Bloggiesta was so fun! I loved that it was four days this time. I had time to both socialize and get things done. I joined in all the Twitter chats, at least for a little while, and loved visiting other blogs and having other bloggers visit me.

I had a terrific idea during Bloggiesta. At least, I think it is, but I want your opinion! What do you think of a weekly blog event on Fridays focused on Great Britain? Let me know in the comments here or on my question post.

Earlier in the week, I participated in my very first Top Ten Tuesday with what turned out to be an English-themed Bookish Bucket List. I asked for more ideas for what to do and see in England, so let me know if you’ve been there or if you have a wish list that I can steal from!

Read

An English country house party featuring academics dressed in historical costume who want to restore Richard III’s reputation

I finally finished a book! The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters. Peters is more well-known for her Amelia Peabody Egyptology books. The Murders of Richard III is from her lesser known series featuring Jacqueline Kirby, librarian. I enjoyed it, but I’m going to save my review for Friday, for the first British Isles Fridays event!

Reading

Quiicksilver means mercury.

It seems like I’ve been reading Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson forever! Today, I’m on page 532. Only 384 pages left! I can do this. I got a fun Wondrous Words Wednesday post from Quicksilver last week featuring two words: ropewalks and obnubilated. Ropewalks doesn’t mean what most people first think and obnubilated was new to most of us in the WWW crowd.

I made no progress in The Clockwork Universe by Edward Dolnick. When I finish Quicksilver, I’ll work more seriously on The Clockwork Universe which is nonfiction but in the same general time and place as Quicksilver.

I’m nearly finished with a first pass through DK Eyewitness Travel book, Great Britain. I’m reading the section on Scotland even though I don’t think will make it that far north for our first trip. It’s still fun to think about!

I finished Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger and had so much fun with it that I immediately downloaded the next book in the series, Curtsies & Conspiracies. I feel like I’m reading both as one long book rather than two. I’ve nearly completed that book, too, and it will make another good review post for British Isle Fridays. These will also be my first entries for Once Upon a Time VIII at Stainless Steel Droppings.

Will Read

My next book is The Diet Fix by Yoni Freedhoff. I’ve been following his very sensible blog, Weighty Matters, for several years. He explains recent scientific research in terms for lay people, calls out both government and non-profit organizations when they team up with corporations to give unhealthy products a health halo, and campaigns against packaging and advertising that makes products appear healthier than they are.

One of my favorite posts was this video Dr. Freedhoff did about the ingredients in Nutella, a product I once bought because the package said “skim milk” on the front. Fortunately, one jar was enough to convince me that I couldn’t have Nutella in the house. An occasional Nutella crepe at the Farmers Market or, better yet, in Paris for a treat is fine, but regularly for breakfast, Nutella is not fine at all.

So I’m a big fan of Yoni Freedhoff and I’m very much looking forward to his book.

What are you reading?

It’s Monday! What Are Your Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Be sure to check out her post today to see her selections and the list of links to all the other participating bloggers.