The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. It’s hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date.
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The Sunday Post #239
On The Blog Last Week
- On Saturday I showed you the new books I got in August.
On The Blog This Week
- On Wednesday we talk about the new books that are coming out in September.
In My Reading Life
Buckle up, buckaroos. This is going to be a long
one.
Okay, last week, I finished rereading The
Hunger Games by Suzanne
Collins. I still love this novel. I’ve
read it several times, but I hadn’t reread it since the movies came out. I
remembered the book being more violent than it actually is. I was surprised
that most of the deaths happen “off screen” or are only given a sentence or two
of description. (This is a good thing. The violence does not feel gratuitous.) I guess the book was more violent inside my head? I was
remembering my memories instead of what was actually on the page? That’s weird.
And possibly disturbing. My brain must be a messed-up place.
Then I read something on the opposite end of the
spectrum from The Hunger Games. I read Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle. This is a book based on a comic strip series
that you may have seen around the Internet. It’s about colorful aliens who
enthusiastically participate in baffling human activities. A few of the comics
fell flat for me, but mostly this book is an instant mood booster. I highly
recommend it if you enjoy comics and smiling.
I haven’t talked about baby Brooklyn’s reading in
a while. She just got a big box of new books. So far, Brooklyn likes Who’s That Cat? by Steph Clarkson and Erica Salcedo. It’s a rhyming picture book about a bug-eyed cat that causes
mayhem in a family’s home. The illustrations are funny. I’m pretty sure the
story is a metaphor for the parent/child relationship. The family loves the
cat, even though it destroys literally
everything. (Just like the cat,
Brooklyn is a goddess of chaos. Be happy you can’t see my house right now. The
floors are so . . . unpleasantly milky.)
Another book Brooklyn wants to read incessantly
is Lift, Pull, Slide, Find ABC by Scott Barker. This is a flap book on steroids. So many flaps! Like the
(ultra-creative) title suggests, it’s full of stuff to “lift, pull, slide, and
find.” There isn’t a plot. It’s just an alphabet book with a different letter
and illustration on each page, but Brooklyn adores it. She’s mastered the flaps
and is making progress on the slides. I like the book, too. The design of it is aesthetically
pleasing.
Right now, I’m reading two books. The first is a
short story collection called The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The stories are set in the 1970s and feature
characters who are Vietnam War refugees. Like most short story collections,
this one is a mixed bag. The characters and writing are great, but a few of the
plots didn’t come together for me. Still, I'm enjoying it so far.
The other book I’m reading is Bunk: The Rise Of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News by Kevin Young. OMG,
people. The premise is intriguing, but it’s 560 pages, and the writing style is
unbelievably dry. It has taken me a week to read 50 pages. What have I gotten
myself into? Good thing I love history. This is going to be a slog.
In The Rest Of My Life
Five things that made me happy last week:
- New John Green book coming in May 2021! It’s nonfiction. And it sounds pretentious. I’m excited.
- Chinese food.
- You know how people are doing quarantine projects? They’re baking bread or decluttering the house? Well, my project is learning how to parallel park a car. I’ve never had to do it. It wasn’t even part of my driving test because there’s no reason to parallel park when you live in the middle of nowhere. ("Nowhere" has ample parking.) My practice so far has been embarrassing. I almost demolished the neighbors' fence. If you have tips, I need them. (I expect the fence would also appreciate tips. It keeps having near-death experiences.)
- I finally watched Tiger King. I understand what the Internet is talking about now! I actually know something that’s culturally relevant! Humans are weird and awful. That’s my takeaway from the show.
- New books for Brooklyn.
I’m occasionally entertaining
Take care of yourselves and be kind to each
other! See you around the blogosphere!
I miss Chinese food. There is a family owned restauarant nearby that I really enjoyed but I haven't eaten out (or done take out) since March 14. I don't even know if they are still open as I don't leave the house except to go to the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteWho can resist a sale?! Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteLift, Pull, Slide, Find ABC looks like great fun. I wish more books had tabs and slides. Big kids like these, too.
Neither of the books you are reading sound like books you're enjoying. I noticed that about the books I was trying to read yesterday. I'm not doing that any more. No more so-so books.
Have a good week, AJ!
I'm so glad your niece is enjoying her books! I love buying books for kiddos.
ReplyDeleteI definitely cannot give any tips on parallel parking. It was part of our test, but I think in my adult life I've had to actually do it only a handful of times. Good thing, because I'm bad at it!
Your bits on parallel parking had me in fits. Unfortunately, I can't offer tips because I don't drive (unless not driving is a useful tip?) I will offer luck, though. :)
ReplyDeleteparallel parking is a blast, I've had to do it for two years, near my highrise people and it never seizes to amaze me how happy I'd get if I made it just right.
ReplyDeleteAny opportunity to get more books has to be a win! And best of luck with learning to parallel park - I didn't need it until I regularly visited my daughter when she was living in Portsmouth and I got surprisingly good at it. There are some excellent YouTube tutorials by the way... Have a great week, AJ:))
ReplyDeleteI’m put Bunk in my WTR list last year, it might be a good thing I haven’t gotten to it yet. I avoid parallel parking when I can, I have a big, old four wheel drive with a bull bar, and I almost always end up parked in because people park too close for me to pull out easily.
ReplyDeleteI have teriyaki chicken & noodles on the menu this week. I’d rather buy Chinese takeaway but the budget doesn’t stretch that far.
Wishing you a great reading week
I am still trying to process that you did not have to show proficiency in parallel parking to get your license. I still have nightmares of my father yelling at me about how the spot was SO big he could park his fire truck in it. Those were not good times. It's great that you are acquiring a new skill during our covid-days. Maybe you will inspire me. We had Chinese food last night and it was delicious. That cat book is too adorable. I can totally understand why Brooklyn loves it. John Green doing a book of essays. Interesting. I know his podcasts are wildly popular, so, why not.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the Book Depository sale! And yay for re- reading the Hunger Games. I just read the series for the first time a couple years ago and was surprised how much I liked it!
ReplyDelete"And it sounds pretentious. I’m excited." haha love it. I hope it's a good one... :)
YES Chinese food! I had some friday night and it was glorious!!
I'm about to start reading The Hunger Games with my students! I'm so excited because I have always loved the books!
ReplyDeleteI never read The Hunger Games, but I did see the movie a long time ago. I couldn't really get into it though.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh....Chinese food! We finally found a great take out place here. It's so good. Now I'm craving Chinese food!
Have a great week!
It's great to see you reading so many books. Chinese takeout is the only kind we have done about once a month. There's a good one that has gluten-free options near our old house, so 12 miles away.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of my Heart Here is my Sunday Post
OMG I love that COVID quote! So funny! And good luck with the COVID project LOL
ReplyDeleteI haven't reread HG and but I did rewwatch all the movies early in quarantine. The only deaths I remember vividly were Rue and Finnick, but even Finnick was a bit off-screen. Oh and the dude in the first book with the mutants. That death took me by surprise when I first read it.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time that the Book Depository sale would have hooked me in. However, I have changed my ways. I only buy books when I an ready to read them. I still have loads if unread books sitting around the house.
ReplyDeleteI have not had any Chinese food in ages! Gosh I need to change that. Parking a car can be a challenge in the city too, at least sometimes *smile* But I am confident you will learn that pretty quickly. Happy reading and have a wonderful new week.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have to parallel park for my driver's license either. There are perks to living in the middle of nowhere! I still haven't mastered it. My sister bullied me into doing it one time when we were trying to go to a chocolate shop downtown, where parking is hard to find. She was not about to let me go past a spot practically in front of the door! I was probably 2 feet from the curb but I have a small car so I was out of the road enough. :-D My husband says when he was learning to drive (in Miami) his parents took him into a big parking lot and set up traffic cones for him to practice. I guess the idea was that they could easily tell if he did it right and he couldn't cause any more damage than toppling a traffic cone. Good luck! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteI really need to reread The Hunger Games! I haven't read it since the first time, whenever that was. I'm glad to hear it holds up! How did you like The Tiger King? I never finished watching it...
ReplyDeleteI like that comparison of ripping off masks to bras. LOL Of course, only girls can relate. I remember Hunger Games being more violent than it is because I have a super active imagination! What we imagine is always more memorable. Think psychological thrillers. I'm trying not to click on that Book Depository link. I have too many books as it is...Let's see if I survive the temptation.
ReplyDeleteOoh thanks for letting me know about the sale. I'll have to check that out. I loved The Hunger Games trilogy but I've only ever read them the once. I'm sure re-reading them are fun though!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I miss going to eat at my favorite Chinese restaurant - not just take out, just going in and sitting down to eat. I guess I just miss that in general...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sharing the Book Depository sale - I'll have to check it out. :)
Amazon's sales over the last few years have been a real disappointment as their book options are poor! Mind you, I really don't need to be buying more right now...
ReplyDeleteI do miss takeaway food in the pandemic and feeling safe to just go and browse a few shops!
You know how people are doing quarantine projects? They’re baking bread or decluttering the house? Well, my project is learning how to parallel park a car. I’ve never had to do it. It wasn’t even part of my driving test because there’s no reason to parallel park when you live in the middle of nowhere. ("Nowhere" has ample parking.) My practice so far has been embarrassing. I almost demolished the neighbors' fence. If you have tips, I need them. (I expect the fence would also appreciate tips. It keeps having near-death experiences.)
ReplyDeleteFor all maneuvers, my driving instructor had a mantra: "Slow car, fast hands." I don't know if that helps, but muttering it to myself usually keeps me from making any catastrophic errors!
The Tiger King was something! Yes on the mask thing!
ReplyDeleteOh, my, parallel parking! I haven't actually done that in years, and I still recall trying to parallel park on a hill in San Francisco! Not fun!
ReplyDeleteI don't even drive anymore! It is kind of a relief, although I miss being able to jump in a car and go somewhere. But I haven't left this residence for six months! Very sad.
Stay safe and enjoy your reading. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Oh my gosh, I have not had my favorite dumplings and fried cheese wonton in way too long. I may have to place an order for curbside pickup since they are far from home now that you mention Chinese food.
ReplyDeleteNot to brag but I'm an excellent parallel parker, on both sides. I have a trick I use involving lining up the back window with the back end of the car you're trying to park behind, but it's hard to explain so maybe have you tried you tubing tips?
I enjoyed The Hunger Games when I read it. Happy week ahead!
I don't drive but I remember practicing parallel parking as a teen and it was nerve wracking. Good Luck! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteParallel parking is never fun. I failed my driver's test the first time because I couldn't do it. The second time I just right by the spot and told the assessor to just mark off the points. Even today I prefer parking where I don't need to parallel park. I don't even like backing up the car. I'm a driving wimp. I miss Chinese food but it has so much sodium that I just have to eliminate it from my diet for health reasons. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteNope to parallel parking, it’s evil. My cars got self park on it but I don’t even trust it to do it. I tend to park away from every other car if possible!
ReplyDeleteTiger King really does show off some of the worst kind of people, he’s getting a film too!
love the banner. i had to go pick up a physical prescription from the doctor's office (freaking out) and that's exactly what i did. lol
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I never re-read The Hunger Games, but I wonder how I'd feel about it! I really remember it being a little violent, but I was younger when I read it, soo... I'm curious ahha. I'm SO curious about that new John Green book! :)
ReplyDeleteWe just ordered our first takeout food Saturday night - Mexican. It was so so good. And Brooklyn's books look so cute!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's probably a good thing I didn't know about the sale until after it was over! Yay for Brooklyn's new books. It's always fun getting new children's books... and a little disappointing when you no longer have an excuse. (Sometimes I get them anyway, if it's an author or illustrator I just love.) Good luck with the parallel parking! I can do it; it was required when I learned to drive, and as a teen, I lived in the suburbs in a house without a garage, so I parallel parked every day. But I've been able to do it for so long, I can't remember learning how — other than that I kept being terrified I would hit something! Eventually I did, which was probably inevitable. I suspect a minor scrape or bump is one way you learn to extend your spatial awareness (proprioception) to the edges of the car.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, that new John Green book is based on a podcast he has been doing (by the same title.) It's worth listening to.
DeleteLOL to parallel parking. Poor fence. By time you master it, all the books will come with that nifty feature where they park themselves. I say that because I've been *doing* it since I was 15 and I still struggle. So good luck!
ReplyDeleteHow old is Brooklyn? I'm thinking Dante might enjoy some of those books, though they might be a bit old for him still.
Have a great week!
That's interesting how you remembered scenes that weren't really described in the book. That Lift Pull book sounds so fun and cute! Good luck with your parking!
ReplyDelete