Sunday, October 18, 2020

The Sunday Post #246

 

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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 #246

 

 

 

 

On The Blog Last Week

 

 

 

 

 

In My Reading Life

 

Last week, I finished rereading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. This is the third book in The Hunger Games series. I decided that I like it less than the first book in the series but more than the second. I’m still somewhat confused about why Katniss voted to continue The Hunger Games after the revolution. I still think the pods are stupid. I don’t like how the author created a bunch of characters with the obvious intent of killing them. Despite my whining, I really love this series. Each time I reread it, I get more out of it. I love that the war is messy with very few clear good guys or bad guys. Most of the characters do awful things or make questionable decisions. The Hunger Games is a very human sci-fi series. If you’ve somehow missed it, please read it!




I also finished rereading The Shining by Stephen King. I read this book a few times as a teenager because I liked the creepy hotel and its murderous, ghostly party guests. I remember being especially weirded out by the ghost dude in the dog costume who was constantly sucking up to people who treated him horribly. I still love the hotel and the evil ghosts, but as an adult who’s read a lot of horror, I was less thrilled with the rest of the book. The N word is used way too often. I know the book was written in the 1970s and the ghosts are from the 1920s, but damn, Stephen King, not every character needs to be a racist. Calm down. Like most King novels, the action takes ten eternities to get going. Once it does start moving, it’s easy to get swept up in it. Life keeps getting worse and worse for the characters. Everything goes wrong. Even though I knew how the story ends, I flew through the second half of the book. I couldn’t put it down. So . . . I guess I’m conflicted about this one. Read it if you’re interested in classic horror, but King has written better books.




Right now, I’m actually reading books I haven’t read before! Imagine that. I’m reading Sky In The Deep by Adrienne Young. So far, it’s the opposite of a Stephen King book. It’s been nonstop action from page 1. I’m also reading The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman. I’m only a few chapters into it, but I’m intrigued.







In The Rest Of My Life

 

Five things that made me happy last week:

 

  1. #Fraterfest Readathon has started! Maybe this will give me motivation to get on social media again. I’ve been avoiding it because I can only take US election news in small doses.
  2. Speaking of the election, I voted last week. Can I please have fewer spam calls and texts now? I was told that voting would make them stop. Why won’t they stop? I did my democracy! Leave me alone!
  3. Watching space stuff on Netflix. There are a ton of space documentaries and shows and I will watch them all.
  4. The Amazing Race is back! I guess it was filmed in The Before Times when Americans could still travel around the world. Those were good times.
  5. The Simpsons is back too! And South Park. Basically, I spent the whole week watching TV. No regrets.

 

 

 

 

I’ll Come Back To Social Media . . . Eventually

 

 

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






36 comments:

  1. I kind of like that they had a season of The Amazing Race in the can before life stopped. We can watch it and reminisce about going places and doing things. I find all the publicity about the election hilarious. Do people really not know that we vote on election day? It happens every year, not for president, but for other things. And about registering to vote. I registered in 1990 at the Jersey Shore on prom weekend (before my 18th birthday), but even if I hadn't, I could have done it when I got my license. I wonder if this is a people thing or an American thing, where you are so ignorant to basic things like voting.

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  2. Good luck and have fun with the Fraterfest Readathon. I don´t know the series you are watching but hope it is able to entertain you. Happy reading and stay safe and well.

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  3. The Devouring Gray is one of those books I thought looked interesting but never got back to. I'm almost afraid to say this,but I haven't gotten any election-related texts (cue my phone exploding). Have a great week!

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  4. I hope you enjoy the Fraterfest Readathon - I haven't yet got a chance to take part in one, but I am promising myself that I will do at some stage... Sky in the Deep looks like loads of fun - I hope you enjoy it, AJ:)). Have a great week.

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  5. We are inundated with postcards for the election. We get five postcards, one for all the voters who once lived in our house, for every candidate. Plus texts. And phone calls. Stop already. I early voted first day.

    Like I always do, I loved the first book of the Hunger Games series, but the others were just ho-hum for me. I usually don't read past book one for that very reason.

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  6. Do you know I found out today that the reason Plague Masks had that long nose was so they would keep like a potpourri in there to block the smell of death. I didn't know that. Just thought I would share since i saw the picture and it was my new thing I learned today lol

    Anyway...I am also reading for Fraterfest. I watched the Challenge on Netflix and it was so good and so sad, lots of stuff I didn't know but I do remember watching it in school.

    I have to drop off our ballots this week. Thankfully no one called us, at least not yet.

    Have a great week, AJ! Happy Reading!

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  7. I have read your IG recommendation post AJ! It was interesting LOL And I hope these phone calls will stop now! We (from Europe) will be following the election results with bated breath!

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  8. Ooh, I love space documentaries. Any particularly good ones you'd recommend? The Shining is one of those I've been meaning to check out for years, but I hear such polarizing things about it that I'm always hesitant to actually pick it up. I should really re-read The Hunger Games sometime. I sped through it once when I was a teen and I don't think I've checked it out again since.
    And I hear you in regard to the texts and spam and whatnot--it's endless.

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  9. I haven't watched The Amazing Race in years, but I feel like I want to start again this year - at least someone got to enjoy the world before it all fell apart.

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  10. I've mostly just go on Reddit and IG. I haven't been on FB since early July. I putting my ballot in the mail tmw. I've read a handful of King books but not The Shining. I did read the sequel Dr. Sleep, though. I liked it. Happy reading!

    Natflix&Books

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  11. I remember reading The Shining ages and ages ago... probably won't revisit it any time soon. I voted last week, too, but the calls and texts still keep coming!

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  12. Did you vote by mail or go and stand in line at your polling place? Our absentee ballots haven't arrived yet. If they aren't here by Tuesday I will call the election board for replacements. I am dreading the next two weeks. My Sunday Salon post with a focus on faith

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  13. Oh your summer costume seems like the perfect Halloween costume this year. Go for it!

    As for Fraterfest and social media, I just update the blogpost and add a photo here and there on Instagram. I'm a cat, tweets irritate me.

    I've never read The Shining but still want to. Just not for Fraterfest this year. I don't feel like any book longer than 300 pages at this stage.

    Enjoy your week and happy reading!

    Elza Reads

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  14. OMG! That plague meme is hilarious! Love it. I voted too and I keep getting all the spam...Just trying to enjoy the last few weeks before mayhem ensues...
    I like the space theme! I've heard Away is one to watch as well. I'm also loving the baking shows so yay to reality TV. Those two horror books look great. I've seen that first one around but not the other. I hope you enjoy relaxing and reading this week when you can!

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  15. Yay for voting. The emails and texts and social media just continue. I just need to ignore it and read instead. I hope you enjoy some spooky reads!

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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  16. That plague doctor image is hilarious. My kiddo is obsessed with them and even bought two masks! LOL

    I'm with you on the voting spam. Ugh.

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  17. I liked the first book of The Hunger Games best. Social media is painful these days, I agree.

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  18. I've only ever read the Hunger Games books once, and I honestly can't remember much about the final book! I should probably read it again sometime, but I think I personally liked the first book the best, then the second book, and then wasn't as keen on the third one.

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  19. Which is the best space doc or show? We started For All of Mankind but thought the alternative premise felt bleak. I read the HG trilogy long ago -- and think the first one was the best!

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  20. I think I recently came to the sad conclusion that Stephen King just isn't for me. His books do take forever to get going and I've ended up loving very few of them. I definitely want to reread The Hunger Games soon! Hurray for The Amazing Race!

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  21. Sounds like a pretty great week, yeah that you enjoyed Mockingjay, if not the favourite of the series! Hope next week is good :) Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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  22. that graphic made me laugh so hard. :)

    I just read The Hunger Games for the first time a few years ago and loved 'em.

    I wanted to read The Devouring Gry and never did get to it. Hmmm... October would be a good time to get that one, methinks. I hope it's good!

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  23. Love the Plague meme, my friends 70yr+ mother now has a walking stick when she goes out, not because she needs help walking but because she pokes people who get too close with it LOL

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  24. I'd love to dress like that and see people move as far away from me as they can get! Oh to have a Plague suit! There is something I've always liked about that funny beak mask...

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  25. Your two new reads look great!! Sky in the Deep especially. I need to add that.

    Ugh - I hate when I revisit a book as an adult and find things like that. I love reading and listening to anything about the Stanley Hotel though. I just listened to a podcast on it. :)

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  26. I have never read The Shining, but did enjoy the movie with Jack Nicholson.

    I have also voted and want all the news feeds on FB to stop, too...unless they are from media I agree with, lol.

    Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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  27. Voting news never stops. They will bug you until November 4. lol I'm voting on election day, but it's still annoying. Like, come on! I have a plan, I know who I'm voting for - leave me alone.

    I'm curious about The Devouring Gray. Hope it's a good one!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  28. I voted a few weeks ago and am way tired of political ads and phone calls. We have started to let the answering machine discourage any number we don't recognize. I'm combining rereading with new. But the rereads are from more than ten years ago and seem new to me. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  29. I love when there's lots of good tv to watch! I read Hunger Games and enjoyed it but didn't feel like I wanted more of the world if that makes sense. I will be so excited when this election is done. Between the texts and the messages of social media I'm more then done with it! Hope you have a great week!

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  30. Now that I am living with less than ideal internet, social media is becoming less attractive! I recently listened to an Audible book titled Springfield Confidential, by Mike Reiss. Lots of good insight from a Simpson writer who was there at the beginning.

    www.fromarockyhillside.com

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  31. I keep hearing about the Fraterfest Readathon. It sounds like fun. I'll have to give it a try next year. Hope you have a great week!

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  32. I've been wanting to re-read The Hunger Games series too. The first time I read it, the first book was the main one I liked but I'm curious to see how I feel on a second reading. Have fun with Fraterfest!

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  33. SO Katniss had no intentions of continuing the Hunger Games! She just wanted Coin to think that Katniss was bending to her will, on her side. That is why she looked at Haymitch like "do you trust me?" and he gave her a slight nod. Neither of them ever planned on going through with it, but Katniss would never have earned Coin's trust enough to get close enough to kill her had she not appeared to be on her side. All of that said, I think I like Mockingjay and Catching Fire in equal (very high) amounts, and THG just a little less. I think CF is the most entertaining and engaging, but I think that Mockingjay is the most... important, I suppose. High stakes, etc.

    ALSO that image made me laugh wayyy too hard haha. And my goodness I FEEL you with the emails and calls and texts! ENOUGH. Like I told them 283723 times I will vote for Biden. I have donated every month. Idk what else they want. I tried to volunteer to be a poll worker but no one responded. So I mean. 200+ emails a day (no exaggeration) isn't going to change anything, you already have my vote, so???

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  34. Ooooh, Hunger Games. I haven't read that in ages. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending to be honest. It all felt rather like it had all been for nothing! ANYWAYS, I was still entertained! I've done a lot of rereading this year and I've loved it. 2020 didn't feel like the right year to push for more New to Me than rereads!

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  35. I was apparently in fashion for summer 2020 and never realized it! ;) Thank you for doing your civic duty and voting. I'll be working the election for the same township I've worked on and off for 30 years. And then I think I'll tell them I'M DONE! These last few elections have been so stressful, and depressing. Take care of yourself and enjoy your week :)

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  36. It would be nice if you could press an "I already voted" button and get out of all the ads and calls, right?

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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