Sunday, May 31, 2020

The Sunday Post #226


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.

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The Sunday Post #226





On The Blog Last Week







On The Blog This Week


  • On Tuesday we talk about books with summer vibes.
  • On Wednesday I show you the June book releases I’m excited about.





In My Reading Life


Last week, I finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. This is a complicated one. Ultimately, I felt “meh” about it. It took me a week to read the first 100 pages because they meander, and I got bored. Then the book finally hooked me, and I read the last 200 pages in a day. The story’s main conflict involves a Chinese immigrant who abandons her baby. The child is given to a wealthy white family. Then the mother decides she wants her baby back. I love that the author tackles morally difficult questions that don’t have clear answers. No character is a hero, but their motivations are understandable. It makes you wonder what you’d do in their situation. This book is worth reading, but I struggled at the beginning.





Then I read The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss. It’s told from the point-of-view of a stay-at-home dad. I appreciate that perspective because it’s not one we see often. It definitely made me think, especially the scene that takes place at a swimming pool. Dad can’t go into the girls’ locker room with his preteen daughter, so he waits for her near the locker room door and gets reported to management for “staring at children.” Being a stay-at-home dad to daughters has some unique challenges for sure. His life becomes even more challenging when he learns that both of his children may have a mystery illness that causes them to stop breathing without warning. This is the second Sarah Moss book I’ve read. I’m curious about her nonfiction, but I won’t read any more of her fiction. Her topics are super interesting, but I don’t love her writing style. It’s long-winded and repetitive. This book didn’t have enough action to fill 300+ pages.





My biggest reading success last week was Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. I’ve somehow gone my entire existence without reading a Judy Blume book. She’s been writing bestselling children’s books for longer than I’ve been alive. This novel was probably censored in my part of the world. I doubt my elementary school would have let us read a book that mentions bra shopping (gasp!), and periods (double gasp!), and test-driving different religions (triple gasp!). That sucks because I would have loved this book as a kid. I had a few experiences that were similar to Margaret’s. My only complaint is that the ending is rushed. Other than that, I enjoyed this novel immensely. It’s funny and relatable.





Right now, I’m reading The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. My opinion so far is that I hate Ronan and don’t want to read about his drama with his brother, but I’m intrigued enough by Gansey that I’ll keep going.






In The Rest Of My Life


Five things that made me happy last week:

  1. Hamburgers, chocolate cake, cookie dough ice cream, M&Ms . . . . Basically, I forgot about my low-calorie diet on Memorial Day. I ate EVERYTHING and regret NOTHING.
  2. Blowing bubbles with baby Brooklyn. I think I had more fun than she did. She was underwhelmed by bubbles.
  3. Possible hockey playoffs in July? I’m cautiously excited. I miss hockey, but I don’t want anyone to get Coronavirus for it.
  4. BookCon! Since it’s virtual this year and not in New York, I actually get to go!
  5. Nervously jogging through a herd of deer. They suspected that I was not one of them, but they chose not to punish me for it. I am grateful.


This deer is judging me.




Let’s Be Friends From Far Away













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





28 comments:

  1. Glad the deer did not punish you for intruding on them. I checked out a few things from BookCon. They have some great panels, and those were always my favorite part of the con. I read AYTGIMM in the early 80s? My sister is 2 years older, and her and all her friends read it, so, obviously, I had to as well. I just remember all the girls pumping their arms and chanting, "I must, I must, I must increase my bust."

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  2. I have been watching Bookcon also. The real event usually sucks but this one is actually very well organized. I am enjoying it. I almost wish they would do this from now on for those people that can't go to the event.
    Deer are very judgy animals. Second to cats...cats are the Gods of Judge.

    Have a great week, AJ! Happy Reading! xx

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  3. I loved going to BookExpo in person, and I am glad I got to visit it via Zoom this year. I was exhausted from three days of BookExpo and skipped BookCon yesterday, but I might visit today.

    Glad you liked Are You There, God. I can remember so many of my fifth graders loved Judy Blume when I was a classroom teacher in the 70s and 80s. I'm sorry you missed it as a kid.

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  4. I think I read a Judy Blume book when I was a kid. I don't remember which one, and might have gotten some weird looks, but back then I just picked up whatever.

    My diet has been TERRIBLE lately. I don't know if it's lockdown stress, but I've been eating bad stuff. My body is probably like what are you DOING haha?

    Hockey playoffs- I hear you. I miss 'em too. there are few things more intense than the Stanley cup playoffs, I think.

    "They suspected that I was not one of them, but they chose not to punish me for it. "

    lol

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  5. You know, when I started The Raven Boys I didn't like Ronan either, but over the course of the series he became one of those characters you feel like you'd do just about any thing for. :)

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  6. The only one of these I've read is The Raven Boys. It was fine, but I never did pick up the second one. How have I not heard about virtual BoocCon?

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  7. I don't think that I have ever read Judy Blume's work. I feel like my sister did so it was probably available. I have not done any of the virtual events even though I know I really should. I have been on vacation this week and I have a new kitchen gadget so we have been eating all kinds of bad stuff. I have no regrets either. I hope you have a wonderful week!

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  8. When is Book.con AJ? And I recall encountering a herd of deers in Yellostones and my daughter was so frightened LOL I laughed at making bubbles and your excitment because that's what happens with kids: we get to be big kids again and usually ahve so much fun!

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  9. I am eating everything and regretting it often, pretty much every day. I need to come up with a better plan. I should really check out the BookCon stuff while I have the chance.

    Stay safe and well!

    Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post   

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  10. Little Fires Everywhere has my interest. I have to check it out.

    I'm glad the deer didn't punish you. I'm constantly eating and forgetting all about dieting. I need to get back on track but it hasn't happened yet.

    Hope you have a great week!

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  11. I read Maggie Stiefvater´s Ravenboys too and liked it. Different but a good read. Despite that I try to leave sugar out of my nutrition plan, I eat what I like. Mostly fingerfood at the moment because I don´t want to stand for hours in the kitchen cutting veggies etc. *lol* Stay safe and well.

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  12. I read ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET for the first time a few weeks ago. I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. But then I am way past the age where the message was aimed. I was pretty meh about LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE too but it has grown on me over time since finishing it. I started thinking about the many iterations of motherhood. Pretty profound, actually. My Sunday Salon post

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  13. I read every single Judy Blume book when I was a teen. Loved her work. She was the edgy YA author back in my day!

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  14. Are You There God? is definitely one I remember from my childhood. It made me nervous to grow up!

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  15. I think I read Are You There God a million times as a kid. I was fascinated by what was going to happen to me. LOL

    I liked both the book and series for Little Fires Everywhere.

    Wish I had a burger and shake right now!

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  16. I loved Judy Blume as a kid!! She is one of my most favorite authors when I was in elementary school.

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  17. I loved Are You There God when I was a kid - not only because there weren't that many Margaret's around when I was a kid!

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  18. Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? Is my favourite book from my tween years and really taught me so much, I really wish there was a modern equivalent of it. I’m really curious about The Tidal Zone.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  19. I say good for you, eating whatever you wanted on Memorial Day. We have to do that now and then.

    The Tidal Zone looks like a good book.

    Enjoy your week, and thanks for sharing. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

    Stay safe.

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  20. I read a lot of Judy Blume growing up but Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is the one that I remember most vividly. See my what I've been reading at Girl Who Reads

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  21. Interesting reading your thoughts on Little Fires Everywhere - I feel like Celeste Ng writes slow burns, but they make you think also, y'know.

    Ooo… I hope you've having fun (or have had fun) at virtual BookCon.

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  22. Littles Fires Everywhere has been on my wishlist forever! And now that the show has come out, I really want to start is asap, even if I'm reading a lot of mixed reviews about it, maybe because of all the hype one expects from this title at this point. The secon book you mentioned, The Tidal Zone, seems really interesting! I've never read a book written by a dad's perspective, especially a stay-at-home one. It could be illuminating.
    Have a great week and thank you for stopping by! xx
    Sara @ Sara In Bookland

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  23. Yay, Judy Blume! I adored all of her books when I was a kid and then bought several of them for my son when he was old enough to read them. Are You There, God is definitely a favorite of mine.

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  24. Love the deer photo - I am glad they let you run past them. A turkey wandered through my front yard one day last week. LOL

    And I've never read Judy Blume!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  25. Little Fires Everywhere has been talked about a lot recently. I'll finally have to pick it up. I remember reading Are You There God... when I was a teen. I'm looking forward to having my two girls read it!

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  26. Yeah wouldn't it be neat if there were sports to watch? I'll take hockey even! here are my thoughts on Little Fires Everywhere at https://www.thecuecard.com/books/little-fires-everywhere-fresh-complaint/
    Enjoy your week.

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  27. I really enjoyed Judy Blume when I was at school. My faves were Margaret, Blubber, Deenie and Forever. I sometimes wish I had kept copies of them for when nostalgia hits. I couldn't stick with a book that was boring me 100 pages in! That would've been a Chuckles DNF for sure! That deer is so gorgeous!

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  28. I read Judy Blume when I was a kid. I think my generation has read her a lot more than yours, though. :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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