This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
Life has been slowly getting back to normal after being laid low by flu. I resumed teaching my Creative Writing classes this week – it was lovely to see my students again. Though I didn’t make my Pilates and Fitstep classes on Wednesday because I was too wiped out – I’m still running out of energy far too quickly. On Friday, I was also teaching Tim and it was great to catch up on how the filming has been going of his comedy Robin Hood script. In the afternoon, we picked up the grandchildren, who will be staying until Tuesday evening as it is half term. Yesterday morning (Saturday) we took them shopping to spend their pocket money and in the afternoon, while J and Oscar stayed at home to play Bloodbowl together, I took Frances and Tim to the climbing walls at the Out of Bounds centre in Rustington. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed themselves while Storm Brian raged outside with gale-force winds and torrential downpours. There was a magnificent double rainbow stretching across the River Arun as we drove back into Littlehampton.
This afternoon we’re going to have a family readathon – I wasn’t able to take part in the Dewey 24-hour occasion on Saturday, so thought it would be lovely to run a mini-version for all of us to have a go… Wish us luck!
This week I have read:
The Mongrel Mage – Book 19 of The Saga of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr
In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic the white of Chaos or the black of 
Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics. On the run from a power hungry white mage, Beltur is taken in by Order mages who set him on the path to discover and hone his own unique gifts and in the process find a home.
I was thrilled to discover this on the Netgalley boards and immediately requested it – I love his writing and this one didn’t disappoint. I’ll be reviewing it in due course.
And that’s it… only one book. I’m currently a third of the way through a 700+ page beastie that is a dense demanding read – and I don’t want to rush it as it’s also a joy. Thank goodness it’s on the Kindle because if I was trying to hold up the physical version, I’d probably sprain something…
My posts last week:
Sunday Post – 15th October 2017
Review of Empire of the Dust – Book 1 of the Psi-Tech novels by Jacey Bedford
Teaser Tuesday featuring Gnomon by Nick Harkaway
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring The Mongrel Mage – Book 19 of The Sage of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of Austrel by Paul McAuley
Reblog of Running Out of Space blog tour including my article ‘It’s All About the Words…’
Friday Face-off – Me and My Shadow featuring A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Review of Healer’s Touch by Deb E. Howell
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Yellow https://richardankers.com/2017/10/21/yellow/ On Monday – apparently due to Ophelia causing a major disturbance – the UK was bathed in a sickly yellow light that caused the street lights to come on during the afternoon. This is Richard’s take on it…
Little Robin of Marlfield Lake https://inesemjphotography.com/2017/10/20/little-robin-of-marlfield-lake/ These lovely photos feature a cheeky little chap clearly not at his best – which makes him even more endearing…
…the most wonderful moment of my writing career… and it’s not what you may think… https://seumasgallacher.com/2017/10/20/the-most-wonderful-moment-of-my-writing-career-and-its-not-what-you-may-think/ Seumas always writes great blog articles and this is another classic.
Reading Goal Pressure http://chucklesbookcave.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/chuckles-chat-39-reading-goal-pressure.html?spref=tw This is well-written post is about an ongoing problem for many book bloggers.
Conflict of Interest https://jeanleesworld.com/2017/10/19/conflict-of-interest/ Family life is so rarely the honeyed version we see portrayed all too often in adverts – and Jean’s honest and thought-provoking article depicts a situation every working mother has had to confront at one time or another…
Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to visit, like and comment on my site and may you have a great week.
Brainfluff 
I have some catching up to do here, I know, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this. Like you said, the reality of work/family life is so different than its portrayal as a sweet gig, or a tough situation that just rights itself via outlandish shenanigans. Some days just don’t have good endings. But, they do end, which means another day, another beginning, another chance to make a good day. And that’s the chance we’ve got to take. 🙂
And paint pumpkins. That’s a chance we’re taking today, too. Bo thinks we’ll regret it, but I say if we’re going to have a mess on our hands, at least let it be a mess that was fun to make. xxxxxxx
Absolutely, Jean – and so many of us lack the courage to be completely honest. Because we DO all find ourselves balancing those harsh conflicting needs and there isn’t ever an easy fix – if there was, we’d find it. And it’s always heightened by the sense we are the only ones here and struggling like this… Bless you for determining not to let that illusion continue!
As for the pumpkin painting – you might as well go for it:)). It was one of the advantages of having been a teacher – the messy stuff never daunts me:))
Ha! My mom has been an elementary school teacher, all my life, so I’m accustomed to “organized chaos,” as it were. Bo, on the other hand, gets a twitch in his eye when a movie’s put on the wrong shelf. He’ll learn. 😉 xxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh yes, he will:)). In my experience, it’s teenagers that cause the greatest chaos…
Can’t hardly wait… 😉
xxxx
Good week Sarah, glad to hear you’re shaking the flu off. Brian seems to have been a bit of a stinker. I’m in Malta at the moment so missed it all. Rainbows sound good though – I always have a childish whim whenever I see one to try and find the end (the pot of gold calls me obviously).
Enjoy your days with the grandchildren and happy reading next week.
Lynn 😀
Thank you, Lynn – have a wonderful time in Malta:))
Glad you’re starting to feel better again. And it’s really cute you’re doing a mini-readathon with your family! I’m even more in awe that your family agreed to read with you 😀
As for the yellow light? I know that light. I’ve seen it a few times. It’s like the oddest thing ever!
Yes… that yellow light was weird – and not in a good way! Yes… they all enjoyed themselves. Oscar (7) managed 3 chapters of his book; Frances (12 and dyslexic) managed two short stories and read for a couple of hours; Himself managed a paperback and I fell asleep halfway through chapter 18 even though I was enjoying the book!
Those are some amazing results 🙂 and the yellow light? Apocalyptic, that’s what it felt like 😀
Oh exactly – I do recall thinking it was typical – I just get around to publishing my first book and the world threatens to end…
We had Hurricane Nate recently. I wonder if Nate and Brian are related. LOL Sounds like a lot of fun for you this week. Just what the doctor ordered and glad to hear you’ve kicked the flu bug. Have a fun day reading:)
My Sunday Post
Nate, eh? I wonder if we’ll feel the effects of THAT one? Yes, this week has been so much better than the two weeks of misery that went before! Though I fell asleep during this afteroon’s mini-readathon to the grandchildren’s amusement… Have a great week. Laura and let’s hope there aren’t any more named climactic events impinging on us anytime soon!
Being sick is no fun, I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery!
Thank you, Tammy – yes… it’s a relief to be up and about again:) I hope you have a great week.
I’m glad you are feeling better…it takes a while to regain your energy after a bout with the flu. I had my flu shot, but this year and last year’s versions were more powerful, and I got some of the aches of the actual flu after about two weeks. That was yesterday.
Better today.
Enjoy your books, and thanks for visiting my blog.
Thank you for your kind encouragement – yes, I’m still not back to normal – whatever that might be. I’ll definitely be considering having a flu shot next year!
I love Patrick Ness. It takes time to come back from the Flu, so don’t be too hard on yourself about exercise class. I imagine just teaching wiped you out. I hope this week brings improvement.
Thank you, Kimberley – you’re right… The teaching DID wipe me out. Thank you for your kind good wishes and I hope you have less technology issues with week.
Thank you for linking to my post 🙂 Have a great week ahead!
You’re welcome – that little robin is adorable. I hope that you, too, have a great week, Inessa:)
Thank you! 🙂
Sorry you’re still feeling run down
glad you’re starting to get back to feeling better though. And aww, a family readathon, that sounds so fun!
Thank you Kimberley. Yes – the family readathon was great fun – until I nodded off! The children thought it was hilarious.
Erm… you can tell I’m still not at my shiny best, can’t you? Sorry about the name blooper, Kristen!
Glad you’re recovering from flue, it’s horrible and makes one feel so weak and incapable of doing anything – and you do seem to have a very busy life. I have your book on my Kindle and am really looking forward to reading it when it gets to the top of my tbr pile!
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Hywela:)). And I very much appreciate your kind support – hope you enjoy the book when it gets to the top of your TBR pile:)) And have a great week!
Oh I’m sorry to hear you’ve had the flu. I’ve been lucky and only had it once. Before than I never understood why people made such a big deal about it. Afterwards though – not so much! What fun to do a family readathon! I didn’t participate in Dewey either though I always want too. There always seems to be some issue that makes me decide I can’t do it. I need to just give it a try and do my best. Have a great week!
Thank you Katherine. Yes… I’m still not fully recovered, which is annoying. Yes – the family readathon went really well – except that I fell asleep!
Congrats on your own mini-readathon. I did one once on my own and got a couple of books off my TBR list. Let us know how y’all came out.
I fell asleep during my read! In my defence, I’m still washed out. Himself finished his urban fantasy read, Oscar read three chapters of his space adventure romp and Frances completed two of fanfic stories, chuckling and laughing aloud at regular intervals. I got to chapter 18 before I dropped off… I’m glad you did so well:))
Y’all did quite well yourselves!
Thank you!
Glad to hear that everything is getting back to normal. I hope 6ou have a wonderful week filled with awesome books this week. 😁❤️
Thank you, Geybie:). Yes – I’m wholly embracing the normal! And I hope that you, too, have a book-filled week:))x
I’m glad that you seem to finally be rid of that flu, but recovery always does take a lot longer than just feeling better – it really wipes you! I’m glad you’ve been able to do your Creative Writing classes again though.
How was the family read-a-thon? That sounds so FUN! I hope you all had a blast.
I’m also chuckling about the 700+ pages being on your Kindle! 🙂 You’re RIGHT! it’s a huge advantage to only have to hold up an ebook reader when you’re reading tomes like that. #ebooksforthewin
Thanks so much for stopping by my review of Tiger’s Daughter on Goodreads. I appreciate it!
Hope you have a wonderful week this week and that you continue to feel better and better!
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Di. Everyone in the family did brilliantly during the readathon – except me as I nodded off… And yes! Having huge books on the Kindle is WONDERFUL! I hope you, too, have a great week and many thanks for dropping by:)
You’d think a writer would know how to spell ‘flu, wouldn’t you! 🙂
I don’t like to think how often I’ve misspelled words when commenting on blogs, etc…:) So welcome to the club!
Glad you are back to teaching, but do take it day by day with the exercises. It’s a little bit of a road to get back to physical work when you’ve been sick. Take care and have a great week!
Thank you so much for your kind concern, Melissa – and yes, I’ll certainly heed your wise words. I’ve had enough of feeling ill:))
We’ve been hit by the remnants of a couple named storms this year, but no direct impacts at full strength. So we’ve been very lucky here in MA… but who knows what next year will bring.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better and starting to resume your normal routine. But like Melissa said, remember to take your time to returning to all of your activities. And a family read-a-thon! That must have been fun. 🙂
I’m delighted to hear that you have missed all the climactic mayhem, Sara. As you say – the weather is getting far too interesting worldwide for any of us to take it for granted… The family readathon was very successful, although I fell asleep. I am rapidly recovering now, but my energy levels are still not at full strength.
I am glad to hear you’re feeling better and your life is slowly returning back to normal. I hope next week you can go to your sports classes as well again. That’s nice your grandchildren visited and I hope your mini readathon was fun!
Thank you, Lola. Yes – life is returning to normal and the mini-readathon was great – except that yours truly fell asleep. Everyone else managed really well, though:). However, I’m still floating on air, given that I have 3 reviews on Goodreads and two reviews on Amazon – all positive:).
Being only 1.5 month behind feels like I’m almost caught up compared to the previous state. 🙂
I’m glad you’re over the flu, and looking forward to read the next Sunday Post to see how did your readathon go. 🙂
Oh yes:)). I’m glad the flu is now a distant memory – it wasn’t any fun at all!!