Hard to believe we've come to the final Sunday of 2011. Also hard to believe this is just my second (I think) Salon post of the year. It's always hard for me to settle down and do any writing on Sundays, just as it's a little hard to get much reading done. Sundays are usually pretty busy around here, with errands to run and catching up on things we should have done during the week. And then, for most of the fall there's all that football to watch!Today's been a little different, though. Haven't even turned the TV on. And after the orgy of Christmas movies in the last week or so, that's been a real relief. The hubby and I have been listening to Christmas music and working on a jigsaw puzzle (love puzzles, but I'm really pretty hopeless at putting them together). And I've even done a little reading.
Today I've been trying to finish up a biography of Britain's Prince Philip, by Philip Eade -- Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II. Catchy title, huh? It's an Early Reviewer book from Library Thing, and not really the sort of book I ordinarily request, but the prince has always interested me. I'm enjoying it and finding out a lot about his family life before he married Elizabeth. I knew about his family's connections to the National Socialist Party in Germany before and during WWII (his sisters all married German princes), but I didn't really know what a scattered and insecure life the young prince led. So far, the book is very informative and a really entertaining read. It also makes one more nonfiction book for the year -- I've read more nonfiction than usual this year, for some reason.
Later on, I'm hoping to get a start on wrapping up all the reading challenges I signed up for in 2011. Way too many, of course, but I did manage to complete the reading for most of them. Now I can start thinking about the challenges of 2012, and trying to keep myself from joining each and every one I hear about. I've promised myself to try to stop being such a challenge junkie next year, but old habits are hard to break.
That book on Prince Philip looks intriguing...I've always been curious about him, too. He always seems to be the Queen's shadow...even walking behind her, as is the protocol.
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching for your review.
I'm tired of the glut of Christmas movies, too. Enough is enough!
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Prince Phillip always seemed to be a cold fish to me but maybe he's nicer than he looks. I'm sure that book is intriguing, though.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all the challenges you decide on for 2012. Have fun!
It sounds like you had a great Christmas! I love jigsaw puzzles too, but haven't done one in a while.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteSundays are always busy around here, too.