I hope you have a book or two to talk about, because I certainly don’t. I spent two days in Nashville. We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland hotel and enjoyed all the Christmas decorations. I went to a Celtic Thunder concert, and spent time at Parnassus Books, the bookstore owned by Ann Patchett. And, once I came back to work, I’ve been so busy I haven’t taken a lunch hour in two days. I usually read during my lunch hour.
It’s just that time of year when we’re all busy. I am reading a book for a review for a journal, so I can’t even talk about that today. And, I’ll be at our staff Holiday Breakfast for a few hours this morning, which means I’ll have to catch up with all of you.
My answer to What Are You Reading? is nothing. I hope you can do better! Tell us what you’re reading, please.
Lucky you, going to Nashville and Parnassus Books!
I had gotten all of Donna Andrews Christmas books at the library. Her characters are a hoot! The things they get themselves involved in. Seriously, I had no idea murder could be so entertaining! So since I finished the Christmas books, I have now started on the entire series. Book #1, Murder With Peacocks, has already proved to be just as crazy as the Christmas books! If you love a good mystery, with a crazy cast of family and friends, read her books!
Coulter, Catherine – Power Play
Meier, Leslie , et. al.– Eggnog Murder
Asprey, Dave – Game Changers
Munier, Paula – A Borrowing of Bones
It's a busy time for most of us and my reading time has suffered.
Lesa, thanks for recommending ELEVATION by Stephen King. I enjoyed it. I also read
LIES CAME EASY by Steven Havill which was really good.
MERRY & BRIGHT A CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY which contains 4 short paranormal Christmas stories by different authors, all of which are set in Kristen Painter’s Nocturne Falls universe. I liked 3 of the stories but the fourth was just OK.
An ARC of the seventh Snowden clambake mystery, STEAMED OPEN by Barbara Ross. It bothered me that the main character could track down someone that even the police couldn’t find but saw and then ignored an obvious clue to the killer. And she sees the clue a couple of times.
Deb, I’ve never been able to get into Donna Andrews bird series but I liked her Turing Hopper artificial intelligence mystery series.
Finished reading:
File M for Murder (book 3) by Miranda James
Out of Circulation (book4) by Miranda James
Alas, She Drowed (book 1) by Monica Knightley ~~ I might not read anymore in this series.
Now reading:
The Otter of Death (book 5) by Betty Webb ~~ Love the cover on this book. ~~ I have saved this book to read when I felt was just the right time. So far I have loved all the books Betty Webb has written.
Reading is a choice
📕📙📘☕️
I'm reading Anne Lamott's Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. I'll finish it to see if Lamott thinks she's evolved, but I'm not fond of this kind of wallowing in one's political misery.
I guess I have a different excuse for not reading too many books this week. I started two books by authors I usually enjoy, and I just couldn't get into either. I won't mention the authors because I think it was more a function of my own state of mind than the books themselves (although I thought both were boring).
The antidote was Michelle Obama's memoir, BECOMING, which I picked up at Costco. It took me longer than usual to get through it because I wanted to read every word! I'm not a fan of politics at all (apparently, neither is she), but this book was jam-packed with fascinating details about this extraordinary woman, from birth through the present, and I was hooked. I enjoyed her writing style as well.
Thanks to the recommendations of others, I read LIES COME EASY by Steven Havill, having liked one of his previous books, and I enjoyed it very much. Sandy, sounds like you did as well.
I just finished Steamed Open by Barbara Ross. Great next entry in one of my favorite series. I’ve barely started Lark the Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews, but hope to make significant progress on it today.
Almost finished with Save Me From Dangerous Men by S.A. Lechuck. I am ready to read any more by her. Great characters, story line and the setting is mostly the L.A. area.
And All the Phases of the Moon by Judy Rennee Singer. This fast but super enjoyable story.
that's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger is another school shooting book but with a different angle. How the press gets things wrong, making heros out of those who are not just human beings. Another winner.
Deb, I love Donna Andrews and would love to have 1/10 of Meg's energy! The latest Christmas mystery by her, LARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING, was one of my favorites.
Patricia, I have a love/hate relationship with Anne Lamott. I knew the current state of politics would have to be covered in a book on hope but in my opinion, she was a little too heavy handed. And then her chapters got a little random on me.
I finished THE RAIN WATCHER by Tatiana de Rosnay this week. I liked it very much but it was sad. I was happy for Linden and what he was able to share with his father. I felt almost claustrophobic reading about the nonstop rain and flooding in Paris and I couldn't help comparing it to the current unrest in France.
Now I am reading THE WHISPERED WORD by Ellery Adams. I enjoyed the first of the Secret Scone Society Mysteries so I thought I'd move on the second.
Happy Reading!
I agree, Deb. It was a great trip. My sister is a big Donna Andrews fan, and enjoys all the books, too.
Yes, busy time of year, Gram. My reading time has definitely suffered, as you said.
You're welcome, Sandy! I'm happy you enjoyed Elevation and Lies Came Easy.
Sandy, I'm glad you mentioned the Turing Hopper series. I really liked that one, and had forgotten about it.
Charlotte, Betty Webb said she cried when she finished the last Lena Jones mystery. Like you, I enjoy both of her series.
Patricia, I've liked Anne Lamott's books in the past, but I took back the last two without finishing them because I lost interest.
Yesterday I finished reading Louise Penny's latest: KINGDOM OF THE BLIND. Whew! that woman can write. I'm wondering whether or not she'll continue the series – if you read the book you'll understand my concern. Last night I started Kristin Harmel's THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE. So far I'm liking it.
Six! I think I've only read six books so far this month, Margie. But, I'm happy you read and enjoyed Steven Havill's book. I think he's underappreciated, while he deals with border issues, drugs, family issues, all in a local community, but they feel lighter because of the sheriff's dept. as family.
Mark, That's interesting, that you liked Steamed Open, and Sandy had issues with it. We all have different tastes.
Sally, My understanding is she's already working on the next one. I'm almost positive she said that in one of her newsletters, or, at least on Facebook. I know what you mean, though.
I have The Room on Rue Amelie, so nice to know you're enjoying it.
Carol, I always enjoy seeing your selections. You always have something on the list that I haven't heard of yet.
I loved The Rain Watcher, Sharon. It was sad, though.
I'm looking forward to the second in that series by Ellery Adams. I haven't had a chance to read it yet.
I've been pretty busy myself.
Designation Gold by Richard Marcinko and John Weisman; Rogue Warrior novel about a mission that starts in Moscow, but end in the Middle East. Very testosterone driven.
The Cat Detectives go to Korea; Children's book. The title says it all.
Girl Trap; A pair of partnered detectives each solve a case. The man takes down a sex trafficking ring, while the woman finds a missing person. Something for everybody!
Beneath The Ice by Alden Gansky; Devil Worshippers want an ancient city beneath the ice of Antarctica, and our heroes have to stop them. I think somebody did a lot of research on narcolepsy.
Just finished Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand -unfortunately when I got to the end I then found out it was the first of a 3 or 4 books so nothing was resolved! I try not to read all of the inside flap as I find they generally give too much away – in this case the last four words on the inside flap would have told me it was just the start of a series – so now I am left waiting!! I hate that! Now I am on to Mary Higgins Clark -You Don't Own Me.
So here (second attempt) is my sad story. Deb knows this so can skip the rest.
Sunday afternoon after lunch, I tripped in the living room and went flying out of control across the hall, and hit hard. It was bad. I told Jackie to call 911. To make a long story shorter, I basically destroyed the top of the humerus in my right shoulder- yes, I'm right handed. Surprisingly, the surgeon said there is a 30-35% chance it could heal itself enough that surgery isn't necessary, though I have my doubts. So I have to return in three weeks for more x-rays and to see if I need a shoulder replacement. Sleeping is not fun, and I can't concentrate on reading. The first month of the Florida trip is out, and if I need surgery…not looking good.
Jeff, I am so sorry for what has happened to you that has left you in this terrible situation.
I hope you can get some relief soon.
Maybe there will be no need for surgery.
I will be praying for you.
Jeff – so sorry to hear about your accident. Last year my husband fell backwards in the bathroom – just a fluke – and broke 2 ribs and had a partially collapsed lung – not fun – they gave him dilaudid for pain – we followed instructions exactly – he passed out and I had to call 911 -he had a reaction/overdose to the medication – other doctor said dosage much too high – so be very, very careful if they give you pain meds. Hope you will soon be comfortable enough to read.
That's horrible, Jeff. I hope you get well soon without an operation.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I am still reading Force of Nature by Jane Harper.
I am listening to Lethal White By JK….. Oops. Robert Galbraith
Thanks, all. I have a few days of pain pills like Percocet, but mostly have been able to make do with Advil and Tylenol.
Jeff, I hope you don’t need surgery.
kingdom of the blind, louise penny
and
100 tricks any boy can do, kim stafford
and
wizard and glass (vol. 4 of Dark Tower), stephen king
all demanding and enticing!
note: these titles are approximations, as I am too lazy to get up and check them out.
Glen, I think it's a busy time of year, no matter who you are.
Oh, Jeff. Like everyone else, I'm sorry, and I hope you don't need surgery. Your accident sounds awful. I'm really sorry about the Florida trip. That's really where you'd like to be with whatever weather you're going to get for the next month. Be careful out there walking.
You will either have plenty of time to work on your list of favorite books, or you'll totally decide it's too difficult to spend time trying to compose it with shoulder problems. Your choice, but you have plenty of time to decide. I just didn't want you thinking, oh, I have to do this. The only thing you have to do is work on that recovery.
No matter what, tell Jackie I'm sorry for her, too.
Donna, I hate having to wait a year for the next book. Way back, before your time, I quit reading a John Jakes series because I didn't have the patience to wait year after year.
I like that author correction, Jim. That's funny.
That's funny, MM. I know what you mean. I sometimes hate having to get up and go check on a title, too.
Thanks, Lesa. One day at s time. I'll manage either way.