Sunday, September 14, 2014

This Week in Reading - September 14


It's time for the Sunday Post hosted by Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer where we talk about what we got and what's going on.

What I Got:

This week was even quieter than last week on the book acquiring front.  Only one of these is really a sit down and read kind of book and only one book from NetGalley!

The American Plate: A History of the United States in 100 Bites by Libby H. O'Connell, Ph.D - It's a history book and a cookbook combined!  (NetGalley)

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan (Paperbackswap) - I can't resist anything involving cupcakes and I enjoyed the last Colgan I read.

Sweet: Our Best Cupcakes, Cookies, Candies, and More from the editors of Food Network Magazine (Blogging for Books) -I've had time to flip through this one and I'm really excited.  Can't wait to try something out of it!





Currently:

Reading: The Blood of an Englishman by M.C. Beaton, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie which I keep putting down to read other books.  I don't really know why because it's very good.

Listening:  I finished The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister which I loved and plan on reviewing.  Now I'm listening to Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James which I'm enjoying though maybe not quite as much.  Next up is the sequel to Essential Ingredients - The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

Watching: Not a huge amount though I am excited about seeing the new shows.  I'm planning on trying Selfie because I love the 2 main characters, Stalker because I love Criminal Minds and this looks similar and How to Get Away with Murder because it looks different.  Of course NCIS: New Orleans is on the top of my list.  Also, my favorite guilty pleasure - Dancing with the Stars is coming back.  

Off the Blog:

I need to find an interesting way to say things are about the same.  Everything's going good, everyone's relatively happy.  This week has been much calmer than the last 2 weeks so I feel much less frazzled and more on top of things.  
In an effort to save money we've cut back on eating out and it turns out we've really been enjoying eating here more.  We always eat at home during the week but during the weekends we'd either pick something up or go out.  Without the hassle of figuring out where and what to eat we've had more time to hang out at home and do fun things.  
It is now after Labor Day and we are officially in the land of pumpkin everything.  Here's a confession - I don't like pumpkin.  I've really tried but about the only pumpkin thing I like are Reese's pumpkins which aren't quite the same.  I'm on board with salted caramel, apple anything and cinnamon whatever but I'm definitely not a pumpkin convert.  I wish I was though.  Some of the stuff out there looks amazing!
I'm torn about seeing the movie for Gone Girl.  I read the book and found it compelling but I'm not sure I want to see those people again.  I do think Ben Affleck makes a good Nick.  He has that kind of frat boy charmed life look.  I like Neil Patrick Harris as well.  

On the Blog:

What Happened:

What's Coming Up:

Monday: Review for M.C. Beaton's latest Agatha Raisin
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday - Authors I have only read 1 book from but need to read more
Wednesday: Dreamweaver Trail by Emily March - Review
Thursday:  Dangerous Denial by Amy Ray - Review
Friday:  regular Friday Linkups
Saturday: Eat by Nigel Slater - cookbook review


57 comments:

  1. I missed your review of The Moment of Everything earlier in the week- definetly want to read that one. I saw it at Barnes & Noble on the new release table and remembered that I wanted to read it. So it's nice to see a review of it! The Agatha Christie read sounds good, I think I'm going to try and line some mysteries up for October.

    I can relate to the eating out thing- we decided to eat home more on weekends too recently and it was amazing how much money we were spending just in restaurants! It was sort of a habit to eat out on weekends, but we've really enjoyed staying home too for something different.

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    1. I enjoyed The Moment of Everything and hope you do as well. It's a sweet story but there's a good mix of humor. Definitely get some Agatha's in for October! There's so many good choices.
      It is crazy how much money gets spent in restaurants. We have a big family and with the exception of the Tornado we don't get to use kids menus anymore! I've sworn I'm going to stop eating my money!

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  2. Sometimes a slow week is the best kind! As long as it was a good one. I love days/weeks where I feel like nothing is happening because that means that nothing is going wrong. I've also hardly gotten any books lately, but I'm on a book buying ban since it's my birthday soon. Hope your next week is good!

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    1. Definitely! After the previous crazy weeks a slow week was heaven! Happy early birthday!

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  3. I'm really looking forward to the Gone Girl movie but a bit apprehensive about the ending as I've heard it has changed. The trailer impressed me though and it will be interesting to see how it translates to the big screen.
    I love Jenny Colgans books too, they are just heart warning.
    Enjoy your books and have a great week :)

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    1. Thanks! I did enjoy the 1 Colgan I've read so I'm looking forward to this one. The trailer impressed me as well which is why I want to see it I'm just not sure I want to go through all that again. I am curious about the ending though!

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  4. I know who's the murderer in Agatha Christie's book, but I won't spoil ;) I've never watched CSI New Orleans but the location attracts me. Enjoy the yummy books and have a great week !

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    1. I should know since I've read it before but it's been so long I'm a little fuzzy! The NCIS: New Orleans is new - I think it starts next week. I'm excited about the location too. I've spent a lot of time in New Orleans so I hope they really do a good job!

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  5. I haven't read Gone Girl, but the trailer sure is chilling and I'm pretty dang curious about the whole thing. I understand not liking pumpkin! We had pumpkin soup every single night on a sunday for like TWO YEARS. Now I hate pumpkin soup. >_< Overkill a little. Although caramelised pumpkin is still delicious. My Sunday Post!

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    1. The movie does look amazing and if I hadn't read it I'd definitely want to see it. I can see burning out of pumpkin soup after that much time! My husband has a similar phobia over green beans.

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  6. I think most of pumpkin flavored stuff is really about the pumpkin pie spice otherwise it would just be squash.

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    1. For me it's a texture thing for the most part. The odd thing is that I love butternut squash and I love cinnamon which is a pretty big part of pumpkin pie spice. I don't like nutmeg though so maybe that's it?

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  7. I was very tempted by The American Plate on net galley... can't wait to hear what you think! And I loved the audio of School of Essential Ingredients, but still need to get around to the sequel.

    Had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season this week. My oldest daughter feels the same way about pumpkin as you do... she's really tried to like it ;-)

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    1. I really have tried! Part of it's a texture issue as for the other I don't know! I wish I did.
      I'm glad you enjoyed School of Essential Ingredients! I loved it but had never heard of it before. Can't wait to get to the sequel! I haven't had a chance to really look at The American Plate but what I have seen looks pretty great!

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  8. I want to watch all the shows you mentioned...I love Dylan McDermott. And Criminal Minds is another favorite, and Viola Davis is definitely watchable, so How To Get Away With Murder is definitely on my list.

    And it will be hard to balance everything!

    I will probably see Gone Girl, because I'm curious...I'm trying not to have high expectations.

    Enjoy your week...and here's MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES POST

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    1. I'm excited about How to Get Away with Murder mostly because of Viola Davis. I think it will definitely be worth watching.
      Between all the stuff I want to watch and all the stuff I want to read I really don't have time for everything else!

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  9. Love your foodie choices this week-- American Plate looks really good! The commercials for Gone Girl look awesome, though I didn't enjoy the book, I might the movie.
    We have similar taste in tv shows so I just picked up a couple of new to me names to look for.
    Thanks for a fun wrap-up post!

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    1. I'm really excited about American Plate. It definitely looks like one I'll need to buy in print form. It looks like they did an amazing job with Gone Girl and from what I've seen of the casting I think it's definitely spot on.

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  10. Also not sure about seeing Gone Girl. I did like the book, but I've been disappointed many times seeing books made into film.
    We have an old friend who also hated pumpkin - we used to tease him by serving him pumpkin pie with pumpkin ice cream when he lived nearby. Then we used to send him things made of pumpkin every Thanksgiving as a joke. Last year we sent him some pumpkin butter which we'd purchased at a mountain fair. Guess what? He loved it. Next thing we knew, he's roasting pumpkin to eat. Go figure!

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    1. I like the casting choices I've seen for Gone Girl but those were some screwed up people and I'm not sure I want to visit with them again!
      That's too funny about your friend! I love apple butter so I might like pumpkin butter. Maybe that will be my intro into the world of pumpkin everything!

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  11. I will have to read your top ten post, I have always loved those! I hope you have an amazing week and a Happy Sunday

    Sunday Post

    xx Kat xx

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    1. Thanks! I love a good top ten list as well! I think you could put just about anything in a list and I'd read it.

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  12. Ooo has NCIS New Orleans started yet? Gads I need to set up my DVR. I watched maybe an hour of tv last week..i am going through withdrawal. I love foodie books too Katherine, cannot help myself.

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    1. I think it starts next week - right after the regular NCIS. Very excited!

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  13. I'm not a pumpkin fan either and I'm allergic to most autumn spices, including cinnamon so, I hate this part of fall even though I love fall. The American Plate looks interesting, I can't wait for your review. I'm also going to check out How to Get Away with Murder and I'll give NCIS: New Orleans a chance although the NCIS epi that introduced them didn't wow me.

    Have a good week!

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    1. I don't disagree about not being wowed by the intro NCIS episode but I saw little glimmers that give me hope. Plus I love Scott Bakula.
      I'm so sorry you're allergic to cinnamon. I can't even imagine how annoying that must be.
      I'm excited about The American Plate book! I haven't had a chance to really look at it but what I have seen looks fantastic!

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  14. We really eat in a lot. It is usually on the weekends that we go out too.. but not so much lately. We have a few bills that need to be paid so I am really going to focus on eating in. It really is cheaper. I love pumpkin cookies but that's about it when it comes to pumpkin. My dad usually mails me a box full of them (yes I am 35 and he still does).

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    1. That''s so great that your dad still mails you pumpkin cookies! No shame in that. It's amazing how much cheaper eating in really is.

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  15. Hi, love cupcakes and those titles. Will have to investigate. My TBR list keeps growing. ;)

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    1. These Sunday Posts are dangerous to the TBR list!

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  16. I like the idea of The American Plate. Off to add it to my wish list.

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    1. I haven't had time to really investigate The American Plate but I'm excited from what I've been able to see of it.

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  17. I can't wait for the Gone Girl movie, I haven't read the book yet but the trailer looks awesome! I love eating in but we don't have much time to cook after work so I usually eat out, which can get exxy. Have a lovely week!

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    1. The trailer looks amazing! I almost regret reading the book because I think I'd really want to see it.

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  18. The American Plate actually sounds interesting. Oh man, I've been debating reading Gone Girl before the movie, but I can't seem to get that extra push I need.

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    1. I enjoyed Gone Girl even though I wasn't really expecting to. It was definitely twisted though. That's the main reason I'm not sure I want to sit through those peoples' lives again. If I hadn't read the book I'd definitely be excited to see the movie!

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  19. That American cookbook looks fun! And a history and cookbook combined that just sounds like ym sort of book, will have to see if it's still on Netgalley.

    I never was a big pumpkin fan either, but I like it in certain dishes. I tried out a pumpkin risotto with apples this week and it was really good. I also like mashed pumpkin (no idea what else to call it).

    We hardly ever eat out as it's so expensive, it's only on special occasions that we go out for dinner. And indeed eating at home can be nice as well. I've been cooking a lot more lately and am finally getting the hang of it and thinking of what to cook in time!

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    1. I like butternut squash in risotto so maybe I would like pumpkin risotto. It certainly sounds goos!
      I enjoy cooking though it does take time to learn timing and all that!

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  20. The Jenny Colgan book looks good. I like some of the pumpkin stuff...not everything, but some things.

    Hope you have a great week.

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    1. Pumpkin does seem to have taken over everything lately. I enjoyed the one Colgan book I've read so I'm looking forward to this one.

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  21. I've never liked pumpkin either. Baked I can handle that has been seasoned with salt and olive oil but that's about my limit.
    I'm not American but I like that cookbook, it's cool seeing how different dishes came about. Might have to see about that one myself.
    Have a great week.

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    1. I'm not sure I've had pumpkin that way but it does sound good.
      From what I've seen the American plate cookbooks is really great. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to really sit and study it.

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  22. The American Plate sounds really interesting! I've been so bad with my NetGalley Arcs I'm afraid I'll go crazy if I log on to see what they have available. But I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to your review.

    -Kimberly @ Turning the Pages

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    1. I always say I'm going to stay away from NetGalley for a certain amount of time but I am weak!

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  23. I read The School of Essential Ingredients and enjoyed it. I need to pick up the sequel - I forgot all about that!

    I secretly love Dancing with the Stars, too! And I'm excited about the new Shonda Rhymes show...Do you watch Scandal or Blacklist? Those are 2 of my other favorites!

    Have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog!

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    1. I'm really looking forward to The Lost Art of Mixing. It looks like there's several characters other than Lillian from first book.

      Yay another Dancing with the Stars fan! I don't watch Scandal or Blacklist yet but they're on my Netflix queue. I'm looking forward to getting to them!

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    2. Definitely give Blacklist a try - the second season is starting this year, so you wouldn't be that far behind. Scandal is really good, too!

      I watched bits and pieces of DWTS the other night...not sure I'm going to watch the whole season. There really isn't any star that I love. Oh well - there are plenty of other shows to watch!

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  24. OMG, The American Plate looks great! I only have one problem with your blog: it really makes me hungry! lol

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  25. You don't like pumpkin? I'm sorry, but that's all I can think about after reading your post! =) Have your tried Starbucks Pumpkin Latte because I swear I'm half dead all year until I get myself another one of those every fall. =)

    Have a great week!

    Thanks for stopping by The Story Goes...

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    1. I know, I know. It's really shameful! I've tried to like it but sadly it just isn't happening.

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  26. I have the same hesitation about seeing Gone Girl the movie. I liked the book, but I'm not sure I need to see such narcissism playing out on the screen.

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    1. Exactly! I'm definitely not sure I want to spend anymore time in those people's head.

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  27. Quiet weeks are always good... I love that, I think I have gone a little crazy with the 1-click... oh well!!

    Thanx for visiting My Weekly Wrap-Up!
    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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    1. That 1 ckick button has gotten me in trouble plenty but I think if I didn't have a quiet week there would have been a revolt!

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  28. I'll definitely watch Gone Girl. I love watching adaptations. Gillian Flynn also wrote the screenplay for the movie which I don't think often happens for adaptations.
    Wandering through the Shelves

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    1. I think it will definitely be done well. My primary issue is I don't think I want to spend any more time with those peopel!

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