It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? & Weekend Update (5/18/15)

I didn’t get as much reading done this week as I would’ve liked, but I have an exciting reason why! I’m “curating” a virtual library for a unique home decor website, Anne Tollett Home, that helps people “enjoy the perks of an interior designer without paying the cost”. Anne designs amazing virtual rooms and shares all the details of how she did it (floor plans, buying guides, etc.) so you can recreate her magic. What a dream project for a book nerd! If you’re at all into home decor/design, you should check out her site. And, right now, you can check out the early bones of the library and vote on the wall color!

I finished reading…

Mosquitoland, David Arnold, Eight Hundred Grapes, Laura Dave

Mosquitoland by David Arnold (March 3, 2015)
I was all set to write this one off as “perfectly fine, but a little too YA”…until the ending made me completely rethink things. Mini review to come.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (June 2, 2015)
This one was sort of forgettable. More to come in my mini review.

I’m currently reading…

Our Endless Numbered Days, Claire Fuller


Our Endless Numbered Days
 by Claire Fuller (February 16, 2015)
For months now, bloggers have been raving about this story about an eight year old girl who is taken to live in the wilderness by her father. I’ve only read the first 40 pages, but I already have an ominous feeling and am curious what will happen to this family.

Next, I’m sampling…

The Far End of Happy, Boo, To Kill A Mockingbird


The Far End of Happy
 by Kathryn Kraft (May 5, 2015)
I thought this “chilling story of one troubled man, the family that loves him, and the suicide standoff that will change all of them forever” sounded interesting…until I read it was based on a real event from the author’s life. Then, it became a “must try” for me! I’ve downloaded the sample, so we’ll see how it goes.

Boo by Neil Smith (May 12, 2015)
I’ve read a couple great reviews of this story about a heaven populated only by thirteen year old American boys.  

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I’ve been planning to re-read (I read it in high school, but remember literally nothing about it) this classic in preparation for the July release of Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman. Now might be the time or I might save this one until a bit later in the summer. We shall see…

Weekend Update

Running N Reading Weekend Update Link-Up
I’m linking up with Tara at Running N Reading’s Weekend Update.

I just completed Week 5 of Hal Higdon’s Intemediate 10K Training Program – over halfway there! I had some changes in my childcare schedule this week, which changed the order of my training schedule. I got all the workouts in, but they were in a different order than usual (heavily weighted toward the end of the week). My new FlipBelt also came in on Friday, but I haven’t tried it out yet. I’m definitely looking forward to ditching that pesky iPhone 6 armband!

Monday: Cross-Training (Renee Diamond‘s Diamond Cuts class at Equinox…she had us leaping like frogs this week!).

Tuesday: This is usually my long run day, but I was on the treadmill because I needed to put my daughter in the gym’s babysitting. I HATE doing long runs on the treadmill. So, I tried a new hills set from “Runner’s World” (The Pyramid) and did a quick sprint set…totally about 4+ miles. I did some arms and core afterwards.

Wednesday: Stretch & Strength (Inside/Out Barre at Equinox)

Thursday: This is usually a mid-distance or tempo run day outdoors. But, this week it’s the long run (6.2 miles). Overall time of [55:14] with splits of [9:08], [9:12], [9:06], [9:03], [8:31], [8:39], and [7:50] pace for the last 0.2 miles. Miles 3 and 4 were a little slower than normal for me, but miles 5 and 6 were faster. Next week, my long run mileage starts to increase. Bring on the Body Glide and water bottle!

Friday: 45 min tempo run ([9:05], [8:48], [8:13], [8:29], [9:09] splits)….my first 3 miles were very close to the first 3 miles of last week’s tempo run.

Saturday: 5 mile recovery run, which I did on the treadmill because of a thunderstorm. My legs were dead from having my two hardest runs on Thursday and Friday, but Mary Roach’s Stiff on audio got me through it. Also, I seem to run slower on the treadmill, which is weird because so many other runners tell me they run faster on the treadmill.

Sunday: Rest

How does changing the order of your training days affect you? Do you typically run slower or faster on the treadmill?


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16 Comments

  1. Melinda wrote:

    I really want to read Our Endless Numbered Days too! I’ve had To Kill a Mockingbird forever. It’s one of those books I have purchased to read and just never got to.

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’m really enjoying it so far and am now about 100 pages in. And, this is the summer to read TKAM with Watchman coming out…I bet a ton of people will either be re-reading it or reading it for the first time.

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  2. an interesting reading selection,
    Enjoy!

    Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  3. I’m planning to do a re-read of TKAM, too…and I don’t think we’re alone. I don’t think I’ve read it since college, so I’m excited to see how I see it differently all these years later!

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Haha – no, I feel like everyone and their brother will be re-reading TKAM this summer! My neighbor’s book club is reading it now. At least you probably remember something about it since you read it in college. High school is too far back for me 🙂

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  4. Curating a virtual library sounds like so much fun! And you are surrounded by so many interesting books right now… look forward to that mini-review of Mosquitoland.

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      It’s been really fun..I can’t wait to see the finished room.

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  5. Shaina wrote:

    Awesome job with the 10K training!

    I too am looking forward to digging in to Our Endless Numbered Days sometime soon. 🙂 I’ve finally knocked a lot of books off my “currently reading” list that feel like they’ve been stuck there forever, and I’m ready to fill it up again!

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Thanks 🙂 And – congrats on cleaning out your “currently reading” list- that must feel great! I only read one book at a time (I read in small time blocks, so I have trouble really getting anything if I’m reading more than 1 book at once), so it’s more my TBR pile that’s my problem.

      And Numbered Days is going well – about 100 pages in now and really enjoying it.

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  6. Your library curation project sounds like so much fun. How exciting. I will be checking back to see how it turns out!

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  7. MCM Mama wrote:

    Sound like some interesting reads – I need to create a wish list to keep track of all the books people are suggesting!

    I move my runs all over the place during the week based on my work schedule, my kids’ schedules, and the weather. I avoid the treadmill as much as possible but am usually faster there because I just want to be done.

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Make a list on Goodreads…it’s a great place to keep track of your different reading lists and follow what others are reading!

      I think moving the workouts around is probably a fact of life for many of us! Wish it weren’t the case, but c’est la vie!
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  8. I’m glad I skipped requesting the Grape ARC, if it’s as you said, forgettable. Sometimes I would rather either really like or really DISlike a book, rather than being “meh” about it – at least then I have something to say! Anyhoo, I also will be re-reading TKAMB on the sooner side of life! I read it when I was 15, and also don’t remember too much about it, so I’m excited to experience it again!

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Totally agree with you on wanting to either really like or dislike a book…makes writing an interesting review a lot easier!

      I feel like so many people will be revisting TKAM soon…should be fun!

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply
  9. I hate changing my training schedule; I know it’s just a mental thing, but I’m so bad at being flexible. This weather has really been the pits lately; so much rain, forcing me to be on the treadmill more than I would like, as well. You did great getting it all done, Sarah! You’re going to do so well in this race! Well, bummer about Eight Hundred Grapes; I’ve already committed myself for a blog tour, so I guess I’ll get through it (or not…who knows!). You make some very interesting comments about Mosquitoland; can’t wait to read your mini review! I enjoyed Shannon and Monika’s reviews of Boo; it sounds fascinating! Thanks so much for linking up with the blog!

    Posted 5.18.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Aah – me too! I’m such a routine based person…switching things up drives me crazy! It’s probably actually good for my training, though. And thanks for the encouragement!!

      Well, I’ll be interested to discuss 800 Grapes with you…so I’m secretly glad you “have” to read it! It looked so good from the blurb and the early sample I read…grr.

      Posted 5.18.15 Reply

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