Monday, June 22, 2015

Monday Malarkey - Flash Readathon and all that went with it

If you're a Facebook or Twitter friend, you may have seen pics of my reading buddies hanging out with me during this past weekend's #flashreadathon but here's what you missed:


Yep, the ever-patient Fiona got another squashing from her little sister, Isabel. They were both hanging out on my legs while I read on the bed. That's pretty rare and, of course, I loved it. Kiddo (who graduated from college and is temporarily moving home) had cranked the air conditioner down so low that we were all cold.

So . . . I hadn't actually finished a single book till this weekend and I'm really, really happy that there was an excuse to sit and read. The guys were away, working on cleaning and emptying Kiddo's apartment and that meant I had a nice, long stretch of quiet time. The only really pressing thing I needed to do around the house was laundry. At some point, I completely ran out of laundry!! Cool or what? I'm not the most focused person but I got 3 books finished and 5 loads of laundry done. On to the malarkey.

Last week's arrivals:


  • Life in a Box is a Pretty Life by Dawn Lundy Martin (purchased)
  • A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (sent by friend)


Posts since last week's Malarkey:




Books finished last week:


  • Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans
  • Life in a Box is a Pretty Life by Dawn Lundy Martin 
  • Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell


Such a great reading weekend. Crooked Heart (a July release) is a WWII book that is absolutely pitch-perfect and by far one of my favorite reads of 2015. Life in a Box is a Pretty Life is a hard read -- poetry about painful topics: being black, being a woman, being victim-blamed, racially profiled or judged based on color or sexuality. Her writing style is odd and cryptic; at times I felt like I was trying to decipher code. But, sometimes it just smacks you in the face. It is really powerful stuff.

And, of course, Eleanor & Park. Everyone I know has read it. Friend Tammy insisted that I must read it urgently so I checked it out from the library, whipped through it, and then had to chew out all my friends for not telling me it's got an ugly-cry ending. I was so not expecting the waterworks . . . and I'm telling you, it just went on and on. What a moving book.

Currently reading:

Oh, who knows. No Pamela, last week. I'm halfway through Extreme Food by Bear Grylls but I'm in the yucky part. Maybe will try to barrel through that so I can move on. And, I'll probably start a new fiction read, tonight, but I haven't yet decided between the three that are calling out to me. I did not manage to finish The Boys in the Boat before my F2F meeting but I keep telling myself, "One chapter a night would be good. That way you'll eventually finish!" and then I pick up whatever fiction I'm reading, instead. So, it's hard to say what will happen (well, not too difficult, actually). The discussion was great. I suspect the problem has more to do with the fact that I'm reading an e-book than anything else. I really, truly dislike e-books. But, maybe the topic is just not my thing.

In other news, I've discovered marbles are pretty fun to photograph (and Fiona thought they were exceptionally cool toys when I made my first attempt at marble photography on the floor):


This week's vacation obsession is Europe. I haven't been there, not really. I mean, a weekend in France, that's all. So, I'm pondering a trip to Europe alone, maybe on a tour with a bunch of old ladies. Husband actually thinks that would be fine and dandy since he's been so many places without me. Anyone want to go on an old-lady tour with me?

Happy almost-Tuesday!

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6 comments:

  1. I loved Eleanor & Park too. It was a good ugly cry.

    They're reading The Boys in The Boat for the book club at our library too, but to be honest, I'm just not that interested even if after the group leader told me how much she loved it. I'm just not into nonfiction, to be honest.

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    Replies
    1. It definitely was the good sort of ugly cry. I loved it.

      I'd skip The Boys in the Boat if you're not interested. I read and enjoy plenty of nonfiction but for whatever reason it never did grab me.

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  2. This picture totally reminds me of my kitties. Belly is constantly harassing Buns and so when Belly is sleeping Buns sits on her. It's her only defense.
    I'm right in the middle of Elinor & Park and it's such a heavy sad book that I'm having a hard time finishing it.
    I would totally go on a European trip with you if only I could afford it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so funny about Belly sitting on Buns! Isabel does it more for warmth and companionship. She's so tiny that she gets cold easily; and she seems to look up to Fiona as a mother figure, which is sweet but sometimes drives Fiona crazy. They're really awfully cute together.

      I didn't think of Eleanor & Park as sad so much as horrifying, at least Eleanor's life. It's almost unbearably true to life in that regard. But, the romance is sweet and the ending is truly special. I hope you'll hold out for that ending.

      Darn, we'd have fun in Europe. I envy your Mediterranean cruise.

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  3. OLD LADY TRIP! I know my aunt would go and SO WOULD I! (or want to anyway...) It's always a bit tricky to do ALL the things I want to do when I want to do them.)

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    Replies
    1. Ooooh, and I know we'd have fun together!

      Delete

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