It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what we’ve read the past week and are planning to read next.

*****

My reading week

I took a few days off over Christmas and the New Year and managed to finish a BIG book, The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (3.5 stars). I had some issues with it, but I also enjoyed it.

I also read The Tuesday Ladies by Monika Peetz (3.5 stars), a fun story about a group of friends going on a pilgrimage, and The Village by Nikita Lalwani (3 stars) about an British-Indian woman who visits an open prison in India with a small BBC team.

None of the books were wow. Hopefully, the book I just started, Look at Me by Jennifer Egan will be better.

 

My challenges

#Fitreaders is a challenge for all readers (and everyone else, really) who like to get more active. Starting January 1st, I did two days at 7,000 steps and one at 5,000 and one (uh-oh) below 5,000. My goal is 5 x 7,000  and 2 x 5,000 per week. So, a small fail.

The Cut out Processed Food in 14 Weeks challenge starts today with: For every meal, replace some food with two portions of fruit or vegetables. A bit of a challenge, but I should be fine with this.

This week… should be a relatively quiet week. It’s book group on Friday. I have the feeling most of us haven’t read the book, so it will be just a sociable evening. We’ll leave the book for next time!

What are YOU reading this week?

It’s Monday – What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what we’ve read the past week and are planning to read next.

*****

What’s been going on?

I’ve been reading, but not as much as in the “old” days. Since my work is almost my hobby, I do spend a lot of time on it. Not to mention the emails I answer at 11PM because some of my clients live in a completely different time zone!

I met up with some friends and also had our book group meeting, where we discussed The Miniaturist. For next time, we’ve chosen The Steady Runnung of the Hour by Juston Go. Have you read it? I haven’t heard much about it, so I’m curious!

Now is the time to sign up for the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop! Don’t worry about the Literary part, we’re quite relaxed about what books you give away. Join in and be part of this popular hop. We usually have around 30-40 participants, so with all of their readers visiting the other blogs, it’s a busy and fun time!

.

Books I finished recently

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave by John Boyne

My Last Confession by Helen Fitzgerald

Komt een vrouw bij de hacker [A Woman Visits a Hacker] by Maria Genova

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

.

Planning to read next

.

Before you got, don’t forget to sign up for the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop!

And let me know …

What are YOU reading this week?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what we’ve read the past week and are planning to read next.

*****

The last two weeks

I had a fun meeting with a small group of editors, writers and publishers last week: lunch in the sun, on the roof terrace of a department store! Things are looking up, weather-wise.

I’ve been very busy with work, but if you need a proofreader or someone to help you improve your story line, be in touch!

Coming Friday is book group. I’ve started the book but I’m not sure I’ll finish it. It’s rather {shhhh} boring! The book is The Dark Silver Sea by Susan Fletcher. The day after is my XXth birthday. It’s impossible I’m turning this age. I’m 34 forever, 44 even, if pressed!

.

Books I finished in the last TWO weeks: 3 + 1 DNF

Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke. Creepy good story about one Christmas morning when a woman and her teenage daughter are home alone. 5 stars

De blokkade [The Blockage] by Renate Dorrestein. Non-fiction about the author’s writing block, Dutch. 4 stars

Zonder noorden komt niemand thuis [Without a North No One Gets Home] by Nelleke Noordervliet. A Dutch man flees to Canada when the murderer of his wife is let out of prison after eight years, Dutch. 4.5 stars

The Sweetness of Liberty James by Janey Lewis. Too sweet for me but some really nice descriptions. About a woman setting up her own café after her husband leaves her. Did not finish.

.

Books I’m reading & planning to read

Reviews

.

Bred in the Bone by Christopher Brookmyre. A private investigator and a police officer are both researching different cases, that turn out to be related. Thriller. 4 stars

Wat ik weet [The Truth That’s in Me] by Julie Berry. A girl returns to her village after she’s been missing for a few years. Her tongue has been removed. Historical YA fiction. 4.5 stars

 Other news

I got some great-looking New Books. Check it out!

That’s it!

What are you reading this week?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what we’ve read the past week and are planning to read next.

*****

The last two weeks

I was a bit stuck at home with a reluctant teenager who had to be pushed (sometimes literally) out of the house to go to school. He has a special 2-3 hour-a-day schedule so he can slowly get back to full-time school. It seems it’s getting easier for him. So maybe sometime soon, I can leave the house myself!

My other son had a week in England with school. They went to London and Oxford and visited all the sorts of things you might expect people to visit when they go to London and Oxford. 🙂 He had a great time. Only one bone was broken (not his).

Last Wednesday it was my volunteer morning in the school library, which I enjoyed. Then later I cast my vote in the local elections. I should keep better track of politics, I didn’t have a clue, so I voted for the party I always vote for.

We had a fun book group meeting, discussing Stoner. We all enjoyed the book and tried to figure out why this was the case. Not a great deal happens in the book, but it’s very engaging.

This week is quiet but next week I’m meeting up with some other publishing/editing people. After we did a short editing course, we decided to keep meeting up every now and then.

.

Books I finished in the last TWO weeks: 5

.

The Visionist by Rachel Urquhart. After a shocking event, a girl and her brother are left with the Shakers, a religious community. An investigator is looking into the events. Historical fiction. 3.5 stars

Bred in the Bone by Christopher Brookmyre. A private investigator and a police officer are both researching different cases, that turn out to be related. Thriller. 4 stars

Amberwoede [The Amber Fury] by Natalie Haynes [review in Dutch]. A bereaved young woman moves from London to Edinburgh to work at a school for difficult children. Thriller. 4 stars

Bezoedeld [Smudged] by Linda Fontijn [review in Dutch]. A rich businessman is arrested for tax fraud but he believes he did nothing wrong. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars

Wat ik weet [The Truth That’s in Me] by Julie Berry. A girl returns to her village after she’s been missing for a few years. Her tongue has been removed. Historical YA fiction. 4.5 stars

.

Books I’m reading & planning to read

Reviews

Lexicon by Max Barry. A group of young people are trained to persuade people using special words. Then a word is stolen and causes great harm. 4 stars

Stoner by John Williams. A man grows up very poor but becomes a university lecturer. Not much happens, great book. 🙂 5 stars

 

That’s it!

What are you reading this week?