The Week in Review: 08.25.2017
Between the Covers
Finished last week:
It’s no secret that we’re football fans around here. We prefer college – specifically the Virginia Tech Hokies – but do keep up with a few NFL teams so I was excited to pick up THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BECOME A GRIDIRON KNOW-IT-ALL by Gary Gramling. This book is loaded with stats for young football geeks as well as those new to the sport. It also explains strategies of the game and includes trivia about players and teams. There are even tips on watching a game and there’s an easy recipe included. I really appreciate the fact that Gramling includes a page titled, “Lose With Dignity” that gives tips on how to be a good sport. Now that football season is upon us, you’ll want to grab a copy of THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK for all the young sports fans in your life. I thought it was terrific and I’m way past the target audience. (Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media.)
FIERCE KINGDOM by Gin Phillips starts as Joan and her four year old son are getting ready to leave the zoo at closing time. As they near the exit, Joan realizes something’s not right – a couple of gunmen are killing people – so she quickly turns around and heads back to the zoo to hide. Luckily, she and Lincoln visit the zoo often so she knows its layout well. As Joan figures out what she needs to do to survive and to save her son, she has to make some tough decisions. This story that could have been snatched from the headlines grabbed me from the start and never let go. The moral dilemmas Joan faces as she works to save herself and her son and the unexpected twists along the way kept me invested in this book the whole time. Even though it’s a tough read in places, I really liked FIERCE KINGDOM. Cassandra Campbell does a great job narrating the audio version of the book. I found a lot to think about as I listened to this book and wanted to talk about it so I’m sure it would make a great book club pick. (Review copy provided by Penguin Random House.)
Currently reading:
- THE BLINDS by Adam Sternbergh
- WATCH ME DISAPPEAR by Janelle Brown
- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S WISE WORDS by K. M. Kostyal
On the Screen
Not a thing.
Off the blog
- We were in the path of totality so this week’s solar eclipse was a very big deal around here. There were a lot of visitors from out of town so we were very busy. There were lots of parties and I loved seeing everyone from the shopping center come outside to watch things. The eclipse itself was awesome.
- I played trivia with some friends on Wednesday and we came in first.
- Carl and I have been shopping for a new car for a while and finally bought one this week. I hate the whole car buying process so I’m glad that’s over.
- I walked at least three miles every day and averaged almost 19,500 Fitbit steps a day.
- It’s been 14 days since Carl’s iCloud account was hacked with ransomware, taking out all of his Apple products. Apple Support has been giving him the runaround, promising they’d have his iPhone and iPad up and running Monday and telling him he’d have to take his Mac to the Apple Store for resolution. Monday came and went without the promised return to service. He got his Mac back late last night and we should know soon whether their solution worked. This has been a frustrating experience to say the least and we’ve been very unimpressed with Apple Support.
How was your week?
Great eclipse picture!
I’ve been back and forth on whether to read Fierce Kingdom! I’m keeping it on the back burner for when I crave a page turner.
And looks like you’re tackling some BOTM picks 🙂
How cool that you were in the totality path! Fierce Kingdom is on my list too. Maybe my next listen. I liked Watch Me Disappear.
You’re going to like Watch Me Disappear. It’s a good one.
I watched the eclipse on tv – we were cloudy and not in the path of totality. Hope the Apple issues are resolved soon (to your satisfaction!).
Great eclipse picture, and how awesome that you were in the path of totality. I know that there was another one in 1979, but I don’t remember a thing about it! I was absorbed in my own stuff, I guess.
How frustrating about the iCloud hack and all the issues since then! Should we get rid of our Apple products?
Fierce Kingdom sounds intense and scary….
I recently downloaded Watch Me Disappear, so I’m eager to find out more. Enjoy your weekend!
Took my grandson to the zoo last week, glad I didn’t read the book before I went! LOL Looks like your both enjoyed the eclipse. We had a viewing box and had fun. Sorry about the hack and hope it does get resolved.
Work started up in earnest this week so I’ve been much busier. And I am in a reading break it seems. I haven’t read anything for about 5 days, which feels strange. This book sounds familiar and I can’t figure out if I saw a trailer for it or just read about it on your blog or somene else’s! 🙂
I wanna see one too
I have Fierce Kingdom on audio. Love the eclipse photo. We weren’t in the path and had so many clouds we didn’t get much of anything. It did get a little darker for a few min. and that was it.
Hope things with Apple get resolved soon.
Now I am just a bit hesitant about reading Fierce Kingdom. I hate car buying, too! I envy your steps every single week. I still feel maxed out by mine but I guess I need to just force myself to do more!
You convinced me to try FIERCE KINGDOM! Enjoy your new car!
We missed the eclipse (on purpose), but know a lot of people who were able to see it and were impressed. I am glad you got to see it! I hate having to buy a car too. It takes forever and is such a painful process. I am glad you were able to find one you liked.
Fierce Kingdom is new to me, but it does sound good. I will have to look for that one.
I hope everything with Carl’s iCloud is resolved. What a nightmare!
Have a great week, Kathy!
Oh no – sorry Apple Support isn’t helping. I hope things get worked out soon!
That’s awesome you had a nice sighting for the eclipse. I didn’t have glasses, but it also didn’t get too dark near me.
-lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I love the eclipse pictures. I hope the Apple solution worked after all the run around.
I’m so glad you got such a great view of the eclipse. I like the picture with your glasses. I’m so sorry about Carl’s Apple experience.. This concerns me since our family are all Apple users. Here’s hoping everything works out okay.
LOVE the spacey pic of you and Carl 🙂 Are you ready for some football?? We play tomorrow night. Whoop!
Sorry to hear about Apple Support. Ugh. What a terrible experience for you both. Glad though that your eclipse experience went well and that Fierce Kingdom sounds great on audio! I’ll have to put my name on a wait list for it. thanks!