This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
It’s been a lot quieter this week… The premiere of Tim’s film last Sunday was brilliant – it was very emotional to see the culmination of all his hard work and effort on a big screen. The teenage cast did him proud – so much energy and talent, including my granddaughter, second from the left. Tim is the tall, blond boy in the centre. Sadly, we couldn’t stay for the party afterwards, as I had to drive Frances the long journey back home as Monday was a school day. Wednesday found me back at Pilates and Fitstep – I’d like to report that this week the exercises were easier and I wasn’t hobbling around like an old woman the following day, but I can’t. Maybe next week will be the one where I’m miraculously fitter – the last one before the summer break…
On Friday, I held my last Creative Writing class of the academic year at Northbrook College– my Summer Surgery. I had a lovely class, but the heat was something else and by the end of the day we were all shattered. They are busy fitting aircon units in the classrooms, but sadly, they aren’t yet operational. In the evening, we drove over to my daughter’s to pick up my eldest granddaughter (I’m still wrapping my head around that phrase) and managed to fit in a bit of cuddle-time with Baby Eliza, who is growing like a weed. Yesterday, we were at Tim’s to celebrate his 16th birthday party – it seems no time at all since I was holding him when he was Eliza’s age… where do the years go? The teens had a great time with the karaoke equipment with lots of loud singing and laughter. We are travelling back to Brighton with Frances later today.
This week I have read:
Throne of Glass – Book 1 of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her … but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
This YA fantasy has plenty of the themes and ingredients that make this sub-genre so popular.
Redemption’s Blade: After the War by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Ten years ago, the Kinslayer returned from the darkness. His brutal Yorughan armies issued from the pits of the earth, crushing all resistance, leaving burnt earth and corruption behind. Thrones toppled and cities fell. And then he died.
Celestaine—one of the heroes that destroyed him—has tasked herself with correcting the worst excesses of the Kinslayer’s brief reign, bringing light back to a broken world. With two Yorughan companions, she faces fanatics, war criminals and the Kinslayer’s former minions, as the fragile alliances of the War break down into feuding and greed.
This intriguing epic fantasy quest starts where most books finish – when the war is won and the wicked despot has been overthrown… Written with Tchaikovsky’s customary skill and insight, this book delivers a cracking adventure and food for thought.
The Wild Dead – Book 2 of the Bannerless Saga by Carrie Vaughn
A century after environmental and economic collapse, the people of the Coast Road have rebuilt their 
own sort of civilization, striving not to make the mistakes their ancestors did. They strictly ration and manage resources, including the ability to have children. Enid of Haven is an investigator, who with her new partner, Teeg, is called on to mediate a dispute over an old building in a far-flung settlement at the edge of Coast Road territory. The investigators’ decision seems straightforward — and then the body of a young woman turns up in the nearby marshland. Almost more shocking than that, she’s not from the Coast Road, but from one of the outsider camps belonging to the nomads and wild folk who live outside the Coast Road communities. Now one of them is dead, and Enid wants to find out who killed her, even as Teeg argues that the murder isn’t their problem. In a dystopian future of isolated communities, can our moral sense survive the worst hard times?
This is an absolute gem. I had no idea when I first opened it up that it would be such a rich, engrossing read – but it’s a 10 for me… Wonderful mystery whodunit set in a post-apocalyptic world.
My posts last week:
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of Fawkes by Nadine Brandes
Teaser Tuesday featuring Redemption’s Blade: After the War by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Review of novella All Systems Red – Book 1 of the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Friday Face-off – When icicles hang by the wall… featuring The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of The Wild Dead – Book 2 of the Bannerless series by Carrie Vaughn
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Question: How Do You Organise Your Books? http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2018/07/21/question-how-do-you-organize-your-books/ Lisa’s question is of interest to me, because my default is also random piles in various rooms…
Discussion: How My Reading Tastes Have Changed Over the Years https://thebookishlibra.com/2018/07/20/discussion-how-my-reading-tastes-have-changed-over-the-years/ I don’t think I’ve even thought about it much, seeing as my reading life as an independent reader now spans more than 5 decades – but I did after this article…
Fun Fact Friday with Franky’s Fun Flamingo Facts https://wandaluthman.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/fun-fact-friday-with-frankys-fun-flamingo-facts-3/ I’m a real fan of these articles – particularly this one. I did NOT know that about their legs – did you?
Indian Biscuit https://historyofkingpanwars.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/indian-biscuit/ These look delicious!
Untitled (Seascape) https://photolicioux.wordpress.com/2018/07/07/untitled-142/ There were a host of photos this week I could have chosen – but I started staring at this one, and it was an effort to break away…
Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to visit, like and comment on my site and have a great week.
Brainfluff 
Congratulations on the film premiere. Must have been so exciting to see, Sarah:) And Happy Birthday to Tim. Sounds like a fun celebration.
My Sunday Post
Thank you, Laura:). Yes – it’s been a momentous week…
Congrats on the amazing production! As for your teaching, hopefully you’ll have cooler rooms when you return to class.
I am curious about The Wild Dead. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog. Happy reading!
Yes, we should definitely have cooler rooms when we return and hopefully the boiler will be fixed so there’s some heating in there, too! Thank you for swinging by and I hope this coming week is a great one for you, too:)
Good post! Sounds like you’re coming to the end of an the new beginning of a “season.” We do not go back to school until the last week in August, so I am still enjoying my “summer-off” season. I am preparing a guest lecture for July 30th and had the big Book Bonanza for the kids in my side yard this past week, so that goal for the summer is accomplished. The kids had a ball, devoured lots of lemonade and cookies and made me feel soooo good as they left with their tote bags stuffed with books. The attendance was low, but it got lots of neighborhood attention (people honked and waved as they drove by and saw us partying) so maybe I’ll have some new drop ins at my LFL.
What a lovely idea, Rae:)). I’m glad it went well – with these events, I always think it’s quality not quantity. If just two of those children decide to become readers – then it’s worthwhile, given what a wonderful, life-enhancing habit it is…
Glad the film went well. So much hard work deserves to be rewarded.
Thank you, Emma:). Yes – I’m delighted it was such a success…
So glad to hear the film went well! Enjoy your time with your family and hopefully you will get a bit of rest before things get crazy again.
Thank you, Deb:) Yes… I’m hoping to have some downtime before it all kicks off again:)).
Oh yay, congratulations to Tim! You must be so proud of him and everything he has accomplished. 🙂 Do you know what he plans to do with the film now that it’s finished?
Re: Throne of Glass… It sounds like you’re a little lukewarm about that one? I read it a year or two ago but quit around Page 130. :S
Thank you! Yes, I am so very, very proud of Tim… he has come SUCH a long way in such a short space of time! He is lucky to have two amazing, supportive parents who have persisted in the face of overwhelming odds to get him the support he deserved. He is now working to make DVD copies of the film – I’m signed up for one!
As for Throne of Glass… yes – I’ll admit I was a tad underwhelmed. Though I had to keep reminding myself that I’m not the target audience, I do regularly read YA I love a lot more than this one. In fairness, I have read reviewers who have said the story arc improves with the series – I won’t be joining them as I simply don’t have time or inclination to continue with books I don’t thoroughly enjoy. I won’t be reviewing it, needless to say…
You read some great ones. I love Throne of Glass and also The Wild Dead. Have a great reading week! Anne – Books of My Heart
Thank you:). It was an amazing reading week!
Sounds like a lovely week, filled with lots of nice moments. Glad to hear the film premiere went well- sounds very exciting!
The Wild dead sounds amazing! I need to take a closer look at that one…
Oh, I highly recommend it – the downside is that it is ONLY available as a paperback, which is really annoying for those of us who are solid ebook fans!
I’m glad the film premiere was successful. Have a great week!
And you, AJ:)
Congrats to Tim on a successful film premiere! That must have been amazing to finally see it on a big screen!
I look forward to reading your review of Throne of Glass. That book has been sitting on my shelf for about two years now. Perhaps you’ll motivate me to finally pick it up, lol.
Aww, thanks so much for featuring my discussion post. Seeing that made my rainy Monday so much brighter 🙂
You’re very welcome! I feature articles I’ve enjoyed and I think others will like, too. I generally don’t suggest reviews, because as a fellow-reviewer, I tend to find those anyway:)
As regards Throne of Glass.. I shan’t be reviewing it. I wasn’t all that convinced by the main protagonist and I didn’t enjoy the triangular romance that was developing or the trials of strength that ran through the story. She is clearly a capable writer, but there were simply too many well-trodden tropes here that jarred with me.
What a fabulous photo! Congrats to all that hard work building so swimmingly. And little babies are always perfect for cuddle time. 🙂
It is a great pic, isn’t it?
Yes – Eliza is a particularly cuddly baby:))
Yay to Tim (who I’m assuming is your grandson…? :)) for the film premiere! The kids all look fantastic!
And Throne of Glass is a series that I’m really curious about because there’s so much hype but also a lot of criticism around it.
No – Tim is the boy I’ve been teaching for the past 3 years and used to look after when he was a baby. They do all look fabulous, don’t they? My granddaughter is the second girl from the left with the purple sequined jacket and matching trousers.
Throne of Glass didn’t really do it for me – but I’m aware it has been incredibly popular and lots of folks really love it.
Congratulations to Tim on the film premiere! That’s so cool! And I enjoyed Throne of Glass and the second book. I need to get the third. I’ve been listening to them on audio.
Thank you! Yes – it’s a huge achievement, given the scale of the project.
I think that Throne of Glass may well be more entertaining on audio than actually reading it.
Congrats re the film. You’ve had a lovely week by the sounds of it and hope this week is as good.
Lynn 😀
I’m hoping so, too… Though I could do with putting my feet up a bit:)
What a lovely week! 🙂
Oh, it certainly was! One of those weeks that was the culmination of months and years of hard work…:).
I loved Throne of Glass! That entire series is awesome but it takes you on one heck of an emotional rollercoaster!
Glad you had a lovely week. Here’s to this week with your granddaughter being just as fun!
I’m aware it has a huge following – and it may simply be that I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for this particular book.
Thank you, Nicci – yes… having my granddaughter to stay is always fun. She is such good company!
That’s wonderful about Tim’s film and what a great picture! I love pilates but it’s been so long since I’ve taken a class. I’ve mostly been focusing on yoga lately but I need to mix in more pilates. That’s wonderful about the air conditioning. I live in such a hot and humid climate that it’s essentially mandatory for life everywhere and it’s always a surprise when I go somewhere cooler where it isn’t a given. Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Thank you, Katherine:)). Yes – it’s being a great week, though very very hot for us… I don’t mind the heat as much as many folks, but I’m fortunate – now that Northbrook has broken up for the summer – that I’m now working from home in a country that is only really set up for drizzle. We haven’t had a heatwave like this since the 70s…
I remember the super-long heatwave that hit UK last year and I can’t believe I’m so late commenting. But I’m glad to read through those posts and learn that the premiere was a memorable event. I’m sure you can still recall it very vividly despite all the time that has already passed.
Oh yes, Joanna – it’s one of those golden moments that I’ll remember for the rest of my life…:) And as for the heat – ahhhh…
Over here we’re in that span of nice, mild weather (as Inq says “those two weeks in spring and fall” – it’s a little bit more, but you get the idea), so the heat is coming.