Between one Monday and the next sometimes feels very short and some feel long. This week feels like it went on forever, mainly because of so much happening here in NZ in terms of a volcanic eruption that caused so much suffering for those who happened to be right there. Tourists were caught up in it. So very hard and sad.
On a different note we had our Christmas extended family gathering on Saturday. Family came from some distance away from around the country, some flying in, some driving all day. I loved seeing all the young ones. I came home though exhausted and spent all day Sunday recovering, hardly even feeling like even reading. Such is the introvert way of life!
In this photo I love how there I am sitting on the floor videoing on my iPad and my sister-in-law has a snap of that from behind us. Santa is busy with the gift giving for the littlies. Note the summer Christmas!
What I read last week:
I finally finished listening to this book. It was very good on audio. While I found the poverty and its consequences so heart breaking, the heroine Cussie Mary was such a kind hearted and good woman. Oh the prejudice got to me too. I found very little similarities between this and Jojo Moyes Giver of Stars apart from setting and being about the book women (and some men) who brought books in the 1930’s in the Kentucky hills.
I also read these. Never Have I Ever was good – a little different and thought provoking. Runaway is up for review in January.
What I am reading now:
A little way into this – intriguing and a little different to what I usually read but a little stretch is good now and then.
Will start listening – hopefully to day to this. “They” are all saying how good it is!
Up next:
The Book Date 
Love the photo and a wonderful haul.
LikeLike
I really want to look into Regretting You by Colleen Hoover.
LikeLike
We’re getting ready to drive through the snow and ice to our big family Christmas, although at the stage of the game we don’t have many littles. Looks like you had some cosy reading times last week!
LikeLike
I hope you have a safe trip. I love the littles. They are such fun and while I don’t have any of my own, my brothers and sisters grandchildren keep me young!
LikeLike
What a big family you have and how fun to see all of those littles!
LikeLike
Stefanie, yes a big extended family and it is lovely to meet up at least once in a year.
LikeLike
Oh I love your picture – looks like such a fun Christmas gathering. I really want to pick up some of the older Emilie Richards books. I love her books! Have a great week!
LikeLike
What a wonderful gathering!!
Love the photo!! I’d love a summer Christmas!!
Hope you are back on track and rested…ENJOY your week and your reading.
LikeLike
Wow, lots of family 😀
LikeLike
Wow, how fun! What a big family – must have been a fun celebration with all those kids 🙂 And, yes, you read my mind – very weird seeing a Christmas tree and people in summer clothes!
Glad you liked Never Have I Ever – I did, too. Hope you enjoy Celine. I met the author, and he said the story was based very much on real-life, on the life of his own mother and things that happened to her! (did I already tell you that?) It was funny because he said that people kept telling him certain parts of the book were not believable, but those were the true parts! Celine is a pretty fascinating character – a kick-ass older woman 🙂
Enjoy your ongoing holiday celebrations – and your books! Thanks for hosting the linkup –
Sue
Book By Book
LikeLike
Glad you had a good time celebrating with your family! And it’s really unfortunate about the volcano incidents. If the planet could just chill for a little while 😦
Here’s to a good week, bookish and otherwise! 🙂
LikeLike
I’m hoping to get to Regretting You this week. Hope we both love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a great family photo! But I hear you, sometimes it is so hard to “people” when you are an introvert, even if it is your own family whom you love.
I heard about that tragedy with the volcano. So very sad. 😦
Have a wonderful week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a nice family celebration! The Robyn Carr book looks really good. Hope you have a great week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heard about the horrible eruptions there. How very sad.
Glad you had such a lovely gathering. Great photo.
Thanks for sharing your books. Enjoy your week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great group photo. I love the large holiday gatherings but relish the quiet following 🙂 I hope you enjoy the new Robyn Carr book (I did). Have a good week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That looks like a wonderful family Christmas celebration!
The Booksoman of Troublesome Creek is on my Dear Santa list 🙂
Wishing you a great reading week
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christmas in San Diego where I grew up sometimes felt like a summer day. Except for two years where we went to Canada for the holiday we’ve not had snow. Coastal California does rain in winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard a little bit about that eruption! So sorry to hear that! How scary and heartbreaking for those affected.
Love the pic! Looks like an awesome family gathering! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great family photo. That is interesting to have such a sunny Christmas.
I imagine the volcano situation is tragic. I added that to my natural disaster prayer list.
I hope this is a good week for you.
Happy Reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The volcanic eruptions sounded terrible…so glad you are okay, and that you had such a great family gathering.
I want to read The Country Guesthouse, and I am curious about Runaway. Enjoy your week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a fun celebration! Looking forward to the Hoover books too.
LikeLiked by 1 person