Monthly Catch Up #1 – January 2019

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Written by Norrie

Greetings! How’s everyone doing?beaver-01

Over here everything’s peachy. As my therapist pointed out the other day, I haven’t been this cheerful and relaxed since forever. Maybe I should be concerned. My whole existence centers around me being on edge. Agitated is my default setting! But here I am, rocking the boat, upsetting the status quo. It’s great, actually.

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Actually, books are third, and work is scraping fourth…

Last weekend my other half’s mum & sis visited us, and brought enough provisions for at least a month. Well, fine, the cookies lasted for one day only, but we shall not mention that. Nothing to see here! Moving on!

We had snow for a couple of hours, which was exactly a couple of hours more than what I deem necessary. It still managed to send my boss into near panic, because she’s a proper biker lady, albeit one with a failed weather-sense.

So far, the next month doesn’t seem to be any better, so it’s going to be one more month of wearing layers and shapeless coats. Also, note to self: not to set foot in Minnesota. -31C? No, thank you. Just looking at the pictures if found on this news website makes my eyeballs freeze.

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If you remember, I started reading Sleeping Beauties by the father & son duo, Owen & Stephen King in December. I’m pretty much halfway through, so by this rate I might even finish it by the end of February. I made the mistake of getting the hardback, and it’s just such an inconvenience. Turning on the lights, holding that monster…

But I shall not be stopped by chunky books, so to take a break from the arm workout dear Mr. King provided me with, I finished 9 other books. None of them were particularly crap, so at least I have that going for me.

The Devil Aspect by Craig Russel ♥♥♥♥♥ – An artful blend of historical whodunit and a chilling horror with sprinkles of Slavic folklore and dubious psychology.
The Perfect Mother by Aime Molloy ♥♥♥ – Some serious mommy issues.
The Guilty Party by Mel McGrath ♥♥♥♥ – A delicious page turner about a bunch of assholes who are supposed to be friends, nobody knows why.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz ♥♥♥♥ – A book about a book within a book. Puzzles, serious Agatha Christie vibes, and a very clever murder mystery.
The Wife by Alafair Burke ♥♥♥♥ – Wife goals.
After the Lie by Kerry Fisher ♥♥♥ – A story about a woman who tells lies upon lies and is then surprised when people get pissed off. She’s also the sort of woman who thinks it’s fine for her dog to destroy other people’s property, because they shouldn’t own those things in the first place.
The Flower Girls by Alice Clark-Platts ♥♥♥♥ – A story about child killers, and some serious rumination about justice, redemption and evilness.
Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris ♥♥♥ – A mildly entertaining psychological thriller involving a dude who may or may not be an asshole.
Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller ♥♥♥ – A boring woman doing boring stuff is all fun and games until it’s just awkward and then shit goes wrong.

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The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup ♥♥♥♥♥
A compelling Danish thriller with a great cast of characters and a brutal serial killer on the loose.

Faking Friends by Jane Fallon ♥♥♥
Revenge is best served funny. Also caused me some existential crisis.

The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood by Susan Elliot Wright ♥♥♥♥
The kind of story that starts out depressing and the it’s all downhill from there.

The Outsider by Stephen King ♥♥♥♥♥
An intriguing mystery from the master, with a touch of the paranormal.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware ♥♥♥♥
A bunch of wankers in a cabin in the woods, amnesia, and page turning plot.

Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson ♥♥♥♥
An atmospheric small town mystery, set in the northernmost place of Iceland.

The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell ♥♥♥♥♥
Devious!

otherfun

7 Random Facts About Norrie – One Lovely Blog Award

Inside the Folds of the Blankie – The Book Blogger Insider Tag

yearoneYear One by Nora Roberts

With one drop of blood, the old world is gone for ever. And in its place, something extraordinary begins…

They call it The Doom – a deadly pandemic that starts on a cold New Year’s Eve in the Scottish countryside. There’s something mysterious about the virus and the way it spreads. As billions fall sick and die, some survivors find themselves invested with strange, unexpected abilities.

Lana, a New York chef, has the power to move things and people with her will. Fred can summon light in the darkness. Jonah, a paramedic, sees snatches of the future in those he touches. Katie gives birth to twins, and suspects that she has brought fresh magic into the world, along with new life.

But The Doom affects people differently. Along with the light, a dark and terrifying magic will also rise. As the remaining authorities round up the immune and the ‘Uncannies’ for testing, Lana, Katie and others flee New York in search of a safe haven. The old world is over, and Year One has begun.

I need to find a new gym. My physio finally allowed me to return, only to find the place completely packed. There were barely any free treadmills, people were hanging off almost every single machine, no benches, and weights were scarce. On top of this, the place fucking stinks! I do not wish upon my enemy to have to breath that air… Ok, well, maybe they should, but I certainly don’t.

I have two days off during February, and I’m already imagining myself catching up on some reading & Netflix. Hopefully I manage to read You by Caroline Kepnes, so we can watch the series.

I look forward to seeing what you guys are up to!

58 Comments

  1. My my, lots of things here! Well, it does look like a good reading month, certainly better than mine 🙂 I read 18 books, and I can say I really enjoyed only 4. I’m hoping for a better Feb. I need to read You as well, it’s sitting on my TBR for months and I can’t watch the series, which I really want to. Among the ones you read, I think Magpie Murders is the one I will read at some stage. But, I recently read 2 books of Mr. Horowitz, so I need a break. I wish it just snowed more. I don’t like this useless weather with sun shining, but it’s freezing cold anyway. At least I’d enjoy the snow. Well, it was a fun post to read, and let’s hope for a fab feb! 🙂 x

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    1. Fingers crossed for a good book turn out for Feb! 🙂

      For me the Magpie one was the first Horowitz book, and i was pleasantly surprised. It seems to me he writes a wide range of things. Could be wrong tho, but i saw something with Sherlock holmes as well.

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  2. I’ve just joined a new gym after not being a member of one for over 3 years following a health thing.The one I’ve joined is at my uni which makes it nice and convenient to actually use, and because its on campus its reaaaallllly quiet during the day which is great. Trying to use gyms with lots of people hogging the machines and being fit everywhere made me so anxious, so this one is perfect!

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    1. Oh damn, your gym sounds nice!
      Mine was so packed the other day… i was doing some arm raises, and some dude just straight walked into my arm. And of course he was offended! 😀

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  5. I hope you enjoy YOU! I listened to it on audio and it remains the best audio I’ve ever listened to. And the most disturbing. That is too bad about your gym, but what an image you gave me! Great reads this month and I hope your enjoy your two days off! ♥️

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  9. I hear January is always crowded at the gym, that when everyone who’s never joined a gym before decides to join, but maybe they’ll lose interest soon! Stay warm😁

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  10. Love this post! I’m with you on the snow, I live in Southern California so it never snows thank goodness! Although we are supposed to have rain today and we are in quite the tail spin over that!😂

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    1. Haha, rain is all right… as long as it doesn’t come with such wind that makes all rainfall pretty much horizontal. (Very inconsiderate) 😀 😀

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  11. Bahahaha I’ve been cooped up in the house for a couple days but thinking of venturing out today?!?! It was -35C this morning (it’s always scary when F and C are almost identical!) Gotta love MN!! 😆

    I hope you enjoy Year One! I have it on audiobook and it’s glaring at me to start lol

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  12. Oh my god looking at the pictures and everything from the United States and where it is FREEZING is just making me FEEL cold already, I’m glad not to be living there, I wouldn’t handle it well at all hahaha.
    You had a great reading month, you read and reviewed so many books, that’s amazing! ❤ I hope you'll have an amazing February and that this relaxed feeling will follow you next month too 🙂

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  13. Well, it looks like you certainly got plenty of reading in, maybe that’s why you’re feeling so upbeat, or it could be that the weather’s better your side of the pond than ours? Which ever, stay warm and keep bringing us those great reviews. I’m hitting the fantasy pages this month, for something of a change. And will see where that leads me.

    Oh, and yeah, if a gym stinks, it’s definitely overcrowded! Find somewhere quieter. 😀

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    1. Haha, yes, the weather is defo better! I mean, yesterday there was even some sunshine in the morning ❤

      It's kind of a mystery how i'm suddenly feeling better. Like, i can't pinpoint what i did. It just kinda happened. Not that i'm complaining 😀

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      1. The weather here can be crazy, like today it’s MINUS 35 outside. By Tuesday they said it would be PLUS 2 but only for that one day! Huh? Just one day. Whaat? Go figure.

        Oh, no, never complain about being happy, you never know how long it’s going to last. One day, all week, all year, or just until you’ve finished eating that Cadbury’s bar! 😉

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  14. I am very curious about what you’ll think of that Nora Roberts one Norrie! We got and still have snow here but luckily nothing freezing like Minnesota! And the tag is already done in draft I just need to fin the time to fine tune and post

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    1. So far i love the book. My first ever Nora Roberts!!
      We had like 1 cm snow this morning… of course it was treated like it’s the end of the world, and everyone just left it on the streets to turn into slippery slush… :/ Classic.

      Can’t wait to see your post 🙂

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  15. I live in Southern California so usually I’m jealous of anyone who gets real winter weather but right now I’m looking at the midwest like not that! Good luck people! Happy (nearly) February my second favorite month of the year 🙂 Hope its great for you!

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    1. Hope you have a great February too!
      I’d totally be up for living somewhere with permanent nice weather. At least for a while ❤ For science 😀

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  16. Some months, “not crap” is as good as it gets for reading.

    I actually had to stop work yesterday at noon because it was -17c and the windchills were pushing things even further down. Brutal stuff.

    Good luck on finding a gym. Is your place big enough to put a bench and some free weights in? Or do you do more a treadmill regimen?

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    1. Oh dear, that sounds terrible! I really hope it gets better for you guys soon ❤

      I have some weights + kettlebell at home, but can't really put in any actual equipment unfortunately.

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  18. How are you finding Year One? I know she writes in other genres, such as under her pen name J.D. Robb, but I always think of her as a romance writer, which isn’t really my thing. I’ve been curious about this one.

    Ok, wait a minute. You have two days off, in addition to your regular days off or you ONLY have two days off for the entire month of February (in which case, I will cry for you, and also, who can I call on your behalf)???

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    1. Well, now i’m around 70% in Year One, and i’m not sure i like it. Don’t dislike it either, it’s just not really my sort of thing i guess. I’m gonna finish it tho, but not sure i’ll finish the series.

      I have all my weekends off, by default, and i booked a monday + tuesday off to chill 🙂 ❤

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  19. Your first few paragraphs made me giggle. Thanks so much for the morning smile.
    Thanks to YOU, I have just added Craig Russell’s “The Devil Aspect” to my TBR.
    We watched the entire season of “You” on Netflix and thought it was great. Enjoy!

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  21. That’s so lovely to hear that you’re feeling more relaxed & calm lately. ♡ I just moved out of Minnesota about 2 years ago & man, am I glad to not be there right now. It’s the worst!! Lol. 😛 You did so great with reading in & January. I always enjoy your round-ups, Norrie!

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  23. Pingback: Sunshine Blogger Award – Books, Life and Other Oddities

  24. Great post!

    These books you mentioned sound really interesting, hope to read a few of the them at some point. I agree about hardcovers, LoL. Totally prefer paperbacks, LoL, plus they’re half the price. The only time I get hardcovers most of the time is that they are on sale or a paperback isn’t available for some reason. And yes, read YOU! So flipping good! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it.

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