It’s Mother’s Day here in Australia so I’m tempted to start with best wishes – but as a non-mum it’s a reminder that motherhood is a privileged club to which I’ve not been granted membership – so a time I struggle with a little. Of course I realise I’m lucky to still have my mum so I am thankful for that.
What I’ve read
It was a slow reading week. You’d think that was a result of my busy and active life. But alas… it was because I was without my bathtub for THREE days! The spa pump was broken and while it was away I wasn’t allowed to use my bathtub at all. So… there was minimal reading cos I almost ONLY read in the bath nowadays.
I did manage two books however, starting the week with Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman; and finishing it with the quirky, Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman.
What I’ve written
Amazingly I kept up my post-a-day commitment even though April has ended.
I published book reviews:
The Last Mile by David Baldacci – the latest in the wonderful Amos Decker (Memory Man) series
Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman – a book about teenage relationships. And revenge
Did you take the B from my ook by Beck & Matt Stanton – a children’s book reviewed (via video – kinda) with my 4yr old friend Pickle.
And some other rubbish:
A million times happier – me taking stock of my life… in a positive way for a change
Wordless Wednesday post – with some pics of my apartment which is on the market
My own witching hour – why I love my evening baths so much. (Written while I was going without them!)
A big thanks to everyone who visited my monthly guest post at Styling You last week. Your comments were very much appreciated.
What I did
My first Open House was yesterday. I think it was okay but won’t get my hopes up. It meant I spent some time in the lead-up tidying and cleaning AGAIN.
It was a busy week at work as I approach a key milestone, so it’s been nice to get my teeth into that.
And finally I had a second book review published in a regional Queensland weekend newspaper insert. I’ve done some freelance writing courses and would love to eventually pitch some pieces (not just book reviews) to online and print sources. AND be paid for them.
What I plan to do
I hope to get back on that reading horse. Or wagon. Or bicycle. Or whatever it is one falls off and gets back on.
I’ve actually got a non-fiction book which I’d like to attempt to read. I never (well, rarely) read non-fiction but The Diet Myth by Tim Spector looked interesting. And then there’s You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson. I’ve had a proof sitting in my TBR pile for a while… and it’s now calling my name. (Well, embargoed til 20 May which is fast approaching!)
And finally I accidentally downloaded A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester from NetGalley. I adore the cover of this book, but it’s historical fiction or romance or whatevs… and I don’t really ‘do’ historical fiction. I might ‘try’ to give it a go however. (Don’t I sound brave and virtuous?!)
And that’s it for this week’s reading and book blogging check-in.
What’s on your agenda for the next week? Work, life, travels to far off luxurious locales?
I’m linking up with The Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post, The Book Date for ‘It’s Monday’ and Deep Fried Fruit for the Lovin’ Life Linky.
May 8, 2016
You appear to be a great Aunt which well and truly puts you in the club in my books. Congrats on the newspaper review!
Thanks for linking with the Lovin’ Life Linky again this week Deb.
May 8, 2016
Thanks Leanne!
May 8, 2016
Looks like a pretty good week! Congrats on the review being published, that’s always nice, and good luck as well with the house thing. I imagine open houses are a bit stressful. Plus who wants to keep the place just so all the time lol?
I’ve never read David Baldacci but I know people who have and they seemed to like his stuff. Happy reading this week!
May 8, 2016
I really love Baldacci’s Memory Man series Greg. (Less so some of his other series!)
And yes re the Open House and having to keep my place neat. I’ve been putting EVERYTHING away before I head out each day but am not sure my agent’s the sort of person to bring people around at other times anyway!
May 8, 2016
Congrats on the publication of your review!
I’ve just come out of a slow reading week too… hope the pump is all fixed now.
SSG xxx
May 8, 2016
It is all fixed so that’s a relief. I’ve had a night babysitting and a night at my mother’s since it’s been back so looking forward to a long leisurely read in the bath tonight!
May 8, 2016
YAY for the newspaper review, Debbie! I hope some of the people who visited your apartment want to buy it!
Have a wonderful week and happy reading.
May 8, 2016
I hope they’re interested as well Lexxie but we’ll see. Hopefully my agent will follow up with them this coming week.
I had three couples through – which I guess is okay for a small town. The agent had two Open Houses earlier that morning that no one had turned up to!
May 8, 2016
Haha, every time I don’t get a lot of reading done, it’s never because my life was so busy, it’s always for some random, nonsensical-seeming reason. Sorry your spa jet broke though.
Congrats on getting the review published! That would be wonderful if you could get some other non-review articles published too.
That Natasha Lester book does have a really pretty cover. Actually, I don’t read historical fiction either (unless it’s fantasy), but, if that one were available for the US, I might be tempted because I love the 1920s era. Maybe you’ll end up enjoying it 🙂
May 8, 2016
I have to admit Kristen I am often surprised that I enjoy books which would normally be outside my comfort zone. I seem to be reading a lot of adult (literary?) fiction and YA fiction of late…
And I must confess my spa bath motor stopped working about 2yrs ago but I didn’t use it much so couldn’t be bothered getting it fixed. I only got it fixed now because I’m selling the place. I’m fine with just the bath – I don’t need the bubbles!!!
May 8, 2016
Congrats on your book review publication….impressive!
I am off to check out some of your links…enjoy your weekend. Thanks for visiting my blog, and I can’t wait to get Britt-Marie Was Here.
May 8, 2016
Oh, it’s lovely. I’ve been writing the review this afternoon and will post it this week!
May 8, 2016
I have never been a bath person, try as I might. Now I’m old with back trouble and getting in and out just doesn’t seem appealing. I can see the draw though–being able to soak and read. Can’t do that in the shower, unfortunately. I hope your bath is all fixed now!
I hope to get to Britt-Marie was Here in the near-ish future. I’ve enjoyed Backman’s other books.
Yay to getting your book review published! That is awesome. I hope you do get some nibbles after the open house–and maybe even a couple of bites. I can only imagine what a pain it is to have to prep your home for the showing.
I hope you have a great week, Deb. I am not sure what this next week has in store for me other than the usual work adn all that. Nothing too exciting, I’m afraid. Maybe that’s for the best.
May 8, 2016
Oh yes, I can imagine getting into a bath would be problematic with a bad back – but it’s a pity cos being in there might help!
This is the first of Backman’s books and it wasn’t until I was writing the review I realised he’d written a book I’d meant to try and read last year but didn’t get to it!
May 8, 2016
I can’t read in the bath any more – I’m scared I’d drop the book in! Have a great week 🙂
May 8, 2016
I’ve only have done that once a LONG time ago and it was a library book. I dried it out but still had to pay a fine!
May 8, 2016
I’m sorry about your bathtub! That’s gotta be hard. Hopefully your be able to use it again soon though. Sorry about the open house, but hopefully the next one will be better. 🙂 Have a great week!
May 8, 2016
Thankfully my bathtub is usable again Anna so I got to loll in there and read an entire novel tonight! A perfect way to end the weekend!
May 8, 2016
Whahaha.. Love that Someecards!!
Super awesome that one of your book reviews got published in a newspaper. That’s really amazing.
I hope your bathtub gets fixed soon and you can get back to your reading! I’ve never had a bathtub, only when I’m on vacation.. but I can definitely imagine reading in bath is good!
Have a great week! 😉
May 8, 2016
I’ve written a couple of reviews for publications now Maureen and the hardest bit is ensuring they’re sufficiently different to the review I post on my blog!
May 8, 2016
Awesome about the newspaper review, I hope you can eventually get in there with other pieces like you would like. Have a great day!
Stormi
Week in Review
May 8, 2016
Thanks Stormi!
May 8, 2016
I really want to read Britt Marie Was Here. Great new s about the newspaper review! I hope you have a great week:)
May 8, 2016
Thanks Cindy. Britt-Marie Was Here was great and I’ll be sharing my review in a day or two!
May 8, 2016
Congrats on your review being published! Love that card about Disney. I could use some nifty woodland creatures to clean up myself 🙂 I love the cover to A Kiss From Mr. Fitzgerald. Hope you have a great week!
May 8, 2016
I know, right?! Where are the damned woodland creatures when you need them?!
May 8, 2016
How was the Backman? Is there are a review coming? I loved his first book, A Man Called Ove – one of those rare books that I recommended to EVERYONE (regardless of their reading ‘taste’.
May 8, 2016
Yes, I was just drafting the review today actually Kate. I will probably publish it Tuesday. It was my first of his!
May 8, 2016
Glad the bath is now fixed and congratulations on the published review:). I LOVE the comment re Prince Charming – chimes exactly with my thoughts about housework… Fingers crossed you get a firm offer from the Open House – a bit dire having to keep the house tip top, constantly. The Natasha Lester cover is gorgeous – I can quite see why you’d fall for it… Have a great week – enjoy the reading in the bath:) My Weekly Wrap-up is here – https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/weekly-wrap-up-8th-may/
May 8, 2016
I’m endeavouring to get to the Natasha Lester this week so hope it lives up to its cover!!!
May 9, 2016
Congrats on your busy, busy week! I didn’t realize you only read in the tub– thought that was just a sometimes thing! Hope you get your tub working soon and your home sells in a timely fashion. It’s hard work, been there done that several times over, and it puts more stress in your life. Keep relaxed and keep reading!
please note new blog address 🙂
May 9, 2016
Ah yes Rita. If I’m at my mum’s and I read there I have to read in bed as she doesn’t have a bathtub. So I rarely read when I’m staying there. But somehow I’ve gotten into the habit of ONLY reading in the bath. I think it started a decade or so ago. I’ve always been a bath-reader, but not obsessively so!
May 9, 2016
You don’t have to be a mother to be good at mothering. So Happy Mother’s Day. 🙂 Oh, you’re going to give that historical fiction a try right? Sometimes, I like to read something I normally wouldn’t. Maybe I’ll like it? Maybe I won’t? Oh, the suspense! 😀 Yay for the published book review! I’ll keep my *fingers crossed* that you’ll be asked to do an article next.
May 9, 2016
I’m often surprised by something I read that I wasn’t expecting to like, so I’m home Mr Fitzgerald is like that… fingers crossed!
May 9, 2016
Oh no!! I hope your bath is back or will be soon! We don’t have a nice tub (we’re renters) but maybe one day I’ll join the tub reading club! 😛 A Kiss From Fitzgerald actually looks pretty good! I hope you give it a try! 😛 Have a great week!
Here is my Weekly Recap!
May 9, 2016
Ah yes Tracy, the tub is back and I was able to read an entire book in there last night. Yay!
May 9, 2016
A post a day is amazing!!! I haven’t quite gotten to that level yet lol but kudos to you!! And reading in the bath sounds divine. I honestly can’t remember that last that I had a relaxing bath. It’s always a quick shower with the busyness of life. Hope your tub gets fixed soon though 🙂
Enjoy your week Deb!
Quite a Novel Idea
May 9, 2016
I used to have a diet blog Jenn and I wrote in that 5-6 days a week for a year or two… it was akin to a diary and very stream-of-consciousness stuff. I suspect it was helpful at the time though!
May 9, 2016
Congrats on your review being published. That’s fantastic! Maybe that accidental download will be fruitful. I’ve accidentally downloaded books before and found some wonderful authors that way:)
My Sunday Post
May 9, 2016
Oh… fingers crossed Laura!
May 9, 2016
Sounds like you had a great week. Hope your bathtub is in working order so you can get back to reading in it! I hope the accidental book turns out to be really good. Have a great week.
May 9, 2016
Yes Nise’ by bathtub is again usable and getting good use!!!!
May 9, 2016
Isn’t it great when you have to go without something or something needs badly doing and it is done and you get to enjoy it with extra relish. A Kiss from Mr F doesn’t have a lot of romance in it really, but sure shows the lot of women in those days! Actually Chris Cleave book is a lot tougher and maybe more up your reading alley, even though historical too. All the best for the house sale.
May 9, 2016
I’ve got the Chris Cleave as well… hmmm…
May 9, 2016
Good luck with the open house and enjoy reading this week!
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
May 10, 2016
Thanks so much! You too!
May 9, 2016
Congratulations on getting your review published! Well done. Now get back in the bath tub…
May 10, 2016
Tee hee… it’s been getting some good use since the spa pump was reinstalled and the bath again usable. I’ve even used the spa a couple of times!
May 9, 2016
Your article looks wonderful! Congratulations.
I like the name of that children’s book. I wonder if it’s been published here in the US? Probably not yet. Sigh.
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-expo-america-newbie.html
May 10, 2016
Thanks Deb and I didn’t see the “b” book on Amazon. I found some others by one of the authors though, but not that one (or its predecessor) yet!
May 10, 2016
Congratulations on being published again! I love reading your reviews so I have no doubts you will be published even more! I need to go back and read some of your posts from last week I am behind. I love the ones you do with Pickle always very cute! Must be a pain keeping your apartment showcaseish ready, obviously worth it to sell it but a pain I bet nonetheless!
May 10, 2016
Oh yes… it’s only a problem on the days I work (which is less than last time I was selling my unit) as I have to put everything away each morning. I usually do as much as possible the night before so it’s just a final clear-off that morning. I do dodgy things though like stuffing things in cupboards. My laundry basket contains a mix of dirty stuff and clean stuff I couldn’t be arsed putting away. (Thankfully I usually remember what’s what!)
May 10, 2016
It is funny how we have favorite places to read. I shower and it is one of the few places I can’t have my Kindle or mp3 to listen too. 🙂
I’m still rooting for the successful sale of your unit. I keep trying (slowly) to box up excess clothes and ‘stuff’ as it is easier to do now then as the piles get bigger.
You Sent Me a Letter sounds interesting to me.
Have a good week and happy reading!
May 10, 2016
Thanks Martha. I have my fingers crossed re the sale of my place as well….
May 10, 2016
Oh and congrats on the published review. Well done!
May 10, 2016
Thanks!
May 10, 2016
Sometimes motherhood does seem to be an exclusive, gated club. I have not been granted access, either. Que sera sera. Congrats on getting your review published! That is so exciting! I hope you get bites from your open house and that is one loose end that gets tied up for you soon.
May 10, 2016
Oh yes, that would be wonderful. I’m sleeping really badly at the moment and suspect it’s just the number of things I’ve got on my mind. Selling would mean other decisions, but at least it gives me some choices!
May 11, 2016
Did you LOVE Britt-Marie? I thought it was so cute and so different.
I hope you have a good reading week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
May 11, 2016
I loved Britt-Marie Elizabeth! I’ve since posted my review and I completely agree – she (and the book) offered something very different!