Sunday, January 19, 2020

The Sunday Post #208

As foretold by Nostradamus . . .




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 The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday I show you my Christmas book haul. (Yes, I realize that Christmas was a month ago. Yes, I’m still excited about my Christmas gifts.)









In My Reading Life


I read a lot last week, but I didn’t finish any books because I’ve been plowing through Best-Loved Folktales of the World by Joanna Cole. I made it through the folktales of Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. My favorite story from Asia is “Simple Wang” (China). It’s about Wang, who buys a mirror. His family does not understand what a mirror does. When his wife looks into it, she cries because she thinks Wang has brought home a beautiful new wife. When Wang’s mother-in-law looks into the mirror to see the new wife, she wonders why Wang has chosen to marry an ugly old hag.

My favorite story from the Pacific is “How Platypuses Came to Australia” (Australia, obviously). It’s a clever story, but it’s also about a rat raping a duck, so . . . weird, Australia. Weird.

Africa has my favorite stories in the world (so far). Most of them focus on animals. I have a lot of favorites. “Anansi’s Hat-Shaking Dance” (Ashanti Tribe) is about how funerals aren’t ideal places for showing off. “The Wise Dog” (Yoruba Tribe) is about why dogs beg for food and why it’s not a good idea to murder your family.

Right now, I’m reading folktales from North America. I actually know some of these already!

I’m also nearly finished with Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. Is it too early to be thinking about my favorite books of 2020? This book is intense. How are any of these people alive? I like that the book is terrifying and hopeful at the same time.








In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy last week:

  1. I read a lot of folktales. If I put effort into it, I might be able to finish Best-Loved Folktales of the World this week. People, I started this book on December 1. I’m enjoying it, but it’s past time for it to be over. It’s starting to feel like those textbooks that took me a whole semester to slog through.
  2. Pizza!
  3. Also, ice cream!
  4. I’m having fun learning about Pinterest and how to design awesome pins. I haven’t made any awesome pins yet, but I’m trying! It’ll happen someday.
  5. I think the blog’s future makeover is coming along nicely. There might be a COLOR on here soon. (Shock! Horror!)









My New Year’s Resolution Is To Acquire Friends















Take care of yourselves and be kind to each other! See you around the blogosphere!





32 comments:

  1. Acquiring friends is a worthy goal :) I have no idea how to make a Pinterest pin, but now that you mention it I want to learn too! How did you start?

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  2. Lol, I think there was more than one animal involved in a liaison to create a platypus ;)

    Wishing you a great reading week, and that you finally finish the book

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  3. Pizza and of course ice cream make the world a better place!

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  4. i LOVE books about animals too, particularly dogs, like Marley and Me.

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  5. I really can't wait to see your blog makeover AJ!!! And yes about ice cream, that makes me happy too LOL

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  6. You've really upped my interest in your fairy tale book by sharing a few of your favorites. And now I've somehow found my way to Amazon and hit Buy Now with 1-Click. And it's all your fault.

    I definitely plan to read Educated, though I don't think it's a book that will fit in well with my personal mood-boosting book challenge. Later. When the weather returns to full color again.

    Can't wait to see the makeover. Such fun.

    Have a great week!

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  7. The blog is looking good. Thumbs up. I am off to read one of your wrap-up posts from last week that I have had bookmarked to read...well, since I saw you mention it recently.

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  8. I remember seeing a lot of praise for Educated when it came out. I read some of the reviews, and it's quite a life journey that woman took. I might feel lost if I come here and see too much color, though I am excited to see what you do.

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  9. I love pizza, it's been a long time since I had a slice. Our favorite place closed and we just can't seem to find anything we like.

    Looking forward to seeing the makeover, I did out blog last year and I love it. So fun to change things up!

    Have a great week, AJ! Happy Reading!

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  10. I hope you get to finish the folktales and read on to new adventures! I like pizza and ice cream. Have a wonderful week with some new books!

    Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post   

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  11. I am up for Christmas gifts and hauls year round! And it is always time for pizza and ice cream. Hope you have a great week!

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  12. Ooh I love seeing what people get for Christmas!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  13. Oooh! I love reading folktales! Those are my favorite types of stories! I also own a copy of Best Loved Folktales and I really need to read it soon!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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  14. I love the sound of the folk tales that are your favorites. That Australian one does sound very weird. Pizza and ice cream always make me happy. I can't wait to see what changes are in store for your blog. Have a great week!

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  15. Pizza is always a win! And the folktales book sounds awesome. I imagine there are so many amazing stories out there most of us never even hear about.

    Yay for hanging on to Christmas! :)

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  16. Yay for color! I'm excited to see what it will look like when you're done. That platypus story does sound interesting (and a little frightening too). :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  17. There was pizza and ice cream here too. I look forward to seeing what you do to your blog's design. My weekly update

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  18. That folktale book sounds like a lot of fun! I don't think I've ever actually read anything like that. Hurray for pizza and ice cream!! And I can't WAIT to see your blog makeover!

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  19. I keep hearing good things about Educated so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. Mmmm, pizza and ice cream. My two favorite food groups.

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  20. Best-Loved Folktales of the World sounds like it is full of interesting stories. I am glad you liked Educated. We had pizza for dinner tonight. And ice cream. :-) I hope you have a great week!

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  21. Educated! There were jerks on Goodreads giving it bad ratings because they think there is no way those things really happened in her life. I hate those people. I saw the author on a book event that was streamed on Facebook a couple of years ago, and her entire demeanor was like all the happiness has been forever sucked out of her. My heart breaks for her. 😢

    I'm excited to see your Christmas book haul. 👍✨

    Have a wonderful new week! 🌞

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  22. I'm going to have to check out that Folktale book....

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  23. Pizza and ice cream? Sounds great to me! Have a great week!

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  24. Weird Australia. Fair call I guess!

    A blog makeover is both exciting and a little bit stressful! Good luck with it!

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  25. I really should try and read more folk tales. Your happy list is just what I need! Off to enjoy some ice cream now. :)

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  26. I'm your friend! I love friends! Lol. Pizza and ice cream make me happy too. Yay for finishing books, and I can't wait to see your blog makeover!

    JennReneeRead

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  27. I can understand wanting a book to be over even if it is enjoyable. Good luck on finishing it. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  28. The folktales sound amusing. Glad they explained why "it's not a good idea to murder your family." I was pretty sure, but glad to have it clarified. (sorry, my sense of humor is a bit off). Have a great week!

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  29. I'm still getting the hang of pinterest. I try something every view months, and then stop for a while.. and get back to it again. LOL!!
    Have a great week and happy reading!

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  30. I own a few different folktale/fairytale books but have never slogged through an entire one. That's pretty awesome! Happy reading!

    Natflix&Books

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  31. I am curious about your new blog designs. It's exciting to see a new design come together. And pizza and ice cream are always good! I hope you can finish that folktales book soon, it does sound like a good one, but it always feels weird when you read the same book for such a long time.

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