Sunday, January 3, 2016

Sunday Post (35) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading



The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s 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 now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Happy 2016! I hope your new year is off to a great start. On New Year's Eve I got together with my book group in the afternoon and we had lunch and watched A Walk in the Woods. I thought the movie was funny though it is different from the book. It is fun to read a book in book group and then watch the movie. We've also read and watched The Book Thief, The Fault in Our Stars and The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

After meeting with my book group, I spent the long weekend at my parents' place. I decided to get in another visit before the bad weather hits and it becomes harder to plan any travel. I enjoyed my weekend though we didn't do anything for New Year's Eve. Normally their church has a New Year's Eve service but it was cancelled this year since so many would be out of town. Instead we stayed in and watched a cheesy Hallmark movie and ate lots of saltine toffee. On Friday we went to the mall and I got a Downton Abbey calendar for 50% off. I didn't really need another calendar but I couldn't resist getting a page a day calendar for my office since it is pictures from the show. Speaking of Downton Abbey, tonight it starts airing on PBS. I've seen the entire final season when it was on in the U.K. but plan to watch it again as there are usually added scenes in the PBS version (that aren't on the DVD). No spoilers but I was very happy with the final "Christmas" episode and how things wrapped up though I'm sad it's all over.

I participated in Book Journey's First Book of the Year but I forgot my book when I was packing so I've been reading other books instead. I had wanted to finish one more book before the year ended but I wasn't able to. Still my final total is 142 and my goal was 125 (though secretly I started hoping I'd reach 150). For 2016 I've set my goal at 130 books just in case I decide to read some bigger books like books 3-5 of A Song of Ice and Fire or the rest of the Outlander series (I've read the first 4).





#FitReaders Weekly Check In

#FitReaders is hosted by Felicia at The Geeky Blogger and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About

I was surprised that I managed to hit 10,000 steps (it wasn't easy) on Wednesday and almost on Saturday. I have been trying to walk more in the mornings using a Leslie Sansone workout and when I visited my parents over the long weekend I also took advantage of their treadmill. I'm wondering how I'm going to increase my walking when the cold weather hits. Pacing around my apartment I guess!

I'm still trying to figure out my Fitbit One especially where exercise is concerned. I wear it while I do the Leslie Sansone walking workouts but I don't think it is accurate with my steps (there are kicks and some other movements that aren't quite "steps") and the workout is 45 minutes long but only counts as 30 active minutes with the Fitbit and I don't know how to compensate.

Sunday--4,632 steps
Monday--6,508 steps
Tuesday--7,602 steps
Wednesday--10,314 steps
Thursday--4,067 steps
Friday--8,478 steps
Saturday--9,801 steps


Last week on my blog:




Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown (review)


Books read:



A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern

I really liked this book and it made me think. The author does a good job of portraying both Belinda and Emily and the things they struggle with. I loved the Pride and Prejudice references too.



Currently reading:


Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

I like this one so far. It reminds me of other YA fantasy I've read.


The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown


I kind of forgot about this book (I accidentally left it in the side pocket of my suitcase) until I received a notice from the library that it is due soon. Oops. I have started reading it again and am almost finished. It is a cozy little village story with a little romance and humor and lots of knitting. Makes me wish I knew how to knit.


What I plan to read next:



How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kotteras

This was supposed to be my first book of the year until I forgot it when I was packing. I intend to pick it up as soon as I finish one of my current books.


The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth



New books received:


The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine (for review)

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse (for review)

13 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a nice visit for New Years. I had a quiet one too watching Netflix and relaxing- it was nice. I could go for long weekends and lots of movie watching any time!

    Yes read books 3-5 of Ice and Fire, I need more people to talk about it with (sorry, couldn't resist)...

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  2. I think I want to see the movie The Book Thief now that I have read the book. Have seen the final season of Downton but they made us wait for the Christmas show until next week. Enjoy your reading!

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  3. Ooooh! I saw "Pride and Prejudice" references and immediately went to add that book to my Goodreads. I have a slight obsession with that book...if you even so much as mention it when recommending a read to me, I'm likely to immediately buy it. SO thank you for that! :D

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  4. What a wonderful book club :) I just added The hundred year old man to my Netflix queue:)

    Have a great week,
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  5. I'm glad to hear something good about this final season of Downton. My aunt and cousin said they've watched the first episode or two and thought it was boring! I was worried! I'm glad you had another nice visit with your family. Enjoy your week!

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  6. Sword and Verse looks like an interesting read. Have a great week :)

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  7. You have to start reading happier novels! Hahaha. The Book Thief and Fault in our Stars are real tear-jerkers. :) Enjoy your reading week!

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  8. I desperately want to read Swords and Verse. The cover and description have me hooked. I hope you enjoy reading your books!

    My It's Monday! What Are You Reading? post.

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  9. Happy New Year! It sounds like you had a relaxing time. I had that Downton page-a-day calendar last year and I loved it. I'm sure you will as well! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Imposter Queen and How to Be Brave. I hope your new year is off to a good start...mine hasn't been that great...my whole house is sick! :( Enjoy your books!

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  10. It would be great fun to read a book and see the movie with my book club. I wonder if we could orchestrate that? Interesting titles and covers! Adding to my "want to look for" titles.

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  11. I love watching movies made from books...The Fault in Our Stars was one of the recent ones I've watched...and I also now have it on my DVR.

    Sometimes those cheesy Hallmark movies are just the thing for a New Year's Eve...I like the mysteries.

    Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.

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  12. I really like the idea of watching a movie adaptation with my book club. Sorry you forgot your 1st book but hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

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  13. It sounds like you had a nice visit.

    I hope you enjoy The Things We Keep.

    Looks like you had a good week. I hope this week is good.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My It's Monday, What Are You Reading

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