Sunday, May 17, 2020

The Sunday Post #224



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 ReviewerReaderbuzz, and Book Date. 

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





The Sunday Post #224





On The Blog Last Week







On The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday we talk about why I (and Twitter) love historical fiction.
  • On Thursday I recommend some books for Mental Health Awareness Month.





In My Reading Life


Last week, I finished 2 books. The first was The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I liked it a lot, but I don’t think I’m as obsessed with it as other readers seem to be. It’s about an island that’s plagued by human-eating horses that crawl out of the ocean every October. The humans capture the horses and attempt to race them without getting eaten. I found the main characters bland because they’re obsessed with horses and winning money in the races, but that’s pretty much it. They don’t have a lot of personality. Since I’m not obsessed with horses or racing, it was hard for me to stay interested in their story. Aside from the characters, everything else is brilliant. The premise is unique and creepy. The ending is (mostly) unpredictable. I admire the way Maggie Stiefvater writes description. I feel like I understand the island’s culture and landscape, but the world-building never bogged down the plot. I’ll definitely read more of this author’s work.




Then I read Nomadland: Surviving America In The Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder. This is a nonfiction book about poor people who live in cars or RVs and travel around the US, working seasonal jobs at farms, parks, or warehouses. This book is a fascinating and terrifying peek into my future. I’ve always had low-paying jobs. It’s very possible that I’ll someday end up living in a van and sleeping in the parking lot of an Amazon warehouse. It’s scary to know that a divorce or medical emergency can take away everything you’ve built in life. The writing in the book isn’t brilliant, and I think the research could have gone farther, but the author interviews some fascinating nomadic Americans. I admire their creativity and tenacity.




Currently, I’m reading another nonfiction book. It’s Strangers In Their Own Land: Anger And Mourning On The American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild. It’s basically a study of the Tea Party, but that makes it sound boring. It’s not! It’s about coastal Louisiana and the people who live there. I’m hoping to learn some stuff.






In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy last week:

  1. I took an internet break for my sanity. That’s why I haven’t been commenting on blogs, but I’m back now!
  2. Chinese food.
  3. I had free Hulu for a week, so I watched all 3 seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s super depressing, but I love the music, and I now I want to know what happens next!
  4. The gift I got my mom for Mother’s Day arrived. It was only a few days late. *Pats self on back for only slightly forgetting Mother’s Day.*
  5. I got all the ingredients I need to make banana muffins. I can finally quarantine bake like everyone else on Twitter!





Let’s be Socially Distant Friends












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





33 comments:

  1. Do you have a picture of these muffins? Please share. I don't like to bake or cook, just eat. We had Chinese this week too. So glad our place reopened. Apparently, so was everyone else in the neighborhood, because they sold out of all their food the first day back. I have been doing less social media, because everyone is making me nuts. Life is hard enough. I hope your mom likes her gift. My mother may get her's for Christmas. I admire the company I bought it from. They charged me immediately, and THEN send an email telling me how it may not ship for 43 days.

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  2. I doubt you'll ever live in a van AJ. But I can see the dreaminess behind it. Being creative myself, I've also taken low paying jobs just so that I can choose my own hours and give more attention to my craft. That Maggie Steifwater book is not what I expected at all ...wow ...can't believe so many people like that one!

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  3. The mother's Day gifts that I sent to my Daughter in Laws are still on their way to them! I actually made my own Chinese Food this week (which I never ever attempted before). Banana muffins sound like a good idea. I haven't been baking, but I've been doing a ton of cooking since we haven't ordered out at all!

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  4. I had Chinese food last week too and it was sooo good. It definitely seems like everyone on social media is baking - but not me. LOL I will happily take whatever OTHER people bake though. ;)

    -lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  5. I've always loved to bake, and I have all the ingredients, but I haven't hardly baked at all in the last few months. I like to bake for other people.

    We did carryout last week, and we decided to do it once a week. It felt like a vacation in Hawaii.

    No way would I like Scorpio Races. I've heard so many people rant about how much they love it. I'm crossing it off my list!

    Have a good week.

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  6. Before the pandemic I baked every week, but then flour and yeast disappeared from the shelves so I haven’t really done any in weeks. I will be baking my daughters birthday cake this week though.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  7. I own The Scorpio Races and have tried to read it a handful of times over the years but just cannot get into it. I made banana bread last week and am thinking brownies this week. Happy reading!

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  8. Bwahahah I wish you good luck with your quarantine bake AJ!

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  9. I am one of those who is obsessed with Scorpio Races. In fact, I'm obsessed with Maggie Stiefvater. I'm staying safe, waering a mask, and washing my hands. My Sunday Salon and Coronavirus Diary

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  10. I have not read Maggie Stiefvater yet but I want to. The Scorpio Races sounds really unique! Nomandland also sounds good. It is amazing how easily lives can be turned upside down. I hope your internet break was just what you needed. Have a great week, AJ!

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  11. Yesss to Chinese food! We were very happy our local place opened back up, although only for pickup, and they've even built a wall and put up protective glass as soon as you walk in the door.

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  12. I'm all about the food. Enjoy the Chinese food and the baking!

    Have a great week and stay well!

    Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post   

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  13. Sound like some really thought provoking reads.

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  14. That meme is so appropriate. My whole year and all of my plans are shot to hell. I've heard some terrible stories about RV living during the pandemic here though. And I can't wait for Chinese! Ours are still closed but I don't blame them with the uptick in hate crimes. :(
    Have a great week!

    Stacy Renee | LazyDayLit

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  15. I really enjoyed Stiefvater's All the Crooked Saints. I felt the same way about her ability to establish place, which is a big deal for me. I haven't read more though, and I need to remedy that.

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  16. Chinese food *nods*. LOVE. I could eat that every day. Maybe twice.

    I've heard of people who do that, travel around in RV's or whatever and work odd jobs or are nomads. Sounds like a fascinating read.

    I hardly blogged at all last week and it felt good lol. Breaks are nice. :)

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  17. I heard the author of Normadland on NPR a year ago and through the book would be interesting, but it never made it to my tbr pile. Your muffins sound good.

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  18. Yay for quarantine baking!! I've been meaning to read Normadland ... maybe some day. :)

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  19. Nomadland does sound interesting. So does quarantine baking which I have been avoiding for health reasons - too much fat, sodium, and sugar in everything. Chinese food does sound good but again problematic because of the high sodium. We have found a few recipes that we enjoy for home cooked Chinese and my brother really likes to stir fry. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  20. I finally read the Scorpio Races last year and enjoyed it. But I do enjoy fantasy. Haven't read the other books on your list but they look intriguing. Have a great week of reading this week.

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  21. I do want to read Nomadland. I know how quickly our lives and security can be upended, having been through divorces, illness, and general upheaval. Maybe reading the book would scare me, but it might also make me feel better. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. Maggie Stiefvater is an author I've really been meaning to read but somehow never have. Banana muffins sound delicious! I'm caving and baking banana bread as soon as the bananas are ready. I like to bake but haven't done much of it lately because I always bake before meeting up with someone I can give at least half of whatever baked good too. I'm the only one in my house with a sweet tooth and I also have very little self control! Have a great week!

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  23. I read The Scorpio Races awhile back - I liked it but not the horses! I didn't read any more of the authors. Enjoy the baking!

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  24. Ooooh! Chinese food sounds SO good!

    I listened to Nomadland a couple years ago and was shocked that there was this whole world I knew nothing about. I agree, it's scary.

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  25. Other than for work I rarely read non-fiction. Nomadland makes me realise I need to change that habit.

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  26. I like the idea of the Scorpio Races but I know I would dislike the characters and it would lead to DNF probably so it doesn't seem worth it sadly! Not with so many other books to read!

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  27. Lol! I am glad you are going to be able to get your baking on! :)

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  28. We're still searching for good Chinese food in this area. I want some now! I must be the only one not baking during lockdown, but banana muffins do sound good. Have a great week!

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  29. Nomadland looks interesting. I like non-fiction. I want muffins now :)

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  30. Scorpio Races - what an interesting idea for a book! It was good to hear your thoughts on it. Enjoy your banana muffins!

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  31. I really need to read some Maggie Stiefvater sometime; I've been cranky with the idea since she decided to bury a historic Welsh king in the US for the sake of a story (the Raven cycle books), but people keep insisting I won't mind if I really read it. We'll see... someday! Nice to hear what you thought of this one!

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  32. I enjoyed The Scorpio Races, but it is a pretty niche book. I really enjoy her Raven Boys series and I'm meaning to read the spin off series while it only has 1 book out. Looks like you had a pretty great week, and this current one has been great! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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  33. My baking has slowed as the days are warmer and flour is hard to find in the stores. I have enough flour for at least the butternut squash muffins I need to make and I plan to make a pumpkin custard. With so many uncertainities and rising unemployment the last few months, I'm not sure I could read Nomadland. I think it would cause me anxiety.

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