And just like that it’s Sunday again. Anyone would think it’s as predictable as the sun coming up each day. Or something.
I’m in some serious denial that November’s about to land upon us so this not-so-little reader and book blogger will revel in this 31 day month and ignore the obvious.
What I read
I finished the second book in Lynda LaPlante’s (young) Jane Tennison series, Hidden Killers and LOVED it. I’m already impatiently drumming my fingers in preparation for number three. Which could result in some serious RSI cos the first two were about a year apart.
I then read Martin Cruz Smith’s The Girl from Venice. It was an unlikely choice for me – being historical fiction and all that – but because I’m evolving as a person ( 😕 ) I thought I should give it a go. Plus it was sitting next to the bathtub and I was too lazy to exchange it for the next book in my TBR pile.
And finally – in a not-t00-arduous reading week – I read Someone is Watching by Joy Fielding.
What I wrote
Funnily enough I blogged about books:
Sapphire Falls by Fleur McDonald – an Aussie romantic suspense weighing heavily in favour of the latter, which I enjoyed
Hidden Killers by Lynda LaPlante – and if you follow me on Facebook you’ll have seen my #fangirl excitement at having the famous author thank me for my review!!!
The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith – a bit of a slow burn that was surprisingly captivating.
And then there were some other posts. I talked about the fact there were (only) two months until Christmas. Which also means there (are / were) EIGHT weeks until Christmas (semi-ironically) so I set some goals.
And I wondered if one needs qualifications / experience or both to speak with authority on some topics. (Not all but some.)
What I did
I had more travel, but a trip for medical appointments this time around so I cannot blame my job. My mother came along for the 5-6hr drive so no audiobook was required this time around.
And I caught up with my brother (who came to town for a funeral and stayed an extra day or so). I overnighted at my mother’s with them and then they came to visit my place as my brother hadn’t seen it yet. He put up some fairy lights (I’d been meaning to hang for aaaaaages) and…. helped me organise Netflix via Apple TV. I’m rather excited by the latter… and have already started binge-watching Marvel’s Luke Cage. (You might recall I loved Jessica Jones!)
I suspect my reading might suffer a little in coming weeks, but… cest la vie!
What I plan to do
As it seems National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is about to start – you WILL recall I’m in denial about the whole November thing – but I must do something about digging out the novel I was supposed to write last year and hope I’m overwhelmed with enthusiasm. Or similar.
I’ve got a couple of busy weeks ahead of me at work so not sure if something will suffer. As long as it’s not my sanity. Hee hee. #sorrynotsorry
I only trekked to the post office once last week and picked up a new David Baldacci (No Man’s Land) but also bought Joanne Tracey’s latest, Wish You Were Here and had the Joy Fielding pop up in my NetGalley inbox.
And… that’s about it for today. I’m hoping to get to a Body Balance (yoga / pilates) class this morning, am getting my tax done AND babysitting my fave 5yr old so it will be a busy Sunday. Fortunately I don’t work Mondays so have tomorrow to recover. (And catch up on the 3 reviews I’ve still not written!)
I hope you’re having a great weekend and am keen to hear about your exciting plans for the week ahead!
As usual I’m linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post; and The Book Date for ‘It’s Monday!’ I’m also linking up with Denyse Whelan and Life This Week.
** Just a reminder the #LovinLife linky has moved to Thursdays via Deep Fried Fruit
October 30, 2016
Thanks for the shout-out…I hope you like it, Deb…
October 30, 2016
I suspect I will… and you’re welcome!
October 30, 2016
It was very cool that Lynda commented on your review. We’ve been binge watching the new series Black Mirror. It’s great so if you get a chance look for it on Netflix.
October 30, 2016
Oh okay. I’ve seen it there as I had a quick trawl through yesterday looking for something else! Am very excited!!!
October 30, 2016
Oh, my. Great post about speaking with authority.
Hope you do dig out your novel and give NaNoWriMo a try. The first days are always a mix of excitement and sheer terror for me.
October 30, 2016
Yes, I really need to get organised. I have Monday off and hope to get stuff done so will plan it for then. (Which is 31 October, so…. I’ll be starting late otherwise!)
October 30, 2016
Glad you are enjoying Luke Cage, I tried watching Jessica Jones and it was kind of boring but then I have only watched a couple episodes so maybe it will get better for me if I try it again. Hope you enjoy your reads they look good!
Stormi
October 30, 2016
I think Jessica Jones picks up part-way in Stormi. I hadn’t read the comics so knew nothing about it and it took a while to get to the backstory which I felt was a bit weird!
October 30, 2016
I enjoy Joy Fielding, and loved Someone Is Watching. I’ve been doing some Netflix bingeing today, with an Irish police procedural called The Fall. I had seen two seasons, and the third one was available today.
I haven’t finished Jessica Jones…I started it and got distracted.
Wish You Were Here looks good, too. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
October 30, 2016
I read it in a sitting and on a night I wasn’t even supposed to be reading Laurel! I used to read all of her books but hadn’t seen her for a while.
And I’ve heard of The Fall and it’s on my list!!!
October 30, 2016
I started watching Luke Cage too and went back and started Jessica Jones again on Netflix last night. Gotta love those two! Nice haul this week. Have a Happy Halloween!
My Sunday Post
October 30, 2016
I know… I don’t really remember Cage going to prison – was that during / after Jessica Jones or before. That bit confused me a little!
October 30, 2016
Yeah I’m not happy about November. That’s when it starts to seriously get dreary around here until, oh say, March or so lol. Although the holidays are good. Yay for Netflix! Go you! I watched Luke Cage and will be keen to see what you think!
I love that cover of Someone Is Watching. Kinda spooky. 🙂
October 30, 2016
I’m enjoying Luke Cage Greg and had to stop myself after 3 episodes! I’m wondering how it will impact on my reading!
October 30, 2016
I don’t understand how it’s nearly November either. Have a great week 🙂
October 30, 2016
I think someone’s tricked us Maree!
October 30, 2016
Seriously, every time Sunday comes around, I’m like, wasn’t it JUST Sunday??? That’s awesome that you got to see your brother and that he even put up fairy lights for you and helped set up your Netflix thing 🙂 Good luck getting all your stuff done, it does sound like it’s going to be a busy Sunday for you!
October 31, 2016
As my brother said – the Netflix thing was pretty simple. I just had to plug the Apple TV thing into my TV and enter my WiFi password etc.. but it was more that I’d talked about it for ages and his family uses the same set up at their place that motivated me to go and do something about it. Plus he was here to ‘help’ (do it) in case it was overwhelming!
October 30, 2016
I totally understand the whole fangirling over a famous author thing! I do it every time I get a tweet saying Thank You from crime author Val McDermid (which is every time I post a review of one of her books, I think she’s one of the most consistently grateful authors I’ve ever come across!)
Good luck with NaNo! I’m doing it for the first time this year and I have no idea how it’s going to go!
Have a great week & happy reading!
Laura
http://a-reader-lives-a-thousand-lives.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/sunday-post-30102016.html
October 31, 2016
I love Val McDermid as well! And yes… fingers crossed for both of us this NaNo. (Which reminds me I must dig out whatever I did last year!)
October 30, 2016
I’ve never read any book by Lynda LaPlante but your excitement has me excited. We have pretty similar tastes so I’m going to try to pick up some.
I’d love an apple tv! So far I only watch Netflix on my laptop as my tv is not a smart one and I never figured out how to hook it up. But I do love Netflix binge watches 🙂
October 31, 2016
I got the cheapest Apple TV thing – AUD110. There are more expensive ones that include storage but I didn’t need it. (I think they’re taking the cheaper ones off the market). Someone also recommended Google Chromecast – which is half the price. My TV is old as well, so – while it has HDMI connection options (which you need) didn’t have Netflix apps and the like. This was so simple – plug it in to the TV and then it asks for your WiFi password (cos you watch stuff via streaming) and then voila! It’s done!
October 30, 2016
Time flies, but what can we do, other than go with it. 🙂 Sounds like you’ve had a busy and good week. Wishing you another one.
sherry @ fundinmental My Sunday Memes
October 31, 2016
Thanks Sherry!
October 31, 2016
I haven’t started Luke Cage yet and really need to as I loved Jessica Jones. Like you I am ignoring November though I fear it will come anyway! Enjoy these last few days of October x
October 31, 2016
Thanks Emma. Hope you get to Luke Cage soon. I was babysitting last night, but expect tonight will bring another episode or two! Am trying to eke it out a little…
October 31, 2016
David Baldacci has been on my TBR forever. I’ve heard so many good things about his books but somehow I still haven’t read any. I love this cover! Very mysterious!
I hope you were able to do your Body Balance Class. Exercising definitely makes for a great start of the day.
Have a great week and Happy Reading!
October 31, 2016
I did get to the class Maureen which was good. I’m sore today though…. but a ‘nice’ sore, if that makes sense. I haven’t enjoyed all of Baldacci’s series and can’t actually remember if I’ve read any of this one but must check that out before I start on this book (I like a bit of context!).
October 31, 2016
Thanks for some good book tips this week. I’ve read one LaPlante, so I’ll look up the first in this series to pick up based on your love,. Also I’m into Baldacci and sometimes Fielding (she’s hit or miss for me, but I’ve read her since 1981– Kiss Mommy Goodbye–, hard to believe)! I read your post on ageism and agree with every word. I’m on the other side of my ’50s and love the enthusiasm of young career people, but untrained life coaches and inspirational speakers aren’t my thing. I’ve “been around the block” more than once and they’re not telling me anything I probably couldn’t figure out myself…
Have a good week and hope you don’t have to do too much traveling around.
October 31, 2016
Thanks Rita. Just a shortish trip this week (an hour each way) but it’s for a meeting / workshop I’m nervous about…. so I’ll be glad when that’s over.
October 31, 2016
No Man’s’ Land looks good. It is so nice you got to spend time with family. Yes, I love when my children or family show me tricks with Netflix and the like. I saw the fairy lights and they looked nice. I hope this week is full of amazing things.
October 31, 2016
Yes my fairy lights are very pretty Kimberly. I hadn’t been able to decide where to put them and would probably have been still talking about them next year if my mother hadn’t told me I SHOULD do it now while my brother was here to help with the ladder etc….
October 31, 2016
I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas either. Although, I’m constantly reminded of the fact when I walk into any store. There were holiday decorations on sale in September! ACK!
Hope you have a great week! ~Aleen
October 31, 2016
Oh yes, I was agog at all of the Christmas puddings on display as I entered a supermarket this past weekend. Hope you have a lovely week as well!
October 31, 2016
Busy week and busy day for you! I’ve just started taking a yoga/pilates class and am loving it though my balance is AWFUL. It’s really hard but I do feel so much better afterwards.I really want to read Lynda LaPlante. Her books seem to really have the right amount of suspense and page turning-ness. Sounds like a great visit with your brother and I want to watch Luke Cage! I haven’t seen it on Netflix here so I’m going to be doing some looking. If it’s just for non-US I think I may be a bit green! Have a great week!
October 31, 2016
Oh no Katherine – Luke Cage is def available for US viewers as I read about it. It’s a Netflix series (Marvel’s Luke Cage). I was worried it wouldn’t be available here in Australia yet but it is. (Yay!)
I did pilates for years but not since I moved here 4yrs ago. I dabbled in a bit of yoga but not consistently so want to get back into it!
October 31, 2016
Hi Deb! Can you tell me how you get your book covers lined up in a row? I can not figure out how to do this. Do you use a div tag?
October 31, 2016
Lauren I used WordPress and once I’ve uploaded the pics I ‘create’ and ‘insert’ a Gallery. It lets you decide how big the pics are (thumbnail vs medium) and how many columns you want.
Alternatively I’ve used a free site like PicMonkey to create a collage and left blank spaces etc…
October 31, 2016
Ahh. I saw the Sapphire Falls from my library but I haven’t been borrowing because my reading time is completely booked right now!
Good luck with NaNo!
October 31, 2016
I really enjoyed Sapphire Falls Di, so hope you get a chance to read it! And yes, I know what you mean about your reading time. I really only get to the books I get for review, though try to take a month off in December to read things I’ve missed from throughout the year (that I’ve not been able to request etc).
October 31, 2016
I’ve heard good things about Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, I really need to fork out for NetFlix so I can enjoy these! Hope your babysitting went ok! Enjoy your Monday recovering!
October 31, 2016
Netflix is quite reasonable here Heather (AUD10/month – particularly given the vast array of options on offer. I suspect I’ll eventually run out of stuff to watch or be monitoring new additions so closely but I love that it’s got a library of TV series at your fingertips.
October 31, 2016
I can’t wait to see how you go with the writing for that November thingo! WOOT! When do I get to read it?
October 31, 2016
Ha probably never! 🙂
October 31, 2016
That’s excellent news about Lynda’s comments. High five!
SSG xxx
October 31, 2016
Yes, thanks!!!
October 31, 2016
I hope you are enjoying the rest day called Monday although I suspect you will be busy doing ‘something’. It has taken me around 2 years to get used to the idea that I can be not working..or working at something..or producing…so it is slow! I love your fairy lights idea and one day, there will be some in a house we own. I have little solar lights ($1 a pop) as little flowers sitting in pots next to the plants and they look cool at night! Happy week ahead. thanks for linking up for Life This Week.
October 31, 2016
I’ve got some solar lights scattered around my gardens and yard Denyse. I’d like to organise myself a bit better and perhaps put some in trees I have. There aren’t a lot of streetlights in my neck of the woods so they stand out.
And yes… non working days are my blogging days or chore days! Although I’ve been pretty slack on the writing front today!
October 31, 2016
So good to have a nifty brother that sets up the technology. Always very handy. And very nice to be acknowledged by Lynda la Plante, she obviously appreciated your review.
October 31, 2016
I know re the LLP thing… how weird?! But nice!
October 31, 2016
Gosh you’ve been busy. I’ve been in hibernation mode for a good few weeks online and off. After a month of saying no to almost everything, I stupidly said yes to far too many things this past week with more to come. I’ll probably spill all the details for Worth Casing Wednesday this week.
October 31, 2016
Look forward to hearing all about it Raych!
October 31, 2016
I need to finish Jessica Jones…I think I stopped on the last two episodes and just forgot about it. I was enjoying it though, so I’m not sure what happened…and I haven’t even started Luke Cage yet.
I thought about doing NaNo this year, but I just don’t have the energy at the moment. I’ve done it twice and it really plays with my sanity by the end of the month.
I hope you have a great week this week!
October 31, 2016
I haven’t seriously tried to do NaNo for a while and I’m yet to get organised for this year and it’s nearly 4pm the day before! Eek!
October 31, 2016
We have been watching The Paradise on Netflix and loving it! What did we ever do without Netflix? There’s nothing else much on telly lately.
November 1, 2016
I need to go and read your review of Hidden Killers, definitely intrigued with that one. I believe I have the 1st so I need to read that one soon. Everyone is talking about Luke Cage, I’m not a tv girl but I may try it soon. Have a great week.
November 1, 2016
Marce I LOVED Tennison. It was really gritty and great to get that insight into a character I used to love.
November 1, 2016
I love it when brothers come to visit and do all those things that you’ve been putting off. It’s awesome. I’ve got to convince a brother of mine to come out for a visit I think 😉
Best of luck with digging out the novel!
November 1, 2016
Ha! I wasn’t sure when he would be coming so had already gotten a handyman out to do some stuff, but my brother brought his drill etc… I didn’t put him to work much, but as he had Apple TV at home figured he’d be handy to help with that and then my mother nagged me to decide where the fairy lights were going so he could help with those!
November 1, 2016
Sounds like a nice week, except for the medical appointment. Sometimes I’m disappointed when someone joins me on a long drive, if I’ve already picked out a book. But my mom often snoozes, so then I can sneak in some listening.
November 1, 2016
I do a bit of travelling for work at times and used to always travel alone (being single etc). I remember driving my mother somewhere years ago and realising how much more quickly the time went when you had someone to talk to on a drive. Of course I’ve since discovered audiobooks!
November 1, 2016
I feel the same about November! Where did it even come from?? Can you believe Christmas is almost here? I hope you enjoy Luke Cage! I haven’t watched any of the Marvel shows, but I loved all the movies. Have a great week 😀
Here’s my Weekly Recap!
November 1, 2016
I’m the opposite Tracy and haven’t seen any of the movies. I actually also get confused about the DC Comics vs Marvel vs Disney type thing….
November 1, 2016
I can’t believe you actually read historical fiction! Will the real Debbie please stand up … 🙂
November 1, 2016
I know…. Pigs will fly any day now! 🙂
November 1, 2016
Good Luck on Nano Wrimo! I can’t believe the holidays will be upon us soon.
November 1, 2016
I’m failing at NaNo already cos I haven’t even opened the program I use and 1 November is already half-over! Argh!
November 1, 2016
My plans for NaNo are to use a random word prompt each day and see if I can crack the word goal! I did have plans to do something a bit more structured but I still have two essays to do for uni this semester so I think this is a more refreshing course of action!
November 1, 2016
I had a bad day yesterday Vanessa so didn’t even open my project / Scrivener or work out what I was doing, so things haven’t started well! Perhaps I’ll bounce back though!
November 1, 2016
Hi Deb, sounds like you have had a busy week last week. Sorry to hear about the time taken up with medical appointments. I love your fairy lights and that’s great you have Netflix hooked up to your apple TV, we have the same going on in our house – it’s fantastic!
Loved your review of Fleur McDonald’s new book.I’m so glad you liked it! Wish you were here looks good too.
Best wishes for a lovely week 🙂
November 1, 2016
Thanks Amanda, and my medical appt was just a follow up thingy so it was all okay. More of a hassle than anything…
November 1, 2016
I’m glad to hear that Deb 🙂
November 1, 2016
I *love* that you have a TBR pile next to the bath, Deb! 🙂 Having an author thank you for a review… life made! Hooray for brothers who are willing to do a bit of handy work while they visit. Sounds like it was a busy Sunday for you… hope you had a relaxing Monday to make up for it.
Tanya @ GIRL PLUS BOOKS
November 2, 2016
I had a very lazy Monday Tanya. I was supposed to catch up on some reviewing and blogging and it took me all day just to get to one review!!!
November 2, 2016
Historical fiction is one of my main genres, love me some historical escapism! As for NaNoWriMo, I think I’m going to appoint myself as an official cheerleader, and just visit everyone’s blogs and cheer them on as they write. 😉
November 2, 2016
I seem to cope better with historical fiction comprising multiple timeframes (including the ‘now’) – like Kate Morton. I’m doing an author interview for a book I read recently I enjoyed (historical fiction) set in 1930 & 1993.
November 3, 2016
When winter arrives we watch more Netflix and I have quite a few lined up. Looking forward to the newest John Puller novel. Hope this is a great week. Glad you had time with family.
November 3, 2016
I just noted I reviewed the last Puller novel a year ago Nise’ so that’s useful as I pulled up my review to remind myself was it was about!
November 4, 2016
For the last few weeks I’ve been making up my Sunday Post ON Sunday…mid-morning or early afternoon. I keep thinking the same thing! This past Sunday I couldn’t even get the post done. Fairy lights are awesome!
November 4, 2016
I’ve struggled this week even more I have to admit… at keeping things up and I’ve had a couple of blogging commitments (Thurs and Fri) so HAD to post. Which is a good thing I guess…
And yes, am loving my fairy lights!