In the last week I managed to finish three books. The first one I finished Secrets of Saffron Hall which I mentioned last week. After finishing that I was really looking for something really fun and engrossing to get lost in, and so Matilda Next Door by Kelly Hunter fit the bill perfectly.
Kelly Hunter is one of those authors who I know that I can pick up at any time and will love. There's just something about her writing. The other reason why this is such a comfortable read is that this is the first book in the third quartet of books set in the small fictional town of Wirralong. Each book in the quartet is written by a different author, but Kelly Hunter has written one of the books in each of the quartets. Because this is the ninth book set in the town there are many familiar characters and land marks, but there was a part that was also set in London. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The I started reading The Last Charm by Ella Allbright. I love the concept, which is that it tells the story of two young friends through the charms on a charm bracelet. So far, I am enjoying it, so hopefully I will continue to do so.
I also finished listening to The Roommate by Dervla McTiernan and started listening to Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown.
Our quest to watch all the feel good shows continues with Anh's Brush with Fame. Anh Do is an Australian artist/author/comedian/so many other things. The premise of his show is that he invites a celebrity to come into his art studio and he talks to them about their lives while he paints their portrait.
His style of painting is quite unusual but very effective. He has even been nominated for the Archibald Prize, which is Australia's most prestigious portrait prize. He uses trowels and knifes to slather paint on and then he uses his fingers, and other small tools to finish off. Some times I am blown away by the painting. Other times not so much. I am always impressed with the stories that he manages to get out of his guests, often emotional and often funny.
The other thing that we started watching this week is Umbrella Academy. My son suggested that we watch it not long ago. I did mention to the team at work that we were going to start it but I was told that it wasn't my kind of thing. I am pleased to say that I am proving him wrong.
We took a day off on Friday to give ourselves a three day weekend which was needed because work has been very intense. One day back in the office today and I am already feeling the strain.
I spent most of the weekend attending Melbourne Writers Festival (you can read my wrap up here) so I did enjoy getting to indulge in all things bookish. I am going to be continuing to indulge by attending a few session at Edinburgh Writers Festival, although I probably won't do write ups for those. This morning I listened to Hilary Mantel talk about her final book in the Cromwell trilogy, Mirror and the Light which was a very interesting conversation.
We also did some cooking and we started a new jigsaw puzzle (I say we, but really it is my lovely husband). It is actually a picture of us at Top of the Rock in New York. My husband is cursing me a little bit because apparently doing an arty angle is fine for putting a photo on Instagram but it doesn't translate particularly well into a jigsaw.
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Had to laugh about the jigsaw puzzle. I have a folding tab,e for a puzzle but it's currently covered with my husband's astronomy gadgets.
ReplyDeleteGood boom book suggestions, thanks!
It was a challenging puzzle which I think is a good thing right Tina?
DeleteOh, creating a puzzle of a picture one loves...the best! I hope you will frame it afterwards.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your books and your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
I am not sure if we will frame it or not. I might get the husbands opinion tonight.
DeleteMy husband and I tried Umbrella Academy earlier this year, and I would have gone on with it, but he didn't want to. I think it was too angsty for him, or he just didn't like any of the characters, because it's the kind of show I would have said he usually likes.
ReplyDeleteA coworker of mine recommended Grimm and I demurred, but she insisted, and Grimm (7 seasons) was the show that took us through the pandemic, along with Falling Skies, which we are still watching. Sounds like you're having a good stretch of reading! Our heat wave here has finally ended, and it's easier to focus on a book in more comfortable temperatures.
I think we will continue with Umbrella Academy for now. Although we do tend to watch 3 episodes of a series and never get back to it.
DeleteThe Last Charm sounds cute. It reminds me of the charm bracelet my mother used to wear and what that would say about her life.
ReplyDeleteI've been taking a day or half a day off here and there to do things that I enjoy like gardening. Puzzle time sounds wonderful. We do that on vacation, but don't remember to do it once we are home.
Hope you have a nice week, Marg. Thanks for visiting my blog.
That was one of the good things about The Last Charm Cheryl.
DeleteHahaha! Good luck with that puzzle. I'm sure it will be a challenge. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's done now Les, but it was a challenge!
DeleteI see that a number of people are doing jigsaw puzzles during this pandemic. I will admit that I've been tempted to start one to give my hands and eyes something to do while listening to audiobooks. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is very much enjoying the puzzles. I put a piece in here and there Kathy.
DeleteThe puzzle sounds like fun! Your poor husband! :-D Wirralong is a fabulous name for a town. My husband and I love The Umbrella Academy. He would binge it all in a couple of days if I let him but I like to prolong things so I'm holding us back to 1 or 2 episodes a week. Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a deliberate torture! lol
DeleteGood luck with the puzzle! That one looks like quite an undertaking. And the Edinburgh Festival sounds amazing- I was thinking of trying to check some of that out also.
ReplyDeleteI've watched a couple of sessions now and they have been fun Greg!
DeleteWow, you've been busy! My son mentioned Umbrella Academy, too, so we need to give it a try. My husband randomly started watching an Australian reality show yesterday - Love on the Spectrum. I was on the computer and not really paying attention, but he was totally engrossed in it. He thought it was entertaining and informative.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your puzzle. Sounds challenging!
That was a very interesting show Susan!
DeleteI can't tell you how much it irks me when people tell me something will or will not be my cup of tea. How much does it irk me? To the point where I'm stupid about it. So far I have REFUSED to watch Dr. Who because someone told me "You love quirky things. You'll love it."
ReplyDeleteThis person does not know me at all so to state those two things as facts...it's been over 5 years and my blood has not stopped boiling yet. ROFL
Too funny about the jigsaw puzzle. I have one that i started almost 3 years ago that I really want to work on, but unfortunately I want to do other things more so it sits there, waiting, under the pad on the dining room table.