Weekly Book Recap #92

The holidays have come and gone, and it was very nice to be off the grid while celebrating with family and friends.   Now it's time to resume the usual routine, getting back to work and blogging.  My 2015 reading goals have been set, and I am looking forward to diving into the books that have been languishing on my shelves for too long, as well as some intriguing new releases.

Here's my first recap of the new year, which is being shared on these blogs:
 

 Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  

Showcase Sunday hosted by Vicky at  Books, Biscuits, and Tea
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey

Reading now . . .

       

 

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes; A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

Downloaded . . .

 

                  

 

The Sea Wolves by Lars Brownworth,  Operation Cinderella by Hope Tarr, Silent Run by Barbara Freethy, Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney, and Midnight Cabernet by Elaine Ambrose

Borrowed from the library . . .

 

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan, Blood Magick by Nora Roberts, and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Reading next: The books I hope to finish during the month of January . . .

                              

                              

What did you read this week?  

. . . What did you add to your shelves or wish list?  

. . . . . . What are you reading next?

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Weekly Book Recap #92 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

New Year . . . 2015 Reading Goals

 

Source: happynewyearimages.net

 

 

 

 

Happy new year, one and all.  I hope that your holidays were filled with special moments and meals shared with friends and family.  While it's hard to believe a new year begins today, I always like the feelings a new year evokes for me:  the promise of a clean slate and new beginnings, the desire to do things differently and/or better, the motivation to be more organized . . .  I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

As I take stock of my 2014 reading history, I'm pleased that I completed the four challenges I set (although I did set the bar relatively low after not meeting my goals in 2013).  Here's a recap:

Good Reads Challenge

Goal:   62 books

Read:  63 books 

This is an improvement over 2013, when I read 53 books (my 2013 goal was 52 books).  Before I began blogging, I averaged 100 books per year.  For 2015, I'm aiming for 75 books. 

Cruising Through The Cozies

Goal:   7-12 books

Read:  10 books

  Library Book Challenge

Goal:   12 books

Read:  41 books

Surprisingly enough, almost all of the books I read in 2014 came from the library.  With 28 library books in my possession right now, and many hold requests, it appears this trend will continue in 2015.

   Women Challenge #2

Goal:   20+ female authors

Read:  42 female authors

Though not as surprising, these results are nearly identical to my Library Book Challenge results. 

My reading plan for 2015 . . .

An increase in the overall number of books read, but drawing more books from those already in my numerous piles.  I'll probably join a few challenges hosted by other bloggers along the way, but at this point, I am taking a relaxed approach.

 

I wish each of you good luck with any reading challenges you undertake and lots of reading time and good books throughout the year.

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

New Year . . . 2015 Reading Goals was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution. 

Holiday Wishes

Holiday Wishes

While I take a blogging break to spend time with family and friends, 

I wish all of you joy, cheer, and happiness as 2014 draws to a close 

and the new year begins.

Catherine

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #87

It's Tuesday . . . and I'm participating in . . .

                                                         

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

Today I'm featuring the opening from an upcoming read that I checked out of the library last week . . .

 

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes 

Prologue

The first time I saw her again, I felt as If I'd been hit.

I have heard that said a thousand times, but I had never until then understood its true meaning: there was a delay, in which my memory took time to connect with what my eyes were seeing, and then a physical shock that went straight through me, as if I had taken some great blow.  I am not a fanciful person.  I don't dress up my words.   But I can say truthfully that it left me winded.

Part One

1

AUSTRALIA, 1946

FOUR WEEK TO EMBARKATION

Letty McHugh halted the pick-up truck, wiped non-existent soot from under her eyes, and noted that on a woman with "handsome features," as the saleswoman had tactfully defined hers, Cherry Blossom lipstick was never going to alter much.  She rubbed briskly at her lips, feeling stupid for having bought it at all.  Then, less than a minute later, she reached into her bag and carefully reapplied it, grimacing at her reflection in the rear-view mirror.

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

   

What are you reading now or planning to read soon?

 

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #87 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

 

Weekly Book Recap #91

Hello everyone . . . It's been a good week on the holiday gift buying and decorating front, not to mention I had an impressive number of holds come through from the library.  All the gifts are bought and wrapped, the cards are in the mail, and the Christmas tree and window decorations are finished.  What's left to do:  putting other decorations around the rooms and making the place company-ready.  I'll be doing that today.

The library's holiday party was lots of fun, but as usual, I ate too much.  It was hard to resist all the wonderful dishes my co-workers prepared.  In a way, it was a warm-up for all the other holiday meals this coming week.

And now for my book recap . . .

First, the past week's posts:
Tuesday:  First Chapter & Teaser
Friday:  Friday 56 & Book Beginning


Now for the rest of my time in books, which is being shared on these blogs:
 

 Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  

Showcase Sunday hosted by Vicky at  Books, Biscuits, and Tea
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey 

Finished reading . . .

   A Good Marriage by Stephen King, a satisfying combination of creepiness and poetic justice.

Reading now . . .

  

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen;  A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

Downloaded . . .
     Gracie by Ellie Keaton

Borrowed from the library . . .
 
 
                        

The Hypnotist's Love Story and Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty, My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni, The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes, Shattered Secrets by Karen Harper, Dublin City of Literature by Muriel Bolger, and A Good Marriage by Stephen King

Reading next . . .

      ?????? I'm having a hard time deciding !!!!!!

What did you read this week?  

. . . What did you add to your shelves or wish list?  

. . . . . . What are you reading next?

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Weekly Book Recap #91 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #64

It's Friday . . . time to share excerpts from a current or upcoming read with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an ebook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring a book I got from the library yesterday, A Good Marriage by Stephen King.

 

 

Beginning:  The one thing nobody asked in casual conversation, Darcy thought in the days after she found what she found in the garage, was this: How's your marriage?  They asked how was your weekend and how was your trip to Florida and how's your health and how are the kids; they even asked how's life been treatin' you, hon?  But nobody asked how's your marriage?

******************** 
Page 56:  "She wanted a glass of water, but she was afraid to get up and go into the bathroom.  She was afraid he would stop her, and what would come after that?  What then?"

*********************   

 

My thoughts: It's been a long time since I read one of this author's books.  The title intrigued me, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Which book are you reading now or about to start?
 

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #64 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.    

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #86 and Teaser Tuesdays

   It's Tuesday . . . time to share book excerpts with:
         

• First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

• Teaser Tuesdays hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading, where bloggers post two (2) random “teaser” sentences--no spoilers allowed--to try to entice others to seek out these books.

Today I'm featuring the opening and a teaser from an upcoming read, A New York Christmas by Anne Perry, a book I borrowed from the library. 

 

Jemima stood at the railing on the upper deck of the great ocean liner and gazed across the limitless sea.  She had just turned twenty-three and was beginning what promised to be the first real adventure of her life.

It was December 1904, and she was crossing the Atlantic to New York, where she would stay for at least a month.  Mr. Edward Cardew had invited her to travel as a companion to his daughter, Delphinia, who was to marry Brent Albright, the son of Rothwell Albright, Mr. Cardew's international business partner.  It would be the society wedding of the year. 

--------------------------

Teaser:  "Jemima was startled at the mention of Maria's name, especially coming from Harley.  She had assumed none of the Albrights wished to speak about her." ~ p. 39

----------------------  

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

 

My thoughts:  It's about time I read a Christmas story this year.  The beautiful cover, which depicts Central Park on a snowy day, really drew me to this particular book.  

 

 

What are you reading now or planning to read soon?

 

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #86 and Teaser Tuesdays was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.