It’s Monday so time to link up with Sheila from Book Journey to talk books and reading. As well as world peace and stuff. #ornot

What I read last week

For reasons unknown I had another slack week, only reading two books. One of those was pretty long, but nonetheless…

As planned I read The Girl in the Photograph  by Kate Riordan which I mostly enjoyed and will review in the coming week. I’d envisaged something eerie or ghostly, but it wasn’t like that at all.

And I AGAIN bypassed The Rosie Project  and The Rosie Effect,  going straight for a book due for publication in February instead – SJ Watson’s Second Life.  Watson’s previous novel – Before I Go To Sleep  – was a huge hit and translated onto the big screen, starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth. I expected big things of Second Life.  It didn’t quite deliver but…. more on that in a couple of weeks when I publish the review.

Bloggy stuff

I didn’t blog a lot last week either,  publishing only two navel-gazing type posts about goals and crap. In the first I wondered if it’s okay to aim for mediocrity when setting health and fitness goals. I suggested I didn’t want to learn to run 10km or survive bootcamps. Just be fit enough to enjoy life.

And in the second post I shared a recent realisation that it may well be possible to accept oneself AND still see there’s room for improvement.

Life in General

It’s been ridiculously hot here in much of Australia of late. In Queensland – where I live – many places reached over 40C on the weekend and while my coastal hometown only got to about 34C, our humidity was over 70%. So… hot and humid. Fortunately my apartment has airconditioning so I ran it A LOT over the weekend though I’m usually more frugal. That all being said however, lolling in bed (in aircon under a fan) has seemed the most alluring pastime over the past few days.

I’ve finally finished the TV show Orphan Black  – both seasons one and two. I have a blog post half-written about the show which I might publish when I overcome my recent ‘can’t-be-arsed’ malaise.

I’ve just restarted S1 of The Newsroom  which I have seen before but a very long time ago. I’d forgotten how much I loved it. That opening scene in the first episode is a-freakin’-mazing. And the writing is SO Sorkin that I’m gobsmacked. No wonder I raved about its similarities to The West Wing  when I first saw it.

I’ve only watched a couple of episodes so look forward to continuing to revisit season one before starting on season two. (And by then our summer TV menu of tennis and cricket should be over and all of the good stuff should have returned!)

Next week

I’m not sure I should put The Rosie Project/Effect on the list yet again. I’m also not sure why I’m feeling so antipathetic towards reading them; perhaps they seem less sexy or alluring given they’ve been out for yonks and every man and their dog has read them?!

None of the books on my NetGalley TBR list are being published until April, so there’s no rush on that front. I need to catch up with some writing as I have about three books which need reviews written – yet again getting behind!

However, I’m thinking of attempting some non-fiction. A school friend of mine released a book – Unlock Your Style  –  last year which I bought my mother for Christmas. The author, Nikki, is a pretty well-known blogger here in Australia. Mum’s already finished it and has given it to me to read. I’m a little torn because: I really dislike non-fiction; and the notion of being stylish couldn’t be farther from my agenda at the moment. On top of that I’ve flicked through it and it’s kinda weird cos I recognise some of the old pictures she’s used and remember some of the stuff she’s talking about which is a little surreal. However, Nikki’s a great writer and knows her stuff, so… I guess I’ll wade into those unchartered #nonfiction waters.

Although having said that, I have two other non-fiction books in my TBR pile so I may need to pace myself! As for my other weekly reading… I’m waiting on some responses via NetGalley so not sure what else next week will hold. (And yes, I realise that sounds a tad pathetic when one realises I’m only talking about books and reading rather than life in general!)

What about you? Was last week a fruitful one? Do you have anything exciting on the agenda for this next week?