If you find that the heat is driving you indoors, please do drop in and say hello if you want some company. I'll be writing blog posts, visiting blogs that have recent posts, and responding to comments, and commenting on the blogs I frequent regularly until this scorching siege is over.
What I'm reading today (Friday):
Jane Harper's Force of Nature, the Australian thriller set in the Girilang Ranges, a mountainous region in the Australian Capital Territory (not far from Canberra, Australia's capital city), approximately a half-day's drive from Melbourne. (2018)
Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past by David Reich, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. (2018) Follow the link is to a Guardian interview with the author.
I'm also finishing Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman, the fascinating and absorbing pageant of a historical novel set in the 1100s in medieval England, which I have discussed in a recent post.
Read on!!
I hadn't realized Jane Harper's book 2 in the series was out already! and, yes, 90 degrees plus for the next 8 days here UGH. Stay Cool! Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteHi Diane,
DeleteI haven't read The Dry, which got such tremendous reviews, and which was Harper's debut.
I sunk in deeply with Force of Nature this afternoon and wow--it's a page-turner, all right. It's so nice to have a change of pace while reading a dense historical.
And, yes, I keep plotting survival tactics for the upcoming heat. I wish you the best with it--and do blog about any movies or DVDs you see. I always enjoy hearing about them.
Indoors with our current heatwave as well. Although what we consider a heatwave is not what you would. It's in the mid to high 80s here in the UK and for us that is quite warm, we're not used to it and most do not have AC. So it's indoors reading for me, windows open etc... not *such* a hardship.
ReplyDeleteHi Cath,
DeleteThe mid to high 80s without AC is abysmal, unless there are stiff breezes about.
So I wish you lots and lots of book diversions--the more absorbing the better!!
I hope the weather will cool down for you soon. I'm also concerned about Wimbledon being ultra-hot. No one can perform their best in that kind of heat.
Oh? And what about your garden??
Luckily, we do have a breeze with the heat but that brings its own problems with pollen blowing about etc. I won't say AC is unknown here in the UK because it's not, but really you'd only need it for about 3 or 4 weeks in the year so it's hardly worth it. Having experienced several weeks in July in the US and then again one unusual September (95f in Baltimore and Memphis) I absolutely get why you need it.
DeleteI've had some good book diversions, French crime, a trip to Italy via Elizabeth Von Arnim, non-fiction about France, Germany... I've done 'heaps' of armchair travelling and some real life travelling within the UK.
It's meant to be a bit cooler next week, a few degrees anyway so hopefully the tennis players will be ok. I tend to assume they get used to it when they play in places like Australia but maybe not.
The garden has to be watered but we're trying to keep it to a minumum as the country is running into water shortages now.
I enjoy armchair travelling as well, and I love novels and mysteries set in Great Britain the most. I've travelled all around England and Scotland via books, in nearly every county.
DeleteWhen it comes to actual travel, I think, yes, I'd like to see other parts of Europe, but what I really, really would prefer to do is just travel around England!
It's even super hot here in Scotland, the high 70s veering into 80s in places. Too hot and bright to garden, but we're not complaining as we haven't had a decent summer for 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWell, Katrina, I think you might go wading or swimming??? in the North Sea!
DeleteAnd how is the heat in your little garden house--do you call it a gazebo?
I hope you enjoy your warmth and sun to the hilt!
Excessive heat warnings have been issued here, too. I have some outdoor activities planned today, but tomorrow may be unbearable.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler now. Will probably finish it this weekend and start something else. Will also work on some blog posts... indoor activities, for sure!
A Spool of Blue Thread received excellent reviews, as I remember. I haven't read much of Anne Tyler's, but I just visited her website and books and realize I wouldn't go wrong to read her.
DeletePlease do keep cool tomorrow and Monday!
Happy Reading...