I have been a very bad blogger for the past two weeks. After I wrote all my catch-up reviews last Monday the 12th, I didn’t write a post and hardly even looked at my blog until just this morning. I have been at my parents’ house, and since I hadn’t seen them in nearly six months, I thought it was worth ignoring blogging for a bit. I did go around and leave a few comments, but what I really needed was a break from writing. I know writing is an art that gets better with practice, but after constantly writing every day for four months, I think I was getting enough practice and just needed a rest!
Luckily, I’ve returned with what I think may be an increased zest for blogging, and even if that only shows up with timely reviews, I hope I can stick to it a little more firmly than I have the past few months. So I hope I’m back, with more effort to put in than I had before!
Keith and I had a fantastic trip to the States. Once we got there (I hate flying, so that part was not so great!) we settled in for nearly two weeks of unhealthy food, time spent with parents and relatives, and tourism in my former corner of the world. We went to New York City or close to it three times and had the opportunity to go up the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and tour Ellis Island. We had walks around Times Square and Central Park and didn’t spend nearly enough time in the American Museum of Natural History. We also paid that all-important visit to The Strand, even though it involved walking almost 70 blocks downtown in 90+ degree heat. It was definitely not a cheap trip, but we wanted to treat it like a proper holiday.
I read, too, mostly making an effort to get through a few of the review copies that had accumulated there for the past few months. I finished off:
I enjoyed all of them to varying degrees and I plan on reviewing them over this week and next week. I’m also thinking about my reading plan going forward; I brought back a load of books with me and I really need to prioritize! In the meantime, though, I’m reading The Magicians and Mrs Quent, an absolutely charming fantasy book that I can’t wait to tell you about.
How have you all been the past two weeks? Have I missed anything exciting on your blog?
Welcome back, Meghan! Good work on all those ARCs! I’d feel very accomplished if I were you.
Aarti´s last post …Review- Operation Monsoon
I can’t believe you walked over 70 block in 90+ heat..which in the city is even worse. Bless you. Glad you made it alive…I would have passed out. No joke. Sounds like you had a great time and wow, you did a lot of reading this week. I have to read The Passage. I started it and then had to read something else and reluctantly put it aside.
I had some interesting books I really loved and posted a couple on my blog. The Lady of the Butterflies and My Name is Mary Sutter stand out as 5 star books. Glad to have you back.
Wisteria Leigh´s last post …Sunday Salon-July 25- 2010
You did the right thing – your family is so much more important than your blog. That’s not to say that we didn’t miss you, but I’m sure they’ve missed you even more the 6 months you were apart. We’re glad to see you back.
Welcome back, Meghan! I completely understand why you ignored blogging these past few weeks. I’m glad you had such a great trip, and I look forward to your review of The Magicians and Mrs Quent – which I’ve been dying to read ever since Memory reviewed it.
Nymeth´s last post …The 1930s Mini-Challenge- Final Round-Up
Welcome back! Living actual life is a good enough excuse not to be blogging for a while! I look forward to your catch-up reviews!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last post …July 25- 2010 – National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
There are times when everyone needs a break from blogging! It sounds like you had a great trip.
heidenkind´s last post …Musical Notes- Twice Bitten Edition!
Welcome back Meghan! So glad you enjoyed NY…I loved it there when I visited, but thank goodness it wasn’t as hot as you had it!
I look forward to your reviews!
Phew…I’m exhausted from just reading about your crazy week!
I have to say that I’m a little bummed you didn’t like To Defy a King as much as you thought you would….I look forward to your review!
Have a great week Katherine!
HERE is my Sunday post.
Welcome back!
It sounds like you had a wonderfully relaxing time in the states and rejuvenated enough to last for a while.
I am impressed with the books you managed to read in that short time period!
I wanted to share with you my marvelous half price bookstore find: The Time Taveller’s Guide to Medieval England! I had a 50% off coupon, so in essence, purchased the book at 75% off. I am very anxious to read this as enrichment material to the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales that I teach in October.
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No worries about putting the blog aside while you traveled. We’ve all done it. It sounds like you had a great time though. It’s always refreshing, and I’m reminded this summer that when I travel, it somehow makes me appreciate my daily life more.
Looks like you read some really great books while you were away. I’m seriously impressed, and feeling a bit like a slouch when it comes to my own reading list!
Becky´s last post …Reading as Research
Sounds like you both had a fantastic visit to the States. You were right to let the blogging sit while you enjoyed family and time off from work. I can’t wait to hear about the new fantasy — it’s a title I’m not familiar with.
Beth F´s last post …Weekend Cooking- Review- Chocolat Film
So glad that you had such a nice trip! I would love to visit The Strand one day. I think every blogger gets tired of writing at some point, so it’s good to take a little break every now and then. I also have read a couple of books on you waiting to be reviewed pile, and I can’t wait to hear what you thought of them all! I am glad that you are back!
zibilee´s last post …My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira — 384 pgs
I’m glad you had a good trip!!
Stephanie´s last post …The Sunday Salon
Sounds like you had a lovely time. Sometimes it’s fun to be a tourist in somwhere you’ve lived, you almost never do the tourist stuff while living there. Must email you about that potential get together by the way.
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