Sunday, May 3, 2015

Sunday Blatherings and New Books

Last weekend we were in NYC for a Bar Mitzvah and although the weather,  ceremony, luncheon, and gala evening affair were wonderful, I was so happy to come home.  For some reason NYC and especially the Times Square area, where we stayed were so very crowded. It felt like Christmastime in NY. We moved along the sidewalk at a snails pace and ended up feeling like a pancake by the time we got back to the hotel.  My husband ended up with a horrible cold and sore throat Tuesday, and by yesterday, I got it as well ugh...I definitely will not be cooking this evening, soup sounds perfect for our colds. I did get the patio furniture out on the deck, because it was 75 yesterday and today and 80's predicted for this week.

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately and my April stats proved that. I usually read about 3-4 books a week, but April's total was just (9) books - about 2 per week for a YTD total of 46. Yet on a positive note, I enjoyed most of what I read.

  1. Where Women are Kings; Christie Watson; 4.5/5 (arc) (April)
  2. ZooBorns: Motherly Love; Bleiman and Eastland - 4/5 (eGalley) (April)
  3. The Children's Crusade; Ann Packer - 4/5 (eGalley) (April)
  4. Inside the O'Briens; Lisa Genova - 4.5/5 (eGalley) (April)
  5. Someone is Watching; Joy Fielding - 4/5 (eGalley) (April)
  6. West of Sunset; Stewart O'Nan - 4/5 (personal copy) (April)
  7. Accidents of Marriage; Randy Susan Meyer (eGalley) 3.5/5 (April)
  8. I Regret Everything: A Love Story; Seth Greenland (library) - 4.5/5 (April)
  9. Eileen; Ottessa Moshfegh - (arc) 4.5/5 (April)
I got quite a few new books over the last 2 weeks, and I plan to try The Shore, by Sara Taylor (Hogarth) first.




Have a good week!

33 comments:

  1. I've heard good things about Find the Good. So sorry you guys got sick! Soup sounds wonderful to me no matter what the temp is.

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    1. The chicken soup hit the spot, and we are both a bit better today - Thanks Ti

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  2. I've heard good things about Find the Good. So sorry you guys got sick! Soup sounds wonderful to me no matter what the temp is.

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  3. Hope you guys feel better soon, Diane. Your books look good. Soup sounds like the ticket. :-)

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    1. Thanks Kay, I tok a nap yesday, even though I hated to on a nice sunny day. It helped though.

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  4. Hope you and your husband feel better soon! I had something like a cold a while back and it sure is no fun when it hits. Enjoy your books!

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    1. Thanks Athira, I wish I felt like reading those new books, but hopefully that will change soon.

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  5. I've also been dealing with a horrible cold! I usually figure I can just keep on going when I have a cold, but this one was especially nasty. Easily the worst cold I've had in five years! Hopefully I've dealt with the worst of it.

    Your new books all look good! Hard choices!

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    1. Tina, sorry you got that stinking cold as well. It seems worst when the weather is nice (at least for me).

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  6. Unfortunately Times Square is always crowded beyond belief. It's a must-see apparently on out-of-area tourists' list and besides being the location of the ball dropping (I was actually there one year, in my 20s and never again!) it is just many flashy stores and some tv studios. Glad you got home in one piece, though with a cold.

    Some of your books look delightful-- The Shore, Summer Secrets, etc. Thanks for the links; I'll check them out.

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    1. Thanks Rita. It's nice to hear I am not alone with the NYC crowds etc. People are too busy being distracted by phones etc and don't make navigating the crowded walks any easier.

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  7. I don't like big crowds like that either. I sure hope you feel all better really, really soon.

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    1. Thanks Brian, we actually are a bit better today, and I am sure the 80 degree sun helped.

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  8. Hope you are both feeling better quickly. I had a slow April as well. Looking forward to the new Matthew Quick book.

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    1. Thanks Nise! I like Matthew Quick's writing so have high hopes for the new one.

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  9. Sorry you're not feeling well. Holy Cow--3-4 books a week?! Wow! I live in the middle of nowhere Nevada, so I am not used to crowds at all. I can only handle them for a while. Lots of good books there.

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    1. Debbie, thanks. I envy u and your remote locale. I'm not a big town city girl, but still wish my town was a bit more rural.

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  10. Lots of good ones here. Trying to track a couple from Netgalley!

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  11. Oh, no... hope you both feel fetter soon. I usually try to avoid the Times Square area when I'm in NYC - just too much for me!

    The Shore has been getting quite a bit of buzz lately, Will be curious to hear what you think.

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    1. Thank Joann - better today. My hub always wants to stay at the Marriott Marquis and then we both end up complaining about the crowds...UGH

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  12. Ohhh I LOVE the crowds of NY but I wasn't by Times Square when I was there. Over there it is crazy!! Do you know virtually every time I fly I come home and get sick? It's from the stale air/germs on the plane. Hope you both feel better soon!!

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    1. Caren, that is so true, same for us --closed in spaces, too many people - recipe for sickness. You can have my share of anyplace there are too many people in one place...LOL

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  13. Hope you and your hubby are feeling better soon!

    I'm going to NYC in November. I'm so excited because I haven't been in years.

    Enjoy your new books!

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  14. Ugh - I feel like Times Square is always crowded!! You got some great books - I just finished The Shore (make sure to take notes on the characters right from the beginning!) and Delicious Foods and Child 44 are on my TBR list.

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    1. We were there in mid May a few years ago and it wasn't bad at all and that was a weekend too. We've learned to stay away during the holiday season, after some bad visiting family experiences in and around Manhattan.

      The SHore is very different, but yes, I needed my notepad and family tree:)

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  15. I hope you and hubby are feeling better soon. Spring colds are the worst. How do you manage 3-4 books with working too? You're superwoman. lol. Enjoy all those books. I have a few of them on my reading list too.

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    1. Dar, Well, I'm not doing very well with the 3-4 books LOL, but I do get to listen to audiobooks at work, so that helps.

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  16. You did have some good reads in April! Thanks to your review of Where Women Are Kings, I've got that to read soon, probably next week. Looking forward to it. Hope your cold is feeling better!

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  17. I am so sorry you are sick. Feel better! I was in a bit of a slump in April too. I only read 13 books and my totals have been in the twenties typically. Mine seems to be a thing of the past though, thank goodness. Hope yours passes as well!

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  18. I hope you are feeling better soon, Diane. I am sorry you aren't feeling well. :-(

    My reading has been so poor the last couple of months. I hope it gets better in May. We'll see. So far it's still moving at a snail's pace.

    Have a great week!

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  19. 3-4 books is a month for me so I'm a little jealous :)

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