I really need to find some more reading time from somewhere. I did finish reading The Last Charm by Ella Allbright which was a nice book. I would hope to have a review up within the next couple of days.
I did start reading the short story collection, The Deadly Hours. The first story is by one of my favourites authors of all time, Susanna Kearsley. The collection follows a cursed watch as it changes owners. Kearsley's short story brings together characters from some of her previous books which is a real treat and i have been taken right back into her world. I am looking forward to reading more, and also to see how the other stories tie into the watch.
After spending a lot of time watching sessions from Melbourne Writer's Festival over the last couple of weeks, I did take the opportunity this week to watch a couple of the sessions from Edinburgh International Book Festival and I will watch a couple more during this week. I watched Hilary Mantel talk about the third and final book in the Thomas Cromwell trilogy. I also watched Jenny Colgan interview Marian Keyes. That was a delight, although it did feel a bit like eavesdropping on a random conversation between two friends!
After starting the Umbrella Academy last week, we have now finished season 1, and I think there is every chance we will go straight into season 2. It is a lot of fun, with a great soundtrack. I guess once we finish season 2 we will go back to watch other shows, but I think this one will keep us occupied for a bit longer yet.
Life
It's been a pretty quiet week really. I am super busy at work and, as a result of working from home, it makes it really easy to work very long hours. We are still only half way through our current lockdown period. We have at least another three weeks, and then I guess it will depend on the numbers as to whether restrictions will be eased or not.
We did finish the puzzle we started last week. It was a puzzle made from a photo that we took when we were in New York three years ago when we were at the Top of the Rock. It was a challenging puzzle but it has turned out great. I think we will probably start another new puzzle in the next couple of weeks. We have a couple here to do still and another three on their way from a Kickstarter project that we backed a couple of months ago. We expect to receive those in September or October I think.
Here on the blog I was very excited to relaunch the Why I Love feature that we used to run at Historical Tapestry, and I can't wait to share more posts in the future. Please check out the guest post from Donna Russo Morin about American Suffragettes if you haven't done so yet.
Don't forget you can now follow my blog on Facebook here.
Love the puzzle, I’m planning to turn a photo of the kids into a puzzle for a Father’s Day gift to my father :)
ReplyDeleteI hope the lockdown can be eased though numbers are still pretty high, and there are still so many covidiots who aren’t doing the right thing!
Wishing you a great reading week
It is a very nice idea for a gift Shelleyrae! Hope you have a good week.
DeleteLove the puzzle! I've never got one made from a personal photo, I should think about that.
ReplyDeleteThe Deadly Hours sounds like my kind of thing so I shall go and look at that, I also need to look at what Susanna Kearsley usually writes. Actually I have an odd feeling that I have something by her somewhere on my shelves. Just checked, I do, 'Mariana'. Have you read that?
I have Cath. I did enjoy that one. My absolute favourite is The Winter Sea!
DeleteCool puzzle! I was thinking about getting a photo puzzle for my parents, but I’m worried it wouldn’t be hard enough for them. They like the super challenging puzzles. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I think it depends on the picture AJ. We found this one quite challenging
DeleteHi Marg! I need to get more time for reading and blogging. The next couple of weeks are going to be really rough Busy with exams and assessments at school. Hours a bit longer then.
ReplyDeleteI love your short story collection that you've shared! I used to love short stories, don't know why I stopped reading them. That seems like a good one to get back into it.
Your puzzle is lovely! Hope you plan on framing it.
Have a good week!
Elza Reads
I don't really read that many short story collections. There's got to be something that catches my attention. In this case it was one of my favourite authors in this case.
DeleteI've been wanting to read this book for a while, but I have so many unread books at home I hate to buy a new one; especially with work reduced due to COVID.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea for a puzzle. I will have to check into that. I have some neat vacation photos that would make a great puzzle.
Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.
It was a great idea for a gift Cheryl. My sister gave us this one for Christmas.
DeleteI read The Deadly Hours recently and like Kearsley's story the least because I felt like I needed lots more background information. I bought the book about the same characters for my next audiobook to correct the problem. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI think that the characters from a couple of her books, but you are in for a treat reading the books now Kathy.
DeleteThat is a fab puzzle! A great keepsake!
ReplyDeleteI’ve kept meaning to watch Edinburgh videos but I keep forgetting, I must catch up with them.
Have a good week!
I've watched three now Heather. They all seem quite relaxed which is nice.
DeleteSusanne Kearsley is one of my favorite authors too! I've had my eye on The Deadly Hours. I like that puzzle made with your personal photo. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Historical Tapestry? Would you be willing to revive it? Let me know. breezagirl at gmail dot com
I do love her books Laura.
DeleteHT kind of died a few years ago now. It was hard to maintain for a few reasons.
Great photo puzzle!
ReplyDeleteYour short story collection looks good; enjoy whatever you pick this week. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
Thanks Laurel-Rain!
DeleteWhat a great puzzle! That's a fun way to capture a good memory.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great gift!
DeleteI like the puzzle! I wish my husband liked doing puzzles, they are relaxing to me. I am lookign forward to your Why I Love feature.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to seeing what authors come up with for Why I Love!
DeleteAll the best over there in Melbourne, stay well. love that puzzle idea. I need to get another one on the go although now I started quilting I find that fulfils putting little pieces into a whole fulfils a need! I've liked anything by Susanna Kearsley that I've read too.
ReplyDeleteAnd you have something to show for your efforts with the quilting too Kathryn!
DeleteListening to audiobooks is how I found time to get more "reading" in each day.
ReplyDeleteI try to listen to audiobooks but work isn't conducive to that at the moment.
DeleteYour puzzle turned out great! I haven't heard anything about The Umbrella Academy, but just looked it up and it sounds like a fun series.
ReplyDeleteThanks Les! We are definitely enjoying The Umbrella Academy!
DeleteYou're doing great with the steady blogging! The more I blog, the less I read, and vice versa. The Umbrella Academy was too dark for my husband, and we stopped about halfway into the first season. We're watching Falling Skies on DVD from the library and I think we're on Season 5. It's getting to be a lot of battles, human vs. aliens, or aliens vs. other aliens, and I prefer more of the human interest side of what life would be like during an apocalyptic alien invasion, so I hope it gets back to more of that after the current storyline.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie!
DeleteWe are just watching season 2 of Umbrella Academy and enjoying it. It is dark but it is funny!
I'm still watching Trackers! And we are also watching The Trial of Christine Keeler. I went through a bit of a reading slump last week but I'm back in the game now!
ReplyDeleteA week doesn't sound like a slump to me! lol
DeleteThat picture is so lovely -- and what a great idea for a present!
ReplyDeleteIt was a great idea for a present Verushka
DeleteMy reading has been erratic during this time. First I couldn't read at all; now I can't stop.
ReplyDeleteMine changes from week to week Deb!
DeleteWhat a cute puzzle and a great way to think back on fun memories! I totally know what you mean about finding time to read. With working from home it's just so easy to keep working because after all everyone knows you are stuck at home right? Hope you are having a great week!
ReplyDeleteOr maybe it's that you feel like you have to finish things to prove that you were working. I am not sure! Either or both could be true!
Delete