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Family Time and Changes Galore | Weekly Snapshot

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There has been so much going on over here and so much changing soon. I wish I could say I was reading a lot, but it's feeling like a luxury at the moment. 

Family visitLast week, we had my husband's brother and his wife drive down from Boston and stay with us for the week. It had been months since we enjoyed anyone's close companionship for that long so we all enjoyed the time together. We were very sad to say our goodbyes. I hope we can all return to the pre-March era soon. 
While they were here, we celebrated the girl's birthday. (I feel like I have been talking about birthdays on this blog for the past many weeks but we are done for the year! Next birthday is in March.) My daughter had wanted a unicorn cake, and that's exactly what we got, so that made her day. For her birthday present, we wanted to take her to a store and get her a bike but stock is incredibly low. Last week, she had just mastered riding a bike (no training wheels, she went straight from balance …
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The Sunday Salon: May and June in review (and a look at July/August)

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The Sunday Salon.com

May and June were probably my slowest reading months this year, which I expected them to be. There were a lot of things to take care of these past few months plus a book wasn't always the respite I was looking forward to at the end of the day. Luckily, I enjoyed all the books I did read these past two months, which doesn't happen often.




My favorite read was Lean In, which had never been on my radar until I picked it up impulsively and decided to give it a try. A Visit from the Goon Squad comes a close second - another book I may not have read this year if not for a readalong.

Even though my reading was somewhat patchy, I did blog quite a bit. All the reading I did during the first half of the year built up a huge review backlog that I wanted to take care of. I still have three reviews pending, so the hope is to write them this week and schedule them.


Blog highlights from March and April


Plans for July and August
One commitment I know I am going to have for sure the next couple of months is baby care. So, reading is probably (definitely?) going to take a hit. Besides, lately, I have been less inclined to read and have been knitting most of the time, so I'm taking advantage of the break. Still, I do have some books on my nightstand that I plan to read when I'm looking for a read. They are mostly books I believe will be quick reads or easy listens. Whether I will actually get to them remains to be seen.
  • Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: This one has a pretty good beginning, so I feel reasonably hopeful that it is way better than Dark Places, which was just meh.
  • A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan: A review book. This isn't my usual kind of book but it sounds super appealing now.
  • Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie: I have been looking forward to reading this one ever since I first heard about it months ago.
  • Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: Probably not a light read so I won't be reading it when I'm looking for only a couple of minutes of reading time, but I love Mandel's writing and want to read this one as soon as possible.
  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: I have read only two Agatha Christie books to date, so this is me wanting to change that... if this one works in my favor.
  • The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua: Ooh, some geeky love to read about!! Plus, it's a graphic book!
  • Armada by Ernest Cline: Yay for a new book by the Ready Player One author.
  • Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella: I've always loved Kinsella's books in the past but lately, her trite formulaic novels about a silly girl who gets rescued or rescues herself in the end has been wearing me thin, so I'm not very sure this one will work out.
And then for audiobooks,
  • Missoula by Jon Krakauer: Love Krakauer's books - must-listens for any day.
  • The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: I'm not decided yet whether I want to listen to or read this book but it's on the list.
  • Dead Wake by Erik Larson: This is yet another author that I always have success with.
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Comments

bermudaonion(Kathy) said…
All that knitting probably has something to do with nesting. Reading quality over quantity is definitely a good thing.
July 12, 2015 at 11:52 AM
JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing said…
I wouldn't give the quantity of books a second thought, especially as the quality was so good! You will probably develop a new "normal" over the next few months anyway.


Missoula and Dead Wake are both on my audio wish list
July 12, 2015 at 12:22 PM
iliana said…
That's great that you've been able to keep up with all of your reviews. I get so behind and so I just move on. You've had two great reading months and here's hoping there are more good books ahead!
July 12, 2015 at 5:34 PM
Lisa Sheppard said…
The Girl On The Train will be a quick read or listen but I'd definitely not plan on that for Station Eleven and it's not one you can read little bits of at a time or you'll lose track of things down the road.
July 12, 2015 at 5:55 PM
Diane D said…
I am impressed that you are still making reading plans for the next 2 months LOL - good luck with that.
July 12, 2015 at 10:41 PM
Bryan G. Robinson said…
You might not have read that much, but you sure as heck reviewed a lot. Good job, and at least with the books you did read, you enjoyed all of them, so there's that. :) I like how you are honest about the books you might read that might not work out and that you're willing to give authors a second chance. I am like that too, sometimes to my detriment, but sometimes it works out and the author returns to form. Here's hoping that's the case for you.
July 13, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Ti Reed said…
I had plenty of time to read when I had my kids. All those early morning feedings and waiting around in the car while the kid naps, not wanting to remove a sleeping baby and all that. LOL.
July 13, 2015 at 2:00 PM
Jenny @ Reading the End said…
Is the Salman Rushdie book out already? For some reason I had it in my head that it wasn't going to be coming out until October or something!
July 14, 2015 at 4:34 PM
Belle Wong said…
Your reading time probably will take a hit, but it's lovely to have some books you might want to read on hand for just in case you're in the reading mood. You might find the audiobooks quite handy, though! I just got my notice that my pre-order of Armada is now in - I'm really looking forward to that one.
July 14, 2015 at 8:16 PM
literaryfeline said…
A friend of mine is going to be induced tomorrow and will soon have twins. It seems to be that time of year. :-) I hope everything goes well for you, Athira! I will be thinking of you.


Lean In isn't a book on my radar, but I know it's out there. We'll see if that changes after I read your review.
July 19, 2015 at 8:23 PM
Care said…
How's it going? HOPE ALL IS SUPER DOOPER WONDERFUL! Thinking of you...
July 24, 2015 at 10:22 AM
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