Sunday, September 20, 2020

The Sunday Post #242



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 ReviewerReaderbuzz, and Book Date.

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




The Sunday Post #242

 

 

 

 

Public Service Announcement

 

I’ve been forced onto the new Blogger blogging editor (against my will, I may add). There’s no option to revert to the Legacy editor. I apologize for weird formatting issues in my posts. I can’t seem to make the new blogging tools bend to my whims.




 

 

On The Blog Last Week

 

 

 

 


On The blog This Week

 

  • On Tuesday I show you the books I’m hoping to read in fall.
  • On Saturday there’s a book haul (of books that I should probably read in fall).

 

 

 

 

In My Reading Life

 

Last week, I finished Vox by Christina Dalcher. I felt kind of “meh” about it. It’s a dystopia about a scientist who is trying to help stroke patients regain their lost language skills, but she lives in a world where women are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. The book borrows a lot from The Handmaid’s Tale. Sometimes it felt like I was reading fanfiction. The worlds are extremely similar. I like that the main character has complicated feelings about the men in her life. She loves them, but she’s endlessly angry that they won’t speak up for her when she can’t speak for herself. I liked the beginning of the book more than the end. It turns into a thriller at the end. Most of the world’s problems are solved easily. I don’t like dystopias that blame the government for every problem. What about the ordinary citizens who put that government in power and helped it abuse people? Are they going to sit quietly while their lives are upended? I doubt it.



Then I finished The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I mostly loved this book. It has atmospheric writing, creepy mansions, ghost children, and a biographer who is trying to uncover the secret past of a famous author. The middle is a bit saggy and repetitive, but I didn’t care because it has all the scandalous twists of a great gothic/sensationalist novel. The end surprised me. This is a hard book to discuss without spoiling it, but if you’re a Jane Eyre fan, you need to read it ASAP. It would also make a great Halloween book.

 


Baby Brooklyn and I read Pet The Pets by Sarah Lynne Reul. It’s a book with flaps to lift, of course. I like this one because it has more purpose than the other books we’ve read. It teaches kids empathy and how to observe pets to figure out what they need. It’s short and interactive enough that Brooklyn wants to read it every day. The illustrations are adorable.



Right now, I’m reading two books and liking them both. American War by Omar El Akkad is another dystopia. (I seem to be reading a lot of those lately.) It’s about a young girl who is growing up in a refugee camp after the Second American Civil War forces her family out of their home. The other book is nonfiction: I’ll Be Gone In The Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search For The Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara. It’s true crime. I think the title tells you everything you need to know about the plot.




 

 

In The Rest Of My Life

 

Five things that made me happy last week:

 

  1. New books. A lot of them. I went a bit overboard with the used book buying. I’ll show you on Saturday.
  2. I’m still watching hockey playoffs. I guess I’m a Lightning fan now? I should stop picking teams to support. Every time I choose one, they lose.
  3. I’m actually ahead with scheduling blog posts and making graphics. Usually I’m scrambling to get graphics done the night before the post is scheduled to go up. It’s weird to be ahead.
  4. I started my Christmas shopping. I know it’s too early for the “C” word, but I love giving gifts and put way too much thought into them. I’ve been waiting since last year for this particular thing to be available for preorder.
  5. I’m currently listening to old Green Day songs very loudly. It’s like I’m a teenager again, but without the acne and crippling depression.

 

 

 

 

I Rarely Bite (And I Have All My Vaccines)

 

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






31 comments:

  1. "I’ve been forced onto the new Blogger blogging editor (against my will, I may add). There’s no option to revert to the Legacy editor. I apologize for weird formatting issues in my posts. I can’t seem to make the new blogging tools bend to my whims." Same here, so don´t worry ... I heard that Google is still trying to fix some Blogger issues that came with the new blogging editor. But it is annoying. Have fun getting your Christmas gifts ready. Although it is weird to think about it already but time flies and Christmas is here before you know it *smile* Happy reading and wrapping gifts!

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  2. I switched to "new" blogger early, and I will say, they have made improvements. I hope that is encouraging for you. Also, your post looks fine. I cannot see anything odd here. Sorry your team didn't make it to the post-season. You are so on your game. I cannot even think about Christmas shopping. I still need to think of a birthday gift for my father and mother, never mind another gift. My head hurts! Green Day, I was supposed to see them this summer. *sad face*

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  3. I hated it when Wordpress pulled the same stunt earlier in the year and I was dragged more or less kicking and screaming into having to use it. I've now got used to it - I have to say, that your post doesn't look worse, but I recall feel a bit fed up when folks said that to me, so maybe it isn't all that helpful!

    What I DID find helpful were a bunch of really good instructional videos on good ol' YouTube - far better than the dreadful things that Wordpress served up as instructional posts. So you might find something there to help. I hope the coming week is a better one, AJ:)

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  4. I wanted to revert, but I didn't revert, knowing this day would come. I am not happy with many things, especially trying to add HTML in a blob of gibberish and trying to resize pictures, but I keep hoping that I will get better at it soon.

    What? Limiting women to a hundred words a day? Has my husband been placed in charge of the universe? I would probably be executed for overtalking. I'd use that up in my first five minutes.

    I feel like we are living in a dystopia, somehow. Dystopias appeal to me, too, right now.

    Ah, Pet the Pets. Like it.

    Have a great week, AJ!

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  5. I also felt a bit mehw about Vox. The premise was sooooo good, but then it turned into an action movie or something.

    Still need to read The Thirteenth Tale. Want to!!

    I don't struggle all that much with blogger. Maybe it's the new theme I installed right before the interface. I struggle with resizing of photos here and there, but I'm starting to realise that it might be a bit of AI. Downloaded photos, I can't do anything with. My own photos, no problem. I'm not a computer geek, so maybe I just don't realise everything.

    Hope you will have a good week, here's my The Sunday Post #12

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  6. Yeah, I've been trying to adjust to the new platform but formatting is still giving me fits. Why change if the changes suck? Grrr. Lightning is my team so I've been on cloud 9 lately. Until last night. Off to a rocky start so I hoping for better tomorrow night.

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  7. I didn't mean to start Christmas shopping last week but I inadvertently purchased my first gift... It's too soon!

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  8. I've been having formatting issues with the new blogger, too... so frustrating! The Thirteenth Tale was a great read. Perfect for fall! Have a good week.

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  9. I have had some formatting issues. Blogger is taking on a whole new format, I'm glad they have still kept some things the same.

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  10. Ha, I started my Christmas shopping a couple months ago! It's never too early to start shopping, at least. I have too many people to buy for to wait until the last minute!

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  11. I read The Thirteenth Tale years ago and loved it! It's such a great example of Gothic literature. I keep meaning to read more of Setterfield's books but haven't gotten around to them yet.

    Enjoy your week and your Christmas! shopping!

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  12. That's so organised to have already started Christmas shopping! Every year I say I'll start early, but I never do!
    And yay for old Green Day! My Chemical Romance is generally my nostalgia listen that takes me back to being a moody teenager.
    Have a great week!

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  13. Ah Christmas shopping :-) I've been eye-ing advent calendars.

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  14. Nobody seems to like the new Blogger version or the new Wordpress editor. Partially because we have enough to deal with this year. I'm crushed about RGB. Enjoy your new books!

    Anne - Books of my Heart Here is my Sunday Post

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  15. I don't love the new Wordpress editor, so I sympathise with your Blogger woes. Gah. Why must they do this to us?!

    My weekly roundup post.

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  16. RBG's death, the demise of the Vegas Golden Knights, our current political situation, I'm not sure why you are reading dystopia. We're living it!

    www.thepulpitandthepen.com

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  17. Pet the Pets looks so sweet. I miss flap books lol.

    I always get excited about Christmas, honestly. It's never too soon. :) And yay for new books!!

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  18. I have had several people recommend The Thirteenth Tale to me, and I've owned it and never read it for years!

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  19. I love the quote that you shared from RBG. It made me cry a little bit. What a loss. Glad you liked The Thirteenth Tale. I did, too.

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  20. I also read a dystopian this past week, but it’s not a genre I gravitate too especially now.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  21. I am about to start Christmas shopping! It made my life so much easier last year when I began early. :)

    Pet the Pets looks like a great book!!

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  22. You have some good reading going on. I loved both American War and I'll be gone in the Dark. It's some dark reading, but well worth your time. Have a great week.

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  23. Oh no! I'm still able to revert to the old editor, so I'm definitely not looking forward to that. :/ I'll be Gone in the Dark is one I've been meaning to read. I can't wait to see your book haul!

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  24. Interesting thoughts on VOX. I think I own that one, but obviously haven't read it yet. I love a good dystopian!

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  25. I'm getting used to the new Blogger but still prefer the old. I did learn how to center images this past week which had been bothering me. I'm trying to avoid adding new books. I splurged a couple of weeks ago and have no idea when I'll have time to read them. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  26. Bwahahah I love your comment on being a teenager again but without the acne!!! You never fail to make me laugh AJ!

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  27. The formatting with the new blogger is weird. I can't quite get everything figured out but I might get there eventually. I have been buying books like they're going to quit selling them! I refuse to even consider Christmas right now - I can't even get Halloween figured out at this point. Hope you have a great week.

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  28. American War is pretty dark ... and I don't think I liked the ending ... but see what you think. I read the 13th Tale but it's been a long while and I now don't recall it too well ... probably need to do a reread.

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  29. I hate the new blogger and each week seems to be a new hell being visited on us that needs fixing!

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  30. Seems like the new Blogger platform is causing lots of angst---hope it's just an adjustment period! Love that RGB quote at the top of your post---that sums up how I feel about talking through issues. Wish everyone took that tack.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  31. Bah, the new blogger! I do not like it, and I'm lucky, I keep my tabs open, so I still have legacy blogger. And sounds like a pretty great week, and yeah for getting ahead on the graphics and blog stuff! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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