This week has been nice and relaxing after the busy-ness of last week – and the busy-ness we’re gearing up for during the next two weeks. Kevin and I started talking about how the rest of the summer was going to go, and figured out that if he didn’t take the kids camping this week, it wasn’t going to happen before school started back up. So Thursday morning, he and Dad and the kids headed to the lake.
I stayed behind with my teacher’s manuals and made a HUGE dent in my planning. Language Arts, Math, and History are done; Science and Geography are all I have left. I also went and saw Captain America with Michelle Friday night and then went out for a drink after. The movie was terrific and we talked our voices hoarse.
In the midst of all that, I also finished three books: The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff and Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness in print, and Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky on audio – reviews to come eventually.
After church today, I’ll be finishing up laundry from the camping trip, working on lesson plans a bit, and reading, of course. These are the books that will keep me company:
In print:
~ Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
~ All Clear by Connie Willis
~ Forbidden by Ted Dekker and and Tosca Lee
On audio:
~ The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
~ The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
Bookish posts this week:
~ All Clear read-along, part two
~ Faith and Fiction Round Table: Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
~ Book Review: The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy
I didn’t get a chance to write up a links post yesterday, but do have a bunch to share with you. Better late than never, right?
Author news:
~ Michael Grant, the author of the Gone series, has a new project coming up that will be a transmedia experience, involving books and interactive web sites. I don’t know what the series will be called, but I do know that the mystery is already starting at the Society Twins blog and also at Nexus Humanus. Looks intriguing!
~ Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series will have new life as a manga series.
~ John Shors’ new novel, Cross Currents, which deals with the Indian Ocean Tsunami, is due out next month. He’s a favorite author of mine, and I can’t wait to read it. Here’s the book trailer:
Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:
~ The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson, reviewed by Fleur Fisher
~ The Long Song by Andrea Levy, reviewed by Wendy at Caribousmom
~ Incendiary by Chris Cleave, mentioned by author Karen Harrington in last week’s Sunday Salon post
~ Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman, reviewed by Jen at Devourer of Books
~ Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson, reviewed by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books
~ Girl, Stolen by April Henry, reviewed by Anna at Diary of an Eccentric
~ The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum, reviewed by Sandy at You’ve Gotta Read This
~ The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield, reviewed by Staci at Life in the Thumb
Book to movie or television news:
~ The Hunger Games film hasn’t even been released yet, and yet the film version of book two, Catching Fire, already has a release date.
~ HBO is developing a series based on The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta.
Other bookish links:
~ Huffington Post: Most Beautiful Words in the English Language
~ Philip Levine is named the new US Poet Laureate.
~ Avis and I are hosting another read-along. In October, we will be reading Joan Leegant’s Wherever You Go. Hopefully, some of you will want to join us!
~ A study shows that spoilers don’t ruin books or films. Hmmmm….. Agree or disagree?
Non-bookish links of interest:
~ EW: 25 Fall Movies We Can’t Wait to See
I am hoping to get some reading done today, too. I have been too busy to read the rest of the weekend.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kelly – I finally got our discussion started and sent you the link – let me know if you don’t get it!
Twitter: youvegottaread
says:
Holy moly that is alot of info to digest! I bet you are totally relieved to be close to finishing the kids’ curriculum. I don’t know how you do it. And I have been completely immersed in the Fall Preview in EW. I think over the next week or two I’m going to have to talk about it.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sandy – My EW subscription expired and it’s not in the budget to renew it.
I’m so glad they put a bunch of stuff up online!
Twitter: unfnshdprsn
says:
Catching Fire, really? Sheesh. Let’s see how the first one does…you never know. It might suck.. I mean, the first book was no great shakes
.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Bryan – I know you’re being sarcastic, but it does seem like they should at least wait to see if the first movie turns out well!
Twitter: athomewithbooks
says:
I’m glad you had some time to get things done while the rest of the family was camping. Breaks like that are nice.
As far as the Sherlock Holmes link – I’m going to have to go read that. I had no idea that he had anything at all to say about Mormons.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Alyce – the mystery has to do with some pioneers who were taken in to a Mormon community. It deals with some of the history of the Mormon church, not at all what they are like now. I think it would actually be a good subject for discussion, rather than just getting rid of the book.
Twitter: laurelrainsnow
says:
I can’t wait to read The Leftovers…coming to my Kindle soon! I love Perrotta’s writing, and also enjoyed the movie from his book Little Children. How exciting that HBO is planning something based on The Leftovers!
I’ve also added Domestic Violets to my wish list.
Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Laurel-Rain – I’m going to be reading The Leftovers next month – can’t wait!
Twitter: bermudaonion
says:
It’s amazing what you can get down without distractions isn’t it?
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathy – that’s for sure!
Twitter: sleighanne
says:
I find it hard to believe that the first Hunger Games movie hasn’t been released yet and the second one has a release date. Sometimes movies with the biggest hype are the movies that tank the worst! I think that might be a serious mistake on thier part :/
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
S. Leighanne – I keep holding out hope that it will be done well because Suzanne Collins herself wrote the screenplay. (fingers crossed)
That book trailer for Cross Currents is so powerful. I will add the book to my list for sure.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathleen – he really is an amazing author.
Thanks for linking to my announcement of our next read-along! I haven’t read that article about spoilers, but I don’t believe it for a second. I hate spoilers!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Avis – I hate spoilers when it comes to books and movies, but I crazily love reading spoilers about my favorite TV shows. I’m a little schizo that way, I guess.
Twitter: bookjourney
says:
So many goodies in one post! I am curious how The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin on audio is… and John Shor – I adore him too! My first ever review book was sent to me by John Shor…. Dragon House!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sheila – her other book, Alice I Have Been, was AMAZING on audio! I loved Dragon House, too – and I received a signed copy of his latest this week in the mail – so excited.