WEEKLY UPDATES: A WARM WEEK….

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

It has been another good reading week, with four books read and reviewed, and all were from my TBR Purchased stacks, which brings my total for the Read the Books You Buy Challenge to 40!

An absence of wind or rain has made my interiors feel more secure…although I did have maintenance come and apply an adhesive to that blasted skylight cover…and I had to order a new market umbrella to replace the one now in tatters.  It arrived yesterday…and I will try to put it up today!

On Hulu, I want to start watching The Handmaid’s Tale.…I loved the book, and saw a movie based on it a few years ago.  Margaret Atwood has suggested (in an interview) that the world in this story may not be that far off…..

Since yesterday was Cinco de Maya, I went out for this delicious Mexican meal, complete with margaritas…Yes, two.

 

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I thought about going to see the movie The Dinner today…and I’m still contemplating it.  Perhaps I will wait until it comes to Amazon Prime?  I didn’t love the book that much…but the cast of the movie does sound tempting:  Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall, Chloe Sevigny...to name a few.

 

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Now I think I’ll curl up and read some more…but first, let’s look at my week.

 

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

April Was Unforgettable – Monthly Wrap-Up

Monday Potpourri:  Dreaming of the Beach….

Tuesday Potpourri:  “Vivian in Red”

Hump Day Potpourri:  A Week of Reading….

Coffee, Etc. – A Bookish and Not So Bookish Week….

Bookish Friday:  “A Mother’s Confession”

Review:  The Roanoke Girls (e-book), by Amy EngelReview:  A Separation (e-book), by Katie KitamuraReview:  Hot Milk (e-book), by Deborah LevyReview:  Vivian in Red (e-book), by Kristina Riggle***

INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

No books in the mailbox!  But I did receive one NetGalley review book...and then I downloaded four purchased books and one Kindle Prime freebie.

The Comfort of Secrets (e-book), by Christine Nolfi –(NetGalley – 7/18)

 

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North Haven (e-book), by Sarah Moriarty (Freebie)

 

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Purchases:

#GirlBoss (e-book), by Sophia Amoruso (I loved the Netflix show!)

 

 

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One Good Thing (e-book, Ten Beach Road Novel), by Wendy Wax

 

 

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Into the Water (e-book), by Paula Hawkins

 

 

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All the Best People (e-book), by Sonja Yoerg

 

 

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WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:

What’s Become of Her, by Deb Caletti (Amazon Vine Review)

 

 

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A Mother’s Confession (e-book), by Kelly Rimmer

 

 

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And then, how about these?

Not a Sound (e-book), by Heather Gudenkauf – (NetGalley – 5/30)

 

 

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The Night the Lights Went Out (e-book), by Karen White

 

 

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  While I am still stuffed from last night’s dinner, I am only dreaming of what I had earlier in the week…a delicious strawberry & melon salad, with a strawberry margarita.

 

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79 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: A WARM WEEK….”

  1. Harvee @ BookDilettante

    Nothing but rain here all week, just tapering off. I am still finishing Crosstalk, an interesting book about information and communication overload, with a bit of sci fi thrown in.

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  2. Greg Hill

    Glad the weather wasn’t too bad. It’s started to get a little nicer here, sunshine anyway… hope the movie is good if you see it. I did always like Laura Linney… I haven’t read (or seen) The Handmaid’s Tale but just the fact that people are saying it’s relevant shows how ridiculous our politics have become lol.

    I like that cover of North Haven. And I definitely want to read Into the Water even though Girl on the Train was just okay for me.

    Your meal looks delicious! I love Mexican… and a margarita or two doesn’t hurt either. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Greg, and when I first read The Handmaid’s Tale, I thought (or hoped) our country would never turn into what is depicted in the book (and now the Hulu show). But now I am worried that it is not all that far-fetched, since you-know-who has already mentioned trying to get rid of some Constitutional amendments.

      Oh, I am getting riled up now after watching the show this afternoon. LOL. I need to calm down.

      Another margarita or some more Mexican food might fix it for me. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.

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    1. So many good books ahead! (And behind me, too). I’m glad you loved the Karen White book, and I’m hoping to enjoy Not a Sound as well. Gudenkauf is a “must read” author for me.

      Thanks for visiting, Kathryn, and have a great week!

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    1. Wow, such restraint! I could not have done that, Jovita…However, I might have done that, knowing I had already pre-ordered the e-book, which I received on release day. LOL

      Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.

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    1. Thanks, Trish, I agree about the fab reading ahead. I try not to pick up books from unknown authors unless I’ve heard wonderful things about their work. I have had too many books I didn’t really like over the years because I gave in to impulse. Enjoy your books, and thanks for visiting.

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    1. Ah, yes, that margarita…it was small, though, which was probably a good thing…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Emma, and I’m excited about Into the Water. I feel as though I’ve been waiting for it forever! Have a great week.

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  7. Well done on having now reached 40 books read for the read the books you buy challenge! You’re doing really well 🙂 I joined a Goodreads group to try and quietly challenge myself to read some of the books that have been languishing on my shelves for a long time so that’s giving me a focus.
    I love the cover of the Karen White novel, it’s really striking.
    I hope you enjoy reading all of your new books and that you have a lovely week ahead! 🙂

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    1. I love the Karen White cover, too, and I’m glad to be reading books from my stacks….although I keep buying more. LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Hayley, and I like these challenges, as they help me stay on track.

      Enjoy your week!

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  8. Your Mexican Cinco de Mayo meals looks delicious… I made some chicken enchilada soup to celebrate. Glad your weather is cooperating. We drove home from Florida and now there’s snow in the forecast! Hoping to get my blogging and reading back on some sort of schedule this week. Hope you have a good one!

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    1. I love eating Mexican food occasionally, and we have some good restaurants in the Central Valley. My eldest son, who lives in Prague, really misses our cuisine…and when he saw the photo, he wrote that he was salivating on his keyboard. They have no “real” Mexican food there.

      Sadly, I had outdoor plans today in the patio, clearing out more weeds and changing out my umbrella…but it’s raining! That sucks!

      But having snow would be worse, of course….and how frustrating for you. More reading for us, I guess. Enjoy your week, JoAnn, and thanks for visiting.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Naida, and while I’m not a fan of the frozen drink, I’ll take a good margarita any day. I read The Handmaid’s Tale twice, saw a movie based on it a few times…and now the Hulu production. Enjoy! I am eager to start reading Into the Water, but first I have a few others ahead of it on the list. Have a great week.

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  11. I also had 2 margaritas on Cinco de Mayo day — we think alike! I wonder if the new Paula Hawkins novel will be a hit or a miss?! I also plan to see The Dinner movie; I liked the audiobook of the story though it’s disturbing. Also are you liking The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu? — I haven’t started it yet, but want to. Is it good?

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    1. Ah, yes, that second margarita was just what I needed, Susan….LOL.

      I saw the movie of The Handmaid’s Tale years ago, and while it was good, I am liking the Hulu version even better. They flash back to how life was before, and how they didn’t see the warning signs because the politicians lied and kept them in the dark. Sound familiar?

      Although I must warn you, it was an experience that left me angry and worried, too. So, yes, it reeled me in and kept me immersed until the final available episode. There will be a new episode every Wednesday.

      Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to love Into the Water.

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  12. I have been hearing a lot about Girl boss but I haven’t read the book or seen the show. Maybe I will check it out!
    Glad the wind has died down and you have been attacked by your skylight!
    Have a great week 🙂

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  13. Well done on your challenge you’ve got off to a brilliant start this year! I will get a copy of In The Water at some point but haven’t done so yet – on another note I didn’t realise The Dinner was being made into a film, I’m not sure if I want to watch it though as I know what happens!!

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  15. You did well reading this week. That Mexican food looks so good. I love Mexican food but didn’t have a chance to have any this week. The Wendy Wax book looks wonderful. I’ve been wanting to start her series. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Yvonne, and I love the Wendy Wax series…once you start reading from the first book, you will discover that revisiting the characters in each subsequent book is a big part of the enjoyment,

      I hope you are enjoying your books, and thanks for visiting.

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    1. Thanks, Kimberly, I’m eager to read the new Karen White, too, as I always enjoy her books, and this one sounds especially delightful, with the small town and the interesting characters. Have a great week…and get a margarita soon! LOL.

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  17. I am glad you are enjoying better weather, Laurel-Rain. I really want to see The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu too, but am still debating whether I want to subscribe or not. I still need to read The Dinner and so will likely see the movie when it is out on DVD or streaming.

    I’m in a big reading mood right now, so will likely be turning off the computer soon and getting back to my book. It’s overcast today with rain in the forecast. I do have to run out to the store on a quick run, but I’m putting it off. I should probably just get it out of the way . . .

    I hope you have a great week, Laurel-Rain!

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    1. Thanks, Wendy, and after such a nice week, we also had rain today…but it has cleared up now, so I was able to do some work outside. Not much, though, as I’m allergic to some of the plants out there. I’m itching as I think about them!

      I ended up subscribing to so many things, without planning to do so. First it was Netflix, then it was Hulu…and, of course, Amazon Prime. Recently I subscribed to CBS: All Access, as they were showing The Good Fight, with some characters from The Good Wife.

      Enjoy your week, and thanks for stopping by.

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    1. Ah, yes, precious time with the grandkids! Mine are all either in their teens or their twenties, now, and I’m sad that there are no more babies. The great-grands will be the next generation, but not too soon, as the kids need to get settled into their careers, etc.

      Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting, Nise.

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    1. Hmm, I don’t know if I like SNL making fun of The Handmaid’s Tale, as it is no laughing matter. I don’t mind when they poke fun at Trump or Sean Spicer, though..LOL.

      Thanks for visiting, Aleen, and have a great week.

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    1. I liked The Handmaid’s Tale enough to read it twice…and I’ve seen the 1990 movie a few times, too. However, I am very impressed with the Hulu version, and I am already hooked on it.

      Thanks for visiting, Laura, and I hope you enjoy the book and the movie.

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      1. I live in Darwin so we don’t have four seasons like everyone else. The Indigenous say we have 16 seasons, but the rest of us say 3; the wet season, the dry season and the build up. I miss having 4 seasons.

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  25. So pleased to hear you had a very positive reading week. I like the sound of the challenge you are participating in too. I was happy to hear last week that we will also be getting access to The Handmaid’s Tale via free to air TV! Should be around July, which gives me time to read the book before as it is one of those wishlist TBR reads!

    Have a lovely week and happy reading!
    Amanda @ Mrs B’s Book Reviews

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    1. Oh, I’m glad that you’ll be getting access to The Handmaid’s Tale…I’m loving it so far. Enjoyed the book, too. Thanks for stopping by, Amanda, and my challenge was one I also did last year, and managed to read 100 books from my purchased shelves. Have a great week!

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  26. That Mexican meal looks so yummy! I can’t complain though, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with homemade flautas and it was quite good too.
    I see you added Into the Water to your collection, and I can’t wait to read it too! My copy should be on the way now, this is one thriller I have been really looking forward to this year.
    Have a great week!

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    1. You may confess it, Sam, as long as you grab it right away! LOL. Actually, I first read it years ago, and then I read it again after I started blogging. I don’t know what happened to my copy of the book from years ago (one of the purges? How terrible!), but I downloaded an e-book copy.

      I loved that meal, and the restaurant is right around the corner in the neighborhood mall. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.

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  28. I didn’t love the audio of Into the Water – I hope it’s better in print.

    We tried to go to a Mexican restaurant on Cinco de Mayo but the line to get in was so long we left.

    I hope the skylight fix works!

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    1. Oh, sorry you didn’t enjoy the audio….that doesn’t surprise me, though, as I understand that there are lots of narrators. I have enough trouble sorting those out in print. Enjoy!

      So sorry you couldn’t get into the Mexican restaurant. I first went to one that I have enjoyed that serves Tex Mex, as it is (was) a fun place…and sadly, it has closed down! Sigh.

      But I love Antonio’s, where I ended up. It is also in the neighborhood.

      Hoping the skylight stays tight and tucked away! Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and have a great week.

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  29. Kathy Martin

    Nice assortment of books. Our Parent-Teacher organization made us a Mexican lunch of Friday – and I had already been eating burritos all week to use up some pantry supplies. I’m ready for a change of nationality this coming week – maybe Italian. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Ah, yes, using up the pantry supplies before a move sounds familiar. You are almost at moving day! Enjoy getting it all ready….and then, afterwards, setting everything right again.

      Enjoy your week, Kathy, and thanks for stopping by.

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  34. Looks like it was a nice week for you. You always have yummy looking meals and libations. 🙂
    I’m glad they sealed your skylight better; hope the weather stays nice now. Enjoy your week and Happy Reading!

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  36. Susan @ The Book Bag

    Oh my gosh! I want to read everything on your list this week. I need to take a month or two off and just read. (Like that would ever happen) 🙂 Oh well, I’ll just add them to my ever growing TBR list. Have a great week!

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    1. Oh, I know what you mean, Susan! I can visualize going to a beach somewhere…and just reading, while the sea breezes send their glorious scent my way. Thanks for stopping by, and let’s enjoy the reading we can manage!

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