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

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.

The Sunday Post #290

On The Blog Last Week

• On Tuesday, I showed off my most-anticipated young adult book releases for 2022.

On The Blog This Week

• On Tuesday, I talk about my most-anticipated middle grade releases for 2022.

In My Reading Life

Last week, I read The Chrysalis by Brendan Deneen. I was given this book as a gift, and it doesn't have great reviews, so was fully prepared for it to suck. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I didn't hate it. Is it the best horror novel ever? Definitely not, but I flew through it because it's fast-paced and entertaining.

It's about a man and his pregnant wife who are searching for a cheap place to live. Since they don't have much money, they have to buy a creepy old murder house (of course). The husband discovers a giant chrysalis on the basement wall. He becomes obsessed with petting, feeding, and licking (yes, licking) it. As you'd expect, bad stuff happens. Here's the moral of the story: If you find a slime-covered chrysalis in the basement of a creepy old murder house, keep your mouth to yourself! Nothing good will come from tasting it.

This book is a bit shallow and cliche. It doesn't have great writing or great character development. I could not stop reading it, though! I always wanted to know what would happen next. Would the couple survive? What was in the chrysalis? I had to know!

(Maybe this book is a chrysalis? Maybe I accidentally licked it and got addicted to bad horror?)

Anyway, if you want something fun and uncomplicated to read, this book is for you.

Then I read Picnic At Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. This one is an Australian classic. It's set in 1900 and follows the teachers and students at a girls' college. Twenty of the girls and their teachers go for a picnic at Hanging Rock (as you could probably guess). A few girls and one teacher decide to climb the rock. They vanish. There's chaos and mystery.

I love the characters and how quickly the action starts. The author doesn't ramble. We're immediately dropped into a wild setting and introduced to a big cast of characters. For a classic, the pacing moves pretty quickly. I was surprised that the mystery isn't the main focus of the book. It's a starting point. It's the first domino that falls. The story shows how a tragedy can ripple through a community and spark other tragedies.

I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning and end of the book. I got bogged down in the middle. It suddenly shifts from a mystery to an almost-somewhat-romance. I was impatient to get back to the mystery and didn't want to watch rich teenagers float around on their private lake. That's a "me" problem. If you don't mind almost-somewhat-romances, you might like the detour.

Right now, I'm reading The Diviners by Libba Bray. So far, I love it! This is exactly the type of historical fantasy I've been searching for. It's atmospheric and full of 1920s slang and quirky characters. It's very slow, though. I can't tell you what it's about because I don't think the plot has started yet. I don't know what it's about. Supernatural murders, I think?

In The Rest Of My Life

Five things that made me happy last week:

1. I went to the eye doctor for the first time in years. Eye doctors are always impressed by how terrible my vision is. It kind of feels like an accomplishment at this point. Don't read books, kids. They'll ruin your eyes. I'm excited to get new glasses.
2. It was my sister's birthday. Carrot cake happened.
3. New books! (Don't tell the old books that I haven't read yet.)
4. Catching up on the "Best Books Of 2021" lists that I saved for later. This is why I acquired new books. You book people are a bad influence!
5. I'm still obsessed with TikTok. I've been watching videos about art and painting. How are people so talented? Why am I not one of those talented people?

Please Lick My Social Media Chrysalis. Nothing Bad Ever Happens On Social Media.

Pinterest || Bloglovin’ || Goodreads || Instagram || Twitter || Donate || Wish List || TikTok

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