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
Last weekend was just a snow filled weekend for us. My daughter's flight was canceled, so I got a few extra hours with her, but alas, she had to return to Chicago.
The saga continues with my bus driver. Tuesday, he didn't show up for the first OR the second run. All of us waiting for the past 40 minutes caravanned over to a different bus route about 4 blocks away, and I just made the train after mine. Late, but there. This solidified my decision to catch a different bus. I have to leave 35 minutes earlier and wait almost an hour at the station, but I am a lot less stressed out in the morning.
I just realized yesterday, that I have not been getting emails sent to my mail programs from one of my accounts. There were over 1400 emails there. It only took a minute to fix, but I have no idea when it all "broke". So, it's been a week. 😕
Today, I am going to my sister's to celebrate my nephew's 21st birthday! It's crazy how old our kids are getting.
Let's Discuss!
- Sophie asks what we are looking for in book blogger
- Elgee takes us on a trip to the Netherlands
- Jo talks about how authors are people too
- Monday: Isn't It Romantic - Bad Influence & Faking Forever
- Tuesday: TTT - Why Can't I Be You
- Wednesday: CWW - Hot Dog Girl & Lizzie Flying Solo
- Thursday: Nutshells - If You're Out There & The MPDB Improvement Project
- Friday: Discussion - Great Expectations
- Dig by A.S. King
- New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind
- 13 and Counting by Lisa Greenwald
- Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer
- The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
What I Read Last Week
My highest rated book of the week was quite an emotional read. If you plan on reading Fear of Missing Out, have a box of tissues handy, because there will be tears. I cried for the last 15% of the book. Then, I cried when I was done, and there may have been sobbing as I wrote the review, and yeah, I cried again the next morning just thinking about it. It was really good and thought provoking, but seriously!
- Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis - ★★★★ review
- Play to Win by Kelly Jamieson - ★★★★
- Squad by Mariah MacCarthy - ★★★ 1/2 review
- Fear of Missing Out by Kate McGovern - ★★★★ 1/2
- Small town Hearts by Lillie Vale - ★★★★
- The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson - ★★★★ review
- Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel - ★★★★ review
What I Am Currently Reading
As always, King is taking me on a C-R-A-Z-Y journey. As always, she boldly takes on social issues with lots of candor, and I am more than interested in seeing how all these pieces come together.
Tumble is my fun book. It's a second chance romance, my catnip, and so far, so good.
What I Plan to Read
- In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton
- Eyes on Me by Rachel Harris
- Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon
- Unleaving by Melissa Ostrom
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
That bus situation sounds frustrating! Hope you have a great weekend though! Happy birthday to your nephew.
ReplyDeleteThe Friend Zone looks good- I like that green cover. And I need to get to The Vanishing Stair before I forget any more of what happened in Truly Devious!
I know a lot of readers were frustrated, that The Vanishing Stair ended with yet another cliffy, but I felt like I got enough answers to keep me going till the third book.
DeleteThat's good to know! I don't mind a cliffy, I guess, as long as I get some answers? It's when we don't get ANY answers in an entire book that it gets frustrating sometimes! :)
DeleteThat's how I felt. Something is better than nothing, right? And, most series have the smaller story arcs that are resolved in each book, but that longer one that stretches across the series. Therefore, I wasn't that surprised
DeleteI hate having that kind of week. Over here they try to get people to leave their cars out of the city and take public transport but buses and trains are late and overcrowded and prices are forever going up to travel on them!
ReplyDeleteI am actually the opposite commute, heading away from NYC and toward Philly, but driving to my job is worse than taking the train. I am just glad I found a work around for my eternally disappointing bus driver.
DeleteIt sounds as though you've had an eventful week! I hope that the books you plan on reading make up for all of your frustrations. You really have me excited to give FOMO a try. Happy reading! :)
ReplyDeleteFOMO is really heartbreaking, but in a beautiful way. I think I might cry again.
DeleteFear of Missing Out sounds like a great book for me. I also can't wait to read Unleaving.
ReplyDeleteI just finished a rather sad and heavy book, so I am glad Unleaving is later in the week, but still excited to read it.
DeleteThe commute sounds stressful! But I'd be doing the same thing and leave super extra early as well just to avoid more stress!
ReplyDeleteNice new reads too! New to me ones too. I hope you enjoy them all!
Here's my STS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
It's better now. The driver of the 48 is always on time, and it's scheduled about 50 mins before my train is scheduled, so no worries about missing it.
DeleteUg, sorry about the bus. That’s not cool. Happy birthday to your nephew! Enjoy your new books.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I am adapting. I would rather sit and read at the station, then brood on the side of the road.
DeleteHave you read The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King? It was my first book by the author, and that story still sticks with me. I haven't read it in years, but I can clearly remember a lot of the story. I've been wanting to do a re-read!
ReplyDeleteYay for more time with your daughter! I don't even want to think about my children being older than they are now. Everything is happening so fast! My babies. It makes me want to have more kids, which is irrational, but I miss it already!
Sorry about your bus driver! That does sound crazy stressful.
I've been hesitant about reading Fear of Missing Out, because I don't know if I'm ready for the emotional turmoil. I'm happy you enjoyed it!
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
My first King book was Still Life with Tornado, and I am slowly working my way through her full catalog. I am through 5, and lucky enough that my library has her work. Her books are always quite powerful and thought provoking, even when she is saying stuff that is difficult to hear. Fear of Missing Out is about a sick kid, so I was prepared. I felt like it was well done, even when it was really painful to read.
DeleteYour commute is always an adventure. And now that I know it takes you around 12 hours in between preparing/leaving for work and actually coming back home, I respect and admire you even more. How you even manage to blog 5/6 times a week is beyond me 😮.
ReplyDeleteI forgot King had another book out! The blurb sounds...confusing to say the least. I suppose it can't be avoided though, what with her books being so peculiar. Looking forward to your review!
I want my commute to be uneventful. I am not built for the rat race. This bus is much better though. Always on time (I probably just jinxed it). King's book was CRAZY! She was definitely feeling a lot when she wrote this book. She takes on many of the world's ills, but is definitely gunning for white America. It had all the twisty narratives that I have grown to expect and really enjoyed waiting for all the pieces to click into place. Dark, but really good, and as always, thought provoking.
DeleteHow is it possible that your bus driver does not get fired Sam! And you waking up 35 minutes early now that's no life!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the shoutout by the way!!! And I also got Call it What You want (busy reading it right now!!!). Happy Sunday. Sophie@ebwareofthereader
I think he still has his job, because he's close to retirement and has been there forever. I get up early (3 am) without any alarm. So, it really was just a matter of showering earlier and leaving earlier. I bring my earplugs and read at the station. I lose a little internet time, but it's worth the reduction in stress.
DeleteThat commute sounds dreadful. I'm happy you found another that is less stressful. Enjoy your books and have fun at the birthday party:)
ReplyDeleteMy Sunday Post
The one thing I look forward to when I go to a BD party is cake. I love cake, and almost never get to have it, and my sister always has cakes, but NOT this time. I was so sad. And, I wasn't into the cookies she bought either, so I just went home with no sweet treat. It was a sort of tragic outing for me. I should have stayed home.
Deleteugh commutes can be so stressful right? I'm one of those people who likes to be super early for things, so because bus was taking ages getting into work, I started catching one earlier, it means I get to work sometimes 45 minutes earlier, but that gives me more time to read, so who am I to complain? And it feels like such a long time since I read an emotional book, I'm kind of scared, but want to give Fear of Missing Out a go. I hope you have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteI wish this earlier bus helped me meet an earlier train, but there is only one westbound train that hour and it's 50 mins after I get to the station. Same as you, I use the time to read. FOMO was tough, because it's dealing with a terminally ill kid, but I like the treatment of right to die and death with dignity, and McGovern made it very beautiful and touching. Still sad though.
DeleteSorry about the issues you have been having with your bus. I am really lucky that I live 3.5 miles from my job so I could walk if I had to. I don't but I could. Yay for getting a few extra hours with your daughter. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThose were the days, when I worked close to home. Everything else about my job is great, except the location. Can't win them all.
DeleteThat's a bummer about all of the bus issues, but that's good you have a more reliable route now...though the wait, etc is still annoying I'm sure. I hope you had a great time with your daughter!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I am still hoping the 802 driver retires, and is replaced by someone reliable. It could happen?
DeleteI wonder what happened with your bus driver! That's so frustrating! Dig looks really interesting. I'll have to look that up. I hope you enjoy all your upcoming reads!
ReplyDeleteMy bus driver has no effs to give, that's what happened to him. Dig is very King, but definitely felt more aggressive than other books of her's I have read. Good though.
DeleteI have no idea how your bus driver keeps his job! That's completely frustrating. Hot Winter Nights looks like the perfect read for this time of year! Enjoy your books and good luck on your commute! :)
ReplyDeleteI need his job, where it's ok to be late all the time. I never say no to reading a Shalvis book. They always deliver exactly what I am looking for and leave me sated every time.
DeleteWow, that whole situation with the bus sounds so frustrating. I'm glad you figured out a workaround that will leave you less stressed in the mornings. Fear of Missing Out sounds like a book I need in my life. Thanks for the tissue warning though! I've got In the Neighborhood of True coming up soon too and am really looking forward to that one.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a lot less stressful since I switch bus routes. So, I chose wisely. I have been hearing good things about Neighborhood. I feel it will be another gut punch, powerful story, so I am reading a little romance before I tackle that one.
DeleteSounds like that bus driver needs a swift kick. Or a different route. I mean, is he late - or just skipping the stop? Geez. Hope the change in bus/route works better for you. Isn't it crazy to have a nephew who is 21? My two nephews are 23 and 20 and it kind of boggles my mind. Like, when did this happen? LOL All your planned reads are totally new to me so I'll be interested to see what you think of them!
ReplyDeleteSometimes he's late for the 6:35 am pick up, but other times, he has just not come until the second scheduled time for my stop. I am so over it. The new route is a half hour earlier, but at least I get picked up EVERY day, on time.
DeleteUgh sorry about the terrible bus situation :-/ Oh my gosh, 1400 emails?!?!?! Like, unread emails??? That is a JOB to sort through. It does sound like you've had a week. Hope this one is better!
ReplyDeleteYES! Over 1400 unread, because I thought they had been forwarding. I just deleted them all. It's an address I use mostly for social media, etc. All my bills go to a different email, and I have a separate blog account too.
DeleteI am glad you got some extra time with your daughter but I hope it didn't impact her plans too negatively! And oh my goodness, that is a lot of emails to come through suddently. I am sorry that it broke that way and you had so much to work through :/
ReplyDeleteThe kid was not happy to have to miss going into the office, but you can't control the weather. I just deleted all the emails, and now everything is working. I am glad I was prompted to check though, otherwise, I would never have known.
DeleteI am so sorry about the bus situations. Glad your daughter is home safe.
ReplyDeleteThe new route is working out for me. A lot less stressful.
DeleteI am going to have to add Fear of Missing Out. I am still trying to see if I can find a book that makes me cry. Hasn't happened yet. =)
ReplyDeleteMary
FOMO is all the tears. If you read it, be prepared.
Delete