What a weekend... family, food, and fun for five days! I am exhausted, but happy. Thanksgiving is, without a doubt, my favorite holiday. As an added bonus, I even managed to squeeze in some reading...
Finished last week//
How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen
Anna Quindlen is a favorite and I love books about books and reading, but must admit this is not one of her best. It's enjoyable enough and I'm glad to have read it. However, if you're new to Quindlen, this is not the place to start.
Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker
This was a such an interesting book! I listened to the audio version, read by the author, and plan to write a review soon.
Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand
After delivering our daughters to the train station yesterday, I took to the couch with a blanket, a cup of tea, and this fourth and final installment of Hilderbrand's Winter series. It was the perfect ending to a long holiday weekend. Mini-review coming soon.Current reading//
Persuasion by Jane Austen
It's always a pleasure to spend time with Jane! This reread is a read/listen combination... with Juliet Stevenson narrating, of course.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
I've finally made it to the top of the library hold list! Ng's latest is downloaded and ready to go on my kindle.The week ahead//
Today we pack up fall decorations and get started on Christmas. There's also plenty of post-holiday cleaning and laundry. We're off to Florida for a couple of weeks on Friday, but before that I'd like to wrap up Nonfiction November and write a couple of short reviews. Fingers crossed!
How was you week? What are you reading?
I can just imagine how weary you must be! We are packing up pumpkins, too! I hope you enjoy the Celeste Ng book...I did!
ReplyDeletePatty - It was an exhausting weekend, but so much fun! I only hosted on Thanksgiving Day and each of my sisters hosted another day... that made it a little easier. Looking forward to starting Ng's book.
DeleteHope you love the Ng book. Wasn't Cork Dork on audio good? I need to get to Winter Solstice. Hilderbrand always delivers.
ReplyDeleteBethF - Cork Dork was definitely an exception to the 'authors don't make great narrators' rule! She was fabulous.
DeleteI love Thanksgiving, too, although I miss the leftovers one has when hosting the event. I've been "guesting" for the past several years! Ever since I downsized, I don't have the kitchen for a big event.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder about the final book in the Winter series...I enjoyed the first three.
I loved Little Fires Everywhere...hope you do, too.
Taking to the couch with a blanket and a cup of tea sounds wonderful!
Enjoy your trip to Florida. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Laurel-Rain Snow - We've started to talk about downsizing, but keep coming back to not having enough space at holiday time. I'm sure it will work out eventually. I almost never read a book in a single day, but Winter Solstice was just what I needed yesterday... along with the couch,blanket, and tea :)
DeleteSounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The reading time also sounds good. I'm not familiar with any of your books but have seen the one by Ng on lots of blogs. Come see my week here. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Ng's previous book was an audio favorite a few years ago, so I'm looking forward to her new one.
DeleteSnow! Wow look at that. Nice pic. :) And glad you had a nice Thanksgiving- it is a special holiday, with the focus on family time.
ReplyDeleteLittle Fires Everywhere is one I definitely want to read after seeing some nice reviewss.
Greg - It got warmer over the weekend, so we just have a little snow left in shady places now. The reviews for Little Fires Everywhere look promising... hope to start later this week.
DeleteAaah - blogger ate my first try at this comment!
ReplyDeleteShort version: the Quindlen seemed like it wasn't even written by her in certain parts. Ugh - was not a fan at all and I love her.
Sarah - Blogger has been especially difficult the past week or so. Thanks for trying a second time. The only think I can think of with the Quindlen book is that it's older and her style was still evolving...
DeleteI haven't read enough of Quindlen's books to compare this one. I enjoyed it more as a book about reading.
ReplyDeleteFlorida should be quite a change :)
Lisa - I first read this years ago and enjoyed it very much. Now, after enjoying her later nonfiction (especially Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake) it was just okay.
DeleteGlad to hear you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Little Fires Everywhere is my bookclub's choice this month. I just started it, but need to get on it as we meet soon.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and trip to Fla. Lovely photo above!
Pat - Can't wait to hear what you think of Little Fires. I probably won't start it until later this week.
DeleteSounds like you had a great Thanksgiving! We enjoyed ours (thanks to a stress-free day of utilizing 4 Crock-Pots) and are now ready for Christmas! This is the earliest I have ever put up our tree, but yesterday was the perfect time to get it down. I put on some Christmas music and was finished in just a few short hours.
ReplyDeleteI'll be curious to hear your thoughts on Little Fires Everywhere. I wasn't a huge fan of Everything I Never Told You, but I know it was on a lot of Top Ten lists.
I'm still (happily) reading A Gentleman in Moscow. Sophia has stolen my heart!
Les - Four crock pots?? I'm so impressed... must investigate this approach to Thanksgiving dinner! The audio version of Everything I Never Told You was a favorite a few years ago, so my expectations for Littles Fires Everywhere may be unreasonably high - we'll see. And Sophia! I just loved her! Glad you're still enjoying the book... it definitely got better the more I read.
DeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful (and exhausting) weekend! My brother and sisterinlaw brined their turkey...it was amazing! But I did not get any leftovers. Hmphh.
ReplyDeleteI haven't made much progress with Emma but I'm still hoping to turn to Persuasion by December. Still (and probably always) my favorite.
Audrey - I've been using a cider brine on our turkey for the past 5 or so years and am a convert... will never without it now! It's been so long since I last read Persuasion that only the most basic plot points seem familiar, but it is wonderful! I'm only a few chapters in now.
DeleteYour weekend sounds wonderful. I'm impressed that you had time to read. We're starting on Christmas this week too.
ReplyDeleteKathy - I finished Quindlen's book early Monday, then listened to Cork Dork as I chopped and cooked. Yesterday with Winter Solstice was perfect!
DeleteVicki - Your experience with Little Fires Everywhere has tempered my expectations... which is a good thing. I'lll let you know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that you had a good Thanksgiving. I did too.
ReplyDeleteCork Dork sounds like a great book. My wife tends to read a lot of food related narratives like this so I think that she might like this one.
Brian - Cork Dork reminded me a little of Mary Roach's books... especially the way the author investigated the science behind taste and smell. I highly recommend this for any wine lover!
DeleteSounds like you spent a fabulous holiday weekend! Persuasion is the best isn't it? I don't often do re-reads but that is one I wouldn't mind reading again.
ReplyDeleteIliana - I'd forgotten how wonderful Persuasion is! It's been well over a decade since I read it, so my memory is terrible beyond the broadest plot points. Juliet Stevenson's narration is always a treat, too.
DeleteGlad you had a great holiday weekend. Looking forward to Winter Solstice.
ReplyDeleteNise' - I think you'll love it!
DeleteRest up. I'm reading Little Fires Everywhere. Not certain where it is going, but I'm enjoying it. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
ReplyDeleteJulie - Good to see you! Glad you're enjoying Little Fires Everywhere... maybe today will be the day I get started.
DeleteGlad u had a nice Thanksgiving. Hope you enjoy Little Fires Everywhere - I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I've been enjoying your photos on instagram... looks like you had a great holiday, too. Looking forward to Little Fires.
DeleteGlad your Thanksgiving went well. Whew, what a big holiday. I too have the audiobook of Celeste Ng's novel lined up for Dec. so we'll have to compare notes on how we liked it. Have a safe trip to Florida and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I started Ng's novel yesterday (in print) and am hooked already! The audio version is sure to be good with Cassandra Campbell narrating... we'll definitely have to compare notes.
DeleteI am pleased to hear you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday :-) I had a lovely weekend away visiting my mum and have made good progress through historical fiction The Shadow Queen by Anne O'Brien, but I haven't finished anything.
ReplyDeleteJessiac - I;m glad you had a good weekend with family, too. This will probably be my week for not finishing anything, but at least we'e making progress.
DeleteLook at that snow!! Our Thanksgiving was spent with the AC on. It was 94 degrees!
ReplyDeleteI just added Cork Dork to my to-read list ;)
Ti - The snow melted by the end of the weekend. Cork Dork was so interesting... parts of it reminded me of Mary Roach's work. The audio was really well done, too.
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