Weekend Wrap Up #49

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @The Caffeinated Book Reviewer It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. Here is what I have been up to this last week.

STARTING AUGUST 1ST, THE 2ND ANNUAL DOG DAYS OF SUMMER READING CHALLENGE HOSTED BY LA LA IN THE LIBRARY AND MYSELF WILL START.  THE CHALLENGE IS SIMPLE.  DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST, READ AS MANY BOOKS ABOUT DOGS, BOOKS WITH DOGS ON THE COVER, OR BOOKS WRITTEN BY DOGS (KIDDING) AS YOU WANT. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE GIVEAWAYS AND THERE WILL BE SOME FUN DOG RELATED BLOG POSTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AS WELL, AND LA LA AND I WILL BE BUDDY READING A MIDDLE GRADE DOG BOOK TOGETHER. CHECK OUT HER DOG DAYS POST HERE!

For complete details about the Dog Days of Summer Reading Challenge click HERE!

WHAT I HAVE BEEN WATCHING

My daughter and her friend posted a new Rootin’ Tootin’ Scootins video.  They are scootin’ in a corn field in homage to their two weeks of detasseling.  In case you don’t know what detasseling is, it is a job many teens do during the month of July in Iowa.  Basically they take tassels off certain types of corn so they don’t cross pollinate.  It is a hot and messy job but it pays well.  Check out their video HERE!

CURRENTLY READING

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed—again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend—but nothing and no one is quite what they seem.

Saturday Situation is put on by Pure Imagination. It is were we review our latest reads. Be sure to check out theirs as well.

This is a tough book to review because there were so many things I loved about this book but a couple things that irritated me to no end.  Let’s start with the positives.  I loved learning about the Persian culture when Darius goes to Iran.  All the food and tea mentioned made my mouth water and the customs and family get togethers the author described had a nice homey feel.  Darius’ little sister, Lelah, was my absolutely favorite character.  She was sassy and funny and just plain adorable.  Darius and Lelah’s relationship was another of my favorite things about the book.  He looked after her and genuinely wanted to spend time with her.    Ok, now the negatives.  The author had Darius say “Uh” or “Um” at least every few pages.  It was so annoying! I don’t understand the purpose of these words so often.  It really distracted from the dialogue.   Lastly, Darius constantly repeating certain phrases and complaints that he was a disappointment to his dad was equally annoying.  I understand part of the plot of the book was for Darius to find himself and feel accepted but the repeated and numerous  mentions of Darius feeling like his dad doesn’t love him was ridiculous.  With all that said, I do feel this book is worth reading.  Darius, being biracial, has a lot to deal with at school and home and he doesn’t know where he fits in. The book emphasizes the importance of friends and family and how they love us no matter what.  A great message for all ages.

Stacking the Shelves is put on by Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves. Here are the books I have added to my TBR list this week.

I grabbed these ebooks during Amazon.com’s Prime Day.  I paid $.99 for 3 months for Kindle Unlimited.

Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, Beneath a Scarlet Skyis the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours.

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.

In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.

Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.

Note: there is a rumor that this book is going to be made in to a mini series.

 

The Unofficial Harry Potter Spellbook: Wizard training has everything you need to take your wizard training to a new level. This complete Harry Potter spellbook contains 200+ spells and will take you on a journey back into the world of Hogwarts. This spellbook includes: Over 200 Harry Potter spells (including unique spells seen in the videogames, movies and official books). Pronunciations for each spell to recite each spell perfectly. Wand movements to make each spell come alive. Extra notes, as well as more information on the more difficult to understand spells.

The Book Blogger Hop is put on by The Coffee Addicted Writer . There is a weekly prompt featuring a book related question.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION IS SUBMITTED BY Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews

This weeks prompt is…

  Do you agree or disagree with this statement: A blogger’s first name should be in a prominent place on his/her blog.

My answer…

I think a blogger can do whatever they want on their blog.  However, I do like knowing a blogger’s name when I am commenting or replying to a comment.  But to each their own.

In case you didn’t know my name, click HERE!  People sing this song to me ALL THE TIME!