Right now, it’s 17 degrees and ‘feels like’ 7 degrees. It’s been this way all week long, as we’ve been locked into a frigid phase of the weather. It will start to warm up on Monday, thank goodness. We had light snow all day long yesterday – probably about an inch in total. When I went out to get the mail, I decided to shovel the driveway and give Don a break. It was quite easy, as all I had to do was push the airy snow with the shovel. No heavy lifting.
And so, we hunker down here at the cottage. Don has a gig tonight. The venue he’s going to cancelled last night’s entertainment, I don’t know whether they had a lot of snow or if it was for some other reason. I hope Don isn’t cancelled, but we’ll just have to wait and see. It’s north of here.
I’ve been having a bit of trouble finding a book I want to read, other than my assigned reading, aka Wolf Hall. At the moment, I’m reading Wolf Hall and The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, the author of Yellowface and Babel, both of which I read last year and enjoyed a great deal. I like it very much so far and it’s part of a trilogy. It’s in the fantasy genre, not something I usually read, though I’ve been surprising myself lately.
This week has been topsy-turvy, so I haven’t been reading consistently. I hope to get back on track this week.
So here’s my Saturday question for you: What are you reading?
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
I just finished Homecoming by Kate Morton. Very good, but very long. I just started Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea and so far it’s quite good.
I like Kate Morton. I’ll have to check that out.
Thanks, Judy.
Stay safe.
Your egg cups make me smile. We have a bit of snow I might push around today. Not much and it is scheduled to melt this week — but we all know schedules! I hope Don’s gig goes to plan.
I am about 30 pages from the end of Barbra’s book and I’ve loved every page and found it fascinating. I really like the detail about each of the films and concerts she does and almost feel like it’s a chatty textbook about what goes into making a film or setting up a concert or an album when you are as close as you can be to being a perfectionist in your work. It’s like sitting down with a friend who talks nonstop but you don’t care because it’s all so interesting!
I think my next read will be Moonflower Murders (Horowitz) though I have a few contenders vying for time!
About half through a puzzle that I’ve been working from the inside out because the all-pale-pink border was making me crazy. It’s a Vogue cover and I’ve thought of you often, wishing I had your magic touch with puzzles! I need to finish it before our next Cork Poppers, which is here! We shall see…
I’ve had to go at a puzzle or two that way!
I started Barbra, but I have too many things going right now, so it has been put aside for the time being.
Moonflower Murders is wonderful.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Blitz Spirit
Living Through Crisis
1939-1945
by: Becky Brown
with the Mass Observation Archive
It has been fascinating and eye opening to read these observation from just ordinary people.
Take Care,
Kaye
I bet it’s interesting! I read a memoir about living in Chelsea (London) during the blitz. It was fascinating.
Stay safe, Kaye.
first, glad you were not hurt in the car accident and that don has a gig tonight (that hopefully won’t be cancelled).
the egg cups look great in that wonderful made-for-egg-cups cupboard. always fun to see.
hopefully reading and good books return soon for you. other parts of life sometimes gets in the way of our favorite things, doesn’t it?
i try to read the Bible every day, let it soak into my mind and heart and life. and what feels like it’s own kind of miracle (after years of painful distractions and not finding a fiction/non-fiction book i could get into) is that i am now reading “war and peace”! and that is due to you mentioning the read-along and how much you and don enjoyed this book … so thank you, claudia and don, for helping me get back to reading again. i am on page 117 (just starting the second part) and loving it!
going to run a couple errands in our very cold weather. need more carrots and dried corn for the deer and some lightbulbs. then a shower to warm up and time with members of my family.
hope you all have a nice, safe weekend.
xo,
kathy
So happy you’re enjoying War and Peace. I think we all expect a book like that to be difficult to read, but it’s highly readable.
Stay safe, Kathy.
Sitting inside waiting for the warmer temps they’re promising and going back and forth between two of my usual non-fiction books. Barbra Streisand’s memoir and A Voyage Long and Strange by the late Tony Horwitz.
Take care,
Kay
I had to set Barbra aside for the time being, but I’ll get back to it soon.
Stay safe, Kay.
Pleased the snow clearing wasn’t difficult. We’re waiting for the four days of intense rain. It’s supposed to start late afternoon.
Hope Don’s gig is on and he safely navigates to and from.
I’m hopping between two books. Barbra (and I see a couple of your commenters are reading it too) is one of them. I was on the library waiting list for not as long as I thought I’d be. I’m enjoying the book’s voice and I wonder if she had a ghost writer? It’s very informal, and as Jeanie writes, chatty.
I’m also reading A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss. It’s about three step-sisters who navigate how to become a family when their eccentric often absent father dies.
I am also reading Barbra. I’ve had it since it first came out, but I have so many other things going that I’ve had to put it aside for a while.
Stay safe, Wendy.
I’m working my way through Donna Andrew’s avian mysteries series – very light and entertaining and perfect for right now when I don’t have the bandwidth for anything more serious.
I can get them through our public library hold system so its also logistically easy.
Cheers,
Ceci
Always great to get a book through the library, Ceci!
Stay safe.
Oh my, you are SO cold. Had meant to say that I loved Pru’s cold-weather gear in yesterday’s photo; her wooly jacket; darling. Alas, at this time, not reading anything; just too busy doing other stuff. Maybe a bit too distracted as well. Will look forward to see what your other readers are coming up with to read!
Thanks so much, Vicki.
Stay safe.
I’m reading a children’s book, ‘Nimbus’ by Jan Eldredge. It’s a middle grade book. Nimbus is a kitten who discovers that she is a Familiar.
Sounds interesting!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Stay safe.
I’m glad you got home safe and sound from your work at the theatre last week. Hope Don’t gig goes well tonight. And that warm air shows up on Monday!
Last Fall, I tried to sign up for a book club event at our local library but it was too popular and I ended up on the wait list. No one dropped out so I didn’t get to attend but felt so loved on Christmas morning when the book that was to be explored was under our tree. I’m just about to start it, so can’t give any reviews yet. It’s called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel. Looks so intriguing!
An apology from my desk to you today: I may have been one of your readers who had commented on another posters comment – I can think of a time when someone had a death in their family or a big illness and I believe I wished them well. And another time someone from Canada, where I live, and I think I commented about living here too. I am so sorry not knowing that etiquette around blogging but please know I am now well informed and will make sure that I always keep this in mind. I’m glad you voiced it so that those of us who are not as aware are informed. I have a different frustration that I write, I share, I post, but rarely do I ever get any comments, accept an ad or a scammer …. but I keep trying!
Wishing you a beautiful weekend. Enjoy the warm next week. We have the same forecast and I can’t wait to be out of this deep freeze.
X Chy
Not a problem to address another reader’s comment, Chy! Not at all. We’re all friends here. I just prefer that you also leave a comment for me. That was the gist of my words. If you leave a comment for someone else other than me, be polite and also leave one for me. That’s it!
I read that book when it first came out and loved it. I know you will, too.
Stay safe, Chy.
I shall always remember now for sure! X Chy
xoxo
I don’t always recommend movies made from books, but that book was made into a charming movie of the same name – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – it’s been on Netflix for ages and doesn’t seem to be going off any time soon. I’ve managed to watch it more than once – (won’t say how many times!) It’s definitely not JUST a rom-com – too many serious and sad moments for that – but ends up making me cheerier all the same. AND it features several familiar actors from Downton Abbey – Lily James, Jessica Brown Findlay, Matthew Goode, and Penelope Wilton.
And Claudia, my daughter just gave me The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. It’s been out a few years and she got it for $1.00 at the Boulder Colorado Library winter book sale. An historical novel about the pack mule equivalent of bookmobiles during the Great Depression – apparently one of Eleanor Roosevelt’s ideas.
Thanks so much, Anne.
Stay safe.
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers. What my daughter calls “cozy science fiction.” All of the Becky Chambers books are good. You and your readers always recommend good books–I heard about the Thursday Murder Club books here and the Louise Penny books here. Book people are the best!
I started championing Louise Penny years ago. But I first heard about her from a Canadian reader. This was before she became as popular as she is now. I was so grateful to that reader.
Enjoy, Linda.
Stay safe.
I’m reading My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand.
Yes, it’s in my pile, too!
Several commenters seem to be reading it. Love her.
Stay safe, Luanne.
I so enjoy your peaceful writing. You are so positive about life. Have you read Remarkably, Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt? Both my book groups enjoyed that. The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett was excellent. I read a series of books by Peter Steiner that I found interesting. I went back and reread some of the Dorothy Sayers/Peter Wimsey books. Her writing is lovely.
Sue
I haven’t read it, but I’ll check it out, Sue.
Thanks so much for your kind words.
Stay safe.
“The Woman They Could Not Silence” by Kate Moore and
“Black AF History:The Un-Whitewashed Story of America” by Michael Harriot
Both of these non-fiction books are well-done but will make you so angry about the injustices done to women and Blacks in the history of America that are still being done today, Claudia!
It’s heartbreaking, Ellen.
Don would recommend “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson.
Stay safe.
I’m reading All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby. I heard a review of it on Joe Donohue’s program on WAMC and decided to give it a try. So far it’s very good. A serial killer book with a background of racial relations as experienced by a black sheriff in rural Virginia.
I know of that book, Terri. I’ll have to read it.
I love Joe Donohue!
Stay safe.
Just started reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. So far….so good. Started the James Mc Bride…..The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store…..dissapointed and back it goes to the library.
Cannot wait till the deep freeze is over. I would welcome temps in the 30s right now. I cant drive my car unless I get my tires inflated but it is so cold out there…..will have to wait.
Today it will start to warm up, Maria!
Stay safe.
I liked The Heaven and Earth Store by James McBride very much – lots of fascinating characters with different life stores. Also, finished Sing Wild Bird Sing byJacqueline O’Mahoney. The theme and the author’s writing style were wonderful.
22F here but the sun is out!!
Yes, it was very sunny here on Sunday. It was sure beautiful out there.
Stay safe, Betsy.
I have three books on the go.
Wolf Hall which I am finding totalling engrossing.
The Widow by Fiona Barton which is a well written but with a sobering subject about someone whose husband may or may not have been a child abductor.
The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley. Fourth in the Seven Sisters series. Set in early 20th century Australia. I’m not really a fan of romantic fiction but this series is exceptionally well researched.
Happy Weekend
I’m really enjoying Wolf Hall, as well!
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
Yeah for the public library. I’ve been out of town for while and don’t have anything checked out but they posted on my account today that I had saved $66,675.92 by using the library. I am anticipating checking out more e-books through Hoopla this winter and also rereading a big box of Marcia Willett books I have.
Enjoy, Joyce!
Stay safe.
I’m enjoying the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths.
It’s a wonderful, wonderful series!
Stay safe.
War and Peace, because of you and Don. I am already behind and it has taken awhile for me to get interested. Can’t pronounce names, all the young men are drunks. The ladies in their 40’s are running out of money, and their daughters are all beautiful but only interested in getting married. I guess hundreds of years ago that was the only road open for young women. I am hopping it gets more interesting. You and Don got into it, so I am still going to keep on going. About 16 chapters in.
Oh, there’s so much more to it than that, Tana. But that is the way it was during that time period. I was hooked from the start.
Stay safe.