Monday, March 18, 2013

A Reading Life--Reading, Movies and More!


This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and also by The Sunday Salon.

Listening To:  I started to listen to The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater last week while I waited for The Stand to come available at the library. That wasn't supposed to be until around the 21st so I figured I'd have to wait a few days after that, but it ended up coming in early so I had to start listening to it in case someone else puts a hold on it. Fingers crossed that they don't because the boys are on spring break for two weeks so I won't be driving as much.

Book finished: None, unfortunately.

Reading: Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoyevsky,  The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, Little Women

What I have left to read this month...Still have not got back into Les Mis or The Waste Lands yet, but Waste Lands will definitely be first. The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry will be read by the end of the month.

Coming Up Next:  Wildish by Robert Parry, Flesh by Khanh Ha for a book tour/review in early April.

Watching:  Over the weekend, Mom and I saw three movies at the $2 discount theater here in Nashville. We saw Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln and The Master. Zero Dark Thirty...wow! The measures the CIA goes through to find these people. It was no small feat to find Bin Laden. Amazing! Lincoln...Daniel Day-Lewis WAS Lincoln. A truly fantastic performance and an outstanding film. And I really felt such parallels with our times now. There was such division in the House of Representatives over the 13th amendment. It really was remarkable that they were able to get it passed given the times. The Master...strange movie. And if it is supposed to be (loosely) based on Scientology, well, they can have it. Weirdos! The bright spot in the film was Joaquin Phoenix's performance. He deserved the Oscar nomination. I just wish he would have been more gracious about it. On TV, I watched the season finale of Ripper Street. What an amazing show! Can't wait for the new season. Tonight, the new season of Dancing with the Stars and...woot...Bates Motel!

Making:  I made a cake from scratch last week, but I think the canister in the fridge had some slightly outdated baking mix in it (which I didn't know at the time), instead of flour so the cake was less than stellar. The homemade vanilla frosting I made though was really good. I'm going to try it again soon and make sure I use flour this time. LOL!

Grateful for:  The two week spring break which will allow me to have a break from all the driving. Yay!

Looking forward to:  Getting the boys to start walking with me this week. Need to get this exercise routine in gear!

Picture(s):  The boys posing with my new ride! I finally have my own car again. A relief for me and mom that we're not sharing a car anymore.




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Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is being hosted by Chaotic Compendiums this month.  



Nothing in the mail, but I did pick up the 40th Anniversary Edition of The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty for Anne (my Kindle) last week when it was on sale for $2.99. I think I will be reading it for my Spring into Horror read-a-thon in April. It's still on sale so if you don't have it, you might want to grab it! Click the cover above to check it out on Amazon (if you end up purchasing, as an affiliate, I will get a small percentage which is used toward my book blogs and to buy more books, of course).

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12 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

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  1. Kazuo Ishiguro is an excellent writer, and Les Mis has been on my TBR list forever (which reminds me, I need to get on that sooon). I LOVE your site, btw! All the historical touches here is making the history major in me squeal with excitement so I'm definitely following! :) Looking forward to your future posts.

    My IMWAYR List

    P.S. Omgosh is that a Downton Abbey widget I spy?? LOVE.

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  2. I love that you've expanded the what are you reading meme to include what you're watching, baking and updates in your life. What a great idea and good for you getting more exercise in!

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  3. We are going to finish Les Mis one of these days!

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  4. ENJOY the empty mailbox...they are great weeks to catch up. :)

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Mailbox Monday

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  5. Wow! It's great to get a new car....enjoy.

    I recorded the Bates Motel series, first episode on my DVR. Hope to watch it today.

    I really want to see Lincoln.

    I'm not sure about Les Mis....

    Thanks for visiting my blog...and isn't it fun to name our devices?

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  6. I almost missed Bates Motel, thanks for the heads up! Actually I think I may have missed Episode One. Do you know when it first aired?

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  7. Enjoy your car!!

    I watched the first in Ripper Street, but never got around to more. Wonder if they're still on demand.

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  8. I have tried to read Crime & Punishment twice and haven't made it to the 100 page mark either time. I get so lost. I need to make outlines and charts to keep all the information and Russian names and streets straight. Confusing for me!

    So, you like Ripper Street? I totally could not tell. You never post about it on FB at all. ;) What did you think of Bates Motel? I wasn't sure whether to try it or not. I am not clear how it translates into a series I suppose. Plus, Psycho was totally terrifying (the b&w version I mean.)

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    Replies
    1. I liked Bates Motel. It's going to interesting to see the evolution of a psycho...and who really is psycho. Is it just Norman, or his mother too?

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  9. Congrats on your new vehicle! Also, what did you think of the Bates Motel? Read a few negative reviews and wondered if I should pass.

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  10. I hope you enjoy The Scorpio Races -- I just read that recently and loved it!

    ~ Melissa @ Melissa's Bookshelf

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