Sunday, December 6, 2020

The Sunday Post #252

 

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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 #252

 

 

 

 

Public Service Announcement

 

I love the holidays and want to spread holiday cheer. (We could all use some cheer in 2020, right?) I’m giving away a $100 Book Depository shopping spree. The winner can choose whichever books they want! The giveaway is open internationally, as long as Book Depository ships to your country for free.

Click here to enter the giveaway. Please enter! Entering is good for my self-esteem.




 

 

On The Blog Last Week

 

 

 

 

 

On The Blog This Week

 

  • On Tuesday I share some books with winter vibes.
  • On Wednesday I have my most-anticipated releases for December.

 

 

 

 

In My Reading Life

 

I finished Nonfiction November by completing American Radical: Inside The World Of An Undercover Muslim FBI Agent by Tamer Elnoury. It’s a memoir. The author is an Egyptian-American Muslim immigrant who speaks Arabic and was working as a detective. Then 9/11 happened, and the FBI recruited him to infiltrate a terrorist group. Scary stuff. This book is intense, like a real-life thriller novel. I love the insights into how undercover operations work. They’re exhausting for the detectives who have to stay in character for months, and there’s a ton of legal red tape, especially when law enforcement agencies from different countries are involved. Things get messy. I also liked learning about Islamic terrorist groups. They’re messy too. The terrorists come from different parts of the world and have different morals and grievances. It’s hard to get everybody to agree on a murder plan. The best part of the book is when the author talks about himself. He’s a Muslim who spends months with extremists who use his religion as an excuse to hurt people. He’s always tempted to “save” them or talk sense into them, but he can’t because he’ll blow his cover and possibly be killed. It’s exhausting for him and fascinating to read about. My only problem with the book is that I wanted more history. I wanted to know why the terrorist groups exist and what draws people to them. We don’t get much background information because the memoir is very action-focused. If you like thrillers, you’ll probably love it.

 


Now, I’m back to reading fiction. I’m reading Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon. It’s a slow-paced classic, so it took me a while to get invested in the plot, but now I’m hooked. It’s still taking forever to read, though! It’s about a lawyer who’s investigating his friend’s disappearance. I’m also reading Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. This is a sequel to The Shining. So far, I’m enjoying it immensely. It’s creepy. There are vampires. I’m eager to find out what happens next.





 

In The Rest Of My Life

 

Five things that made me happy last week:

 

  1. Thanksgiving leftovers. I’m pretty sure I could eat turkey sandwiches every day for the rest of my life. I love them.
  2. Speaking of food, my mom made snickerdoodle cookies. And I ate the cookies. These last two weeks have not been good for my diet.
  3. Still speaking of food, holiday baking shows on the food channel. Those bakers have more patience than me. I don’t make food pretty. I just slop it on a plate and eat it. Also, my favorite contestant won The Great British Bake Off! My favorites never win.
  4. I’ve now done yoga every day for 10 months. I’m still terrible at it. I still have flabby noodle arms. I should probably do more yoga to cancel out all the calories I’ve been eating.
  5. I’m giving away a book shopping spree! Thank you to everybody who has already entered. Please enter, if you haven’t. Let me give you things!




 

 

If You Like Seeing Me Blather About Food . . .

 

 

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





22 comments:

  1. I'm rather awed how organised you are for Christmas - I haven't seriously started my Christmas shopping and as for cards... nope. We're hoping to decorate the house next Sunday with the grandchildren, who like joining in and it's become a bit of a ritual. Have a great week and more turkey sandwiches:))

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  2. Today, I am doing my cards. I swear. For real. And I am definitely entering your giveaway! :)

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  3. That meme had me rolling on the floor. Hilarious! This is not the diet season. Enjoy and start again in the new year. I am sure you have gotten stronger, but just don't see it. I bet the yoga has been great for you.

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  4. Thanksgiving leftovers are the BEST!!! I swear, they are better therapy than anything else.

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  5. I'll be reading Lady Audley's secret next year... in a few months :)

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  6. We had Thanksgiving at my mom's house, but my husband cooked a small full Thanksgiving dinner just for the two of us the next day JUST for the leftovers!

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  7. Well I am still doing yoga too and my favorite never wins either so, cheer for this season AJ! LOL

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  8. We decided to add turkey to everything we normally eat until we run through most of our turkey stock in the freezer. So far we have had Turkey Tortellini Soup (fabulous) and Turkey Stew (really prefer beef, honestly).

    We are barely into Great British Baking Show. I haven't even had time to pick a favorite.

    I'm back into reading fiction again, too. I still have a few nonfiction books on hand leftover from Nonfiction November, though. Not sure what I'm reading next.

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  9. I was so glad Peter won the GBBS, it was well deserved. I’m not a pretty baker either, but it always tastes good. I’m making caramel tarts this week for a Christmas party (Disclaimer: we are Covid free here)

    Wishing you a great reading week, I’m still hoping I’ll win your giveaway!

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  10. Leftovers are the best. I had a ton of them and honestly- it was glorious. Green bean casserole too- I actually think it tastes BETTER after a day or two in the refrigerator. Although I may be a little leftover'd out now ha!

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  11. Mmm food. We didn't do anything special but I'm thinking of making ginger cookies tonight as they are my daughter's favorites. I'm reading a nonfiction book now about people who go missing in national parks but I didn't read any nonfiction in November. In December I tend to read more what I want and don't take as many ARCS and I'm generally trying to take a few less blog tours.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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  12. wow, thanks for your generous gift! This nonfiction sounds good.
    Happy reading this week!

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  13. I wish I liked sandwiches more, my leftovers would got a lot further!

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  14. I really enjoyed Doctor Sleep (even though I never read The Shining -- I know, I know). I was sad when leftovers ran out. Happy reading!

    Natflix&Books

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  15. I always love your favorite things. Enjoy, and have a great reading week. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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  16. Smiling at your love of turkey left overs in sandwiches. That undercover book sounds really interesting, hate to have to do a job like that. Also smiled at a giveaway entry makes you feel good! Take care.

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  17. I love Thanksgiving leftovers too. I'm always tempted to cook a bigger turkey than makes sense for two people just to have leftovers. Somehow deli turkey isn't the same. Christmas baking is really hard on the diet. I'm trying to be sensible. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  18. I'm loving all the holiday baking show. I'm not a great baker, but it's fun to watch. And oh boy, I really do need to exercise more or find healthier things to eat. Covid makes it though in some ways, and now it's the holidays! Good job on doing yoga though!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  19. As much as I love yoga, it does not burn a lot of calories. Lol. Every time I decide to do it, I have to go for a walk or do something else too that same day to supplement it. I'm so happy about GBBO too! It was a great season and I was happy with the results.

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  20. I love your gratitude list idea! I have been holding to the copy of Doctor sleep forever now, but haven't found the time to read. I am definitely joining your giveaway!

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  21. Congrats on your yoga! I did it every day till around September, when I took a break, and I haven't been able to restart it since. Hoping the holidays will work to reset myself a bit.
    I always think snickerdoodles sound a lot more exciting than they look (though I've never actually had one)

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  22. We just discovered the Great British Baking Show within the past week and now we're practically watching an episode every night! We're watching the holiday versions right now.

    The mom of one of my friends makes THE BEST snickerdoodle cookies. She makes them for us every time we're home. I could really use some right about now but home isn't in the cards for a while.

    I enjoyed Doctor Sleep and I hope you do! American Radical sounds really interesting. I don't have the temperament to go undercover so I admire those who have that kind of courage.

    Thanks for the giveaway! That's incredibly generous! Enjoy your week!

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