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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 Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date.

The Sunday Post #309

On The Blog Recently

• A book haul
• A summer reading list
• Mid-year reading check-in
• Best books of 2022 (so far)
• Best July-December 2022 book releases
• Best July-December 2022 young adult book releases

In My Reading Life

I haven't written a Sundy Post since June. So . . . oops. I don't understand how people have demanding jobs, children, and blogs. How do you keep up with everything? I feel like a semi-conscious Dumpster fire. I'm tired all the time!

I've been reading, but I haven't been writing book reviews. So . . . oops again. Instead of ignoring the books I read, let's do itty-bitty book reviews. Click the titles to see a synopsis. Here's what I finished recently:

Sundial by Catriona Ward was one of my most-anticipated releases of 2022. Look at that cover! Maybe I hyped it up too much in my head? The creepy characters and weird plot hooked me right away, but by the end, I was confused about how everything was supposed to connect. Too many ideas in too little space.

White Ivy by Susie Yang made my "Best Books of 2022 (So Far)" list. I can't believe this novel is a debut. It's a beautifully written look at flawed characters who make giant mistakes. Ivy is a Chinese immigrant who's obsessed with her wealthy neighbors. When they accept her into their family, she spirals into deadly paranoia.

All Of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman surprised me. I liked it a lot! If you read The Hunger Games and thought, This needs magic, then Villains is for you. There are twists, and betrayals, and forbidden romance. It's all quite over-the-top. Actually, the book reminds me of those supernatural TV shows for teenagers where the worldbuilding is fuzzy and the actors are too old to be playing teens. In those shows, all the characters are sexy and brooding and wear too much eye makeup. That's this book! It's hard to take seriously, but it's addictively fun to read.

Aru Shah And The End Of Time by Roshani Chokshi is Percy Jackson déjà vu. I guess that makes sense because it's published by Rick Riordan's publishing imprint. The plot, pacing, humor, and characters' personalities are all very similar to the Percy Jackson series. It's a cute, funny book. I appreciated learning more about Indian mythology.

The Mermaid And Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar is a fat bastard. Why is it so long? It's got quirky characters and no plot. Also, shockingly few mermaids. Where are the mermaids? I found this novel entertaining while I was reading it, but it hasn't stuck with me. I feel like I spent a lot of time waiting for something big to happen.

Lady In Waiting: My Extraordinary Life In The Shadow Of The Crown by Anne Glenconner is a celebrity memoir that reads like a celebrity memoir. I couldn't put it down because the author's life is fascinating and very different from mine! She's part of the British royal family. She's been rich and famous for her entire life, which has allowed her to have amazing adventures, but it has also amplified her tragedies. It's hard to raise a family with the whole world watching. Like many celebrities, the author isn't a good writer. She moves quickly through the events of her life, so we don't always get to know the people involved in those events.

Stiff: The Curious Lives Of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach probably isn't the best book to read while you're sick with COVID, but that's exactly what I did. It's brilliant! It's a modern classic for a reason. I love Mary Roach's nonfiction because she asks the morbid questions that normal people are afraid to ask. This book is about what happens to bodies that are donated to science. It's fast-paced, funny, interesting, and never disrespectful to the corpses. I loved it.

In The Rest Of My Life

Here's what's been happening in my life:

I finally caught Miss 'Rona, and she sucks. No one in my family got COVID, so I most likely caught it from work on July 4. I try to be really careful, but when you talk to hundreds of people a day and deal with their medical emergencies, you're going to be exposed to every disease ever. Humans are gross. They contaminated me! Yes, I do have my shots.

For me, 'rona started as a bad headache. Like, one of the worst headaches of my life. Then it became dizziness, body aches, fever, and cough. I didn't have the cough when I tested positive, so I was shocked that my mystery disease was 'rona. I thought I had a migraine! I think I stared at the positive test for 10 minutes. I kept going, "Really? REALLY? R E A L L Y?" Like the test was going to change its mind or something.

I went to a doctor because I needed a note to get out of work and jury duty. The doctor sat 6 feet away from me, asked questions, told me I didn't qualify for any medication, printed my note, and charged me $115. I remembered why I don't go to doctors.

I'm fine now. The COVID symptoms lasted about 8 days. It sucked. Zero out of five stars. Do not recommend catching COVID.

Speaking of work, I haven't been fired yet. I'm still a park ranger. It's gotten easier. A little easier. I think. Or I'm lying to myself. It's still really hard!

I don't think I'll ever get used to people being scared of me. I completely understand why Americans are nervous around anyone who looks like law enforcement, but I'm an anxious creature! I don't carry a gun at work (or ever). I'm not going to hurt you! I just want to give you bottled water and tell you about the free fishing lessons!

A photo I took in the park. You don't need Scooby Doo to solve the mystery of why I keep so much bottled water in my truck. This place is hotter than fresh dog crap on a griddle.

SOMEDAY I'LL COME BACK TO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS

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