Sunday, January 31, 2016

Sunday Post (39) / 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.

It is so nice to see weather in the 50s in January! I am going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts! I plan to do some shopping later this afternoon. I like to go to the grocery store on Sunday afternoons when I can. I also might visit the craft store though if I go in I know I'll be leaving with more coloring supplies I don't need. I think I have an addiction. I just bought a set of Fiskars gel pens on Amazon though they were a good deal so I can sort of justify it.  :)

I didn't get much reading done this week. Part of the problem was the book I was reading that failed to hold my attention and I ended up deciding not to finish it. It is sad when a book receives rave reviews but it turns out to be a disappointment. I think some people will love it but I just couldn't care about the characters or the story. I did finish one book. I listened to the final hours of The Last Command while coloring yesterday evening and it was very relaxing. Now that I'm done listening to that one I need to decide what I want to spend my Audible credits on. I may just buy a couple of the Harry Potter books and start rereading that series. I like to get audio books that I know I'll listen to more than once otherwise it isn't worth it to me.



I spent a lot of time catching up on TV shows this week with new episodes of Agent Carter (still need to watch the latest one) and the new Arrow/The Flash spin off, Legends of Tomorrow (watched the first part of the pilot). I now have six shows that I watch (Jane the Virgin, Arrow, The Flash, Agent Carter, Legends of Tomorrow and Downton Abbey). Thankfully Once Upon a Time is still on a hiatus. I am not sure if I will continue watching Legends of Tomorrow but we'll see. Agent Carter usually only has 8 episodes a season so by spring I should be able to reduce my TV viewing again. Of course Fuller House will be on Netflix in February. Not sure if I will like that one. I'm more excited about the Gilmore Girls revival which was just confirmed by Netflix. I can't wait to see it!

Yesterday was the Coloring and Cocoa program at the library and while I had 18 people signed up, only 10 people showed up. I suspect the unseasonably warm weather and sunshine had something to do with it! Everyone who attended had a good time. I printed off free coloring sheets on card stock and regular paper and they really seemed to like coloring with the gel pens and Sharpies. Some people used the colored pencils too but the Crayola Twistables were not a big hit. My next coloring program is at the end of February. I'm hoping that we won't have bad weather but that it will be a little colder so people will show up!






#FitReaders Weekly Check In

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

I've now had my Fitbit One for a month and I noticed that it's definitely motivating me to move more. I've been trying to get more exercise in lately and have taken to working out in the morning and then again in the evening with a quick 15 minute workout before supper. Don't be too impressed :) --it's just walking workouts with Leslie Sansone so it is very low impact compared to some of the other workouts I've tried. I can't do anything that involves jumping up and down due to acid reflux issues but the real problem is that I don't feel like I'm hitting my target heart rate by walking.

Sunday--10,326 steps, exercised 41 minutes
Monday--12,304 steps, exercised 38 minutes
Tuesday--11,848 steps, exercised 52 minutes
Wednesday--11,438 steps, exercised 53 minutes
Thursday--11,101 steps, exercised 52 minutes
Friday--10,488 steps, exercised 55 minutes
Saturday--14,643 steps, exercised 67 minutes



Last week on my blog:



Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan (review)



Books read:



The Last Command by Timothy Zahn (reread)



DNF:




I wanted to read this book because the premise sounded interesting and I'd heard so many good things about it. Unfortunately it didn't turn out to be the book for me. There are too many view points and characters to keep track of and it just created this distance between me and the characters. Maybe it is just the translation but it felt like the author was trying too hard to give us a quirky book with quirky and charming characters in their quaint town. It didn't work for me.



Currently reading:



Starflight by Melissa Landers

The author described this book as Overboard (the Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell film) meets Firefly. While I'm not familiar with Firefly, I can definitely see the similarities with Overboard and I like it so far.



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

I made some progress with this one and I am now in the mines of Moria. Things are definitely picking up!



What I plan to read next:



These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

I was beyond thrilled to be approved for an ARC of this though it is published next week. I think it sounds like fun. I think the ARC might expire soon which is why I moved it up the list ahead of The Impostor Queen



The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine



New books received:



These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas (for review)


Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell (for review)

The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright (library book)

My Fair Gentleman by Nancy Campbell Allen (library book)

The Illegal by Lawrence Hill (library book)

23 comments:

  1. awesome haul of books. I know I feel like things have slowed down for me a lot this week as well. I hope you enjoy your new books.

    Grace @ Books of Love

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  2. You've got some fun looking reads going on! Star Wars, Lord of the Rings... and I'm really curious about Starflight. Overboard meets Firefly? Wow, I haven't seen Firefly either but I know the gist of it- and Overboard? Goodness... :)

    I think the Imposter Queen looks good.

    I like Agent Carter, she's awesome. Madame MAsque is a favorite villain of mine so it's nice to see her on the show. Was Legends disappointing? I missed it. I bought some Flash issues at Amazon so I'm a ways into that show, but I'm only 2 episodes into Arrow this season... sigh.

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  3. Fantastic books! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Vicious Masks and Imposter Queen...both are on my TBR list. I am loving the 50 degree weather as well...a nice surprise in January, especially after all of this snow. I am intrigued by Agent Carter. I think I would like it...will have to check that show out, especially since you are a fan. I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the "balmy" weather. :)

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  4. I love some of your book choices, a couple I've read and more I want to read! I like your Coloring Program-- sounds like fun (I have adult coloring books but I use only colored pencils for them).
    I used to watch Once Upon A Time with my younger daughter (a young adult). We lost track of it somehow. And Gilmore Girls revival--swoon!

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  5. Enjoy your books! I am always sad when I don't like enough about a book to keep reading it, but there are so many books out there that I will enjoy, it's not worth worrying about. Right?

    I am curious about The Impostor Queen. I'll be watching for your review. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  6. Like the idea of coloring while listening to audio. I know craft shops are so wonderful to roam and I nearly always come out with something! Great stepping - the fitbit does make me realise when I'm being sedentary and motivates me to get going too!

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  7. Nice looking books that you have there. Enjoy reading them.

    Theresa (The Truth About Books)
    See What I'm reading here

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  8. I'm keen to try Legends of Tomorrow and we watch Arrow but haven't started the spin-off yet. I hadn't heard of Agent Carter but the trailer looks good.
    You are doing so well with your fitbit steps, no matter what sort of movement, it's got to be better than being sedentary ...right? I've done a couple of the Leslie Sansone online videos when it's just too hot to walk outside.

    Bummer about The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, I was undecided about it but since I'm reading like a snail I think I'll give it a miss for now. Have a great week and happy reading :)

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  9. I have the Illegal on my radar. I've read the first chapter.

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  10. I felt the same way as you did about Readers of Broken Wheel. I got about to the point that the bookstore opened and I just couldn't must any enthusiasm about picking it up again.

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  11. Your colouring and cocoa event sounds like a lot of fun. Some great-looking reads too. Have a great week!

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  12. Coloring and cocoa sounds like such a fun program! I never really thought much about adult coloring books until I got one as a Christmas book, and now I'm hooked! I can see why the Twistables wouldn't be too popular - many of the adult coloring pages are so intricate that you really need a sharp, precise point to color inside the tiny lines. Hopefully you get an even bigger turnout for your next program!

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  13. Wow I never realized how expensive Gel pens can be. I saw a set of 48 Fiskars on Amazon for almost $200. I bet they write nice though. Or at least at that price I hope so ha. Do you find them good for colouring?
    Sorry to hear you didn't have a great turnout for your event. Hopefully the next time you run it, more people will come.
    Have a great week.

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    1. They can be expensive. I was able to get a good deal on my set and they are nice for adding detail to coloring pages.

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  14. I listen to audiobooks often, but hadn't thought to color while listening! I usually crochet, cook, or clean while listening.

    Seeing LotR on your list makes me want to re-read it. It's been so long since I've been in the world of the hobbits! :)

    Ashley
    My It's Monday! Post

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  15. I'm an unapologetic color-er here :) A store by us (5 and Below) has recently started carrying 'adult' coloring books, which are mostly wild patterns. My kids and I are having so much fun coloring these! Though my kids are way better at it then I am lol.

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  16. Sorry the book didn't work out for you. The turnout for the coloring and cocoa was great! Sometimes it can be half. I was at hobby lobby and many people had coloring supplies. Hope this week is a great one.

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  17. 10 participates is still a great turnout! I'm glad the program went well. Sorry about the DNF book, I had several that I started and were looking forward to reading because of their rave reviews but I just couldn't get into them at all.

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  18. I'm really excited about the Gilmore a Girls reunion eps on Netflix too. I watch far too much tv, Vampire Diaries, Flash, Legends of tomorrow, the 100, Scorpion, Code Black, Bloodbrothers, NCIS, Bones and I could go on LOL no wonder I'm only managing 4 or 5 books a week at the moment :)

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  19. I like the look of Vicious Masks - seems like my kind of read. Glad to see your updates about TV series as well - my husband and I are currently in the middle of Making a Murderer - and it is very upsetting, really. I LOVELOVELOVE Arrow and The Flash - but have yet to see Agent Carter.

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  20. The Readers.........book is very intriguing but I'm not sure it is the book for me either. Sorry it was a DNF for you but I understand.

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  21. Sorry to hear you didn't like The Readers Of Broken Wheel Recommend. I really enjoyed it.

    We all have different tastes, and that is good. Maybe too much of Chick Lit??

    I hope your week is going well....it looks like you have quite a few books to keep you busy.

    Happy Wednesday!!

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

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  22. You got some great books this week! I actually want to read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, but I want to read it in the original language, the author is Scandinavian, right?
    I hope you've had a great week - mine has been pretty busy, which is why it's taken me all week to get back to people.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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