The Sunday Post #226

The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. I’m linking up with The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date.

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The Sunday Post #226

On The Blog Last Week

• On Tuesday we talked about attention-grabbing opening paragraphs.
• On Saturday there was a book haul.

On The Blog This Week

• On Tuesday we talk about books with summer vibes.
• On Wednesday I show you the June book releases I’m excited about.

In My Reading Life

Last week, I finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. This is a complicated one. Ultimately, I felt “meh” about it. It took me a week to read the first 100 pages because they meander, and I got bored. Then the book finally hooked me, and I read the last 200 pages in a day. The story’s main conflict involves a Chinese immigrant who abandons her baby. The child is given to a wealthy white family. Then the mother decides she wants her baby back. I love that the author tackles morally difficult questions that don’t have clear answers. No character is a hero, but their motivations are understandable. It makes you wonder what you’d do in their situation. This book is worth reading, but I struggled at the beginning.

Then I read The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss. It’s told from the point-of-view of a stay-at-home dad. I appreciate that perspective because it’s not one we see often. It definitely made me think, especially the scene that takes place at a swimming pool. Dad can’t go into the girls’ locker room with his preteen daughter, so he waits for her near the locker room door and gets reported to management for “staring at children.” Being a stay-at-home dad to daughters has some unique challenges for sure. His life becomes even more challenging when he learns that both of his children may have a mystery illness that causes them to stop breathing without warning. This is the second Sarah Moss book I’ve read. I’m curious about her nonfiction, but I won’t read any more of her fiction. Her topics are super interesting, but I don’t love her writing style. It’s long-winded and repetitive. This book didn’t have enough action to fill 300+ pages.

My biggest reading success last week was Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. I’ve somehow gone my entire existence without reading a Judy Blume book. She’s been writing bestselling children’s books for longer than I’ve been alive. This novel was probably censored in my part of the world. I doubt my elementary school would have let us read a book that mentions bra shopping (gasp!), and periods (double gasp!), and test-driving different religions (triple gasp!). That sucks because I would have loved this book as a kid. I had a few experiences that were similar to Margaret’s. My only complaint is that the ending is rushed. Other than that, I enjoyed this novel immensely. It’s funny and relatable.

Right now, I’m reading The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. My opinion so far is that I hate Ronan and don’t want to read about his drama with his brother, but I’m intrigued enough by Gansey that I’ll keep going.

In The Rest Of My Life

Five things that made me happy last week:

1. Hamburgers, chocolate cake, cookie dough ice cream, M&Ms . . . . Basically, I forgot about my low-calorie diet on Memorial Day. I ate EVERYTHING and regret NOTHING.
2. Blowing bubbles with baby Brooklyn. I think I had more fun than she did. She was underwhelmed by bubbles.
3. Possible hockey playoffs in July? I’m cautiously excited. I miss hockey, but I don’t want anyone to get Coronavirus for it.
4. BookCon! Since it’s virtual this year and not in New York, I actually get to go!
5. Nervously jogging through a herd of deer. They suspected that I was not one of them, but they chose not to punish me for it. I am grateful.

This deer is judging me.

Let’s Be Friends From Far Away

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