First things first… I have to apologise for not getting around and reading as many posts (as usual) last week. I was travelling on the Sunday and then tied up for a few days so I’ve been a very slack blog reader this past week.
What I read
I’ve done little reading – only picking up a book on 3-4 nights over the past 10 days. I enjoyed time with family however, so am not particularly worried about my slackness and the lack of attention given to my to-be-read (TBR) pile.
I was struggling with a couple of books I SHOULD have started so kicked off the week (mid week!) with Jonathan Kellerman’s The Murderer’s Daughter... a book I very much enjoyed. It wasn’t at the top of my chronologically sorted TBR pile, but meh, #whatevs. It was just what I needed at the time.
I ended the week with The Bit in Between by Claire Varley, which I’ll be reviewing shortly.
What I wrote
Again I wrote very little. I shared my thoughts on The Crushing Season by Peta Jo, an author based in the same regional town as me; and I posted my review of Jonathan Kellerman’s The Murderer’s Daughter just yesterday.
And I very belatedly completed my interview as part of the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers’ Award offered by Amy, from A Novel Start, in which I share a little about some of my favourite reading fodder.
What I did
As mentioned last week, I travelled to Brisbane to watch my niece perform in an exhibition (three times a day over a 10 day period) and celebrate her birthday. The show was great and we watched all three performances on the day we attended. My feet were killing me in the end but I survived the outing with minimal whinging and only one glass of champagne to fortify myself against the crowds. My niece is a bit sensitive about me sharing pics so here’s one of my mother and a prize-winning pumpkin. I should mention (as I’m an intolerant sod) I would never willingly go and look at the produce or cakes or craft.
As planned, I attended the Brisbane Bloggers’ meet-up and it was fabulous to put some faces to names and I was surprised by the number of bloggers and breadth of topics covered by those there. I’m coeliac so didn’t get to partake in the delicious goodies on offer at The Greek Club, but apparently they were fabulous.
What I plan to read and do
I didn’t go to the post office to collect any mail (ie. books) last week, but I’m hoping to get back into some semblance of a routine this coming week. I will try to avoid any exciting new arrivals and stick with my plan.
First on my agenda is The World Without Us by Mireille Juchau. Then, The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman. For some reason I’m feeling some antipathy towards this novel as it’s set in the early 1800s and I dislike historical fiction. I’m not sure why. I used to say the same about Australian novels but I’ve grown to enjoy reading about my own backyard, so you never know…
On the other hand I’m really looking forward to Sandra Brown’s Friction. She’s an author who usually offers a great balance of romantic suspense, with the emphasis more on the latter than the former.
And… if there’s time I plan to get to Adrian McKinty’s Gun Street Girl. It’s the 4th in a series which worries me, but I’ve heard good things, so…
I also hope to revisit my writing priorities as I’ve done nothing about my dream of feature writing for over a month or so.
What’s on your agenda this week?
Linking up with Kimberley at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post.
August 16, 2015
Love the photo of your Mum. From a reading viewpoint? I’ve just opened Lisa Heidke’s The Callahan Split. It’s her first foray into self publishing, so I’ve been looking forward to it.
August 16, 2015
Is it non-fiction Jo? For some reason I thought it was… though know she usually writes fiction!
August 16, 2015
It’s fiction, Deb. Classic chick lit.
August 16, 2015
Oh… god only knows why I thought it was non-fiction?!
August 16, 2015
The to books featured here with pics look really good. 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you think of them. 🙂
Stormi
Week in Review
August 16, 2015
Stormi, I must confess I didn’t include pics of The World Without Us or The Marriage of Opposites cos I was worried people would realise they’d seen them for the previous two weeks as well. I really do SWEAR I’ll try and read them this week! 😉
August 16, 2015
So glad you liked the Murderer’s Daughter! Three performances? I don’t know who I feel worse for, you or your niece!
August 16, 2015
Today’s her last day Elizabeth so I think (in retrospect) it’s gone quickly. Her shows are only half an hour so it’s not TOO arduous but all the prep each day and in the lead-up was more full-on!
August 16, 2015
I loved The Murderer’s Daughter….and I agree that reading whatever appeals to me at the moment works out best for me, too, but I do like to sort of plan my next reads. I am itching to learn more about Friction.
Enjoy your week…and it’s great that you had family time. Thanks for visiting my blog.
August 16, 2015
I’d LOVE to read Friction next as well, but will try to read one of the other two (well three) all of which are already out. When I was away I struggled to get the motivation to sit and read. At ‘home’ I live alone and get a bit bored between 5-7.30 or so which is why I head to the bath and read, but as I was staying with family it was different. People to chat to etc…
August 16, 2015
Laughed at your comment about never going voluntarily to check out produce at the show! Great pic of your mum! I bet your niece was fabulous! Looking forward to checking out your reviews somehow I missed them I think.
August 16, 2015
My niece was great and the circus acts during the fashion show were very cleverly intertwined into the fashion parade. There were strong men, a juggler, contortionist, and dancers who doubled up for the aerial acts. They performed during the models’ changes and occasionally around the models – the parade was quite edgy – huge hair and interesting music. Someone referred to the bridal section as zombie brides, so perhaps that was what they were going for!
August 16, 2015
Wonderful to meet up a group of bloggers, must be difficult when you have different requirements for diet at functions. Love the pic of your Mum and er.. the pumpkin! Have enjoyed some of Sandra Brown’s romantic suspense but not in recent years. Choice is so wide!
August 16, 2015
It had become a bit of a joke as we’d seen the award-winning pumpkin on TV the night before and I was like… “As if I’m going anywhere near that section!” And when we got there, the fruit and veges (and cakes and quilts) were in the same pavilion as the fashion shows so we did wander through there after all! I took a joke pic of the pumpkin to text to my brother and then mum decided she should get a pic with it!
August 16, 2015
Glad you had a nice week with family, and the blogger meetup sounds fun too. It was nice to see your blogger award post, those are always fun top get to know bloggers better. Hope your week is a good one, and good luck with the reads!
August 16, 2015
Thanks Greg… yes it was nice to get some book bloggy questions!
August 16, 2015
Great pic of your mum! Sounds like you’ve had a busy week. Hope this one is a good one! 🙂
August 16, 2015
Thanks! I thought about photoshopping it, but…. 🙂
August 16, 2015
Your trip sounded like it went well and I’d say that blogger meet up was a lot of fun! Like you though I don’t see the appeal in exhibitions of prize pumpkins, etc, I’d have snuck off to a coffee stand with my book :O Hope you have a great week!
August 16, 2015
Thankfully we made it through those displays very quickly. We only paused for that photo and I took one of some (ahem) ugly cats as we’d joked about them earlier as well.
I will confess to indulging in a champagne during the third of my niece’s shows that day. We labelled it ‘getting the big picture’… ie. Watching from the neighbouring bar!
August 16, 2015
Your niece’s work sounds interesting, but how tired she must be after three performances per day for ten days!
I’m glad you enjoyed meeting up with the bloggers, it definitely is nice to meet people in person after chatting with them online.
I hope you’ll have a fantastic and productive week ahead, Deborah. Happy reading.
August 16, 2015
I was surprised at how many people I didn’t recognise Lexxie! I hadn’t been to any blogging things for a couple of years and nothing locally for longer. I suspect many people there started during that time!
August 16, 2015
Oh so glad you had a good trip and got to go to the blogger meet up. I have heard good things about the Murderer’s Daughter so I have to check it out – Have a great week!
August 16, 2015
Oh yes Grace, it’s great and it looks like it’s being very well-received!
August 16, 2015
Hello to your mum!
August 16, 2015
She’ll see this as she comes and checks out the comments. Not sure I’m game to show her how to leave one!!!
August 16, 2015
Your link kept sending me to last week’s Sunday Post. Your mom looks great and happy to be out with you.
August 16, 2015
Oops! Thanks for letting me know. I was out and did the linkup from my phone and probably opened last week’s post by mistake!
August 16, 2015
Your books look great! What a nice picture of your Mom, she looks so happy. Have a great week!
August 17, 2015
I think mum enjoyed herself. She’s had knee and hip replacements so can’t walk too much / quickly so was a good co-tourist as I get bored quickly. We did a bit of looking-around and then went and found a place to sit.
August 17, 2015
I think I had seen Friction on the shelf awareness email but didn’t request it. I hope you get to enjoy it though:)
August 17, 2015
I’m really looking forward to it.
August 17, 2015
Sounds like a crazy busy week but a fun one! I’m trying to get back into a routine this week as well so I wish us both luck! I could do with some downtime. It sounds like your trip to Brisbane was awesome and that your niece did a great job! Have a fantastic week!
August 17, 2015
Thanks Katherine – here’s to hoping we both succeed in our attempts to establish some routines!
August 17, 2015
I love craft and garden shows..lol your Mom is adorable and I love the thrillers in your haul this week. Enjoy!
August 17, 2015
Mum was keen to look at the cakes… which we did… but the produce displays were an accident! 😉
August 17, 2015
Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from reading and blogging! I sometimes find myself taking a couple days off from reading to do something else, and it is quite refreshing!
Have a great week!
Thanks for stopping by the The Local Muse
August 17, 2015
Yes it is… I find myself missing (reading) when I’ve taken some time off!
August 17, 2015
What fun that you got to go see your niece perform AND attend a blogging conference in the same week! Your mom looks like a delightful person. Enjoy your planned reading, or deviate from the schedule as you did last week – sometimes you just need to read what you’re in the mood for. Have a great week!
August 17, 2015
There was actually a HUGE blogging conference on (nearby) just after I was there but I’d decided against going this year, so I’m glad I went to this meet-up.
August 17, 2015
Hi Deb!
Kudos for going! I know it isn’t your thing (crowds and all that) so you should be proud 🙂 going to a blogging conference sounds pretty cool actually, I think I’d quite like that too.
I hope the coming week is a bit less busy for you 🙂 we all need time to chill out and relax.
Have a great week,
Amy x
August 17, 2015
Thanks Amy.
August 17, 2015
Aww your mum looks lovely!! The blogging conference sounds fun and I love Brisbane – I just wish it was a little bit closer then again maybe not my mother in law is a scary woman!!
Have a great week!
August 17, 2015
Hee hee…. The Problogger Conference was on at the Gold Coast from Thurs night – Saturday as well so many at the meet-up were heading to that. I felt a bit envious as I saw all of the pictures the the #PBEvent (hashtag) pics on Instagram etc…
August 17, 2015
Glad to hear that though you haven’t had much time to go around the blogosphere as you would like, you had fun at Brisbane watching your niece perform and… the Brisbane Bloggers’ meet-up?? that is great! 🙂
August 17, 2015
Yes… I feel bad though – prioritising blogging over blog reading. Most particularly in the case of linkups (like this one) that you visit and comment on as many blogs as possible if you expect them to do the same. It’s a great way (also) of finding new peeps to follow or likeminded book lovers!
August 17, 2015
I never considered before that there’d be some books that you’re sent that you weren’t interested in reading. I’ve become quite ruthless when I’m not interested in a book – I just don’t read it. I guess you can’t take the same attitude when you’ve got an obligation.
August 17, 2015
Generally Char if I haven’t requested it, I’ll give it a miss. I’ve been sent a few non-fiction for example which I wasn’t interested in (and hadn’t requested). I do feel some sense of obligation IF I’ve requested the book. I’m not sure publishers closely monitor reviews vs what they’ve sent, but when I send the link to something I’ve published I’ll sometimes confess that I’ve struggled with some other book they’ve sent.
I have two at the moment (the first two on the reading list) which I’ve now picked up several times and put down. I’ve started one of them and it’s not like it’s not a good, I just haven’t been in the mood. That’s rare for me but possibly reflects the fact I’ve so many books to read I don’t want to spend too much time struggling with one.
August 17, 2015
Family time is always important and fun. I’m glad you had a chance to do that. Have a great week!
August 17, 2015
Thanks Yvonne!
August 17, 2015
Three performances a day for 10 days sounds exhausting! Good for you for cheering her on! Enjoy your week!
August 17, 2015
She said it was very different from her usual ballet concert and eisteddfod performances which involve longer individual sessions but only last a couple of days. I think having to get there each day was probably a bit of a challenge.
August 17, 2015
Your Mum is beautiful! My kids didn’t want me to post pics of them when I first started blogging. They are more flexible now! Hope this is a great reading week for you. Looking forward to Friction too.
August 17, 2015
I have to admit Nise I’m getting more and more tempted to start Friction next! (Don’t tell the other books!)
August 17, 2015
I SUPPOSE spending time with family is a good enough excuse not to read. 😉 ‘Ello to your mum! That’s so nice that you endured all that for your niece. Hope you have a good week.
August 17, 2015
Ah yes, of course. She’s heading o/s soon for a performance contract so it was nice to spend some time with her before that happens.
August 17, 2015
Great pic of your mum. The blogger meetup sounds like a lot of fun.
Have a good week. 🙂
August 17, 2015
Thanks Signourney!
August 17, 2015
I love love love your relationship and dynamic with your mom.
<3 ,3
August 18, 2015
Me too. I think though (like most girls) I was a daddy’s girl growing up and probably until I was in my 20s.
August 17, 2015
Quite a busy week for you. A blogger meetup sounds fun. I’d love to do that. (Esp. in Australia!)
readerbuzz.blogspot.com
August 18, 2015
It was good Deb and – as I was missing out on a blogging conference shortly after – made up for that slightly.
August 18, 2015
I also had a few of those weeks were I didn’t visit many other blogs, I always feel a bit bad about that, but you only have so much time to fill in a day. That blogger meetup sure sounds fun, it must be nice to have faces with some bloggers now. I have some trouble sticking to my reading plan as well, I usually have an idea of what to read next, but not always follow that as I am a moodreader.
August 18, 2015
I’ve actually done the mood reading thing these past two weeks Lola – I skipped over everything else and read something NOT on my list (in one night on Sunday) and then started on Friction last night (Monday night). Oops.
Deb
August 18, 2015
Spending time with family is a nice excuse to not get any reading done. That is a great picture of your mom (and I usually don’t go to the produce sections of fairs either). The blogger meetup sounds really fun. I just met a lot of bloggers at a book signing but I would love to see them again soon. Have a great week and I hope you enjoy the books you plan on reading!
August 18, 2015
Ah yes, I met a heap of book bloggers last year and it was fabulous. I only wish I had the opportunity to do something similar this year. There was another book blogger at the meetup which was nice!
August 18, 2015
Sometimes you just gotta read whatever you want to read, haha.
I’ve been to Australia twice, and still haven’t made it to Brisbane D: I really to fix that soon. Your mom is cute! Glad you guys had a fun trip! Hope you have a lovely week!
Thanks for stopping by Bookmunchies (:
August 18, 2015
Ah yes, it’s nice and warm up here in Queensland. And yes, I caved and so far and read The Other Child (which I’d had sitting in my NetGalley reader for a few weeks) and Friction… even though I had others being published beforehand!
August 18, 2015
I was pretty much offline last week too and a bit slack on the blog reading (and writing). Your mother is gorgeous, Deb.
August 18, 2015
I think a lot of people are feeling particularly stale at the moment Michelle. I’m reading so many blogs in which people are struggling with consistency. *sigh*
August 19, 2015
Hi mum! *waves* she’s lovely Deb! Now I know where those good looks come from. It sounds like you had a great time and still in recovery mode. I’m feeling the same way in regards to the whole blogging and reading gig at the moment too. I just don’t feel motivated to blog at the moment, but have around 9 reviews in draft to post, so that’s handy. July was overwhelming in terms of review copies and not feeling to crash hot hasn’t helped. If only everyone else would take a break too, then we wouldn’t fall behind. Those bastards *shakes fist*
August 19, 2015
Absolutely agree. Breaks should be compulsory for all writers and publishers. ANd blog readers. Kinda like naps at daycare. Or similar!
I’ve actually let myself read books I’ve been really looking forward to this week instead of those on my TBR pile. Some intersect obviously but not always!
August 22, 2015
I think we’ve all had those weeks when we haven’t been as active online. It sounds like you had a great excuse though (or excuses) and I’ve taken off time for some quality time with my family. I hope you’re having a great week this week and will have a fabulous weekend! Thanks for stopping by too. 🙂
August 22, 2015
Thanks Tressa!