Sunday, October 11, 2020

The Sunday Post #245

 

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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.

 

 

 

 The Sunday Post #245

 

 

 

 

On The Blog Last Week

 

 

 

 

 

On The Blog This Week

 

  • On Tuesday we’re going to talk about Instagram and book recommendations.

 

 

 

 

In My Reading Life

 

Last week, I finished Beasts Of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang. What a bizarre story. I guess I’d call it light fantasy? It’s about a homeless man and his pet pig. The man can influence nature, but he doesn’t know how his powers work. He falls in love with a “normal” zoologist woman, which terrifies him because he thinks he’ll accidentally hurt her with his animal-influencing powers. This novel is much less serious than the stuff I usually read. I had tons of fun with it. It’s definitely the kind of book you read to escape from real life. It’s funny, creative, sweet, and populated with adorable characters who are easy to love. The tone reminds me of middlegrade fantasy, but with adult characters who have grownup problems. This book is a strong contender for my “best books of 2020” post. I enjoyed it very much.

 


Then I reread the short story “The Masque Of The Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve been thinking about this story a lot lately because of . . . no reason whatsoever. It was first published in 1842. It’s about a prince who invites 1000 wealthy friends to a costume party at his castle during a plague called the Red Death. The prince’s masquerade ball does not end happily (because of the aforementioned plague). I always thought this story was an allegory about people’s futile attempts to avoid death. Death will find you, even if you have money, a castle, a cool costume, and 1000 friends. Now I’m wondering if Poe meant us to interpret the story more literally . . . . It’s a creepy story. And surprisingly relevant. I recommend it if you like classics.

 


I seem to be avoiding my TBR pile by rereading stuff. Right now, I’m rereading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and The Shining by Stephen King. I know I like both of these books. My TBR shelf is close to overflowing, so I really need to find the motivation to read something new.





 

In The Rest Of My Life

 

Five things that made me happy last week:

 

  1. Dancing to The Wiggles with baby Brooklyn. She’s getting old enough to follow Wiggles dance moves. Also, she’s perfectly capable of following instructions when The Wiggles tell her to do something, but when I ask her to do something . . . nope.
  2. The leaves are changing. It’s very pretty outside.
  3. Fall walks. Some people have their Halloween decorations up, which makes walks around the neighborhood less boring.
  4. Halloween candy! Of course I’m already eating it. And I got caramel to make caramel apples.
  5. Halloween baking shows on the food channel. Who else is watching them? They make me want to try baking, but I don’t have the patience for all that fiddly stuff. I just want to eat the things. I don’t care if they’re pretty.

 

 

 

 

Let’s Get Spooky Together

 

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





36 comments:

  1. I have been in the mood to reread Poe lately. I've been watching old horror movies. :)

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  2. You need to get a voice modulator that makes you sound like the Wiggles or at least work on your Australian accent (that's where they are from, no? They were way after my kid's time), then maybe Brooklyn will listen to you too. You should try baking and post the results for us!

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  3. I can't bake, I have no patience for all the measuring. I too would just like to eat it.
    I miss watching the Wiggles with my kids, they are super boring now. lol
    I took the dog for a walk and was looking at all the decorations and thought the same thing. It's so nice to see the houses all dressed up. :)

    I hope you have a great week, AJ! Happy Reading!

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  4. Beasts Of Extraordinary Circumstance sounds fantastic. I may have to go read that as soon as I catch up on all my review titles *head explodes*. And I hear you about just wanting to eat the things. That said, I may have to make pumpkin bread soon. Have a great week!

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  5. The Wiggles are fun! And I love walking around the neighborhood at this time of year. People get so creative! The colors and leaves are the best too.

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  6. Yea!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance. I loved it! Your description is also spot-on. I still need to read The Shining. I actually haven't read any Stephen King this year. Yet. I do try to do at least one a year.

    Hope your week will be good! Here's my The Sunday Post #14

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  7. Your quote made me laugh. Ah yes, Halloween... I am curious how that will be this year. I can get everything Halloween related at the supermarket except for cookies or forms that will help me shape my cookie dough into something Halloween shaped. Well, we can´t have everything, can we? Happy reading and happy dancing *smile*

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  8. I love to bake. When it comes out especially pretty...bonus points. I will not spend weeks on something I'm going to eat in one meal.

    I've just added Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance to my tbr. Sounds like a lovely escape.

    Children are fabulous. That's really all we need for happiness. Of course they can also make you pretty miserable, too.

    Have a good week!

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  9. I miss changing leaves so much! I never thought that would be something I'd care about. Hurray for Halloween! I've been reading spooky books and eating spooky (yummy) candy corn! Enjoy your rereads! I remember loving The Shining too!

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  10. The foliage is one of my favorite parts of the season, I love seeing all the colors!

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  11. My daughter loved The Wiggles! She's 20 so I am glad to hear that they are still around. Funny how kids seem to have selective hearing. I guess I really just don't remember a whole lot about The Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances so maybe I should read it again sometime :) I hope you have a wonderful week, AJ!

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  12. Already eating the candy? More yoga for you AJ!! LOL And I so love that quote/meme you began with :-))) have a great week!

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  13. I think it's really our duty to eat Halloween candy. With the lack of trick or treating this year we must keep the candy companies in business! Ahh The Wiggles. Pretty sure some of those songs are burned into my brain. Hope you have a great week!

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  14. I have been enjoying my walks too! I haven't seen many Halloween decorations (maybe just the one) but it's not as celebrated here as in the U.S.

    Have a great week!

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  15. Lol, I love the qoute you used at the top of the post!
    I'm so torn on Mexican Gothic, it sounds so great and I want to read it, but I'm also a huge scaredy cat and don't do well with horror

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  16. Oh man! I need to watch those Halloween cooking shows! Glad you had a great week!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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  17. Beasts of Extrordinary Circumstance sounds like an interesting read. I might have to check that one out!
    Have a good week!

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  18. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances sounds interesting.

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  19. I've heard good things about Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance. It's on my list. I'm also eating all the Halloween candy. I need to get on the Food Network and watch all the Halloween baking. Looks like you've chosen some good rereads! I haven't read the Shining but I've enjoyed all the adaptations! Have a great week!

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  20. The fall colors are barely starting here so we have more pretty weeks ahead. But the Halloween decorations are killer in this neighborhood.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post


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  21. I'm loving autumn walks, colours and all things Halloween too. :)
    Mockingjay was a good one. I hope you enjoy it!
    Have a good week.

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  22. I love Poe, and yeah, Masque of the Red Death is SO pertinent right now.
    I'm loving all the Fall colors and Halloween decorations too. And I'm not a baker, but I love watching all the Halloween baking shows.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  23. I remember my kids liking the Wiggles. They are so colorful and their songs catchy! I love taking walks this time of year. Pretty indeed.

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  24. The Shining. Such a classic. I would re-read that one indeed. Been sprinkling Pumpkin Pie Spice on this and that ;-)

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  25. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance actually sounds like one I'd enjoy from your description.

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  26. We don't really cook much specifically for Halloween.

    and yay for the Wiggles!

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  27. *dies laughing* OMG, that guy from high school joke is way funnier than it has any right to be, but I'm totally laughing out loud right now

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  28. I love the joke about the hot guy in high school! Wouldn't that be a fun thing to do.

    I love your five special things. Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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  29. I am loving all the Halloween decorations this year - I feel like people are really stepping up their game and going all out. Lol. I am definitely adding Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance to my list now!

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  30. Turning to books you know you love sounds like a great thing to do right now to me - we need to take that comfort wherever we can get it from!

    Happy reading & a lovely week to you!

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  31. I don’t mind baking but I’m lousy at decoration so I tend to stick with simple stuff.
    As an Aussie, an ex daycare director, and with 4 kids (the oldest of whom is 24) I can still sing and move along to all of the original Wiggles songs, I think they are burned into my subconscious.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  32. Technically, I've been rereading a lot too. But it is hard to count it as rereading if I read it more than 10 years ago because it is like a whole new experience when I read the story now. I have also discovered a new to me author and find that I've had some of her books on my TBR stack since 2014 which will count as lowering the TBR stack, won't it? Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  33. I'm not a big fan of Halloween but I do like the decorations. Hope you have a great week!

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  34. I hate to cook but love to bake. I don't much care how it looks. My husband loves to cook and he will spend time "plating" our meal while I'm just sitting at the table looking at him like, "Seriously? It's just me and I don't care. We're going to eat it and mess it up in 5 seconds anyway." Whatever makes him happy though.

    Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance sounds really good. I'll look for it.

    Enjoy your week!

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  35. I'm the same as you and just want to eat all the things. But for Halloween I'm going to make graveyard brownies, spider cupcakes and monster rice crispy treats. I love to bake but not decorate but those seemed easy enough *fingers crossed*.
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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  36. My motivation for anything other than non fiction just isn't there at the moment. I'm sleeping better so it isn't that stopping me-I just can't seem to concentrate on fiction right now, especially horror.

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