Monday, July 24, 2017

Monday Musings

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My week: It was an ok week here. Jarrod's work was in the midst of their 14-day exercise so he worked an absolutely nutty number of hours, and the puppy and I didn't see too much of him. I spent a couple afternoons hanging out with a good friend who's moving away, but then had to say a sad goodbye. (These two things above -- two of the hard parts of military life!) Saturday I went into work for a few hours to help out with the summer reading program finale party, which included raffles, pizza and a magician.

Reading: This time last week I was between a third and halfway into "Just One Damned Thing After Another," the first in a series about time-traveling historians. And not long after that, the book just lost me. The book zigged from where it first started -- a good thing -- but then it zagged to a weird place and I just totally lost interest. The writing was only so-so, and I wasn't particularly attached to the characters, so I gave up on it -- continuing my discouraging string of partially-read books.

"My Not So Perfect Life" saved the day! I haven't read Sophie Kinsella in years, though I had been meaning to read this new book of hers at some point because the plot intrigued me. On a spur-of-the-moment decision, I grabbed it off the library shelf while tidying last Tuesday morning. It was light and fluffy and timely and, for a chick-lit book, I really enjoyed it. I read it in two days and it definitely saved me from sliding into a full-blown reading slump. (Here's my review.)

Now I'm reading the second Outlander book -- years and years after I meant to! I'm reading it along with a friend (the aforementioned friend who's moving) who's just starting the series; hearing her talk about the first book gave me the push I needed to finally make a point to read "Dragonfly in Amber." It's really good, but really looooong! I have a tiny little mass-market paperback (with tiny little font) and it's 947 pages! I recorded the second season of the show when it aired but I've been waiting to watch it until I read the book. I see a fabulous binge-watch in my near future!


Watching: "Grantchester," "My Mother and Other Strangers," (a pleasant new Masterpiece period drama), "Turn: Washington's Spies," "World of Dance" (I'm not huge on competition shows, but I am addicted to this one!).

Eating: I tried a yummy new mac and cheese recipe this week that's definitely a keeper (here), which I served with a tasty blueberry feta spinach salad (here). I also made chocolate chip banana muffins, which I took into my work to share.

Listening to: "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man.


Blogging:
Monday Musings
10 2017 Releases I Enjoyed and 10 I Hope to Read Soon
I Judge Books By Their Covers: Darktown
Book Review: My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella
A to Z Book Tag (Revisited)

Looking forward to: August. Still August. (It's almost here! Goodbye, shitty July!)

*I'm linking up with Kathryn of Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

17 comments:

  1. Long books are not my thing. I read Outlander and I think I was the only person on the planet that didn't warm to it.

    https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/07/what-heck-down-to-last-few-weeks-of.html

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    1. I like *certain* long books, though I really have to be intrigued to pick up a book over 500 pages!

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  2. Glad you were able to save yourself from a slump. Usually a chick lit book or something light will do it for me as well. Glad you enjoyed this one as I have a copy I need to get to.

    I've not seen Outlander but I do have the first book. I know I'll like it if I start it but I always have a hard time picking it up. I started watching "This Is Us" over the weekend and managed to get 10 episodes watched so very little reading got done. My husband got stuck at work Friday evening and couldn't leave so I watched 5 in a row waiting for him to get home.

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    1. Isn't "This Is Us" a fantastic show?! I recorded all the episodes and binge-watched them in the spring. I can't wait for season 2 to start!

      I totally understand the reluctance to pick up such a long book -- that's why it's taken me like six or seven years to read the second book in the series!

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  3. I love these wrap ups so much! :) Definitely going to have to check out the Mac and Cheese recipe!

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    1. Mmmm, it was so tasty! I added lil' smokies to satisfy the hubs' meat mandate and we both loved it!

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  4. I haven't read the first Outlander book. Time travel is one of those red flag topics for me. I can believe in vampires and werewolves but not time travel for some unknown reason. Come see my week here. Have a great week!

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    1. Really, how interesting! I actually seek out time travel books and I don't have a problem with suspension of disbelief there -- though I will say that the above-mentioned "Just One Damned Thing After Another" was a time travel book that I DID struggle with (and gave up on). I guess it depends on the author's adeptness at navigating that stuff.

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  5. It seems like it's been sort of a slumpy summer for a lot of us. Up and down with book! Glad you found one that worked last week.

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    1. Yeah, it's been a bit of a slumpy year for me! Hope to turn it around soon -- the year is more than half over!

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  6. I haven't started the Outlander books yet, I want to, I have the first one on my shelf, but I'm scared of a let down since it's been built up so much.

    I'm gonna have to try that Mac and Cheese. I'm always on the hunt for a good mac and cheese recipe and meatloaf too!

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    1. Do give "Outlander" a try! It's long for sure, but I found the first one to be so incredibly immersive! I felt like I lived in that world while I was reading! The second book is not as fast-paced but I'm still enjoying it. And after you read it, you can enjoy the fabulous TV adaptation!

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  7. I'm reading an older Sophie Kinsella novel. Stage one of the move is complete. We're out of our house and now we're trying to get it ready to put on the market. Come see what I'm reading.

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    1. Sophie Kinsella is the perfect take-me-away book to read during a move!

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  8. That tiny font is tough! I remember enjoying Outlander, but wondering if the book would ever end.

    I'm off to check out that mac and cheese recipe (no such thing as too many, right?).

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    1. Yeah, they are definitely some of the longest books I've read! At least they're easy reads -- I go through the pages pretty quick, there are just a LOT of them!

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  9. I'm sorry to hear Just One Damned Thing After Another didn't work for you. It's a series that I really enjoy, but I agree that the writing isn't particularly strong.

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