Weekly Mews: School Closures, Social Distancing & Birthday Cake

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by 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 The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. 

Friday afternoon the order came down that all schools in our county close for at least the next three weeks. Given all the other schools in the state and country that had been closing it was just a matter of time really, but it still felt sudden. My husband also got word from his supervisor that he and his coworkers will be working from home until early April. There are still some things that need to happen before he can start that transition, but it will be taking place before the end of this week. As far as I know, I will continue to go into work as usual. My mom is supposed to be traveling down to stay with us for awhile and help with Mouse, but she's got a cold and we're waiting to hear what her doctor says about her visiting given the circumstances.  Everyone's being advised to practice social distancing for the time being to try to slow the spread of the virus. It's all a bit crazy out there right now.

This past week we celebrated Mouse's birthday. We had a small family celebration one evening and brunch with a couple of friends another day. I think she would tell you she's had a good birthday overall!

On to what I have been reading!

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (Atria, 2020; Fiction; 266 pgs)

Twenty-five. That's the number I count to every morning before I even open my eyes. [Opening]

I've always been waiting, haven't I? For tragedy to show up once again on my doorstep. Evil that blindsides. [excerpt from 81%]

I recently finished reading In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, which I enjoyed. It is about a woman who falls asleep the night of her engagement and has a premonition five years into the future--only she was in a different apartment and appears to be engaged to someone else. She almost convinces herself it is a dream when she actually meets the guy from the premonition. If you are thinking romance, it is not one. But it is sort of a love story in its own way. I could relate to the main character in her penchant to plan and always be prepared. She is thrown for a loop, however, by not only the premonition, but events that follow, her emotions all over the place, and must really take a look at who she is and what she wants in her life. I did not expect In Five Years to be the tearjerker it turned out to be. And while the novel felt a bit predictable much of the time, when it came to the ending . . . well, it really made the book for me.

The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess (HQ Digital, 2020; Romance; 555 pgs)

'How did you get invited to this exhibition, Orla?' Emma turns to look at me, her loose black hair streaking back from her face as the wind howls down the street towards us. [Opening] 

Before that I read The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess, which definitely fell into the romance category. Two very different people: a ambitious young journalist who knows just what she wants and has a plan to get there; and an adventurous photojournalist who lives in a tent and takes life as it comes. Neither is interested in a committed relationship when they meet, but they fall in love--and then go their separate ways; their futures headed in two completely different directions. Several years later they meet again and their feelings for each other are as strong as ever. I really liked Aiden and Orla early on: the easy way they talked to each other and how well they complimented one another. I was not as impressed with Aiden years later, however. I imagine he was coming from a place of hurt feelings and so should cut him some slack, but I thought at times he was unkind to Orla and should have given her the benefit of the doubt. One minute he was mad at her and accusing her of not being honest with him (she was confused about her own feelings), and the next, when she asks him to tell her what was wrong, he refused and told her to let him know when she figured it out. I don't know why that bothered me so much. But it was moments like that that that annoyed me about him. Still, I did enjoy The Five Year Plan overall. It was funny, especially in  those early years, and quite charming.


How are you all holding up during these difficult times? What have you been up to? What are you reading? 

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 Saturday 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). 

It was no surprise given your comments which book would come out on top in this month's poll! Little Fires Everywhere received 9 votes and 6 went to The Magicians. Twelve of you voted for the winner, Big Little Lies. I am a couple chapters in now and dying to know what happened and to whom! Somehow I have managed to avoid all spoilers to the book since it first came out.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

A murder . . . a tragic accident . . . or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.

But who did what?
Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

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