Sunday, January 10, 2016

Sunday Post (36) / 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.

I had a slow week with not much going on but I did finish a couple of books. On Wednesday I took a sick day because of something I ate so I ended up with more time to read! I've been trying to exercise every day though I also spend every evening either watching Netflix (reruns of Friends and Keeping Up Appearances) or reading my Kindle. For some reason I just don't have much energy after I get home from work. Now that winter has finally arrived (we are supposed to get our first accumulating snow this week) I have a feeling I will really have to make an effort to not be sedentary!



I've also started coloring (that's what I'm currently working on above) and I do find it to be relaxing most of the time. I'm picky about which coloring designs I use as some of them are too detailed and the patterns bother my eyes or the pages are too thin or not perforated. I became interested in the whole adult coloring craze especially after hearing from a B&N employee and several librarians about how popular their coloring programs have been. I am actually having a coloring program at my library at the end of the month and patrons have showed a lot of interest. I put together a display with some free coloring sheets and bookmarks to color and those have been incredibly popular too.

Have you tried coloring? Or do you find it too juvenile? If you do color, what do you prefer to use (markers, color pencils, crayons, gel pens) and do you have any recommendations of coloring books or coloring pencils/markers/pens that you like?





#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 happy to hit my goal of 10,000 steps three times this week though I had a few days when I didn't do as well. On Sunday I didn't have time to exercise before church because I overslept. Then on Tuesday I didn't exercise because my feet were hurting (I need new walking shoes) and on Wednesday though I did exercise a little, I ended up getting sick so I didn't get very many steps in. I hope to do better this week!

Sunday--4,123 steps
Monday--8,691 steps, exercised for 40 minutes
Tuesday--4,543 steps
Wednesday--4,183 steps, exercised for 31 minutes
Thursday--10,140 steps, exercised for 45 minutes
Friday--10,169 steps, exercised for 30 minutes
Saturday--12,061 steps, exercised for 42 minutes



Last week on my blog:



Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins (review)



Books read:



The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown

I enjoyed this holiday book that can best be described as cozy. The main character travels to a small village for Christmas to escape her troubles and repair her broken heart. She gets involved in helping to save the local knitting store, makes friends and meets a new love interest.


Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

I wasn't sure if this YA fantasy debut would live up to the hype but I really liked it. The premise is that the written word is only available to one segment of the population and it is illegal for others to learn how to read or write. The world building is good and while there is quite a bit of romance (nothing steamy-just considerable time devoted to it) I thought the story still had good pacing and action. I loved that it could be read as a standalone novel (it was originally supposed to be but now there will be a sequel).



DNF:



How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kotteras

This was supposed to be my first book of the year and I so wanted to love it but I couldn't and I just had to quit reading it. The main character has lost her mom to an illness and as a way to honor her mom she decides to make a list of new things to try. This is not a bucket list but a life list of ways to be brave and her items are pretty stupid (smoking pot and cutting class) though some are not as bad (trying out for cheerleading). The secondary characters were also kind of stereotypical but I was okay with that. I was not okay with the drugs. I'm sorry but that isn't "living" and it definitely isn't brave. 



Currently reading:



The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

I haven't read much of this yet but I like it so far. Very sad to think about anyone losing their memory to dementia but especially when it hits you in your prime.



The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)

This is my favorite book and it has been years since I've read it. After How to Be Brave failed to captivate me, I started rereading it and I really love being back in the Shire. I've also been listening to the soundtrack while I read. My favorite song happens to be "Concerning Hobbits". Right now I'm at the part where Frodo, Sam and Pippin have left Hobbiton and have just met the wood elves.



Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn (reread)

I'm listening to this on audio at the moment. I started listening to Heir to the Empire last month in anticipation of The Force Awakens. I love this trilogy (I don't care that they aren't "canon"anymore!) and still wish that they'd been made into movies in the early 90s. Highly recommended to Star Wars fans.



What I might read next:



The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

I've seen lots of positive reviews for this YA fantasy so hopefully I will like it too. 



The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

I absolutely loved her debut novel, Secret Daughter, so I was thrilled to find out about The Golden Son. The main characters are Anil, a young Indian man who leaves his village to study medicine in the States and his childhood friend Leena, who has been forced into an arranged marriage to an abusive man.



New books received:



The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (for review)

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor (for review)





24 comments:

  1. Coloring is so popular now, I hope you enjoy it. I can see why it would be relaxing

    The Lord of the Rings- what a great re- read. It's funny when I was a kid and read it the Fellowship bored me in the early going- all the stuff about the Shire. Now I appreciate it so much more! And I remember that part when they meet the elves- is that Gildor's band? Love that part.

    I've seen good reviews of The Imposter Queen too (hope it's good), and I have high hopes for Into the Dim.

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  2. The Things We Keep looks interesting. I just read an interesting article on the benefits of adult coloring..so have at it..it's good for your mental health and mind!

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  3. I hope you are feeling better. I have gotten back into coloring too. My daughter likes to color in my books too and so often when I do color, she and I are coloring the same picture together. :-) For some reason she likes my coloring books more than her own. Yay for meeting your exercise goal! I am really looking forward to reading The Golden Son too. I hope you have a good week!

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  4. Ooh, the coloring page is so pretty! I haven't colored in a long time, but a few years ago when my anxiety was really bad, it was such a soothing, focusing thing for me to do. I may pick it back up, since I really enjoyed it. Great steps!

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  5. Good on you nailing 10,000 steps 3 days. Hope you're feeling better now. I'm such a fusspot, it's a struggle exercising in the heat and if we had winter like you, I'd hibernate for months lol.

    Adult colouring books are all the rage here too and the design your colouring now appeals to me but I'll have to wait a while longer til my hands improve. At the moment Mia's colouring would probably be better than mine ;)

    The Things We Keep was my first Sally Hepworth worth and I loved it. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Golden Sun. Have a wonderful week and happy reading :)

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  6. I have seen quite a few adults coloring. Some while waiting and one at church! I colored a book for each of my kids when they were younger. I used crayons then, but would probably use colored pencils or gel pens now. Have a great week.

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  7. I've heard a lot of good things about the Sally Hepworth book but I'm not sure if I'd find it too sad... my dad had dementia (he was in his 60s, so not young) and it was hard.

    Well done on the exercise!

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  8. You are doing well with the exercise, every bit counts and darn it we're human and not every day can be maximum stepping! I haven't tried the colouring although sort of tempted, I fear it would take me away from reading and all the other things I am avoiding. Never know though.

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  9. The adult coloring has become very popular. I'm glad your are enjoying it. The things we keep is one of the books that I would like to read. Hope you are enjoying it. You can see mine here:
    http://theresaraymer.blogspot.com/

    Old follower

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  10. I have been wanting to do some coloring. I downloaded some pages, but haven't started on one yet. I've marked The Things We Keep to read, and will unmark How To Be Brave. Thanks for the input.

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  11. Didn't particularly like to color when I was a kid; no reason to try it now, though I did give my artistic college girl a coloring book for Christmas

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  12. Good job on the fitness challenge! You did really well :) Also, Sword and Verse has been on my wishlist for a while now. I really want to read it. Hopefully soon!

    It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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  13. The adult colouring craze doesn't really do anything for me I must admit. I'd rather read :)
    Have a great reading week,
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  14. The Things we Keep and The Golden Son are the two books I've read from your list. The Hepworth book was absolutely riveting.

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  15. I hope you are feeling much better and good work on the exercise. I was sick last week as well, so I am hoping to get back into exercising this week. It is very hard when the weather is so cold and after work is even harder! I haven't done the whole adult coloring thing, although it does look therapeutic. :) I do a lot of coloring with my son...does that count? haha. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Imposter Queen and I can't wait to read Into the Dim!

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  16. I have been wanting to try coloring! I loved it as a kid, and I bought my mom a coloring book for Christmas. She is really enjoying it!! The Christmas book looks good - I love Christmas romances! There are no happier books than a Christmas romance, I think. :)

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  17. I used to love colouring as a child and loved colouring with my kids, now I'm glad to have a legitimate excuse to colour again!

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  18. I have to say that I've tried the adult coloring books, but I didn't really enjoy it. I think I was more stressed out afterwards! Ha!

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    1. I think some of the coloring books are a little stressful to color with the crazy patterns or lots of details. That perfectionist part of me also struggles with wanting the coloring to be just perfect.

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  19. I've been colouring as well. I got a nice book for Christmas, its called Magic Gold and came from Walmart. I've been using a combination of fine tipped crayolas and Bic markers. What are you using to colour with?

    I hope that the colouring event at your library goes well.
    Happy reading to you.

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    1. Primarily Crayola Supertip washable markers and color pencils that I found at Hobby Lobby. The color pencils are decent but I want to upgrade the markers to something better that bleeds less!

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  20. I finished The Things We Keep this weekend, and LOVED it. I bought myself a coloring book and colored pencils, but haven't had a chance to start coloring yet. May have to set aside a little time every evening just for that--but that would cut into my reading time! LOL

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  21. Love your coloring picture, come visit my blog, I have just started coloring also, and today, in fact, received my "Perfect Patterns" coloring book!!You might also like the Portrait Card I ordered for my Buy A Box , its a Lord of the Ring character!! hope you will stop by!!New subscriber.
    http://thebestbasicblogger.blogspot.com/2016/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-3.html

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  22. I hope you are having a good week and enjoying The Things We Keep.

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

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