It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, what the rest of the family and I have been reading and watching, and what I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.
I finished Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals by Sharon Mondragon last week and really enjoyed it. I could see this one being a movie. I will write a longer review later but I loved the characters and the story overall.
In case you are curious about it, here is a description:
In a small town where gossip flows like sweet tea, bedridden Mary Ruth McCready reigns supreme, doling out wisdom and meddling in everyone’s business with a fervor that would make a matchmaker blush. When her best friend, Charlotte Harrington, has her world rocked by a scandalous revelation from her dying husband P. B., Mary Ruth kicks into high gear, commandeering the help of her favorite granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth, in tracking down the truth. Finding clues in funeral condolence cards and decades-old gossip dredged up at the Blue Moon Beauty Emporium, the two stir up trouble faster than you can say “pecan pie.”
And just when things are starting to look up, in waltzes Camilla “Millie” Holtgrew, a blast from P. B.’s past, with a grown son and an outrageous claim to Charlotte’s inheritance. But as Grandma Ruth always says when things get tough, “God is too big.” With him, nothing is impossible–even bringing long-held secrets to light. Grandma Ruth and Sarah just might have to ruffle a whole mess of feathers to do it.
Next up I am continuing The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight. So far it is very dry and dull so I may toss it aside but I’d love to get to the years where he worked as a vet and some of the behind the scenes stories first. We will see how it goes.
I also started The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien, which will be my slow read for the next couple of months. I am loving it so far, even if we lost one of the team on the first page. *sniff*
I started The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis the other night for my Middle Grade March read. I also hope to read Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery for Middle Grade March. Little Miss and I are reading Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorenson for school, which is a re-read for me.
Once those are done, I hope to start Whose Body? By Dorothy L. Sayers. I’ve never read anything by her so we will see how I like her.
The Husband is on his 25th book of the year. Sigh. He reads fast but has also had some extra time to read this year so that’s cool for him. Or whatever. *wink*
He is reading Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley.
I have been watching more historical farming shows this past week and not a ton else. I actually read more than watched things.
This upcoming week I hope to watch more Murder She Wrote and a couple of old movies.
I started writing book four of the Gladwynn Grant series this past week.
On the blog I shared:
- A new film event for April! Get ready!
- Fiction Friday: Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing Chapters 11 and 12
- Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot! Come Link Up With Us!
- Winter of Fairbanks Jr.: The Sun Never Sets (1939)
- Hodge Podge: A bit about March, celery, and historical farm shows
- Currently March: What am I loving, craving, pinning, planning, and appreciating
- Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Notable Quotes from Fictional Book Characters
Now it’s Your Turn!
What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.
This post is linked up with The Sunday Post at Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, The Sunday Salon with Deb at Readerbuzz, and Book Date: It’s Monday! What are you reading hosted by Kathyrn at The Book Date.
In addition to my blog, I write fiction, and you can learn more about my books here: https://lisahoweler.com/my-books-2/
I also have a Substack where I share about my writing journey or books.
Discover more from Boondock Ramblings
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Pingback: Sunday Bookends: Warmer weather and my socially introverted family – Boondock Ramblings
I have so many of Mondragon’s books on my TBR that she’ll have to move up on my priorities! I loved reading the Chronicles of Narnia series! Is Middle Grade March Read a reading challenge? Happy reading to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would move this one up your list. It was really charming to me and such a nice escape. I breezed through it.
LikeLike
Grandma Ruth does look like good reading. Maybe James Herriot’s life from his son’s point of view could be quite different to what was. I enjoyed Emily of New Moon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is very accurate I think but just…well, a bit dull without his father’s storytelling abilities.
LikeLike
Funny, just today my brother and I talked about the Lord of the Rings trilogy and I said that the second book was not my favorite. I struggled with that one.
I finished the last Marcia Muller last night. It was okay, but I still rolled my eyes a lot.
Then I started a Margery Allingham right now (I ordered a bunch of her books used from one seller). I also have a Ngaio Marsh lying here, but I’m not much of a fan of jumping between two books of the same genre.
LikeLike
Have you ever read Erle Stanley Gardner? I have read one of his books and am starting another. I like it so far. I want to try Margery Allingham. I didn’t make it through one page of Dorothy Sayer..but maybe the wrong book.
So far I like the second book in the trilogy, but we will see if I continue to like it.
LikeLike
Many of your books look familiar to me. I’ve read Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. I hope you enjoy everything on your stack. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the Grandma Ruth book looks really good!!! And yay I am so glad you are going to read Emily of New Moon soon; I want to talk about it!! Lol.
I always picture your husband at his job as a newspaper editor with his feet up on his desk, reading a book, and then when the old fashioned phone from the 1940s rings, he answers it and slams it down, running out the door to chase the story. I am sure this 100 % accurate. Lol. (jk, obviously lol)
LikeLike
Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals sounds good. The other books look good. I haven’t read any of them, although I would like to read LOTR at some point. We struggle to find things to watch on TV. The kids get restless so we can’t have anything too involved on.
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am finishing up a palate cleanser, but I forget the name of it. I’d look, but I’m actually
LikeLiked by 1 person
hit post too soon!! I’m actually at a swim meet for my grandson, but he doesn’t swim for an hour. So, I’m catching up on emails! Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go to Funerals Anymore sounds really good. I’m going to look for that before diving into another dark book which seem drawn to me like a magnet. It’s probably a ghost pepper in spiciness…using Erin’s tags! We are watching Legacies which has to have been on the CW! We just keep watching those kinds of shows. I’m done writing my mini retreat. Now, I have to firm up all the details, especially what I’m going to wear…hahaha!!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
LikeLiked by 2 people
There are so many shows and books out there it’s hard to keep up. So many are so good. Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals was the light read I really needed. Back to murder now. 😂😂
Good luck of figuring out an outfit! I’ll be looking forward to seeing it if you share. I hope the swim meet went well.
LikeLike
I’ve started the new Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel, Dream Count, bought full-price in hardback at our local independent bookshop (using book tokens so effectively a gift from my friend Laura!) as I could not wait,and also reading Alexis Wright’s Tracker, which is a communal biography of an important Aboriginal Australian figure, which is on the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction long list and I’m reviewing for the online review mag I write for. We’ve been watching Who Do You think You Are and noticed there’s a US version where we’ve heard of some of the people so might give those a go, too – always interesting but not too challenging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw how much Erin liked Emily of New Moon and I added it to my list of books I want to read before I die.
Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals sounds like fun.
My husband claimed on our first date to be a huge reader. He even claimed to be reading the same book I was reading. He probably averages a book every other year now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well how dare he lie to get his lady! 😂😂 I knew my husband was a huge reader. He reads between 150-200 books a year and sometimes I feel very stupid around him.
LikeLike
Out of me and my husband I am the faster reader, but I also have more time. I have no idea how many books he has completed because he is the king of starting a book, setting it aside, starting another book, and repeat, LOL! I don’t get it, he will eventually go back and try again too. If I set the book aside I am done with it. Have a great rest of your weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m more like your husband with starting books and moving to another one but I do usually finish each one at some point!
LikeLike