Saturday, November 05, 2016

Sunday Post: Welcome November and My November TBR List Poll

Happy November! I had not meant to be away so long. I've been crazy busy and haven't had much time to spend on the computer or even reading. I managed to read four books, although I did listen to two as well. Put together that's not bad. It was a month for mysteries: three cozies, two with a mix of paranormal, along with two historical mysteries. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Rich Zahradnik's A Black Sail, a historical mystery set in 1976 New York featuring crime reporter Coleridge Taylor. It's one of my favorite series.

My October Reads:
Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley
The Madness of Mercury by Connie Di Marco

I hope you will take time to vote for my November TBR book! I really enjoyed October's pick: A Dark and Stormy Murder (review to come this month). You will find the November poll near the end of this post. 


New to My Shelves: My November My Lit Box arrived in the mail Friday, and it's my favorite so far! My daughter and I are already fighting over the handmade, carved color pencils and coloring book. And, as you can see, my cat has claimed the box. I am anxious to read The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. It's getting a lot of good buzz.


What I Am Reading: I began the month by finishing Kirsten Weiss's cozy mystery The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and am now reading The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, a Dystopian novel set in the near future.

Caught Reading in the Hair Salon

My husband has been reading Charlotte's Web by E.B. White to Mouse in the evenings. She seems to really be enjoying it. Sometimes I feel guilty that I'm not the one reading it to her, but it's the only time of night I really get to myself before turning in for the night. She told me she wants him to read Harry Potter to her next. We'll see.

What I Am Listening To: I took a break from listening to Tim Johnston's Descent, narrated by Xe Sands and R.C. Bray these last two weeks, but am back to it, and hope to finish it within a week or two. It is good so far, but very dark.

What I Am Watching: Although I followed the World Series baseball games, I hadn't been able to watch any of them until the last half of game seven. And what a game it was! I was thrilled the Chicago Cubs won, although think both teams were pretty awesome throughout. I am actually not much of a sports-on-TV fan, but I could not resist in this case.

I went to see Girl on the Train last week and really enjoyed it. Have you seen it? We're hoping to catch Trolls either this weekend or next. My daughter has really gotten into the troll craze in recent weeks.

I continue to watch Timeless, although I admit makes me cringe a bit at times because of the way they play with history. I'm not loving the show, but it keeps me entertained. Despite my exclamations that I would never watch The Walking Dead again (I say that a lot throughout the seasons) after this season's premiere episode, I did catch the second one. I had to know how Carol and Morgan were fairing. After the punch in the gut that was the season's first episode, this past week's was a bit lighter.

Mouse and I watched the movie The Secret of Moonacre recently, based on the book The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. Now I want to run out and buy a copy of the book and read it!

What's Going On Off the Blog: Everyone in the house is fighting an upper respiratory infection right now. So rest, lots of fluids and playing dress up was (and is) on our agenda this weekend.

We had a lovely Halloween weekend. Our visit to the pumpkin patch was last minute, but we managed to find two pumpkins that Mouse painted and dressed up with yarn hair for display on Halloween night. Both my husband and I were able to attend the costume parade at her school--surprising our little Pirate Queen Izzy-Bella. Her class had a little party with cupcakes and other goodies. Then there was trick-or-treating Halloween night around our neighborhood. Mouse still managed to get to bed on time that night.

My little social butterfly was moved to a new table in class; "a quieter table," Mouse says. She seems really happy about the move, and doesn't mind it is closer to the teacher. We had a chance to visit her old preschool/daycare this past Friday, and Mouse was able to play with some of her old friends. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed my conversations with her teacher--it was nice to catch up.

I had been looking forward to my mom's visit this month, but it isn't going to happen. She recently made a trip up to Washington to visit her aunt who is having health problems. She will for sure be coming down in December for the Winter Holidays, at least.

What I Am Thinking About: My blog. I was so excited this summer, with plans to add to my blog, but that was also a time in my life when I had more time for blogging. Now it feels like I'm fighting to make time for it. So, I have been doing a lot of thinking about what that means for my blog and how I want to proceed. Also, I have not been able to get around to visit other blogs as much as I would like.

I am also thinking about the upcoming holidays: do I want to write a Christmas letter; what gifts to get for whom; getting the holiday cards ordered; and everything else that comes with the holidays.

What I Am Enjoying: I love this weather we've been having! The temperatures have been in the 70's and 80's. We got some rain here and there. I hope we get more. I have been enjoying the time with my family. My husband and I got some rare "us" time recently that was much needed.

How I Am Feeling: I got my evaluation at work, and with all the stress I have been feeling on that front, it made me feel better. I'm starting to feel in the Holiday spirit, which is unusual this early in the season.

What I Am Planning and Looking Forward to: I need to really sit down this weekend and jot down some ideas for the upcoming Girl Scouts meeting this coming week. There's also a big Girl Scouts day camp event coming up next weekend we are all excited about. It's called GirlDerness, which drives my husband absolutely crazy.

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?


*

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

When you settle in for the night with a good book, do you read until you can't stay awake or simply have a nightly page goal?(submitted by Elizabeth
Generally, I get in a little reading done in the evenings before the bedtime routine for my daughter and I begins. Once I tuck my daughter into bed at night--after that, it is lights out for me too. As much as I would like to stay up, I need my sleep to function, and I have to get up very early most mornings for work. On the rare occasion I stay up and read, I am more likely to read until I can't keep my eyes open anymore. Although I often tell myself, "Just one more chapter," it is usually followed by, "Just one more" again and again.

What about you? If you read before bed, do you read until you can't stay awake any longer or do you set a goal?
*

Help me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:


My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow. While I will attempt to post my review that same month, I make no promises--it may go up the following month. 



I went round and round about which books to choose for this month's TBR List poll. I had a dozen or so picked out and narrowed it down to these three. They are very different books, but each one is calling to me. Will you please help me decide which one I should read next?

Here are my choices:


Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Goodreads Summary: 
Capturing the distinct rhythms of Jamaican life and dialect, Nicole Dennis- Benn pens a tender hymn to a world hidden among pristine beaches and the wide expanse of turquoise seas. At an opulent resort in Montego Bay, Margot hustles to send her younger sister, Thandi, to school. Taught as a girl to trade her sexuality for survival, Margot is ruthlessly determined to shield Thandi from the same fate. When plans for a new hotel threaten their village, Margot sees not only an opportunity for her own financial independence but also perhaps a chance to admit a shocking secret: her forbidden love for another woman. As they face the impending destruction of their community, each woman—fighting to balance the burdens she shoulders with the freedom she craves—must confront long-hidden scars. From a much-heralded new writer, Here Comes the Sun offers a dramatic glimpse into a vibrant, passionate world most outsiders see simply as paradise.


Lazaretto by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
Goodreads Summary: 
Diane McKinney-Whetstone’s nationally bestselling novel, Tumbling, immersed us into Philadelphia’s black community during the Civil Rights era, and she returns to the city in this new historical novel about a cast of 19th-century characters whose colorful lives intersect at the legendary Lazaretto—America’s first quarantine hospital. 
Isolated on an island where two rivers meet, the Lazaretto quarantine hospital is the first stop for immigrants who wish to begin new lives in Philadelphia. The Lazaretto’s black live-in staff forge a strong social community, and when one of them receives permission to get married on the island the mood is one of celebration, particularly since the white staff—save the opium-addicted doctor—are given leave for the weekend. On the eve of the ceremony, a gunshot rings out across the river. A white man has fired at a boat carrying the couple’s friends and family to the island, and the captain is injured. His life lies in the hands of Sylvia, the Lazaretto’s head nurse, who is shocked to realize she knows the patient. 
Intertwined with the drama unfolding at the Lazaretto are the fates of orphan brothers. When one brother commits a crime to protect the other, he imperils both of their lives—and the consequences ultimately deliver both of them to the Lazaretto.  
In this masterful work of historical fiction, Diane McKinney-Whetstone seamlessly transports us to Philadelphia in the aftermath of the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination, beautifully evoking powerful stories of love, friendship and humanity amid the vibrant black community that flourished amid the troubled times.


The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
Goodreads Summary: 
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story. 
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.  
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Have you read any of these three books? If so, what did you think? Which one will you vote for?




I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!




The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 


© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

58 comments:

  1. I have that colouring book! I got it for my birthday! I haven't really been colouring, though. Maybe now that the winter is coming I will get back into it!

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    1. Kelly - My daughter loves it too. LOL (Me too.) I haven't been coloring as often as I wish I could. Maybe while we're off for the U.S. Thanksgiving break. :-)

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  2. Love that colouring book!! Have a great week :)

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  3. Adorable kitty in those photos! I also enjoy the categories you share under--what you're watching, thinking about, planning, etc. I was pleased to note that all three books feature non-white characters (and, I believe, are written by POC as well?). I voted for the first one despite not having heard of it before--sounds super interesting.

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    1. Wendy - He always seems to come out whenever I'm about to take a photo. :-) Yes, all the books feature non-white characters and are by POC. I am already in the middle of two of them and hope to start the third soon. I'm kind of doing it backwards--starting with the two books that lost first. Oops.

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  4. Ha the cat and the box. What IS it with cats and boxes anyway lol? They always seem to take ownership. Glad to hear that A Dark and Stormy Murder was good, I thought it looked good. And I haven't seen the Girl on the Train yet, but I want to soon before it goes off. I was hoping maybe this weekend...

    Tough call on the TBR vote! I almost went with Here Comes The Sun but ended up voting for The Sun Is Also A Star. I hope whichever wins, it's good. And have a nice week. :)

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    1. Greg - Cats just love boxes for some reason. LOL I have had out one of those cloth boxes you use for storage sitting out empty for about a week now, and I am afraid to put it away because one of my cats is always jumping in and just sitting there for awhile every day. She doesn't lay in it, just sit there and looks out over the sides . . . I hope you do get to see The Girl on the Train, and enjoy it!

      I seem to have started on a backwards course with my November choices. I am not sure how it happened. I am in the middle of Lazaretto and Here Comes the Sun right now. I hope to start the actual winner in the next couple days.

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  5. Sounds like you have been busy. I am glad you managed 5 books. Aren't audios great for busy times! Mouse looks cute and I am glad the quieter table move worked out. Hope November is a good month for you. I voted!

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    1. Kim - I'm not a fast listener when it comes to audios, but my avoidance of all things news related on the radio has been a big motivator to listen to them more. I hope you have a great November too. Thanks for voting!

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  6. Lovely kitty! And also, that coloring book looks very interesting. I may have to look for something similar.

    A voted for the Nicola Yoon book since it sounds like you're looking forward to it, so hope it wins! Have a good week!

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    1. Ani - Thank you! He's sitting on my lap right now, purring away. :-)

      I am really excited about reading Yoon's book. It sounds like it will be a good one. I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  7. Glad to see you back! Your cat looks so adorable!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog and join in this week’s Book Photo Sundays!

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    1. Ronyell - Even if I was only back for a short while. :-) Hopefully I will be back for a little longer coming up soon.

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  8. I hope you'll all feel better! It must be exhausting that you're all sick, and respiratory illnesses makes it very difficult to have energy, I find.
    I voted for The Sun is also a Star, because I want to read that one myself :) Plus the cover is gorgeous, and I've heard good things about it.
    Fell better!
    Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. Lexxie - Thank you! We're on the mend, although this cough does not want to go away for anything. Ugh.

      I love the cover of The Sun is Also a Star too. I cant' wait to read it!

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  9. I have heard good things about The Sun is Also A Star! Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Samantha - Thank you! Hopefully I will enjoy The Sun is Also a Star. I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  10. Sounds like you had a good reading week even if you didn't read as much as you hoped. That Lit B ox sounds like a good one with the pencils, coloring book and a book. I've seen that book around a few times. I voted for The Sun is also a Star as I am curious what you think of it and it's the only one of these 3 that I've heard of before. Have a great week!

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    1. Lola - My reading month this month will probably be on the light side too. I can't believe it's already half over! I hope you have a great weekend!

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  11. Sounds like you've been having busy times. I hope everyone is feeling better and you enjoy the holidays!

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    1. Pat - Thank you. We're doing much better, although the cough seems to not want to go away. Hopefully that too will run its course and be gone soon. Otherwise we may have to make another visit to the doctor. I hope you enjoy the holidays as well!

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  12. Yes to the Christmas letter! If you have the time--I know how hard the holidays can be when we feel pressured to get so much done. And no guilt feelings about your husband reading to your daughter at night. It's a REALLY GOOD time for them. And...now I must vote. Hmmmm......The Sun is also a Star! Have a good week.

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    1. Debbie - I wrote a rough draft of one, and am waiting for my husband's feedback. He'll probably tell me to take out half of it. LOL Thanks for voting!

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  13. Our cats always claim the boxes. The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum sounds cute. Thanks for sharing and I hope everyone feels better.

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    1. Shandy-Jo - Cats are so funny that way. :-) I loved The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum. It was cute and definitely one I recommend.

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  14. Glad you had a great Halloween! I voted for The Sun is Also a Star because I think it looks great. Enjoy whichever wins!! Have a great week!

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    1. Grace - Thank you! I'm going to end up reading all three, I think. I'm already in the middle of the two that lost. I'm not sure how that happened that they got started before the actual winner. Usually it's the other way around.

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  15. I voted for The Sun is Also a Star, but they all sound very good!

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    1. Shaunesay - Thank you for voting! I'm excited to read that one. :-)

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  16. Cats and boxes! A husband who reads to his child is a treasure and one more way for a child to appreciate the joy of reading!

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  17. Oh, love the costume for Mouse...

    I've seen The Girl on the Train twice, now. Once, alone, and the second time with my granddaughter.

    I didn't mind seeing it twice...in fact, I loved it.

    I haven't read any of the books on your TBR list. They all look tempting.

    Enjoy! Get better, and have a great week.

    Here are
    MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I wouldn't mind seeing The Girl on the Train again. :-) I'm hoping I can talk my family into going to see the new Rowling movie, but we'll see. Mouse and I did see Troll on Veteran's Day and enjoyed it.

      I hope you have a great weekend!

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  18. Sounds like a busy month (&week)! I had to laugh about Mouse being moved to a new table, I'm constantly moving my kids trying to cut down on socializing at the wrong time. I also move them to create better balances at tables of kids who can help each other.

    I know how you feel about your blog, I've been going through that the past year. Trying to figure out how to make your blog what you want but also what you can have enough time for is tricky!

    Have a great week!!

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    1. Berls - The move to a new table seems to be working. Mouse told me yesterday that her table mates are so quiet. Her favorite part of Kindergarten is Friday's Reading Buddy day. She loves the visits to the library and being able to read with an older student. :-)

      Maintaining the balance between my blog and everything can be a challenge, especially when everything is always in flux.

      I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  19. Yep we are definitely going into busy months with the holidays right? Don't worry about being away from the blog or not having enough time. What matters is that you are still enjoying it! I love your little pirate queen - she's so creative! Hope you all get over the crud and congrats on the good work review!

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    1. Iliana - Oh, yes! It is a busy time, isn't it? I spent a part of yesterday setting up skeletons for upcoming posts and scheduling reviews. I think that will help some. I definitely will be keeping it light the next few weeks. I think what I miss the most though is visiting all of you. I haven't even managed to do that. :-(

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  20. Welcome back, Wendy! Sometimes Life does get in the way of blogging, so it's understandable that you should have been away for a short while.

    How funny that you stated you "only managed to" read three books this past month! And you also listened to two others! Heck, I'm LUCKY if I can finish two books in one month. I'm just a slow reader.... :(

    I need to check out the three books you've mentioned at the beginning of this post. I'm really intrigued!

    LOVE your Lit Box contents!! And it's HILARIOUS that you and Mouse are fighting over the colors and coloring book! But, if I got a Lit Box like this one, and had a little one at home, I'd probably be fighting over the same things, too! Lol. I don't think we ever completely grow up, which is a good thing. That inner little girl or boy is what gives us the capacity to imagine and wonder, after all!

    I LOVE the book you got this month, too! In fact, this is the one I picked for you in the TBR poll. I have a marked weakness for YA books, and this one looks TERRIFIC! I'm adding it to my GR shelves!!

    (More coming....the computer is telling me it's too long...lol.)

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    1. Maria - Thank you. It was more of a short visit back. I haven't been able to spend much time on the computer at all so far this month. We'll see about the rest of the month. With the holidays and me being home with my daughter this next week, it could go either way.

      Mouse loves to draw and if it involves coloring with me, she is eager to do it. :-)

      I'm looking forward to Nicola Yoon's book as well! I kind of am doing it backwards this month and reading/listening to the other two first. It wasn't intentional--just sort of worked out that way. I will definitely read Yoon's book soon.

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  21. (Here’s the rest of my HUMONGOUS comment....)

    How cute your cat looks, sitting in the empty box! Animals can be so proprietary at times, can't they? SO funny! They mirror people in so many ways, lol. (This just brought a vision of me lovingly combing a horse's mane....not that I've ever done it in real life, but I wish....I ADORE horses!! So I understand how other people feel about their doggies and kitties.)

    I'm really looking forward to your review of "The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum"! I want to read it myself, too!

    Did you know that "The Little White Horse" is one of J.K. Rowling's favorite childhood classics? I want to read it, and now I also want to see the movie! I had no idea they had made one, so thanks for the heads up!! :)

    LOVE that picture of Mouse in her Halloween costume! She actually looks FIERCE, wielding that sword! Lol. And your other holiday activities sound like a lot of fun, too! Glad you guys all enjoyed yourselves!

    I hope the comments about your blog don't mean that you're considering not blogging anymore, Wendy. Believe me, you would be SORELY missed! But maybe you're just considering rearranging your time differently or something. Sure hope so!! :) :) :)

    I'm already looking forward to the holidays myself. Yesterday, at my local B&N store, I saw boxes of Christmas cards on sale already! When I went to pay -- with a $25 B&N gift card I earned from my Visa Rewards Card -- for two books at the register, the girl there asked me if I wanted to donate a book as a Christmas gift for a poor kid. I did so, of course!

    BTW, the books I got with the GC were: "Almost Midnight", by C.C. Hunter (a novella collection from the Shadow Falls series), and "Ink and Bone", by Rachel Caine. This second one involves a library, so I was immediately attracted to it! Plus, the cover is SOOO pretty!! :)

    I'm very happy you got a positive evaluation at work! Those things can indeed be very stressful. I don't have to worry about them anymore, thank God! And with the principal we currently have, we don't have to worry about class observations, either! Lol. (Those can be just as bad or worse, because an observer -- usually the principal or assistant principal -- can come into your classroom unannounced, while you're in the middle of teaching. This has ALWAYS made me VERY nervous when it's happened in the past.)

    It's great to hear that you and hubby had some quality time together! I also like the Girl Scout plans you have going on!

    As for your BBH answer, we both tend to just keep reading until we fall asleep. Lol. And I know the whole routine of "just one more chapter"! I used to do that a lot when I was working two jobs. Now, as you know, I start work at 3:30 PM, so I can pretty much stay up as late as I want! I sure hope and wish you can/could get into this type of schedule again in the future! However, sometimes Life has other ideas....

    Thanks for sharing all of your "mews", bookish and not, Wendy!! You know I LOVE reading this post and catching up with what's going on with you! Thanks as well for visiting my blog and commenting on my own BBH post!!

    Hope you have a WONDERFUL week ahead!! HUGS!!!! <3 :)





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    1. Maria - Yes, Parker has become much more demanding in his old age. LOL As soon as he sees me bringing in a box, he is right there and then doesn't wait until it's empty to try to get in. :-)

      I hope you are able to make your dream of brushing a horse's mane come true. I attended horse camp one summer as a child and had such fun taking care of and riding my own horse. Of course, it was only "mine" for the two weeks of camp--I didn't really own it.

      I hadn't realized The Little White Horse was one of Rowling's favorites. But it makes sense. I really must read that one!

      I ordered our picture Christmas cards this past week and am expecting them to arrive next week. I usually spend Thanksgiving weekend addressing and signing cards. I don't always write a Christmas letter, but was thinking I might this year, given all that we've been up to, but I'm having a hard time finding the energy. We'll see. I've got some of my Christmas shopping done, but not all of it. We're hosting Christmas at our house again this year, so I have to plan and prepare for that.

      Ink and Bone is on my wish list. I hope you enjoy it! I am not familiar with C.C. Hunter, but the series sounds good!

      It sounds like you have a good working environment overall. I would be nervous if the principal or assistant principal visited my class unannounced as well. My own manager likes to sit in on my unit meetings sometimes (I am a supervisor), and that always makes me a little nervous. My staff hate it the most though. They tend not to be as free with their thoughts and comments when she's present. That's both bad and good for me. LOL

      As much as I hate getting up so early for work, I have always been one of those people who prefers to get the work over with earlier than later. I chose my schedule and am glad for it. I don't think I would want to go back to a swing shift unless I had to. I love being able to get out of work at a decent hour. My dad worked the night shift for years and loved it. I'm not sure I would have liked that as much.

      Hopefully I will be able to visit blogs and leave comments soon. I haven't been on the computer much at all the last few weeks, and I feel bad for neglecting everyone.

      I hope you enjoy the weekend and your Thanksgiving!

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  22. November and December seem to be a busy month for many of us; and I hope work will treat you better in a sense that it's not so hectic.

    Totally understand about the blogging issue. There was a time I took a one-year break off of blogging and I wasn't even sure if I'd continue and all but I'm glad I didn't give it up then. I think most importantly we enjoy what we are doing even if it takes us some time to write those posts. :)

    Oh I didn't know that Nicola Yoon has a new book out! Gonna check it out!

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    1. Melody - Yes, I imagine I will not be around much in December either. I have some review posts reading, at least. I had some time yesterday to spend on the computer getting skeletons of posts in and scheduling reviews to post. It's been hard to even do that much. I haven't been able to read blogs in awhile now, and am feeling bad about that. I miss visiting with you all. :-(

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  23. Please don't think I'm an old grump, but none of your TBRN books appeals to me. I checked out Here Comes the Sun from the local library and promptly checked it back in again. It sounded so appealing, but what a turn off in the first chapter. If you do read it and like it, please review it so I can see if I need to give it a second try. My Monday Morning Musings can be found at http://powerfulwomenreders.wordpress.com
    I, too, am watching and (somewhat guiltily) enjoying Timeless. The episode on the assassination of Lincoln was really good.

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    1. Rae - You're no old grump. :-) Not every book appeals to everyone. Here Comes the Sun has a lively cover, but it's subject matter is nothing like it. I am listening to the audio version and can see why the opening pages might put people off. It is rather graphic. Given what the one character does for a living though, I didn't find it surprising at all. I am enjoying the audio.

      I thought the Lincoln episode was good as well. I also liked the Nixon episode. :-)

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  24. I've been watching Timeless and am on the fence with continuing on or giving it up. My husband has voted to give it up. Life does have a way of taking up some blogging time. Since my grandkids arrived, I've definitely spent less time online.

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    1. Nise' - I am liking Timeless a little more as of late. I'm not sure I can pinpoint why though. My husband gave up before he started it. LOL I think the reviews turned him off it. I hope you are enjoying your grandkids visit!

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  25. The Lit Box looks amazing. I hope everyone feels better soon. I think 5 books for a busy month is great. I don't think I would have been able to manage that.

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    1. Violet - Thank you. We are all still struggling with the cough, but overall I think we are feeling better.

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  26. I am not a morning person but I have to usually wake up in the morning for some stuff I have to do in the morning. That's way I always have a page goal too stop reading in the late evenings. Thank you for stopping by my blog hop.

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    1. Katiria - I am a reluctant morning person, although I enjoy my quiet time in the morning when I have some time to myself. :-) I start work at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and so have to get to bed early on those nights.

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  27. Definitely something for everyone in this month's box then!

    Charlotte's Web is a good pick. Harry Potter... yes, that'd take some time! Quality time though :) I've not seen The Girl on the Train and wasn't sure I would because of the changes but someone else also said it was good so I'm considering it.

    Hope you're all feeling a bit better. Blog when you can :) And there is always Twitter for little time.

    I've three books on the go so I'm that limbo stage where it feels I'm not getting anywhere, but all the books are very good.

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    1. Charlie - Yes, my entire family benefited. Except maybe my husband. :-) They finished Charlotte's Web last night and there were tears. She seemed to really enjoy the story though.

      I can't seem to shake this annoying cough. I will be glad when it's gone.

      I am glad you are enjoying your reading right now. I forgot The Unit at home a couple days in a row and haven't managed to get back to it. Hopefully soon.

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  28. Cute Halloween costume! And such goodies in the mail. Enjoy them. I read The Unit and I thought it was good, I look forward to reading your thoughts on it if you post. I like the sound of "Lazaretto", it looks interesting.
    Hope you are all feeling better and happy weekend.

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    1. You were my lone voter for Lazaretto. LOL I forgot the book I was reading at home one day (The Unit) and so started Lazaretto (it's on my Kindle). I am really enjoying it so far. I love historical fiction, but sometimes forget that because I enjoy reading so much else too.

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  29. Love Mouse's costume! What is it with cats and boxes??

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    1. Lisa - She's actually wearing her costume right now as she plays with her dolls. LOL

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