My week: A bit of a crazy week here... Jarrod's work has been doing an exercise (military speak for practice disaster) and he worked some insane hours that got progressively worse over the week (i.e. 13 1/2-hour shifts for several days straight, including the weekend). Today should be the last day, thank goodness! It's not been great for Alohi; she had to spend 6 1/2 hours in her crate without a break Thursday, Friday and likely today, the longest she's ever been in there. And not fabulous for our waistlines either -- we picked up dinner three nights last week!
I've been busy at my work getting things around for my next display on the big wall in the kids' section. Our summer reading program starts in just under two weeks and the theme this year is STEM, so I'm making a giant volcano with books spewing out the top. It's science-y, plus Hawaii-related. I've also been doing some research for my little "In the mood for..." book display, which currently features memoirs. The next theme will be recent and upcoming book-to-movie-and-TV-show adaptations. (In the mood for... reading before you watch?)
Reading: I finished and "The Lost City of Z" (review) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really need to make a point to read more non-fiction!
Then I read book 2 in Sylvain Neuvel's popular sci-fi series. I liked last year's "Sleeping Giants," and "Waking Gods" was a page-turner as well. I really like the epistolary format the author uses. And now I'm a little over halfway into "American War" by Omar El Akkad, which envisions America's second civil war a few decades from now, the catalyst for which was the prohibition of fossil fuels. The protagonist is one of the most interesting I've encountered lately and I'm definitely liking the book so far.
Next up will either be another non-fiction book, "The Stranger in the Woods," or the new Paula Hawkins, "Into the Water." Sadly, I haven't read any glowing reviews of her second effort. I knew it was too much to wish for another "The Girl on the Train," but I was still kinda hoping...
Resolving: To not request any more new releases from the library for the rest of May, so in June I can focus solely on reading backlist and my own books! I have a no-shit addiction to that library "request" button, so this might be a little hard for me. (I'll just have to go on a backlist-requesting spree!)
Knitting: The absolutely beautiful yarn from Tanis Fiber Arts for my So Faded sweater arrived this week -- I was so excited to see the package in my mailbox! -- but that project will just have to wait a bit. Right now I'm working on a surprise hat for my work BFF who's moving away (the joys of military life!) in the purply-pinkish Malabrigo in the picture below.
I've been busy at my work getting things around for my next display on the big wall in the kids' section. Our summer reading program starts in just under two weeks and the theme this year is STEM, so I'm making a giant volcano with books spewing out the top. It's science-y, plus Hawaii-related. I've also been doing some research for my little "In the mood for..." book display, which currently features memoirs. The next theme will be recent and upcoming book-to-movie-and-TV-show adaptations. (In the mood for... reading before you watch?)
Reading: I finished and "The Lost City of Z" (review) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really need to make a point to read more non-fiction!
Then I read book 2 in Sylvain Neuvel's popular sci-fi series. I liked last year's "Sleeping Giants," and "Waking Gods" was a page-turner as well. I really like the epistolary format the author uses. And now I'm a little over halfway into "American War" by Omar El Akkad, which envisions America's second civil war a few decades from now, the catalyst for which was the prohibition of fossil fuels. The protagonist is one of the most interesting I've encountered lately and I'm definitely liking the book so far.
Next up will either be another non-fiction book, "The Stranger in the Woods," or the new Paula Hawkins, "Into the Water." Sadly, I haven't read any glowing reviews of her second effort. I knew it was too much to wish for another "The Girl on the Train," but I was still kinda hoping...
Resolving: To not request any more new releases from the library for the rest of May, so in June I can focus solely on reading backlist and my own books! I have a no-shit addiction to that library "request" button, so this might be a little hard for me. (I'll just have to go on a backlist-requesting spree!)
Knitting: The absolutely beautiful yarn from Tanis Fiber Arts for my So Faded sweater arrived this week -- I was so excited to see the package in my mailbox! -- but that project will just have to wait a bit. Right now I'm working on a surprise hat for my work BFF who's moving away (the joys of military life!) in the purply-pinkish Malabrigo in the picture below.
Watching: I watched and totally loved "The Edge of Seventeen," which stars Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson. I probably wouldn't have picked it up if it hadn't been recommended to me, but it was just a pleasure to watch -- by turns funny and serious and nostalgic. We also watched "The Free State of Jones," the new-ish Matthew McConaughey Civil War movie (it was kinda weird to be reading a book about the imagined second civil war while watching a movie about the first!) and I liked it better than I expected. I also watched a few episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and we finished out this season's "Designated Survivor."
Eating: I had a chocolate craving so I whipped up my favorite brownie recipe (Best Cocoa Brownies from Smitten Kitchen). Mmmmm... so rich and delectable!
Still loving: My Roomba! That thing has been a lifesaver the past couple of weeks! We still need to figure out the perfect name for it.
Blogging:
Monday Musings
Book Review: The Lost City of Z
I Judge Books By Their Covers: The Wages of Sin
Book Review: Unmentionable: A Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners
Looking forward to: Three-day weekend! And Jarrod will be home! I'm really hoping we can finally go see "Guardians of the Galaxy 2," and I would love to go to the beach. I've only been once in the last three and half months -- craziness!
*I'm linking up with Kathryn of Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
American War sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteIf you are looking for more good nonfiction, I just finished the extremely moving book Just Mercy. I also recommend Lab Girl.
ReplyDeletehttps://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/05/good-grief-its-almost-summer.html
That picture is just too cute for words. We saw "Free State of Jones" when it was first released on DVD and enjoyed it as well. You should check out "Loving" which is another true story. What good is working at a library if your don't take full advantage of it so I'm going to be a bad influence and say "reserve away!"
ReplyDeleteI saw The Edge of Seventeen in the theater, and now it's on my Amazon Prime list...I think I should watch it again, as I did enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI do love chocolate, and since I've been trying to curtail the sweets, I sometimes get those little puddings...They have to do. Plus the chocolate flavored calcium pills. LOL
Enjoy your week...and what a hopeful picture of Jarrod, wanting to play.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
So glad to see that you're reading American War. I loved it and feel like it hasn't had as much attention as it deserved. The Stranger in the Woods was amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe saw Guardians last week, tons of fun, but in my opinion too different from the first. Still entertaining though!
ReplyDeleteI just picked up the audio of Sleeping Giants, and now I'm going to add American War to my list too. Looks like an intriguing read!
I still haven't read The Girl on the Train. I'm bogged down in review books right now. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteReally cute dog.... I watched Free State of Jone...kind of weird, but good. Have a great day!
American War looks interesting. I hope you enjoy your books.
ReplyDeleteMy It's Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
The library is certainly tempting. I hope things get back to normal with your schedules. My husband is home. My daughter had two pieces in her school's art show. And we got new cement poured at the bottom of our stoop. Come see what I'm reading.
ReplyDeleteI feel you on the library request button - I have 73 items on loan, 20 items reserved, and a list of 36 items I want to reserve.... Eeep! Good luck with your new library display!
ReplyDelete