I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by the wonderful Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking to Stacking the Shelves hosted by the great Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.
The amazing Deb Nance of Readerbuzz has added new life to the The Sunday Salon, and I hope you will consider visiting her blog as well as those of other participants.
March seemed to both fly by and drag its feet at the same time. We celebrated Mouse's birthday, attended the Drag Queen Story Hour at our local indie bookstore, closed out the Girl Scout cookie season, started rehearsals for The Greatest Showman, continued to attend dance classes and Girl Scout meetings, attended a dance competition to cheer on the competing dancers from our studio, fought and continue to fight illnesses (will this cough ever go away?!), and, well, went to work. A lot of big changes came at the end of the month at work that have left many of us within my agency a bit shaken. Work and illness have affected my reading and blogging, unfortunately. They has left me feeling rather out of sorts.
Mouse enjoyed a week off with her dad during her spring break. It rained. A lot. But spring is definitely here now. It has been nice to finally open the windows.
I hope you had a wonderful March and that your April has gotten off to a good start!
New to My Shelves:
March seemed to both fly by and drag its feet at the same time. We celebrated Mouse's birthday, attended the Drag Queen Story Hour at our local indie bookstore, closed out the Girl Scout cookie season, started rehearsals for The Greatest Showman, continued to attend dance classes and Girl Scout meetings, attended a dance competition to cheer on the competing dancers from our studio, fought and continue to fight illnesses (will this cough ever go away?!), and, well, went to work. A lot of big changes came at the end of the month at work that have left many of us within my agency a bit shaken. Work and illness have affected my reading and blogging, unfortunately. They has left me feeling rather out of sorts.
Mouse enjoyed a week off with her dad during her spring break. It rained. A lot. But spring is definitely here now. It has been nice to finally open the windows.
I hope you had a wonderful March and that your April has gotten off to a good start!
New to My Shelves:
Dead Witch on a Bridge by Gretchen Galway ~ I couldn't resist adding this to my TBR pile after hearing about it from Jenclair at A Garden Carried in the Pocket.
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Stories Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlyn Doughty ~ I saw this book mentioned by a couple book bloggers, and decided it might be something I would enjoy reading.
The Songs of Achilles by Madeline Miller ~ I read an review of Circe (which I haven't yet read--I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback) recently and the blogger mentioned loving this one even more. I decided I should give it a try as well.
Afterland by Mai Der Vang ~ In my recent search for a book of poetry to try, I came across this one and couldn't resist.
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar ~ I saw mention of this on someone's blog (I can't remember whose) and knew I had to get a copy. While my daughter is still a bit young for it, she won't be for long. This novel in verse deals with a girl's first period.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See ~ I wasn't able to attend the signing in March, but Lisa See and Vromon's Bookstore were kind enough to make sure I got a personalized signed copy! Lisa See is one of my favorite authors.
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo ~ I had the privilege of attending her book signing at a local bookstore this weekend. She is amazing and so are her books! It was a real honor to meet her.
Mouse's School Book Fair Picks:
Jada Jones: Rock Star (#1) by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
The Scaredy Cat (Purrmaids #1) by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
101 Great Science Experiments: A Step by Step Guide by Neil Ardley
Mysticons, Volume 1 by Kate Leth
(She goes again to the book fair with her class this next week and has already asked if she can have more money to buy more books)
Mouse's recent book purchases at the bookstore:
Who Was Princess Diana? by Ellen Labrecque, illustrated by Jerry Hoare
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Who Was Joan Arc? by Pam Pollack & Meg Belviso, illustrated by Andrew Thomson & Nancy Harrison
What I Am Reading: I just finished reading Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger, a historical novel with ghosts, weretigers, and a mystery--what can be better than that? Next up is Unraveling by Karen Lord, which also delves into the realm of spirits and is a murder mystery.
What I Am Watching: I missed some work in March due to illness and, if I am honest, have spent more time watching television than reading because I feel so exhausted all the time. Between Riverdale, The Umbrella Academy, Love It Or List It, Find Me In Paris, and catching up with 9-1-1 (and I am sure other shows I am forgetting), I have watched more than my share as of late.
We did catch Captain Marvel in the theater and really enjoyed it.
Off the Blog:
Are they really lying this close together? I can't believe my eyes!
The wild one caught in a rare moment of rest.
Enjoying the sunspot
Drag Queen Story Hour: Herstory - It was a lot of fun for everyone.
She couldn't wait to get home to read her new book.
Opening the Disney Store at the Mall with the Magic Key
One of our trees is in bloom with the help of the rain
Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching?
*
Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:
My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).
This month's selections are on the short size on purpose. I have some upcoming deadlines I need to meet, and wanted to be sure to find time to fit this month's winner in. A couple of these have been on my shelf for a few years now, while another for just a year. Which do you think I should read?
Irene Seligman loves the warmth and beauty of her Southwest hometown, but only one thing could make her quit her prestigious job as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan to return there: the guilt applied by her demanding mother, Adelle. After Adelle’s most recent husband dies, leaving her with nothing, Irene decides to take a break from prosecuting criminals to move back to Santa Fe and open an upscale consignment store. With Irene’s determination and her mother’s eye for haute couture, they’re sure to make a killing.
But on the day of the grand opening, Irene discovers the body of one of Adelle’s friends in her storeroom. And although the intrigue causes business to boom, when someone else from Adelle’s social circle is murdered, Irene begins to suspect her mother might be in danger too. Ever the protective daughter, Irene investigates her mother’s friends, suspicious that they’re hiding more than designer clothes in their closets. But as she gets closer to uncovering some real skeletons, Irene might not live to regret coming home again. [Goodreads Summary]
The K Apartments for Ladies in Tokyo conceals a sinister past behind each door; a woman who has buried a child; a scavenger driven mad by ill-health; a wife mysteriously guarding her late husband’s manuscripts; a talented violinist tortured by her own guilt. The master key, which opens the door to all 150 rooms, links their tangled stories. But now it has been stolen, and dirty tricks are afoot.
A deadly secret lies buried beneath the building. And when it is revealed, there will be murder. [Goodreads Summary]
Welcome to the Scattered Pearls Belt, a collection of ring habitats and orbitals ruled by exiled human scholars and powerful families, and held together by living mindships who carry people and freight between the stars. In this fluid society, human and mindship avatars mingle in corridors and in function rooms, and physical and virtual realities overlap, the appareance of environments easily modified and adapted to interlocutors or current mood.
A transport ship discharged from military service after a traumatic injury, The Shadow's Child now ekes out a precarious living as a brewer of mind-altering drugs for the comfort of space-travellers. Meanwhile, abrasive and eccentric scholar Long Chau wants to find a corpse for a scientific study. When Long Chau walks into her office, The Shadow's Child expects an unpleasant but easy assignment. When the corpse turns out to have been murdered, Long Chau feels compelled to investigate, dragging The Shadow's Child with her.
As they dig deep into the victim's past, The Shadow's Child realises that the investigation points to Long Chau's own murky past--and, ultimately, to the dark and unbearable void that lies between the stars... [Goodreads Summary]
Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!
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I know what you mean about the lingering cough! I've been sick all week and this cough is driving me crazy! Lots of great books, and cute kitten pics! I love Lisa See! I can't wait to read, The Island of Sea Women. It's so awesome that you got your book signed too!!!
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
Lindy - I hope you are feeling better soon. Being sick is no fun, is it? I hate this cough. I am really looking forward to reading Lisa See's latest too. It sounds so good. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteThe windows have been open here too and it's been NICE. I feel like I needed spring after such a long winter, although now with the weather change and all the stuff in the air it seems like everyone here is sick! Ha ha always something. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the work stuff, hope everything turns out okay. You have been busy, from the sounds of it!
I miss the Disney Store! Ours went out a few years ago...
Greg - I love having the windows open! It's been so nice out. Allergies are a problem here too, unfortunately. I am sure being sick combined with allergies are my and my daughter's problem right now. It's hard to resist this weather though.
DeleteThank you for the good thoughts regarding work. I will just keep doing what I do, and hopefully everything will fall into place without too many more headaches, especially since I really have no control over what's happening.
We don't visit the Disney Store often, but my daughter received birthday gift cards for the store and it gave us an excuse to go. She really enjoyed herself. I love the little ceremony they perform to open the store.
Thanks for stopping by, Greg!
I've heard that coughs are the last to go away - mine lasted for a couple of months (until I visited the doctor for a second time and was told I needed an inhaler). I hope yours goes away soon!
ReplyDeleteBoth The Master Key and The Tea Master and the Detective sound really fun! I voted for The Master Key but thats because I'm biased towards Japanese stories (;
Eustacia - A couple of months seems way too long for a cough, but I can believe it. Mine is going on four weeks now. I hope it ends soon.
DeleteThank you for voting! I think The Master Key sounds really good.
Thank you for visiting!
It has been warm here as well and I definitely have spring fever! You had a super busy week last week and I hope that you will have a great week!
ReplyDeleteCynthia - I keep wanting to find excuses to go outside. We really need to clean up our back porch so I can sit and read out there before it starts getting too warm. I hope you have a great week as well! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteWe blame our coughs on allergies around here. Our humidity is always high and there is always pollen in the air. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteBook fairs are wonderful/awful. I held them every year, and sometimes twice a year. It was very hard to tell a child with an arm full of books that he only had enough money for one. Your daughter made good choices, I think.
Deb - I have wondered if perhaps I've gone from upper respiratory infection to allergies with little break, and so it just feels like one long illness. I originally had put off my symptoms as allergies until I couldn't get away with it any more.
DeleteMy daughter's school has book fairs twice a year, not to mention the flyers that come home throughout the year. I have a really hard time saying no when she finds books she wants. Usually I limit her to two, but this time we splurged.
Thank you for visiting!
Dead Witch on a Bridge sounds interesting by the title...lol.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Stormi
Week in Review
Stormi - I like that title too. :-) I hope you have a great week as well. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteExcept for the illness, it sounds like a great month! I'm excited about the new See book and have it on my iPad. I'm sad to say that the director of our local library who scheduled the Drag Queen Story Hour lost his job over it.
ReplyDeleteKathy - It was a good one overall. I hope you enjoy the new See book. I look forward to reading it. What awful news about the director of your local library losing his job over the Drag Queen Story Hour. It really is harmless, but there are those who have to get upset and read more into something they don't understand. It's such a shame. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you've been ill for so long. I hope that you are able to shake off the sickness soon.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne - Thank you! I hope so too. I was able to sleep last night without too much coughing, so maybe the end is in sight. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI'm glad to be making your reacquaintance through the Sunday Salon (and Deb, thanks, Deb). Aside: I love your bio on the right sidebar. I think I saw your photos of the Drag Queen Story Hour (maybe on Instagram? or maybe here). I understand (a little bit) about work changes affecting work. My reading hasn't been that great for the last couple of months because of thoughts about work. I think I had Smoke Gets In Your Eyes among books to read at one point. I think it's available on Amazon Prime Reading so I might have to seek it out again. As for what I'm reading now, I plan on reading All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot later today. Listening? At moment, nothing. :) Watching? My wife and I are splitting our time among The Tick, Kim's Convenience, and Santa Clarita Diet. As for your next TBR, I'm going to go with The Master Key since I'm partial to mysteries.
ReplyDeleteBryan - It is nice to visit with you again too. You might have seen the photos from the Drag Queen Story Hour on Facebook. We enjoyed going and look forward to the next one. I the bookstore's owner aims to host one every few months or so. I am sorry work thoughts have kept you away from reading too. I hope I can move past it and use reading more as my escape. I am not listening to anything right now either. I need to go through my audiobooks and pick one out! Thank you for voting. I think the Master Key sounds really good. I had forgotten it was on my shelf to read. Thank you for visiting! It was good to hear from you.
DeleteOoh, A Killer Closet looks like a good break from regular thrillers. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWork changes can definitely be unsettling. Hope it all works out.
Love the photo of Mouse enjoying her book.
Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog. Enjoy your week.
Laurel-Rain - Yes, a nice cozy mystery does sound like a nice change of pace. Thank you for your kind thoughts about work. I know you know what it's like working for the government and in this particular field all too well. All I can do is try to do my best to be as stable and consistent force as I can for my staff and our clients so they are not greatly impacted by any of the changes. I hope you enjoy your week too! Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI have been binging on lots of shows too. I hope you are doing better now and the work issues get settled fast enough. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteGayathri @ Elgee Writes
Gayathri - Thank you! I hope the work issues will be resolved quickly--or at least as painlessly as possible. I hope you have a great week. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteSorry you've been sick. I coughed through all of February and most of March. Being sick is the worst! I'm finally starting to feel normal again, so there is hope. Happy Sunday! :)
ReplyDeleteLark - Thank you. I am sorry to hear your cough held on so long too. :-( I hope you continue to feel like normal. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteSuch cute kitties. Hope you get to feeling better soon. Love all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteBarb - Thank you. We love them. :-) Thank you too for visiting!
DeleteI hate that you have been sick and have some work related stress. That is not fun at all, especially with everything else you have going on. I loved Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and hope you do as well. Have a great week, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteCarole - Thank you. I am feeling better health wise, fortunately. Now to just shake the work stress. Unfortunately, things on that front only seem to be getting more complicated. I am looking forward to reading Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. It sounds like it will be fun. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteWendy, I'm so sorry to hear you've got a lingering cough. Mine's been with me about 4 days now. Driving me nuts. All from a drip. I hope yours isn't anything more than that! And you guys have been SO busy! At least with good stuff :)
ReplyDeleteI know I've seen THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN online so that must be a good one--or new! lol And don't you just love meeting great authors and coming away with a signed book? One of FAVorite things to do, and man, do I have a lot of 'em!
It always warms my heart seeing how much Mouse loves to read, but I have to tell you---the pic that got me the most in this post---THE DISNEY STORE!!! :D :D :D
Donna Marie - Thank you. The cough is nearly gone, thankfully. I hope you are able to get rid of yours much sooner than I got rid of mine.
DeleteThe Island of Sea Women just came out, so that's probably why you are seeing it everywhere. :-)
Thank you for visiting!
I really enjoyed Smoke Gets in your Eyes, I hope you do too.
ReplyDeleteHave a great reading week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out- MY POST
Shellyrae - I am glad to hear you enjoyed Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. I am looking forward to reading it! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteSounds like a busy month for you, Wendy. Cough is usually the hardest to get away; and eating oranges and having cold drinks only make it worst.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I can't wait to read The Island of Sea Women. I love Lisa's books. Aside from her great storytelling skills, I think her other strength is her characterisations.
I hope you've a great week, Wendy, and that this month will be better in all sense.
Melody - I tried to stick to neutral or warm water and avoid the cold. As you said, it only makes it worse. I'm with you when it comes to Lisa See's books. She creates such real and great characters. I hope you are well! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI don't wonder if you are tired with a lingering cough as that tends to keep one up at night. I have to take cough medicine when I get one during allergy season sometimes. I hope you will have a more energetic and healthy week with some great new reads!
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Anne - Yes, those coughs are always worst at night aren't they? And that means not enough sleep. I am doing better these days, fortunately. Thank you. And thank you for stopping by!
DeleteAw the kitties. So darn cute. Hope you have a great April!
ReplyDeleteAnna - They are cute. :-) Thank you for visiting!
DeleteSorry to hear about you being sick Wendy. I do hope you'll feel much better soon. And happy belated birthday for your girl. I hope she had a great time celebrating.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and happy reading!
Maureen - Thank you. I am feeling more like my old self, fortunately. Mouse had a wonderful birthday month. I can't believe she's 8 already! I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteLove the book fair picks! You guys look like you have so much fun together!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Nicole - Thank you!
DeleteI hope you are feeling better! Happy belated birthday to Mouse!
ReplyDeleteHave an amazing week!
Tina @ As Told By Tina
Tina - Thank you!
DeleteOh I hate that lingering cough! I hate being sick - especially when it takes so long to get back to better and my reading definitely takes a hit as well. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes is on my TBR! It looks interesting so I'm looking forward to seeing your take on it. Love love that pic of Mouse opening the Disney Store. I've been on the first stage of Disney planning (your husband is right there's a ton! But really I don't have to do as much as I do I just enjoy it) so it's been all Disney all the time here. I wish we had a Disney store closer! There used to be one here and I miss it! Hope you're having a great week and are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - This illness seemed to last forever. I didn't think it would ever end. I am feeling better now, fortunately. I hope you have a wonderful time at Disney World when you go! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteThat picture of Mouse with her book is so cute! I hope stuff at work is calming down. Big changes at work can be so difficult to process. Hope you all are doing well and just love seeing all those book arrivals!
ReplyDeleteIliana - She pulled the book out all on her own to read while we waited for the store to open. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
Delete