Weekend Wrap Up #91

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.

WHAT I WATCHED

I had seen all of the Marvel movies except these two.  Since I am on summer break, I decided to see what the hype was about.  I enjoyed the second one a lot!  I look forward to Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

WELCOME TO FURS-DAY FEATURE. SINCE, I LIKE TO READ BOOKS ABOUT DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, I DECIDED TO BLOG ABOUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BLOG POST ON RANDOM THURSDAYS.  IF YOU HAVE READ A GOOD BOOK ABOUT A FURRY FRIEND OR WITH A FURRY FRIEND IN A BOOK, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME! DON’T FORGET TO LINK MY BLOG TO YOUR POST.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW HERE.

 

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK

Another hilarious and heart warming book by Abbi Waxman.

CURRENTLY READING

GOODREADS

A rich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time, and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.

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 received these from NetGalley.

GOODREADS

One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them is a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured vet returning from Afghanistan, a septuagenarian business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. And then, tragically, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor.

GOODREADS

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless, inspired by Grease.

When Ollie meets his dream guy, Will, over summer break, he thinks he’s found his Happily Ever After. But once summer’s ended, Will stops texting him back, and Ollie finds himself one prince short of a fairytale ending. To complicate the fairytale further, a family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country—Will’s school—where Ollie finds that the sweet, affectionate and comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn’t the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, closeted—and, to be honest, a bit of a jerk.

I won this from Goodreads.

GOODREADS

In 1822, Ireland’s ancient traditions are under attack, including the most controversial one of all, that of the Priest Woman, or Cailín an Tsagairt.

Constanza Delamar lives in a part of Ireland where ancient traditions are viewed with nostalgia, by people who are eager to move beyond them. A personal tragedy changes her life and she finds herself in a remote village where these traditions are still a way of life.

When a parish priest suddenly arrives to challenge the village’s traditional priest and condemn his Priest Woman; the village is turned against itself. Constanza suddenly finds herself confronting and then defending the most controversial of traditions.

The mounting tensions in the village culminate in a devastating event with long-term consequences for all those involved.

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…Would you or do you choose a book solely on the cover?

My answer:  

I admit that when looking at books on NetGalley or on a blog, the cover is usually what draws my interest but I do read the synopsis before committing to reading it.

Furs-Day Feature #16

WELCOME TO FURS-DAY FEATURE. SINCE, I LIKE TO READ BOOKS ABOUT DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, I DECIDED TO BLOG ABOUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BLOG POST ON RANDOM THURSDAYS.  IF YOU HAVE READ A GOOD BOOK ABOUT A FURRY FRIEND OR WITH A FURRY FRIEND IN A BOOK, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME! DON’T FORGET TO LINK MY BLOG TO YOUR POST.

GOODREADS

Enhanced with beautiful full-color photographs, these true stories of camaraderie, affection, and remarkable bravery are from the author of the New York Times bestsellers Unlikely Friendships, Unlikely Loves, and Unlikely Heroes, as well as other books and calendars, with nearly two million copies in print.

Meet Rex, a German shepherd who learned to love and trust again through the improbable friendship of a goose. The pit bull named Dolly, whose antics with her best friend, Sheldon the tortoise, include games of tag.

For the millions of dog lovers, this heartwarming and inspirational book celebrates 37 stories of unusual canine companionship.

My Thoughts

This book was light hearted and adorable.  It is the perfect read if you are short on time which I see to be at the moment.   The stories are short and sweet and a definite must for dog and animal lovers.  There are other books in this series that I will be looking forward to reading soon.

 

Tell Me (Top Ten) Tuesday

Tell Me Tuesday is a weekly blog feature put on by La La in the Library.  It is where we discuss what we have been, currently are, and will be reading.  What are you reading? Tell me!

WHAT I READ LAST

GOODREADS

This has to be one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.  Every page was an ode to nature, animals, love, friendship, and forgiveness.  Two families who are neighbors on the prairie of Wyoming become enemies when one husband shoots the other husband dead for having an affair with his wife.  The wives realize however, that they will need each other for their families to survive the long winter months so they must swallow their pride and work together.  The main character, Beulah is very connected to the prairie and the animals around her by communicating with them and them with her. Additionally,  Beulah helps the neighbor boy, Clyde, run the two farms, deal with the death of his father, and see the beauty in the prairie around him.  Clyde and Beulah become friends even though their families are enemies.  This book was reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet and The Scarlet Letter.  The author based this story off of true events that happened in her family history which for me, made the story even more interesting.

CURRENTLY READING

GOODREADS

A book about a young widow; poignant, funny, original, and utterly believable. A compelling debut novel about loss. 

I have really enjoyed this author’s last two books so I thought I would give her debut novel a chance. It is very good so far and as usual, many laugh out loud moments.

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

GOODREADS

A rich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time, and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN TUESDAY TOPIC IS…

Books On My Summer 2019 TBR

It’s Monday! What are YOU Reading?

IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING? IS A PLACE TO MEET UP AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN, ARE, AND ABOUT TO BE READING OVER THE WEEK. IT IS HOSTED BY KATHRYN AT THE BOOK DATE.

WHAT I READ LAST

GOODREADS

This has to be one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.  Every page was an ode to nature, animals, love, friendship, and forgiveness.  Two families who are neighbors on the prairie of Wyoming become enemies when one husband shoots the other husband dead for having an affair with his wife.  The wives realize however, that they will need each other for their families to survive the long winter months so they must swallow their pride and work together.  The main character, Beulah is very connected to the prairie and the animals around her by communicating with them and them with her. Additionally,  Beulah helps the neighbor boy, Clyde, run the two farms, deal with the death of his father, and see the beauty in the prairie around him.  Clyde and Beulah become friends even though their families are enemies.  This book was reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet and The Scarlet Letter.  The author based this story off of true events that happened in her family history which for me, made the story even more interesting.

CURRENTLY READING

GOODREADS

A book about a young widow; poignant, funny, original, and utterly believable. A compelling debut novel about loss. 

I have really enjoyed this author’s last two books so I thought I would give her debut novel a chance. It is very good so far and as usual, many laugh out loud moments.

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

GOODREADS

A rich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time, and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.

 

Tell Me Tuesday

Tell Me Tuesday is a weekly blog feature put on by La La in the Library.  It is where we discuss what we have been, currently are, and will be reading.  What are you reading? Tell me!

WHAT I READ LAST

I was listening to this on audiobook from my library but you only get 2 weeks so it expired and I had to finish by reading the book.

GOODREADS

I recently returned from a trip to Japan and fell in love with the food and people.  I received this book from Netgalley.  It is beautiful.  There are lots of colored photos and great descriptions of the different types of ingredients and equipment used.  I also loved how the book explained the history behind the foods featured.  I learned so much about Japanese culinary arts and culture through this cook book.  A definite must have if you are interested in cooking and learning about Japanese food.

SINCE, I LIKE TO READ BOOKS ABOUT DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, I DECIDED TO BLOG ABOUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BLOG POST ON RANDOM THURSDAYS.  IF YOU HAVE READ A GOOD BOOK ABOUT A FURRY FRIEND OR WITH A FURRY FRIEND IN A BOOK, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME! DON’T FORGET TO LINK MY BLOG TO YOUR POST.

Click here for my review.

CURRENTLY READING

GOODREADS

Wyoming, 1870. For as long as they have lived on the frontier, the Bemis and Webber families have relied on each other. With no other settlers for miles, it is a matter of survival. But when Ernest Bemis finds his wife, Cora, in a compromising situation with their neighbor, he doesn’t think of survival. In one impulsive moment, a man is dead, Ernest is off to prison, and the women left behind are divided by rage and remorse.

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

I have a crazy week ahead so I am not even sure I will get a chance to read or blog!

It’s Monday! What are YOU Reading?

IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING? IS A PLACE TO MEET UP AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN, ARE, AND ABOUT TO BE READING OVER THE WEEK. IT IS HOSTED BY KATHRYN AT THE BOOK DATE.

WHAT I READ LAST

I was listening to this on audiobook from my library but you only get 2 weeks so it expired and I had to finish by reading the book.

GOODREADS

I recently returned from a trip to Japan and fell in love with the food and people.  I received this book from Netgalley.  It is beautiful.  There are lots of colored photos and great descriptions of the different types of ingredients and equipment used.  I also loved how the book explained the history behind the foods featured.  I learned so much about Japanese culinary arts and culture through this cook book.  A definite must have if you are interested in cooking and learning about Japanese food.

SINCE, I LIKE TO READ BOOKS ABOUT DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, I DECIDED TO BLOG ABOUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BLOG POST ON RANDOM THURSDAYS.  IF YOU HAVE READ A GOOD BOOK ABOUT A FURRY FRIEND OR WITH A FURRY FRIEND IN A BOOK, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME! DON’T FORGET TO LINK MY BLOG TO YOUR POST.

Click here for my review.

CURRENTLY READING

GOODREADS

Wyoming, 1870. For as long as they have lived on the frontier, the Bemis and Webber families have relied on each other. With no other settlers for miles, it is a matter of survival. But when Ernest Bemis finds his wife, Cora, in a compromising situation with their neighbor, he doesn’t think of survival. In one impulsive moment, a man is dead, Ernest is off to prison, and the women left behind are divided by rage and remorse.

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

I have a crazy week ahead so I am not even sure I will get a chance to read or blog!

Weekend Wrap Up #90

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.

WHAT I WATCHED

I was unsure about watching the second season since it isn’t based on the book.  However, once I saw Meryl Streep was a part of the series, I was in!

SINCE, I LIKE TO READ BOOKS ABOUT DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, I DECIDED TO BLOG ABOUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BLOG POST ON RANDOM THURSDAYS.  IF YOU HAVE READ A GOOD BOOK ABOUT A FURRY FRIEND OR WITH A FURRY FRIEND IN A BOOK, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME! DON’T FORGET TO LINK MY BLOG TO YOUR POST.

Click here for my review.

CURRENTLY READING

GOODREADS

Wyoming, 1870. For as long as they have lived on the frontier, the Bemis and Webber families have relied on each other. With no other settlers for miles, it is a matter of survival. But when Ernest Bemis finds his wife, Cora, in a compromising situation with their neighbor, he doesn’t think of survival. In one impulsive moment, a man is dead, Ernest is off to prison, and the women left behind are divided by rage and remorse.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK

I was listening to this on audiobook from my library but you only get 2 weeks so it expired and I had to finish by reading the book.

GOODREADS

I recently returned from a trip to Japan and fell in love with the food and people.  I received this book from Netgalley.  It is beautiful.  There are lots of colored photos and great descriptions of the different types of ingredients and equipment used.  I also loved how the book explained the history behind the foods featured.  I learned so much about Japanese culinary arts and culture through this cook book.  A definite must have if you are interested in cooking and learning about Japanese food.

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 all from First to Read which unfortunately is shutting down next month.

GOODREADS

A rich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time, and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.

GOODREADS

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning Richard Russo–in his first stand-alone novel in a decade–comes a new revelation: a gripping story about the abiding yet complex power of friendship.

It’s 1964 in the USSR, and unbeknownst even to Premier Khrushchev himself, the Soviet space program is a sham. Well, half a sham. While the program has successfully launched five capsules into space, the Chief Designer and his team have never successfully brought one back to earth. To disguise this, they’ve used twins. But in a nation built on secrets and propaganda, the biggest lie of all is about to unravel.

Because there are no more twins left.

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 Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

THIS WEEKS PROMPT IS…Have you ever been called a “book nerd?” If so, how did you react?

My answer:

I don’t think I have been called a book nerd but when I was a kid growing up, my family called me a book worm.  I didn’t care but it didn’t make sense to me because I didn’t know worms could read (do they even have eyes?) and I never saw a worm in any of the books I read! lol

Furs-day Feature #15

WELCOME TO FURS-DAY FEATURE. SINCE, I LIKE TO READ BOOKS ABOUT DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, I DECIDED TO BLOG ABOUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BLOG POST ON RANDOM THURSDAYS.  IF YOU HAVE READ A GOOD BOOK ABOUT A FURRY FRIEND OR WITH A FURRY FRIEND IN A BOOK, FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME! DON’T FORGET TO LINK MY BLOG TO YOUR POST.

GOODREADS

The Peachey family is in crisis. No one cooks dinner, no one picks up the dirty washing and the kids are always late for school. All because Mum has resigned from being Mum and taken up yoga instead. She’s in the tree pose; everyone else is in the doghouse. Except McTavish, a rescue dog with a difference, on a mission to sort his new family out…Filled to the brim with Meg’s wry humor and beautiful prose, this is a story for the young and the young at heart.

My Thoughts

I love that the story is told from the perspective of the dog ,McTavish, and that he thinks is the one adopting the family and not the other way around. Also, bonus points for the family going to an animal shelter when they decided to get a dog.  McTavish’s plan to fix the family is funny and clever.  The humor and character flaws in this book were very reminiscent of the Roald Dahl books I read as a kid. So, if you are a fan of James and the Giant Peach or Matilda then you will most likely be a fan of this book.   This book is perfect for upper elementary/middle grade students.

Tell Me (Top Ten) Tuesday

Tell Me Tuesday is a weekly blog feature put on by La La in the Library.  It is where we discuss what we have been, currently are, and will be reading.  What are you reading? Tell me!

WHAT I READ LAST

GOODREADS

This book has totally inspired me to look around more and help others.  The main character, Raymond, noticed his ninety-two year old neighbor, Millie, was in distress. She asks him “Have You Seen Luis Velez?”   Luis has mysteriously disappeared and Millie is worried about him. Raymond discovers there are many Luis Velezs’ in the city so he goes to seek out the “right” Luis Velez.  Raymond also decides to help Millie, who is blind, go to the bank and get groceries every week. I love the different Luis’ Raymond meets and the kindness he experiences. Raymond is struggling to fit in at home and at school,  Millie and the other new people he meets are remarkable and help him in unexpected ways. I found this book uplifting in many ways and I feel many of us would benefit from reading this story about helping others, letting others help us, and what it means to belong.

GOODREADS

I absolutely loved this book!  I really connected with the main character, Nina because she loves books and finds solace in them.  Nina is organized and has a strict schedule that she follows every day of every week. This help her deal with anxiety.  Her world is turned upside down when she finds out that her dad, whom she never met, died and left her something in his will.  She also finds out she has a half brother, half sister, nieces, and nephew. The author makes Nina’s way of dealing with this new upheaval in her life funny and heartwarming.  There were many times I laughed out loud. Nina works in a book store which is my dream job. Her coworkers and other secondary characters in the story are fabulous. They help Nina deal with her anxiety and encourage her to spread her wings and try new things, and one of these new things is a boyfriend.  One of my favorite parts of the book is each chapter starts with a page from Nina’s daily planner. These pages made me chuckle every time. This story is quirky and has a lot of heart. Nina, with the help of her friends and new family, teach her that it is okay to have anxiety but you still need to get out of your comfort zone occasionally and try something new or you are not really living.  If you want a book that will suck you in from the beginning and make you smile, read this one! This book publishes July 9, 2019.

CURRENTLY READING

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

GOODREADS

Wyoming, 1870. For as long as they have lived on the frontier, the Bemis and Webber families have relied on each other. With no other settlers for miles, it is a matter of survival. But when Ernest Bemis finds his wife, Cora, in a compromising situation with their neighbor, he doesn’t think of survival. In one impulsive moment, a man is dead, Ernest is off to prison, and the women left behind are divided by rage and remorse.

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN TUESDAY TOPIC IS…

Top Ten Unpopular Bookish Opinions but I am tweaking it a bit.  I love Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) books but many have the opinion that those type of books are only for kids.  So I am featuring 10 (actually 15)  YA and MG books I think EVERYONE should read.

It’s Monday! What are YOU Reading?

IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING? IS A PLACE TO MEET UP AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN, ARE, AND ABOUT TO BE READING OVER THE WEEK. IT IS HOSTED BY KATHRYN AT THE BOOK DATE.

WHAT I READ LAST

GOODREADS

This book has totally inspired me to look around more and help others.  The main character, Raymond, noticed his ninety-two year old neighbor, Millie, was in distress. She asks him “Have You Seen Luis Velez?”   Luis has mysteriously disappeared and Millie is worried about him. Raymond discovers there are many Luis Velezs’ in the city so he goes to seek out the “right” Luis Velez.  Raymond also decides to help Millie, who is blind, go to the bank and get groceries every week. I love the different Luis’ Raymond meets and the kindness he experiences. Raymond is struggling to fit in at home and at school,  Millie and the other new people he meets are remarkable and help him in unexpected ways. I found this book uplifting in many ways and I feel many of us would benefit from reading this story about helping others, letting others help us, and what it means to belong.

GOODREADS

I absolutely loved this book!  I really connected with the main character, Nina because she loves books and finds solace in them.  Nina is organized and has a strict schedule that she follows every day of every week. This help her deal with anxiety.  Her world is turned upside down when she finds out that her dad, whom she never met, died and left her something in his will.  She also finds out she has a half brother, half sister, nieces, and nephew. The author makes Nina’s way of dealing with this new upheaval in her life funny and heartwarming.  There were many times I laughed out loud. Nina works in a book store which is my dream job. Her coworkers and other secondary characters in the story are fabulous. They help Nina deal with her anxiety and encourage her to spread her wings and try new things, and one of these new things is a boyfriend.  One of my favorite parts of the book is each chapter starts with a page from Nina’s daily planner. These pages made me chuckle every time. This story is quirky and has a lot of heart. Nina, with the help of her friends and new family, teach her that it is okay to have anxiety but you still need to get out of your comfort zone occasionally and try something new or you are not really living.  If you want a book that will suck you in from the beginning and make you smile, read this one! This book publishes July 9, 2019.

CURRENTLY READING

WHAT I AM READING NEXT

GOODREADS

Wyoming, 1870. For as long as they have lived on the frontier, the Bemis and Webber families have relied on each other. With no other settlers for miles, it is a matter of survival. But when Ernest Bemis finds his wife, Cora, in a compromising situation with their neighbor, he doesn’t think of survival. In one impulsive moment, a man is dead, Ernest is off to prison, and the women left behind are divided by rage and remorse.