WEEKLY UPDATES: NOT MY BEST 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.

 

This week was sad, and chaotic, and not a good one for reading.  Monday started us off with the horrific events in Las Vegas…and then the aftermath.

My first book of the week was compelling enough to distract me…but then I couldn’t stay absorbed in anything else.  Eventually I finished the second book, a NetGalley review book.  The first book added another number to my challenge, bringing the total to 88.

We had 70s and 80s all week, which was a relief.  I ran errands, got my flu shot, and watched a lot of TV.  I also haunted FB pages…distractions again!  My second son celebrated his birthday on Thursday, so I had to create some funny GIFs on his page.

Somehow I did get a little blogging done, but I pulled a couple of my posts from my Archives, as thinking about past events felt comforting.

So…now let’s have some coffee and look at what happened.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Cardinal Cabin”

Tuesday Potpourri:  A Frenzied Morning….

A Reading Week….

Setting Off Some Sparks…

Coffee Chat:  Distractions…

Tiptoeing Into the Past

Bookish Friday:  “Exposed”

Friday Time Travel…

Review:  Little Fires Everywhere (e-book), by Celeste NgReview:  The Rules of Magic (e-book), by Alice Hoffman (NG-10/10)***

INCOMING BOOKS:  (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

No books came in my mailbox!  But I downloaded two e-books.

Odd Child Out (e-book), by Gilly Macmillan

Without Merit (e-book), by Colleen Hoover

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WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading:  When We Were Worthy (e-book), by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

And…because my moods are dictating my choices, I am unsure about what else I’m reading this week…except this one.  This author’s books always make me feel good, and I LOVE the cover, too.

Cardinal Cabin, by Joanne DeMaio (Review Book)

***

That was my week!  What did yours look like?  To finish off the week on a positive note, I went out for dinner on Thursday and enjoyed my usual soup…plus this complimentary birthday cake; I felt like celebrating early, and the coupon was good for the whole month.

***

83 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: NOT MY BEST WEEK….”

  1. Such a sad week, I agree.
    Also got a flu shot yesterday 🙂 And it was my son’s birthday on the 2nd!
    GFY celebrating at dinner. When is your birthday? We’re enjoying 70s this weekend but there’s also a good breeze so we’re losing the beautiful, colorful leaves. Our Mountain Ash tree is almost bare!

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    1. Oh, happy birthday to your son, too; my son’s was on the 5th, and mine is the 25th.

      We are back in the 80s today…sigh. I’m off to the phone store, as an error occurred on my iPhone while doing a software update. I hate those!

      Enjoy your weekend, Mary.

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  2. Literary Feline

    It was a sad week. I have tried to focus on the stories about the heroes who risked their own lives to save others. I hope this next week will bring better news for all of us. Enjoy your new books, Laurel-Rain.

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  3. Things have made life sad, but I was happy to have celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary.
    I’m reading a great netgalley review book, The Little Bakery on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry. I love discovering great new authors.
    And thanks for reviewing Little Fires Everywhere. I hope to get to read that one.

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  4. Greg Hill

    Unbelievable what’s going on with all these shootings. It’s just crazy. Glad your weather was a little milder though- and happy birthday! Looks like a nice slice of cake. 🙂

    Nice to see that Little Fires Everywhere was good. I’ve seen several positive reviews now, might have to add it. And Odd Girl Out looks promising too.

    Cardinal Cabin does have a very nice rustic cover.

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    1. Thanks, Greg, and it’s a good thing we have great books to enjoy, with all the craziness in the world.

      I loved Little Fires…and Cardinal Cabin is sure to be a feel-good read.

      As for my birthday, I definitely started celebrating early, since I took advantage of that birthday coupon already.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kimberly, and you are not losing your mind…LOL. My birthday is on the 25th, but I was in CPK and had the coupon, which had to be used by the end of the month…so I went for it. Now I think I’ll celebrate all month.

      The darkness of the week led to this decision, I’m sure.

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  6. Vegas was truly horrific. I cannot understand how someone could do that. Still, we have to hold onto the good and it sounds like you had that in your week, here’s hoping this one is a bit more cheerful.

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    1. Thanks, Emma, I will try to add some good to each day…and we’ll somehow get through. Today I’m taking my teenage grandson to the movies, his choice! Imagine that. Usually he is too busy for Nana. LOL.

      We’re going to the fancy new theater in his neighborhood that has reclining seats…and serves wine! (Not to him, of course). LOL

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    1. No worries, Eve, I read my first Colleen Hoover book a couple of years ago, and have only read four of them so far. But I’ve enjoyed them.

      The cake was delicious and huge! I was stuffed for the remainder of the day…and night. Thanks for visiting!

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  13. Jenea

    This week was an emotional one for sure.

    My birthday is coming up soon, it’s one those that I would rather not admit to. 😉 Enjoy your new books, I would love to get my hands Hoovers, new one. Happy reading.

    Thanks for stopping by earlier.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Jenea, and I’ll bet my number beats yours by a lot! LOL

      In fact, I had mentally deducted a year off my age last year, and then realized at some point what I had done. I guess my subconscious was working overtime to avoid reality.

      Enjoy the birthday…the number is not as important as the experiences.

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  16. katarguelles

    It was so sad what happened in Las Vegas and it feels like this violence will never stop. It’s good you had your son’s birthday to cheer you up and some new books. I’ve only read one CoHo book and thought it was ok, but I need to catch up on her books. I hope you enjoy your new books and have a good week! Happy early birthday!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, it is so disturbing to think about all the mass murders around. I can’t handle watching the news, so I read or watch movies instead. On the news, they replay it all over and over, like they did with 9/11.

      Let’s try to focus on the good, and that includes good books. And birthdays. Thanks for visiting.

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  17. Sad week for sure. I’ve been limiting my exposure to the news and social media in that regard. Just drowning myself in books. Without Merit is excellent and I hope you like it too. Glad you went out and got some cake. Me time is always good. Here’s our haul: Bibliojunkies Hope this week is better! ~ Bel

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    1. Thanks, Shel, I definitely turn the channel instead of watching the newscasts that are filled with doom and gloom. I get the highlights and move on.

      Social media is the same. Reading and movies are the antidote for me.

      Thanks for visiting.

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  18. Aleen @ Lampshade Reader

    I agree, this week sucked on all accounts. But I used reading as an escape.

    Glad you had something to cheer you up. Hope this week is better for all of us.

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. The shooting was awful. Then we got distracted by hurricane Nate. Although he wasn’t as bad as the others there is still damage in his wake.
    Your birthday cake looks yummy. It always seems okay to me to celebrate early.
    Hope you enjoy this week. I still love that Cardinal cover.
    Happy Reading!

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    1. Thanks, Martha, I’m all for celebrating all month this time! LOL.

      I hope we can finally put the storms and violence behind us, and immerse ourselves in our books. Enjoy yours!

      I love the Cardinal cover, too.

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  23. I am sad because of the needlessness of it all. I will never understand American laws. Not that our political system is much better but you’d think that with so many incidents and loss of lives something would be done.

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    1. Oh, I know, Mystica! There is such a political divide here, with Congress usually in opposition to a president that wants to accomplish such things. It is frustrating!

      In the 1960s, I was one of the protesters against the war, but actions like that mostly help the ones doing the protesting feel better. It may have changed some attitudes, but usually it doesn’t.

      Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting.

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    1. Thanks, Kathy, and that’s how I have been feeling, too, in mourning for our country and the hatred that divides us.

      I will take all the comfort I can from books, family, and a month-long birthday! Enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Jade, I am seeking the comfort I need from my books, TV, and movies….I am hoping to avoid watching the news unless they break into my regular programming, which I HATE, because it usually means more disaster or a political attention grabbing event. LOL.

      Have a great week!

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  27. Kathy Martin

    The Las Vegas attack was horrifying. Equally horrifying is that it didn’t really raise questions about gun control which I felt it should have done. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Oh, I agree with your frustration; I had the same feelings. Politically, gun control is such a hot button issue, but those in charge need to stop thinking politics and focus on safety.

      Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and try to enjoy your week!

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  35. Sorry to hear your week was less than fun although creating gifs for your son’s birthday sounds lovely! I’ve been so busy I had to cancel blogging for real life work and then found it hard to get going again before unsurprisingly succumbing to a cold after all the extra work, which has laid me low. Trying to get back on track again now! Here’s to a better week!

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  36. Yes, it’s so scary with what had happened in Vegas. Those poor people. Your tableware is fun and an early Hau’oli la hanau to you. And yes, we all have our own individual tastes, especially in books. I’ll give the second book a chance whenever because I know sometimes the first book of a series is like a child trying to ride a bike for the first time.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Stefanie, and I love that analogy about riding a bike for the first time. It’s funny how I still recall exactly what that felt like, riding my bike for the first time. I was eight, and that was sooo many years ago. LOL.

      My Franciscan Apple is a fairly recent acquisition. I started out with Desert Rose many years ago, but switched over, as the Apple felt more like me. My china pattern, however, is all about roses…Country Rose by Prince Albert. I love it, but hardly ever use it. Sigh.

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  37. It was a very hard week. We had a shooting in the town I live in the day before Las Vegas so it’s been a rough go. I’m glad you got to celebrate your birthday a little early with some yummy cake. Enjoy your new books!

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  39. The news from Las Vegas is just so incredibly sad. I’ve had to start focusing on the tales of the survivors and the heroes in the audience as I was getting obsessed with the whys of the whole thing and it wasn’t putting me in a good place. The cake looks delicious and complimentary cake is always a good thing! I love the cover for Cardinal Cabin. She always has great covers but I think that one is my favorite. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Katherine, I think you are on the right track by focusing on the positive tales…

      Reading Cardinal Cabin really helped put me in a good place, as I loved the story and characters as much as that gorgeous cover.

      Enjoy your week!

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  40. The Cue Card

    I agree Laurel: the Vegas massacre was a huge downer that is still overwhelming and incomprehensible to grasp. What the hell is wrong with people? It’s sick. & Congress & the president fail to act & lead –every single time on mass shootings. It’s just boggling to me. I hope books & tv shows will bring solace. ps. I saw the movie Battle of the Sexes and it is good! See it if you can.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Susan, and every new disaster that comes seems to bring out the worst in our so-called leaders. Their responses are inadequate, and they don’t seem to realize what must happen. They are too afraid of the wrath of the gun lovers.
      Books, TV shows, and movies are my solace…and a few good drinks, too. LOL.

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