Despite the distractions of last week, I managed to read quite a lot. I definitely indulged in some of the graphic novel reading I did on Tuesday night while refreshing the election results. I knew we would not have an answer until much later in the week, but I did not want to try to go to sleep with dread in my heart like I did in 2016. All that to say that I am calmer now and had a weekend of lovely weather, celebration, and reading!
A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I like to pick images of people reading, but this week I looked for something patriotic and found the image I used. I though it represented a nice mix of patriotism and books. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of. Happy exploring!
Read:
Over the course of the week I finished a few books I had been reading in last week's update.
- Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George (I have the next one in this series lined up on my Kindle, but I am going to take a quick murder mystery break.)
- Shit, Actually by Lindy West was hilarious all the way through. I got a kick out of her irreverent look at so many popular movies, ALL of which I have seen. That made it even more fun because I knew exactly what she was talking about every time. Her take-down of American Pie was my favorite.
- Drawing the Vote by Tommy Jenkins illustrated by Kati Lacker - This was not a light, easy graphic read at all, but I think it could be a great addition to studying the history of elections in the United States. It was well-researched and chock full of important information. I would use it in chunks though as it is dense.
- Class Act by Jerry Craft - This is a follow-up to the 2020 Newbery winning New Kid. While Jordan and Liam play a prominent role in the novel, this is Drew's story. I appreciated his perspective. I wonder if Craft will continue to show us these young people as they move through middle and high school.
- Apparently it was a week for Newbery winners because I also read Meg Medina's 2019 award winner Mercy Suárez Changes Gears. I think it was last week that I said I might need to read fewer middle grade novels....this book is a clear exception. While 6th grader Mercy is the main character, we are invited into her family in a way that makes this feel like the story of the Suárez family and how Mercy sees herself in relation to her brother, cousins, aunt, grandparents, and parents as well as her classmates. So deserving of bountiful honors.
- Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and illustrated by Wendy Xu. I like witch books. This one was not for me.
Reading:
A few weeks ago I watched a Zoom chat between Garth Nix and Maggie Stiefvater. I signed up for it because of Maggie, but ended up being intrigued by the newly published Nix book The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. This is the first of his works I have read and am happy to have given it a chance. I am not quite at the half-way point and already feel that this is likely to be the first in a trilogy or series.
Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane - I like McFarlane's romances. The heroines are smart and capable, but they choose partners poorly sometimes, but as in all good romances, they get it together for a happy, but not necessarily perfect, ending. I like the mix of reality and fun of her novels.
Listening:
I have made the decision to go back to the gym. Because DC is currently in Phase II of reopening, gyms can be open but members must be masked at all times and equipment is constantly being cleaned by staff and there are sprays and wipes for exercisers to use as well. It has been quite empty each time I have been there. AND since the weather has been so nice the windows have been open for extra ventilation. So far, I feel confident they are doing everything they can to keep the space safe and I am doing my part as well.
As I knew it would be, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson is dense with facts about Churchill, Great Britain, and the war before and during the Blitz of 1940-41. That, along with the reading by John Lee, is keeping me engaged as I run on the treadmill.
What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?
