Weekly reading check-in

Sunday, April 26, 2015 Permalink

It’s again time to share my weekly reading… not to mention the excitement of my everyday life. #spoileralert #sarcasm

What I read

I easily read Nicky Pellegrino’s One Summer in Venice in one night in Hervey Bay. (Hee hee!) #sorrynotsorry #muststopusinghashtagsinblogposts

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Only We Know by Aussie author, Victoria Purman. Basically a straight romance—ie. romance with no suspense, serial killers or psychopaths, not romance between straight people—which is not usually my thing. However… I didn’t barf in the sex scenes and coped with the unfolding romance better than expected.

Only We Know

I’m also part-way through Jenn J McLeod’s Season of Shadow and Light. It got off to a bit of a slow start for me and I almost put it aside several times, but I’m past the first hundred pages and think I’ll be able to keep going as we’re both finally hitting our stride.

season of shadow and light

Shocking I realise—nary a thriller or crime fiction in sight! (I will make up for that this coming week however.)

What I wrote

I shared reviews of One Summer in Venice and Laura Lippman’s Hush Hush.

As Saturday marked the 100th anniversary of Aussie and New Zealand soldiers’ arrival in Gallipoli (Anzac Day) I wrote a post about my great-great uncle who was the first Aussie ashore to fight in that fateful battle.

The first of my monthly gigs at a popular Aussie blog, Styling You  was also published this week. I’ve been invited to provide a blog post featuring my favourite reads each month so am very excited about the opportunity.

Other stuff I did

I attended Flickerfest, a short film festival which launches each year in January in Sydney before touring regional centres. I’m not a huge fan of short films (or short stories). I find they sometimes try a bit too hard to be obscure and before I know it the credits are rolling and I’m pondering the point of it all. However, I’m trying to support local activities AND this was something different. There were a few #meh offerings but many were fabulous.

As an aside a short comedy, Pony Place from the Netherlands was unanimously voted our favourite.

Next week’s reading

As well as finishing Season of Shadow and Light, I’ve got a little pile of hard copies and ebooks awaiting my attention.

I’m starting with David Baldacci’s Memory Man, cos I’m in need of a thriller fix.

Memory Man

Then perhaps I’ll get to Tommy Wallach’s We All Looked Up. End-of-the-world young adult fiction’s not usually my thing but I’ve been reading positive reviews and won this book in a competition from Diva Book Nerd so am looking forward to reading it.

We All Looked Up

And that’s it for me and my reading this week. I’m aiming to spend some time away from my desk this weekend to binge-watch some taped television. I’m very much behind so keen to catch up on some of my favourite shows. Person of Interest, Forever and Criminal Minds are high on the list.

What’s on your agenda this week?

I’m again participating in the It’s Monday linkup hosted by Sheila from Book Journey as well as Kimberly at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer’s  Sunday Post.

49 Comments
  • Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
    April 26, 2015

    I’ve just started If She Did It by Jessica Treadway. Have you read it? It’s great so far. I shall now read your Anzac Day post which I somehow missed and your post on Styling You. Congrats on the gig Deb!

    • Debbish
      April 26, 2015

      Yes – here’s the review I wrote of If She Did It (aka Lacy Eye). I liked it!

      I included it in my top 10 so far this year in Nikki’s blog post as well.

  • Lisa@RandomActsOfZen
    April 26, 2015

    Deb, I know you probably think your life is pretty ordinary, but I think you get up to some awesome stuff! The grass is always greener, hey?
    Congrats on your gig over at Nikki’s, you’ll be a fab inclusion.
    Your Anzac Day post is just lovely xx

    • Debbish
      April 26, 2015

      Oh thanks Lisa, that’s lovely! xx

  • Christy
    April 26, 2015

    Hahaha – well, it’s definitely good that the sex scenes didn’t make you barf. Hope you have another great week of reading.

    • Debbish
      April 26, 2015

      Thanks Christy. I know it makes me sound like a prude (and I don’t think I am) but I find overly descriptive sex scenes or the choice of language during sex scenes kinda off-putting!

  • Megan @ reading away the days
    April 26, 2015

    You sound like you got up to some fun stuff this week 🙂 I am new to your blog so will have a nosey around..Happy reading.

    My Sunday Post http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/sunday-post-14-beautiful-peter-pan.html

  • Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
    April 26, 2015

    LOL, I love your word-play, Deborah! So I’m definitely going to come back for more… much more!

    Nice that you enjoyed Only We Know more than you thought you would… sometimes, ‘just’ romance can hit the right spot, even if it’s nice to have psychopaths or serial killers included in the plot at other times.

    Have a wonderful week ahead, happy reading.

    • Debbish
      April 26, 2015

      I think you’re right Lexxie and thanks for your lovely comment.

  • Cindy
    April 26, 2015

    I enjoyed your review of One Summer I Venice, I will put that on my to read list.. What a lovely blog you have and thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you have a great week, I will let you know how my blog makeover goes.

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      Thanks so much Cindy and yes, good luck with the blog makeover!

      Deb

  • danielaark
    April 26, 2015

    Hi Deborah, thanks for visiting and adding your link to “Where on Earth?”. I fixed it and know it shows you are from Australia. Love everything related Australia starting with Hugh Jackman 🙂 Looking forward to your review of “We all lookedup”. Following you now everywhere 🙂

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      I followed back on Twitter as well. Funnily enough a friend and I had a chat about Hugh Jackman the other night as he’s number one on her ‘free-pass’ list. (You know the list of people your husband / partner agrees you can cheat with if the opportunity ever arises!) She doesn’t think it likely, but still…

  • Elizabeth
    April 26, 2015

    Sorry comments are closed for your Summer in Venice review. It sounds really good. I think I’m one of the people who wish I had the time and resources for a voyage of discovery!
    Have a great week!

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      I tend to close comments on all of my reviews as I get very few comments there. I felt bad for a few local authors early on when no one commented and then realised my regular readers only comment cos they felt obliged, so figured it was easier to take the pressure off. If that makes sense! 🙂

  • Laura Thomas
    April 26, 2015

    I enjoy David Baldacci. That’s one I haven’t read. And We All Looked Up is one a reading challenge and nearing the top.
    My Sunday Post – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/04/26/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-106-and-the-sunday-post/

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      I enjoy Baldacci too – he’s pretty consistent – so I’m looking forward to that!

      Deb

  • laurelrainsnow
    April 26, 2015

    Sounds like a great week! I loved Hush Hush…hope you did, too; off to check out your review. I am also curious about One Summer in Venice.

    Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog. Enjoy your new week!

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      Yes, it was good to see Tess back in Hush Hush though I enjoy Lippman’s stand-alones as well. Have a great week also Laurel!

      Deb

  • Rita @ View From My Home
    April 27, 2015

    I’m reading Memory Man now and absolutely loving it! Hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      Oh yah Rita, great to hear! I’m looking forward to it – especially after a few non-thriller/suspense novels!

  • kimbacaffeinate
    April 27, 2015

    Memory Man looks good..I love a good thriller from time to time too.I look forward to your thoughts on it. Hope the week ahead is bookishly good!

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      Ha! Thanks Kimberly. Thrillers / suspense and crime fiction are my fave genre(s). I lump them all together though I’m sure purists wouldn’t agree!

  • Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog
    April 27, 2015

    We All Looked Up looks good – can’t wait to see what you think – Have a great week!

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      Grace I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about it so hope it lives up to its reputation!

      Deb

  • amyh90
    April 27, 2015

    Hi Deb!
    Great post, I haven’t read any of the books on this post but the “Only We Know” looks really good, I’ll be reading your review when I get my break at work tonight 😀 I do like a good romance.
    Good on you for trying out a local event! At least you can say you’ve tried it and thought it was so-so now, yeah? You never know, they might improve next year 🙂
    Amy x

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      I’m actually doing the review of Only We Know today. It’s been sitting on the floor next to my bathtub since I finished it so my reviews are a little behind again!

      And yes Amy, as for the local event, you’re absolutely right. It was good to support it. I live in a regional area and people often complain about there being nothing to do, but then they don’t go to things that are on offer. So… I try to make an effort as often as possible. (Though still could do better!)

      • amyh90
        April 28, 2015

        Lol that’s ok I know the feeling when you’re lagging behind.

        I think it’d be great to go and support some local events, we had our first Comic Con this year in my home town! Unfortunately I was on holiday at the time but would have loved to go, I like wonder woman comics 😉 aside from that I find it difficult to go because I work nights. I love working nights, but we have to sleep sometime 🙁 Either way like you said, just think of all the people sat on their bums complaining and not doing a thing 😉 in comparison you’re a star! 😀

  • yvonne473
    April 27, 2015

    Memory Man looks good. I’ve never read anything by David Baldacci. Enjoy your reading and have a great week!

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      Thanks Yvonne. I’ve read most of Baldacci’s work (maybe all?). Usually when I find a writer I like I go back and read everything they’ve written. Well, I DID do that before I started reviewing as now I don’t have the time. (Which is kinda ironic really!)

      Deb

  • Nise' (Under the Boardwalk)
    April 27, 2015

    I love your cover for Memory Man. I hope to get to it on audio soon. Person of Interest is a favorite show of mine. Criminal Minds got a bit too creepy so I haven’t watched it for two seasons. Is it worth picking back up?

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      PoI is an absolutely favourite of mine, though it’s so intricate you CANNOT miss an episode. I keep a few on hand in case I need to go back and remind myself of some detail. Criminal Minds varies a little. I prefer it when we don’t know ‘whodunnit’ until the end but so often we see the UNSUB throughout and just wait for the team to catch up. I was surprised to see Jennifer Love Hewitt pop up in the latest series!

  • fangswandsfairy
    April 27, 2015

    I looked at your post about your uncle. Amazing and humbling. Thanks for coming by my blog: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2015/04/home.html

  • shannonmiz
    April 27, 2015

    Binge watching TV sounds amazing, to be honest! I don’t remember the last time I have done it, and i really want to 🙂 I am so excited to read We All Looked Up too- actually, I almost started last week, but then didn’t. Soon though! Hope you enjoy your books, and have a wonderful week!

    • Debbish
      April 27, 2015

      When I worked full time I used to do a lot of binge-watching of TV (on DVD) on weekends but it’s something I don’t do as much of anymore… and I do miss it. Have a great week!

  • Kathryn@Book Date
    April 27, 2015

    Hmm we had a two book snap! Mainly because you deviated from your crimes! Really liked your review of One Summer in Venice, same thing crossed my mind about not being flush with money and still managing a summer in Venice, but I enjoyed the book too. I also enjoyed Victoria Purman’s book, it sure makes me interested in the southern coast of Australia. Won’t get there as yet, but going close with Melbourne later in the year!

    • Debbish
      April 28, 2015

      I have to confess, I hadn’t even heard of Kangaroo Island!

  • CARLA
    April 27, 2015

    OH ID LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to FLICKER FEST with you next time..
    (((runs for passport)))

    • Debbish
      April 28, 2015

      Come to Australia Carla and I’d come to meet you ANYWHERE!

  • Teddyree
    April 27, 2015

    hahaha I’ve come close to barfing when a romance author continuously referred to a woman’s ‘love channel’ … seriously, who says that?? Really enjoyed your review of One Summer in Venice. I’ve gone to comment on so many of your reviews and found them closed to commenting. Just read why in your comments, I was starting to think I just wasn’t quick enough lol. I’m completely up to date with Scandal, now back to binge-watching The Blacklist. Enjoy your TV catch up

    • Debbish
      April 28, 2015

      I haven’t watched either of those Teddyree but have heard only good things about Scandal.

  • shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
    April 28, 2015

    I just started reading Hush Hush and I’m planning to read Season of Shadow and Light too.

    Have a great week

  • Have A Laugh On Me
    April 28, 2015

    I’ve just read the Wife Project and Rosie Project, nearly done with Burial Rites then on to The Book Thief, a bit behind the rest of the world but getting there! And thanks to all these posts of yours I know where to go to with I want to know what to read next! xx

    • Debbish
      April 28, 2015

      You’re very welcome Em. I’ve actually not read The Book Thief, but don’t know that I want to now…. having seen the movie and knowing what happens.

  • Jess
    April 28, 2015

    I have to admit I feel the same about romance novels. Generally I am barfing a little. Hehe. I totally agree with you on short films and stories, often trying too hard .

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