This has been a busy, event-filled week, complete with visits with and from friends, school planning and grading which took up a good part of the week, and a few pensive, quiet moments–some provided by reading blogs from the friends I am following.

And still I managed to do some reading.

Finished last week: Girl Stolen by April Henry, an action-packed YA novel provided by a student who had purchased the book and recommended it to me. It is now in my LFL (Little Free Library) waiting to be read by yet another reader. Also The Fire by Night by Teresa Messino, a gripping, sometimes graphic novel about the horrors of WWII and the nurses who saved lives at, and sometimes behind, the front.  It will be reviewed here in the next few days.

Continuing to read: Who Said I Was Up for Adoption? by Colin Chappell, a blogging friend who has made his excellent book available on Kindle.  The more books I attempt on Kindle, the more I enjoy reading in this medium. I am so close to finishing that I am sure I will be reviewing the book sometime this coming week.  Feeling I hadn’t read any non-fiction in a long time, and feeling the need to do so, I…

…began this week: Beyond Human Nature:  How Culture and Experience Shape the Human Mind.  At first it was heavy going, but once I “got into it” and reminded myself I had once studied the basic philosophers reviewed in the first chapter and that I had read many a student paper on “Nature vs. Nurture,” I found my way and can honestly say I’m enjoying stretching my mind a bit and finding it good reading.  It is by Jesse J Prinz. Heads up, Dr. P , when this one is finished, I will donate it to the “AJP Library.” I also began Big Magic, by the author of Eat, Pray, Love  which reminds me somewhat of Brene Brown’s books.  I like that I am able to apply what I read to my daily life.

I am still looking forward to my friends’ books, Joyful Journey, an autobiography, and Who is Human?, friend Gary Pegoda’s exploration into artificial intelligence and sci fi at its best.  Surely I’ll find time this coming week to start them both.

What I have watched:  In a word, lots of “mindless TV,” but it was most enjoyable.  I  viewed the finale of “Victoria” on PBS, which was superb as well as “Superior Doughnuts,” a delightful sitcom and the ever-popular, ever-entertaining “Big Bang”.  “Shots Fired”, the pilot of a series promises to be a serious, deep drama, which includes a role for Helen Hunt of “Closer” fame. Last week “Rick Steves’ Europe” took us to Paris; this week we toured Provence. IF I finish grading essays today, I hope to watch a movie.  It feels like it has been a long time, and several people have recommended ones I think I would really enjoy.

Today is almost gone, but I am trying to schedule lightly tomorrow and for the coming days, so I can get some reading done.  Wish me luck!