Sunday News #29

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, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

I’m feeling a couple of emotions today. First, I’m feeling very anxious because my sweet 19-year-old Dax has a severe tooth infection. She’s scheduled to have it pulled on Wednesday. They have to put her under and we’re worried about her kidneys. Hopefully, she’ll come out of it just fine and start feeling a lot better.

I’m also feeling exhausted. It’s been a busy week full of unpacking, organizing, and other stuff. Fortunately, Corey and I are almost done. Unpacking’s taking as long as it has because we’re getting rid of things we don’t want/need anymore and it’s a time consuming project.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

Reading

I actually read a little bit this week. I started THE DRESS OF VIOLET TAFFETA by Tessa Arlen. I’m not far enough into it to decide what I think yet, but I think I’ll enjoy it.

Listening

I’ve been listening to my “Faves” playlist this week. It’s been fun getting back to some of my favorite songs since I’ve specifically been listening to 80s music the past few weeks.

I love songs written by The Beatles AND I don’t like most of the original versions that are actually sung by them. Blasphemy, I know. I love The Beatles’ version of “Come Together,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Strawberry Fields.” For every other song they wrote, I like cover versions better.

I recently added a cover of “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da” to my playlist and I really love it. It’s by Gabriela Bee.

Watching

Corey and I finished STRANGER THINGS! Holy crap! Season 5’s going to be a doozy.

We also finally watched the new Scream movie that came out in January. It’s also entitled SCREAM, but it’s really SCREAM 5. I love the franchise and this one was a fun addition. View Spoiler »

Loving

Back in May, I participated in Wyrd & Wonder. I signed up for the giveaways and won a couple. One of the things I won was a handmade pride friendship bracelet. It was made by @maelia_cybele on Instagram. She let me pick the pattern and shipped it all the way from France. Anyway, I got it in the mail yesterday and I absolutely love it.

Wanting Anticipating

I got everything worked out with my primary care physician and LASIK surgeon. I’m now anticipating the surgery, which is set for this coming Tuesday.

Needing Hoping

I hope Dax’s and my surgery go well. I also hope the result of my LASIK will be everything I want it to be.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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Because of Harry Potter

I understand why some Harry Potter fans are distancing themselves from the fandom. It saddens me because I Harry Potter so much.

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.

I’ve said the following many times. I’ve posted it on Instagram and previous iterations of my blog. It’s very rare I don’t think about Harry Potter around July 31.  I don’t always say anything, except maybe in passing, but usually I think about the books that changed my life. I normally say Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT got me reading and that’s true only to a point. TWILIGHT got me reading voraciously; I wouldn’t have read TWILIGHT if Harry Potter hadn’t opened my mind to the possibility that reading could be fun. Harry Potter paved the way.

It’s because of Harry Potter I joined the Twilight Lexicon and met an awesome group of friends, some of whom I’ll be friends with my entire life. It’s because of Harry Potter I have this blog and I’ve met all my blogger friends. It’s because of Harry Potter I’m part of my IRL book club. It’s because of Harry Potter I’m friends with some of my favorite people. It’s because of Harry Potter I’ve met some of the most awesome authors around the world. And, it’s because of Harry Potter I can pick up a book and immerse myself in its story.

Happy birthday tomorrow, Harry!

What book or series catapulted your love of reading?

P.S. I know some may not agree with my viewpoint. I’m sorry if my posts about Harry Potter trigger you. It’s not my intention AND if you prefer to stop following my blog, I understand.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.


Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
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Sunday News #28

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, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

I’m feeling better than I did last week. I’m still feeling a little depressed, but not as bad as I was feeling.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

Reading

I haven’t read at all this week. I’ve been too busy going to the chiropractor, OBGYN, the vet for one of my cats, unpacking and organizing, and going back and forth to IKEA.

This week, I’m going to try to do some reading. I have A DRESS OF VIOLET TAFFETA by Tessa Arlen, MISS ALDRIDGE REGRETS by Louise Hare, and THOUSAND MILES by Bridget Morrissey out from the library.

Listening

I’m still listening to my 80s playlist while I’m in the car. As I was searching for songs to add to my playlist, I found a song that I used to love to listen when I was a teen. It’s “El Shaddai” by Amy Grant. It’s one of my favorites.

Watching

Corey and I are still watching ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. I wish we’d not started watching until season 2 was completely aired. It’s so frustrating to wait between each episode.

We started watching the new season of American Horror Stories and that first episode was SOOOOO creepy.

We’re up to season 4 episode 4 of STRANGER THINGS. Holy crap!

Loving

I love Corey so much. Friday was a hard day. I found out that my LASIK has to be postponed because my primary care physician’s office isn’t communicating with my surgeon. I tried to help by going to his office and see if I could get the info they need to send my surgeon. The problem is that today’s a holiday in Utah so everyone left early on Friday. (To be honest, it’s not my doctor’s fault. The office staff are difficult to work with.) Anyway, Corey took me to Baskin Robbins so I could get some pink bubblegum ice cream. That’s love.

Wanting

I want to get things worked out with my doctors so my LASIK doesn’t get postpone anymore than it already has.

Needing

I need to rest today. I’m pooped from everything that’s been going on this week.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag: 2022

The Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag was created by two vloggers: Read Like Wildfire (no link because I can’t find the vlog) and Earl Grey Books back in 2012.

I first saw this over on Lindsey Reads and then I started seeing it on more blogs. I decided I wanted to participate; it was just a matter of timing.

Best Book I’ve Read So Far in 2022

This is easy. My favorite book so far this year is THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig. I had a very transformative reading experience with this book.

Best Sequel I’ve Read So Far in 2022

The only series I’ve read so far this year is THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by CS Lewis as part of the Narniathon. My favorite sequel in that series is THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER. I loved reading the adventures of Caspian, Edmund, Lucy, Reepicheep, and Eustace. I think all the adventures they have on all the different islands are interesting.

New Release in 2022 I Haven’t Read Yet and Still Want to

I really want to read DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS by Sue Lynn Tan. I love Southeast Asian folklore. I’m most familiar with Japanese folklore. However, Korean and Chinese folklore are very similar to Japanese folklore so I really look forward to reading this book.

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of 2022

I’m so excited for A FIRE ENDLESS by Rebecca Ross. It’s the second and final book in her ELEMENTS OF CADENCE duology. I adored A RIVER ENCHANTED and the ending gutted me. I need to see how everything plays out in the end.

Biggest Disappointment So Far in 2022

The biggest disappointment for me so far is TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han. I was so looking forward to it and I had heard such great things. I hated the love triangle as it’s my least favorite trope, and I hated the non-ending. I like the movie much better.

Biggest Surprise So Far in 2022

The biggest surprise for so far is ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman. I normally am not a fan of literary fiction. This book was so charming that I couldn’t help loving it. It was my favorite read of 2022 until I read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY.

Favorite New Author So Far in 2022 (Debut or New-to-Me)

This is such a hard one to answer because I’ve read and loved a lot of new-to-me authors this year so far. However, for the sake of choosing an author, I’m going to choose Rebecca Ross. A RIVER ENCHANTED made me want to read other books written by Ross.

Newest Fictional Crush

I’d have to say Thomas Cresswell from STALKING JACK THE RIPPER by Kerri Maniscalco. He’s tall, dark, handsome, and British. He’s also funny and I loved his banter with Audrey Rose.

Newest Favorite Character

My newest favorite character is Simon Spier from SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli. I related with him, I felt for him, and I just loved his personality.

Book that Made Me Cry

The story of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY is so poignant and profound. I cried so much while reading it. I felt seen and like this book was written for me.

Book that Made Me Happy

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood made me feel so happy while reading it that I felt giddy. Hazelwood is a master as writing banter and sexual tension.

Favorite Book-to-Film Adaptation I’ve Seen So Far in 2022

The adaptation for TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE is, by far, my favorite adaptation I’ve watched this year. It fixed everything I disliked about the book. I also loved the actors they chose for the roles of the characters.

Favorite Review I’ve Written So Far in 2022

I think my favorite review I’ve written so far in 2022 is the one I wrote for STALKING JACK THE RIPPER. I managed to write the review spoiler-free which was really hard to do.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought (or Received) So Far in 2022

I’d say THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. Matt Haig has a beautiful way of telling such a poignant story. The words he chooses and the imagery of what’s happening were vividly in my mind.

Which Books Do I Need to Read by the End of 2022

I don’t know if I need to read any book by the end of 2022. However, I want to read many. I’d like to reread HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS to finish my rereading of the series. I want to read A FIRE ENDLESS and THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth. Everything else is just kind of whatever I’m in the mood for.

What about you? If you were to answer any of these prompts, which books would you choose? 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.

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Top Ten Tuesday #27

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.
Book I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

I totally spaced that today’s Tuesday so I’m posting this a little late. Better late than never, right?

This week’s prompt is a freebie and I’ve decided to go with a topic that I missed participating in. The prompt I chose is “Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time.” Here are my top ten books:

Forbidden Romance
Forced Proximity
Friends to Lovers

I absolutely adore all of these books. I loved the feeling of wonder, excitement, and anticipation that I felt when I read them the first time. I’ve reread all of them except two and there’s still a sense of excitement and anticipation, and it’s not as strong as when I read them the first time. I’ll still reread them, though, because I love the stories and the characters.

What about you? What books do you wish you could read again for the first time? 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.

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