Weekly Mews: Back to the Grind

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  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 It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

What I Am Reading: January has gotten off to a good start reading wise. I finished reading Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women, which sets a high bar for the rest of this year's reading. My daughter and I finished reading the 4th Dork Diaries novel, Tales of the Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess, and we immediately dived into the 5th book, Tales of the Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All. I know. I said I wanted to take a break, but if you saw how enthusiastic Mouse was about continuing, you would want to continue too--and this is actually the last of the books in the series we own at the moment, so I'll get a break after.

At the moment, I have my bookmark in a couple of books, Ruth Ware's One by One, which I am reading for the COYER January Book Club, and What Mothers Withhold by Elizabeth Kropf, which I am reading for an upcoming poetry book tour. 

(Thanks to my husband who let me borrow his e-reader 

so I could take a photo of both e-books I'm reading together!)

Up next will be this month's TBR winner (see below), which I am anxious to dive into. Thank you to all who voted! 

What I Am Watching: I binged a little on the 3rd season of The 100 this last weekend. I have liked it so far but admit I was watching it more out of habit--but it's really gotten good! I am not too happy about the death a favorite character though. I could have done without that. 

We have reached the end of Season 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Season 2 of Angel. Even though this is a re-watch for both my husband and I, there were still tears.  

Off the Blog: School and dance classes kicked off again for Mouse this week and it was business as usual for my husband and me. I think we all wish we had a longer holiday but alas duty called. 

This weekend we had planned to watch Mouse's dance studio's production of The Nutcracker via Zoom, which had been postponed due to the pandemic, but it was postponed again due to continued increasing numbers and the dire hospital situation in the area. Although Mouse isn't performing in the show, she wants to support her friends who are. The studio did have a big Zoom reveal announcing their summer ballet and musical productions, and so we tuned in for that. Even though we will have her audition and start rehearsals remotely, my husband and I decided she can perform in one of the shows if she wants to. Which of course she does. While we hope it will be an in-person performance this summer, only time will tell. 

In all of my Christmas preparations, I had forgotten to get a little gift for some of Mouse's friends, and so Mouse and I decided to turn it into something for after the New Year. This weekend we are making the rounds and doing a small few porch drops offs and, if we are lucky, get some waving time to friends in. 

I have slowly been taking down the Christmas decorations. I am not sure I want to leave the tree up all year like we did this past year. I really like the twinkling lights.

I am sure you are aware of this past week's events. Great news (to me) coming from Georgia, but then the storming of the Capitol in Washington D.C. I was working and so only caught snippets of what was happening as everything unfolded. The stories that continue to come out about what happened and what all was planned, are horrifying. It will be an anxious next couple weeks leading up to President-Elect Biden's Inauguration. 

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

• Our First Books of 2021
• https://www.literaryfeline.com/2021/01/weekly-mews-goodbye-december-2020-or.html
• 2020: Year in Review
• Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Last Tiara / The Ex Talk / Wilde Lake
• Where Is Your Bookmark? A Peek Into What I Am Reading Now & What I Was Reading Five Years Ago / Connect Five: Winter Titles / BBHOP: Can't Wait to Read!

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this week?

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next: 

My TBR List is 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. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

Many thanks to everyone who voted in my first TBR List Poll of the year. All three books are high on my want to read list, and I appreciate your help deciding where to start! Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg won with 12 votes. Saranna DeWylde's Fairy Godmother's, Inc. came in second with 9 votes, and Lana's War by Anita Abriel got 4 votes. 

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

The letter was short. A name, a time, a place. Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.  

Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant for Miss Brickett’s named Michelle White receives a letter warning her that a heinous act is about to occur. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see—her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect. 

Almost unwillingly, Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself being drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and mentor is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII. Masterful, clever and deliciously suspenseful, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a fresh take on the Agatha Christie—style locked-room mystery with an exciting new heroine detective at the helm. [Goodreads Summary]

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

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.