Sunday Salon: Preying

Top of the morning to you all! I've been laying in bed for the last half hour, replaying the past week and trying to determine if anything happened that you would be the least bit interested in. It was the ultimate "normal" week for me. Got the carpets stretched and cleaned on Monday, so I was housebound. Had to get the clothes dryer fixed on Tuesday, followed up by a vet appointment to get all five cats vaccinated (I'd rather have a root canal people). One kid home sick on Wednesday. Thursday - golf. Friday, clean the house, get my daughter's hair cut, then a couple hours at the school Variety Show. Saturday, kids' sports, wine shopping. See wasn't that exciting?

As sad as it is, the real excitement was in the book department. I'm participating in TLC's Days of Prey Tour, and selected "Broken Prey", the 16th installment of the Lucas Davenport series, to re-read and review. I love these books, and I've read them all. I spent a majority of the week reading it, reveling in the sheer enjoyment of the action, trying to figure out the killer (believe it or not, but even though I've read this book, I couldn't remember!), and fantasizing about Lucas Davenport. I'll be reviewing this book, as well as the newest book "Storm Prey" in the next couple of weeks.

I've also been listening to Stephen King's "Under the Dome" on audio, and am about halfway through the 30-disc journey. And what a journey it is! There have got to be a couple dozen characters at least to keep track of in the story, which normally would drive me nuts. But this is what King does, doesn't he? And because I love him, I forgive him. I have just hitched up my skirts and waded through, and now it is all starting to gel. I'm addicted. Between this and the Prey books, it was old school week.

I've also gone on an audio book ordering bender. I read in last week's EW in Stephen King's editorial page that he feels the best audio narration EVER MADE is something called "Blood's a Rover" by James Ellroy. So like a good little fan I ordered it and loaded it - it is another long one, with something like 25 discs. I have no idea what it is about. I ordered Marisa de los Santos' "Love Walked In" and "Belong to Me". I ordered the highly anticipated "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. "A Reliable Wife" by Robert Goolick. "Garden Spells" by Sarah Addison Allen. I might have ordered even more than I'm remembering. I think I have enough to get me through the summer.

The kids and I are 1 1/2 discs away from finishing the 6th Harry Potter. For those of you who've read this book, then you know that our stomachs are in knots with all of the the intensity (that mess of a movie doesn't count - someone completely missed the boat on that one). I'm really hoping we can get through the 7th book before school ends...that is our goal.

Our book club has selected the next read - The Life of Pi. I read this several years ago, so I'm going to do a re-read on audio. I really liked the book when I read it, but I think many of the symbols and analogies were lost on me. I'm hoping to gain a better understanding of the author's message this time around.
I'm expecting a wee bit more excitement next week...a Barnes & Noble event with the kids' school, hosting a Polish night for our friends, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo coming to our local theater!

So what do you all have going on today? Relaxing? Reading anything good?