Weekly check-in

Sunday, July 3, 2016 Permalink

I fared slightly better this week and found more time for my greatest passions… chocolate and champagne. Kidding. Kinda… I mean reading and blogging! #obviously *ahem*

The start of the week was busier though so I apologise again for not reading as many other Sunday Posts as I would have liked. I plan to rectify that this week! 

What I read

I started the week with All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda. It’s a story told in reverse and slightly missed the mark for me.

I moved onto Nicola Trope’s Blame, which I reviewed yesterday.

I had tagged the release date but almost missed it – with the third novella in Nick Earls’ Wisdom Tree series, Vancouver, being released on Friday.

vancouver

And finally I read The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, which had been awaiting me on my iPad for ages.

the woman in cabin 10

What I wrote

There were a few book reviews:

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley – a book I absolutely adored!
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda – the story-in-reverse thing was both its strength and weakness
Vancouver by Nick Earls in Goodreads – a novella about a writer visiting someone who had a big impact on his life many years before
Blame by Nicole Trope – the aftermath of an accident, tearing apart two best friends.

blame by nicole trope

And I wrote some other blithery stuff:

Hippy hippy shake I’m on a shake diet and the only ‘shaker’ I had was something from the Paleolithic era
Not a before photo – about the fact I’m attempting to be healthier and pondered the idea of a ‘before’ photo.

What I did

This was the first week I got to the gym three times. I’m keen to ensure any exercise routine is sustainable so don’t want to get too keen. 🙂

And I had another book review published in some regional newspapers. This included an interview with the author and I still only had the 350 words, so struggled a bit.

the twisted knot2

We had Australian Government elections yesterday. Voting is compulsory for anyone over 18 in Australia and you get fined if you don’t vote. But… in true Aussie spirit, voting is as much about the sausage sizzles on offer at voting booths as it is about who you’re voting for! (In fact the #snagvotes / #democracysausage tags proved as popular on social media as their #ausvotes and #auspol counterparts.)

And I’m currently binge-watching The Night Manager – a UK mini-series based on the John LeCarre novel. It stars Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston.

What I plan to do

I have a few reviews to catch up on… I always get nervous drafting something and leaving it as I often can’t remember things and add nonsensical information – assuming I’ll later remember to fix it up. But if I come back to it weeks later I usually forget! Characters’ names are always a big problem!

I’ve had a few new arrivals of late including the latest Peter James (out in late July) and Jane Green (out in August), but sadly I’ve still got quite a few June (and earlier) novels to get through first!

Are you doing any reading? Or anything else exciting?

I’m linking up with the Caffeinated Book Reviewer; Deep Fried Fruit; and The Book Date as usual.

80 Comments
  • Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
    July 3, 2016

    You got to the gym three times?! Go you!

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      I know. It’s been twice the other few weeks, but eventually I want to make it three times a week. I used to go to 4-5 classes when I was fitter and healthier but am taking it very slowly. Just 2 aqua classes and then my own workout last week.

  • amymedicalauthor
    July 3, 2016

    Really want to see The Night Manager. Everyone I know who’s seen it, has raved about it!

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      I’d heard great things Amy and love Hugh Laurie (hadn’t realised he was the ‘baddie’ though!). I was surprised to find it at the local Blockbuster video store (which is closing in 2wks!) so borrowed it and extended my stay at my mother’s so we can watch the remaining three episodes today or tonight. (It’s 6 x 1hr episodes.)

  • Stormi D Johnson
    July 3, 2016

    Oh I hope you do a review on The Woman in Cabin 10 cause I really want to read that so curious to see what you thought of it. 🙂

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      I’ve started my review Stormi. I must finish it today and tomorrow before I go back to work. I never want to sit at my computer (at night) on the days I work.

  • Kathryn
    July 3, 2016

    Hmm I never knew you got fined in Australia for not voting, that is so interesting. I guess I will see how those votes went on the news tonight. Great that you had another published book review in the local newspaper. Just read your “Blame” review. Sounds interesting so on the ‘maybe one day shelf!’.

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Oh yes, sadly voting is compulsory. Of course you can go and do a donkey vote (purposely stuff it up or draw penises or vote for John Snow which Facebook shows us some did yesterday!) but you have to show up.

      I’ve read a lot of books featuring autistic kids lately – an increasingly popular theme it seems.

  • Jo
    July 3, 2016

    The Night Manager is next on my binge tv list, so interested to hear what you thought of it. This week I’m reading the first of Nick Earls’ novellas…Gotham.

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Gotham is still my fave Jo – very bittersweet.

      And I’m enjoying The Night Manager. I really hadn’t known what to expect but it’s good. Heavier than something I’d usually binge-watch, but good.

  • Rita @ View From My Books
    July 3, 2016

    I also read All the Missing Girls and found it quite good and different, but a bit off for me also. It was sometimes confusing and I didn’t care for the MC at all.

    Good luck with the gym visits– hope you find consistency there.

    Have a good week! Enjoy all that you do.

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Glad it wasn’t just me Rita. And thanks for your good wishes re gym. I’m hoping to get into some routine.

  • Greg
    July 3, 2016

    I can see where the story told in reverse could be an issue, sorry that one wasn’t spot on. And Ooh you read The Woman in Cabin 10. I’m jealous! I’m looking forward to that one. I like that cover as well as the U.S. one I saw. Can’t wait to see your thoughts.

    Sausage sizzles- I like the sound of Aussie voting lol. And The Night Manager sounds good- Hugh Laurie and Tom H, must have a good cast.

    Have a nice weekend Deb. 🙂

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      The Night Manager is of a good quality Greg – something the British often do well. (Like Broadchurch for eg)

      And you’ve reminded me I must check to see if the country’s got a leader yet. I had a lengthy daytime snooze and almost a day after the election closed it was still too close to call!

  • laurelrainsnow
    July 3, 2016

    Your voting requirement sounds interesting, but the goodies at the booths could make it all very appealing.

    I actually enjoyed All the Missing Girls, but yes, it took a bit to get used to that backward style.

    I wonder if I’ll be able to get The Night Manager…some of my favorite shows on Netflix are Australian or British.

    Congrats on your book review in the newspaper. Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      THe Night Manager is only recently out I think Laurel. It looks (from the clip I included) like it was only on TV a few months ago. It may be on Netflix (I don’t have it here).

      Glad you enjoyed All the Missing Girls as I know many did.

  • Jo @ Booklover Book Reviews
    July 3, 2016

    I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy Lily and the Octopus having read so many wonderful reviews but have held off because ‘old dog’ movies can be so sad… Love a binge-worthy TV series in these chillier months and The Night Manager is new to me, off to look it up now!

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Jo, Lily and the Octopus is sad and very much about an ageing dog and his best friend!

      And yes, keep an eye out for The Night Manager! It’s the kind of thing that might eventually appear on ABC, but not sure.

  • Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight
    July 3, 2016

    That’s awesome that you’re getting so many reviews published! But yikes, only 350 words for a review and an interview? I can hardly manage to keep my comments under 350 words let alone my reviews 😛

    I had no idea you got fined for not voting in Australia. That’s interesting.

    Good luck keeping up with your gym visits, and have a great week!

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Thanks Kristen… I need to start branching out with the reviews and pitching them to paid sources – but I keep saying that and not doing it! 😉

  • Book Birdy
    July 3, 2016

    I LOVED the night manager, esp the leading man, Tom Hiddleston, right until the point where I found out he’s dating Taylor Swift…

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      I saw that the other day. Surely it’s a publicity thing… or maybe he wants to raise his profile….

  • Trish @ Between My Lines
    July 3, 2016

    The gym 3 times a week is great! You are right not to dive into everything as that always ends in failure for me.
    Hmmhh re All The Missing Girls, I was hoping you’d love that more as its high on my to read list.
    And I struggle with character names afterwards too, thank goodness for GoodReads!

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Trish, a lot of people LOVED All the Missing Girls so I might be in the minority there. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it at least.

  • Maree
    July 3, 2016

    Well done, getting to the gym!! Oooh loved loved loved The Night Manager! Have a great week 🙂

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Just finished The Night Manager Maree and loved it as well. A great mini series!

  • Denyse Whelan
    July 3, 2016

    Hi Deb, go you…to the gym…and I am pleased that you are pleased. Make sense? Take care to be caring of you in this way is wonderful news. come on endorphins, Deb wants you baaaaack. xx

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2016

      Ha! Thanks Denyse! I do want them back! There’s nothing like that ‘just worked out’ feeling.

  • Ingrid Ingrid
    July 3, 2016

    It sounds like you’ve had a good week reading and gym wise!

    I hope you have a good week ahead this week too!

  • Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog
    July 3, 2016

    Mmm chocolate and champagne. Sorry you didn’t like All the Missing Girls more. I checked out your review for it and get what you are saying. I think I overlooked the possible issues with the timeline/continuity because I was enjoying it. Congrats on another review being published. Have a great week!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Thanks Grace. Of course there might not have been continuity issues in All the Missing Girls but it seemed like Nic was suspicious of everyone even after she knew what happened to Corinne.

  • sjhigbee
    July 3, 2016

    Congratulations on making it to the gym 3 times a week – I’m going a slightly different route. I do one Fitstep and one Pilates session a week and I’ve been feeling so much better for it. I caught The Night Manager here – and yes… I love John le Carre and was delighted they’d made such a good job with this particular version. Have a great week and here is my weekly summary… https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/07/03/sunday-post-3rd-july/

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Great work on the gym – I think consistency is more important than anything. I’d be happy to just walk most days and complement that with yoga or Pilates. Hopefully I can get my weight down so long walks are a possibility!

  • Mareli Thalwitzer
    July 3, 2016

    The woman in Cabin 10 is popping up everywhere! Is it worth the read? Seems like my kind of read. Would also love to watch Night Manager. I wonder what will happen in South Africa if we have the same voting requirements as you guys… Happy Sunday and please have a look at my Sunday Post – it’s a celebration. http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2016/07/the-sunday-post.html

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Hi Mareli, a The Woman in Cabin 10 is very Rear Window-ish. I’ll be sharing my review later today (Oz time!).

  • Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
    July 4, 2016

    I want to read The Woman in Cabin 10! I loved In a Dark Dark Wood and am curious to see if this one is as good and how she does with such a different setting. I’m always suspicious of books that are in reverse or something else. Every once in awhile they’re amazing but most of the time it just doesn’t quite work for me. That’s fantastic about the gym! Good luck finding a schedule that works for you. Have a great week!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Thanks Katherine, this was the first of Ware’s books I’d read!

  • Lauren H.
    July 4, 2016

    Hmm. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda is up next on my audio book list. I’m kinda nervous about it.

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Will be interesting to see how it works on audio Lauren!

  • Emma
    July 4, 2016

    I want to read Lily and the Octopus though it sounds sad. I also want to go to the gym but am not as motivated as you are because it is still an “aspiration” for want of a better word.

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I think I’m more desperate than motivated Emma! Give Lily and the Octopus a try if you get the chance as – though it is sad – it’s also uplifting….

  • Literary Feline
    July 4, 2016

    Chocolate-yum! I have had to cut back on my chocolate consumption considerably unfortunately. It just makes it all the more delicious when I do eat it though. I would imagine telling a story in reverse would be quite tricky. It’s too bad All the Missing Girls missed the mark. I haven’t read The Woman in Cabin 10, but if it’s as good as In a Dark, Dark Wood, I imagine I will enjoy it too.

    A friend was telling me about the Democracy sasauges she skipped eating, but said the Democracy cupcakes were quite good. 🙂

    I am a couple reviews behind and need to work on those this coming week. Hopefully I will be able to fit them in. My memory isn’t what it used to be and, like you, if I wait too long, I start to forget things. Sometimes having notes helps jog my memory, but not always. Names are my downfall too.

    I hope you have a great week, Deborah!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I mostly read in the bath unfortunately, so unless I’m reading an electronic book I don’t make notes, although I did have a pen and post-it note system going for a while!

  • Leona Woolfolk
    July 4, 2016

    I got my mom the audiobooks for the Night Manager, maybe if she likes it enough we’ll both binge watch the series (hopefully it’ll be on Prime or Netflix by then). You were a review writing machine!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Oh I don’t feel like I am at all Leona – mostly I try to keep up with my reading!

      I’m not sure if I read The Night Manager (it would have been in my 1990s spy / espionage phase when I adored LeCarre, Deighton, Ludlam and Morrell) but apparently the book and mini series end differently!

  • divabooknerd
    July 4, 2016

    I’ve read a few of Megan Miranda’s books now too Deb and most of them are either a hit or miss with readers I’ve found. They’re good, even well written, but still nothing to add to your favorites list sadly. Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed Lily and The Octopus, I’ve been debating whether or not to purchase it. I’m really worried about reading books where dogs are such a big part of the storyline and always need to know whether or not the dog survives because emotionally it’s too much for me. I can’t handle character deaths but fictional dogs? Nope, no way.

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Ummmmm…. Well you might not enjoy this Kelly! Although Lily’s passing has some meaning.

  • adventureswithabooknerd
    July 4, 2016

    Good job on going to the gym three times! Hopefully you’ll be able to go again next week. I hope that you have a good reading week! I can be hard to read sometimes. 🙂

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I actually went to an aqua class today so that’s one big tick already! 🙂

  • readerbuzz
    July 4, 2016

    Wait..fined if you don’t vote? Oh my!

    And maybe it’s blogging and reading AND chocolate and champagne!

    readerbuzz.blogspot.com

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I think it’s a $180 fine Deb… so an expensive exercise if you decide not to partake. And we have 3 levels of govt with elections every 3-4yrs.

  • yvonne473
    July 4, 2016

    I enjoyed The Night Manager. Although, Hugh Laurie will always be Dr. House to me 🙂 Have a great week!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I know Yvonne, it’s weird hearing him speak with his English accent isn’t it?!

  • Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
    July 4, 2016

    3x to the gym in a week is awesome…I need to get back on track…for a few months I was good…3-4x a week..now I’m barely going!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I was in a good routine a few years ago Melissa, in fact I have been on a few occasions…. But tend to be an ‘all or nothing’ person!

  • charliegirlteachergirl
    July 4, 2016

    I wish voting was compulsory in the U.S. Do you think that is beneficial in Australia? I also have been getting bad about reviews. I now have seven to write and I’m just not interested in writing them, I’m more interested in reading right now. That’s why I always keep the books around in my Kindle until I write the reviews, then I remove them. Happy reading!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I’m not sure re compulsory voting I have to admit. I guess it forces us to engage on at least some level, and encourages the ‘moderates’ and just not those who are particularly passionate in either direction.

  • Char
    July 4, 2016

    My youngest moved out of home to the other side of Brisbane earlier this year and had his first vote in a new electorate. He rocked up with a fistful of change for his voting treat but was horrified that they don’t do it where he lives. No democracy sausage for Luke. He had to make an emergency trip to Bunnings.

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      A few in Hervey Bay didn’t have them either. One of my friends had promised her little boy a sausage and had to go to Bunnings too. Apparently there were a few websites you could check to see which booths had a sausage sizzle. The one my mother went to had cakes, scones, lollies etc..

  • Melinda
    July 4, 2016

    I adored “Lily and the Octopus” as well…and I went through about a box of tissues reading it!

  • Jane Whittingham
    July 4, 2016

    Wow, I think we ought to either make voting compulsory or have sausage sizzlers here – our voting turn outs are pretty miserable here, which is so discouraging.

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      I often contemplate our apathy here in Australia too Jane. I got involved in international development work just after black South Africans got the right to vote in the early-mid 1990s. I still remember watching it on TV… people queued for days to exercise their democratic right (finally) and it hitting home how much we took it for granted.

      I’ve also been an election ‘monitor’ in Cambodia and East Timor in later years – another reminder!

  • Hfineisen
    July 4, 2016

    I started All the Missing Girls but haven’t quite gotten into it . I like the whole told backwards thing, though. Happy Reading!

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2016

      Hope you enjoy it! Will be keen to hear!

  • Jess
    July 4, 2016

    Good on you for hitting the gym three times! Some interesting parties in the election this year! And I enjoyed the Instagram photos of creative things people added to their ballot papers!

    • Debbish
      July 5, 2016

      I know Jess. I did note the Australian Electoral Commission responded to a query saying, ‘Yes, a ballot paper would be valid if all of the necessary boxes had been numbered AND someone had drawn a penis on the ballot paper!’

  • Addicted to Happily Ever After
    July 4, 2016

    Congrats on all the writing this week!! ESPECIALLY the piece in the paper – That’s fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing the picture.

    I love that you guys give out food at your polls! And it’s a whole “thing”!!! Here, it would end up an argument 🙁 Like, “I want more!” Ugh… don’t even get me started on our mess.

    Have a fantastic week!!

    • Debbish
      July 5, 2016

      Oh no… you actually have to buy the food but generally sausage sizzles aren’t expensive. They’re often used at fund-raisers and clubs are out in force at hardware stores and the like on weekends. It’s usually $2 (USD 1-1.50) for a sausage and piece of bread. The connoisseurs then prefer a selection of fried onions and various sauce options to go on the side!

  • Maureen Beatrice
    July 4, 2016

    Three times at the gym this week? Wow that’s amazing. Great job 😉
    It sounds like you had some great reads. I definitely need to catch up on my reading since I feel like I’m soooo behind. Hope to catch up this week!
    I never heard about ‘The Night Manager’ before. But love Hugh Laurie, so ‘ll check it out!
    Have a great week and Happy Reading!

    • Debbish
      July 5, 2016

      Definitely check out The Night Manager Maureen. Hugh is a baddie, but a likeable baddie. Very charming.

  • Tea Time with Marce
    July 5, 2016

    Way to go for the gym, 3 times is great, try to sustain that during your journey. I am still considering the Cabin book.

    • Debbish
      July 5, 2016

      I’d like to try to keep the 3 times a week up Marce. I’ll be away next week for 2-3wks but want to settle into a pattern after that. I realise ‘life’ will interfere sometimes, but that will be my aim!

  • Bea @Bea's Book Nook
    July 5, 2016

    The Woman in Cabin 10 looks good. You got a lot of reading in last week, and you made it to the gym 3 times, fantastic!

    Happy reading and have a great week!

  • Stacey
    July 5, 2016

    All the Missing Girls looks good. I want to read that and The Women In Cabin 10 sometime soon. Hope you enjoy your week and happt reading.

    • Debbish
      July 5, 2016

      Thanks Stacey, I hope you get to read both and enjoy them!

  • Fiza
    July 5, 2016

    Ahh I need to go back to the gym as well, really need to motivate myself :3
    Anyways, hope you’ll be able to catch up to the reviews!

    • Debbish
      July 5, 2016

      Amazingly I think I’m nearly there on the reviews. I was only a couple behind but it felt like more! The one I’m yet to do is for a book I read a while ago. I know I started the review at the time and really hope I got a bit done cos I don’t remember ANY of the character’s names now!

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