The Week in Review: 04.28.2017

Between the Covers

Finished last week:

I picked up A MILLION LITTLE THINGS by Susan Mallery at a time when I was pretty distracted and it was exactly what I needed.  The third book in the Mischief Bay series focuses on friends Zoe and Jen.  Zoe has just broken up with her long term boyfriend and is questioning her life choices.  Jen is a young wife and mother who is obsessed with her child.  When Zoe starts dating Jen’s brother and Jen’s mom starts dating Zoe’s dad things get a little complicated.  I thought the book was a sweet, easy read.  It was a little predictable but that was just what I needed when I read it.  Even though it’s part of a series, the book stands alone just fine.  This is a terrific summer read!  (Review copy provided by Tandem Literary.)

PRINCESS CORA AND THE CROCODILE by Laura Amy Schlitz is a beautiful book for the 4 to 8 year old set.  It’s about an over scheduled princess who longs to get out and play with a pet.  When her parents say no, she sends a wish to her fairy godmother who sends her a crocodile.  The princess and the crocodile trade places and everyone learns a lesson in a fun, silly way.  It’s a terrific message for both kids and parents.  This book is beautifully illustrated by Brian Floca and is printed on high quality paper.  PRINCESS CORA AND THE CROCODILE is exactly what you’d expect from a Newbery Medalist and a Caldecott Medalist.  (Review copy provided by Candlewick Press.)

GEORGIA by Dawn Tripp started out a little slow for me.  I had to adjust to the tone of the novel since it’s told in the present tense and adjust my expectations.  Going in, I knew it’s historical fiction about artist Georgia O’Keeffe but thought it was about her whole life.  Once I realized, and accepted, it’s about her relationship with her photographer and art promoter husband Alfred Stieglitz, I was able to relax and enjoy the story.  Theirs was a complicated and fascinating relationship for sure.  If you enjoy historical fiction and/or art, you’re sure to enjoy this book the way I did!

Currently reading:

• THE BREAKDOWN by B. A. Paris
• THE STRANGER IN THE WOODS by Michael Finkel

On the Screen

I enjoyed this week’s episode of Dancing with the Stars but was shocked to see Heather and Maks get voted off because I thought they would probably make the finals.  I thought both team dances were fun.  My favorites are still Normani and Val and Rashad and Emma.

Off the blog

• It’s our local craft beer week and I’ve been participating in some of the events.  On Sunday, two friends and I ran in a three mile relay at a local brewery.  We were the only all female team and we didn’t do too well but we had a lot of fun.  On Tuesday I went to a local brewery to taste a beer Vance helped brew and then, on Wednesday. my friends and I went to a local brewery to make a beer stein.   They’ll be taken back to the studio to be fired and glazed and we’ll get them back in a few weeks.  It was a lot of fun, but I don’t have high hopes for my stein.  Our event is this evening and we’re hoping for a good crowd.

• I finished my jigsaw puzzle.  Isn’t it great?
• We had a few cool, wet days this week and got 3.5 inches of rain.
• I didn’t get to walk on Sunday because of the rain but walked 3 miles every other day and averaged just over 15,150 Fitbit steps a day.
• Vance hurt his back and Carl’s foot is swollen so I worked hard this week!

What’s going on in your corner of the world?