We got up to 47 (8.3 C) glorious degrees today with sunshine no less! Everything is melting but since there is so much to melt it will take awhile. Still, it was so gorgeous and Bookman and I were having a bit of cabin fever, so we went out for a walk, which is what quite a few other people were doing today too. I joked on Twitter that it was time to get the summer clothes out of storage and Sylvia sent me a link to the Humorous Minnesota Temperature Scale and I have been laughing ever since. Bookman sent the link to his family and his aunt in Las Vegas said it was 62 (16.7 C) there and she was dressed in layers, which of course made us giggle especially since the thermostat in our house is set to 65 during the day.
As beautiful as today was and even as the week promises to be above freezing everyday, it will not last. It is only February and this is Minnesota. Historically, our snowiest month is March. But today has served to lift our winter weary spirits.
But enough about the weather.
I took Friday night off from school and Bookman and I decided to stay in and have an evening of reading. Oh, was it ever wonderful! I was going to start reading Euripides’ Alcestis but was only about 100 pages from the end of An Instance of the Fingerpost and decided to read that instead. I didn’t manage to finish it Friday night but I came close. I did manage to finish it Saturday night as my before going to sleep reading. I liked the book quite a lot. I’ll make a full post on it in the next day or so.
Fingerpost was my commute read so now I get to start a new book. I’ve decided on Trollope’s The Warden, one of the books on my year’s reading plan.
Another book I have been reading off and on of late I don’t think I have ever mentioned. AfterWord edited by Dale Salwak is a NetGalley review book in which writers have been asked to write an essay in where they imagine meeting a deceased author. I have three more essays to go before I’m at the end so that probably means I’ll been done sometime this week. It’s been fun reading.
Of course I am still reading Hafiz. And I am still reading 2666. My school quarter will be done in 3 weeks and then I get two weeks of no school. I am hoping during my quarter break I might be able to finish or come really close to finishing the Bolaño.
I am also looking forward to the next Slaves of Golconda book, Shirley Hazzard’s The Transit of Venus. Discussion for that is set for March 31st, so if you’d like to join in, please do!
Woohoo! Such balmy weather!
Sounds like a lot of good reading is happening at your house — it’s going to pour all week so I’ll catch up on my reading then. Too much time outside this weekend, it was gloriously sunny. I am a very shame-faced Northwestern girl — I don’t know that I could take 5 more months of cold and wet; I’m looking forward to spring and summer soooo much….
This is the first weekend I really feel sick of winter — made it to a high of -2C today, but it’s been snowing nonstop. And still people force to me leave the comfort of my bed with my books in it.
I’m curious what you made of the Fingerpost. I recall loving the first section, then my interest fell off. But I don’t remember what it was about.
Same thing is happening here too, we went up to 4C today, which is amazing for us in Feb. As the groundhog has predicted, we’ll only have a few weeks to go before spring arrives.
Oh dear Stefanie. We are having our annual week at the coast with our parents (ranging in age from 81 to 96) and are complaining because the temp is only 21 deg C (no idea how to get a degree sign on a PC which I’m using tonight)! We feel cheated!
As for The transit of Venus. Loved that book so look forward to hearing what you think when you read it. I’ve read two Hazzard novels and one memoir and have enjoyed them all.
We’ve had a week of slightly warmer weather, but today the temperature has gone south again and although the sun is shining here at the moment there are snow warnings for other parts of the UK. As you say, it is only February after all. I’ll be very interested in what you think of ‘Fingerpost’ as I’ve come across some very contrary reviews in the last couple of weeks. I really enjoyed it, but it doesn’t seem to have been everyone’s favourite.
I am so glad to think of you having at least a little break in the snowy weather. I will imagine you and the bookman breaking out the grass skirts and singing ‘Heatwave’. And perhaps even more pleased to think of you having some really quality reading time over the weekend. I NEED reading to rebalance my mind, or else I get all stressed out and self-pitying and life seems bleak and hard work. Looking forward to your thoughts on the Fingerpost book. I have that one to read.
Daphne, balmy is right! Didn’t even have to wear mittens on our walk so we could hold hands! Your rain will probably make it here by the end of the week as snow.
Isabella, last week we were deep in the negative temperature and I was on the verge of going crazy so I know how you feel. Hope some warmth and sunshine make it up your way soon!
Arti, don’t you just want to kiss that groundhog right now? The weather is such a relief that even if we get snow everyday in March I’ll be able to make it to spring.
whisperinggums, your temperature is pretty close to perfect! But I suppose if you are at the beach and the wind starts blowing it could be a little chilly. I’ve yet to read anything by Hazzard so I am glad to know you have enjoyed her books!
Annie, we’ll be in the 20s and snowing by the end of the week so it is important to enjoy the warm-up while we can. I thought Fingerpost a good book. I’ll elaborate soon.
Litlove, LOL, and when we got tired we reclined in a slushy snowbank with fruity drinks that had little umbrellas in them. Getting to read this weekend on top of the weather has made all the differnece to my mental health.
I checked The Warden out of the library a couple of months ago, but just couldn’t get into it and finally had to return it. Then I ordered the first DVD of The Barchester Chronicles from Netflix, only to fall asleep less than a third of the way through. I’d hate to think I can’t apprciate Trollope. I’m going to keep trying, though, and am interested to read what you think about The Warden. I’ve promised myself to try again.
It is crazy to me that my ancestors came from Norway via Minnesota, because I would have a SERIOUSLY hard time with that kind of extended cold! Guess my blood has thinned from generations of life in the Pacific NW. Either that or the Scots-Norwegians have just been too diluted by Californians.
Anyway, glad you two got some nice reading & walking time!
Grad, oh no! I have a coworker who loves Trollope and she keeps asking me how I am enjoying the book and all I can say is, I’m 30 pages in and so far so good. I haven’t fallen asleep but I’m also not going wow. Everything is still getting set up so I expect I will be able to start forming an opinion soon.
Emily, heh. My family moved to MN from Germany and then the branch I’m from moved to southern California when my dad was a teenager. I’m on the reverse migration route
My dad’s blood has thinned and mine has gotten thicker though not as thick as if I were born here. There are limits I suppose, or I could blame my mom’s southern blood (Oklahoma) for diluting the northern but I wouldn’t want to start a family argument. Actually, there would be no argument. They all think I’m crazy!
We’ve had really nice weather, too (knock on wood it doesn’t turn really awful), but even if we do get a little more snow it’s close enough to spring that it won’t last long! I’m looking forward to hearing about Instace at the Fingerpost and also the Bolano, which I very optimistically said I would read this year! Enjoy the sunny days while they last and hopefully we’ll both get lots more of them!
Danielle, I am glad you have been having nice weather too. It’s such a lift to the spirits isn’t it? Even if a big snowstorm comes through before spring arrives it will all be ok.
It’s been warm here too — yay! But we still have quite a bit of snow to melt. That means we will have wet roads for a long time. Oh, well. It’s plausible that at this point we may not get any more major storms, or at least not snow that won’t melt soon, so I’m happy! The Minnesota Temperature Scale was great.
Dorothy, lucky you that you might not get anymore big storms. We still have March to get through here and there are always one or two big snowfalls. Glad you enjoyed the MN temp scale.