Sunday, September 13, 2020

The Sunday Post #241

The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. It’s hosted by The Caffeinated Book ReviewerReaderbuzz, and Book Date.

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The Sunday Post #241





Public Service Announcement


Are you addicted to readathons? I am! The 2020 Fraterfest Readathon is happening from October 15-24. Gather your spooky books and sign up here.






On The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday we talk about illustrated blue nature covers. I realize this is oddly specific, but there are a surprising number of blue books with nature illustrations on them. I guess this is a publishing “thing” now. Blue nature books? Whatever. I like the trend. Bring it on.





In My Reading Life


Last week, I finished rereading Number The Stars by Lois Lowry. This was one of my favorite books when I was a young teenager. I checked it out from my middle school's library an unreasonable number of times. It’s about two ten-year-old girls who live in Nazi-occupied Denmark. I can confirm that it’s still a well-written novel with realistic characters and a (mostly) believable plot. I enjoyed the reread. It’s weird rereading childhood favorites because this book was a lot more intense in my memory. I was terrified for the young characters when I was a middle schooler. When I reread the book, I realized they weren’t in as much danger as I remember. The adults were in danger, but they tried very hard to keep the kids out of their plans. I thought the kids were more involved. It’s weird how I misremember books. It’s a harrowing story, though. I recommend it.




Then I accidentally read Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. Yes, I accidentally read a 300-page book. It showed up in the mail, and I had insomnia, so I decided to read a few pages. Then it was suddenly morning, and I’d finished the book. It’s so good! I wish it had been around when I was a teenager. The main character, Darius, is a chubby, pimply loner with depression. That was me as a teen! I didn’t know I was main-character-worthy. Anyway, Darius travels to Iran to meet his grandparents for the first time ever. While he’s there, he makes friends, discovers a talent for soccer, and reevaluates his relationship with his parents. There’s no romance. I loved it. It’s sweet, quiet, and nerdy. Please pick it up if you like contemporary YA.




Right now, I’m reading two books. First is Vox by Christina Dalcher. It’s okay. It’s a dystopia about a scientist who is trying to help stroke patients regain their lost language skills, but she lives in a world where women are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. I think the book borrows a lot from The Handmaid’s Tale. I’ve seen this before. It’s like reading fanfiction.




I’m also reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I’m loving this one so far. It has creepy houses, ghost twins, and a biographer who is trying to uncover the secret past of a famous author. I’m excited to see where it’s going.






In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy last week:

  1. Labor Day BBQ! There were no parties or anything. I just ate hamburgers by myself in silence, but they were delicious lonely hamburgers.
  2. I did a digital detox. For 24 hours, I didn’t look at any screens. No computer, phone, or TV. I need to do this more often. I love you people, but I need a break from your Twitter drama sometimes.
  3. All the pumpkin foods are showing up in stores. I already ate a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie.
  4. I need recommendations for Netflix shows that are creepy and funny. I adored Stranger Things. I’m watching Lucifer now. It’s formulaic and sometimes cringe-inducing, but I’m enjoying the escapism. What else is funny and creepy?
  5. It was cold outside! I was happy about the cold, but I’m not happy that there’s already snow on the ground. I’m not ready for winter. This was the weather map for my state last Tuesday. I live in the “snow” section, which is better than the “on fire” section, but can’t we just have “cold and not deadly” weather? That would be excellent.








Come Read My Nonsense













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








35 comments:

  1. That is a great Titanic graphic.

    I am looking forward to all the seasonal readathons, I will participate if I can squeeze a post in.

    Though they were not very funny, I have watched two horror series on Netflix. Marianne is available in its original French or dubbed. The Haunting of Hill House is completely different from the book but I thought it was excellent.

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  2. The weather in your area has been crazy! I can't believe you guys already got snow! I am loving the fact that fall is coming, though; it's my favorite season and I need to go get my first pumpkin drink!

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  3. My husband and I were marveling at the dramatic change in weather in your state this week. Hot and then, suddenly, cold.

    Darius the Great sounds like a story I'd appreciate. Glad to see you liked it so much.

    Rereads of children's books always seems different. I remember especially reading a story about a family that lived in a brownstone in NYC when I was a kid, and I couldn't understand a family that didn't live in a house! Funny.

    I hope you have a great week.

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  4. Darius is my next audiobook on deck, so it seems like destiny that you accidentally read it and let me know it was great. I am looking forward to it. I have never done a read-a-thon, but you have been on a roll with them. Good luck! I hope you read a ton of great books. Pumpkin + chocolate chips = something amazing in my mind. I need this happen for myself. And, yes, I find myself spending less and less time on social media. It can become too much sometimes.

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  5. I thought The Thirteenth Tale was a really good read. And that Titanic pic at the top of your post totally made me laugh. Happy Sunday! :)

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  6. Love that little comic about what the Titantic would be like if sinking today. They do so much with the Titantic, watching people uncover the remains is what fascinates me.

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  7. I love your staying away from any screen for 24 hours. My eyes could use that treat to *lol* Have a wonderful new week. Happy reading and stay safe and well.

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  8. Hi AJ! Hope you are doing well? Strange weather there with you guys. And the weather can cause havoc on your hair.... (If you read my post you'll understand the connection).

    I've been wanting The Thirteen Tale for such a long time. I've read Vox, wasn't bad. But not all that great. I did finish it and chit chat a bit at book club somewhere last year.

    Hope you will have a good week!

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  9. May I should add the link to my post. It might help I guess.

    The Sunday Post #11

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  10. Have you seen In the Dark or Bird Box? Pretty creepy.

    It is hard to celebrate holidays in isolation, but luckily we love reading and viewing things. Enjoy the upcoming week. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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  11. The Thirteenth Tale has been on my TBR for ages so I'm glad you're enjoying it. I might try reading it when it gets a bit more autumny and I'm in the mood for a spooky read! Have a great week!

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  12. I completely agree with the fanfiction description for Vox. Very promising, not overly original in execution in my opinion. I love the Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield is such a fabulous author and I loved her recent release Once Upon a River as well. It seems so weird to think that other locations are having cold weather right now, haha. It has sounded crazy over there! I watched Imposter on Netflix a while back and thought it was fairly entertaining--it's not the most amazing show (I know, I 'm really selling it!), but I think it combines certain levels of creepy with funny in a good way. The Society was also a pretty creepy and occasionally cringey show that turned out to be one that I really enjoyed! And for something a bit weird/creepy (not as funny?), there's The OA.
    Hope you have a great week!

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  13. I think you Titanic meme is so true. "We're not sinking. It is a hoax." And the map. Is that Colorado? Ugh. The fires are the worst this year. Our air quality is so bad right now. My Sunday Salon post

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  14. You have fire in Colorado too???? Oh gosh no AJ! Where will it stop? 2020 I am so over with you!

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  15. Blimey! Snow already??? I'm guessing that is unuusal - otherwise your winters must last FOREVER. If you're not enjoying Dalcher's Vox, then don't bother with Q - though the premise is really interesting, the main character is both stupid and repellent. Have a great week, AJ!

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  16. I read Number the Stars in middle school too and remember loving it though the only thin I really remember is one girl clutching the other girl's Star of David necklace so hard that it left an inprint in her hand. I'm glad to hear that the kids weren't in that much peril. I want to add it to my son's read aloud list but kids in danger isn't really on my able to read list right now. Hope you have a great week.

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  17. A sequel to Darius the Great Is Not Okay just came out and it's SO good! I liked it even better than the first one. Definitely recommended!

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  18. I guess you must live higher up in your State. I know I'd prefer snow to the fires any day. All your reading sounds like you are doing well with it.Good luck with finding scary Netflix shows. I'll leave you to it!

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  19. I love the spooky readathons! I might have to jump into that one. Haven't done one of those in a while. And I love blue covers! TTT should be good this week haha.

    Burgers = yum! :)

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  20. I deliberately avoid rereading childhood/teenage favourites it’s too easy to taint the good memories of them with an adults perspective.
    I hope your weather evens out soon, I can’t wait for the start of daylight saving in a few weeks.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  21. I loved The Thirteenth Tale! Read it years ago and really loved it!

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  22. Pumpkin everything isn't my favorite season. One piece of pumpkin pie meets my needs for the whole season. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  23. I remember when VOX came out and everyone was talking about it. The Handmaid's Tale was super popular and I wondered if it was just people craving more in that vein or if VOX would stand on its own in the long run.

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  24. Your state's weather is quite... unique! Lol. I guess that's the nice thing to say instead of "bat-shit crazy." I'm ready for some fall foods but definitely NOT fall. I love it when it's hot outside!

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  25. I am enjoying re-reading my childhood favorites with my daughter, and seeing how they've held up over all this time. Darius the Great Is Not Okay sounds like one I could relate to as well. I'll have to check that one out. The Thirteenth Tales is so good! I am glad you are enjoying it. I enjoyed Vox, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping. Definitely not as good as the Handmaid's Tale. I went into having read a few reviews that had warned me it would dissolve more into a thriller the second half, and so I think my expectations weren't as high when I read it as they were initially when I added the book to my TBR pile. My husband and I have reached the Netflix produced episodes of Lucifer now, and while it started similarly to the previous seasons, it's definitely gotten a bit of a different feel. And an increased budget. I hope you have a great week, AJ.

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  26. I'm glad you could have some delicious hamburgers. I also like that it is finally cooling off a bit here. We are having 70s-80s instead of 90s (North Carolina) and I really like it. It's much better for yard work. I'm trying to do less social media before bedtime, but it's so easy to look at stuff. I used to only read then. I hope you enjoy a bit warmer week!

    Anne - Books of my Heart Here is my Sunday Post

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  27. This is the first I've heard of a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie.
    As for funny scary horror shows, I'd recommend Supernatural, but it's a long running series (I love that show so much and it's about to finally end). Zombieland is good, but I don't remember if it's on Netflix.

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  28. It's so crazy that it's already snowing places. I'm not ready for Winter either. I just want some nice Fall weather, please. Creepy and funny? Hmm...have you watched iZombie? I think that would qualify, and I loved it.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  29. What a great idea to digital detox. I need to do that too, especially because of Twitter. I hope you have a great week!

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  30. Awesome books this week. I've never read a book by Lois Lowry, but I've heard so much about them. Darius the Great is Not Okay sounds like a great read.

    I'm up for a digital detox. Might need to try that next weekend.

    Hope you have a great week.

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  31. Yup, I'm gonna try Fraterfest this year :-)

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  32. It does feel like we're on the Titanic, 30 minutes after striking the ice berg! Sorry about the snow, but maybe it will blanket the "fire danger" areas and put in end to a terrible fire year in the West.

    www.thepulpitandthepen.com

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  33. Oo today is Tuesday - I will go check out your blue nature book cover post!

    I am so excited for spooky book season! I need to get my reading list finalized. :) Love this season. Although it is still fall here and not winter... :) Lol.

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  34. Okay, the graphics at the beginning and end of your post are the absolute best (not that I didn't love all the info in between). That top one made me laugh and then the Fire/Snow combo is Colorado is just too crazy for words!

    I was also interested to see what you thought of your reread. And Darius has been on my TBR for a long time---I'll have to see if I can get my hands on it. :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  35. I love that Titanic picture and that could well be very accurate based on what I've seen in the news!

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