Saturday, November 16, 2013

Week in Review


(Just over a week to make his escape)

Hi Everyone - Can you believe many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving in less than 2 weeks?  With Thanksgiving coming later this year, Christmas and New Year's will be right around the corner and in some ways it's overwhelming, and in other ways exciting. I'll be hosting Thanksgiving once again, but I enjoy doing that and DH loves being able to stay home and watch some football as well, and then of course there are the benefits of the leftovers as well.  We have the day after Thanksgiving off so it makes for a great long weekend. NO Black Friday shopping for me, if fact, I stay indoors -- far away from the maddening crowds that day.  It'll be just 6 adults and a sweet 19 month old......but.....guess what?......next year we will have (2) more tiny ones to the Thankful for!!!  Yes....my granddaughter will big a big sister in early April to "little sister", and just as exciting, my son and his wife are expecting their FIRST BABY in early July.  I can hardly believe I'll be a grandmother to 3 in just over 2 years, when just a few years ago I never thought I'd be a grandparent. What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Book Stuff - It was a great reading week for me as I actually finished (3) books that I started over the past few weeks, and the good news was I enjoyed them all (but had a few issues with 2 of them - reviews coming).  I read:
  • Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You; Peter Cameron (audiobook) - 5/5 stars -  this book was just awesome and I plan to write a review as this book really touched me. It's a story about an intelligent 18 year old young man who is a bit of a misfit.  The story was funny and sad. I was moved deeply by this one.
  • Someone Else's Love Story; Joshilyn Jackson (arc) - 4/5 stars - this book tells the story of a young mother named Shadi, who believes that her brilliant son is the product of a miracle virgin birth. Once again, Joshilyn Jackson weaves a intricate story that touches on many different and some touch issues.  Although I enjoyed the story a lot, part of the plot dragged for me. (review coming)
  • We Are Water; Wally Lamb (eGalley) - 4/5 stars - after 27 years of marriage and three children, Anna Oh divorces her husband and is about to marry a woman named Viveca, a wealthy Manhattan art dealer who helped her professionally. As the wedding approaches and the family prepares and gathers for the event,  painful secrets about various family members are revealed in the form of alternating chapters. I really liked this story, but readers should be aware that there are some graphic abuse depictions and well as political commentary that might turn off some readers.
Plans for this Week:
How was your week?

22 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving! It will just be the 3 of us.

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  2. How lovely to be adding two new lives to your family! I enjoyed Someone Else's Love Story,

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  3. Congrats on the wonderful news of more grandchildren, Diane! I hope you have a nice Thanksgiving and a relaxing long weekend. I'm looking forward to the Jackson book. I have the short story prequel waiting to be read.

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  4. You've had some great reads! I have ARCs of Someone Else's Love Story and We Are Water...just haven't had the time to read them, even though they are at the top of the pile. Oh well.

    Have a wonderful week, Diane!

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  5. We're hosting a gluten-free Thanksgiving this year for nine to twelve people. I'm thankful that it looks like I'll be able to take Friday off from work, too, since the three kids will be "home" for the weekend. Congrats on the grandchildren! How exciting!

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  6. Run turkey run! We are planning to eat and sleep on Thanksgiving, yes, a normal day!

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  7. That poor little turkey, lol! Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You has been on my wishlist for ages. Glad that you loved it.

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  8. Congrats on the little ones coming your way next year! How wonderful!. I have 3 grandkids myself. It must be fun to host Thanksgiving dinner for family. We are always invited to someone else's house except for the years we didn't live near any relatives and then I was just cooking for my gang here. Enjoy your week. I am still holding out on Someone Else's Love Story and We Are Water, to read more reviews & see if I would enjoy them.

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  9. Congratulations on your growing grand-family! It's such a blessing. I'm reading Someone Else's Love Story right now, and I hope to finish today. It has picked up for me in my reading so far today, and I'm eager to finish it and start comparing notes with others. It's my first Jackson novel, so I'm glad to finally be reading her work.

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  10. We don't have Thanksgiving here but I'm always slightly jealous of Americans for having it, I'd be up for more turkey!
    Congrats on the news that you will soon have two more grandchildren, I bet you are thrilled :)

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  11. Congrats on the new grandchildren! Nineteen years ago, I had none and wished for one on my birthday candles. Before the next year was out, I had two! Born in the same month, almost as if they had planned it that way. LOL

    Enjoy....and I also stay home on Black Friday. I hate crowds and don't enjoy shopping in them.

    Here's MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES

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  12. Congrats on the new little ones that will be joining your family!

    I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. Feels like the end of this year is just flying by. We host Thanksgiving Dinner for 12 at our house, so it's quite a busy day, but I can't imagine it any other way. No Black Friday shopping for me either, I'll be working. Not that I'd be shopping anyway since I lack a certain aggressiveness in my shopping manner to be able to score the really great deals anyway. ;-) I find even the thought of the madness to be a bit on the scary side.

    Looking forward to reading the reviews of all three books you mentioned!

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  13. The holidays are sort of creeping up on us. Congratulations on the new grandbabies. Grandchildren are indeed a gift from God. We now have 2 great-grandbabies and so wish they were closer for the holidays. We will see the newest one at Christmas but alas our oldest ( he is 3.5) lives in AZ and we don't get to visit as often as we would like.
    Looking forward to your reviews, my F2F bookclub has We Are Water on our list for later in the spring. I am looking forward to it.

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  14. Great photo! Enjoy your family and your reading!

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  15. I am hosting this year too! No little ones yet, hopefully next year! Congrats on your new expectations!

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  16. Hi! Just back from visiting grands in TX. Went to three soccer games, two football games and worked an outreach kitchen. Our grands have given us a redo of life with little kids. Enjoy those babies.
    I think it is even better the second time around. Turkey day at our old house...love it!

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  17. Oh, Diane, congratulations!!! It's going to be such a happy, exciting year. And I'm with you on Black Friday - definitely to be avoided.

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  18. Congrats grandma X 3 !! Christmas will be lots of fun next year. :)

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  19. What lovely news to hear that two more babies will be added to your family. They are such a treat. My three grandchildren has truly enriched my life. Thanksgiving is always a huge event at our place - usually about twenty or so. Everyone brings a dish or two so everyone shares the work.

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  20. How exciting to have two grandchildren on the way - congrats! I'm with you on Black Friday - I'll be far away from the shopping hoards.

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  21. Congratulations! It's wonderful that you're going to have so many little ones next year...the holidays are more fun with children to spoil and play with!

    You've read some terrific books recently. I'm very interested in Wally Lamb's new book and Joshilyn Jackson, too. I'm glad you enjoyed them!

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  22. Woo hoo! Congratulations on your 2014 arrivals!

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