Good morning, it’s time for one of our favorite Monday memes, hosted by Sheila, at Book Journey.
Here’s our chance to get together, from all over the blogosphere, to celebrate the past week’s reading, to talk about what’s up this week, and to network with other bloggers.
My past week was not exactly stellar, in terms of reading accomplishments, but I did enjoy what I read.
I did a little bloggy stuff, like combining my now defunct Snow Impressions with Connections to make Snow Connections and Impressions.
As for the reading, here’s what I accomplished:
Reviewed Last Week:
1) Guest House, by Barbara K. Richardson (Click title for Review)
2) The Position, by Meg Wolitzer
Ongoing:
1) Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner
2) Give Me Your Heart, by Joyce Carol Oates
What’s Planned for This Week:
1) Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, by Josie Brown (an Amazon Vine read).
Here’s a tidbit from Amazon:
Just in time for summer, Brown’s novel offers an enjoyable, if predictable, take on suburban California family life, complete with mommy cliques, rebel teenagers, and, of course, lots of adultery. Lyssa is a pushover mom striving for approval from her judgmental peers as well as her three active kids and overworked husband. She befriends Harry, a recently divorced half of the untouchable “perfect couple” of Paradise Heights, and in the process makes trouble for her family, but also finds some freedom from the pressures of wealthy suburbia. This is a town where kids have names like Tanner, McGuyver, and Temple; women meet daily at Starbucks to measure themselves against each other; and facials and pedicures are scheduled around school pickups. It’s unfortunate that the narrator, Lyssa, is no more accessible or intelligent than any of her peers, and it’s sometimes hard to root for her. However, these women inside their fishbowl are fun to peer in on despite being caricaturish, and the momentum of Brown’s writing and plot keeps the pages turning. –Annie Tully
2) As Husbands Go, by Susan Isaacs.
On Amazon, this blurb enticed me:
She may not be as brainy as her famous Manhattan plastic-surgeon husband, Jonah, nor as proper as his snooty rich parents. And she may be clueless about mothering, thanks to her wildly deficient Brooklynite parents (picture schlumpy, depressed Roz Chast characters), but nonetheless Susie loves her triplets, three rambunctious four-year-old boys. She also takes unabashed pleasure in her happy marriage, her floral design company, her humongous Long Island home, and her designer wardrobe. She may be shallow, as she’s the first to admit, but she does have heart. And ethics, even though she’s not sure what that means. And so when her husband is found stabbed to death in a prostitute’s apartment, Susie is devastated, skeptical about the open-and-shut case touted by the district attorney and her impossible in-laws, and determined to unearth the truth about Jonah’s killer. Her best ally turns out to be her glamorous renegade grandmother Ethel, a woman so cold she abandoned her daughter. But maybe Ethel is due for a thaw as these two queens of chutzpah and couture conduct a brazen investigation. Isaacs’ latest Jewish-gal-in-distress adventure purrs along perfectly––sharply funny, all-knowing, and marvelously diverting. –Donna Seaman
When I combine these new reads with those ongoing, I should be very busy this week. What do you have planned? And what did you finish? I hope you’ll come on over and share.
You are celebrating a blogoversary, congrats.
My post is here.
http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_15.html
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Thanks, Marce…so glad you stopped by!
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I just picked up that Susan Isaacs book at the store today!
Like what you’ve done here – I used this theme when I was on wordpress to, it’s so fantastic!
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Thanks for visiting, Lydia. Ooh, I hope you like the Susan Isaacs book! Yes, I’ve used this theme on three of my blogs here. Another one I like is Ocean Mist.
I’m always playing around with the themes! lol
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I’ve had Meg Wolitzer’s The Ten Year Nap on my Goodreads list forever. I’ve never read anything by her. Now I need to add the one above.
Enjoy your week.
Here is my review:
http://www.gerberadaisydiaries.com/2010/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_15.html
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Melissa, I really enjoyed The Ten Year Nap…that was my first Wolitzer read. Since then, I’ve read several others, and I had The Position on my stacks for a LONG time. So sorry I waited!
Thanks for stopping by.
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Secret Lives has been on my list for awhile, can’t wait to see what you think of it!
Have a great week 🙂 Mine is:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=1569
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Crystal, thanks for visiting. I’m so looking forward to Secret Lives…and the other books!
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As Husbands Go sounds interesting.
Happy reading! 🙂 Mine is here
http://cat-bookmagic.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_16.html
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Doesn’t it, Cat? I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author. Thanks for visiting.
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Great week for you Laurel! I hope you seen all those wins over at my blog too – really, you should buy a lottery ticket! 😀
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Sheila, I really hit the jackpot this week, huh? Thanks for stopping by.
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As Husbands Go has been one I’ve seen a lot lately. Looking forward to reading your review. Happy Blogoversary!
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Thanks, scoutlee…I haven’t read this author for a long time (probably because there hasn’t been anything new in awhile), so I’m really excited about it.
Glad you could stop by, and thanks for the congrats.
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Congrats on the Blogoversary. You had a great week, hope this one is as good if not better. Enjoy!
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Thanks, Jan…I’m hoping to be less distracted this week, but I’ll do my best! Thanks for stopping by.
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Looks like you have lots of good ones! I have a few on my nightstand, but Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice has my attention.
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Ooh, Dangerous Lover…sounds like some people I’ve known…lol.
J. Kaye, thanks for visiting and have a great week.
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Enjoy your reading! These books aren’t the kind I usually read though.
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Oh, well, to each her own! lol
That’s the intriguing part of this meme, don’t you think? Opening up to other possibilities?
Thanks for stopping by, Kah Woei.
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Happy Blogoversary! Looking forward to your thoughts on Fly Away Home.
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Thanks, Nise…I am really enjoying Fly Away Home, but I keep getting distracted. Hope to finish it today or tomorrow.
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Great selections. Have a wonderful week reading. I will be curious to see what your thoughts are on The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives. My review was not so positive. Happy, happy reading this week. My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-8.html
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Thanks, Jennifer…so glad you stopped by. I hope to enjoy each of the books. Hope your reading is going well.
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They all look good to me, I have had fly away home on my mind for awhile, added it to by wish list today!
Dollycas
http://dollycas.blogspot.com/
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Thanks for visiting, Lori…I’m really enjoying Fly Away Home. Hope you enjoy your books, too.
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Guest House sounds good. So does the Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives. Have a great reading week!
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Thanks for visiting and commenting, Zia. I am excited about all of these books…hope you enjoy your reading week.
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All your books sound good! I really want to read Jennifer Wieners book. Hope you enjoy your reads!
Natalie :0) Have a great week.
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Natalie, Fly Away Home is really engaging and I should have the review up soon. Thanks for stopping by.
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Congrats on the blogoversary! That’s so exciting!
I also have Secret Lives of Husband’s and Wives, but haven’t picked it up yet. I’ll have to see what you think.
Thank you so much for stopping by earlier and I hope you have a fabulous reading week!
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Yes, I’ve been curious about this one, too, Danielle…have a great week, and thanks for stopping by.
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I hadn’t heard of As Husbands Go, but it sounds really, eh, funny!? Have fun reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Judith…hope you enjoy whatever you’re reading.
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You have such great reading selections and as usual I added some to my TBR list:) Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!!!
Bobbie
http://tilwereadagain.blogspot.com
Have a fabulous week:)
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Oh, thanks, Bobbie…glad you can find some books to add to your list.
Thanks for stopping by, and hope your week is great.
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