I don't know about where you are but it is COLD in NYC this weekend! The cold actually gave me a good excuse to stay inside and read so it wasn't all bad - I was hunkered down all day on Saturday with a book and cups of tea and coffee. I hope it warms at least a little before I need to venture out for work on Monday!
This was quiet book blogging week for me - I had a 3 day meeting for work out of town which included evening dinners so my free time was very limited. I found I really missed checking in on the blogs in my reader, seeing what the bloggers were reading and commenting. I realized that the practice of commenting on at least 5 posts per day encouraged in the comment challenge from Mother Reader had really taken hold - I missed this daily practice when I was consumed with goal-setting and brainstorming at my work meetings!
Reading/Reviews
I did manage to get two reviews up this week:
The Geography of Bliss is an examination of happiness in a variety of countries - part travelogue, sociological study and memoir.
New World Monkeys is author Nancy Mauro's debut novel. I read this for a book club meeting taking place this coming week - the author will be joining us so I will report back on the discussion
I am currently reading two books (a rarity for me - I usually prefer to read one at a time):
Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women
by Geraldine Brooks. I am reading this for the Social Justice Challenge whose theme this month is Religious Freedom. By this month, I do mean January - talk about getting something in under the wire! I lost track of the challenge this month and only realized about a week ago that I still hadn't read anything for it. I will be furiously reading all day today to get this one finished. Here's to better planning next month!The Reading Group: A Novel (P.S.)
by Elizabeth Noble. This is a fun story that tracks the lives of women in a London Reading Group. So far, I am really enjoying the characters!I am listening to two books right now - one on my Ipod and one on CD that I started during the 4 hour roundtrip car ride that I make every week for work.
Absolute Power by David Baldacci. This is my first time reading or listening to anything by Baldacci and so far it has really grabbed my attention. Stay tuned - I have an upcoming giveaway for this audiobook
You Can't Drink All Day If You Don't Start in the Morning
by Celia Rivenbark. I enjoy listening to comedy on my walk to and from work or just around town - this sassy southerner has been keeping me laughing.I won an award!
Becky from Page Turners awarded me the Blogger Buddie Award - she awards this to top commenters on her blog. Here are the other bloggers that received the award this month:
I really enjoy her blog - she blogs consistently each week and also has some fun features. I actually discovered her blog via one of those features - in Lights Blog Action, Becky spotlights a book blog and the blogger answers questions such as why they starting blogging. It is a great way to learn about new blogs! There is a lot of great stuff going on at Page Turners - go check it out! Becky -thanks again for the award!
Hope you all have a great week and I look forward to hearing what you have to say!
I'm curious to hear what you and your group thought about New World Monkeys. I did not care for it that much, although the writing was very good.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your award. It's freezing in Boston as well- a day to stay in under the blankets! :)
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me that I've yet to write my review for Nine Parts of Desire - this week for sure. Congratulations on the award!
ReplyDeleteIt has been cold in the Northeast hasn't ti (I'm in NJ but more South). And 4 hour commute??? Yikes. Thank goodness for audio books. Sounds like you have a lot of good reading going on.
ReplyDeleteSo did you squeak in under the wire with Nine Parts of Desire? I have that one here to read sometime too.
ReplyDeleteKristen - I will finish it this evening and get my review posted. So -not quite in Jan but I hope it will still count. I need to organize a little around these challenges or I will be shut-in from Sept to Dec just trying to read everything I committed to!
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about Nine Parts of Desire. Did you get it read like you were hoping?
ReplyDeleteI was about to say I don't think I've read a Balducci book, but that's not true. I read The Christmas Train a few years ago and really liked it. I keep meaning to read something else by him.
Congratulations on the award! It's well earned. :-) I hope you have a great week.
No worries about the award, thanks for enjoying my blog!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a good week.It definitely hasn't been cold in here in Sydney, so hot! Makes it hard to sleep, but what can you do. Its still encouraging to stay home in the air-con and read!