Sunday, December 19, 2021

The Sunday Post #287

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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.




The Sunday Post #287





On The Blog Last Week






On The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday, I share the books on my Christmas wish list.





In My Reading Life


Last week's books were not super successful, friends. One was okay; the other I decided to abandon.

Let's start with the DNF. I gave up on She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. I enjoyed the beginning. It's about a peasant girl in 1300s China who steals her brother's identity and tricks her way into becoming a monk. I liked the scenes that are set in the girl's village and at the monastery. As the book goes on, we start getting perspectives from other characters. That's where my problems began. I didn't find the other characters interesting. Many of them are soldiers who have very few ambitions beyond wars, promotions, and military stuff. Their plotlines didn't hold my attention. Actually, I think the writing style was my biggest struggle with this novel. The reader is kept at a distance from the characters, so we never know what's going on inside their heads. I couldn't get invested in their lives because they didn't feel real to me.

That being said, this book gets excellent reviews on Goodreads, so maybe you should ignore my opinion. Historical fantasy is not a genre I typically read.




My next book was better! Not perfect, but still good. It was The Grace Year by Kim Liggett. Look at that pretty-pink-blood-ribbon cover. It's a young adult horror dystopia about a society that believes teenage girls have dangerous magical powers. When the girls turn 16, they're sent to an island for a year to purge the magic from their systems. The island is not a happy place. It's basically a Lord Of The Flies situation. This is a fiercely feminist horror story. There's blood, guts, and plot twists. The teens have to work together to overcome their own prejudices and learn how to survive on the island. It's a fast-paced novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I wish the secondary characters had more development. There are a lot of characters. Aside from the main character, most of them are one-dimensional. Like many YA dystopias, the world building is pretty vague too. We don't learn much about the world outside the community where the story is set. I wondered if any teens chose to run away rather than go through their Grace Year. It's a brutal rite of passage. I wouldn't let my kid do it.

Is it true that this book is going to be made into a movie? I hope so! I think it would be an excellent movie. It has a lot of action and drama.




I'm finally reading Little Heaven by Nick Cutter. This novel has been sitting on my shelf for two years because most of my book friends hate it. So far, it's a properly scary horror story, and I don't hate it.








In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy recently (photo edition):













I'm Spreading Holiday Cheer















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







26 comments:

  1. I had the exact same problem with She Who became the Sun! The opening scene was amazing, we felt the hunger, the deep poverty and then...we were kept at a distance and she lost me.

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  2. Your niece is precious. Her pictures made me happy too. Love the ornaments! I didn't read it, but I remember many, many raves for The Grace Year.

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  3. What a fun thing to have a little girl (niece?) who likes to pose for photos!

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  4. I enjoyed She Who Became the Sun but it felt so long in the middle!

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  5. I hope you and Brooklyn have a wonderful Christmas! I loved it when my daughter (now 21) was young, seeing the decorations, gifts, and lights through her eyes was magical.

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  6. Aww, Brooklyn looks like she's having fun!

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  7. "He hated people, which is fair" Ha.

    The grace Year sounds great- I remember seeing that around and thinking I wanted to get it. Glad to hear it's good.

    Have a wonderful Christmas next weekend!

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  8. That little girl in her hat!!!

    I think I

    I see that I've had Little Heaven on my list for four years! I just read the synopsis and it sounds so good! Why haven't I gotten to it yet? lol Glad to hear that, so far, you are NOT hating it.

    I agree with you on The Grace Year. 100%

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  9. I absolutely LOVED The Grace Year and I definitely agree it should be made into a movie. I'm scared to read The Girl Who Became the Sun because I've seen so many reviews like yours. :/

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  10. I read the Grace Year and it was ok. It is akin to horror. I don't think I would like a movie of it either. Love the photos! She is getting big. I hope you have a happy holiday!

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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  11. You can't look at those photos without smiling! Brooklyn is adorable. Love the Homer ornament.

    Have a Merry Christmas!

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  12. Oh those pictures are so adorable! Merry Christmas!

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  13. Cute pics of Brooklyn. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! ps. where is the snow there?!

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  14. The Homer Simpson ornament is hilarious. It makes me happy, too. My Sunday Salon Post

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  15. Great photos, yes adorable for sure. A happy Christmas to you all.

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  16. As Christmas goes on I find myself more and more in sympathy with the Grinch though I would have stayed in the mountain top cave with my dog. Love the pictures! Brooklyn is absolutely adorable! Have a wonderful week!

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  17. I love the pictures you shared :)

    I would've DNF-ed Eragon this month if it wasn't a buddyread..

    I was also over here on your blog to ask you something :)

    The year has gone by so fast... I wanted to invite you to write your "Year in Books Post" and link up at my Meme Page!
    I remember you doing that in an earlier version of my meme, so I wanted to invite you to participate again!!

    I can't wait to read your Year in Books :)

    Esther @BiteIntoBooks

    https://www.biteintobooks.com/2021/12/goodreads-your-year-in-books-meme-2021.html

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  18. Great pictures! I like it that someone isn't reading Christmas stories right now. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  19. Great photos of your niece...and I am not sure about the books. I hope you have a great week! Enjoy your holidays.

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  20. Great pictures of you niece! Have a merry Christmas and Happy Reading! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-11.html

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  21. I'm sorry that She Who became the Sun this week was disappointing. Too bad.

    Great photo edition of five things that made you happy. I love all of these!

    Have a great week!

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  22. Brooklyn is growing up! And I love your Homer Simpson ornament!

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  23. So sad She Who Became the Sun didn't work out! I agree that Grace Year wasn't perfect, but it was good.

    Merry Christmas to you all!

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  24. I love seeing pictures of your daughter. Merry Christmas to you and your familiy.

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