Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Books on my Amazon Wishlist
This week’s prompt seems very strange to me. (I didn’t realize this was a biannual TTT tradition or that it coincided with Giftmas in July when I first wrote this post.)
Sure, I have books on my Amazon wishlist and I don’t expect anyone to buy a book for me. I created my wishlist for my husband and friends so they can get me books I want for my birthday or Christmas. Otherwise, it seems a little bit forward to ask my blog readers to buy me a book for a TTT prompt. Am I being weird about this?
For the sake of participating in the prompt, here are the top ten books on my Amazon wishlist (no link to my wishlist):
Supernatural Lover
What about you? Which books made your list this week? Do we have any in common?
I learned in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) that life is full of dialectics, or two opposing truths. In this case, the two opposing truths are: 1) I don’t agree with JKR’s stance regarding trans people, and 2) I still love Harry Potter.
Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, andshowcase books and other things.
Feeling
Corey, his dad, and I are all finally feeling well enough to be considered “over” COVID. We each have some lingering symptoms, though. Corey and his dad still have the cough, and I still have a headache and some brain fog. Corey and I also have the fatigue everyone talks about.
My brain fog and headache may or may not be COVID related. Just before I got COVID, I started weaning myself off one of my medications (with my doctor’s help, of course). I’ve suffered cognitive decline in the last few years because of this medication and I miss the ability to memorize without effort. Coming off this medication, even though I’m doing it slowly, is causing some not so fun withdrawal symptoms (other than the headache and brain fog). Hopefully, they won’t last too long.
I finally read and finished a book this week. I read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig and it was the most profound reading experience I’ve ever had. I’m going to start SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli today if I can actually concentrate on reading.
Listening
This week, I’ve had “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger stuck in my head. I have no idea why, but the chorus just keeps in my head over and over. I’ve tried listening to other music to get this song out of my head to no avail.
Watching
Corey and I watched THE CARD COUNTER on HBO Max. It was a lot different than either of us expected. It was really boring and a little bit weird. I wish we decided not to finish it, but Corey enjoyed it up until the end. I thought Oscar Isaac did a great job in the role. It’s not surprising, though, because he’s an amazing actor.
Loving
I love not being sick anymore.
Wanting
I want to sell our place without any major difficulties. I’m still a little anxious something’s going to screw up the deal.
On Friday, the appraiser came and, as far as we know, that went well. We also had the inspection yesterday. There are a few minor things that need to be fixed. We’re going to negotiate allowances so the buyers can fix these things when they take possession of our place. Hopefully, both of us will be happy.
We currently have 11 days until we close and 13 days until we move. I hope it all goes smoothly.
Needing
I need my brain to clear. Right now, I can’t concentrate on much. It took several sittings to write this post. I’m afraid I’m not going to get caught up in my class from being sick last week because of this medication withdrawal.
There's a trigger warning for this book. See Trigger Warning section at end of review for more details.
Goodreads Synopsis
Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices... Would you have done anything different if you had the chance to undo your regrets?
My Thoughts
THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY was my IRL book club’s pick for June. I was really excited to read it as I’ve heard a lot of great things. After reading it, I can tell you that I wasn’t disappointed and I hope I can do it justice with my spoiler-free review.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect while reading THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. It ended up being one of the most profound reading experiences I’ve ever had. It spoke to me like no other book has. I felt seen as someone who has struggled with severe depression, suicidal ideation, and crippling regret for most of my adult life.
But there is no life where you can be in a state of sheer happiness for ever. And imagining there is just breeds more unhappiness in the life you’re in.
I understood Nora, all the emotions she felt, especially the loneliness and despair. I understood her suicidal ideation and urges. AND, even when she didn’t, I knew her depression and loneliness were lying to her–telling her she wasn’t needed, no one wanted her around, she let everyone down, or they’d all be better off without her.
I’m convinced that Nora’s journey through THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY was the only way she could’ve learned what and come to the conclusions she did. After all, one of the lessons the librarian wanted her to realize was, “The only way to learn is to live.”
Haig beautifully illustrates what Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) did in helping me want to build a life worth living. Its message that it’s not too late to start living life is one I think we all need to be reminded of once in a while.
Have you read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY? If so, what did you think?
Trigger Warning
There is a trigger warning for suicide, suicidal ideation, and loss of a pet.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Favorite Animals from Books
This week’s prompt is “Books I Wish Had an Epilogue.” My brain isn’t working like it should because I’ve been down with COVID for the past week. Not fun. And, I honestly don’t remember which books have an epilogue or not. I’ve decided to do a past topic that I didn’t participate in instead. The topic is “Favorite Animals from Books.” Here are my top ten nine favorite animals/creatures from books:
Aslan
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Pan
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Dobby
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Hedwig
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Solovey
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
Deb Grib
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
Reepicheep
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Wilbur
CHARLOTTE’S WEB by EB White
Ivan
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate
What about you? Which books made your list this week? Do we have any in common?
I learned in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) that life is full of dialectics, or two opposing truths. In this case, the two opposing truths are: 1) I don’t agree with JKR’s stance regarding trans people, and 2) I still love Harry Potter.
Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, andshowcase books and other things.
Feeling
Well … after two and a half years of extreme carefulness, two vaccines, and a booster, I finally got COVID this week. As you can imagine, I’m not feeling all that good right now. Although, I am feeling marginally better than I was.
Corey and I went to his parents’ last Sunday for his mom’s birthday. Everyone was in good health, or at least we all thought we were. About 30 minutes before left for home, his dad started complaining about his throat feeling weird. That might tip people off that he was coming down with something, but Corey’s dad has throat issues. He actually had his uvula removed a while ago because his throat kept closing. (They know it’s partially due to allergies, but they’re not sure exactly what the cause is.) Because of this, we were just worried about his airway. But, I digress…
On Tuesday late morning, Corey got a text letting him know his dad tested positive for COVID. I took an at-home test right away and my first test was negative. I was falsely excited because I didn’t think I was going to get sick. … Fast forward a few hours and my throat, just like my father-in-law’s, started feeling scratchy and I knew my test lied to me.
By Wednesday evening, I was feeling achy, I was coughing, my throat was sore because of the coughing and the scratchiness from earlier, and I was over-heating. In the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, I woke up with a fever, which peaked at 103° F (39.4° C). During my high fever hours, I also had the chills with body shakes. I couldn’t get warm, not even with a heating blanket. At that point, I took another at-home test just to make sure. The positive line showed up so quickly and so darkly; there was no question.
Thursday has been the worst so far. At first, I felt like I had a really bad flu. As the day went on, more and more symptoms showed up:
Over-heating with sweating (replaced the chills with body shakes)
Headache
Hoarse voice from coughing
Runny nose
Sinus congestion
Weird taste issues (a couple of things didn’t taste like they should)
Ears ringing
Snoughing (sneezing and coughing)
Various gastrointestinal symptoms
Extreme fatigue
Each day since Thursday has been slightly easier. (Although on Friday night, I did start feeling nauseated and my gastrointestinal symptoms worsened for about 12 hours.) As of writing this post on Saturday evening, I’m still feeling pretty lousy. I do see a glimmer of hope, though, which is more than I can say I felt a couple of days ago.
Corey also has COVID, which he got from me. We isolated from each other as much as possible; he’s just been such an awesome caregiver that he finally succumbed. Fortunately, his symptoms are milder than mine have been. He’s sneezy and congested. He also has a cough and gastrointestinal symptoms that are more severe than mine are. Hopefully, his symptoms don’t get any worse.
I didn’t read much this week considering. As I’ve stated in past posts, I have a hard time reading when I’m sick, especially when I feel as awful as I have this week. I just can’t concentrate on what I’m reading. Hopefully once I’m over COVID, my reading will jump back up to pre-May stats.
Listening
I didn’t really listen to any music this week, except for the music in the TV shows and and movies I’ve been watching while I’ve been sick. I’ve also been playing a lot of Animal Crossing (ACNH) this week. A. Lot. I mean like 20 hours. (Ever since the pandemic started it’s been my go-to when I’ve been sick or anxious because I don’t really have to think.) In honor of all the ACNH I’ve been playing, here’s my favorite song from the game, “Stale Cupcakes.”
Watching
Corey and I watched the first episode of MS. MARVEL and we both loved it. We love the style. It reminds us of SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE because of all the comic and drawing asides. I’m really excited to see where this story goes since I know nothing about Ms. Marvel.
I also started the new season of MASTERCHEF. This season’s going to be exciting because they’re bringing back all the all-stars from past seasons. I was really excited to see that some of the contestants actually had a chance to go to culinary school before this season.
We also watched one of our favorite movies that we have seen for years. DICK, the 1999 comedy with Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams about the mysterious identity of Deep Throat. This was before his true identity was revealed, anyway. It’s such a fun movie. It’s on Hulu if you’re interested in watching it.
Loving
I love Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray. Without it, I wouldn’t have survived the past few nights. It clears my sinuses long enough that I can lay down and sleep for five or so hours. (I’m not as clogged up when I’m sitting upright, but I can’t sleep very well without laying down in my bed.)
Wanting
I want to feel better now, LOL. Yes, of course it’s because I feel lousy and I want to know what it’s like to feel well again. It’s also because I don’t want to get too far behind in my class. As some of you know, I got really sick last semester and got behind in this class and now I’m taking it again. I want to avoid taking it a third time if I can.
Needing
I also need both Corey and me to be COVID free by this coming Thursday because we’re under contract (), our closing date is set for June 30, and there’s a lot to do between now and then. I don’t want COVID to cause the deal to fall through.
Title: The Midnight Library
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