2021-02-13

My week in books (not only) #56 - The Sunday Salon


 
 
Hello, I'm linking back to The sunday salon held by Deb at Readerbuzz. Click on the links to access their posts and discover plenty of great bloggers who are dying to share their book reviews, and other things, with you ! 

 *°*° LIFE UPDATES °*°* 



It snowed during tuesday night, we woke up with a beautiful white carpet covering everything and I congratulated myself on having done grocery shopping just the day before. The cats were perplex : snow ? It's cold. It's wet. Our eldest cat went out to take a (short) look at it but kept shaking her paws and quickly came home. The next day, said eldest cat went out and killed a red robin... When we adopted her 3 years ago, she was about to be put down because too old to be adopted again (14), she was chubby, she had trouble jumping on the sofa. It seems she's much better now, poor robin...

If I keep working from home, I really, really need a new chair, more comfortable. I finished visiting The Sunday Salon commenters wednesday evening and was really glad to stand up then go lie down on my belly to do some reading ! I spent the majority of the end of the week searching for ideas to make my home better. I found some, I'll share later.

At the beginning of the week, I had a reading slump. I had read several grim books, with deaths (even the death of a *****, who would believe it ! - no spoiler) so I badly needed some fun and reverted to a cozy mystery with cats that Mareli talked about (she had me at "hysterical laughter"). It was a nice change, the prequel was short and really fun (you can get it if you subscribe to the author's newsletter). It made me realise that I need more fun books lying around, just in case. And just after I bought it, I remembered I have The switch by Beth O'Leary on my Kindle. Too late !

 *°*° LAST WEEK °*°* 

 
The collection isn't serving its purpose with this one
 
Rimbaud's poetry - review in French and English
 
It grows on you : the more I think about it, 
the more I'm tempted to raise the rating ! 
 
A French classic re-read : review in French and English
 
Review of a short tale by Elizabeth Gaskell
 
Part 3 of my morning routine : work out !

 

   *°*° BOOKS READ °*°* 

 
 
 
 

 
 *°*° CURRENTLY READING °*°*  
 

 
 

 *°*° BOOK HAUL °*°* 

It was free, there are cats in it and I needed some stress-relief 

The other was the prequel, this is book #1, I needed more fun and with it only 0,99€, it's almost as if I didn't buy any book ?... I know, reaching here...

 *°*° ON YOUTUBE °*°*  

Leanne announces this year's Irish readathon -
I don't know if I'll participate - or maybe just read some Oscar Wilde...
 
The only way to catch me watching sports (even Superbowl) is if there is some rock'n'roll thrown in, with one of my favourite bands : Green Day !


 *°*° ON THE NET °*°*  

I found some new French blogs to follow - on home organizing

34 comments:

  1. Nice pictures. It's so sweet you adopted an elder cat. They need love too.

    I want to read the Tracey Drew books. They look like my kind of books.

    Hope you have a great week!

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    1. And boy, does she need love ! She meows loudly to claim our attention - she never comes to us (unless she's hungry), we have to come to her but she loves company and would be petted non-stop if she had her say. I think that you'll love the cozies, yes, they're right up your alley :) Thanks Yvonne !

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  2. Your snow is pretty. Poor Robin, but I'll bet your cat feels pretty proud of itself. Mine limit their hunting to bugs, making guttural sounds at birds and eying the squirrels.

    I'm glad you found a fun, light cozy series to enjoy between your dreary reads.

    Have a good week, Iza!

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    1. She was awfully proud, fretting and not understanding at all why we took the bird away instead of letting her carry it home. Thanks Sophia, you too !

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  3. Hi IzaBzh! Aaaah, thanks so much for the shout out. It means the world to me.

    I do feel sorry for the little robin, but that's nature and I'm proud of your old cat. Elza is fortunately not much bigger than most birds, so she just sits and mews at them. Stinkie does hunt, but he never brings his trophies home.

    Glad you got a few nice cozies, it appears as if the weather is just perfect for that on your side. It's as hot as hell here with us, but no complaining from my side. I am a summer baby and always will be.

    Hope you will have a wonderful week!

    Elza Reads

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    1. You're welcome ;) I am somehow proud of her too, she's in much better health than when we adopted her - and she's quicker than she looks ! I enjoyed the cozies, especially the prequel. Now I'm ready for some Agatha Christie - with the windows open, because now, it's almost warm outside...

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  4. Love the photos of the snow. I've only seen snow a handful of times so it's always a novelty for me. :) Hope you have a wonderful week with lots of good reading.

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    1. The snow was almost completely melted by Sunday evening. It will be a nice memory, but I prefer driving my car on a dry road ^^ Thanks Tanya, I'm enjoying myself, hope you do too !

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  5. I can only take so much grim reading before I need something light and lovely.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. Especially in those days, when it was cold and muddy outside. We have been promised 17° and sunshine on saturday, I'm going out !!! Thanks ShelleyRae :)

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  6. Look at that beautiful snow. We have a chance at some snow this week, and that's incredible for us. Glad you were able to get in a grocery run before the snow arrived.

    If people are going to work from home, I agree---you need some comfortable surroundings.

    Not sure I could read Nietzsche right now. I haven't been very successful with reading heavier titles during the pandemic. I think your idea of light mysteries is good.


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    1. Fingers crossed for the snow ;) I needed much lighter, I was feeling a little down these previous days but I'm hoping to (finally) go for a day out and really, I am eager !

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  7. Gosh, the poor robin, but glad that your cat has adapted SO well! We like to say our pets aren't murderers but boy, who are we kidding. My dog killed many voles in our previous house. Since said voles were going to destroy my garden (also considered living things right?), we didn't mind but we never looked at her the same way again. You just never know...

    I love how the land looks after a snow. So peaceful, pure, and powerful. It looks like we are going to get a lot of snow here this year. It's not unusual for this place if you compare with how it used to be but the last many years have been warmer.

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    1. And the quality of the sound is different with snow, so peaceful, almost cosy :) Yes, we're not used to snow anymore, it was a beautiful present this year - I didn't have to drive, just look ! This week is warmer, we had our window open later on the sun - weird weather !

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  8. We are still waiting for our snow. I think the forecast said it hits around Noon, which is 40 minutes from now.

    Oh yes, the poor robin. Sigh. Cats...

    Ugh. I need a new office chair, too. I want a white and chrome one. There's just so many out there to choose from I get overwhelmed online shopping before I get around to clicking the BUY button. Ridiculous I know. Just pick one, Jinjer!!!

    Glad to hear you got over your reading slump!

    Have a great week!

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    1. So, did you get your snow ? There are so many beautiful chairs, I spotted one in a store, red and black with an airy back (good when it's too hot, you can put a cover on it when it's cold), I think I'm going to stop resisting it :) Thanks Jinger !

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  9. I like the idea of the Knitty Kitty mysteries even though I have never read a cozy mystery before.

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    1. I have read a few of them, but I just can't quote a title or a series just now... I need to have a "comfort books" stack somewhere in case, you never know ;)

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  10. I love watching/reading about home organising, my house badly needs a good declutter so it can be very inspiring!

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    1. Once I'm done with morning and evening routine, I'll tackle the organisation part. I love watching and reading about those too, it gives me ideas... and motivation ;)

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  11. Beautiful snow photos! It sounds like your elder cat has thrived in your care... poor bird though. Glad you found some lighter reads... we all need a break from darker, more serious books sometimes. Have a good week.

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    1. It's all melted, couldn't last forever... We've been promised sun and 17° in two days ! Aelig was so, so very proud of herself, I bet it's the one and only bird she caught in her whole life. Thanks JoAnn :)

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  12. The Tracey Drew books look fun. Have a good week. My Sunday Salon Post

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    1. They are, especially the first :) Thanks Anne !

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  13. Nice program! I love Rimbaud, but so hated La Princesse de Clèves. I am almost shocked it's still on the list pour le Bac de français.
    Right now, with one of my students who had the highest score for AP French, we study 21st century French authors. Authors I wished my teachers would have offered for study, I mean really authors contemporary with the years we were in.

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    1. My daughters hated the Princesse too ! They were studying me when I was reading it, trying to guess if I would love it ^^ It's a good thing to teach 21st century authors when studying French, it makes sense.

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  14. Aww poor robin. Glad to hear your cat has come around though! We have snow here too- I'm quite over it haha, but it is pretty and I like the crisp air. It might be a little TOO crisp though!

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    1. It was very crisp a couple of days ago, but today ? Windows wide open on the blazing sun !

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  15. We've had some snow here too. Poor Robin, but cats will be cats.
    If you're employed by a company then perhaps you could get some funding for a more comfortable chair, as it's a health and safety issue after all.
    I really enjoy cozy mysteries with cats in. I might check some of these out.

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    1. I hope you like them if you find them, it was perfect reading this with snow and cold all around but a good cup of tea nearby :)

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  16. Pretty snow! I always enjoy seeing the pictures but am so glad I don't have to be in it. The poor little robin. My two cats are indoor only, and so they only get to see the birds from the window. The content themselves with going after spiders or other bugs that sometimes find their way into the house. I am glad you were able to end your slump with some lighter reads! I hope you have a great week!

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    1. My youngest cat stays indoor, I'm afraid she would be run over by a car because she's so carefree, but I didn't expect grandma cat to become such a hunter ! The youngest is an insecticide with paws ^^ Thanks Wendy !

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  17. Well it's great you like cats and Green Day, we are in agreement there. And I too am 55. 1965 was a vintage year. After a grim book lately -- I could use more fun reads as well. I will keep looking. Cheers.

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    1. Best year ;) I think the book I'm reading now (Travelling cat chronicles) will be bitter-sweet, but Agatha Christie's next !

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