Hi everyone and welcome to the first Sunday in December – the one where I finally allow myself to start getting excited about Christmas. It started Friday with a trip to visit friends and an annual tradition of going to see a band we see every December, Martin Stephenson and the Daintees. It’s band we’ve loved since we were teens and one of the best shows you can ever see because they aren’t just good musicians but funny too, making it a real show and a highlight of my year.
That was followed by starting to get out the decorations yesterday and one of the two trees we put up – a pink one in my daughters bedroom (her choice!). Today we belatedly make our Christmas pudding and cake (very belatedly really but they’ll still take good I’m sure). No doubt there will be Christmas music to help us on our way, with fingers crossed I won’t get too bored or Slade or Shakin’ Stevens over the next three weeks. How are your Christmas plans going?
In the rest of my life, things have been quite work wise – and should be in the whole run up to the holidays – which has been lovely, giving me plenty of time to read and blog. I posted every day last week, which happens rarely and always makes me happy when I do…
Monday I reviewed Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni, the second Tracy Crosswhite detective novel. Tracy is a character I am coming to love in this clever series set in Seattle.
Tuesday I joined in with Diana at Bibliophile by the Sea for her Tuesday intro linky. This week I introduced His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet, which I struggled to get into but finally found the flow of and really enjoyed.
Wednesday I did my Monthly round-up for November with one book loved but an awful lot liked.
Thursday I reviewed The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse which was a hard book to read and review as it deals with anorexia. I can’t say I enjoyed it because of the subject matter but I did think it was a good, eye-opening, book to read.
Friday I joined in a new linky, Feature and Follow, because I couldn’t resist the question – favourite books in a winter setting. For everyone who has commented on that post, I am sorry I haven’t commented back yet but being away this weekend I was by a computer. I intend to respond to everyone today.
And that was it for my week. Not a bad one. How was yours?
Emma
This week, I’m linking in with Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and her Sunday Post and with (a little early) Katherine at Book Date for It’s Monday, What Are you Reading? Head over to see what other bloggers have read, written about or just added to their shelves.
One Readers Thoughts 
Overall, I am sort of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas, maybe it’s due to still being single at my age (not mentioning…lol) or the fact that my mom is no longer with us. Somewhere I lost the Christmas spirit but I try, though I don’t decorate, I watch Christmas movies…that has to count right. 🙂
That is cool that you have a band you can always look forward to seeing this time of year with friends. It’s always nice to have more reading and blogging time! 🙂 This week is crunch time for my classes but can’t wait till it’s all over and I can just relax. 🙂
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I think those things might make less Christmassy. There is something about family, and getting to spend time with them that makes you feel more motivated to enjoy the season I think. Plus I do feel like I personally have been lucky this year and I want to celebrate. Am hoping your end of term papers etc. Get done so you can relax too. I don’t miss having to do courses when I was working.
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Sounds like your holiday cheer is off to a great start! I also have that Amanda Prowse book, but haven’t read it yet.
Enjoy your books and the week ahead! Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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I feel I can now. I refuse to do anything until the first as otherwise I feel overwhelmed. I hope you enjoy Amanda Prowse though I can’t say it’s a seasonal read.
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Thank you for dropping into my site earlier and your kind words:). Christmas will start properly, now that my mother’s birthday party, hosted by my sister, has been and gone… It generally kicks off our Christmas celebrations:). I won’t be putting up the decorations for at least another week or so – but then I keep them up until 12th Night. I’ll be making a major start on my Christmas cards tonight as tomorrow evening sees my last Monday evening session with my students till the New Year. In amongst everything else. I’m going to have a go at making vegetarian mincemeat this week, too…:). Have a great week, Emma.
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You are most welcome. A party sounds like a good way to kick Christmas off. I wait till 12th night for the big tree but with a six year old I am flexible on the rest. I will be interested to see how the vegetarian mince meat turns out. This is my first Christmas pudding so fingers crossed.
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I think you’ll be delighted with the result – we’ve made our own Christmas pudding before and it was delicious!
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I have to say it looks like it should and smells like it should. It also looks like it could feed my whole street never mind four and a half people!
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I LOVE Christmas. I always get excited well before its social appropriate but I don’t care! Have a great week!
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It is definitely the best holiday of the year. It’s the food, the time off and the family. I don’t want it to end but I don’t want to start to early so it looses it shine. Have a good week and season.
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What a fun tradition! Looks like a great band to see. Have fun with the decorations. 🙂
I love those older Narnia covers!
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It is – and a slightly drunken one 🙂 The Narnia cover did come from goodreads but I swear it was the one I read when I was little. Good memories.
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I’m actually going to join the Top Ten Tuesday linkup this week. There are so many I don’t participate in but I’d like to do more!
And what a lovely tradition… I don’t really have any, so must contemplate creating some.
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Traditions with music tend to stick more with me. It helps it was a teenage friend just as happy to make a fool of herself dancing and singing along. There are so many linkys you are right and I can’t keep up with them so I figure if they catch my eye that will be when I do them. Have a good week. .
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I loved the Snow Child and hope you do as well. Sounds like you ae gearing up for the holidays. I managed to watch a few holiday movies this weekend and my hubby has the Christmas music on!
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I am getting closer to excited by the day. Christmas music definitely helps!
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You have so many amazing books here! I think I read Her Final Breath, but The Snow Child also looks interesting and it’s new to me. Hope you enjoy reading this week.
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
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Thank you. The Snow Child is a wonderful book. Very memorable too. And perfect for winter. Thanks for stopping by. Off to check of your post.
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What an attractive book haul you have this week. I would love to get around to reading any Amanda prowise book one day, I’ve heard good things. I’m hoping to read Snow Child, I recently saw that it was highly recommended by the Richard and Judy book club I follow.
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Amanda Prowse is so prolific I have given up trying to read all her books but I do enjoy them when I get to them. The Snow Child I can really recommend. Haunting. Thanks for stopping by.
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Great review on Amanda Prowse’s book, I went to have a quick read of the review. I can see it has a serious theme, so not pretty but I will keep it on my reading list. My sister had it and it is terrible, she now has all kinds of health issues in later life.
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Thank you. It is a horrible illness as you now first hand and I don’t think people understand it – I know I don’t but I feel more aware now. Not a cheery read but I’m glad I picked it up.
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I really want to read His Bloody Project! My 4 year old has a (mini) pink Christmas tree in her room. Pink is her favorite color and she often tells me she wants us to have a pink house and a pink car.
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Christmas prepping is going well. I only have to find 1 more gift – teenage boys are so hard to buy for. Work is slow for me as well, which is great since the lead up to Thanksgiving was crazy. Girl Who Reads
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only one more gift – wow. I have to buy for one teenage girl and it’s basically a gift card (she’s a niece so it’s only the one present thankfully). Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
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I’m not a big fan of Christmas. I should pull out my tree but haven’t yet. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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I am slowly getting in the holiday spirit. The frost on a morning is helping as it feels more like the season.
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I love putting up christmas decorations! How cool that your daughter gets a pink tree in her room (i think i am jealous!). I didn’t realize The Food of Love was about anorexia. I read a lot of books about that disorder, but I think I will skip this one. Have a great week!
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I do too but with a real tree in the main room it will have to wait. The pink tree was something she was desperate to have last year and god love her she saved up her pocket money for weeks to get it. It goes very well with a very pink room!
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