Sunday, February 27, 2022

The Sunday Post #296

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.


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 #296





On The Blog Last Week






On The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday, we talk about underhyped books that deserve more love.
  • On Wednesday, I show you the great books coming out in March.





In My Reading Life


I did it! I finally finished As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann. It took me 3 weeks of solid slogging, but I did it. Was the book worth the effort? No, but when have I ever made good decisions?

As Meat Loves Salt is adult historical fiction about an awful dude in 1600s England named Jacob. After raping his own wife and murdering a guy, Jacob joins the military and develops an obsession with a coworker called Ferris. They start a romantic relationship that doesn't go well because Jacob is a control freak with anger management problems.

The beginning and end of the book are strong. I was hooked from page 1. Jacob is a train wreck of a human. I knew he was going to cause chaos and destruction, and I was interested to see how the drama would play out. The ending did not disappoint. Jacob's jealousy and desire for revenge destroys an entire community. If you love reading about irredeemably evil villains, then this novel is for you.

The middle of the book is where I struggled. The pacing is so slow! I realize that being a soldier (and later a farmer) is tedious, but I wanted something to happen. I kept putting the book down and not picking it up for days because nothing was happening. The plot wasn't holding my attention.

The relationship between Jacob and Ferris didn't fully hold my attention either because I didn't understand it. I don't know what Ferris sees in Jacob. Ferris isn't stupid. He often confronts Jacob about being an angry control freak who tries to separate Ferris from his friends. Why does Ferris bother with the relationship? It doesn't seem worth the stress.

So . . . I struggled with this one. It's a long book that feels like a long book.




After As Meat Loves Salt, I needed something short, so I picked up How To Order The Universe by María José Ferrada. This is a weird little story. It starts off cute and quirky and then becomes depressingly relatable. It's adult historical fiction about a child in 1970s Chile who drops out of school to travel the country with her hardware salesman father. The child's whole life is wrapped up in being a traveling saleswoman (saleschild?). She looks at the world through a lens of sales and hardware because that's all she knows. It's hard to explain, but it's fascinating to read.

Then, things change. There's an incident that separates her from her father for years. When they're reunited, Chile is different, and traveling hardware salesmen aren't really a thing anymore. That's where the book becomes depressingly relatable. What happens when your life changes so drastically that you don't understand it anymore? What do you do when your plans for the future collapse? How do you re-order your universe?

I don't think I "got" everything in this book because the writing style is disjointed, and I don't know anything about Chile in the 1970s, but it gave me a lot to think about.




Right now, I'm reading The Bright Ages: A New History Of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabriele and David Perry. So far, I've only read the first chapter, but it has my attention. It seems like the book will examine the "Bright" advancements that came out of the "Dark" Ages.






In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy last week:


  1. My dad randomly showed up with chocolate croissants. Mmm . . . chocolate.
  2. I went to a restaurant! I haven't been to one since the summer because it's too cold for outdoor dining. Then, I saw a restaurant that was big and mostly empty. I was able to eat good nachos with lots of social distance.
  3. Who watched The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window? (I hope I got all those words in the right order.) It's on Netflix. It's funny and has ridiculous plot twists. I loved it.
  4. So much blogging. I nearly have all of March's posts done. I have 0 ideas for April. Tell me what to blog about.
  5. We got lots of snow! I hope it makes up for no-snow December. We need snow because this place tends to start on fire every summer. There's a lot of dry grass.





I Promise I Won't Induce Rage On Your Socials



Pinterest || Bloglovin’ || Goodreads || Instagram || Twitter || Donate || Wish List || TikTok









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





31 comments:

  1. You already planned all of March??? Damn I don't even plan for the next week!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lol! I am glad to hear That the Girl blah blah was good - it's on our list for this week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nachos are always a good idea, and how sweet is your dad! I don't even have next week's post done because of the funeral this weekend. That's awesome that you are so far ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ALL OF MARCH!? Dang, I feel lucky if I get a weeks worth of posts done in time. Teach me your ways!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm glad you got finished with that book you didn't really like. You certainly gave it every chance.

    I may go to a restaurant next week. I'm thinking about it. I'll probably end up eating outdoors, though, if it's up into the 70s like it's supposed to be.

    I'm trying to plan out April when I will be in Paris. I probably shouldn't plan to do too much on the blog, though.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hooray for eating in restaurants! We haven't done too much of that lately, either, and it'll be nice to get out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I remember seeing The Bright Ages somewheres and adding it to my list. I need to get that.

    Nachos (at a restaurant) are the best. And I thought about trying that show on Netflix. It sounds hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I haven't been in a restaurant in a long time. I'm trying to plan stuff out but it's not going so great.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good for you, getting out to a restaurant! I have been a few times, but never as much as I once did.

    I loved The Woman in the House Across the Street from The Girl in the Window! That is a mouthful.

    I love unexpected delights like that one!

    Enjoy your week, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loved the Netflix show The Woman in House Across the Street...etc. etc. etc. What a long title that show has. LOL It was good, though.

    Wow, you're already through your March posts? I try to get ahead, but it doesn't always work.

    I hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  11. 'I nearly have all of March's posts done.' - I can only aspire to this level of organisation!

    ReplyDelete
  12. How do you mean you are all done with posts for March??? I don't understand that at all!! I'm not even planned for March yet...

    Oh I will have to check out the Woman bla bla bla bla show on Netflix. That can be fun.

    Hmmmm... I don't recognize any of your books and will probably not read them...

    I hope you will have a more successful reading week and happy planning for April!

    Elza Reads

    ReplyDelete
  13. I bet you are relieved to be done with that book you slogged through. I always feel a great sense of accomplishment when I do that.

    Chocolate croissants sound amazing. We have had very little snow this year and didn't get much this month. I am hoping that doesn't mean we are in for a snowy March.

    Have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sorry As Meat Loves Salt wasn't worth it. That sucks. How awesome of your dad to bring you chocolate croissants. I'm jealous, lol. I hope to watch The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window sometime. I've heard such great things about it. I'm glad you liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would not have stuck with the book if I was not enjoying that much, but glad you persevered and got it done. I rarely get posts done before the day I need them, although I *want* to blog ahead, I just never have time to actually do it. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow! You have all of March done? I wish! But then I have been trying to get better about getting things like my Sunday posts started earlier so that they are completed throughout the week. I have trouble staying with a book that long. I usually DNF these days. Too many other books staring at me from my TBR shelf waiting to be read. lol Have a good week!
    Lisa Loves Literature

    ReplyDelete
  17. Chocolate croissants sound yummy, your Father is so great. We just had snow this week also, and like you, this place gets so dry so any snow is welcome.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Our world is starting to open up, too. My husband and I went to eat pizza and ended up participating in a trivia night. It was fun! People! No COVID nonsense. My Sunday Salon post

    ReplyDelete
  19. You have ALL of March scheduled!? Please teach me your ways! I was all proud because I scheduled my post for midnight before 9pm which literally never happens- it's usually within the hour bwhaha. Glad you were able to go to a restaurant! Sorry about As Meat Loves Salt-- I do the same thing, force myself to slog through just to be like "well that was a mistake" more often than not, so I feel you! Also, very nice of your dad! Hope you have a great week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow! I am immpressed that you have all of your March posts scheduled. I have two and a half ... or thereabouts.

    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  21. That book certainly sounds like something lol. I can see the appeal, but the middle slog sounds like ugh. Chocolate croissants, delicious! Maybe I'll check out that Netflix show, it seems fun.

    ReplyDelete
  22. We got lots of snow too. I always enjoy seeing what books you choose to read and admire your determination to finish books that you don't seem to be enjoying. I am a quitter. If a book doesn't grab me fast, I move on to the next one on my stack. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I too show that Netflix show... I'm not even going to try to type of the title. The absurdity of it was perfect for the very serious world we currently live in.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lol, I don’t even have a post ready for tomorrow!
    Nice of your dad to show up with chocolate croissants, mine would bring celery.

    Wishing you a great reading week

    ReplyDelete
  25. Gee, you are so organized. There is a new coffee shop nearby that bakes their own chocolate croissants! You've read some interesting books and evil does have a way of destroying others and itself (I've been preaching on that!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, way to go for March. I don't have this week finished. I'm behind with the Olympics and Marvel and other reasons. LOVE the 0 days without Nonsense - so true.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am so happy that you got snow, especially if it will help with fire season. Santa Barbara is in the midst of a horrible drought (worst one on record) so I sympathize.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your dad sounds like a hero among men. Anyone who randomly shows up with chocolate croissants is on my hero list. I was wondering about the Netflix show! We just signed back up for it and I saw the title and thought surely I misread it but then forgot to read what it was about. Sounds like I need to add it to my list! Hope you are having a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  29. "a long book that feels like a long book", Oh no!
    I guess you really need some quick and fun books right now!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Do you still have snow? We have some here as well. March can be a fickle month. Congrats on finishing Meat Loves Salt. I hadn't heard of this one ... but man it seems like a battle to get through! I rarely ever DNF ... but perhaps I wouldn't make it through ...

    ReplyDelete