The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week, take a look ahead, and showcase our new treasures — I mean books!
Summer Fun
You may have noticed that I was AWOL all last week. We spent a week (Thursday to Thursday) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with Mr. Bookwyrm’s family: his sister and his brother and their spouses and (mostly adult) kids. The weather was cooler there than at home — only in the 60s most days, thank goodness! And it was great to spend time with my brothers- and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. We took two short cruises, one to see the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore at sunset, and the other to see shipwrecks in a glass-bottomed boat. We hiked about 6 miles, about 2 miles of it bushwhacking our way around (and over, and through) deep mud and standing water — but it was totally worth it for the views halfway and for the walk back via a different route, which was lovely. We also visited several waterfalls and a bookstore, played games, and took turns cooking for the horde. One night my nephew and I started a fire and the whole crew toasted marshmallows and ate s’mores.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at sunset. Photo © K. Pekar/Bookwyrm’s Hoard 2017
All the family togetherness and the tight quarters (13 people in one largish cabin/house) meant I had very little time for reading, however. And while I knew before we left on the 21st that we wouldn’t have internet in the cabin, I didn’t realize we would not have cell phone reception either — nor that the wireless internet up at the main lodge would be on the fritz. So I was completely offline the whole time, and wasn’t able to post to the blog at all, which I hadn’t anticipated. It felt really good to unplug, though!
We got home late Friday night, just in time for a jam-packed musical-theatre weekend. Last night we saw Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first musical, In the Heights, in Richmond. It was fabulous! Today we take Robin to the airport, then drive up to Baltimore to see Finding Neverland. I’ll let you know what I think of both musicals when I have time to write down my thoughts. Monday I plunge back into indexing again.
Robin under the marquee for In the Heights at the Virginia Repertory Theater. Photo © K. Pekar/Bookwyrm’s Hoard 2017
Last Two Weeks on the Blog
- Falling Awake (Jayne Ann Krentz)
- Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start (But Haven’t Yet)
- Summer Fun (Sunday Post – 7/02/2017) – this post
Upcoming on the Blog
- A Summer Stardance by Emily March – tour review
- All Signs Point to Murder by Connie di Marco – tour review
- Other posts TBD
- Sunday Post – 7/09/2017
What I’m Reading/Watching
Reading: I’m trying to get back to reading ARCs, both current and backlog. I’m reading All Signs Point to Murder (Connie diMarco, ARC) and A Stardance Summer (Emily March, ARC), both for upcoming tours. During our vacation, I mostly reread a few of Stephanie Laurens’ backlist historical romances.
From Holmes to Sherlock (ARC) and The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre (Gail Carson Levine; ARC) are still hibernating, but I intend to get back to them eventually.
Listening to: I’m hoping to start Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier soon — either that or Neil Gaiman’s . On our drive to Michigan and back, we listened to a lot of podcasts: The Allusionist; Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me; 99% Invisible; RadioLab; Imaginary Worlds; and Science Friday. And of course, we listened to the Broadway cast recording of In the Heights, to familiarize ourselves with the music and story before seeing a regional production last night.
Watching: Without internet in the lodge where we stayed, we couldn’t stream anything. But this weekend’s live theatre trumps movies or tv in my book!
New Additions to the Hoard
Cover links take you to Goodreads.
For Review or Review Consideration
Many thanks to Ballantine (Random House)!
Purchased for Kindle
All of these are books I’ve read before, with the exception of Discount Armageddon, the first in a series I’ve been meaning to start.
kimbacaffeinate
Your trip sounds lovely. Glad you had fun but it’s nice to come home. Have fun watching the telly this weekend!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sunday Post #272 I Hate Fireworks
Lark_Bookwyrm
It was a wonderful vacation. It really didn’t feel like we were “home” until Monday, though, what with all the gadding about we did on Saturday and Sunday! But we slowed down on Monday and Tuesday—and Wednesday, though that wasn’t in the plan. (Our kitty had gotten very sick and had to be put to sleep.) Now I’m playing “catch-up” with work…
Evelina
It’s good to unplug indeed! I sometimes dream of that 😀 especially in such a pretty place you went to. Must have been a nice vacation 🙂
Evelina recently posted…June stats fever!
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’ve sometimes thought it would be good to schedule “unplugged” weeks or weekends at home. Weekends would work better—maybe one a month. Being a self-employed indexer means I need to keep communication open with authors and publishers during the week.
Evelina
Yeah, I also work where I need to be ‘plugged in’ during the week. But I feel like I couldn’t unplug if I was at home. I’d have to travel somewhere xD
Evelina recently posted…What Happens To A Pacifist When He Has To Fight For His Family?
Lark_Bookwyrm
It would be a lot harder to stay unplugged at home, I agree. I’m not sure I have the self-discipline LOL!
Stacy Renee
That view! Sounds like you had a lovely week with lots of great highlights!
Weather in the 60’s sounds like a dream right now. It’s been 100% humidity and temps in the 90’s here.
I really need to read Wildwood Dancing. It’s been sitting on my immediate TBR pile for over a year.
Have a great week! 🙂
Stacy Renee recently posted…The Sunday Post #67 – Hello July
Lark_Bookwyrm
Compared to Virginia, the weather there was heavenly! I wasn’t happy to return to VA’s high 80s and 90s and humidity.
Jennifer | Book Den
What a great week! I’m so glad you guys are enjoying summertime.
Jennifer | Book Den recently posted…Recent Updates and Currently Reading | July 1
Lark_Bookwyrm
Now that I’m back, I need to buckle back down to work, though! That’s the only drawback to vacations—they end. 😉
Ronyell (a.k.a Rabbitearsblog)
Yay! Glad you enjoyed your trip!
Ronyell (a.k.a Rabbitearsblog) recently posted…The Sunday Post Meme (93)
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thanks, Ronyell!
Literary Feline
Your vacation sounds wonderful, Lark! I am glad you had a good time. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on the musicals you saw. I need to focus more on my ARC’s too. I had meant to, but the book I picked up to read this week is one of my own, wouldn’t you know it. I hope you have a great week, Lark!
Literary Feline recently posted…Monthly Reading Mews (June Wrap-Up) & What Should I Read Next? (July’s My TBR List Poll)
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’m such a mood reader. Sometimes I think I should stop requesting ARCs. But they’re so, so tempting! I try to restrict myself to books I’m positive I want to read, at least.
Stephanie @ Don't be Afraid of the Dork
Sounds like a very fun trip and I am super jealous of your Weekend of Musical Theater! I splurged and got season tickets this past year for the “big city” Broadway Under the Stars series and am really glad I did. It’s been nice to go to the theater more regularly!
I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Wildwood Dancing. I liked it but was a little disappointed by it for some reason. I also picked up Discount Armageddon on sale mostly because of your post a week or two ago that put the series on my radar – Thanks for that!
Stephanie @ Don’t be Afraid of the Dork recently posted…Saturday in the Garden | Of Wrens and Rabbits
Lark_Bookwyrm
Season tickets sound heavenly! These two shows sort of fell into my lap, TBH. Our daughter got us hooked on Hamilton, and when I found out she would be home at the same time that Virginia Rep was doing In the Heights, I had to get tickets. And then, out of the blue, I won a lottery for discount tickets to Finding Neverland, and the only viable date was the same weekend. It was great to see two shows in a row, but tiring, too. I do need to see more musical theater, though!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
Your trip sounds amazing and Pictured Rocks is gorgeous! I love the picture of Robin. Sounds like you had a good trip though I imagine you’re a little peopled out. That’s a lot of people in close quarters no matter how much you love them! I’ve got the Connie diMarco coming up and I’m really looking forward to it. I enjoyed the first one in the series. Have a great week!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Cafe by the Sea – Contemporary Fiction Blog Tour Review
Lark_Bookwyrm
I think you’ll like it; it lives up to the first one! “Peopled out” — yes, exactly. I need some downtime. 🙂
RO
God Bless you for having the energy to hike for 6 miles, girl! I would have been content to sit around soaking up that great cool weather with a book. You guys were busy, and sounds like being unplugged worked out well for relaxation as well. Great pics! Hugs…
RO recently posted…LET’S HAVE SOME PEACH ICEBOX CAKE AND A LITTLE TRIVIA
Lark_Bookwyrm
I was really surprised I was able to stick it out for the full thing, especially since I hadn’t really gotten back to exercising yet (since getting mono in March.) Actually, the “kids”—the younger generation, most of them in their 20s— did a 9-mile loop, but we middle-aged parents chose the shorter 6-mile loop. It wasn’t hilly or mountainous, so at least it wasn’t too strenuous!
Cai @ The Bookfeed Blog
It is always great to unplug and spend time with the family! Sounds like you had a great time!
I hope you have a beautiful week!
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thank you, Cai! And welcome—am I right that this is the first time you’ve stopped by? (Forgive me if I’m wrong!)
Cai @ The Bookfeed Blog
Yes it is! I only started joining in with the sunday post a month and a half a go!
Lark_Bookwyrm
Welcome, and I hope you’ll stop by again!
Charlie
What a fun trip! I might go a little stir crazy being that cramped with siblings, but I’m sure when we’re older we’ll get along better. Maybe. 🙂 While I haven’t been without internet, I have been without a computer until the end of last week. It was KILLER. So I basically did nothing but watch TV and play games on my phone…which is now coming to bite me in the butt. Hopefully, I get some reviews written soon!
Lark_Bookwyrm
We did have fun—but the best part was being with the family. I’m sorry you’ve been without a computer; that drives me nuts! I’ve got a backlog of reviews to write, too.