December 15, 2014 / Leslie

New Books, Writer’s Block, and the Virus that Won’t Go Away

A Quiet Few Weeks

For the first time in the five years I’ve been writing this blog, I took a week off from posting. I wish I could say I was away on a vacation, but I was right here at home.

It was an unconscious decision. I have lots to write but didn’t feel like sitting down at the computer to do it. I’m blaming, in no particular order…

Writer’s block
Work
Holiday distractions
Foggy brain from the cold virus that won’t go away
Haven’t seen sunshine in weeks – persistent clouds are keeping temps mild, but it’s oh so gloomy
Most of the birds have migrated south.

Anyway, a few new books arrived last week and I have plenty of audio queued up to keep me busy. I was able to write some reviews yesterday and I may even get outside for a walk today.

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia of To Be Continued, a place where readers share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

After several years of being on tour with different blogs as the monthly host, the Mailbox Monday Blog is now the permanent home for the meme.

New Arrivals

The Room by Jonas Karlsson from Random House.
Funny, clever, surreal, and thought-provoking, this Kafka-esque masterpiece introduces the unforgettable Bjorn, an exceptionally meticulous office worker striving to live life on his own terms.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven from Random House.
The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this compelling, exhilarating, and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen from Penguin.
In the tradition of Alan Furst, the #1 international bestselling author delivers his first stand-alone novel, a psychological thriller set in World War II Nazi Germany and 1970s England.