Sunday, September 1, 2013

Long Weekend Edition ~ August Wrap Up

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend! I know it is still officially summer for another (3) weeks, but for me Labor Day weekend has always meant the end of summer -- time to swap out most of the summer clothes for wall stuff, jeans and cardigans.  It's still humid here, this weekend, so those lightweight tops and capris won't be getting packed away just yet.

This weekend is actually a (4) day weekend for me as I took Tuesday off as well.  Yesterday we went to see Lee Daniels', The Butler and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's right up there with The Help in my book, although not as many funny moments -- more serious.

Today we are just hanging out at home. I spent the morning making a few things to bring over my son and DIL's for a cookout tomorrow, and I also spent about (2) hours purging books. I pulled about (30) unread ones that I know I'm just never going to want to read.  Even though a few are by very good authors. (My taste in books has changed somewhat since acquiring them).

Books for August
  1. Open This Little Book; Jessie Klausmeir - 5/5 (library) - August-2013 
  2. Baby and Toddler On the Go Cookbook: Fresh, Homemade Foods To Take Out And About; Kim Laidlaw - 5/5 - August 2013
  3. Building Our House; Jonathan Bean - 5/5 - library (Aug 2013) 
  4. Heavenly Hydrangeas: A Practical Guide for the Home Gardener; Joan Harrison - 5/5 (eGalley) Aug-2013
  5. The Last Camellia; Sarah Jio - 4/5 (audio/eGalley) - (Aug 2013)
  6. A Year With Marmalade; Alison Reynolds and Heath McKenzie - 5/5 (library) (Aug-2013)
  7. The Quarry; Iain Banks - 3/5 (eGalley) - Aug 2013
  8. (4) Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbooks - (eGalley) Aug-2013
  9. Joyland; Stephen King - 3.5/5 (audio) - Aug- 2013 
  10. The House at the End of Hope Street; Menna van Praag - 4.5/5 (audio/eGalley)-Aug-2013
  11. The Cuckoos Calling; Robert Galbraith - 4/5 - audio- Aug-2013
  12. Help for the Haunted; John Searles - 4.5/5 (eGalley) - Aug 2013
  13. The Illusion of Separateness; Simon Van Booy - 4/5 (eGalley) Aug 2013
  14. These Hamptons; Phillip Andrew Lehans - 5/5 (eGalley)
  15. Apple of North America: 193 Exceptional Varieties for Gardeners, Growers and Cooks; Tom Burford - 5/5 (eGalley) - Aug 2013
  16. Wild Animal Neighbors: Sharing Our Urban World; Ann Downer = 4.5/5 (eGalley) 
  17. Yellow Raft in Blue Water; Michael Dorris - Aug 2013 (no review yet)
  18. A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher; Sue Halpern - 4.5/5 (library)- Aug 2013
  19. Half of a Yellow Sun; C. Adichie (in progress)
(Several of these were kids books, cookbooks and/or other easy reads -- I'm not super woman)
Mailbox Monday
 
A few new books arrived last week which look good, but I am most excited being approved for the eGallley of:

Perfect; Rachel Joyce (Random House - Jan-2014)
We Are Water; Wally Lamb (Harper - Oct-2013)
Valley of Amazement; Amy Tan (Ecco-Nov-2013)














29 comments:

  1. Looks like some great books you got! Good for you for purging the unwanted books, too.

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    Replies
    1. Jenna, when my books no longer fit in 3 bookcases I get rid of some. I am going with eBooks more often as well.

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  2. What a great list of books Diane! I have not seen the Butler movie but enjoyed, so shall have to see this one. Love the cooler mornings on our travels, the leaves are already turning even though the days are still warm.

    Have a great week!
    Denise

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  3. Such an impressive list! You must read in your sleep!

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  4. I really want to see The Butler... and can't wait to read Wally Lamb's new book. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend!

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    1. Looking forward to We Are Water as well -- I love Wally Lamb.

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  5. You had a great month! As for your mailbox, I hope you enjoy We Are Water.

    I want to see The Butler...I almost went today, but I was too lazy....maybe tomorrow. Glad you enjoyed it.

    Here's MY MONDAY READING POST

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    1. The opinions seem mixed on The Butler - but we all loved every bit of it.

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  6. The Sarah Jio, Adichie, Guzman. Those are the ones I would particularly like to get hold of!

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    Replies
    1. Sarah Jio is very good and I look forward to the others as well.

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  7. I enjoyed your post Diane. I also think of Labor Day as the end of summer, even though it is still so hot out!

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    1. It's going to be 50 tonight here and cloudy this afternoon with a nice breeze -- love that.

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  8. I thinned out my book shelf this weekend too! I will go through them once more before I donate them. Labor day is the end of summer for us as well since my husband is school employee. Have a great day.

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    1. I give the arcs to the library as they sell them in the on-going sale, and the regular books to salvation army, and some to our college library as well if they would fit well in the current collection.

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  9. While all you serious folk were seeing The Butler , we went to see The World's End this weekend. It was hilarious but did have some serious themes running through all the craziness of the weirdest pub crawl ever! Spending the morning trying to write some reviews and schedule them. Am starting to realize I will never catch up! I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer yet, but will not be given much choice, I suppose. Good for you for weeding your collection!

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    1. Laurie -- I am always behind on reviews as well. Honestly, I'd rather read than review, but then it wouldn't be much of a " book blog" right?

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  10. It's still summer for me until the birds begin to migrate later this month. I have trouble giving up the summer clothes and probably wear them too long past the season, I hate to see summer go and hang on as long as I can.

    I have The Gravity of Birds in audio and eventually I'd like to read The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan is a favorite of mine.

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    1. I love Amy Tan's past books as well, and yes, I suppose the bird migration officially marks the end of summer..LOL

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  11. "(Several of these were kids books, cookbooks and/or other easy reads -- I'm not super woman)"
    Oh, but I think you are! I'm always amazed at how many books you read.

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    1. Nan -- I read for an hour at lunch everyday, in the evening and always have an audio book going as well.

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  12. You had a great August. I consider Labor Day the end of the summer for us too. Have a great week!

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  13. Wasn't this weekend rather gloomy? I kept expecting more sunshine and yesterday was just... wet.

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    1. Yes it was gloomy - we had an indoor cookout at my son's house yesterday -- still fun though.

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  14. I'm the same as you Diane. After the September long weekend it seems as though fall and winter come so quickly. Right now we're having a heat wave so I'm not too motivated to get winter clothes out yet but I sure as soon as the weather turns again I will. Hope you're having a good week!

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  15. that's a nice month, even with kids books. I want to read your #13.
    here's my wrap-up: http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/09/04/2013-august-wrap-up/

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  16. Isn't Open This Book the cutest?
    We're going to the movies tomorrow and The Butler is a good possibility.

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