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The Sunday Post #307
On The Blog Recently
- I shared my favorite quotes from the YOU book series.
- I listed fun books to read if you want to be happy.
In My Reading Life
Are you ready for an unpopular opinion?
Brace yourself.
Okay. I read Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, and I didn't like it.
*Ducks rotting tomatoes.*
I didn't hate it enough to stop reading it, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. Reading it was surprisingly stressful, actually. This might be a "me" problem and not a "book" problem.
Red, White & Royal Blue is alternate history / romance. It stars a college student, Alex, who just happens to be the son of the US president. While attending a royal wedding, he meets Prince Henry. They start a secret romance that could upend American/British relations and threaten Alex's mother's reelection campaign.
The romance is cute. Alex and Henry are both smart and quirky. Their banter made me laugh out loud a few times. I wanted their relationship to work. I love their friends and siblings, too. It's nice to read about smart, ambitious young people who have giant goals and plans to achieve them.
I enjoyed the "romance" part of the book, but I found the "alternate history" part stressful. This novel is set in an alternate 2020 that is safer and kinder than the real one. There are clear lines between good and evil. The royal family and the White House have lax security. Paparazzi barely seems to exist. Nobody thinks twice about sending sexy emails. It's a great backdrop for a romantic comedy.
Every time I got comfortable in alternate 2020, the author would drop in a reference from real 2020. She'd use the name of a real politician. Or the characters would make a joke about waterboarding. Then my rose-colored glasses would fall off, and I'd be yanked out of the story. I guess politics and rom-coms don't mix for me. I'd rather stick to political nonfiction that explores issues in depth instead of dropping them into a romance as zingy one-liners. That just stressed me out. There was too much real-world politics in this rom-com! And the real-world stuff wasn't handled in real-world ways!
This book wasn't for me, but it has a 4.18 average rating on Goodreads, so it might be smart to ignore my opinion.
In The Rest Of My Life
Five things that made me happy recently:
- Hockey! The Avalanche made it to the Western Conference final for the first time in 20 years. I may have shrieked with happiness.
- Rewatching Stranger Things on Netflix. I forgot how much I like that show.
- I haven't quit my job yet! I'm still doing the park ranger thing. I'm a complete disaster, but maybe it's getting better? I survived Memorial Day weekend in the park. There was a ton of chaos to manage, and I almost got punched in the face by an angry dude, but nobody died. That's a win.
- Park animals! I saw bald eagles and a few big carp fish. The fish were as long as my entire arm. I also came across a really pissed off bull snake.
- So many new books. I don't have much time for reading, but the books keep showing up at my house. They look pretty on the shelf, I guess.
I'm Too Tired To Make Real-Life Friends
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Take care of yourselves and be kind to each other. See you around the blogosphere!
I never had an interest in the Red White Royal book so don't feel like the lone ranger here! Hang in on the job, seeing eagles must be amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou really make that book sound terrible -- and very stupid! But I know I hate that genre so there would be no danger of my reading it. Your review itself was fun to read.
ReplyDeletebest...... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I did like RW&RB, but not as much as others. Maybe you pinpointed what it was. Honestly, I felt the romance was shoved aside at certain times for the author to push the politics, and it really bothered me when it took a back seat at the close of the story. Still, the friendships and romance did shine for me. Kudos for surviving your first holiday weekend as a park ranger.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're sticking it out with the job! I bet holiday weekends are just crazy at national parks.
ReplyDeleteI judged RW&B by its cover and had no interest though it's EVERYWHERE online. Some good marketing going on there. But, after reading your review, it reinforces why I don't need to read it. I enjoy your 5 things making you happy - that's a good think to reflect on and wouldn't hurt all of us to do more often. This is my first week joining the Salon - and I'll be back. terrie @bookshelfjourneys.com
ReplyDeleteAll politics is stressful right now, though it’s looking up here a bit since we kicked out the conservative government two weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure you are doing a great job and are much more capable than you think!
Wishing you a great reading week
You know that I would love being a Park Ranger right? Or maybe not with your behind the scenes but ... Also I get what you mean about politics and romcom. I guess it didn't bother me as much as it did for you as I am not living in the US and didn't make all the connections with real politicians as you did.
ReplyDeleteOoh, interesting about Red White and Blue, I'm wanting to read it, but I'll now be wondering about that when/if I get to it. I do always hate when a book has so much hype though, and I read it and am disappointed. Hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeletehttps://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2022/06/05/weekly-wrap-up-70-june-5th-2022/
Go Avalanche!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so cool that you are a park ranger!!! And I am glad you didn't get punched in the face too.
ReplyDeleteI almost read Red White and Blue, but I got sidetracked when the author of a very, very similar book came to our town to speak and I ended up not wanting to read another book with the same themes. I'm glad now that I passed.
ReplyDeleteHanging in there with your park ranger job! If you can make it past Memorial Day, maybe you are past the roughest part? It's still my dream job, despite hearing you almost got punched in the face.
Stranger Things is a trip. I just finished it and while I thought the episodes were too long, I like how it ended. Or sort of ended since I guess more are coming...
ReplyDeleteBeing a park ranger sounds TOUGH, and I imagine Memorial Day in the parks is crazy, but kudos to you for sticking it out. I hope things go well.
Yay for the Avs! That feels weird saying that as a Red Wings fan, but hey... at least one of our teams doesn't suck lol.
Almost punched in the face?! Good Lord, some people are crazy!
ReplyDeleteCongrats making it through a holiday weekend at the park. In Minnesota when I lived on Lake Minnetonka we had both bald eagles and otters in our backyard. I worried about our 15 pound dog but loved having the eagles there. The otters were adorable.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
A pissed off bull snake!! And what in the world was the guy so angry about? Chill out, dude you're on a lovely vacation or whatever!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I love that meme. It's so true. I totally feel like the world's going to end soon. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteMy Sunday Post
I loved your favorite quotes from the You series. I still need to read the third book! I'm rewatching Stranger Things too, almost done with season 3, then on to the new one. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI still have this on my shelf, but stil want to read it. I agree, I prefer politics to be out of my romcoms!
ReplyDeleteNot getting punched in the face on Memorial Day weekend is definitely a win. I'm sure you're getting better by the day. Being a park ranger is a tough job so I imagine that's a stiff learning curve. I don't think Red White and Royal Blue would be for me and agree that politics and rom-com are most likely not a great mix. Have a wonderful week and avoid the pissed off snakes!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm also at the age that when I wake up and want to check if the world is still here (like your dog in the top meme), I have to put on my glasses.
ReplyDeleteThe snake is why I could never be a park ranger. No. No snakes. Ever. Please. Glad you're still enjoying your job!
ReplyDeleteI've had bad luck picking rom-coms lately, as some I've read fell flat for me (The Ex Talk, The Roughest Draft, Must Love Books). The comedy has to be there in equal parts to the romance. I want a rom-com to make me laugh. It can have some serious themes but they have to be handled with a light touch or it bumps it out of the romantic comedy genre for me, too.
ReplyDeleteI forgot you had become a park ranger! I've got to get better about keeping up with my favorite blogs.
Now I don't have to even think about reading Red, White and Royal Blue! I don't think I would like it either!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week and your other books!
Snakes! I prefer glass and distance between me and snakes. I think I'd have the same problem with Red, White and Royal Blue. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteOh no!! I'm so sorry it's been tough at your job, but yay for not getting punched in the face, definitely a win here. Sending you all the love and strength and hoping that this week will be good to you! <3
ReplyDeleteI had a more romantic view of the park ranger job, lol!
ReplyDeleteYou're gonna do GREAT as a park ranger, they hired you!
ReplyDeleteThe more space I have from RWRB, the more I realize I didn't love it either.
The carp must have been really cool to see. The dude that almost punched you in the face must be a miserable guy in a miserable life. Oh, and the snake! I wouldn't want to see a bull snake angry, but they are gorgeous creatures.
ReplyDeleteI loved Red, White, and Royal Blue but you're not the only one who didn't care for it or just downright hated it, so it's all good. LOL I do wish her version of events actually happened. :)
ReplyDeleteLauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net
Ugh! Angry dudes disrupting the peace. My daughter is considering being a park ranger. My son was but has really enjoyed working in the lab, so I think he's about to pursue his masters degree and keep the park ranger in his back pocket for retirement one day.
ReplyDeleteWow! A pissed off bull snake! What did you do to get away?
ReplyDeleteI love the snippets of ranger life! And, seriously, why would someone ever want to hit a ranger (or anyone for that matter)?!
ReplyDelete