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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*This post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
The Sunday Post #235
On The Blog Last Week
- On Tuesday I talked about my favorite books of 2020 (so far).
- On Thursday I posted a list of crime fiction for young adults.
- On Saturday I wrapped up July.
On The Blog This Week
- On Wednesday I show you the August book releases I’m excited to read.
In My Reading Life
Have you ever participated in a readathon, read a
ton of pages quickly, burned yourself out, and then quit reading? Yeah, that’s
what happened to me last week. I completed the Reading Rush and then just . . .
stopped reading.
I only finished one book last week. It was Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok. It’s set in 1800s Paris and stars a teenage
journalist who uses her psychic powers to track down a serial killer. I love
the setting, and I love that the main character is interested in morbid stuff.
(I am too!) There are two major storylines happening in the book. One of them
is about finding the serial killer. The other is about the main character
learning to accept her psychic abilities. I was way more interested in the serial killer plotline. I understand
that learning to be psychic is (probably) difficult, but I was impatient for
the character to embrace her powers and concentrate on the killer. Overall, I
had fun reading Spectacle. I’ll
probably pick up the sequel if I come across it in my bookish wanderings.
Right now, I’m rereading The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. It’s the third book in a sci-fi
trilogy about kids who can travel to parallel universes. I loved this series as
a kid, but I don’t remember this book very well. I think it was my least
favorite in the trilogy, so I didn’t reread it as many times as I read the
first two books. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slog so far (probably because I’ve
read it before and know what’s going to happen). There are a ton of characters.
They’re not doing much yet. I’m ready for the action to start.
In The Rest Of My Life
Five things that made me happy last week:
- Grocery delivery! Coronavirus has made grocery deliveries like Christmas. The stores are out of many products, so I never know what weird stuff they’ll substitute for the stuff I order. Every delivery is a surprise.
- I’m participating in another readathon. I know I just finished a readathon and burned myself out, but I discovered #BookHiBearNation, and now I’m determined to participate. Burn out won’t stop me! Bring on the books!
- I think I’m getting Netflix for a while. Tell me what to watch. I usually only watch documentaries, trashy reality shows, and food shows, but I’m up for expanding my horizons beyond garbage TV.
- I loved writing my Best Books Of 2020 So Far and Crime Fiction For Young Adults posts. Thank you to everyone who looked at them!
- Twin books? I bought these books online without seeing the covers. When they arrived, they looked like morning and night versions of the same book! (You can tell I’m bored in lockdown because I’m impressed by stupid crap like this.)
I’m bored and need friends, apparently!
Take care of yourselves and be kind to each
other! See you around the blogosphere!
Grocery pick up or delivery is my favorite, I have been doing it for year and the thought of going to the store annoys me. We found a store that finally offers pick up since everyplace was completely sold out. Now I have to figure out how to shop again since the last few months has been a toss up when it comes to getting stuff.
ReplyDeleteNetflix you can watch....The Haunting of Hill House Series, Locke & Key, Lucifer, Ted Bundy Files, The Umbrella academy. The last one I haven't watched yet myself but I might start this week.
Book covers are always so impressive to me but that might be the designer in me. I am a sucker for a good cover.
Have a great week, AJ! Happy Reading!
lol about that meme, that is a great way to dress for the store nowadays. I recommend Waco on Netflix or search up the Ted Bundy documentaries on Netflix and Amazon Prime if you have that. I got a grocery delivery from Whole Foods this week and was very happy to get everything I ordered plus cold foods and all.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week ahead.
I used to do readathons and book tags when I blogged 3 years ago. Maybe I should start again. Suggest a good one to me...
ReplyDeleteI've listed Spectacle on my TBR list on Friday! Can't wait to get my hands on it. For some or other reason, I can't get into His Dark Materials AT ALL. Shrug. Hope you enjoyed the series.
Here's my The Sunday Post
Have a good week!
I'd recommend 'The Killing' and 'The Gypsy', a pyschological thriller with a therapist as the lead.
ReplyDeleteWait. So instead of just not filling the item, they give you something else? I don't know how I feel about that. My daughter was just telling me about her subscription food box. They subbed in cookie dough for the grain which was part of the meal. Not sure that was good sub there. I read Moonrise a while back. It was a rather sad story.
ReplyDeleteI've never done a Readathon, and while I'm tempted, if a book has affected me, I need to 'surface' and process my emotions and the ideas swirling through my head. So I'm wary of taking part! Loved your Favourite Books post:)). Hope the coming week is a good one - glad to know that grocery deliveries are such a voyage of discovery:)). I went shopping for the third time on my own since lockdown this week - and ended up having to return twice more for things I'd forgotten - there were only four things on the list... Have a good week, AJ:)
ReplyDeleteGood luck for the new readathon. :) Netflix has so many amazing series - Umbrella Academy, Lucifer, Stranger Things, and so on.
ReplyDeleteHappy readings!
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
We get our next delivery tomorrow and I always ensure I've ordered a few treats to look forward to! I love deliveries and not having to go out shopping! I used to do week long readathons and by day five I was losing steam. My reading is ok this week thankfully! With all the other stuff I'm doing I doubt I'd have time to endulge in Netflix! I'm more a record it watch it later kinda person!
ReplyDeleteI pickup groceries every two weeks and I always get them at 7 am on Friday morning. The person who brings out my groceries to the car knows my name now. Our mail delivery is a big deal, too. When I see a FedEx truck coming down the street, I will it to stop at my house.
ReplyDeleteThere's a Reverse Readathon this weekend that runs for 24-hours. I never make it deep into the night, but I love trying.
I easily set books aside now. When I was your age, I always tried to power through books, like them or not.
We watched The Great British Baking Show and Comedians in Cars on Netflix and loved them both.
I remember His Dark Materials (and the terrible movie that shall not be mentioned...oops). I'm a bit envious of being bored in lockdown. I dream about lazy days. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteGetting groceries delivered is a good idea in theory, but I wouldn't want to see their substitutions! Good luck with Netflix! I watch way too much TV - The Great British Baking Show is a nice food show!
ReplyDeleteOh well, I am not sure if I would keep going with the food delivery if I don´t get what I wanted. Our supermarkets are back to normal with food and other groceries and I am very happy about that. Happy reading and hopefully your lockdown will soon be over! Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI will now have a look at your best books post AJ! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI have had that happen unfortunately. I've always called it overdosing on reading. I am glad you enjoyed Spectacle. I have that one on my TBR pile to read. I haven't read the Pullman novels, but one day I would like to. I spend too much time on Netflix. LOL I like the sci fi and fantasy series they've come out with. I hope you have a great week, and month, AJ. Stay safe and well.
ReplyDeleteI've always been curious about Spectacle. I think I'd prefer the serial killer story line more too though! As for Netflix, I just finished iZombie which I LOVED, so I would recommend that. I also loved season 1 of Dead to Me. The second season is on there too, but I still need to make time for it. I watched some episodes last night of Unsolved Mysteries which are always intriguing.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I listened to His Dark Materials on audiobook and loved the series. Have you read the Book of Dust series that is a prequel/sequel? I love his writing. Please join me for some good news of the week
ReplyDeleteOooh, I want to read The Amber Spyglass, too!!
ReplyDeleteMy reading tends to be pretty even - I read every day about the same amount and at the same times, and might read an extra hour or two during a readathon. And I am ALWAYS in the mood to read! ha ha
That's cool about those two book covers - they both look intriguing!
I am super late with my weekly rounds, but I hope you enjoyed your books this week :)
Sue
2020 Big Book Summer Challenge
Two Netflix shows that I recently watched and loved: Dead To Me and In the Dark. There are others, too...wait! Virgin River!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your books and your shows...and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
Grocery delivery or pickup has been a great thing for us. They do well about 95% of the time. I check my blog spam occassionally and thankfully the sex-bots are going there.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
I love getting my Lufa Farms order because I don't like going grocery shopping. I'm so tired from work that it feels great to have food delivered right to my doorstep. Enjoy your readathon!
ReplyDeleteYup, that has happened to me after a readthon or several buddy-reads. I get burnt out and don't even want to look at a book. Sometimes it leads to a reading and blogging slump, but it passes eventually. I try to pace myself these days, but still get too excited and overindulge in reading events sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAs for Netflix recs, since you like documentaries and trashy reality shows, I highly recommend Tiger King to you.
I mostly watch a bunch of sci-fi/fantasy stuff, so I highly recommend the Witcher, Stranger Things, Dark, and Umbrella Academy, if you'd like to try sci-fi/fantasy shows.
I love that intro picture! So true lol. And Spectacle sounds great. I love the sound of the 1800's setting too.
ReplyDeleteOoh Netflix. I liked Into the Night and Travelers.
I've never done grocery delivery but I like the sound of it, I get nervous going to stores!
Spectacle sounds really good. On Netflix, I just started Dark and it's pretty good.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week!
I loved the first two His Dark Materials books. The third one was one I started but that was it. I am not sure that I ever finished it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the first book in His Dark materials but after that I kinda lost interest. The new tv series of it is good so far though.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about Christmas, I get excited now if the postman just brings a letter never mind a parcel!
The premise of Spectacle sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThere is plenty of garbage tv on Netflix to keep you busy for a while
Wishing you a great reading week
Oh, yes, been on there on the reading burnout after a readathon - I hope your reading picks up a little this week.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love the twin book covers!
Happy reading & a lovely week to you.
Love that meme up top. I swear, that's what it feels like these days. Grocery delivery has been an unexpected bonus of the pandemic. Why was I not using it before?! Between grocery pick-up and grocery delivery I never need to hit up the grocery store again.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried grocery delivery. I can't imagine letting someone else pick out my produce. Also, my brother does most of our grocery shopping and he isn't letting a little thing like a pandemic keep him out of stores while I cower at home. Come see my week here, Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI'll check out that readathon too, as I really want to participate in one, book burnout be damned. I think I'll check out Spectacle too. I normally don't read anything not set in the current time, but this sounds interesting. Hopping over from #IMWAYR
ReplyDeleteIf you're getting Netflix, be sure to watch Ozark! Loved that show.
ReplyDeleteThose book covers are beautiful! And you are so right about the grocery pick up/delivery. It's so exciting, like what didn't I get? Or how did they substitute? Lol. Stay safe and read on!
ReplyDeleteI definitely get reading burn out as well, especially if I read for hours and hours in a row. I need a break!
ReplyDeleteI have loved fantasy since reading the Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper as a kid. I remember that my sister loved The Golden Compass series but I don't remember finishing it myself. I've even tried listening to the audio a time or two as an adult and didn't finish. I don't know what it is! I need to try again in print.
ReplyDeleteNetflix? Oh man. Umbrella Academy, Stranger Things, Lucifer, The Good Place, Dexter. Locke & Key was a great graphic novel series but minor character irritations were amplified a LOT in the Netflix series. If you like morbid stuff and have access to TNT, The Alienist is great but really, really dark.
Good luck with your readathon!
Spectacle is something I'll have to check out. Serial killers intrigue and disturb me.
ReplyDeleteI'd watch The Office (if it's still there), Virgin River and Stranger Things on Netflix. I'm addicted to Heartland on there, but if you're not interested in being a cowgirl on a ranch, horse-whispering, and family drama it may not be for you, lol. :)
Oh no, you had reading burnout! :( Sounds like you're bouncing back, though!
ReplyDeleteI've considered having groceries delivered--we have to go shopping SO MUCH! With seven people we are constantly needing produce and milk!
Clover Blue and Moonrise are BEAUTIFUL covers!
Ooh, I've been meaning to try Spectacle... it sounds like it's fun, if a bit slow? I'll keep that in mind. :D
ReplyDeleteI love matching covers, so I get it! Moonrise sounds good to me. Hope you have a good week, happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI've just spent another week up in the mountains in a cabin... It's bee relaxing but the internet hasn't bee great and I'd love to be going out and trying new restaurants, but.... I'll write more about this later in my blog...
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
I'm going to be doing a His Dark Materials re-read next year before I start reading the new books. Have you read the new ones yet? 📚
ReplyDeleteI loved Moonrise! 👍✨
I hope you have been having a good week. 🌞
Our grocery stores are still pretty well stocked at the moment and I usually manage to get everything I need. I am sorry to hear you burned out a bit due to that readathon and I hope the new readathon helps to get you out of that. Looks like you read some great books so far this year judging form your best 2020 books post. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI love Netflix! There are so many things on there I wouldn't even know where to begin recommending stuff... Plus UK Netflix has different programming than US netflix. :/
ReplyDeleteOur grocery deliveries are easy to get now and the stores are pretty much back to normal. I'm sorry that things are still weird with yours!