I had such high hopes this week for getting a lot of reading done. After all, it's usually cold (and often snowy or icy) this time of year and my natural instinct is to burrow in to a corner of the sofa with a warm blanket and a good book. A week or so ago, it seemed like this was the perfect week to participate in a read-a-thon.
Then life, once again, intervened. Mini-me got an apartment was was able to move in this week which meant mom, of course, had to drop everything and help pack and move. Tuesday night the Omaha Bookworms met to discuss Nicole Krauss' The History of Love. Wednesday evening Mini-him came into town and announced to his astonished parents, as we cleaned up dinner, that we needed to clean ourselves up because we were headed downtown to see Craig Ferguson (of the Late, Late Show on CBS). Finally, it was The Big Guy's birthday yesterday which meant we had to celebrate that all weekend. So it was a fun week but not a good week to get a lot of reading done.
Still, I will have finished two books by the end of A Winter's Respite today and gotten a start on a third so I'm feeling good about the read-a-thon. Better yet, I'm feeling like I've gotten my reading mojo back, something I've been missing terribly in the past few months.
The History of Love, by the way, was a spectacular bust with the Omaha Bookworms. Three people didn't bother to finish it even and those that did had a hard time with the story line and no connection to the characters. I think I was the only one that found anything to like about it at all.
I've got reviews of The End of the Affair and Left Neglected coming up this week and I will, finally, return to Fairy Tale Fridays. This week, Hans Christian Andersen will be making an appearance. For some reason, one of the songs from Disney's Little Mermaid popped into my head which meant, of course, that I had to read the original story and at least one story inspired by it.
It also meant that I'll be starting Carolyn Turgeon's Mermaid today and will also pick a new nonfiction book, although I haven't decided on that one yet. What are you reading this week?
I'm finishing up some mysteries and thrillers and a YA that I promised to review. The Mermaid sounds like a nice fantasy to get into. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday! I hate those weeks where you want to read but can't because of other obligations. I find them somewhat stressful, as compared to reading slumps. I'm glad you were able to find your reading mojo again!
ReplyDeleteMy reading mojo is off too, which I'm afraid makes me not as favorable in my evaluations of books. Interesting reaction to The History of Love! Bookclubs are so fun that way! I guess I'm going to try an ebook next - I need to break the ice for myself!
ReplyDeleteI've had a busy family week and managed to fit in my other interests, but haven't had time to write reviews.
ReplyDeleteI've two new books for my two reading groups, both ones I wouldn't have chosen myself, and I'm keen to read ones on my TBR stack instead.
I will be looking out for your fairytale posts!
It does indeed sound like the reading was waylaid by several events, but I am glad that you feel the mojo returning! I sort of had the same thing going this weekend, and wasn't able to read much at all, but that's ok because I am looking forward to a week that's a little less hectic. I am reading The Ruins of Us, and still going onward with Middlemarch and A People's History of the United States. Not much has changed since last week, other than I am almost finished with The Marriage Plot on audio, and it's excellent!
ReplyDeleteYour week was so very busy!! I love how your husband wants to keep celebrating his birthday all weekend!!! I loved History of Love...I would've been the lone man out! :D
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Life is busy here in South Carolina too....And it is unseasonably warm, even for this area (today was a gorgeous summerish day, with temperatures well into the 70s). I'm reading Townie by Andre Dubus III (excellent so far) and The Great Gatsby (as I teach it once again)....
ReplyDeleteMy reading is on hold this week. I just can't concentrate on anything.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing that Mini-Me got an apartment, right? Moving is always such a pain though but what can you do? Us moms would rather drop everything to help than worry about them not settling in well.
I'm curious to read your thoughts on Mermaid. Sorry about The History of Love...
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had an exciting, action packed week.
Bummer about History of Love but I totally get it. I really struggled with it and wondered several times if I should just ditch it or start it over. My coworker recently had the same dilemma but texted me yesterday saying that she finished and was sobbing despite all of the troubles she also had. Think it's a great book that could have been a little more accessible.
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