Happy Monday-Before-Election-Day, my friends!  Does everyone have their plan for voting tomorrow?  I had hoped to find time to vote early, but it didn’t work out.  So I’ll be braving the lines at the polls – book in hand, of course.  Go, Hillary, go!

This was an unusual weekend.  Usually we’re either on the go all weekend, or we’re just hanging out (and maybe getting stuff done around the house) – but this weekend covered both extremes.  On Saturday, we were out the door early for a very exciting special exhibition at the Folger Shakespeare Library in DC (I’ll tell you all about it on Wednesday!).  Going to the Folger was high on my to-do list anyway, and the exhibition we saw was smack dab in the middle of my wheelhouse, so I was basically beside myself with glee all morning.  Saturday afternoon was spent running errands around town, doing a massive grocery shopping, and being generally productive after a “lost” week when I did nothing but work long hours.  On Saturday night Steve and I finally found a moment to kick back, but instead of picking up a book, we turned on the first episode of The Crown, the new Netflix original series about Queen Elizabeth II, starring Claire Foy (who played Anne Boleyn in Wolf Hall and basically stole that entire show).  Aside from some graphic scenes related to King George’s lung cancer, I loved it (and so did Steve, who has a stronger stomach than I do).  Sunday was a rare low-key day at home.  We hung out in pajamas most of the day and made roasted pumpkin seeds in the morning, then I squeezed in a little work during naptime.  We capped off the day with a walk to the library, then about half an hour hanging out in the alley behind our house, chatting with our neighbors while Peanut ran around with their two little girls.  Perfect.

I actually had a decently productive reading week, which is kind of a surprise considering how crazy work was – about twelve hours spent behind the wheel (I did manage to catch up on a few podcasts as I drove) and one night working at my kitchen table until midnight, plus all the regular stuff, too.  Next week is looking like another packed one, so I’m extra glad to know that I can still check a few books off even during the craziest week – because my library stack has really taken on a life of its own.  This week’s outbox was comprised of My Brilliant Friend, which I finished earlier in the week, and The Fire This Time, which I wrapped up on Saturday night.  I seem to be working at a pace of about two books per week, which is good but is not going to cut it if I don’t want to return unread library books and don’t want to incur overdue fines.  Next I picked up Crowned and Dangerous, the latest installment in the Her Royal Spyness mystery series – which I love, they’re such fun.  I’ve been picking at it all weekend and could really use a couple of hours to sit down and sink into the story.

After Crowned and Dangerous, I’m trying to work through the new releases on my library stack, and I think my next read is going to be Before We Visit the Goddess, by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni.  I’ve worked out that if I alternate one “diverse” book with one “non-diverse” book through the end of the year, I’ll surpass the goal of 33% “diverse” voices that I set at the beginning of the year.  The problem is, a lot of the “diverse” books on my library stack are older, and they have to compete with new releases that can’t be renewed – like The Invasion of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen, and Here I Am, by Jonathan Safran Foer, to name just two.  I guess that just means I will have to read all the faster, right?

I have good stuff coming up on the blog this week.  On Wednesday, that recap of the special exhibition at the Folger that I teased at the top of the post.  Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.  And on Friday, I’m talking about my favorite way to take in the news – political satire!  I’m psyched about both posts, so do check in.

What are you reading this election week, my friends?