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| A blog for the classy modern hermit. |
The Sunday
Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and The
Sunday Salon is hosted by Readerbuzz. They’re a
chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, and share news. It’s
Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Date. I get to tell you what I’ve read
recently. This post contains
affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying
purchases.
On The Blog Last Week
- On Tuesday I talked about 2020 adult book releases.
- On Thursday I wrapped up 2019 (with delicious pie graphs).
On The Blog This Week
- On Tuesday I list some 2020 young adult book releases that I’m excited about.
- On Wednesday I talk about the books that are coming out in the second half of January.
- On Thursday I blather about my (overly ambitious) 2020 goals.
In My Reading Life
I forced myself to sit still and read a massive chunk of Best-Loved Folktales of the World by Joanna Cole. I swear I’m going to finish
this book before I die. Last week, I made it through Eastern Europe and the
entire Middle East! Go me. My favorite tale from Eastern Europe is “Saint or
Horse” (Yiddish). It made me smile. The Middle East has a lot of entertaining
stories. My favorite is probably “The Donkey Driver and the Thief” (Arabia). Right
now, I’m reading folktales from Asia.
I also finished Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The beginning of the
novel is brilliant. The plot and the nature writing are so stunning that I didn’t
want to stop reading. Disappointingly, I fell out of love as the book went on.
I think it gets slightly pretentious and far-fetched. I still highly recommend
this one, though. I enjoyed it overall. Best first chapters ever! If you are a wannabe writer, you need to read this book.
Right now, I’m reading Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. It’s good so far.
In My Internet Stalking Life
- Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight talks about 2020 (The Future!) and what books she’s looking forward to.
- If you like year-end stats, check out Jessica @ The Psychotic Nerd’s post. It’s so pretty!
- Wendy @ Falconer’s Library lists her best books of the decade.
- Deb Nance @ Readerbuzz lists her favorite books of the decade, too.
In The Rest Of My Life
Five things that made me happy last week:
- I signed up for Tailwind. It’s supposed to make Pinterest less of a time-suck for me. (I may have a slight Pinterest obsession.) I’m having tons of fun playing with Tailwind. I think I’m developing a slight Tailwind obsession. Now Tailwind is going to become the time-suck. Maybe this wasn't such an awesome idea.
- This blog will probably be getting a makeover! I’ve contacted some artists, and I have some half-baked schemes. We’ll see what happens.
- Thank you to everybody who looked at my 2019 reading stats post! I love stats, but it takes so long to do the math.
- I’m not sick anymore! I started feeling gross a few days before Christmas, but I think it has finally cured itself.
- While I was sick and wallowing in self-pity, I watched the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries. It was made in 1995, and some of the acting is over-the-top. I loved every second of it because it’s old and ridiculous. Have you seen it?
My New Year’s Resolution Is
To Acquire Friends
Take care of yourselves and be kind to each
other! See you around the blogosphere!
I am glad you are feeling better. There is nothing worse than feeling bad for such a long time. I really need to read Where the Crawdads Sing and am glad you liked it for the most part. I can't wait to see the eventual makeover! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI think finishing the book before you die is a good goal. *cheering for you* Yeah for being cured, because being sick sucks, but at least you had P&P to sustain you. I had to quit Pinterest, because I would fall down these pinning black holes for way too many hours. Good luck with Tailwind. I await your assessment of the tool.
ReplyDeleteI tried to watch the BBC version of P&P but lost interest really quickly, I do really like the movie featuring Kiera Knightly though.
ReplyDeleteI’ll have to checkout Tailwind, not that I use Pintrest much.
Wishing you a great reading week
I completely agree with you about Crawdads. If only the author had spent as much time on the rest of the book as she did the first chapters.
ReplyDeleteA makeover sounds like such fun. I enjoy doing my own work on my blog, but I realize, of course, that not everyone likes such a wabi-sabi blog. I can't wait to see what the results are.
I felt exactly the same way as you did about Crawdads. If only the author had spent as much time on the rest of the book as she did on the first chapters.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better. So many people are sick right now.
Good luck with the makeover. I love to tinker with my blog on my own, though I know lots of people probably don't like the wabi-sabi-ness that results in.
Have a wonderful week!
I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better, so many are sick right now.
ReplyDeleteI love your pie charts and all the statistics in your post. I already knew that I read ARCs and library books and if I buy it, it is in the TBR of doom. So that is my goal for this year to read some of the stuff I own. We will see how it goes. I get many, many lovely ARCs. And I want to read it all.
Wow, you had amazing growth on your blog!
Have a great week! Happy reading!
Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
I loved the Crawdads book, but agree it was pretty far-fetched. Thankfully I was able to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the ride. Buckle up for the ride with Educated!!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of reading about folk tales from around the world!
ReplyDeleteI tend to adore any adaptation of Pride and Prejudice but the 1995 BBC one is my favourite.
Good luck with the new blog art! Can't wait to see the ideas take form!
Glad you have now recovered - so many folks are feeling sick right now! I have to say that I love the 1995 Beeb version of P & P - though I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the Kiera Knightly film over Christmas - again. You can never have too much of Austen dramatisations in your life! Have a great week, AJ.
ReplyDeleteThose folktales sound interesting. I love stuff like that, and there's probably so many I've never heard of! And good luck with the blog makeover- that sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Where the Crawdads Sing yet, mostly because it has SO MUCH hype.
ReplyDeleteOooh a blog makeover! That's so exciting AJ! I can't wait!!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing!
ReplyDeleteColin Firth as Darcy diving into the lake is ICONIC. It's a slightly cheesy production of the book but it's very entertaining. Can't wait to see what you do with the blog!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to make a concerted effort to set aside time to read something. It sounds like it was time well spent! Where the Crawdads Sing is one of those books I have been avoiding, even more so the more praise it gets. I'm not sure why. You aren't the first person to raise the same criticism about the second half. I am glad you liked it and recommend it just the same though. Maybe someday . . . I'll be curious to know your thoughts on Educated. The more I think of that book after having read it, the more I thoughts I have on it . . . Oh, I love the BBC Pride and Prejudice mini-series. It's my favorite of the versions out there, even with it's flaws. :-) I hope you have a great week, AJ. I am glad to hear you aren't sick anymore!
ReplyDeleteI loved the very end of Crawdads :) I heard Educated was a similar concept, but I haven't read that one yet. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling better - I've had some allergy problems, but it seems to be clearing up so *fingers crossed* I've used Tailwind in the past for another blogger - I interned for her website - and it is super handy. I'd love to get it for my own blog, but you know, money and all that. Maybe later this year or something!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Honestly, I immediately assumed Where the Crawdads Sing would be super pretentious when I saw it. XD I'm sorry you didn't love it! I can't wait to see what your blog is going to look like if it gets a makeover!!
ReplyDeleteIt's good you are feeling better and the folk stories book does sound intriguing. I have read a bunch of Asian folk books over the years, but nothing comprehensive like that.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Favorite books of the decade — that's a list I haven't tried to compile. My weekly update
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better AJ. I've never even heard of Tailwind so have no idea what it is! I'm pretty fed up with all the stupid storms and bad weather-it's never usually this bad!
ReplyDeleteWhere the Crawdads Sing was interesting but I definitely don't get the hype that it was getting.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm so happy you're feel better! This weather is absolute trash!
Wow that is a big book! It sounds really interesting though. I'm excited to hear all about your big plans for 2020! I just looked up Tailwind. I'm not sure what to do with it lol. Yay for not being sick! This up and down weather has all of us feeling like garbage. I can't wait for it to be done!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen that P&P but it looks like fun!
Ash @ JennReneeRead
Glad you are feeling healthy! I tend to avoid Pinterest because I don't need another time suck. I hope Tailwind helps and doesn't become a time suck itself. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you are feeling better. My book club is doing Where the Crawdads Sing later this year, but I'm not sure if I'm going to read it. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteooh getting a new look on your site? If it happens, I can't wait to see what it looks like. Its always fun to have a new design. Where The Crawdads Sings I have heard so many good things about, sorry to hear it disappointed you in the end. Hope you have a good week
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're feeling better. That P&P adaptation is probably my favorite. A little over the top, but then you can't go wrong with Colin Firth as Darcy. A blog makeover sounds like fun. Good luck with that. :)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I have watched the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries so many times we lost count. Enjoy your reading week!
ReplyDeleteCrawdads didn't live up to the hype for me. Educated is super interesting, but I kind of wish she'd waited another decade to write it--I think it might have benefitted from a longer view. I never got why people were in a tizzy about Colin Firth until I finally saw that P&P adaptation. Good luck with your blog revamp, and now I'm going to go look and see what Tailwind is. Thanks for sharing my post!
ReplyDeleteYay for not being sick anymore! I think I’ll definitely be borrowing Where the Crawdads Sing. I’ve heard a lot about it.
ReplyDeleteI hope this week is kind to you!
I'm glad you are feeling better. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThis Best-Loved Folktales of the World sounds good. You'lle get there, 1 story at a time ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhere The Crawdads Sing never tempted me, but now I'm intrigued about this brilliant beginning!!
Did you know I also posted about my 12 favorite books in the decade?: https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/01/09/decade-of-reading-2010-2019-my-top-12/
It's kind of funny that you have the feeling you are wasting your time with a tool that's supposed to help you overcome that, lol.
I can't wait for your blog makeover!
I also do lots of charts and pies (https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/01/02/year-of-reading-2019-part-2-statistics/). My trick is to use the same Excel file. You know you just have to put numbers and excel generate a pie. Each year, I just need to edit the numbers in the chart, and it automatically edits the pie for me.
But, if you have not started an excel file, you might want to use this awesome page from Reader Voracious. You just need to save the template, then as you edit the numbers, the charts and pies generate themselves. so easy and a gain of time, as you don't need to program it. you can change the category names if you wish. Another trick is definitely to edit the numbers after each book you finish.
Here's the link to access her awesome template: https://readervoracious.com/book-blogger-spreadsheet-template/
Ooo… Interesting observations shared regarding Where The Crawdads Sing; I acquired a copy at the end of last year and intend to get round to reading it early this year. I have heard such good things, especially about the nature writing. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Educated.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
I was sick over Christmas, too, and am just starting to feel better. Yay, us! 🙌🙌🙌
ReplyDeleteEducated was my top book in 2018. I hope you end up loving it! 📚✨
I don't get along with Austen as a writer, although I have tried really hard to find a book of hers I could like, but I have loved and adored every single film and mini-series adaptation I have watched. Go figure, ha ha.
I hope you have had a wonderful week so far. 🌞
I'm glad you've been feeling better.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sorry to read Where The Crawdads Sing didn't end as good as it started.
Happy reading!
That's exciting you're getting a new look for your blog. That's always fun. I still haven't done my stat post, I like looking at the stats, but like you said they are a lot of time to make. I'll have to check out your stat post. I am glad to hear you're feeling better. have a good week!
ReplyDelete