Sunday Post (41) / 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 have no right to complain about snow since we haven't gotten nearly as much as predicted and nowhere near the amounts that other parts of the country have been hit with but I can't wait for the white stuff to disappear! It has been stressful this week worrying over road conditions. Thankfully the days that were bad happened to coincide with either days off or I'd be home from work by that time. I am happy that the original forecast of 5-8 inches for today and tomorrow has been reduced to 1-3 inches. I can live with that! I've heard rumors that this coming weekend may be nice. If that is the case, I might get to go see my parents. Fingers crossed. Otherwise I will have to wait till March.

Today I will be staying home and resting. I just feel like I need it. I don't know if it is the cold weather but I just don't have much energy. I do have a bunch of books to read and some TV shows to catch up on so maybe this will give me a chance to do that. Maybe I should do my taxes and clean too! Or maybe not. I do have the day off tomorrow for President's Day which is nice. 

At the library I have been busy planning programs and realized I have at least one program every month till August which is unusual for me. I made a program planning worksheet yesterday to help me keep track of the stuff I have to do for each program. There is a lot of paperwork involved in getting a presenter to the library or even programs I do myself. Purchase orders, invoices, performer contracts, etc. Lots of fun. I often forget these things so this is my attempt to be better organized about it. 

This week I got in touch with a local artist about doing a painting night at the library. Paint nights are all the rage now and while I usually don't charge for library programs, in this case I will have to. I hope to partner with our Friends group to cover half the charge for each attendee. Then it would be $15 a person instead of $30. The going rate in our area is $30-$50 so that is a good deal. I think I will try to do this one in the fall.

So the big book news this week is the upcoming publication of the script of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. While it isn't technically a new Harry Potter book, I am still excited about it. I knew I wouldn't be able to see the play so this is the next best thing. I am also hoping they will decide to make a movie or at least sell DVDs of the play. Will you be reading it? I am buying a copy for myself and at least one copy for the library.

#FitReaders Weekly Check In

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

I didn't quite have the week I'd planned! Sunday started out okay but then due to some unforeseen circumstances, I couldn't exercise more or get my steps in. It made me realize that I've been really hard on myself. I should be able to take a day off to rest if my body needs it without feeling guilt or disappointment with myself. Unfortunately that isn't the case! I also was disappointed to find out I've gained weight. It's probably my  habit of snacking on Pop-Tarts and the occasional chocolate. Yesterday I put some chocolate out for our library patrons and I helped myself too. I am once again considering trying to go Paleo for awhile (maybe just a month) to jump start my metabolism and break my sugar addiction.

Sunday--3,762 steps, exercised 15 minutes
Monday--10,679 steps, exercised 30 minutes
Tuesday--11.439 steps, exercised 60 minutes
Wednesday--11,120 steps, exercised 72 minutes
Thursday--12,411 steps, exercised 60 minutes
Friday--12,245 steps, exercised 60 minutes
Saturday--11,718 steps, exercised 30 minutes

Last week on my blog:

Top Ten Books to Read for Valentine's Day (post)

Starflight by Melissa Landers (review)

Books read:

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

I thought this was a fun book. It is a good pick for readers who liked A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin or Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger.

The Seafront Tearoom by Vanessa Greene

I wasn't planning to read The Seafront Tearoom yet but it was due back to the library and had holds so I read it on my day off. I enjoyed all the descriptions of tea and dessert as well as the friendship between the characters. You should have tea and sweets on hand if you decide to give this book a try!

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)

I was so happy to finish this part of the book. I really like The Fellowship of the Ring except for the Tom Bombadil part but this time it didn't bother me as much and I appreciated it more (though I still don't like most of Tolkien's songs and poems--I usually skim through those sections).

Currently reading:

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)

I just started this so I am at the part where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are about to meet the Riders of Rohan. If I remember correctly, this part of the book is quite different from the film. Unlike The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers film took more liberties with the story.

Currently listening to:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (reread)

This is one of those books that I loved as a kid but listening to Michael York narrate the audio book makes me think I like the movie more than the novel. Of course that could just be the narration.

On my TBR pile:

We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

This is our February selection for my afternoon book group. I haven't read her debut novel, The Language of Flowers yet though people seem to love it. I believe this one got really good reviews too.

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

This book has received mixed reviews, mainly about the romance I think (which has a love triangle which I usually hate). I am still going to give this a try since it involves time travel. Maybe I shouldn't have requested it for review and just got it from the library!

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

I am looking forward to reading Unhooked and hopefully I will like it as much as the reviewers on Goodreads seem to. Like me, many of them are fans of Once Upon a Time and it's version of Captain Hook.

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

I know we aren't supposed to judge books by their covers but I love this one. Plus it is a retelling of a fairy tale and I usually enjoy those. This book will be released on Tuesday so I hope to read the ARC this week if I can.

Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth

I requested this book for review because I was in the mood for some YA suspense to balance all the fantasy I've been reading lately. 

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

New arrivals:

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (for review)

Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth (for review)

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson (for review)

Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf (library book)

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman (library book)