Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
I guess anyone who has to deal with me is lucky right now, because I have no voice. This cold sort of crept up on me. I was fine, and then, I wasn't. I am antisocial enough not to be disappointed by this, and I only really feel miserable in the morning, so, it could be worse.
I was pretty excited to see that my federal tax refund hit my account. It's not as much as it was back when I had my human tax deduction (it's about 20% of that now), but it's something I can put towards my trip, which is exciting for me.
I do love when my daughter comes to visit, but I am not accustomed to doing so much on the weekend. The visit to the theatre was great. We saw Unmasked, which was a retrospective of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work. This was a vocalist's show, and they had some really talented singers on the stage. The parts I enjoyed the most, though, were when they dropped the screen, and Webber spoke to us. He shared some really interesting stories, and he was rather funny too. I was sad that they did not feature any songs from Starlight Express, which is one of my favorites, but it was a very enjoyable show.
Sort of reminds me of my kid, when I tried to wake her up
— The Animal fight🎅🎅 (@fightanimalss) February 6, 2020
Another reasons why I love cats
Each pig has its merits, but only one can be the chosen pig. pic.twitter.com/gU2FUtjaSo— Dick King-Smith HQ (@DickKingSmith) January 19, 2020
I was crying as I watched this
All the Bright Places trailer! All the Bright Places trailer! ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES TRAILER AND IT COMES OUT THIS MONTH! pic.twitter.com/vFnMqdAEIs— Epic Reads (@EpicReads) February 6, 2020
Let's Discuss!
- Jackie discusses graphic novels
- Elley shared her thoughts on tagging authors in reviews
- The Literary Apothecary wonders about rigid scheduling effects on blogging
On the Blog:
- Monday: #AmReading YA - The Upside of Falling, Between the Notes
- Tuesday: TTT - I'm Seeing Stars
- Wednesday: CWW - Good Girl, Bad Blood & Little Monsters
- Thursday: One Old, One New - Only Mostly Devastated, The Music of What Happens
- Friday: Five Star Friday - January 2020
STACKING THE SHELVES
- Wasted Words by Staci Hart
Edelweiss/NetGalley
- The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton
- Admission by Julie Buxbaum
What I Read Last Week
Wow! February is off to a great start. I already have the same number of 5-star books as I did for the entire month of January. Oddly enough, the two that knocked my socks off were really late approvals. I think I got the emails about them a few days before their publication dates. So, better late than never, eh?
Books
- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson - ★★★★★
- Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers - ★★★★★
- The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren - ★★★★ review
- Little Monsters by Kara Thomas - ★★★★ 1/2
- Salty Bitter Sweet by Mayra Cuevas - ★★★★
- Bending the Rules byChristina C. Jones - ★★★★ review
- Far Cry by Kate Canterbury - ★★★ 1/2 review
- Walk Me Home by Liza Kendall - ★★★★ review
- Playing the Player by Amy Andrews - ★★★1/2 review
What I Am Currently Reading
I was supposed to read Anna K last week, but I finished one of my books on the train, and thought I was supposed to read Honey-Don't List, which wasn't even on my TBR last week, but ok. So, I am reading Anna K right now.
- Anna K by Jenny Lee
- A Love Hate Thing by Whitney D. Grandison (audiobook)
What I Plan to Read
- Lab Partners by Mora Montgomery
- When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
- Almost Maine by John Cariani
- My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
"I am antisocial enough not to be disappointed by this".
ReplyDelete😂
I know how it feels - I lose my voice once a year - and while it gives me a couple of free weeks every time (since you can't do radio if you're croaking), I HATE it. I never seem to get better. In my case, it progresses unnervingly slowly, but I have nose and throat problems of my own, so I hope it's faster for you.
Yay for going to shows (though I can relate to feeling overwhelmed by the simplest things when you're getting older 😓) and for all those 5-star reads!
The timing of my laryngitis is not great, since the new hire is starting tomorrow, and I am training her, but what can I do? I have been drinking a lot of water, doing warm salt water gargles, and resting my voice. Like I said, I have like no other symptoms, just a bit of a dry cough. It could be worse.
DeleteYou seem to be doing well with the five star reads this year which is great! I'm sniffling a bit too which is a good excuse not to bother going out at all! This coronavirus has me very much on edge!
ReplyDeleteI wish I didn't have to go out! My dream job is one I can do from home, but still not have to talk to people on the phone. The virus is scary. A cruise ship just docked the other day in NJ, and they were worried about the virus.
DeleteI am so excited for the adaptation of All the Bright Places. I've been deciding between rereading it before the adaptation or rereading it after watching the movie.
ReplyDeleteI break out in tears just thinking about the book! I don't know if I could handle the film. I did love the book, though
DeleteUgh, sorry to hear about the cold, Sam. Although I am like you in that I'm not bothered in the least by having to stay at home away from people. (Most times I actually welcome that.) Oh, I bet Unmasked was wonderful! I just love Andrew Lloyd Webber. I would have loved the bits with him talking/sharing. I just recently got something by Kate Canterbary (can't recall the title right now) and I really want to try something by her soon.
ReplyDeleteI can't stay home during the week, but at least I have an excuse for not talking to anyone. Training the new hire is going to be tough though. This virus had very poor timing. I loved the Walsh books by Canterbury, and I did enjoy Far Cry, I just wish she had let the heroine be more human a bit earlier. Still liked it and will read more books in the series.
DeleteI hope you feel better soon! I’m glad February’s books have been good so far. Hopefully this week is full of more 5-star reads.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I feel ok, I just can't talk.
DeleteSorry to hear you're were still sick this week. Hope you're more on the mend now. I need to get going on my taxes as well. I got all my forms now, I just need to sit down and do it! Shouldn't take me super long considering they're about the same in "work" as the past couple of years.
ReplyDeleteNice new reads! All totally new to me ones. I hope you enjoy them all!
Here's my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
It's Laryngitis, so it's not painful. I just can't talk and my throat feels a little clogged. I am hydrating and gargling, but still no voice since Friday. Oh, well. My taxes are a breeze since I am single with no dependents and I own nothing. I hope you get a nice return.
DeleteThat reminds me I wanted to get started on my taxes this weekend. LOL. I think I purposefully forgot... :)
ReplyDeleteI never had to pay, so my taxes were always a non-event, but I loved when my refund was bigger. Good luck with your taxes!
DeleteI hope you feel better sam! Now I show that video with the cat to my son and he told me that's what he wanted our dog to do to him (yes he loves massages). And I can't wait for All the Bright Places!!!
ReplyDeleteI always see cats doing that massage thing, but none of my cats ever did that for me. Yes, I am jealous. I am trying to mentally prepare myself for ATBP. You know, I still haven't watched Me Before You and I had the TFiOS DVD for months before I watched it, and I had to watch it over several days, because of all my crying.
DeleteI just finished my taxes. Nice surprises with that this year! I've been sick for over three weeks and it started with losing my voice for three days! I hope you feel better:)
ReplyDeleteMine is only laryngitis. The timing is terrible, since I am training the new hire, who is starting tomorrow, but I feel ok. Three weeks! I hope you have seen a doctor. That's a long time to have something nagging at you.
DeleteUgh, I'm so sorry to hear that you're sick. I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteI am not feeling horrible, just can't talk. Could be worse
DeleteI'll have to look up the new Courtney Summers. The cover is very similar to Sadie. Is it the same concept?
ReplyDeleteWe did our taxes last week and Fonzi promptly used the whole thing up in vet bills. I'm trying to put a positive spin on it and think that I at least have money to pay for it. lol
Karen @ For What It's worth
It's actually Summers' debut. They repackaged and re-released it, and it was wonderful!
DeletePoor Fonzi, and poor you guys too. It's stressful when your loved ones are sick.
Hope you feel better soon! I'm so glad you like a good girls guide to murder. I just started listening to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope you enjoy Good Girl's Guide as much as I did
DeleteHope you're feeling better soon! And that first video *nods* I can relate to that. Trying to wake up teenagers lol. The cat video is adorable- I love how cats just lay on who or whatever and knead away. Like they own the place haha! I guess they do! Funny too how the pig barely reacted!
ReplyDeleteI liked what I've read of Courtney Summers.
I had only read Sadie until now. The writing in both books was great, but I liked Cracked Up to Be a bit more, because it was more hopeful. Sadie was dark and bleak, but still excellent. My daughter told me that she could relate to the cat in the first video too, and I will agree that she is very much like that in the morning. Those pigs were good sports.
DeleteHope you feel better soon! Lots of bugs going around right now! I stay home a lot on the weekends, as well, but I'll get around quite a bit for my kids too.
ReplyDeleteOh that little cat is soooo cute! I hope The Honey-Don't List is good. I was a little hesitant to download a copy because CL can be hit or miss for me. I never read All the Bright Places but the movie preview looks really good!
I read up on laryngitis and it's caused by a virus like a cold. The good thing is I am not miserable or anything, just can't talk. I liked Honey-Don't. It's a bit darker, I guess, since one couples' marriage is falling apart, but they infused it with lots of slapstick moments and whatnot. I really liked the hero and heroine too. All the Bright Places broke me. I think I will always cry over that book
DeleteI used to lose my voice quite frequently. I was the company's trainer and there was at least one time that I had no voice on the day I was to teach all day. That was fun. I hope you are feeling better soon. You gave A Good Girl's Guide 5 stars? I might have to start reading that one right away. I must say that I am a bit jealous of your tax refund. I just found out how big of a check I am going to have to write and I am not happy. It was hard to guess how much we needed to pay in with my husband's job loss last year. I am glad you are able to put something away for a nice trip. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI hardly have to talk at work. I just have laryngitis. You can get it from a virus just like a cold. I loved a Good Girl's Guide. It had all those elements that I love in McManus' books. I hope you like it too. EEK! I own nothing and I always do zero exemptions, so I never pay, but the check is a lot smaller than it used to be when the kid was home.
DeleteIt's definitely the time of year for everyone to be getting sick! I had a cough/cold for a couple weeks, now other people are sick at work (and they better not blame me! the office manager sounds like she has the flu, which I definitely didn't have). I think I'm going to start Anna K next!
ReplyDeleteEveryone always wants to blame someone else when they are sick. Anna K was good. I need to Cliff's Notes the book, which I like to do with retellings I have not read, but the author's note at the end filled me in a little (and it was a really wonderful note too)
DeleteUnmasked seems like a really good show! I hope you feel better soon though - losing your voice can definitely be annoying, but hey, it's a good excuse not to talk to people! LOL
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
The most annoying thing is everyone is telling me to do stuff you would do for a sore throat, but I don't have a sore throat. So, I just smile and nod.
DeleteGlad you had time with your daughter and that the show was good. My hubby lost his voice a couple weeks ago with a cold and it took him a full week to get it back. Hope you're feeling better soon! And yay for the tax return! I just filed our taxes Saturday evening and I'm just glad that's behind me. Even knowing I'll get a return, I just hate doing taxes.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part is that I have a stuffy head, and you should avoid decongestants when you have laryngitis. Torn here. My taxes are easy, so they don't bother me to do. The kid's FAFSA was far worse.
DeleteSorry you lost your voice---hope you're feeling better soon! I can't WAIT for All the Bright Places!! It's one of my favorite books of ever, and it looks like Netflix just might do it justice.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I still don't have much of a voice, and I think I am getting worse. Boo! I am nervous to watch ATBP. I was so broken after reading that book. It does look good though.
DeleteUnmasked sounds fab! I love Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. It's something I shared with my granddad, he'd take me with him every time a new one came to the theatre but it's been a long time...
ReplyDeleteI grabbed Wasted Words this week! Looking forward to reading it.
I saw that Webber is opening a new Cinderella over in England. I hope it makes its way over here, because I want to know what he did with that story. It's always sad for me, when the plays don't make it to the states, that why when I was in London we broke from our group, who were going to see The Lion King (which I could see in NY), and saw The Wizard of Oz instead (it never got here).
DeleteThe Staci Hart book looks cute. They have a few of her audiobooks at the library, so I will probably listen to those first and see what I think of her style.
I am sorry you lost your voice and I hope it is back by now! Unmasked sounds like it was a brilliant musical with some great singing. And I am so excited to see the trailer for All the Bright Places and the release date. I have been waiting for this adaption since she announced she was writing the script.
ReplyDeleteIt's back, more or less. Not looking forward to having to talk a lot at work today. Hopefully my trainee is a bit more independent than last week.
Delete