Sunday Post (12) / It's Monday What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. I will also be sharing my It's Monday post on Twitter #IMWAYR.

I had a relatively quiet week. The weather warmed up to the 90s for the first time this summer and there were even a few sunny days along with all the rain. We did have a tornado warning while I was at work so we had to get all the library patrons to go down to the basement and we hung out there for half an hour till the all clear. We had a couple of those last year too but never any tornadoes or damage. My parents had some stormy weather that uprooted one of their apple trees (a small one) and their creek flooded but there was no damage to their house thankfully and the water receded quickly.

So the summer reading program is over and I feel kind of blah at the moment. I have some things to catch up on but I kind of miss planning programs. Next month is the back to school clothing swap for kids and I want to give away a couple of backpacks filled with school supplies. I am trying to decide if I want to go with cheaper character backpacks (one for a boy and one for a girl) that I think would be more popular with the kids or more expensive ones from L.L. Bean that have a lifetime warranty that parents would go for. I was looking at the local school supply lists and I was surprised at how much the kids have to bring now not just for themselves but to share with the classroom. Each kid has to buy their own set of headphones too. We used old fashioned headphones that belonged to the school in the good old days!

This coming weekend I will be going to visit my sister and finally meet my furry niece Jordy. I have to go shopping for a onesie and a dog toy in the meantime (she has a scratch that she keeps biting so the vet wants my sister to put her in a shirt).

 

I have a new onesie today. It says little sister. I wonder when I won't have to wear a onesie anymore..

A photo posted by Raji Parker and Jordy (@raji_parker.and.jordy) on Jul 10, 2015 at 6:17pm PDT

 

Last week on the blog:

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (review)

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan (review)

Books read:

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

This is the first book by Glines that I've read. I believe she writes primarily New Adult fiction but this is a novel for teens. It kind of reminded me of All Lined Up by Cora Carmack. I really liked it (not too heavy on the football stuff) and plan to read the next book in the series.

Joyride by Anna Banks

Joyride features a forbidden interracial romance and the issue of illegal immigration but it was surprisingly lighthearted at times too especially with the pranks that Arden plays. I thought it was pretty good.

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

The concept of this one reminded me a little of One Day (the film--I haven't read the book) but with a happier ending. It covers years in the life of Andrew and Rachel from the time they first meet in a hospital as little kids to their adult years.

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is a Pakistani American teen who gets superpowers and becomes the new Ms. Marvel while also trying to please her traditional Muslim parents. I liked this graphic novel and not just because it features diversity in its superhero.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

This is a selection for my afternoon book discussion group. The two main characters were once friends as kids until an incident destroyed their friendship. Larry was accused of murdering a girl in his class when they went on a date and she disappeared. They never found a body so he wasn't charged but the town considers him guilty and treats him as such. In present day, Silas is investigating the disappearance of another girl while the town is all too ready to believe Larry is involved. Then Larry is found shot. I ended up liking this book though it took a while to get into. The writing style is very descriptive and atmospheric and the narrative jumps back and forth in time.

Currently reading:

A School for Brides by Patrice Kindl

This is a companion novel to Keeping the Castle but it can be read as a standalone. The main characters are students at a finishing school for girls aimed at getting them married off but the problem is that there aren't any marriageable men in the area.The book has a lighthearted tone and I like it so far.

What I might read next:

Home to Woefield by Susan Juby

This is the book my evening book group is reading for July. I thought it would be a fun book but I read a little of it and find the protagonist annoying. Oh, boy. Hopefully it will get better.

Ana of California by Andi Teran

I hope to read this soon. I have read some really positive reviews. I do know that it isn't a direct retelling of Anne of Green Gables and that it is a little darker so I'll keep that in mind when I read.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I have heard mixed things about this book but I am going to read it with an open mind. From what I've read about it, this isn't a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird but rather her original version of the story that the publisher told her to rework and write about the young Scout. That could explain the differences I've heard about in characters and things that happened.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson (reread)

I loved this book when I first read it but never wrote a review. Shame on me! Now the sequel has been released and I want to reread this before I pick up The Heart of Betrayal.

The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig

This sounds different from Willig's other books and I like the time period it's set in. I am not always a fan of revenge novels but I am going to give this a try.

New books received:

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (library book)

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (library book)

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary Pearson (library book)

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder (library book)

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev (for review)

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner (for review)