Sunday, May 20, 2018

The Sunday Post #147

My mountain conquerors
Dakota: 10/26/03 - 9/11/15
Cheyenne: 10/31/06 - 5/10/18 



The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, and share news. It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Date. I get to tell you what I’ve read recently.





Public Service Announcement


A lot of you have probably seen photos of my dog, Cheyenne, on social media in the past few weeks. I posted about her a lot because she was sick. I’m sorry to report that she died from cancer on May 10. I miss her. I have another dog, but the house feels quiet and empty without Cheyenne. Thank you to everyone who sent me emails or messages about her.


Cheyenne and Dakota conquering a hill. They REALLY liked climbing stuff.



Cheyenne, Butch-Kiera, Dakota










On The Blog In The Last Two Weeks











On The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday I mini-review Tin Man by Sarah Winman and Some Possible Solutions: Stories by Helen Phillips.
  • On Thursday I share ten profound thoughts I had while binge-watching Outlander.
  • On Saturday I answer some bookish questions.









In My Reading Life


I caught up on my Goodreads challenge! I spent all of April and the first few weeks of May falling way behind on it. I refused to lower my goal, so I’ve been reading as much as humanly possible lately. I have a lot to talk about, so brace yourself. I’ll try to make this quick.

I finished A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay. This is a black sheep opinion, but I didn’t like it. I appreciate that the author is trying to tell a unique exorcist story, but there is too much focus on the narrator’s tedious daily life. The twists at the end didn’t make logical sense to me.





Then I read Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter. I love the poems written from the father and sons’ points-of-view, but I think a lot of the book went over my head.





I read three Newbery winners: The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman, Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson, and Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. I liked all three of them. They’re some of the better Newbery winners I’ve read so far.






The best book I read in the past weeks is Refugee by Alan Gratz. It made me sad and angry, and it was amazing. I’m going to be reviewing it with Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction, so stay tuned for that.





Finally, (deep breath, we’re almost done) I read The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami. I know there are a lot of rabid Murakami fans in the book world, but I don’t think I “get” him. Some of the stories in this collection are brilliant, but most of them drag on too long.





Right now, I’m reading another Newbery winner, Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. 








In My Internet Stalking Life












In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy in the last two weeks:

  1. Cheyenne. She was mine for 11 years.
  2. I still have Butch-Kiera, my black dog. I think I need dogs to survive. They’re like oxygen. Or nachos.
  3. Wildflowers are blooming.
  4. It took a massive effort, but I caught up on my Goodreads challenge.
  5. I think I’ve also caught up on sleep? I’m less tired than I have been in a long time.









Let’s Be Friends?








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













53 comments:

  1. So sorry for your loss. Your dogs are beautiful! I'm a dog person but my husband and kids have serious allergies, so no pets for us. I can see how they bring joy and heartbreak at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm so sorry AJ-such a beautiful dog in the photos you shared with us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so sorry to hear that Cheyenne passed away :( It's always amazing to me how animals, especially dogs, work their way into our hearts. They become family and it hurts like hell when we lose family.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am so sorry, Aj. I still get worked up over our dog that died 2 and half years ago. I had a plan that when my dogs died I wasn't going to adopt any more and would travel. But then my dog died and I realized that I wanted a dog more than I wanted to travel so now we have 3 and just stay home all of the time. I completely agree that I need dogs to live. Thinking of you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how that empty feeling is but it gets better over time but missing them next seems to go away! Sending you lots of Love and Hugs!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am crying right now. She was yours <3
    ((HUGS)) sorry for your loss.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've had dogs in my life for so long I can't imagine not having any. So sorry about Cheyenne.

    My Sunday Post

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so sorry for your loss!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm so sorry about Cheyenne . I can't imagine how you must be feeling, but I hope Butch-Kiera is able to ease your pain a bit. I love the photos you shared!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So sorry about Cheyenne. Love the photo with Dakota. Great names!

    Enjoy your books and your week...and here are
    MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne. I'm glad you have Butch-Kiera as I know that eases the sting a little but I know how hard it is. Enjoy your reading this week.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so sorry about Cheyenne. I agree that dogs are pretty much essential for living---I can't imagine my life without them!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne, but that's wonderful to have Butch-Kiera still around. The loss of a friend is always difficult, but a truly empty house can make it feel even worse. Congratulations on catching up with your GR challenge! I hope you have a lovely week full of canine cuddles :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne AJ! <3 I also have a copy of Refugee, I can't wait to see your review.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Cheyenne. Pets can really just worm their way into your heart they way nothing else really can. I'm glad you got to have her for what I'm sure was a long and wonderful dog life.
    Congrats on catching up with your GR goal. I've definitely had to lower my goal the last couple of years, but have kept pace this year so far. Happy reading!
    Natflix&Books

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am so so sorry to hear about your doggo.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am so sorry for your loss. It is never easy as they are very much a family member. (hugs)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of Cheyenne. Pets are part of the family it's hard when one passes away. Butch-Kiera (cute name), is probably lonely as well, sending hugs.

    You had a wonderful reading week and congrats on catching up with the challenge, always a good feeling.

    Have great week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I’m so sorry to hear about Cheyannes passing. She ‘s beautiful and I know you’ll miss her greatly. {hugs}

    Great job on catching up on your reading challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne.

    Congrats on your Goodreads challenge progress. I should read more Newbery reads, as a kid I tried reading as many as I could and it was kinda cool. Might be fun to do again.

    Hope you have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  21. They are so adorable, I am so sorry about both of them. I know how attached you can be. I have two of my own and love them dearly. (hugs)

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm so sorry about your dog, A.J. :( Dogs are the purest of creatures in the world. My brother's dog is sick as well. I know he belongs to my brother and I don't see him much but he's my baby. He's the cutest. The last few days he hadn't been eating or going to the toilet anymore so my brother took him to the vet and it turns out he had like an animal version of kidney stones and everything was clogged up. It was the same thing that killed my cat a few years back. The vet said it was a good thing they went to see him yesterday otherwise he'd have been dead by Tuesday. My poor precious baby. :(

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne.

    I, too, was behind on my Goodreads challenge, but I'll catch up eventually :)

    Take care and have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Pets are family, we feel their loss as much as with any other family member. I'm so sorry, AJ.

    Congrats on catching up on your GR challenge! Now I need to check out what profound thoughts you had while watching Outlander!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am sorry for your loss. Dogs are some of the best things in the world.

    Yay for catching up on the goodreads challenge. I'm still 8 books behind. (Need to get myself in gear.)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sorry for your loss - but I'm glad that you are at a stage when you can begin to celebrate the 11 years you had alongside your beautiful Cheyanne... Though I'm aware that's a long old journey.

    Well done for catching up on the Goodreads Challenge - and on your sleep, even more important! Have a great week, AJ!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am so sorry for your loss. I have lost three dogs in my life, and it breaks your heart to pieces every time. :(

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh, AJ, I'm so sorry about Cheyanne. My mom would always say, "No more dogs. It hurts too much," then 3-6 months later decide she needed a dog in her life. I'm glad you still have your black dog.

    I'm glad you liked Refugee, and I'm looking forward to the review you and Nicole wrote. I was so excited to read it to my classes this year, but they got confused and it didn't work out like I'd imagined. I still think it's an amazing book though.I've always avoided Jacob Have I Loved, because it was just old enough to look dated to me as a kid without being old-fashioned enough to be cool again. (Like the difference between out of style and antique.)

    I'm entertained that you included my grumpy little "poem" in your list, and look forward to checking out your other finds. I know I've been largely absent lately, but I am still extremely fond of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh I am so sorry for your loss. Dogs are truly the best. Yay for catching up on the GR challenge. Hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sorry to hear of Cheyenne. Hope this week goes alright.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I once had a goal of reading all the Newbery Award winners but some of the earlier ones were really hard to get through. Maybe I should start with the newest and work back. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I agree, I need dogs to live as well. So sorry to hear about Cheyenne but I know she's still with you. Cancer, whether human or canine, sucks! Know that me and the pups are sending healing thoughts you way. And what great pictures. I can hardly EVER get pictures of the pups together.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'm happy to hear you have been taking care of yourself. Losing a pet can be very hard. Happy reading and glad to see you've been able to catch up.
    Tori @ In Tori Lex

    ReplyDelete
  34. So sorry to hear about your dog. It's rough when pets pass away. :(

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm so sorry you've lost your dog to cancer. I know she must have been like a child to you. You did some solid reading this week. My youngest read Refugee and loved it. I love that you're reading a book of Beverly Cleary's next. I enjoyed the audiobook selection of Ellen Tebbits, etc. Through this selection I "read" at least two books of hers that I never knew about. You've reminded me I want to listen to the Ramona series and the Ralph the Mouse series too.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm so very sorry to hear about your beloved dog. Glad you are thinking back on 11 years of memories - hope those comfort you now.

    Wow, great reading for you lately! I love that you are reading some older Newberry titles - my kids read The Whipping Boy in school, but I haven't read any of those myself.

    So glad you were as moved by Refugee as I was - such a powerful book!

    Enjoy your books this week -

    Sue
    Book By Book

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am sorry for your loss of your beloved pet. I agree with your thoughts on doge.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I loved The Whipping Boy! I also liked Dear Mr. Henshaw, but enjoyed the sequel, Strider, even more.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I loved Tin Man and really look forward to seeing what you thought. I reviewed it last week.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Oh poor Cheyenne! I'm sorry to hear she passed! Losing a beloved pet is like losing a family member!

    Congrats on catching up with your GRs challenge! :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm so sorry about your dog :-( *hugs*

    At least you've gotten a lot of reading done and have caught up on GR. Oh, The Whipping Boy, I read that in... 4th grade? I don't actually remember anything about it, just that I read it lol.

    I hope you have a good week <3

    ReplyDelete
  42. My condolences on your loss.

    Congrats on catching up on your challenge. I'm 24 books behind on mine. There's still a lot of time left in this year though, so I'm not going to panic just yet. And by panic I mean, not really. I'll just lower the amount. lol

    ReplyDelete
  43. Aww - sorry to hear about Cheyenne! :( Your pups are adorable, so the more pups the better (even though they will eventually lead to sadness). ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  44. I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne :( I'm sending you lots of love and hugs if wanted. <3 I love your picture with Cheyenne, Butch-Kiera and Dakota, they all look adorable <3
    Congratulations on your goodreads challenge, yay for doing so great! :D
    Thank you so, so much for sharing my posts, that means a lot <3 I hope you are having a lovely week <3

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm so sorry to hear about Cheyenne! Losing a pet can be so tough, wishing you all the best.

    ReplyDelete
  46. So sorry to hear about your losing Cheyenne. I hope still having Butch-Kiera is a consolation and maybe, in time, you might think about another puppy friend

    ReplyDelete
  47. so sorry to hear about Cheyenne! :( I hope Butch-Kiera gives you some extra love at this time of sadness.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Aw sweet girl. I'm sorry for your loss. I know how empty it can make a home even if there's other herd babes still. I hope the wonderful memories with her help ease yalls loss.

    ReplyDelete
  49. So sorry for your loss! But you did have those 11 years with Cheyenne. I hope your other dogs help, I can't imagine living without dogs, now that I've had them! Thanks for stopping by. Happy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  50. So sorry about Cheyenne, but I'm glad you had 11 wonderful years with her. Pets always break our hearts in the end, but they're always worth it.

    ReplyDelete