The photo that sums up Plett for me and ...the books read version

I'm not a huge fan of book reviews - both reading them and writing them.


I don't believe most reviews of books because I know I probably won't enjoy it (definitely anything serious :)) and they won't enjoy mine.

There are only two people who have the same taste in books as I do (Helene and Shayne).

That said, I still want to tell you about a few books I loved recently. These all got 4 stars - I only give life-changing books like Motherstyles 5 stars :)


Marian Keyes - Mammy Walsh's A - Z of the Walsh Family
It's a short book but laugh out loud funny. You'll love it especially if you've read her other novels.








Then in an attempt to get 3 things off my 38 things list, I read three authors I haven't read for a LONG time.

Jeffery Deaver - XO




Sinead Moriarty - This child of mine
I enjoy all Sinead Moriarty's books. ALL!



Penelope Trunk - The new american dream
People commented on my FB that she's a nutjob, etc. I personally find her to challenge my thinking a lot and I love that.  I really loved this book!

Erin Kaye - The promise of happiness
A new author to me and I was HOOKED. I've since bought a Kindle copy of this book for a friend, and another two of hers for me. I can't WAIT!




James Patterson - Now you see her
You'll read it in two days even if you work full-time and you have twins :)



Roisin Meaney - The Daisy Picker
Another new author  - LOVE LOVE LOVE
I bought another one too....


And then... Helene recommended these 2 to me - LOVED them all so here you go (esp you, Shayne :))

Linwood Barclay - Never look away

My D told me that one of these crime writers (I think Jeffery Deaver) said Linwood Barclay is someone they personally enjoy reading. Flip - you will NOT put this down. I read the sample on my kindle, bought the book at like midnight, and carried on reading til 1 that first night!

I haven't bought another yet because I can't afford to read half the night and I know that's what will happen.





Louise Millar - The Playdate
Again, brilliant!





For my birthday month, I'm going to totally indulge and read all my chick-lit on my kindle and not bother myself with physical books I have to get through :)

What are you reading at the moment? What's on your to-read list?


In other news, while we were on holiday, one morning I was literally on the floor taking pics of these boots.

If I had to choose one pic that sums up the holiday, it would be this one :) Gorgeous house, boots, sea sand....

gorgeous light - oh this house was perfect for photos

Connor sees me on the floor taking pics, nabs his boots and runs off

So I refocus just on these ones...

and then he decided to return and take these too. Caught!

Impulse control and a scattered life

In the emotional intelligence assessment my lowest score is for impulse control.

Of course this is not news to me.

I'm impatient and make decisions very quickly.

Case in point.

Apparently I signed up to contribute to another book a few weeks ago.

The first book I wrote a piece for is this one.

I just received the author's submission guidelines and then I remembered, "oh yes, that deadline is FRIDAY" so that just got bumped to the top of my to-do list.

On the bright side, this lack of impulse control is also the reason I get a lot of things done because I first go with my gut and say yes, and then figure out the how later.

Ha!

Fun times.

Seriously though, I have enough awareness that I "sleep on things" or wait til I'm calm before dealing with most things so that I'm just a tad more level-headed.

The psychologist who is training us said I'm not a basket case (yet) because I have a high score for stress tolerance. If they were both low, then whoa - watch out!

Where are you with impulse control on a scale of 1 - 10?

I'd say I'm a 5 naturally, and I adapt to be about a 7 through my "coping" behaviours.

In other news...

Last night I finished a book, A Scattered Life, that I so, so, so enjoyed. One of the best fiction books I've read in a couple of months.

I don't want to give away the plot or the ending (hate it when people do that!) so those who are readers and are going to read it, tell me when you're done and we'll "chat" about it here.

And because I'm weird (yes, I am and not at all ashamed), I googled the author and found her blog. I left a nice comment because I think we could all use some validation.

I do love "meeting" authors through online media - it makes them so real and accessible and I love it! I'm off to get to know her some more now :)
Speaking of validation... I need to tell you all about an AHA moment I had on the emotional intelligence course. Will have to wait for next week!

Do you read any authors' blogs?

PS I read Mary DeMuth's blog because she gives great tips for the writer (as you all know, I like to consider myself one :)) and of course, Angie Smith's (but that one doesn't really count as I was reading her well before she ever thought about writing Audrey's story.

A lovely day

Doesn't that sound like a Joanna Trollope novel?!

Today I took a sick day - my first "normal" sick day in 5 and a half years.

I have been off sick before but only for the laparoscopies/ laparotomies which doesn't really count, does it?

Anyway, it was lovely.

Despite the light-headedness.

• I finished 3 books. Before you're amazed by my super-fast reading skills, I was 20 pages into one, 20 pages away from the end of another and about 40% through the third, so I'd say I read 2 books. All non-fiction.

• I played on the floor with the babies. Because of the light-headedness. And because that's what I do so they can crawl all over me.
• Went to get my hair blowdried. That was a necessity. The hairdresser is a block away and strangely enough, I was fine driving.
• Wrote out a few Christmas cards.
• Logged onto work and did about an hour's work (which would have taken 2 hours in the office)
  
• Cooked!
• Wrote my newsletter
  

All in all, a good day.

D came home from work pooped from looking after me and the babies this weekend and was fast asleep at 9:30 :)

Now onto the reading...


I mentioned last Wednesday that I was reading two blog books.

Sippy Cups are not for Chardonnay - Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

I found this book honest and refreshing and, of course, funny. After she wrote this one, she went on to have twins. One of which had TONS of problems. I read her blog for awhile but at that stage we were worried about Kendra's eating and reading this one fuelled by crazy. So I stopped. Maybe I should start again?

It sucked and then I cried - Heather Armstrong

This is the famous Dooce's book. I honestly don't recommend it. I found it rambly and most of the book seemed to have absolutely no point. Like I couldn't tell what the point was of telling a particular story. Maybe it's just me?

Did any of you read either of these and what did you think?

P.S. Thanks to those 3 books, I've already reached my reading goal for the month. Go me!