I left the house every day in the last weeks, and I can't remember when I was this active. I started to work on reading my 1001 Children's Books, and I also finished one fabulous adult book. Swimming, walking, going to my meditation group and church, enjoying our movie/pizza night with my sister and her husband...and now we're planning a Father's Day get-together for my 94-year-old dad and we're contemplating going on a rock dig. I think I did more in the last two weeks than I did in all of 2020!
Who recommended The Girl With the Louding Voice to me? I thank you. As you recommended, I listened to it on audio. Adunni is my new favorite character, and The Girl With the Louding Voice is my new favorite read.
Bewilderment: A Novel by Richard Powers...7%
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman (Nonfiction Challenge)...47%
Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz (Chapter-a-Day Read)...35%
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants (Naturalist Book Club)...10%
For the 11th year, Tamara from Thyme for Tea will be hosting Paris in July. Watch for more details on her blog soon. I'm planning my reads for July, including two children's books in French. Will you do Paris in July this year?
My 20 Books of Summer challenge is underway. I've got a nice stack of books from the library ready to go. I've read a book a day, so far, but I know I won't be able to keep that up.
Sue at Book by Book has officially kicked off her Big Book Summer Challenge. Join in the big book fun by reading at least one big book from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A big book is any book over 400 pages. I have several books on my might-read list that would qualify including A Tale of Two Cities and two 1001 Children's Books.
Good Thing #1
I got a new phone!
I had an iPhone 6, and this one is an iPhone 12.
When I couldn't download apps because the iOS wouldn't update...
I think I am in love.
Good Thing #2
We've planted lots of new native plants,
including salvias, milkweed, blue sage, and coneflowers.
Good Thing #3
We watched the Friends Reunion Show,
and I'm up to episode 6 of Gilmore Girls.
Other recommendations?
I'm happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. It's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.
Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:
- What was your week like?
- Read any good books? Tell us about them.
- What other bookish things did you do?
- What else is going on in your life?
Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.
My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.
I've heard nothing but good things about The Girl With the Louding Voice and now from you, too. Okay, it's going on my list.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your active week. It feels great to be out and about again, doesn't it?
I can't wait to see what you think of it, Dorothy.
DeleteI don't have time for A Sunday Post, again... sigh
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good luck for your various Summer reading projects. I'm curious about Bringing Nature Home.
I'm currently listening to a French novel that focuses on relationship between humans and nature. Nature humaine, by Serge Joncour
You are a busy bee these days, Emma.
DeleteI haven't read the book but am glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful story of a girl who desperately wants to be in charge of her own life.
DeleteYou asked: "What was your week like?" and I answer: I took a plane! So my post is about an airport. I've been writing about the trip and now I'm solidly home for a while.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I love seeing all your travel pictures, Mae.
DeleteGood luck with all your book challenges. I definitely want to get to the Girl with the Louding Voice this year. But it's not on my 20 books of Summer List, still I'll squeeze in the audio. I think Maggie Shipstead's Great Circle might be my one for the Big Book Challenge. Congrats on the new iPhone, wow! Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteI will look forward to seeing what you think of Great Circle, Susan.
DeleteI think it was me that recommended The Girl With the Louding Voice to you, at least I remember telling everyone to listen to the audiobook and I loved it, too. I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day and she loved it, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was you, Anne.
DeleteIt sounds like you had a great week, Deb. We've been more active too--kind of. My daughter has anyway. It's been pretty much the same for my husband and me. Work, work, and more work. I am glad to hear you enjoyed The Girl With the Louding Voice. I have a print copy and am looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI should join the Big Book Summer Challenge. I have a couple of bigger books I am hoping to get to this summer. In fact, two of my June poll books fall under the criteria, I believe.
I am glad you are liking your new phone. My work phone is an iPhone. My personal one was an iPhone for the span of a contract, but I didn't like it as much as I like android type phones. I kind of have the best worlds though, I guess since I still have my work iPhone. So, I get to talk to Siri every now and then. :-)
I hope you have a great week!
Funny how we divide into phone camps. I love my iPhone and I look on the Android as a lesser phone. I really need to stop being so snooty.
DeleteIt really does feel good to get out again, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteThe Girl With the Louding Voice really does sound good. I'll try the audio, too.
Hope you have a great week!
It feels incredible to get out.
DeleteWe are definitely doing more social things now that everyone we know is vaccinated and I'm loving it though I'm reminded that I do need some time on my own! Enjoy your time with your dad! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are getting out more, Katherine.
DeleteI really need to get my hands on A Girl With the Louding Voice! I keep hearing great things.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on the new phone! I still have my iPhone 7, but I think I'm going to need to upgrade soon.
I got to the point where I couldn't update iOS, and that decided me.
DeleteI need to read Girl With the Louding Voice! And thank you for the mention of Paris in July. I like having a reading theme for the month and this could be just the thing. Happy that you are out and about more. We're still cautious here, but doing as many outdoor activities as we can.
ReplyDeleteParis in July is great fun, Stacy. Hope to see you there.
DeleteWe have been getting out and about too! It feels so nice to be doing things again!
ReplyDeleteI planted some milkweed in my butterfly garden - I keep going out there obsessively to check for monarch eggs but not yet. I did find little itsy bitsy black swallowtail caterpillars though on my dill! My SIL just found giant swallowtail eggs on her rue - I wouldn't mind those either!
We have caterpillars on our milkweed, Erin. It's terribly exciting.
DeleteWe watched the Friends reunion last night, it was fun but the difference between then an now made me feel very old!
ReplyDeleteI’ve sort of run out of things to binge, I watched The Lost Husband based on Katherine Center’s book on Amazon this afternoon.
Yay for a new phone! I’m hoping when my son upgrades his 12 I’ll get it :)
Wishing you a great reading week
I will look for The Lost Husband. Hope I can find it here.
DeleteI really, really want to see the Friends reunion show, but don't have HBO. I hope it becomes available on another platform/channel.
ReplyDeleteI have the Girl with the Louding Voice on audio hold at my library and hope it comes due soon.
One more week until my vacation begins and I am so ready to have a break from work.
AT&T gave us HBO Max unexpectedly. From the website, it looks like it is being offered lots of places.
DeleteIs it so great to be more active. I am sure once the weather calms down we will be too. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteIt finally stopped raining here, Lori.
DeleteAlthough we are still locked down I got out more last week than I have in months!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you are getting out, Jackie. I love seeing Toronto and the places you visit.
DeleteWow, what an active dad!! Makes me want to reach out to my dad this instant!
ReplyDeleteHe is amazing.
DeleteWe were out and about so much more last week, too, and it made me ridiculously happy. Think I missed everyday activities more than thought... I'm hoping to listen to The Girl With the Louding Voice sometime this summer. And hooray for a new phone!! I got an iPhone SE in November and had a close call with it last week. Some water spilled off the the side of table at lunch and onto my purse. The phone was in an outside pocket with the bottom facing up and water dripped into the charging port. Thankfully it dried out after 24+ hours and worked again, but now I'll always put it in my purse with the opening pointed down!
ReplyDeleteMy son opted for an SE, and he loves his.
DeleteHi there Debbie! Okay, The girl with the louding voice just landed on my TBR list. I was contemplating adding it for some time now, but reading how much you enjoyed it - I know I will too!
ReplyDeleteI once had an iPhone and I struggled so much. My in laws and my sister all swear by iPhone, but me and Max are Samsung fans. I love to have all my things connected and android makes that easier.
Glad to hear you are going around the town again! Here we are basically just going between home, ballet and school. Nowhere else. If only we can get that damn vaccine now...!
Hope you will have a good week ahead and enjoy your 20 books of summer! I miss summer....
Elza Reads
I hope vaccines arrive soon your way, Mareli.
Deletesounds like the girl with the louding voice is in big demand. haven't even heard of it. lol lots of native plants...i hope to do some of that myself this year. i am curious about the friends reunion
ReplyDeleteFriends Reunion was a lovely show.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed Girl with the Louding Voice. I read it on paper and it would have to have a special narrator but I imagine that it did!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Anne recommended the audio.
DeleteHow wonderful that you've been able to get back to doing all the things you love outside of the house! I've been hearing a lot about Girl With the Louding Voice and looking forward to reading that. And, thank you for the reminder of Paris in July. I have a lot of books set in Paris so I'm definitely joining. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are joining in, Iliana.
DeleteGirl With the Louding Voice is on my list so I was happy to read you liked the audio; I thought the audio narration might be rough. It's so nice to feel like things are on their way to normal. Our state is number 3 for most vaccinated in US so I'm pleased about that. We've gone inside to dine 3x so far and masks in most places are optional now except public transportation, doctors offices.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week.
I've just got to get brave and go out to eat.
DeleteI am so pleased to see Paris in July is back! Now i need to find some inspration for posts!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great calendar. It ought to make June joyful indeed. Can't wait to read The Girl with the Louding Voice.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear what you think.
DeleteNow I am curious about The Girl with the Louding Voice.
ReplyDeleteI just finished watching Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown. I highly recommend it.
Enjoy your week and your books...and viewing.
I might need to check out a new phone!
Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
Thanks for the recommendation, Laurel!
DeleteI live in awe of all your reading. And three cheers on the new phone!
ReplyDeleteI love this new phone.
DeleteI am still mostly staying home. I wasn't as busy as you were this week even before the pandemic. It does sound like fun. I don't do challenges anymore. I've done a book-a-day in the past. Now, with so many audiobooks on my stack it is harder to keep up that pace. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYou still read a book a day, I think, Kathy.
DeleteI am going to take a look at Girl with a Louding Voice. I have seen it around but honestly haven't paid much attention to it. My mind these days. Cannot focus on things for very long.
ReplyDeleteI am reading Summer Darlings. I have in theory been reading it for over a week as I started it Memorial Day weekend but truly, I started it yesterday. I was so distracted over the long weekend that whatever I read was quickly forgotten. But I started over and I am digging it so far.
Bookish things. Nothing. No book store visits but I did lend some books to a friend for her vacation. I have quite a few books out with friends right now.
I am still pondering how I will get my daughter to school come August. One airport is not working out at all. One is but it's four hours away. I don't mind the drive there since it means we can prep and buy some things ahead of time but coming back by myself, more than 20 hours on the road, doesn't sound all that appealing. I have to decide this week. Everything is booking up.
I do hope you are able to figure out how to get your daughter to school in August. What a dilemma, Ti.
DeleteIsn't it nice to be able to do more? I've been going out more too... I love the look of some of your challenges.
ReplyDeleteWe're planting too...
I'm glad to include more native plants in our yard.
DeleteIt takes a bit to get used to the narrator's voice, I think.
ReplyDeleteMy week has been bad. Husband in hospital, me with him. Brought him home but not quite right. Wifi I have a problem. Total lockdown here.
ReplyDeleteI'm terribly sad to hear this. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.
DeleteCongrats on the new phone--quite a jump! Hope you are enjoying it. Congrats on the milkweed success!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to be so active and busy again. We seem to be cramming in a lot of family visits now that we're fully vaccinated. It's great!!
ReplyDeleteI still plan to watch the Friends reunion show, but just haven't had a chance. I would love to watch The Gilmore Girls again. I don't think I watched the entire series the first time around, so I'll have to try to make time for it. I'm going to sound like a broken record, but Mare of Easttown is the best series of 2021. Don't miss it!