Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Where is Your Bookmark? (12/17/2013)

In just two weeks it will be the last day of the year.  Usually I am clamoring to finish my best of list and thinking of my goals for next year.  I confess I have only given passing thoughts to both, not quite ready to wrap anything up, much less start anew.  It'll come.  Just maybe not until the beginning of the new year.

I had pretty much given up on reading any of my "must read" books this year, when suddenly I was hit with the desire to dive into Cathy Marie Buchanan's The Day the Falls Stood Still, a historical fiction novel set in Niagara Falls.  And just as I finished that one, I knew I would be reading Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman next.  Both are very different from my other most recent reads, and both books I have been longing to get to for quite some time.  

What are you reading right now?  Is it something you would recommend?

On another note, I took a spill last week; embarrassing really.  Mouse and I were gathering the packages from our front porch to bring in the house when I stepped wrong and sprained my right ankle, causing a small fracture, and banged up my left knee.  It was a few moments before I could work up enough courage to stand and walk into the house with Mouse.  As I lay there on the concrete, she gave my knee and ankle kisses.  Later when the doctor asked Mouse what happened, she gave a blow by blow account of the incident.  I don't think she's ever said so much in a regular voice (as opposed to super quiet) to a stranger before.  She was so very brave.

I have not been the best at staying off it like I should.  I never am.  I have experienced sprains in both ankles several times over, and so they are nothing new to me.  Just the same, they are never any fun, and are always inconvenient.  Luckily, my Christmas shopping is all done, so that's one less thing to worry about.

Which reminds me!  I participated in The Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa exchange again this year and you will never guess who my Secret Santa was!  Sarah aka Sawcat of Sawcat's Book Blog who lives just down the street from me!  Okay, so not right down the street, but at least in the same town.  We even frequent the same independent bookstore, The Cellar Door.

Her gifts to me included two books that have been on my wish list awhileMr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan and Cinder by Melissa Meyer.  She also gave me two beautiful bookmarks.  I'm so very grateful to Sarah for the wonderful gifts!




Are you giving anyone books for the holidays?  Are there any you are hoping to receive?

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Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts 
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where  
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a 
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.


I thought I'd share the start of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman today:
Momma left her red satin shoes in the middle of the road.  That's what three eyewitnesses told the police.  The first time I remember my mother wearing red shoes was on a snowy morning in December 1962, the year I was seven years old.  I walked into the kitchen and found her sitting at the table.  No lights were on, but in the think haze of dawn that pushed through the frostbitten window, I could see red high-heeled shoes peeking out from beneath the hem of her rob.  There was no breakfast waiting, and no freshly ironed school dress hanging on the basement doorknob.  Momma just sat and stared out the window with empty eyes, her hands limp in her lap, her coffee cold and untouched. 
Would you continue reading?


© 2013, 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.

33 comments:

  1. I saw about your spill on FB! I'm so impressed that Mouse stepped up and was brave about helping you and talking to the doctor! Wishing you speedy recoveries, as I understand how hard it is stay off your feet. I have told my family that if they see me not running around, they probably need to take me to the hospital! I didn't take part in an official Secret Santa thing this year, but I did a couple of informal exchanges. It is fun :)

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    1. Sandy - I kept thinking how silly I must look to her--she falls down all the time and gets right back up, why isn't her mom? LOL

      My work lunch for my unit is this afternoon where we'll have another Secret Santa exchange. I am more excited to see how my person responds to the gift I prepared than I am to receive mine. :-)

      Thank you for the well wishes! I really am hoping it will be a speedy recovery. I'm already tired of having to wear this giant boot.

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  2. Love the intro - I thought this book was very good -- enjoy. Thanks for joining in Wendy/

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    1. Diane - I've heard such great things about the book, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I think it may be a best of contender for the year . . .

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  3. I'm sorry to hear about your accident but I love that Mouse gave you kisses and was brave with the doctor for you. It is hard for a mom to stay off her feet but take advantage of this opportunity!

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    1. Kathy - Thank you, Kathy. Mouse. Staying off my feet is impossible! It doesn't help that because of my ankle, I've been putting even more weight on my banged up knee. Now that's giving me even more trouble. I can't seem to win.

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  4. Oh, I've taken that kind of spill...and it is always so surprising! Hope you feel better soon.

    I LOVED Saving CeeCee Honeycutt...great opening.

    Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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    1. Laurel - The fall was very much a surprise and unwelcome! Thank you for the well wishes!

      I am so glad you loved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. That bodes well for me. :-)

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  5. This sounds like one of those good quirky Southern books. Depression sure is prevalent, no matter what we call it. Here's Mine

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  6. I'm sorry to hear of your fall and wish you a speedy recovery. It sounds like you are very lucky to have Mouse. She sounds so sweet. Your book choices sound great. I hope you enjoy them.

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    1. Pat - Thank you! My daughter is such a sweetheart. A handful sometimes. But a sweetheart. LOL

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  7. Sorry to hear of your fall but its wonderful to read of how brave Mouse was.

    In the midst of reading seasonal stories, my current read is Christmastime 1940 which is a really nice old fashioned story.

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    1. Tracy - Thank you! Old fashioned Christmas stories are the best! I am glad you are enjoying your current read.

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  8. Sorry about your fall, put your foot up and read! Loved Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, it was on my favorites list!

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    1. Nise - Thanks! I wish it was so easy as putting it up. Once the in-law visit is underway late next week, then yes, definitely. Until then, I'll muddle through as best I can. :-)

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  9. The Day the Falls Stood Still was one of my favourite reads whatever year I read it... I have her other book, but as typical haven't read it yet! Sorry to hear about your spill. I am glad Mouse was there to be brave for you. :) Feel better soon! I have had Saving CeeCee Honeycutt out from the library a few times and just never got to it. One day!

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    1. Kelly - It was a favorite of so many, I remember. :-) I really really liked it. I have her other book and hopefully it won't take me long to get to it, but, like for you, it usually does.

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  10. I really enjoyed Cinder, an unusual cyber-fairy tale combination. Hope your fall doesn't affect your holidays too much.
    Harvee
    Book Dilettante

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    1. Harvee - I'm looking forward to reading Cinder. I am glad to hear you enjoyed it!

      I am hoping the holidays will give me a chance to get off my feet, which will be much needed. Not exactly how I had planned it, but when others are doing the entertaining it's easier to do. :-)

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  11. I really enjoyed this book when I read it last year...hope you do too! Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Catherine - I'm glad to hear it. So far, I'm loving it.

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  12. The Beth Hoffman book was one of the first I put on my Kindle and I still haven't gotten around to reading it, but - yes - I would definitely continue!

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    1. Yvonne - That's funny. :-) I haven't read the first book I downloaded to an e-reader either. We're terrible. LOL

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  13. I hope you're on the mend! Your little one does sound brave when she was telling the doctor what happened.
    I have been wanting to read Saving CeeCee Honeycut, I've heard nothing but good things. I'm currently in between two books, one of which is an audio book which I'm very much enjoying called Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. It's very good.
    Great secret santa gifts, enjoy :)

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  14. Oh ouch! Your poor ankle! Tsk, tsk, stay off of it so it can heal Ms! ;)

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    1. Jennifer - Believe me, I'm trying! It's harder than it looks.

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  15. I enjoyed very much this book. have you tried her latest one?

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  16. I also LOVED CeeCee. She's a character I still think about along with some of the characters. I hope you enjoy it too. Put your foot up and just read, take a nap, or whatever makes you feel better.

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    1. Margot - I'm so behind! I can't believe it's taken me this long to read it.

      Once I get past this weekend and next Monday, I'll be able to rest. Counting down until then . . .

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  17. I hope you feel better soon! But, how brave and awesome was Mouse! And, at least you have some wonderful goodies from Sarah. Now go relax, get off your foot and read :)

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    1. Iliana - Thank you! I am hoping so too. I had a really bad day there with my knee the other day, but it's doing better today. If I can stay off my feet, it may just heal. My ankle's been feeling better. I think wearing the boot and keeping it immobile has helped.

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