Sunday Notes On Monday 1/20/14

Wow, what a week! It was wildly busy, but at least the weather warmed up to a toasty 32 degrees—or so. I’m not complaining. I actually like cold weather, and I love watching it snow… just not while I’m driving. Winter has its perks: you can always layer up or down. But when it’s hot? There’s only so much you can peel off in public before things get awkward.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that every Sunday I play a little game with myself. The first section I turn to in the Washington Post is the Outlook section, which includes the book reviews. I flip to the last page to check out the Washington Bestseller list. This week’s list focused on hardcovers—it alternates between paperbacks and hardcovers. You can find my scoring system in the May 6th post.

Once again, I didn’t quite hit my goal. But there’s a new number one on the bestseller list that I’ve added to my reading list: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. Many of you might recognize her name—she’s the author of several other books, including The Secret Life of Bees, which I absolutely loved, and The Mermaid Chair.

If you’re in the mood for a light, fun read, I just finished Big Girl Panties. Look out for my post about it this Wednesday. It’s not too deep—think romance, humor, and a breezy pace. If that’s what you’re after, this one’s for you.

In case you missed my posts from this past week, be sure to check out The First Phone Call From Heaven and The Cake Mix Doctor. I especially recommend The Cake Mix Doctor for those of you who don’t bake often. The author takes a basic cake mix and transforms it with a few clever additions—resulting in something far more interesting and delicious. I love it! I’ve already started experimenting on friends, and since they’re still speaking to me, I’d say it’s going well!

Looking ahead to my upcoming reads, I’ve got The Circle and The Last Patriot on deck. The Last Patriot isn’t new, but I’ve enjoyed other books by the author, and this one promises to be another fast-paced thriller. Perfect for a bit of escapism and relaxation.

Wishing you a wonderful week—and happy reading!