Non-reading life:
I have news to report!! We had some moisture fall from the sky here - think it's called 'rain'. Ha! It wasn't much, but it's been a very dry and hot summer for us. I know that everyone thinks we always have hot, dry summers, but some are worse than others. This has been one of those. We didn't get a lot of rain, but most of the time when the 'barrier' is broken, rain shall fall again before long. Maybe even today! Our poor sad grass. However, this is why we have drought-tolerant grass called Zoysia.
Otherwise, the week was good. I made it to yoga both days - my, I am creaky. That's what happens when you miss a few weeks. Our family birthday event last weekend went well and my mother-in-law was pleased (it was her 85th).
Reading life:
I finished a few books this week and I'll mention them here quickly. By the way, I think that everything I'm reading right now will be applicable to the R.I.P. Challenge. As I said when I mentioned joining, I'll write a wrap-up post at the end of October.
Deadly Cruise and Killer Cruise - both by Dawn Brookes and 2nd and 3rd in her Rachel Prince mystery series. I'm not sure how I ran across this series - probably an Amazon suggestion from reading another book. I've really enjoyed the three I've finished and am reading the 4th right now. Rachel Prince is a Police Constable who initially took a cruise as a vacation. Her friend Sarah is a nurse with the cruise line and this would give them time to catch up and visit. Of course, a murder occurred and Rachel assisted the security team in solving it. In Deadly Cruise, they are sailing for New York and, again, crime happens. The 3rd book brings back a couple of characters from the initial story and the destination is the Baltic area. I've enjoyed reading about cruising and am liking the characters. I am not a water person and get seasick looking at boats. This is a good way for me to 'cruise'.
I listened to Riley Sager's new book, Lock Every Door. It was narrated by Dylan Moore. It's sort of a tribute to Rosemary's Baby, I guess. Jules Larsen is lucky enough to get a job as an apartment sitter at a very famous and luxurious building in New York, The Bartholomew. This is based on The Dakota, a real place. She is desperately in need of the money this job will provide and so ignores her friend's concerns about the weird rules. She shouldn't have. Other sitters disappear or perhaps are murdered. The residents are odd. The final resolution was OK, but not as scary as I had been thinking it would be. I've read all this author's books so far and still think that the first is my favorite, Final Girls.
I also finished listening to Shirley Jackson's famous The Haunting of Hill House. This author is the designated 'author of the month' for October in our mystery book group. I had not ever read this book and it was a good one. I think I might have seen one film adaptation a long time ago. I have not watched the more recent Netflix series. It will be interesting to see how many others in the group selected this book. I don't think I had realized how much Stephen King was influenced by Jackson in some of his writing. I was very much reminded in spots of his made-for-TV miniseries Rose Red. I actually have Rose Red in my DVD closet and am tempted to watch it again before long. I'll be listening to We Have Always Lived in the Castle soon. Bernadette Dunne narrates both these books.
Right now, I'm reading the 4th Rachel Prince book, Dying To Cruise, and I'm doing a reread of Ruth Ware's first book, In a Dark, Dark Wood. Imogen Church narrates all of Ware's books and I'm rereading them for R.I.P.
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I guess that's about all I have to share. We have another family birthday dinner this weekend (September is popular in our family) and my husband is playing in a big golf tournament. I'll be back next week to tell a bit about our afternoon book group's reactions to Susan Orlean's The Library Book. I'm looking forward to next Tuesday afternoon and that event. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I also hope that fall is coming to your part of the world. Maybe one day it will come to mine.
I know what you mean about those dry and hot weather, Kay. It's the same for me here. I guess I'd have to wait till November for the monsoon season to come.
ReplyDeleteDawn Brookes' books sound good to me. I'd been on a cruise trip once and didn't really enjoy it. Too many people and it made me feel a bit claustrophobic. Anyways, I still love reading books on cruises. Hope you've a great weekend ahead!
I think our monsoon season (if we have something like that) is late fall as well. Often if the summer is extra dry, the winter will be extra wet.
DeleteLock Every Door is one I want to read soon, even if the ending is a little lackluster!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a bad ending, just didn't go where I had predicted. However, I'll stick with the author.
DeleteI'm envious of your rain! Yay for getting back to yoga. I need to do that, too. Looking forward to the reactions of your book group. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I must make yoga a permanent part of my life from now on. It definitely helps me. You guys haven't gotten much rain either? It always seems when I look at the Texas weather map, the rain goes from NM to OK to LA.
DeleteHot-ish and dry here too. Not nearly as bad as last year though. Last year we hit 116 and 120 more than once. This year, so far, the highest has been 105 but no rain at all. Last year we could not water at all due to drought so our entire yard died.
ReplyDeleteRight now I am trying to finish this slog of a book for book club. The Bridge on the Drina is killing me and I am not being dramatic at all.
Water restrictions are in play here too, though not as strict as you mention. Some years though, they are very, very strict. I had not heard of The Bridge on the Drina, but I took a look - wow. Very sober and sad (or so it looked). Had positive comments, but I'm not always on board for one of those sad, sad tales. Good luck.
DeleteYour reading makes good preparation for Halloween next month!
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the R.I.P. Challenge - you can see the notice and info on my sidebar.
DeleteThe Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorites though I hate that it gets sold as horror because serious horror fans are usually underwhelmed with the scare factor. Jackson is the master of the subtly eerie. The most recent movie adaptation (I think it was in the 1990s) is dreadful though I did like the casting choices. We did watch the Netflix series and really liked it though it's only inspired by the book. It scared me half to death though! We've had hot and dry too with the occasional storm. I'm not a big fan of cold but I'm about ready for some not sweltering weather!
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about the Hill House book not exactly being horror. I think it was more to the 'is it in their minds or supernatural' category. Eleanor was quite an interesting character. And I'm not a lover of cold, but I could do with some 'cool'.
DeleteHa! I'm so sick of rain, but I guess no one is ever happy with the weather (unless you live in southern California). Love all those RIP books
ReplyDeleteI definitely have my stages of being sick of the rain, but right now - send the rain! Why can't the weather be perfect all the time? Ha!
DeleteLOL. We've had some overcast, humid-y days lately, but not much rain. We could really use some! It feels like monsoon season has passed us by without giving us much moisture. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteNo, you guys missing out on your normal rain time is not a good thing at all. Hope you get a little in upcoming days.
DeleteI have watched the original movie of The Haunting of Hill House many times. I find it pretty spooky. Not Stephen King horror, more what you don't see spooky. I don't think I would like the Netflix adaptation. When I read about it, it seemed to far off from the movie and the book and decided not to watch it. I will be reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle for our group.
ReplyDeleteGayle, I think the older version of the Hill House movie is the one I've seen - Vincent Price, maybe? I'm going to be starting We Have Always Lived in the Castle this week.
DeleteWe are supposed to get rain this week so fingers crossed! We also have Zoysia grass and drought tolerant plants. Unfortunately I feel like a lot of our plants have really suffered this summer. We need to work in our garden but it's still way too hot for me to get out there. Good luck to your husband at his golf tournament!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely too hot yet. Yes, I read that showers are in the forecast for this week. Hope so.
DeleteI was just recently wondering when we might get some rain in Santa Barbara, but I think it will be a while yet. I am getting ready to retire at the end of the year, and it seems like there are endless things to do for that, and working on our weedy yard (tiny yard but VERY weedy). I have been reading too, but not much else. I look forward to hearing what you and your group think of The Library Book.
ReplyDeleteTracy, I remember you mentioning that retirement was in your near future. Hope all goes well with it.
DeleteCan I see you some of our rain - we have had more than enough recently!
ReplyDeleteI've yet to read The Haunting of Hill House, but I have read and loved We Have Always Lived in the Castle, so I know you have a treat in store.
Margaret, you may definitely send us some rain. It is in the forecast for this week. Some kind of tropical thing should raise our chances. I've started We Have Always Lived in the Castle and so far so good.
DeleteGlad you got some much needed rain, wish I could send you some of ours. We have quite a few birthdays in September (mine included) too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offer to send the rain - ha! We'll get some at some point.
DeleteWe are getting a little rain today. I had no idea there was a tropical storm in the Gulf, but apparently there was and it has blown in. So far, there's not much of anything, but we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think all your books this week qualify for R.I.P. Enjoy!
We've got some dark clouds this afternoon, but I think they said precipitation would likely be to the east of us today. Better chance for rain tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
DeleteI'm going to miss of total of 2 months of yoga, so I'm sure I'll be super creaky when I return! I had visions of doing some stretches here and there while on the road, but forgot my mat and haven't really had too much time for more than walking and biking. Maybe after this wedding weekend! I'm glad you had some rain! I hear that my neighborhood got 3" the other day. We sure needed it! Enjoy your book group discussion. The group I belong to really enjoyed the book, with just the exception of one or two members.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about planning to continue stretches, etc. Ha! I've done that too. Walking and biking are good too though. Enjoy your weekend and know the wedding will be wonderful!
DeleteThis past week was on the warm side here, but rain is predicted by the end of this week. I am looking forward to it. I am glad the birthday event went well! I would like to read The Haunting of Hill House. That's interesting about King being so influenced by Jackson, but I suppose it really isn't surprising. Lock Every Door sounds good as well.
ReplyDeleteSome parts of our area have gotten rain recently, but others have totally missed it. Hope you guys get some.
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