Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

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

It's beginning to look a lot like fall, and THIS makes me happy! As I write this, it is 60°F and blissful. More days like this please. 

I really need new sneakers. One good thing that came out of this pandemic is that I actually get daily exercise, and it's been a really long time since I bought training type shoes. So, getting the shoes was quite stressful. This was my first trip to the mall, and I treated myself to some Chick-Fil-A, which was even more stressful. They had markings on the floor to show you where to stand, and the woman behind would NOT stand on her spot. She was really close to me, and of course, her nose was not covered by her mask. Everyone keeps insisting masking is a problem with "uneducated" southerners and with Republicans. Newsflash, I live up north, in a deep blue state which also has a mask mandate. It's a people problem. Some people follow rules and some do not. I just want people to take some personal responsibility for the things they do and stop making it political. 

I just read an article about a She's All That remake. I am sort of over all these remakes. Maybe it's irrational, but I feel like they are stealing pieces of my youth from me. They don't just remake them, they change them. A new generation should have their own things, not reconfigured versions of mine. I'm just saying. 

It's been a while, but I thought these pictures were really cute. I like that Melba was admiring the Melba dress Kiersten designed. 

I visited the kid, and we went to the library and had a picnic. I was jealous that her islanders had a BBQ later. That never happens on my island. 

Has anyone tried Book Hype? It's an alternative to Goodreads, but I couldn't even get started. It took me 5 import tries, but it finally worked! However, I have to enter any self publishes/Amazon only books (of which I have read quite a few).  I am exploring. I might do both. I know Goodreads isn't perfect, but I still like it. It does the job I need it to do. I would like improvements with the social part of it - being able to like, replies being threaded better, but it works for me overall. 

My daughter sent me this tweet, and it is just a thread of cuteness. 

if you like cats open this thread! (its all safe i promise)

— reema (@dykefrost) September 10, 2020

I want my own pirate ship https://t.co/nLBEqFNH3q

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) September 11, 2020

rudy goes to doggy school every day on a bus and he loves it
(jukin copyright management) pic.twitter.com/SuIO0I6XMT

— Humor And Animals (@humorandanimals) September 10, 2020

Let's Discuss!

• Katie wonders what makes you anticipate a new release
• Jackie talks about what makes a great audiobook
• Chana has a PSA to people recommending their white faves

On the Blog:

• Monday: #AmReading - Charming as a Verb, Early Departures
• Tuesday: TTT - Books for Teen Me
• Wednesday: Mind the Gap Dash and Lily, Playing Hurt
• Thursday: Must Love Dogs...and Hockey, In Case You Missed It

STACKING THE SHELVES

Amazon knows how to make me buy some ebooks, they offer me a credit. I bought a lot of backlist, which I cannot find at my eLibrary and my romance books, which they never get. 

Bought

• Going Rogue by Robin Benway
• One Night by Deanna Cabinian
• Always Only You by Chloe Liese
• The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
• Man Down by Kate Meader
• The Agony of Bun O'Keefe by Heather Smith

Edelweiss/NetGalley

• The Flip Side by James Bailey
• Yes and I Love You by Roni Loren

What I Read Last Week

Another good week. I had TWO 5-star books. One was a fantastic sport/coming-of-age book. The main character earned the nickname "Furia", which translates to "fury", and it was perfect way to describe her in this story. Really loved this book. 

I also gave 5-stars to Little Universes. This book was so painful. As if the parents perishing in a tsunami was not enough, the sisters have to deal with a lot of other stuff. But there was so much beauty in their struggle, and I was really proud of them at the end of it. 

I am continuing to listen to some of my past due ARCs too. When those low ratings start rolling in, I find it hard to muster up the desire to bump a possibly good book off my weekly TBR. The audio option is great for me. 

Books

• In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren - ★★★★ 1/2
• Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takoaka - ★★★★
• Smash It! by Francina Simone - ★★★★
• Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez - ★★★★★
• Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler - ★★★★

Audiobooks

• Little Universes by Heather Demetrois - ★★★★★
• Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park - ★★★ 1/2
• Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer - ★★★★
• Pulling Doubles by Christina C. Jones - ★★★ 1/2

What I Am Currently Reading

The Bridge was one of my CWW picks, and I really like the way Konigsberg took on this story. Both main characters are dealing with mental health issues, but they are different mental health issues. Doing this spreads a wider net on the topic, and he also shows the affects of their illness, as well as the suicide, on their friends, family, and acquaintances. 

I am not that far into Sources Say, but I am eager to get the whole story on the couple at the focus of this tale. I keep getting bits and pieces, and I need to know all the facts. 

• Sources Say by Lori Goldstein
• The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg (audiobook)

What I Plan to Read

• Screen Queens by Lori Goldstein
• One Way or Another by Kara McDowell
• The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor
• Pretty Funny for a Girl by Rebecca Elliot

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