What I Got:
As usual I'm very excited about the books I got this week! I'm at least mixing up how I'm acquiring books instead of a straight up NetGalley binge so I'm calling it progress!
Headhunters on my Doorstep by J. Maarten Troost - I really enjoyed his first 2 travel memoir books. I have the 3rd one on my shelf and am really looking forward to reading #4 as well (paperbackswap)
Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin - I love foodie books and essays about food just sound like fun. (NetGalley)
Death in the English Countryside by Sara Rosett - there's a murder in England on a film crew that's looking for a location to film the latest Pride and Prejudice adaptation. I'm not strong enough to pass that up! (NetGalley)
The Wanderer and The Newcomer by Robyn Carr - Kristen over at Always with a Book took pity on me about never having read any Robyn Carr and sent the first 2 in the Thunder Cove series. So excited!
Currently:
Reading: The Ripper's Wife by Brandy Purdy though I'm not very far into it and I'm almost done with Agatha's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Next up is Mission to Murder from Lyn Cahoon and Forbidden Ground.
Listening: Nothing - not a thing. I really need to find an audio book and get back in the habit again!
Watching: J ended up going out of town this week so my watching habits became much less violent. I'd been watching Criminal Minds on Netflix on my Kindle during the day but after the first night where my brain kept flashing images of a scary guy standing in the dark in a hoodie (they're always in a hood) I switched over to Flea Market Flip which is fun. Emma and I recruited Paul to watch Bachelors in Paradise in all it's epic awfulness and we ended up having a lot of fun with it. They got recorded months ago so we've been joking about everything from the weather warnings to the craziness of the show and all 3 of us have ended up basically crying with laughter. Other than that I've been watching Cutthroat Kitchen and Food Network's new show Hungry Games which is really interesting. It's kind of similar to Good Eats but without the recipes. I am looking forward to getting caught up on my scary stuff and Doctor Who. I'm SO behind on Doctor Who somehow and there's an Agatha Christie-ish episode that I still haven't watched! They're on the Orient Express. Why I haven't watched it yet is beyond me.
Off the Blog:
Ever had a week where you just don't feel prepared? That was this week. J ended up going out of town at kind of the last minute and oral surgery got moved from this coming week to this past Friday. Throw in a heavy dose of appointments and stuff to be arranged it just seemed like a lot of running. Add in the older kids' dentist appointment that I completely forgot about! I've never been so grateful that Emma can drive as I was when I saw that reminder card! I ended up having to dash up to school to drop off a note letting them check out so it didn't end up being an issue other than making me feel a little flustered. Well, I did have to deal with the attendance person who makes me crazy. Last time I needed Emma to check out after it was too late just to send a note with her I called and the woman told me I could email but it'd take hours for her to process it so it'd be best to just run a note up. This time I run a note up and she gets huffy and tells me I could just email it. AAGH!!
The Tornado has outgrown all his pants and I ended finding jeans in the boys department instead of the baby/toddler section. It made me want to cry a little! The good thing is that if he's officially in the boys section it will be a lot easier to find clothes for him. The 2 sad racks of boys clothes in the baby sections of most stores can make things challenging. He's gotten into challenging questions lately. On a 10 minute drive this week he asked me - How do babies get in mommies' bellies? Is God real or pretend? and What makes something alive?
This week looks like it's going to be much calmer. Surgery done, Halloween stuff purchased, no more appointments. All I have to do is survive the Tornado's questions!
On the Blog:
What Happened This Week:
Monday: Deadly Tasting- a review for a murder mystery featuring a wine expert!
Tuesday: The Top Ten Series I Want to Start plus a feature about a WW1 era historical fiction Dance the Moon Down
Wednesday: The Night Garden - Review
Thursday: The Bone Room - Review
Friday: Link Ups with excerpts from Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Saturday: Fairy Homes and Gardens - Review
Coming Up:
Monday: The Ripper's Wife (maybe?)
Tuesday: 10 Books to get in the Halloween spirit
Wednesday: Mission to Murder - Review
Thursday: Forbidden Ground - Review
Friday: Linkups with excerpts from my current book
Saturday: Cookbook linkup?
Happy Reading!
I hate it when all chores and obligations catch me unprepared. I hope that next will be better.
ReplyDeleteThanks! So far so good!
DeleteMy mind boggles at all you are doing. Between you and Rosie Amber, I am breathless reading about your weeks! Hope the oral surgery goes/went well, and I do remember the days when I had to buy bigger sizes for my kids. I always loved buying their clothes, and it was extra sad when they went to buying their own (with supervision!)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's really not too bad just can get a little bust.
DeleteOral surgery went well and I hope it's the last time I have to do anything like that for awhile!
Bitter Greens looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI think so too! Really looking forward to read it.
DeleteOh, Laurie Colwin! I love her books--I often feel that she's inside my head! I miss her writing voice so much.
ReplyDeleteThe author's name sounds familiar but I don't think I've read anything by her. Must find her backlist!
DeleteSo many good suggestions for books and watching! I love to catch up on your posts-- always so much going on. I think you should be dubbed the Big Tornado, as you swirl around with a book in one hand and car keys in another, lol! I have Bitter Greens and The Wanderer still unread, but might read your opinion before I get to them :) Enjoy the week, and try to relax with those great titles!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I really don't think my weeks are particularly busy but I guess that's because I'm in the middle of it! I like the book in one hand keys in the other visual. I'll probably get to the Carr book before Bitter Greens. I'm in a contemp mood right now!
DeleteI have read some of Laurie Colwin's novels...this foodie book looks tempting. I am also drawn to The Night Garden.
ReplyDeleteBitter Greens is one I've been eyeing (ogling!) for a while. Love that cover!
Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I haven't read Laurie Colwin yet but I'm looking forward to looking at her other books. The cover for The Night Garden slays me I just wish u had enjoyed it more.
DeleteDeath in the English Countryside sounds good! And Dr. Who on the Orient Express? That's intriguing. I've never really watched Dr. Who and I think it's partly because I feel like I'd be so behind- but then again people jump in all the time right? And there's always Wikipedia to get up to speed I guess. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
It can be a little intimidating especially when you look at the whole 50 year thing but it's not as bad as it seems. It's bbc so there's only about 15 episodes a season. Start with Christopher Eccolston and go from there.
DeleteYou found Laurie Colwin on Netgalley?? Guess it's time for me to have another look around their sight;-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Katherine!
I did! I'm very excited! I think it's from Open Road Media. I'm looking forward to reading it.
DeleteLife gets hectic at times. I hope you have a more peaceful week even with the Tornado. :)
ReplyDeleteThis week hasn't been particularly calm with Halloween and all but it's been fun!
DeleteWinning a book really is the best feeling. Bittergreens has been on my TBR for a while. I'll definitely be looking out for your review.
ReplyDeleteI can't even believe how busy your week seemed. Congrats on getting through it and the surgery. I really hope next week(besides Halloween) is a lot quieter.
Happy reading!
Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life
I'm looking forward to reading Bitter Greens! The cover alone is worth owning the book. This week hasn't exactly been calm but it has been fun!
DeleteSome interesting books this week. I'm also seeing Bittergreens around a lot lately. Starting to get curious about it:)
ReplyDeleteDon't you love those questions they fire at you. "What makes something alive?" Whoa, I'd love to hear how you answered that one. LOL
Here is my Sunday Post - http://fuonlyknew.com/2014/10/26/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-84-and-the-sunday-post/
I stalled and changed the subject. Luckily we were just about home so he got distracted getting his stuff our of the car. Doesn't Bitter Greens look great!
DeleteWhat a week! And totally rolling my eyes at that lady. Some just always have to be contrary.
ReplyDeleteI know! Luckily I don't have to deal with her very often!
DeleteOooh big questions from Tornado! Elle has been asking about babies and so far she's satisfied with "magic." I mean, it is kind of magical...? Then she asked how the babies come out and I told her through labor. She was satisifed. I'm usually pretty straight forward with her but I'm not sure at what age I should really start telling her the Truth.
ReplyDeleteDoctor Who. Just can't get into it! I know Lisa is enjoying it, though!
Hope this week is better for you. I'm waiting for that magical moment when life perfectly aligns and everything falls into place. That really happens, right?? ;)
I'm sure there will be magically aligning weeks and weeks where we're all caught up but I'm betting neither of those happen with small children in the mix!
DeleteIn theory I believe in honesty with kids and that's what we did with the older kids but he doesn't take a short answer. He wants to know why at all times!
Don't worry about not liking Doctor Who. It's definitely not for everyone. In fact my husband can't stand it! Well except for Blink which is the best episode ever!
Ah yes, those innocent questions from kids that send us parents into a total panic, lol. Fun times :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! The questions never come at a good time either it's always in line somewhere with about a million people!
Deletei am so excited you are trying Carr, I love her small-town series :) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm really looking forward to them!
DeleteWow, that was a lot of craziness! I hope this week is calmer.
ReplyDeleteI love NetFlix, especially now that I don't have cable. But Criminal Minds can get dark. I was watching last week's epi at Hulu and had to click to a different window so as not to see.
Enjoy your books and have a good week!
Not sure about calmer but it's definitely been a fun week!
DeleteCriminal Minds heads to the over dark sometimes definitely. There's a few that I've had to stop watching
(aagh, it just deleted my comment. Let me try again.)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're going to read Carr (but I hope you try the Virgin River series sometime, too!) And I can't wait to see what you think of the end of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Also I'm glad I'm not the only one who's behind on Doctor Who. (I'm really, really behind - like early-second-season-of-the-reboot behind. First-season-of-Tenth-Doctor behind. Rose-is-still-around behind. *sigh*)
Enjoy the Tornado and his questions - you've got a budding scientist and/or philosopher there!
Blogger gets cranky periodically. You must at least watch the next season of Doctor Who! Some of my favorite episodes are in that season - especially Blink and where they meet Shakespeare. I also love Martha. She's very underappreciated
Delete"How do babies get in mommies' bellies?" This question scares me. I hope my son won't ask me this until after 8 years. LOL!
ReplyDeleteHere's mine:
NYZE@everythingnyze
It's not a fun question! Especially not at 4!
DeleteI think I'd squeal a little, too, if Bitter Greens showed up in my mailbox! The good thing about those tough questions from little people is that you don't have to give too much information; they can only absorb so much!
ReplyDeleteIt was a very happy mail day! He's very much a why questioner. The other kids could always be brushed off with a short answer but he wants to know!
DeleteYou added some good books this week! Enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to them!
DeleteI'm laughing at your 'watching' section. Always a hoodie. lol. Hope your week is good and enjoy your books.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a hoodie! I think they give them out at bad guy meetings.
DeleteYou've got some really good books, I hope you enjoy reading them.
ReplyDeleteI love Doctor Who, but for some reason I don't seem to have kept up with it since Peter Capaldi took over. I watched the first ep of the latest series, and I do want to watch the rest, but I just don't seem to get around to it. I think the Tenth Doctor was my favourite :)
Have a great week!
The tenth doctor is my favorite too but so many of his episodes were just emotional train wrecks I found it easier when 11 came along! I'm doing the same thing you are. It's not that I don't want to watch them it's just I keep putting them off for really no reason.
DeleteOooh, you are up to the tough questions from your little guy then! My nephew is 4 and I was trying to find a tee-shirt for him for his birthday and waahh, he doesn't fit all the cute baby stuff now. :') But he's adorable, so that's okay.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
Thanks for stopping by @ Notebook Sisters!
I do miss the baby stuff! Especially the footed sleepers! So cute!
DeleteYou watched a lot of different movies this week! You sure had a hectic week. I still remember when I was younger and I wanted to know everything and kept asking my mom questions. Must be difficult to explain things like that to a kid!
ReplyDeleteIt's unbelievably difficult! I end up stalling quite a bit!
DeletePhew! I need to take a breath after reading that, what a busy week, sounds like me! I'm running round doing so much stuff at the moment my legs feel like they want to fall off. Hope this week is a better one for you.
ReplyDeleteSharon @ Sharon's Book Nook!
Thanks! It's been a fun week which is nice! It's the frazzled feeling I don't like!
DeleteI've been watching a lot of the HGTV shows lately. I love them. I watch a couple shows on the food network. Barefoot Contessa is the one I love so much! I just started watching it again.
ReplyDeleteOh I love the Barefoot Contessa! Her recipes aren't always simple but they're so yummy!
DeleteHurry up and read Bitter Greens because I want to know what you think! I have been curious about that one for a while now.
ReplyDeleteI'm way behind on Dr. Who too. Seasons behind, I'm sure. I really need to catch up.
I hope the oral surgery went well!
I'm in the same boat with my daughter. She desperately needs new pants. She's wearing pants a size too small at the moment. But unlike you, we're still in the toddler section. :-) Don't you just love the questions kids ask? Haha! Sometimes there's a long pause before I can answer a question my daughter asks because I need to think hard how I'll answer.
I hope you have a great week! Happy Halloween!
Glad I'm not the only one who does the long pause! Sometimes I have no idea what to say! The clothes thing is always fun. I bought big thinking we'd be in good shape for this year but apparently he got several inches taller than I expected.
DeleteI'm hoping to get to Bitter Greens soon. I really want to read it but I have a tendency to push books to the side. I may assign a review date to make myself read it!
Sounds like you were the tornado this week ;) I'm dreading the day my step-son can drive, but part of me looks forward to not having to worry about carting him around. I have real sympathy with the pants - my step-son has to wear men's pants now! It's actually harder because he's so tall, but also so thin - it's like we need teen's waist and men's length.
ReplyDeleteAnyway - hope you're having a great week and enjoying the new reads :)
You added some fun books this week. I hope you enjoy them all! Thanks for stopping by earlier in the week! :)
ReplyDeleteTressa @ Wishful Endings