The Watering Hole, Issue #3
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| Sunday Post, what I call The Watering Hole, is hosted weekly by Caffeinated Reviewer. |
The Editorial
It’s been a while since my last Watering Hole post, and honestly, there are numerous reasons for that. Life has been a whirlwind of commitments, and I’ve often found myself too burnt out to muster the energy for an extra blog entry. With my plate so full, even managing to publish one book review a week has felt like a Herculean task. Remember, blogging is a passion project for me—at best, a hobby. But the tide is turning. I’m setting my sights on reviewing more books each month and possibly sprinkling in a few movie critiques as well. My pile of ARCs looms large, and there's a daunting stack of TBR titles I've been itching to get into.
For those who catch my Friday 56 posts, you’ll know that my seventy-year-old father recently underwent knee replacements—his right in late April and the left just three weeks ago. Thankfully, he’s on the mend and recovering well.
On the Reading Block
So many choices, so little time. I’m just a few pages from the end of Cold Zero by Brad Thor and Ward Larsen, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it tomorrow. Meanwhile, on my Kindle, I’ve been picking away at Silent Stalker by Lane R. Warenski. I started this eBook ages ago and, like a timid deer in the headlights, found myself stuck in the chaos of life. But I'm finally nearing the finish line. If all goes according to plan, expect a review on Wednesday. It’s a Western, a genre I've scattered reviews for over the past months, but I plan to reclaim my weekend rhythm starting July 11th with The Last Gunfighter: Ambush Valley by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone.
After that, I’m teetering on a decision about my next read. It's either going to be The Captive by Kit Burgoyne or Skyring Water by Louis L’Amour and Beau L’Amour.
Fresh Off the Press
Due to my recent hiatus from blogging, I haven’t been actively seeking or accepting ARCs. Yet, out of nowhere, In the Wake of God by Kent Priore landed in my inbox, a title I have zero interest in. To all authors and publishers out there: a gentle reminder to please check in with me before sending unsolicited books.
My purchases have dwindled. Unless I snag something online, I've been pretty restrained. Even my local Walmart has slashed its already paltry book section to the bone. The only recent finds I unearthed were The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden and Slasher Summer by E.L. Chen, the latter of which I hope to read later this month. On my last Walmart visit, I noticed an empty slot for one of the new William W. Johnstone Westerns; the first they’ve stocked this year. Why they’re not carrying the two other releases remains a mystery. However, I did order all three new Johnstone titles from Amazon: Fool's Gold, A Week from Never, and Fury Over Texas.
Thrifting has also taken a backseat, save for my occasional jaunt to the local Salvation Army. On one of those trips, I struck gold with a brand-new, filter-free humidifier for just $4. My latest literary finds include Blackbeard’s Ghost by Ben Stahl, Island at the Top of the World by Ian Cameron, and a couple from the Wagons West series by Dana Fuller Ross—Montana! and Louisiana!—plus The Last Stage from Opal by Kelly P. Gast.
Some Final Thoughts
A new mattress is slated for delivery this Thursday. The only high-end furniture store in town closed its doors earlier this year. I had to resort to online ordering, and it’s been a long two-week wait. While it’s not a fancy Tempur-Pedic or anything resembling luxury, just a sturdy extra-firm mattress, it sure ain’t cheap. My old mattress has seen better days and has outlived its purpose, leading my back to protest louder with each passing night. I’m counting down the hours until I can finally sink into something new—provided the delivery doesn’t get delayed, of course.
〜B.J. Burgess
Hope you have a lovely Sunday and week.
ReplyDeleteI hope the mattress is everything you need and more
I hope so, too.
DeleteBefore my Kindle, I used to love going to Walmart and stacking up on books. I was always there and always came out with a big bag of books. Although I no longer get physical books, I do look at Walmart's book section every now and then and it's pretty bad. They really cut down in the last few years. I'm happy being an e-reader these days. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI find it challenging to make purchasing decisions when it comes to new authors. I prefer having a physical copy of a book to browse in a store, which helps me decide whether or not to buy it. New Kindle eBooks are often quite expensive, so I only purchase them when they're on sale. Additionally, I feel that you don't truly own the books you buy on Kindle; it's more like a long-term digital lease.
Delete