The Sunday Post #220

The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. I’m linking up with The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date. 

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The Sunday Post #220

On The Blog In The Past Two Weeks

• I wrapped up March.
• I talked about award-winning books that are actually worth reading.
• I listed some interesting new book releases.
• I begged you to read these brilliant books that no one talks about.
• More new book releases!

On The Blog This Week

I ran out of scheduled posts, and daily yoga has made my carpal tunnel unbearable, so I might take a break from posting this week. (Carpal tunnel is also my excuse for not having a Sunday Post last week. I swear I tried to type it. I gave up because I was just slapping my numb fingers against the keyboard and hoping they’d make words. They did not.)

In My Reading Life

Here’s two weeks of reading. Get ready:

I finished They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. I got bored with the plot because there isn’t much of it. (At one point, we watch characters swing on monkey bars. Thrilling, right?) But the slow plot isn’t too off-putting because the sci-fi concept is fascinating, and the characters are loveable. Even though I knew they would both die at the end, I WAS STILL SAD! The story is set in an alternate present where people get a phone call 24 hours before they die. The novel is about how two teenagers spend their last day.

Then I read Berserker by Emmy Laybourne. If you’re in the mood for an entertaining historical horror story, this one might satisfy you. It stars a group of siblings who flee Norway after committing several murders. They travel to the American frontier to find their uncle, but since the siblings have strange, murderous superpowers, they’re pursued by powerful enemies. The book has some action, some gore, a few twists. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think it will stick in my mind for very long. It doesn’t have much depth. The characters are all a bit bland or stereotypical. I love the loyalty between the siblings, though!

My biggest reading success was This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki. It’s a slice-of-life graphic novel about two young girls who find themselves on the fringes of adult situations. Rose’s mother is having fertility issues, which causes tension in the family. Rose also gets caught up in some teen pregnancy drama that happens with a group of older kids. I found the characters relatable, and I love the setting and the artwork, but the plot is slightly disappointing. It goes in a ton of different directions. Nothing is really resolved at the end. But, I’ll definitely read more books by these authors. Their art is so pretty!

Then I read Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. I’m conflicted about this book because the themes are brilliant. It’s about the invisible walls that stop people from understanding each other. The characters are doing an experimental anthropology project where they try to live like ancient Britons. The project goes wrong when a few members get too wrapped up in their own selfish agendas. They are incapable (or unwilling) to see how their actions are hurting the rest of the group. I’m conflicted about this book because I didn’t like the writing style. It’s very . . . rambley. This is one of those books with no quotation marks, minimal action, and paragraphs that go on for pages. To me, it feels like a short story with a lot of unnecessary padding. Everything else is so good, though!

Right now, I’m reading The Outsider by Stephen King. I ruined the book for myself because I’ve already seen the TV show. (*Gasp!*) The story centers on a team of detectives who are trying to solve a murder that may have been committed by a supernatural creature. I think I’d like the book more if I didn’t already know the twists. Stephen King books tend to be very slow. I keep getting impatient because I know where it’s going.

In The Rest Of My Life

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

1. Easter! I ate so much food. The pandemic put a damper on the celebrations, but at least there was chocolate cake.
2. I took a break from Twitter and taught myself how to make Instagram Stories. They’re fun to make, but I’m not sure what to put in them. I have no life. The stories I’ve posted are mostly just my dog doing dog stuff. The dog has a more interesting existence than me.
3. Speaking of my boring life, I drove the car in circles to celebrate my lockdown anniversary. I have not left my neighborhood since March 17. I’m not working anymore, and all my food is delivered. I only go outside to walk the dog. (And make Instagram Stories about walking the dog.) I’m irrationally terrified that I’ll forget how to drive. On April 17, I drove up and down the street. I’m happy to report that I haven’t forgotten!
4. I got a buff to use as a mask for walking the dog. Finding a comfortable mask has been a challenge. The buff is still too warm for me, but it’s way more comfortable than a bandanna. Also, my buff looks like mermaid scales, so I’m making a fashion statement.
5. For about a week, this blog was getting 1000+ pageviews a day. I guess people are bored? I’m grateful for the extra traffic, but OMG, the comments. We’ll have to discuss those someday. I have thoughts about how humans should behave on the internet.

Let’s Be Friends (From 6 Feet Apart)

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