Currently Reading and Listening To: Sarah's Key and All The Light We Cannot See

Last week at the library I picked up a bound copy of Sarah's Key

 and the audio version of All The Light We Cannot See.

 I have had both on my TBR list for some time and though I wasn't really searching for those title in particularly, they both were available. Mr Busy and I were planning a 3 hr road trip last Saturday and we usually check out an audio book to listen to. Usually we chose a title he is interested in, David Baldacci, Dan Brown, C.J. Box and that is OK. He did not have a certain book he wanted to listen to , so I got to chose.

As it turned out we had a friend of his ride with us, so no audio. I know now, he would not have enjoyed listening while driving to this title.  Anyway, I am listening to it, in my sewing room while putting the binding on a table runner.

I also am reading Sarah's Key. I am really enjoying that one too. I find it interesting that both books take place in Paris and other cities in France at about the same time period, 1936-1942. Of course Sarah's Key also has the present time component. I did not realize the similarity. Both are moving, sometimes sad stories.

Today I am linking up with

at An Accidental Blog  . Every Monday Paulita hosts this place to post anything Dreaming of France. I don't cook at lot, have not visited France, don't have a chance to eat much authentic French cuisine, but once in a while I do read books set in France. So today I will join in the fun.  

Until next time,

Stay Busy and  Stay Happy

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Self-Help (I hope)

There is a place to share the first paragraph or two in the first chapter of a book you are reading or thinking of reading soon. Write a post and link it up with Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea.

The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life
Dr. Robin Zasio
Published by Rodale Books, 2011

Introduction

Not long ago, I was sitting at my vanity getting ready for my day. It was very early on a Monday morning, which is always my busiest day of the week. On this particular day I was not going into the office, but heading directly to my client Kate's house. This was to be the first time that she allowed me inside. We'd worked together off and on for months in my clinic, The Anxiety Treatment Center of Sacramento, but until now she'd been very resistance to letting me see exactly the state of her environment. She was on my mind as I applies make-up and fixed my hair.

I chose to feature the Introduction of this book rather than the first paragraph of the first chapter. The first several chapter are mostly citing case studies and though interesting are not particularly attention grabbing. Maybe the intro isn't either, but my sister has been urging me to read this book for the last year or two.


This is the year I have decided to "downsize", "declutter" or just plain "get rid of stuff" so I thought I would see if the library had it. It was checked out. Then along came the Fall Quarterly Back to School Challenge at Love of Reading over at Goodreads. The categories follow school subjects and there it was, pick a book from a genre you haven't read or at least not for a long time. So "self-help" it is. I checked the library and it was available.  Karma?!

So have you ever thought of reading a book like this? Do you have to scurry through the house throwing stuff in a basket, to hide in the closet, when someone shows up to visit unannounced? My house isn't like that anymore, but after 51 years of marriage there is definitely closets that need to be cleared of clothes that I will never wear and kitchen drawers that need to be rid of the clutter of utensils I will never use. And as of this day, we will not talk about my "stash" of fabric in my sewing room, although I am giving away a myriad of magazines!


Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

. 

Hail to the Chef (White House Chef Mystery #2) Cruisin Thru the Cozies.

I'm linking this review to Cruisin Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews.

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Second in the White House Chef Mysteries, finds newly appointed Executive Chef Olivia "Ollie" Paras about to embark on her first White House Holiday Season as the one in charge. Dinner parties are planned, receptions are on the books, small intimate family gatherings are also on the agenda. Everything must be perfect.

Her small staff works well together, even if there is a bit of snarkiness from Bucky, her senior chef. She will enlist the help of some temporary chefs and a few additional members of the household staff. Everything seems to be going as planned until Ollie suddenly finds herself ushered off to the bunker with the First Lady and her nephew, Sean, by two black clad Secret Service agents.

Further intrigues ensues as Ollie becomes privy to some internal happenings involving the First Lady and her nephew. After the all clear Ollie returns to the kitchen to continue to prepare for Thursday's small Thanksgiving dinner. As the preparations continue, chief electrician is killed in an accidental electrocution. Ollie finds herself involved in the why such an accident could happen to a skilled journeyman electrician. Then the First Lady's nephew is found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

All the drama continues as the Secret Service and Special Agents in Charge cover the White House looking for clues to the deaths. Ollie tries to continue under stressful circumstances, but with the help of a few friends and acquaintances, she still is suspicious of some strange happenings in the kitchen and the White House dining rooms.

Saturday Snapshots At the County Fair

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads. The rules are few, check them out at Melinda's blog.

Thursday evening we went to the County Fair. I always like to look at the exhibits of quilts, and photography, and paintings. We had our granddaughter, her husband and her son with us. Daddy decided JR would like to ride the ponies.  He did not agree. The man running the pony ride was very kind. After about 4 times around, he stopped the ponies and let Daddy take JR off.  Maybe another year! :)

They also feed the goats in the petting pen, but those goats were very persistent.  They had a baby pot bellied pig, a calf and a young alpaca. Momma did most of the feeding. JR just watched.

He really enjoyed chasing the bubbles from the bubble tower, but I did not get a picture of that!  Bad Great Gramma!


We did enjoy our time together, and that is the most important thing.



Does your family attend the County Fair in your area?

Wondrous Word Wednesday 7-29

Sharing Wondrous Words found while reading is definitely fun and a learning experience. Diane at BermudaOnion's Weblog gives us a place to do that. Come join the fun. 


This classic bildungsroman tells the story of Philip Carey, a sensitive boy born with a clubfoot who is orphaned and raised by a religious aunt and uncle.
 
Yesterday, as I was reading the posts at First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, I came across this word.   This classic bildungsroman tells the story of Philip Carey, a sensitive boy born with a clubfoot who is orphaned and raised by a religious aunt and uncle.

Sandra  at  Writing With a Texas Twang was sharing  her current read Of Human Bondage. She included the synopsis from Goodreads and even linked it to the definition. 

         noun  :  a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character. 



What Wondrous Words did you find in your reading this week?



Stay Busy and Stay Happy

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - If I Stay 7-28

Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea hosts this place to share a bit of the book you are currently reading or on you hope to read soon. It is fun to read about what others are reading and test the waters a bet to see if you might be interested in that particular title. Share the first paragraph or two of the first paragraph of the book you are reading and then link up at Diane's Blog. 



If I Stay
Gayle Forman
Penguin Goup 2009

7:09 AM
Everyone thinks it was because of the snow. And in a way, I suppose that is true.

I wake up this morning to a thin blanket of white covering our front lawn. It isn't even an inch,  but in this part of Oregon a slight dusting brings everything to a standstill as the one snowplow in the county get busy clearing the roads. It is wet water that drops from the sky - and drops and drops and drops - not the frozen kind. 

These first two paragraphs don't really give you an idea of the subject of the book. Maybe most of you have read this one or have seen the movie.

                       

When I purchased this book at a local store the clerk asked me if I had seen the movie. I said I hadn't and that I usually liked to read the book first. The lady behind me, with a walker (so she wasn't young), said "Definitely read the book first, but see the movie too."   I am finally finding time to read the book and it is so engrossing, I am having a hard time putting it down to go to sleep. I will rent the movie too.


Stay Busy and Stay Happy
Judy

Saturday Snapshots 7-25-15 Sweden Vicariously

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads. The rules are few, check them out at Melinda's blog.



I rummaged through my photos (there were very few) and decided I did not have anything of note to share. So I am sharing photos taken by my brother and sister-in-law on their recent vacation in Sweden. They were accompanied by their son and his wife. You may remember that last fall I shared photos from Seth and Mollie's honeymoon in London and Paris. Now they have traveled to Sweden. My sister-in-law has cousin in Gotland ,Sweden and so they spent several days visiting family, enjoying new foods and even picking strawberries. They also spent several days in Stockholm before flying home to Minneapolis for Seth and Mollie and Rapid City SD for my brother and SIL.

 This is a church in Gotland. My SIL's relatives helps maintain this one and I think 3-4 others.

 I am not sure where this deli is. It is  The Hairy Pig Deli, but they enjoyed the food there very much.

This is what was brought to their table.  Interesting I think. Don't your like the pig shaped bread or cracker. (At least I think that is what they are made of)

 My SIL post photos of hearts that she finds in nature and other unexpected places. She even found a heart shaped rock with a wild flower in Sweden.

 Another picture of food they ate. She commented that it was"Reindeer for dinner...please don't tell Santa!"

This photo was taken on their last day in Stockholm. I love the various colors on the buildings and the outdoor dining.

OK, so much for my photo trip to a place I'll probably never get to visit. Have you ever been to Sweden or Norway ( the land of my heritage)?