Train was a winner for you. I do love psychological thrillers, too. I'm eager to read The Pocket Wife, which is beginning to get a lot of buzz. I also want to read Ove, which I've heard is very good.
Happy beachcombing!
Les - I'm so happy to be back here! The weather has been beautiful... just got back from a quick trip to the Everglades.
DeleteYou have the right idea - go to Florida! It snowed here again yesterday - not much accumulation but just seeing the white stuff come down was too much for me.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing your thoughts on A Man Called Ove - that is on my list too!
Booksnyc - Even though tomorrow is April, that's no guarantee the snow will stop falling! The lake is still frozen, too... maybe it'll be safe to go back in a couple more weeks ;-)
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