Sunday, July 23, 2017

Sunday Post - The Week I Spent in an Inferno

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I can share my wrap up of the past week, as well as plans for the current week.

My Week in Review

Because a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few that sum up the weather this week:











The highlight of my week, was getting an email from Toms telling me about their new LLAMA SHOES!!! Of course I ordered a pair for me and Kiersten, because LLAMA SHOES!



So, that is something I have to look forward to.  ðŸ˜Š

I was also very excited to see the announcement about the film adaptation for To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I remember Han talking about this at a BookCon panel (I think 2016?), and how she originally passed, because they did not think the Song girls needed to be Korean. Way to hold out Jenny Han! This means a lot to me as the mother of mixed race child (Chinese/white).



Last week on the blog:
  • Monday: I reviewed Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn
  • Tuesday: I shared by Mid-Year Freak Out, because I thought I should punish myself a little by forcing myself to pick some favorites. 
  • Wednesday: I gave some love to A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland with my Can't Wait Wednesday post.
  • Thursday: We hosted a blog tour stop for Tied Up in You by Erin Fletcher. **The giveaway for an Amazon gift card is still open. 
  • Friday: I reviewed Witchtown by Cory Putnam Oakes. 
What I Read Last Week

I was really happy with my reading week. So many unexpected surprises! The Dazzling Heights was a very satisfying sequel, and it looks like maybe a 3rd book is in the works from the way things were set up. But my most favorite book of the week was The Art of Feeling. I don't know. I think I am in love with grief books, because I have been lucky enough to read so many that were simply stellar. I thought the premise for this one was brilliant - a boy who cannot feel no physical pain being part of a the healing journey for girl, who is in constant physical pain. There were tons of funny and beautiful moments in this book, that were topped off by a fairly entertaining cast. Loved. It. I had a few reads that started out shaky, but redeemed themselves by the end, and earned a half star or so back.




































What I Am Currently Reading

I am just starting Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink, so I don't have much to say. I am keeping with my tradition of listening to my adult romances with another Rachel Gibson audiobook. This one has a little murder mystery in it, which is adding to my enjoyment.

What I Plan to Read

I am going to try and show some shelf-love again this week. I really need to do more of that. I hope to read some of my physical ARCs soon too, but since they are all currently in boxes, it makes it quite difficult.










How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

38 comments:

  1. That's exciting news about Jenny Han, and I agree- good for her for holding out, and glad that went the right way. Haven't read the books but I'm sure as a YA blogger I'd go see the movie.

    I rather liked the secret History Of Us.

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    1. I think Lara Jean has so much appeal. It's a story with strong family connections and also many typical teen topics. I always loved LJ, because she was a little bit of a throwback, so sweet and wholesome. Glad to hear you liked History. I started seeing a lot of good buzz, and that is always a good motivator for me.

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  2. THESE LLAMA SHOES??? I love them so much ahah I need them just as well.
    I'm really eager to see the Lara Jean movie, I'm so curious to see how this all turns out. Also a bit nervous about it all, but well...we'll see how that goes :)
    So happy you enjoyed Wicked Like a Wildfire, I'm eager to read it :D
    Have a lovely week! :)

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    1. I know, how could I resist llama shoes!!! I feel like, if Han is involved, the movie will be great, and it's such a good story. Wicked Like a Wildfire was good for me. You have be patient with the explanation of the magic though. I think the full understanding of it was no revealed until about 60% through. You had bits and pieces and the mystery and the sister drama to keep you busy, but I wanted to know what the heck was going on. I guess making me wait made the payoff a little better.

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  3. Yes so hot!! I definitely stayed inside as much as possible. Love those shoes!! Good for Jenny Han for holding out until she could get to movie how she envisioned it. I am excited to get to Wicked Like a Wildfire and Dress Codes for Small Towns. LOVED When We Collided so hope you enjoy it Have a great week!

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    1. I had finally read my first Lord book with The Names They Gave Us, and I really liked it. I have her other books, I just haven't read them. 🙄 This is the perfect place for a PSA stating why reading challenges are so good for people like me.

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  4. Love those Llama shoes. I loved When we collided and cant wait to read the secret history of us. Have a great week

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    1. Llama shoes = the best. Really, I am so cheap, it takes a lot to make me buy something I don't really need. Llama love runs deep in my home.

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  5. Love the shoes! You got some really good reads coming up, enjoy!

    Jenea's Book Obsession

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    1. I can't wait to actually get them. I have been aggressively tracking my package.

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  6. I've been hearing pretty much everyone complain about the heat! I feel for you all! It does not sound like fun AT ALL! Hopefully, it starts to cool down soon. Those llama shoes are so cute! I want a pair now! :)

    Sounds like you had a great reading week! I need to pick up more books by Jennifer E. Smith. I'm glad to hear about the Jenny Han movie! I still need to read the series though! OOPS!

    Have a great week ahead and happy reading! :)

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    1. I know. I shouldn't really complain, when I hear about places like Arizona, but with moving and having to carry heavy boxes, it just makes it feel like AZ. JES is a favorite of mine, and I was happy to get to read one of the the two backlist I have not read.

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  7. Hahaha, the one about the hobbits was funny :D I wish I could say anything similar! The weather's been so cold here, we barely had the first day you could call "summer" yesterday. Before that, it was all autumn clothes. Just no fun!
    Have a great reading week, despite the heat :)

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    1. In the US, the summer is for complaining about being too hot, and the winter is for complaining about being too cold. Fall and spring, we lament about where summer and winter went. 😆

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  8. My week has been stellar! Currently reading Geekarella and soooo thrilled about the new Jenny Han movie announcement!!!

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    1. Geekerella is one of my fave reads this year. It was so cute and fun and just made me happy. I hope you love it!

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  9. Wow! Great set of books you got! I hope you enjoy them all!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog and join in this week’s Book Photo Sundays!

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    1. It's pretty stacked with romance, so chances are good I will be happy.

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  10. Oh my gosh those memes about the heat are so right on! Its been awful here! And I love those llama shoes. I got the email about them this week and I am jealous you ordered some! I am on a shoe buying ban :(
    Have a great week!

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    1. I am on ban from buying anything but things you can get at the supermarket, but I just could not resist LLAMA shoes. There were these Toms with the molecular structure for caffeine on them and these glow in the dark constellation ones (note: I used to teach chemistry and astronomy), and I kept thinking about getting them. Well, by the time I committed, they were gone, and I have a been a really good girl, so llama shoes for me.

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  11. Sorry about the hot weather but it'll cool down eventually, right? Love the shoes, though, they are very cool and I am jealous.

    I saw the news about To All The Boys I Loved Before, I was very excited until I saw the casting news. Jenny Han may have said she was holding out for the Song sisters to be Korean but looking at the casting I don't think a single Korean American actor has been cast and that is upsetting. I am excited to see it and I won't judge too soon because it will hopefully be brilliant but I am always hesitant about book adaptations.

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    1. Well, when Han spoke, they wanted to make the sisters white, so having Asian actresses is a win. White-washing in 2017 seems like a crime. On my daughter's first day of kindergarten, she brought home a picture of princess with yellow hair and blue eyes. She told me it was a self portrait, and I wanted to cry, and she cried because she didn't have yellow hair and blue eyes. I wish my daughter had seen herself more in TV and movies. This was back in 2000, and I think things are better now, but Han's news made me really happy.

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  12. Oh gosh - sorry about that weather! Summer is always great, but when it's too hot it becomes a little unbearable, right? I love the hobbit pic by the way - that's pretty hilarious.

    Love those shoes! I hope they arrive soon!

    Hope you have a great week and that the heat is a little less intense!

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    1. It's July in the northeast, but just because we expect this weather, doesn't mean I have to like it. 🙄 My shoes should be here Friday. I will probably be like a kid at Christmas when they come.

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  13. I saw the news from Jenny Hahn and it's exciting. I met her at a book signing but still need to read her books. I'm so happy she held out. I'm Filipina American and it is discouraging to not see as many Asian American actors in TV or movies. I've got to read all the books before the movie comes out! I also have Wicked Like a Wildfire so it's good to hear you liked it. I hope you have a great week and enjoy your cute new shoes!!

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    1. It's kind of insulting to think that an Asian actor/actress can draw the crowd that a white actor/actress could. I guess it is a truth that I am not fond of, but it still makes me sad. I have read The Summer I Turned Pretty and the Lara Jean books, all good, but LJ owns a piece of my heart. My co-blogger, Amrutha, raves about Shug, which is a really early Han book. I have read it, but I hope to (eventually)

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  14. It really has been hot these days! And weirdly rainy/stormy. I love thunderstorms but not when it floods. -_-

    I am very excited about the To All the Boys movie! Honestly I'm disappointed that the actress for Lara Jean isn't remotely Korean like Lara Jean is, but it is so exciting to see that this movie hasn't been whitewashed. That is so important, with how bad Hollywood is. :/

    I hope you enjoy all of your new books! Have a great week, Sam. =)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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    1. I guess it would have been idea to have a Korean actress (though LJ is mixed race), but I feel it's a win having an Asian actress. The states west of me has been getting slammed with rain (sorry).

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  15. Okay, I'm sitting here scratching my head over the fact that we both shared pics of shows this week. Great minds think alike, I guess? Freaky! And the llama shoes are killing it. :)

    I feel ya on the heat. Between the heat and the humidity and the storms that just make it muggier... yeah, I get it. Ugh.

    I still haven't written my review for Under the Lights. I didn't love it. Actually, I'm finding I'm not loving The Field Party series. As much as I adore the Rosemary Beach series, the characters in The Field Party just make me kind of ragey. LOL

    Hope you have a great week, Sam!

    Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

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    1. I know! I saw your shoes and thought the same thing. The Field Party has that teen angst thing, but still puts them in my guilty pleasure category, where I have all the other Globes books. It is that OTT drama, that I find soapy and fun. Her books are like watching TV for me, mindless entertainment

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  16. You had a great week of reading last week! I visited your Mid-Year tag. I hope you are having a wonderful week. :)

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    1. It was a good week! You have a great week too.

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  17. Try living in Brazil! It's an inferno 11 out of the 12 months in the year on a good year, other times it's scorching hot all year round! C:
    Those shoes are so adorable! I'm not one for prints, but I wouldn't pass those up!

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    1. I know it is worse other places. I just am not a fan of any sort of extremes in general. Llamas ❤

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  18. Those llama shoes are adorable. So glad to see you enjoyed Wicked Like a Wildfire. I've been tempted to preorder it, but I think I'll wait on a library copy. I have so many of my own books I still need to get to. Hope the rest of your week goes well and that this week for you is cooler than last.

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    1. My llama shoes are supposed to be here tomorrow, and I am not sure if I will be able to contain my joy. I read too much to buy every book I would like to read, but I totally utilize the library, and thankfully, I was asked to blog here at WLABB, and I have been pretty lucky with eARCs (which I prefer to physical books). I just packed up my books for the move and I filled 13 boxes, and that was after I gave a bunch of boxes of finished copies to Friends of the Library. My goal is to read more of the books I own. So, no buying for me.

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  19. Okay, those llama shoes are TOO cute! And I am so excited that you loved all those books because I have almost all of them on my TBR hahha. And I am SO excited that To All the Boys will be a movie! I am sad that the actress isn't at all Korean, but I am also SO happy that Jenny stuck to her guns for having Asian American actresses- their culture was such a huge part of the story, one of my favorite parts, and it would have been awful to lose it. It was really hot here too last week- but now it's like 60 and raining, so clearly the weather is confused. Hope you are having a great week!

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    1. Today is actually quite lovely in NJ, so I cannot cry about the weather. I hope it stays like this. I always love when an author puts a piece of themselves in a book, and Han did that by sharing her Korean culture with us. I have always been a fan of learning about other people. True story: Beginning in the late 70s, I was huge in the pen pal circuit. I wrote actual letter, on paper, to different girls my age all around the world. We shared pictures and sent stuff to each other - mix tapes, snacks, stationary, stickers. It was a really cool thing, because we didn't have online shopping, and getting things from another country was a thrill.

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