WEEKLY UPDATES: EAGERLY AWAITING THANKSGIVING!

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn Weekly Updates

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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.

 

Nice, cooler weather all week, with today, and the next two days, in the 70s.  Yes, the weather report seems to start each update.  lol.

Halloween came and went, leaving no impact.  I never have any Trick or Treaters…not in the almost ten years I’ve been here.  I only had a few Halloween decorations out…and didn’t buy candy.  Because we know what happens to that candy when it is not handed out…right?

I love Thanksgiving, so those goodies are now on display.  The pumpkin was out for Halloween, too; when you turn it around, there are scary creatures.

 

thanksgiving-decor

I don’t have a lot of seasonal decor…my Christmases have become even smaller each year.  Usually because I go elsewhere for the holidays.

Reading…well, only THREE books this week, but I have now read 79 for my Read the Books You Buy Challenge.

I was reading a post this morning at Cleopatra Loves Books...and she has a very interesting Book Tag that helps her keep track of her TBR.

My method of keeping track is adding books purchased on one of my Curl up and Read blog pages, by month…and then linking to my reviews when they are read.  Checking out my pages from 2014 through the present, I still have 22 unread books purchased in 2014; 14 for 2015; and 53 for 2016.  The latter number is due to my ongoing “click to buy” mania.

But…it could be worse, right?

Now…let’s take a look at last week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Monday Sparks:  Musings…

Tuesday Potpourri:  “Hot Milk”

Saying Goodbye to October: Wrap-Up

Hump Day Serendipity:  Current, Past, & Future Reading

Hump Day “Coffee Morning:” Birthdays & Halloween

Bookish Thursday #36:  Serendipitous Moments

The State of My TBR:  Reading in Bed, Etc.

Bookish Friday:  “Stealing Jason Wilde”

Review:  Saturday Requiem, by Nicci Frenchcropped-again-5Review:  In Twenty Years (e-book), by Allison Winn Scotchratings-worms-4-croppedReview:  The Last Good Girl (e-book), by Allison Leottaratings-worms-4-cropped

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Two books came in my mailbox!  They were from my Amazon Gift card.   I also downloaded a couple from the card…and purchased another when I had spent the card.  lol

Home, by Harlan Coben (gift card)

 

 

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Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson (gift card)

 

 

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Downloads from Gift Card:

Echoes of Family (e-book), by Barbara Claypole White

 

 

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Send in the Clowns (e-book), by Julie Mulhern (The Country Club Murders)

 

 

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(Gift from Author)

 

The Murder Game (e-book), by Catherine McKenzie writing as Julie Apple

 

 

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Purchased:

Inheriting Edith (e-book), by Zoe Fishman

 

 

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WHAT’S NEXT? (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Currently Reading:  American Heiress, by Jeffrey Toobin

 

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Currently Reading:  Stealing Jason Wilde (e-book), by Dee Ernst

 

 

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And maybe…

The Two-Family House, (e-book),  by Lynda Cohen Loigman

 

 

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  I’ll leave you with a cold beverage (and soup) to contemplate…

 

 

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74 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: EAGERLY AWAITING THANKSGIVING!”

  2. I’ve been making soup; it’s such a great comfort food. My husband was just saying this morning how Thanksgiving is in three weeks and how we’ll have to roll out our Christmas tree again. My kids are off all week and he may take the week off which will be nice. No big turkey dinner this year as my parents will be gone so laid back and a nice, dinner out on that Thursday with the godparents!

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    1. I don’t plan to do much here for the holidays, as I usually join my daughter and her family.

      I love soups! I want to make some in my crockpot. I’m gradually using it.

      Thanks for stopping by, Stefanie, and enjoy the week.

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  3. We don’t get many trick or treaters either where we are now and I kind of miss it! We did take the Tornado to a neighborhood close by to go ourselves and had such a good time! I love your way of keeping track of books purchased/read though I’m not sure I want to know the numbers on mine! Great books this week! I really enjoyed the Julie Mulhern and have a few others of yours on my TBR. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Katherine, and I tried also printing out Word docs of the TBR, but then I would forget to look at the doc to decide what to read next…lol.

      I love that Julie Mulhern series,, too; eager to read this new one. I tend to grab books most recently bought, as they are freshest in my mind.

      Enjoy your week!

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  4. Greg Hill

    70’s sounds very nice. We’re getting mostly 50’s now although it did push 70 a day or two earlier this week- it actually wasn’t bad weather wise. Nights are cold though. We had a nice Halloween and it wasn’t bad to be out, unlike previous years lately when we’ve had cold rain and even snow!

    I’m looking forward to Send in the Clowns, that series is just humming right along and I hope she keeps going! Also The Murder Game looks good. What is it with me and rainy covers? I always seem to like them!

    Mmm olive oil and bread… lol

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    1. Thanks, Greg, and I am happy with the 70s weather. I don’t like it to get too cold, as I recall how hard it is to get out of bed in the mornings!

      I love the rainy images on book covers, too; I even have a blog that might make you think of rainy covers….(Rainy Days and Mondays). lol

      The Murder Game is central to Fractured, as is the author/character Julie Apple. I was happy to find out there is an actual book!

      Enjoy your week!

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  5. I’m really keen to read the latest Coben but the Australian publisher doesn’t really provide print review copies and it isn’t on their NetGalley options… I will have to buy / borrow it down the track!

    It’s starting to get hot here now 34C today so that’s a bit of a shock to the system.

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    1. I haven’t read Coben in ages, but this title really appealed to me…so I went a little nuts with my Amazon gift card. lol.

      Enjoy your week, and I don’t envy you that hot weather. Thanks for stopping by, Deborah.

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  6. The Two Family House looks interesting. I try to add books to Goodreads and fail, most of the time I learn I own a book by trying to one click buy it and Amazon tells me I own it. What was really bad was discovering I had some of the same books on Kindle and my Nook. So I stopped buying ebooks for Nook, and only them on Amazon. I order all physical books from B&N…problem solved…lol

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    1. I can only rely on what I’ve added to my blog pages at Curl up and Read. My Goodreads is not very reliable…lol.

      I have gone to the bookstore, without access to my pages, and picked up a book that I already own…I always feel a little foolish when that happens.

      Thanks for stopping by, Kimberly, and enjoy your week…and the coming new baby!

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    1. My Thanksgiving preparations are really just decorating a bit…and waiting for the invitations to pour in…lol. Just kidding. I usually spend the day with my daughter and her family, which sometimes includes her in-laws; a couple of days later, we have a get-together with my second son, his kids, and anyone else who happens to be in town.

      As for that margarita, I’m feeling tempted right now, too. But I went out yesterday and had my Pomegranate martini…so that’s it for this weekend.

      Thanks for visiting, Lexxie, and enjoy the week.

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    1. Thanks, Grace, I love Thanksgiving…and I’m not really a fan of Halloween Trick or Treating. A few years ago, I lived in a house in the foothills and had a lot of visitors…some were rude and annoying. Not a fan.

      I am enjoying my books for the week already…hope you have a good one, too.

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    1. Thanks, Emma, and my “decorating” is nothing more than putting out those pumpkins, etc., that you see above in the blog post…lol.

      I do less for Christmas than I once did, but I do have a few favorite pieces that I store and bring out each year.

      Enjoy your books! You have some good ones on your list. Thanks for stopping by.

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  14. I suffer from that same “one-click to purchase” affliction! Trying hard to reign it in this year, but at least you seem to go on to read most of your books, lol! Lots of books in this post that interest me: Send in the Clowns, of course (the only series I seem to keep up with), Inheriting Edith, American Heiress, and Two-Family House… I’ll be watching for you thoughts. Glad you’re enjoying the cooler temperatures. I’m counting the days until I can go to Florida 😉

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    1. I’m finding American Heiress to be very engaging. Having lived through that time (in 1974), I thought there would be little left to discover, but there was a lot that didn’t make it into the news.

      I like the Country Club murder series. The characters are fun.

      Have a great week, JoAnn, and I hope you are enjoying your books.

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  15. I think we’re going to need your soup this coming week – the weather forecast is promising us wintery showers with the temperature plummeting down to the 40’s with northerly-easterly winds and lots of rain:(. Looks like the autumn is over and winter is starting to bite – which I dread. I HATE the cold, it shrivels my soul… A great time to snuggle up and read some of those books. Have a great week, Laurel and many thanks for dropping into my blog:)

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    1. Thanks, Sarah, I especially loved that pea soup…it was just right.

      I don’t like the weather to be too cold, either, but I know our temperatures don’t usually drop that low. Mostly we stay in the 50s, but sometimes 40s at night, now that I think about it. Right now, we’re still in the 70s.

      Enjoying it, as I’m still feeling singed by the hot, hot summer. lol.

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  16. The Cue Card

    Oh I’ll be interested to hear how you like the Jeff Toobin book about Patty Hearst. I have that on my list too as well as Another Brooklyn. You’ve beaten me to the punch (again)! I had to laugh when you said “click to buy” mania. Ha I know how that goes. LOL. It can get pretty out of control. Have a good week Laurel.

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    1. Thanks, Susan, and I’m almost finished with American Heiress. I feel as if I’ve been granted a peek behind closed doors.

      I also can’t wait to read Another Brooklyn…and a lot of other titles! I have more than I can keep up with…lol.

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  17. katarguelles

    It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner. I have a lot of Christmas decorations but I’ve been limiting the amount I put out over the years. It’s a lot of work to put them up and then take them down lol. We usually have the holidays out of town so it makes it easier to not have so much decorations up (since no one will see them lol). You have a lot of great books. I have the earlier audiobooks for The Country Club Murders series so I have to get caught up. I hope you enjoy all your books and have a great week!

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    1. I agree about what a chore it is to put everything up…and then take it all down again. Each year, I bring out less and less…lol.

      I love the Country Club Murders books…I hope you enjoy them all.

      Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. Have a great week.

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  18. Send in the Clowns looks so good. I love that series. I always enjoy Harlan Coben’s books. I haven’t had many trick-or-treaters in the past few years. I generally don’t decorate for any holidays. Time is just going so fast this year. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. It is too much trouble to bring out a lot of decorations. I enjoy putting out just a few resin figurines and a couple of miniature Christmas trees that stay decorated…lol. I’m lazy!

      I am looking forward to Send in the Clowns…have been loving the series.

      Thanks for visiting, Yvonne, and enjoy your week. It’s been a long time since I read Coben.

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    1. Thanks, Laura, and I agree about keeping track of TBR books….

      Inheriting Edith grabbed me because of the MC inheriting the cottage with the condition that the ornery old lady, Edith, was allowed to continue living there. I can imagine a lot of interesting moments ahead.

      Soups are my comfort food. I especially love ordering them in restaurants, as I don’t have to go through the long process of making them…lol

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  21. Laughing at that clicky finger, but you read such a lot and enjoy it so no worries! Loving the header, such a gorgeous little niece reading. Nice your weather has cooled down to pleasant. I see a couple of books on your bought list that I have read – the Claypole White and Loigman ones, hope you like them when you reach them.

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn, that finger of mine could get me in trouble…but you’re right. I love my reading, and I’m not doing too badly on the ones I buy…thanks to your challenge!

      Little Margaret tickled me with her newspaper reading, and I thought she would set a good example for bookish things…

      I can’t wait to read Echoes of Family and Two-Family House. I’ve had the latter for a while, and I believed that I had Echoes…but realized i didn’t. So I had to rectify that!

      Thanks for visiting…and for hosting.

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  22. We don’t do that much of celebrating on Halloween either, though I enjoy walking on the streets and seeing the kids in their cute costumes!
    I’ve been eyeing The Murder Game, I find the concept intriguing since I have really enjoyed Catherine McKenzie, but I wonder if I need to buy Fractured at the same time and sort of read them together!
    Happy reading!

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    1. Hmm, I think you could read them together, or start with Fractured…but since I haven’t yet read The Murder Game, it might work to read it first. Thanks for stopping by, Kay, and I’m looking forward to all of my books.

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  24. Nothing wrong with a little weather talk. It’s been cool here, but it’s November in New England so that’s to be expected.

    I brought my leftover Halloween candy to my open house Sunday. I sure don’t want it here. By the way, those look like Jim Shore decorations. I love mine.

    Lots of great books. I have some of Coben’s novels but haven’t read them yet. Hope you enjoy all your new reads.

    http://www.thebusymomsdaily.com/2016/11/mailbox-monday-nov-7.html

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    1. Yes, they are definitely Jim Shore decorations. There was a shop in the neighborhood mall that had a lot of the collections, so I went a little nuts. I have enough to last a lifetime! lol. Good thing I stocked up, as the store closed down, like a lot of stores.

      You can buy them online, too, however.

      I haven’t read Coben in a while, but I’ve been intrigued by this one. Thanks for visiting, Cheryl, and enjoy!

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    1. Yes, I wish Thanksgiving had more notice from stores, etc. I love it more because it’s about family, food, and not having to buy gifts!

      Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth, I also love the sound of Inheriting Edith, and hope I get to it soon. I’ve read the author and enjoyed her. Have a great week!

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  27. Kathy Martin

    I planned for 100 trick or treaters and got 8. I’ll be eating Halloween candy until Easter! Weather is a more interesting topic than the election. We’ve been unseasonably warm and I’m loving it. Any day without snow is a blessing. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, and I agree about the election! So tired of it all….I’ll be so glad when it’s over. People are posting so many annoying things on their FB pages. lol

      Enjoy that candy! Have a great week, and thanks for visiting.

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  28. I wish we had fewer trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood. I buy the candy and a a couple dozen kids show up but I still have too much so I give out handfuls so I don’t “have” to eat the remainders. And I would eat them all, lol.
    Also, I don’t see a problem with buying too many books, haha. Hope you enjoy your new ones. I love the covers!

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    1. Thanks, Mary, and when I study my pages of books purchased, I see that I don’t have that many unread books…I do believe I’ll get to most of them at some point. lol

      Glad you could stop by, and I had so much candy when I used to buy for Halloween…and not having any Trick or Treaters for almost 10 years gave me the excuse to stop buying it.

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  30. I like your book tracking system on your blog, and your determination to read your owned books. I donated most of my print books, but have an incredible amount of e-books on my kindle, because I am too impulsive with my “click” finger– I need to keep off GR and Amazon to save money and my sanity, lol! By the way, I read American Heiress last month– was pretty good, and of course I’m old enough to remember how this all played out, but didn’t know all the details given in the book.

    Your lunch photo looks delicious– split pea soup and bread with olive oil dip, and a margarita?

    We actually got a whole bunch of trick or treaters here in our new neighborhood (50-ish), but I should’ve given out a few pieces more to each child as we had a bowlful left at the end. I ate way too many Kit-Kat bars this week!

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    1. Thanks, Rita, and I love Kit-Kat bars; my fave.

      I am so glad I started my Curl up and Read blog, for tracking my books.

      I love the split pea soup and that strawberry margarita.

      American Heiress definitely reminded me of that time when Patty Hearst was kidnapped, but the book also brought out some info I hadn’t known. I liked the author’s writing style.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. I need to use the library more, Jane…I always depended upon it from my childhood and young adulthood on…and then I started compulsively buying books, to surround myself with them. But I had to donate a few hundred of them a year or so ago (time flies!).

      Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Nise, and I do love seeing Christmas decorations. I just got tired of putting them up, and then taking them all down afterwards…especially since I don’t host anything here during the holidays. We go to my daughter’s, or to restaurants.

      But the click to buy is so easy, especially with e-books that appear instantaneously.

      Enjoy your week!

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  34. We didn’t have any trick or treaters either. But I wasn’t as smart as you and I did buy treats. And ate them all myself. Thankfully I hadn’t bought much!
    Click to Buy is the best thing/worst thing ever all the same time! But some are so cheap, that it’s hard to resist.

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    1. Thanks, Trish, and I finally learned that buying candy meant I would be eating lots of candy…lol.

      I love getting the e-books that download instantly…and they don’t take up any space! They are in the cloud, or a few on the device, our choice.

      Enjoy your week!

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  35. I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is on the horizon. Where has the year gone. Good for you reading all the books you have bought. I am struggling with getting through my ARCS. I have decided that this next year I am going to keep my requests to a bare minimum! Wish me luck.

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    1. I have cut down on my review requests because I don’t like feeling pressured….so NetGalley works for me.

      Occasionally i request an Amazon Vine book, but a print version comes with those requests…and I don’t like adding more books to my shelves.

      Enjoy your week, Heidi, and I can’t believe how quickly the year is going by, either.

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  36. I loved seeing your Thanksgiving display, as we don’t celebrate it here in Australia it always fascinates me – an exciting time of the year!
    I like the look of your books this week – namely Inheriting Edith and The Murder Game. I hope you enjoy those and have a great reading week.
    Thanks also for stopping by my blog earlier.
    Amanda @ Mrs B’s Book Reviews

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  37. Oooh. Click to buy mania. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND! That’s a lot of books still TBR though! Wishing you the very best of luck with that.

    I’m doing really well this week – no library borrowings so far, no galley requests, no purchases! But…. it is only Tuesday. I still have a few days to go. 🙂

    Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

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  38. Pingback: Books That Caught Our Eye | Mailbox Monday

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