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!
My Week
Robin and I have been having a good but quiet time here in New Mexico. We’ve spent several afternoons or evenings with my sister’s family, playing cards, laughing, and joking, but haven’t seen as much of them as usual because both my sister and I have had a lot of work (she’s also an indexer), and my niece Maria has been getting ready for her first year of college away from home: running errands, packing, and moving into her college dorm. She’ll only be about two hours away, and I confess I feel a little envious of my sister, who will be able to see Maria on the weekends. When we bid goodbye to Robin next weekend, we won’t see her until mid-December, when her semester ends!
I finally finished the index and sent it off yesterday. Now I can start on the next one, and maybe get around to some of the reviews I need to write. I’m frustrated because the keyboard of my computer is acting up. Thank goodness for Dragon (voice recognition software), which I’m still using while my wrist heals (hopefully.)
Mr. Bookwyrm will meet us in Arizona on Tuesday. I can hardly wait to see him! We’ll spend about 5 days in Robin’s college town, getting the girls’ rented house in order – finding furniture and other necessities like a vacuum cleaner and setting up an in-house wifi network so they have internet access. Then the two of us will head off for a romantic getaway for a few days before returning home.
Last Week on the Blog
- Mon. 8/10/15: Night Moves (Nora Roberts) (review)
- Wed. 8/12/15: Starlight on Willow Lake (Susan Wiggs) (review)
- Thur. 8/13/15: Phantom Evil (Heather Graham) (review)
- Sat. 8/15/15: News & Notes – 8/15/15
- Sun. 8/16/15: Sunday Post – 8/16/15 – this post
Next Week on the Blog
- Mon. 8/17/15: Right Wrong Guy (Lia Riley) (review)
- Wed. 8/19/15: Not Always a Saint (Mary Jo Putner) (early review)
- Thur. 8/20/15: Thoreau in Phantom Bog (B. B. Oak) (early review & giveaway)
- Sat. 8/22/15: News & Notes – 8/22/15 – very tentative
- Sun. 8/23/15: Sunday Post – 8/23/15 – very tentative
What I’m Reading/Watching
I got in a surprising amount of reading this week, mostly squeezed in before I went to sleep each night… but due to my stress levels, a lot of the books were re-reads. I re-read Some Die Eloquent (Catherine Aird), and Exile’s Song, The Shadow Matrix, and Traitor’s Sun by Marion Zimmer Bradley. But I also read and enjoyed When a Scot Ties the Knot (Tessa Dare) and Thoreau in Phantom Bog (B. B. Oak). And I decided to DNF a book that wasn’t grabbing me. I may go back to it at some point, but not right now.
Because I’ve been working so hard, and spending non-work time with my family, I haven’t watched a lot. But we’re a family of nerdy introverts, so we did watch a few things together: a NOVA documentary on the making of a particular type of Viking sword, and another on how the Easter Island statues may have been moved from quarry to their resting sites across the landscape. Both were fascinating, and of potential use to our writer-in-residence, Robin.
New Additions to the Hoard
Cover links take you to Goodreads
For Review
Purchased for Kindle
Cover links take you to Goodreads or my review, if I’ve posted one.
Deborah
I hadn’t heard of that Nora Roberts. Is it a new one? I must check out your review…
Deb
Deborah recently posted…Weekly check in
Lark_Bookwyrm
Hi, Deb! No, actually, it’s a really old one from 1985 that has been republished. And it has some of the same problems as other romances from the ’80s – tropes that were commmon in books at that time but raise my hackles today. I think I prefer her more recent work.
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
Looks like you’ve got some good books here! Sorry about the DNF. It happens though. At least you’re able to let go. There are probably about 4 right now that I could DNF. I’m like 60% through on 2 of them and it’s hard for me to DNF because I’ve come so far. We’ll see. Glad you got to spend some time with Robin and your family in New Mexico. Hope you have a great week!
SP & STS
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know recently posted…Sunday Post – 161 & Stacking the Shelves – 116
Lark_Bookwyrm
I used to feel terribly guilty about DNF-ing a book I had requested. But I’ve gotten better about it. Not every book will appeal to everyone – even when, as in this case, I loved the first book in the series. The second just wasn’t grabbing me… though I will probably give it a second chance at some point.
Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com
I am not a Cristian, but I think this new Pope is really doing a good job making it work for people who are.
Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com recently posted…THE SUNDAY POST: Plenty of Nothing
Lark_Bookwyrm
I agree with you! I really admire Pope Francis, so I am curious to see his thoughts on Advent, which is one of my favorite Church seasons.
Megan Mc Dade
Hi *waves* I am new to your blog so will have a look around. And give you a follow. I love to find new blogs. I have seen a few people reviewing Lia Rileys books. They look good. I hate DNF a book but sometimes it’s necessary. Happy Reading!
Megan Mc Dade recently posted…Sunday Post #22- Chapter Con 2017
Lark_Bookwyrm
Hi and welcome, Megan! I had fun with Lia’s book, though it wasn’t without a few flaws.
The book I DNF’d, Fool Me Once, wasn’t bad – in fact, I really loved the first book in the series, The White Magic Five and Dime, but this one just wasn’t grabbing me. I will probably go back to it at some point when I’m more in the mood for it.
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
Heartsong cottage has such a lovely cover…not that I want to be thinking about Winter just yet!
Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf recently posted…Sunday Post – 8/16/15
Lark_Bookwyrm
I know exactly what you mean! But I love Emily’s books and I’m really excited because I got this one as one of her “Angels”, so I can’t wait to read it anyway!
Elizabeth the Evil Overlord
Star of the East, the Lady Emily book, interests me, but I kind of have a prejudice against these .5 novels. I feel like the publisher is forcing a story out of the author. But I’ll probably cave and read it!
Elizabeth the Evil Overlord recently posted…Avoidance? Or Housekeeping?
Lark_Bookwyrm
I wonder about that, too. I think some authors really enjoy producing these. Others, not so much. And some are better than others at writing them, too.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I can’t imagine how difficult it is for you having Robin so far away. Emma is now about 5 hours away and it feels like it might as well be across the country! Eleanor is about 2 hours but even with that we don’t see her very often. It’s good because they have their own lives and all but still weird.
That’s too bad about the DNF but sometimes it just has to be done. I’m really curious about the Emily March. I’ve enjoyed the 2 previous books of hers I’ve read. Have a great week!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…This Week in Reading – August 16
Lark_Bookwyrm
The first year it was really, really hard to adjust to not having her home. I tried to be kind to myself because I knew that I just needed to grieve a bit – while we still have her for Christmas and summers, when she went off to college it was like losing both my jobs at once: full-time mommying and teaching (homeschooling.) I didn’t quite know who I was without that. Plus, as she has matured she has become one of my best friends as well as my daughter – she’s one of the few people I can talk books and fandoms with (in person as opposed to on my blog.) I’m so grateful for cell phones, texting, and Facebook because we were able to stay more in touch than I could with my parents when I went to college. And as you say, it’s wonderful to see her maturing and becoming more independent and more confident, mastering new skills and learning things I couldn’t have taught her. So while I do miss her, I’m also really glad that she is at such a great school for her. It’s been totally worth the distance.
R_Hunt @ View From My Home
Enjoy the rest of your stay. I can see where you have the double standard of having a fun & wonderful visit with relatives, but also the anxiety that comes with a deadline and staying in different surroundings. Hope your wrist feels better soon. I have that problem sometimes with my dominant wrist.
New Mexico must be pretty hot right about now, well it depends on if you are in the high desert or wherever. I’m in the Inland Empire, the valley region, of So Cal so we just boil in the summer but do have the relief of cooler nights and the fall, winter, spring are just lovely.
I just added Tessa Dare to my wishlist because she sounds like a fun romantic read. Is she very steamy? I enjoy romances that are in between sappy and erotic, if that makes sense. I also love the cover of Thoreau and the blurb. Hope you enjoyed it. If you did, I might add it to my wishlist.
Safe travels home, and try to relax and not work too hard on your vacation!
R_Hunt @ View From My Home recently posted…Weekly Wrap-Up 8/16/15
Lark_Bookwyrm
Hi, Rita! You’ve described it absolutely perfectly – that mix of it’s-vacation-enjoy-your-family and get-the-project-finished leaves me feeling a little torn. But the project is done and while I need to start the next one, I can work more slowly on it and let things heal up more.
My folks live in Los Alamos, so it’s high-altitude and on the rainier side of the Jemez mountains. It’s been lovely – not too hot, and they’ve had a really wet spring (for New Mexico), so there’s a lot of green to be seen. I’m not looking forward to returning to Virginia in late August! But we’ve got a week and a half in Arizona first.
The Thoreau mystery was good; if you like historical mysteries you would probably enjoy it. And Tessa Dare is wonderful – funny and fun, and the sensual scenes are neither too frequent nor gratuitous (also not too steamy, and skippable if they make you uncomfortable.)
Have a great week!
kimbacaffeinate
Awesome haul. How did I miss a new Roberts book. Uh-oh. Well it could be because I haven’t read the last one I pre-ordered. Glad you and Robyn are having fun. Enjoy your week!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sunday Post #174- Sunshine, Smiles and Lots of Reading
Lark_Bookwyrm
You missed it because it’s not new! It’s from way back in 1985, but it went on sale for Kindle a month or two ago and I bought it. Robin and I are headed out to Arizona on Tuesday; her college starts up a week later. So it will be a busy week of getting her settled and ready!
Stormi
That Nora Roberts one looks good and yeah for Phantom Evil. 🙂 I will go check out your review in hopes that you liked it. 🙂
Glad your having a great time in New Mexico!
Stormi
Stormi recently posted…The Week In Review #49
Lark_Bookwyrm
Well, as you’ll find, I had a few issues with both but I liked Phantom Evil anyway!
Lola
Sounds like you had a nice week. That must be hard to know you won’t see Robin until December! That sounds unhandy that your keyboard is acting up.
It’s sad to DNF a book, but sometiems a book just doesn’t work for you. I had a DNF this week as well, a book I requested myself on netgalley, but it just wasn’t working for me. I did get two books read beside that and watched some Clone Wars animated series. Have a great week!
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #139
Lark_Bookwyrm
The keyboard thing is just a tad annoying, yes. Thank goodness I’m in the process of replacing the computer! It has several other issues as well. As for DNF-ing a book, I’m glad I’ve gotten more willing to do that. I used to feel terribly guilty about it, but life is too short to read something you don’t enjoy.
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Glad you are having such a great time! It’s lovely to relax and just enjoy life like that. 🙂
Hope you have a great week and enjoy all your new reads. 🙂
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thanks, Melissa! I wish it had been just relaxing, but it’s been fun even with all the work. (Hazards of self-employment – you often have to take the work with you.)
laura thomas
Such a lot of wonderful reads. I see several new authors I’ll be checking out. My mother is visiting this weekend and we’ve been playing a lot of cards too. We are so competitive and I’m sure my son is hiding in his room while were playing. LOL
laura thomas recently posted…What’s New On My Bookshelf #121 and The Sunday Post
Lark_Bookwyrm
I’m glad I could point you in the direction of some interesting books, and I hope you had a lovely visit with your mom!
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
I almost got The Silver Chair, I may regret not getting it. Ah well. I see you wasted no time getting to Phantom and Right Wrong Guy. Also, only two new review books listed but you said four pending requests came in? That math doesn’t compute. 😀
It’s a challenge trying to get work done when visiting family but it sounds as if you are managing it well. I hope your wrist is feeling better.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…Sunday Book Share #154
Lark_Bookwyrm
Oh – one of this week’s was a pending request and three of last week’s – they came through last Saturday so it was all within a week, just not within this week. As for my wrist, I don’t know but I suspect it isn’t really any better. We’ll see what the orthopedist thinks.
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
Aaaah, that explains it.
Oh, that’s not good about your wrist. 🙁 I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…Sunday Book Share #154
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thanks, Bea. I’m coping.